The sun was almost at its climax. Babida the lumberjack and the young Bodo walked at a fast pace toward the direction of the Forbidden Mountain in the north of Okunde village. Very thirsty and dehydrated, they stopped by a lake on the way: the Sanaga, one of the finest in the region. They first drank some of its pure water before finally deciding to swim in and refresh their entire bodies that were being aggressed by the sun's rays. Done, they resumed their journey.
After a persisting effort, they reached the foot of the Forbidden Mountain just as the sun rays were dropping in intensity. They lifted their eyes and perceived the summit at over a thousand and five hundred meters. The two scouts were intimidated by the incredible height of the hill. However, for their mission was of great importance, to give up was out of the question for them, especially after all they had endured along the path.
Babida the lumberjack was nonetheless worried the climbing of the flank was going to be too much for the youngster Bodo, though the latter had displayed outstanding stamina and strength since their departure from the headquarters of Governor Kola II.
"Stay back and wait for me here," the woodsman said to the young Bodo.
"Sir, it would be better if I came with you. I'm fit and you would need someone to assist you one way or another when you find the spot of the newborn Monster," the youngster answered back the logger.
The latter took a few seconds to think about the stance of the young scout before looking him in the eyes and seeing himself at the same age.
"Oh yeah, you are simply as foolish as I used to be when I was a teenager. Well, so be it, follow me, young lad!" Babida the lumberjack told the young Bodo.
They thus began to defy the abrupt front flank of the hill. The woodsman was ahead and the youngster Bodo was shadowing him. Step by step they moved toward the summit and when they were just about to reach there and that the sun was going soon to set, Babida the lumberjack felt a bizarre movement on the opposite flank of the mountain.
"Wait!" The woodsman enjoined the youngster Bodo.
"I felt something striding on the other flank of the cliff. We have to continue to move forward with even more caution," he stated.
"Trail me and move only if I move!" He commanded the young lad who did as he was instructed.
The woodsman began to crawl like a lizard. Each of his movements was now made with delicacy. The young scout Bodo copied on him and after a short moment they finally reached the summit.
"Wait!" Babida the lumberjack ordered once again.
He crawled to the opposite flank of the mountain, looked down, and saw a big crater in a landscape largely dominated by tall green herbs.
He stood back on his feet and said to the youngster Bodo: "Follow me, brave lad!".
Then they began to move down the rocky flank of the cliff at a slow speed. After arduous labor, they touched the wet ground. Babida the lumberjack kept the lead and walked toward the cavity he had remarked when they were on the summit. The young Boda tailed him.
A few meters from the immense hole, the woodsman with a hand sign commanded the teenager Bodo to stop his progression. He began to crawl again and neared the cavity. He tried to peep inside but it was so obscure that he could not see anything.
"I need fire," Babida the lumberjack whispered to the young Bodo.
"However, I don't know how I can make it," he expressed sadly.
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"But I have matches with me," the young warrior surprised the logger.
"How come?" The woodsman asked.
"I am a smith. I smelt plenty of swords and for that, I am constantly making fire. So I always bring matches with me wherever I go," the young scout explained while putting his right hand in the pocket of his silk trousers, then took out a box of tiny Ikoro sticks with phosphorus on the edge. He then passed it on to Babida the lumberjack.
"Thank you, brave lad!" The woodsman said to him.
"Wait for me here!" The logger ordered him, then stood up and went backward.
He looked for a tree, found one, and cut off a branch with his herculean ax. He then returned to the crater. The youngster Bodo had remained still.
"Okay, here we go!" Babida the lumberjack whimpered.
He opened the matchbox, gripped a thin stick, and rubbed its head against the red strip on the side. It caught fire. He directed the flames on the leaves of the branch he had just sectioned. They ignited as well.
The woodsman approached the crater. He extended his right hand and looked inside. The hole depth was about fifteen meters. He noticed fragments littering the ground and was confused by what it was. So he called on the young Bodo.
"Young lad, come closer!" Babida the lumberjack murmured while making a hand sign.
The young Bodo crawled toward the crater.
"Look at the bottom! What could be these broken pieces?" The logger asked him.
The young warrior glared at the fragments intensively and replied: "But this is a bird's fractured shell."
Babida the lumberjack was struck by the youngster's statement. He stared at him as he had just realized where they had set their feet, and commanded loudly: "Young lad, run, run, run, run away!".
