The Spirit Quest cotpl-2

by John H. Burkitt

  “What are you saying?” Azima said.

  “When the tree is ripe, remove all the fruit into one large pile. Then divide it equally between our villages.”

  “Fine and good,” Kinara said. “But I will do it personally. Azima is a cheat like his father.”

  “I?? I’M a cheat??”

  “Please, distinguished opponents....” Busara put a hand on each of the two mandrills. “I have an answer. One of you will divide the pile into two groups, and the other can take his group first. That way, no one would dare cheat.”

  “But why would I give him anything?” Kinara said. The others nodded and murmured. “Why should I even honor his claim?”

  Busara took Kinara out of hearing range, took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Maloki likes nothing better than to make you angry,” he whispered, glaring at Azima. “If you are generous and give him fully half, you will take away his excuse to curse you behind your back. He will be miserable.”

  Kinara thought a moment, stroked his chin whiskers moodily, then smiled. “I like that. And next time he accuses me of being greedy, I shall remind him!”

  Kinara came back. With a kindly smile, he patted Azima on the back. “My boy, you are right. We will give you half of the fruit as my friend has suggested. By all means. Maybe even more. Why not take it all? We don’t need the extra fruit.”

  Azima began to look uncomfortable. “Is there something wrong with it?”

  “No, not at all! It’s wonderful. I hope you enjoy it. Why not take some home with you?”

  Azima began to scratch his head. “Now wait a minute here! What did Busara tell you just now?”

  “He told me that it is more blessed to give than to take.”

  Azima looked around at the others. He began to tremble as he met each pair of eyes, looking for some hint. “Like hell he did!” he shouted, throwing up his hands. “You’re all a bunch of scheming, lousy good-for-nothings! Do you think I’m stupid?? Keep the fruit! I hope you DO eat it! By the gods, I hope whatever you planned falls back on you threefold!”

  Azima stormed out. For several moments, there was not a word, not a sound. Then when he was out of hearing range, Kinara began to chuckle, then he burst out in laughter, putting his arm around Busara’s shoulder. “You no-account scheming little devil you! I didn’t know you had it in you!”

  Busara smiled, but his heart was not in it.

  After the meeting, Kinara took Busara aside. “I’d like to show my appreciation, old friend. I want you to be my chief advisor. You know that is second in power only to me, and I offer it because you are as shrewd as you are honest.”

  Busara looked uncomfortable. “Thank you, my chief, but perhaps I’m not as shrewd as you think--or as much as I should be.”

  Kinara smiled, but laid his hand on Busara’s shoulder a bit firmly. “Save your double speaking for them. When I want a good riddle, I’ll ask you as Chief Scribe. Right now I need one word. It sounds exactly like ‘yes’.”

  “I’m sorry, my friend. I’m not the type you need.”

  “Oh?”

  “With all due respect, you want to win at all costs. It has become your fruit and your water. What you desire most becomes your god, but when you die, earthly powers will desert you. Only love can bear your soul to the Blessed Realm.”

  “Are you calling me irreligious?”

  “No, old friend. I’m calling you precious and one of a kind. A child of the gods. I want something for you greater than this world has to offer. Go home tonight and kiss your wife. Speak to your son Makedde. Make peace with the boy and realize how much he still loves you. These are more important than all the breadfruit in the world.”

  Kinara looks at him undecided. But he recognized the kindness in Busara’s voice and patted him on the back. “You’re beginning to sound just like my mother. I’m a big boy now, and I can look out for myself. As for my son Makedde, I pray for him every night.”

  When Busara saluted him and went back toward his cave, Kinara leaned over to one of his lackey guards nearby. "Take Uwezo and follow him. See what he’s up to."

  CHAPTER 16: THE WALLS HAVE EARS

  Uwezo and Doya were very good at what they did. They were Kinara’s bodyguards, but they also were remarkably quiet and stealthy for large mandrills. It was a combination that had helped Kinara maintain his power for many years.

