Wale struggled and tore off his bindings, he felt like someone who just his bike against a truck, the sheer amount of pain he was feeling in his body was not helping a tall the only thing he know for sure is that he had to get out of this thing that wraps him up tighter than the wrappings of a swaddling toddler
He eventually ripped it off only to behold a sight that scared the shit out of him, his wounds healing at the speed visible to the naked eye and the last parts of his joints repositioning themselves like there is an invisible chiropractor putting his bones together from its dislocations
His fears further skyrocketed when he saw that the area he woke up from seems to be the re-enactment of a Biafran war battlefield that is to say it's all bombed up, his instincts was screaming at him to make himself the scarcest commodity in that area but reason put a bit of resistance with the question 'how the heck did I survived all this'
He then scanned the entire area nobody yet to come and check the area, 'the soldiers will soon be coming but from which direction' he scanned the entire area some more before the bodies captured his attention.
'They seemed to have been hit by a grenade judging from the damage and then someone called an air strike air strike possibly done by a helicopter he surmised... but how did I managed to survive all that bombardment?'.
Who or whatever did this must have been long gone, leaving me a short while in this area before the forensics comes in to do a thorough check in the area provided I am in a government ruled area not a terrorist turf like Sambisa forest.
Maybe I was a victim of human-trafficking since none of this area or dead bodies screams Nigeria! to my senses he then went to check the bodies left on the battlefield, he saw that they are still carrying some paraphernalia he then decided to take some clothing for himself since he saw one nearly unmarred sitting in death under a tree.
I wonder what happened to this poor bloke, probably was sent flying and died on impact due to internal injuries, he then proceed to scour the battle field thoroughly clean of even the barest scrap of man-made items and left all the corpses naked 'they wouldn't feel shame would they? he mused while wearing the drab clothe of the man he found under a tree, then he continued scavenging 'dead man tell no tales well autopsy and such but hopefully their autopsy would not snitch on me that I so very conveniently took from them'.
what he took includes a rucksack and was going towards the nearest hill in search for any land marks that can lead him towards civilization... wait a minute I... how did this bag fit them all?!. he dropped the bag like a burning coal in hand, he then remembered that moment he woke up holy! I ended up with a juju bag that can swallow all things.
He wanted to bolt there and then but... all the stuff that he had put into the bag for survival purposes this won't do and what's with the Asiatic dress hmmm the looks uh the clothes! I was trafficked to a rural maybe china but definitely Asia that creates juju bags huh?
'Keep cool, oh really, you need to keep your cool man, losing your shit is the last thing you want Wale, just go up that mountain to find maybe a foot path or at least a major road and get to a village town or something other than this forest, maybe a farm and just don't get accused for stealing the farmers produce coz that will be meh'.
With that in mind he continued his journey uphill he managed to reach a height till he couldn't climb anymore and then turned to scan the area he still saw the devastated pace he came from in an area near the valley.
well its evening, and now that I am stuck here with nothing but me and my thought, no and also a juju bag let's see if it swallows all what is put within or can also show some love and cough out something useful I'll not complain, not at all
He then turned the bag upside-down lo and behold he was swamped with the absolute mass of the stuffs that fell out of the bag he quickly turned it right-side-up to stop lest things go to waste by being contaminated with sand.
In there, he saw books written in gibberish he couldn't understand, he couldn't read it so he simply packed everything in until his eyes fell upon some meat jerky and some travel rations there oh that settle it I can rest easy so now food temporarily solved water.
He looked towards the valley knowing that he is not moving a step there he continued to rummage through the bag till his hand touched a water skin he was pleasantly surprised that it was not plastic bottle but what is it to expect from an area so rural poor guys he shook his head in sympathy for those he saw on the 'battlefield' no amenities yet still drew the wrong attention of a missile strike
Though it will just be right for me to take all that you have coz you don't need it anymore and I am sorely in need of it. anyways time to settle down for the night tomorrow is sunup have enough energy to keep moving
MIDNIGHT
He woke up with a startle, a howl, oh shit! he curled up like a ball where he hid to sleep in the mountain crevice wide enough to barely fit a man and his backpack, luckily for him that night it was the corpses of cultivators in the valley that truly attracted the wolves attention, I mean why hunt when there is a free all you can eat buffet. With what he witnessed that night he decided that the other side of the mountains ridge will be safer to pass the night in and left for it.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
MORNING
He had finished his night's rest at the other side of the mountain why because he fears the wolves might come to hunt for some fresh meal when the cadavers aren't enough, but he was overjoyed when he heard a faint crow ahead yes! there's finally a lead towards civilization at last, he cheered because as much as he might want to ration the travel rations they are not much probably last a day or two and the bottle will last even less.
With his impending salvation in mind he plotted the best possible track with the least bushes to the place he heard the crow of chickens which was quite a distance away, settle first and then solve the mystery of the juju bag he thought to himself.
