Angels do cry. (part 4)

The walk through the narrow path that led to the River of Asun was a very exhausting one for Angel who would constantly pause to take deep breaths before moving again. Tired lines etched her forehead,deep slashes creased both sides of her gaunt cheeks. Her lips were cracked,throat parched from thirst -a thirstiness she'd endured for three good days trekking barefooted through strange lands until she finally found herself in a small village where the young maidens moved about bare chested with only  pieces of woven raffia tied around their waists. The young men had a part of their faces painted a startling black that sadly reminded her of the the great warriors from her village. Yes,they were bare chested too but girded their loins with parchment of Tiger skin.
   Angel stood by the river bank eyeing the large expanse of water. Her exhaustion was overwhelming now. As she contemplated stooping to scoop a handful of water she felt a presence behind her. She
tensed,holding her breath.
"Young maiden,who are you? You're not from this land." It was the voice of a boy. Slowly Angel turned. The boy who stood right behind her had a warm smile ready. He was no more than a few years older than her,she inwardly surmised. She let out a relieved sigh and smiled back shakily.
 "Take," he commanded softly,handing her a gourd," Fetch some water to drink."
Angel muttered her appreciation and fetched as much as she could.

After she had her fill ,Angel thanked him and made to turn away. But the young lad wouldn't see her gone that easily. He touched her lightly on the back. "What brings you to the land of Asun?" he asked,running

accessing eyes through her unkempt body clad in flimsy wrapper,and then finally settling on her 

dusty feet. 

"I..i..i..lost my way." Angel replied lamely,fidgeting with the hem of her wrapper.

"Oh you did." He quirked one eyebrow mockingly.

"Yes I did." Angel rejoined in a flash of defiance.

The boy stared at the beautiful stranger for several long seconds. She suddenly reminded him of a lost bird in the wood and he felt a stirring of compassion in his heart. "Tell me where you were heading to before you lost your way." he said gently,reaching for her hand. She bit her lower lip and held his eyes. "I'm going to the city." She said.

"To the city? Dressed like this?" His eyes popped in astonishment. "You could have been molested on the way by evil men! What crimes did you commit in your land that got you banished?"

"I did not commit any crime." Angel replied flatly.  "I fled the village of Omukpe because my father wanted to defile me but I would not allow him. Should he have reported the twisted side of the story,the king would have got me killed." 

The boy's eyes widened. He didn't know why,but he believed her. "Come with me home, " he said," I live with my blind Mother and two elder sisters. If you are lucky and Naji has not returned to the city yet you might leave with her tomorrow. Come with me."  He watched her take unsteady steps as she followed him to the small hut where he lived with his family. They received her excitedly, obviously captivated by her beauty. His blind mother's hand fluttered around her facial features with a warm smile hovering on her lips. "Great beauty, this one." She said and then called "Naro!" 

Her second daughter hurriedly came to kneel before her. "Yes mama."

"Go prepare fufu and Melon soup for our guest, she must be very hungry. Naji you,"She turned towards her oldest child," Get a bucket of water ready for her to bath." 

"Yes Mama." She reluctantly broke gaze away from the black,beautiful stranger Sachi had brought home from the river side. Wasn't it possible she was a mermaid? She was so breathtakingly beautiful even though she reeked of filth.

Angel had a thorough bath,sponging her delicate skin till it almost became raw. When she got back into the hut she found a loose gown neatly folded on the mud bed. "Wear it my dear," the blind woman said gently from the wooden collapsible chair she sat. "You are not from this land so I don't expect you to go bare chested like my daughters."

"Thank you Mama. May the gods bless you for your kindness to me." Angel said with deep feeling.

The meal was sumptuous. Hungrily Angel devoured every bit of it. She thanked them profusely,thinking now that they were a blessing to her. What if Sachi hadn't arrived by the river side? 

"Naji shall be leaving for the city tomorrow to live with her late father's sister,Aunty Kojo. I'll send word through Naji that she extends her arms to take you in as well. Kojo is a good woman. I'm sure she'll do as I say." She got up and stretched her body frame. "Nightfall is approaching my children. For a poor old woman like me,what is more delightful than sitting under the moonlight with the gentle breeze teasing my frail body? There you can tell me why you ran away from your land," she smiled toward the direction Angel stood. 

"Yes Mama." Angel said,smiling back. She,the girls and Sachi went to join her outside. 

It was an airy night and from the distance away frogs croaked,crickets chirped restlessly and the King's fleet of sheep bleated noisily. The moon shone brightly in the sky,casting long distorted shadows of them sitting on the mat. There Angel began her story.

"-I shall find that old bastard and kill him someday! " Sachi burst in when she got to that part where her father had pounced on her. 

Everyone was quite taken aback by the vehemence in his tone and he shifted uncomfortably,somwhat embarrased.

Angel went on and after a deep sigh concluded,"I must get to the city,find some sort of job and save enough money to take my mother away with me to the city..and away from my father -"

"You still call him father?!" Naji interjected angrily," how can a man want to defile his own daughter?!"

Angel smiled sadly and said nothing. She felt a bony hand on her thigh. It was the blind woman. Almost inaudibly she heard her mutter,"Your heart desires a good thing... it shall be granted you by the gods as you so desire."

 That night Angel cried herself to sleep. She missed her mother terribly and wondered if she was all right. As the uncontrollable tears rolled down her cheeks,she vowed there and then to return someday to Omukpe to take her poor mother away. The night was a long,miserable one for Angel who would cry and wipe her tears and even when the first cock crew at dawn she still had fresh drops of tears in her eyes. 

As she got ready to embark on the journey to the city,she remembered the dream she had the previous night. Yes,she saw the tall,dark stranger again. But in this dream he had a warm smile on his face and then he beckoned on her to come to him. Angel found herself moving to him,drawn to his overwhelming presence. But as she stood before him,seeing him clearly now she noticed the hard glint in his eyes. She made to take a hasty step backward but he swiftly caught her by the elbow and whispered,"You cannot run away from me,child." 

To be continued..

Written by Osarhieme Okungbowa.

*Hey deary,so sorry the part 4 of this story is only coming up now. I promise to put up the ensuing part tomorrow. Now tell me if you enjoyed it.... 

Kisses n hugz..

Meme.