  Usually, Kinara’s ability to “get the goods” on his opponents led to no great mischief. In fact, there were many members of the troop that shared an odd kind of bond with him. They would ask for advice about matters they could confess to no one else, and Kinara would usually try to be helpful in return. In that way, he was the Father Confessor of the wealthy and powerful. And never had he violated his confidence.

  Uwezo was very observant, and his hearing was very good. But he wondered about the two sets of footprints he thought he heard as Busara walked along. One of the sets sounded very heavy. He glanced about nervously, thinking a leopard may be spying on HIM. All he saw was Doya behind him, and Doya was doing a good job of muffling his steps.

  Suddenly, there was a loud lioness roar. Forgetting to be quiet, Uwezo charged back toward Doya and passed him brusquely. Busara looked around, but by the time he saw the two mandrills, they were far enough away to not be recognized.

  “What’s the matter, old girl?”

  “I just don’t like it,” she said. “They looked suspicious.”

  It would do little good to follow Busara when he was alert. Uwezo and Doya had a job to do, and they did not dare risk the wrath of Kinara if they failed him. So deciding that he was headed home anyhow, they waited until evening to quietly and cautiously took up hiding places right outside the mouth of the cave.

  “This will always be your refuge,” Busara said. “When you need a place where you can come and be accepted for who and what you are, our arms are always open for you.”

  “Thank you,” Metutu said. “I love you more than I can say! You have been so kind. You and Kima and Asumini.”

  “May Aiheu bless you, my son,” Kima said.

  Doya glanced at Uwezo. “Uh oh!”

  “Shhhh!”

  “Your destiny is a special one, Metutu,” Busara said. “In a small way I tried to bring some change about today. Maybe if I am lucky, before I die I will hear Kinara and Maloki exchange a few civil words. But you are to be the new chief someday. You will do more in a year than I have in my lifetime. Freedom will blossom and grow like Alba, and worship will be the choice of the heart, not that of the council.”

  “Just wait till he hears this,” Doya said.

  Just then, they heard heavy footsteps leaving the cave and padding through the leaves. “It’s that sound again. Let’s get out of here!”

  Busara looked up. “What happened to Asumini? You’d think she saw a ghost!”

  Seconds later, the lioness appeared, very agitated. “Doya and Uwezo were right outside.”

  “What did they hear?”

  “Probably everything.”

  Busara closed his eyes and tilted his head back. He moaned as if someone had gouged him. “We are in grave danger.”

  “Let me kill them,” Asumini said.

  “No, girl. That will only make Kinara more suspicious than ever. We are not judge and executioner. Not like him.”

  When Uwezo and Doya found Kinara, Chief Priest Kasisi was with him. They competed to be first to give their reports, knowing that there would be a bonus in it for them somewhere.

  “He’s an Aiheuist,” Uwezo said.

  “He’s teaching Metutu to be one,” Doya said.

  “He said he tried to get you and Maloki on speaking terms, but that Metutu as the next chief would really clear out the cobwebs.”

  Kinara sat stunned for a moment, then jerked to his feet. He almost never showed his temper, but he grabbed a fruit he had been eating and hurled it at a tree.

  "My son! He thinks to turn my own SON upon me! That triple cursed barbaric heathen! I trusted him.
I gave him my own son! Oh gods!"

  Uwezo and Doya were really expecting a reward for that. Instead, Kinara merely dismissed them with a wave of his hand.

  Kasisi was almost foaming at the mouth. “We have to wipe this thing out! It is a disease, and it’s spreading! Wipe it out, I say!”

  “I’ll have to have a little talk with Busara.”

  “You’ll have to kill him,” the Chief Priest said.

  “Denounce my friend to the council? Have him put down like a thief or adulterer? I will banish him.”

  “Banish him and you make him a hero in your son’s eyes,” Kasisi said. “The same will happen if you give him a public execution. No, he must disappear. Suddenly and without a trace, do you understand?”

  “But you’re talking murder!”