AFTERNOON
Another crow this time louder in his ear almost there with legs aching he trudged through the bush till he popped out unto a footpath ,he then bent down to study the path well making sure not to disturb the dirt since the place with the most recent footprint will determine the location where he will quickly meet people and ask for help in order to return home.
He managed to spot some prints and where it was headed so he chose to go with it gambling that it will lead towards a main road, he gambled right seems whoever left that footprint is long gone but at least a main-road will perhaps lead to a town or at least a village.
EVENING
Well there we are, maybe I will be camping near the road today, at least the only thing that I will be guarded against will be marauders not animals that can sniff you out if they discover your scent to hide should be easier then he heard some trampling heading his way neither fast nor slow he was on the road he quickly snuck into the bush to hide and to observe the people who might not necessarily save him
He saw them while they passed women some men and kids even some adolescents ok not military but what's with the rustic look it seems everyone is trying to cosplay ancient Asia with what I can vouch for as a genuine blade in the scabbard,
Ok, I will have to give them some social distancing not to get summarily executed for well any charges they trumped up since they can be the judge the jury and the executioner, oh yes dad always say that you should respect the weapon that even a child holds.
I camped some distance away from them that night observing the retinue, at least till sleep overtook me and I slept off the next morning when I woke they were already far off so I took this time to get close to them knowing that my window of opportunity might as well slip off if I remain indecisive
Not knowing that my speedy movement had caught their attention thunk! an arrow landed nearly on my foot which spooked me, I could not fully control myself from top-speed to stop immediately which sent me tumbling on the ground jeers of laughter erupted from the kids.
Hey! I screamed, help a brother here! Please! I'm lost! I want to find a place to stay! I hopped and waved my hand like a drowning man not caring about how pathetic that might come to look like.
"#@##$%!" came an incomprehensible reply "Uh what! I did not get it" I shouted back
The part where I was asking for help and not being answered continued for a while,and then it seemed the leader or whoever is in charge had had enough of my jabbering he sent someone a sentry I suppose one of those who stood guard last night hopefully not to come and kill me however when he was getting too close I shifted back a little which caused him to pause and then
"#@##$#" the sentry said
Uh, excuse me?" I replied, "I don't understand your language. Can you speak English or maybe Yoruba?" So I decided to greet him in Yoruba, first stating my name: "Oruko mi ni Wale, ba'o ni?"I said that with some gestures, hoping the guy would understand. I made some more gestures, stating that I needed a place to stay. Then the boy left, returning to the caravan to converse with the leader.
"Xiao Suo so what is with the stranger," Wei Hao asked
"he seems to be stranded dashixiong or lost and he does not know the imperial language" Wei Suo answered
'Hmm guessing from his style of dress he is not anybody from a nearby village or town and his dressing is too bland then methods are in some way strange and in another way alien to the other cultures I know of, heard of or read about' he mused
Ok go pick him up he might be anyone important you know lest we offend a lost young master that fell out of favor and might regain it, go quickly Shidi" Wei Hao ordered"Ok da shixiong " Wei Suo dutifully went to do Wei Hao's bidding
or maybe he was just a normal lost one we might never tell his mind reverts to stories of encounters similar to this that ended in both ways possible anyways he plans to hedge it so nothing goes wrong he looked towards the place that Wei Suo went to fetch the stranger
"When we get to the village Lu Nan shimei we are taking this straggler we found to the village chief", Lu Nan nodded her head in reply and Wei Hao continued "Please keep watch over him for strange signs we do not want our good will to transform into a security breach for the village or the caravan ok?"
"Ok shixiong" came a curt reply from her, Wei Hao glanced in her direction only to see her gazing into the vista at alert.
Lu Nan is the eldest daughter of the village chief, Lu Fenglai. She is really good with the bow. She was the one who stopped Wale's speedy approach with a single arrow near his foot. She is a formidable deadshot in her own right. She is the second in line to Wei Hao when it comes to battle power, making her the second in the village dojo and strict to the core.
It was not long after that Wei Suo brought Wale to the caravan to get checked in. When asked his name with gestures, though he somewhat understood, he said Wale, huh? Hua Lei? Wei Hao said, "Okay, his name is known as Hua Lei. At least we won't call him 'stranger' when he is questioned by the village head and elders."
Ok sundown is coming soon tomorrow we head for village, let's set up tents and so he was directing the entire caravan efficiently to the role they are going to play
Wale read the mood of the caravan's people 'guess that they will be settling soon' he guessed filled with anticipation" Finally a place to rest my head" his mind drifted to the horror-filled day He first opened his eyes in this strange land and he shuddered "Never will that level of helplessness befall me again" he swore, and as a cautionary hedge he continues "if I did not get abducted to another unknown area.