Chapter Nine - Cunning Disguises
From the moment he received the amulet, Wot felt tremendously important, the very fact that the figure had trusted him with its safety had given him a tremendous boost. With it in his possession, he felt as if he could face anything that lay ahead. On the return trip, walking through the dark waters of the lake, he was hardly able to contain his excitement. Gazing down affectionately at the amulet, he was like a child with a new toy.
Arriving on dry land, the band of three made their way up the small, pebbly beach. Droplets of inky water fell to the ground, leaving their clothes completely dry.
“What do we do now?” asked Nott.
“Hmm, I don’t know,” Wot replied. “Have you any ideas, Kakuri?”
“I’m hungry,” she replied. “How about us having a meal?”
“Good idea,” said Nott. “Come on, Wot, get rhyming.”
Finding a secluded place beneath some trees, away from any inquisitive eyes that might happen to pass, Wot recited the following…
“Oh little people small and sweet,
Bring some food for us to eat,
Bring us drink to wash it down,
Oh little people hear this sound.”
The Orlu took a considerable time to make an appearance. When they finally turned up, there was not the same milling around as before. They did provide that which had been called for, but something was definitely wrong. After the Orlu had finished laying out the meal, Kakuri enquired as to the reason for their tardiness, though emphasising that she was not complaining, just concerned. Instead of disappearing like all of his kin, one of the little people came over to her, he said, “We are feeling blue because we have heard that Miafra’s eyes have spotted you, that he will soon be informed of the details. You are in grave danger,” he said. “You must not stay in any one place for long. When he hears this news, his rage will be unimaginable. We fear for you.”
“Thank you for this information,” Kakuri replied. “With this knowledge we are now safer, and rest assured we will be careful.” She pointed over to Wot, “We now have The Amulet of Oxmosis in our possession. It will be of great help to us. So fear not little man, we will be fine.” Looking somewhat happier, the little person disappeared into the vegetation. From within its depths they could hear intense talking amongst the hidden Orlu.
After their meal was finished, as Wot once again found himself admiring his wonderful piece of magical jewellery, a strange thing happened. The largest jewel, at its centre, began to glow bright, brighter, and then brighter still. The light, becoming more and more intense by the second, radiated from it, projecting a red glow into the still air. From within this projected red light, a form began to appear. At first, it was difficult to make out, but as it intensified in strength, it became apparent just whom it was. It was the face – Umahia’s face!
“I have been following your progress,” he said, “and it has been remarkable. I am proud of you both.” Looking across to Kakuri, Umahia remarked, “I see you have a new friend. Welcome Kakuri.” Acutely embarrassed by her unexpected audience with the great Umahia, Kakuri remained silent. Umahia continued, “You already know that one of Miafra’s minions has spotted you; he will soon be informed of this. Speed is of the essence. I see that you have secured the amulet – excellent. Listen carefully… The first part of your counter-offensive is to restore time itself. You must reinstate time to where and how it should be; at best, you will repair the damage done, at least you will restart it. In doing so, you will return the seasons, the festivals, Christmas and all of the other things we hold so dear.”
Umahia’s avid listeners made no sound, no comments. He continued, saying, “You must travel north, to the far North of this land, to Gandu Point. It is there you will find the Axis of Perpetual Time. Once found you must repair it. In so doing you will have restored time. I wish you well… and remember, at all times be on your guard.” The red-light vision of Umahia then faded into the nothingness from whence it had come.
“Well, it seems as if we have a long journey ahead of us!” said Kakuri. “Shall we get started?” having said that, she led the way forward. You see, for a time Kakuri’s father, Suru, worked up north. He had told her many a tale of the wonderful places she would see if she were ever to visit that part of Onisha. How odd, she thought, to be going there with two strangers from another world, to restore time to its natural place.
Most of the journey was uneventful. Travelling cross-country, they had no other sightings or contact. However, as they entered the area of Gandu province itself, a heavily populated area, it became apparent that trying to avoid the locals was going to be nigh on impossible. A new means of subterfuge was required, one in which they would conceal their identities.
Kakuri blended in fine, her olive skin and indigenous clothes would pass by unnoticed in any part of the land, but her two travelling companions, with much paler skins – and strange clothes –were an altogether different matter. Kakuri had a plan to remedy this...
Firstly, she would deal with the Outlander’s pale complexions. “Wait there,” she said as she wandered around looking for something.
“Where do you think she has gone?” asked Wot.
