RIVER IN THE LAKE EPISODE 1

From the writer of
Nude Bed
Death after life
Cold Desert
Hot eyes
Sorrows of an Eagle
Calabash and
Shattered

No one appears to know the exact source of *river* yet it runs through all walks of life as it meanders its way along the many struggles of nature.

How far, how long, how wide can it stretch to exhibit it's commanding prowess over the storms of the day. Or shall it succumb to the harsh efforts of mother nature to subdue and collect this great water in a *lake*.

Abhynha Yankey presents

*RIVER IN THE LAKE*

EPISODE 1

Help! Help! Nana, where is our noble chief? Nana, my child is dying. Please help me, please, I don't want to lose her. She's my only child and I  might sure lose my marriage if I should lose her.
( Nana rushes out of his room to see what is happening.) It's been one incidence of death, ranging from human beings to animals for the past week. It was obvious he was getting scared. Not for his people, but his home because he had just heard the cry of his successor in his home.

What if he also lost him? He looked disturbed as he tried to calm the lady down. "Nana, please do something. Get up from your seat because I won't allow myself to be the next victim. I won't bury my daughter. She must bury me", the lady continued to lament.
Some men and women of the village angrily rushed in with palm fronds demanding to see the chief as he talked to the sorrowful woman. His guards tried to restrict them, but upon seeing their cutlasses, allowed them in.

They carried on their heads dead bodies, and in their hands, sick children with boils all over their bodies. "Nana, we came to you to tell you our problems as indigenes of your land some time ago. You told us to relax and you would seek for a remedy. We have relaxed well enough but it seems the more we relax, the more we lose our people. You have not taken any action. Is it because you have not lost any relative? Nana, now look at us. On our heads, are the bodies of our loved ones, and here, you can see for yourself, are children awaiting death in their own small way. If another person should die, we beg to say, that you may descend the throne", the angry leader said.

Odeneho Kwadwo Sintim for some seconds couldn't say a word. He finally broke the silence and said, "it isn't as if I'm playing dumb here my people. I'm trying so hard. Even Oman Komfo) has failed to say a word. I'm still trying my best so please take it easy. As for death, I pray it doesn't come knocking at your doorstep again. Please, my people, just be patient."
"Patience you said?", one woman shouted from behind. I've lost two of my children, my husband and all my animals. All I have to offer death is myself, but it rather chose my last child. Just look at her. She's stinking with boils all over. And all you can say is patience? Nana, I'm sure you didn't actually plan to say that. Say something reasonable else I dash in there for your child."

The chief realising how angry his people were, continued to beg them. He gave them the assurance that instead of waiting on the fetish priests or sending guards to go and give information, he would rather go there this time. He would find solutions to their problems. His people understood him and left. He was left alone in his compound thinking of what to do. It was obvious Oman Komfo) didn't even have a remedy, talk less of knowing the cause. He finally decided to travel around and see things for himself. Maybe, he might get a powerful Okomfo) who would help him and his people.

"Tutu, go in there and get me some money and prepare. We undertaking a journey now. Tell my wife I'm going somewhere. I will be back in few days time. Don't waste your time in explaining issues to her. Ladies were created in a way that they never understand the reality on the ground", the chief told his main guard. "And one thing, tell her to take very good care of my successor", he added. Tutu did as he was told.

To be continued...

Title Credit: Olivia Asare


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