  “I’m talking the salvation of the race! Death is a part of life, but we can influence our time of death by our chosen lifestyle. His was risky—very risky. He has lived much longer than he ought. We are correcting that oversight.”

  “But Kasisi, Busara is my friend!”

  “Busara is heading your son straight to hell! When he is separated forever from the blessed realm, he will curse your name through all eternity! He will say ‘My father did this to me!’”

  “But murder him??”

  “God will bless you for it, so it is not murder! I tell you Kinara, there are more in this troop that follow him. Those who are in danger. Like Makedde.”

  “What about Makedde!”

  Kasisi crossed his arms smugly. “You thought you had the goods on me! You thought you had me under your thumb, old friend? You do your duty before God or as sure as there is a God, I’ll denounce him to the council the way I should have long ago!”

  “You do that and I’ll kill you!”

  “Kill the Chief Priest for following his religion? Do you think that would help? Do you think you could get away with it? Do you think I haven’t told anyone else why I was coming here tonight?”

  “Enough!” Kinara stood facing the trees for a moment, then slowly turned back around. “I don’t have to enjoy it as much as you do. But so be it.”

  Kinara recalled his two trusted bodyguards. He grabbed Doya by the chin whiskers. “Listen well. Our Chief Scribe likes to contact the spirit world." He scowls darkly. "Very well. We must arrange it so Busara can spend all his time there, if you read my meaning.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  "Handle it discretely, but handle it by sunrise tomorrow. For if you fail me--" He patted Uwezo on the head. “No chance of that. You wouldn’t dare fail.”

  Bowing and scraping madly, they rushed off.

  CHAPTER 17: THE DIASPORA

  Busara was terrified. “Metutu, I must gather my belongings and go. I will take Kima and Asumini far away.”

  “Take me with you.”

  Busara kissed his cheek. “In my heart, you are always with me. It would not help either of us if you ran away from home right now.”

  “Where are you going? You can tell me.”

  “I will send Asumini for you when it is safe. They can’t hurt her.” He took Metutu firmly by the shoulders. “I don’t have much time. There is so much I would say to you, my son. For now, you must hide the faith. Not in the way you treat others, but in the way you speak to others. Later it can shine, but something awful is about to happen. You must remember what I have taught you. You are our hope, Metutu. Don't let me down or my sacrifice would have been meaningless.”

  He grabs Busara’s hand. “Aiheu give me the strength.”

  Metutu put his arms around Busara. “May the gods see between us till we meet again.”

  “In case things go wrong, bless me for my death.”

  “Oh gods, don’t say that!”

  “Bless me, Metutu! I would ask my eldest son, and you are he.”

  With trembling fingers, Metutu drew a circle around Busara’s right eye and drew his fingertips under his chin. “May you see God. May you speak with Him.” Tears started down Metutu’s cheeks, and he hugged him again. “Father, friend, and teacher! Don’t you leave me! Don’t you dare die and leave me!”

  “I’ll try not to.” Busara dried Metutu’s cheeks. “Go now. Tell no one you were here.”

  Metutu hugged him one more time, then headed out by the long, winding path. He didn’t want to be seen.

  Kima was gathering up some food, and Asumini--Busara’s daughter that is--was taking some herbs and talismans.

  “Don’t leave until I come back,” Busara said. “I’ll scout out the trail and make sure we are not being watched.”

  With the lioness Asumini, he left to run the first dangerous leg of the journey through the cane field and the scrub bushes. It would not do taking them on the well-worn paths. That route had served him well gathering Tiko root, and it would get them over to Maloki’s village. Maloki detested Kinara and would be only too glad to accept his wise Chief Scribe as a guest, knowing it would rankle his old adversary to no end.

  Asumini stopped and looked around. Busara, who was a little hard of hearing, relied on her keen senses. “What is it, old girl? Behind me?”

  He looked around. “Uwezo! Doya!”

  Doya was holding a large rock.

  “I used to tell you stories when you were kids! Please! Let me run and just say you killed me!”

  Doya looked a little ashamed. “OK. But swear you won’t come back.”