Babida the lumberjack and the young Bodo began to sprint wildly amid the greenery. With the sharp blade of their weapons, they repelled the pasture blocking their way. The young scout Bodo sliced viciously with his stainless steel sword the head of the damned grasses while the woodsman used his herculean ax to unroot the most recalcitrant plants.
After a long run, the crater was well far behind them.
"Stop!" The logger was ordered. The youngster Bodo who was demonstrating impressive marathon skills, obeyed him.
"The sun is about to set. We need to find a shelter. In these grasses, we are excellent prey for this bird of ill omen. We will go back to the cavity tomorrow morning," Babida the lumberjack declared.
"There!" The young Bodo shouted while pointing in the direction of the refuge.
"Yes, perfect! Let's go!" The logger responded to him.
They advanced toward the location. Plenty of grapes were on their way. They harvested some and began to eat them while continuing to move forward.
"What a marvel of nature these grapefruits are! They are extremely energizing," Babida the lumberjack confessed as they reached the foot of a small cliff.
They climbed to the top and lay while watching over the ground to foresee any suspicious activity. Then the night arrived rapidly and the wind became cold. The youngster Bodo fell thus asleep whereas the woodsman, although also very tired, was unable to snore since so many things were going through his mind.
Grrrr…Grrrr...Grrrrrrrr…Grrrrrrrrrr
"Hey, young lad, you are sounding louder and louder. You must be in an opera in your dreams right now," the logger said while looking at the sleeping kid.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrr…Grrrrrrrrrrrr
"Wait a minute! But that's not you!" He declared before standing up hastily.
He looked around and suddenly screamed: "It's the baby Monsterrrrrrrr!"
The young Bodo was wakened up by the powerful sound of his senior colleague's alert. He rose in panic, quickly carried his stainless steel sword, and stood next to the logger.
A big bird, five meters high, three meters large, and about ten thousand kilograms arose in front of them and attacked them with its beak.
The young warrior Bodo was seriously injured and Babida the lumberjack was unbalanced. The latter rolled down the cliff and lost his herculean ax in the process. Now alone and bleeding profusely, the young scout Bodo was therefore at the mercy of the baby Monster. At a slow but sure pace, the angry bird neared his prey to finish him off.
"You, bird of ill omen, I swear on the head of my ancestors, we will exterminate you and any of your cursed descendants. You will never have peace on this land," the teenager Bodo said in agony.
The baby Monster seemed not to be moved by the words of a defenseless prey. It stepped toward the young scout and stung him with great violence. The lad died on the spot.
"No!" Babida the lumberjack shouted but it was too late. His young comrade was no more.
He stood back up and ran to pick up his steel ax. He then attempted to hit the beast but the latter was faster than him and slapped him with its left wing. He was propelled into the air before brutally landing on the green grass.
Thankfully for him, the herbs were high and it was dark. Therefore the wicked bird lost sight of him. The predator sought its prey around the small cliff for a while and was never able to find him. Babida the lumberjack remained camouflaged while holding his breath and praying to Meneh, the god of invisibility.
Ultimately, the baby Monster gave up on its hunt and retreated. The calm thus reigned once again, at least for the moment.
Hurt, Babida the lumberjack was moaning. He put his right hand in the right pocket of his silk trousers, then took out the plastic bottle that Governor Kola II had given him. He looked at it hesitantly as its magical content was a sleeping potion for the newborn Monster. He needed a healing beverage instead.
To solve the dilemma, the woodsman invoked the ancestors: "Almighty Igwè, my ancestor, god of healing, I implore your mercy upon me. Turn the content in this bottle into an invigorating potion so I can drink it and heal from my wounds! In exchange, I will give you half of my wealth."
Barely had the logger finished expressing his wish to the forefathers, that a voice was heard above the sky.
"Babida, Babida, the ancestors have received your wish and it has been granted," the voice declared and never spoke again.
The woodsman removed the cap of the bottle and drank a few drops of its content. A bright light thereafter appeared out of nowhere, moved around his injured body and the wounds one after another cured instantly. Now in great shape, he stood up and looked for his herculean ax in the pasture. He found it and then began to head back to Okunde village. The scout mission was aborted...but the war was just beginning.
TO BE CONTINUED…