Written by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren
Chapter One
Strange Night
Poor weather wreaked havoc on the waters of Guzah. A ship which had struggled all day, bubbling with Makundah pirates, anchored at the shores. They were happy that they survived the madness of the raging storm. They chanted victory songs and shot several bullets into the quiet hands of the night. They had a ladder. One after another, the men clambered down and waded waist-deep through the water to land.
Related Articles
related story- South Side Alchemy
They had weapons, victuals and treasures stolen from past expeditions. They conquered the madness of the day and now they faced the way home to feed from their valor. The night was cold and glowing insects paraded the forest. An ambitious rider who is not conversant with the forest might take them for a wild cat waiting to walk a body to hell.
After they had gathered at the shore, they took body count. No soul was missing. They set off in a file into the forest behind their leader, Mukande, a wicked dwarf, whom they feared like a god. They looked in every direction to make sure that they were not followed. In a treacherous world, you cannot trust the dark night. Out of its belly are issues of death. There were few stars on the bare chest of the sky. They gave light near the moon. When darkness began to tread the sun’s old path, going further would be a dangerous choice. A man is for himself but God is for us all.
related story- First Assignment
The forest was old and the stench of treachery hung in the air. Fruit bats made the forest and her fruits their restaurant. The human presence did not hinder them from moving from one tree to another to find a meal. The trees were in their rows, separated by inches and yards. Many fruits were not eaten.
Hunters trailed the pirates. The old forest has always been a battlefield. The strong thrive on the shadow of the weak. The intruders were Oza hunters from the hinterland who venture south of the waters.
related story- Hope Raisers
After covering a good distance, they chanted and brandished their weapons. Someone attacked one of the pirates. Before he could snatch a breath, the hunter who plucked him from the group, drove a dagger into his neck. As he lay struggling for life, the attacker grabbed his battle-ax and exerted a mighty heave to zap off his neck. The body of the pirate rested on the bare chest of the earth as his head rolled onto the bush path. , he collected all that was on the severed pirate. Rings, beads and all his belongings were in his pockets. The hunter flashed a menacing smile at the severed body of the pirate. He looked to every side to make sure that no eye was watching. Then he disappears into the waiting hands of the forest.
related story- Discover yourself
As the gang journeyed against all odds, the attackers fell on them. One of the hunters who hid behind an old baobab tree fell upon one of the pirates. They had a fair struggle. The pirate fought back with his battle-ax. His blow came a bit late as the hunter had already driven his sword into the pirate’s chest. He elicited an agonized cry that drew the attention of his cohorts. Before they could blink, the hunter had disappeared into the forest. The man surrendered to the incoming blackness. He was a heap on the floor under the watchful eyes of the quiet evening. Death has no joy.
They rushed to the scene, flashing their torchlight and wielding their weapons. They checked the man. He was cold like a headless chicken. One pirate flashed his light about. He saw strange mask on a tree. He walked to the tree to have a closer look to learn what type of mask it was. He plucked the mask from where it hung; he flipped it back and forth. He was trying to figure out its source. A large man who was as dark as midnight emerged from behind the tree and drove a spear into his belly! The pirate yelled up to the high heaven and fought back with his ax. He missed his aim. He staggered. The large man who is an Oza hunter stabbed him by the side with the spear.
Before the attacker could take cover in the nearby bush, his pair of legs betrayed him. He stumbled on a log of wood and landed on the ground. He tried to regain his footing and run. Arrows from the pirates sank into his body. The hunter fell to his knees. But as they rushed to vent their anger for killing one of them, the creature drew his knife and took his own life. He fell on his face to the ground.
related story- Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again
They rushed to his corner. They stood over him and looked down on his lifeless body. “He’s a hunter from Oza!” one of the pirates said and spat on him.
“What is an Oza hunter doing here? They hardly go beyond the hinterland,” said Salis. He frowned and looked about.
“Where does that leave us?” Moadab inquired and looked at Salis.
Mukande chuckled. “We have a big problem in our hands, Moadab. This is not good. The hunters are tracking us,” Mukande disclosed. He blinked his eyes almost a million times. The fierce balls that sat on the socket of his skull traveled round the trees and back to his men. “Salis and Moadab will protect the treasure, while the rest of you will make sure they are safe. You must fight as if your life is in your mouth. If you do not resist this storm, we may never make it out here alive! The Oza hunters are no mere men. Legends say they are sons of a dark spirit that once roamed the old earth. Yet they bleed like us and draw breath from the wings of the morning breeze. Spare no one. Spare no hunter. Make them pay for the departed!” He clenched his fist.
They nodded in agreement. They grabbed their weapons with iron grip and continued their journey. Not long after, five or more arrows flew out of the woods. Two pirates caught. They fell and others injured. Rattled, Mukande and his men decided to run through the dark forest to their hideout in the cave.
The pirates tasted misfortune as their meal for that day. The hunters fell on them and they fought all night.
The horror of death stared them in the face. Those who escaped the frenzied attack of spears and arrows fell by the sword and ax of the hunters. Many lay struggling for life like primitives that fell stone dead at the blast of muskets. The battered bodies of the pirates littered the floor. Hidden behind the odd night and tall trees, the hunters had the advantage. They grabbed the opportunity with both hands and wreaked havoc.
Yet, the hunters also suffered loss. Makunde, Captain Salis, Moadab and the few others that were still alive decided to flee. The hunters chanted victory songs and brandished their weapons before they gave chase. As they chased them down the path to finish them off, the hunters made life unbearable for the pirates. At intervals, an arrow would pierce the ugly darkness and rob a dear soul of his life.
Mukande and his men ran into a swamp, where some territorial crocodiles had taken refuge. But the night hindered them from seeing beyond their nose. Three or more pirates wade through the swamp to the other side fell into the mouth of the crocodiles.
Mukande and the others took another route. As the hunters approached the swamp, they faded from the chase. The creatures disappeared into the forest.
It was relief as they no longer hear the noise of their pursuer. Trying to keep their pace and looking back at the same time, they dashed into their cave and secured it.
Men sat on the floor groaning in pains. Those who escaped hurt made fire and offered treatment to those that were casualties. Mukande, the dwarf, suffered a deep cut on his shoulder and was languishing in a corner near the fire. Treatment offered to those they felt would survive. They killed others whom they felt had little or no chance of survival. And they threw them out of the cave. Salis and Moadab only suffered bruises and were in good company. It was a long night. Uncertainties spread in the camp. Their safety was no longer guaranteed. The group had never come under attack in the forest. After surviving the raging storm, it was hard to say what will happen next.
New books to read right now:
Hope Raisers
Rosen
Authors earn more
when you buy direct
Fake news around the dinner table
Beyond the father
First Assignment
Where the Lilacs Bloom once again
Anthony Wray |
One minute, Colonel John Locklear was in an ambush in Iraq, and the next he was home and his entire team was MIA. In his dreams, he’s drawn into another world where past, present, and future are all happening at once. There are high-seas pirates negotiating with sentient robots and people who feed off of nature’s light energy. Natasha is a leader in this other world and she keeps calling John by the name “Zac.” Then, it isn’t a dream anymore and John becomes Zac, accepting that he—and his team—have a role to play in Lunia, the world on the other side of a black hole, the world Zac needs to save.
BUY NOW