  “I swear!” Busara slowly turned around, his heart pounding. “I’ll never come back!”

  Doya lifted the rock and brought it down on Busara’s head as hard as he could. Busara fell and moaned. Doya hit him again and the moaning stopped.

  Asumini appeared, snarling. In fear and dread, Doya threw the stone at the crouched lioness, but it passed through her harmlessly. “Don’t kill me! Please don’t kill me! Oh gods!”

  “Maybe I can let you run away and just say I killed you.”

  “Oh gods! Have pity on me! I was following orders!” He fell to his knees and would have groveled on the ground, but right before him was the body of Busara smeared with his own blood. “For the gods’ sake!”

  “For the god’s sake,” she snarled, springing forward.

  The next morning Busara did not come to his breakfast meeting with Kinara. The chief acted impatient and made a token effort to have him searched for. But Metutu spotted some blood on the ground and signs of struggle in the grass. "Come look at this!"

  “The trail is old,” Chango said. “He might have been taken by a leopard.”

  The chief followed Chango, wondering why his own trusted bodyguards never came back. Then he found them horribly ripped with their heads nearly bitten off. It looked like a lion attack, but no meat was eaten.

  “Oh gods!” Kinara wailed.

  There are no lion tracks, but the cuts left no doubt what had happened. “Chango, I trust you. Right now I need you. Carry the bodies away and bury them, and swear to me that NOT ONE WORD gets out to ANYONE about this.”

  “I swear.”

  Sure he knew what had happened, Metutu headed back. He heard footsteps beside him, heavy footsteps.

  “Asumini, is that you?”

  She appeared at his side. “Metutu, have courage. I will be with you.”

  “Asumini, did my father do this?”

  She looked at him glumly. “Your heart knows the answer. Metutu, I am so sad, so very sad!”

  “I know you loved him.”

  “Not sad for him. Sad for you! Because you love your father no matter what he has done. Because hard times lie ahead for you. But take heart, for I will not leave you till my work is finished.”

  CHAPTER 18: IN LOVE

  That evening Metutu returned to the one place he could find peace. Coming into the mouth of the cave, he saw Kima standing over the food for the meal. Though she was going through the motions of her old life, the look in her eyes was very different. They were dull and lifeless.

  “Kima? Are you all right?”

  She looked up. “Me
tutu?”

  She looked notably older. Without a moment’s hesitation, Metutu went to her and embraced her. The old fire came back to her face as she wept on his shoulder. “Oh thank God you’re all right! You are such a good boy. No wonder Busara loved you so!”

  “I loved him too. And I promise you that I always will. I want to help any way I can if you’ll only let me.”

  “You mustn’t come here often. It might harm you if word leaks out. There are spies out there.” Without mentioning Kinara’s name, she said, “You know that HE knows everything that goes on. We must be careful.”

  “It does not matter if I am in danger. When I am struck down, I will be lifted up like Busara in triumph over death!” He went back into the cave and held a lamp next to the paintings. He saw a picture that represented himself together with the family group. Metutu fell to his knees and wept. “That must be the last thing he painted!” He touched the painting carefully with his fingertips. “Oh gods, I still can’t believe he’s gone. I will see that he did not die in vain, Kima. I will carry on his work, so help me gods!”

  “See this line that connects you to Asumini? It was his hope that you should one day be joined in marriage. It was my hope too that one day you would enjoy a love rooted in truth and beauty.”

  Metutu, understandably, did not want to betray his own father to the council. Not that much would come of it, with suspicions about Busara’s religion having being confirmed. But he could not condone what his father did.

  “Kima, I am going to continue with my studies with Makedde. I will be a shaman as I had promised.”

  Kima smiled, but her eyes were sad. “Aiheu will bless you. I only wish Busara could have been here to finish your training. He was looking so forward to it.”

  “I didn’t know him for long, but I will never forget his gentle wisdom. He told me to follow my dream. I will.”

  “You must be careful. Don’t let the ignorant put out your light.”