“Heaven knows,” Nott replied, scratching his head, wondering.
After a short while, Kakuri returned with a bucket full of mud.
“No!” Nott protested. “You are not putting mud on my face!”
Despite his protestations, Kakuri continued as if he had not even spoken. Adding some water to the claylike substance, which incidentally bore an uncanny similarity to the Onishian skin colour, she mixed them together. “You first, Wot,” she said. Wot willingly obliged. Applying it first to his face, then all other areas of his exposed skin, she soon had him looking like a native.
“It’s your turn now, Nott,” she said, a hint of a smile on her face. Feeling the wet stickiness of it all, Nott tries to complain, but she was having none of it, the more he complained, the heavier Kakuri slapped on the mud. In the end, he gave up, accepting the makeover treatment, though not very graciously.
Now that were sporting uncanny similarity to the locals, Wot and Nott felt confident of mingling with them. However, Kakuri had not finished with them yet. She still had to implement the second part of her plan. “Hang on a tick,” she said, heading off once again. Kakuri did not go far. Entering the back gardens of nearby houses, she borrowed two cloaks from the washing lines of their unsuspecting owners. Wot took the cloak in good faith, and soon had it on. Nott just had to complain, saying, “It’s too large.” Then he said, “It’s too thick.” He even said it was too smelly. Finally, after all of his complaints had achieved nothing all, he gave in and donned it.
“Come on you two. Let’s test out your disguises!” said Kakuri as they entered the next town they came upon. It had a decidedly run-down appearance, more like a frontier outpost in the Wild West than a town. By the look of it, the locals had no interest in anything modern. As they entered the main street, a crude nameplate, attached to a roughly cut post, greeted them. It said Owenna.
Kakuri smiled as she read the battered nameplate. She said, “My father told me of the market, here. It’s famous throughout the land. Come on, it will be the perfect place to test out your disguises.” Seeing only rundown string of small shops, businesses and private houses, at the corner of which was something faintly resembling a market entrance, the two Outlanders failed to see what she was smiling at.
Kakuri’s words were certainly true; it was imperative they tested their disguises, and what better place to start than a market? With so many people going about their business, it was most certainly the perfect place. If someone happened to spot them, there would be less chance of them being able to follow, than from elsewhere. Kakuri entered the market, followed closely behind by the two Outlanders.
Once inside, the two friends were surprised at how large the market’s interior actually was. It was a veritable treasure-trove. W
ithin its confines, there was everything and anything one could possibly want, and then some. There was bric-a-brac, shoes (of every conceivable size and shape) and joints of meat so big it was a mystery to the Outlanders as to what type of animal they could have come from. There were also oil lamps, sacks of red rice, green flour, purple salt, and terribly foul smelling chicory tips. One isle, to the rear of the market, consisted entirely of men selling snails – and giant ones at that. These snails (they were still alive) were incredibly fast movers. The stallholders were each holding a stick, which they used to tap the snails on the top of their shells whenever they got too close to the side of the stall. Wot and Nott had no idea why so many of these snails were on sale, perhaps, they thought, the snails were exceptionally good to eat, or maybe the people used them in traditional medicine and cures...
The smells wafting around the confines of the market were sometimes good and other times bad. At times, they were overpowering the two friends wanted to run away, lest they threw up. Restraining the contents of their stomachs, Wot and Nott continued through the market.
Their disguises worked well. No one paid them the slightest bit of attention. Perhaps, though, Miafra’s influence upon these people – dumbing them down – played at part, also. Considering this possibility, gave the trio’s mission a renewed sense of urgency. Armed with the knowledge that mixing with the population would not be a problem, they exited the market.
“Right,” said Nott, “we must take the main road north, heading for Gandu Point. It is not far,” he warned. “We must be prepared for anything from here on, especially so, now that Miafra knows we are here.”
Nott’s remark was oh-so-true, because at that very moment the local governor was presenting this very news to Miafra. If the governor had thought that bringing this news would put him in good stead with Miafra, he was sorely mistaken. On hearing it, the news, Miafra flew into a rage. Yelling, shouting at the top of his voice he said, “What did you say?” The poor man repeated his news, which infuriated Miafra even more. “This is the doing of Umahia!” he hollered. “He will pay dearly for this, so he will! Who are these people, these interlopers?” he asked the governor. Without waiting for a reply, he continued, “I thought everyone was under my control!” The uneasy governor informed Miafra that one of the interlopers was an Onishian woman from the west. On hearing that, Miafra roared, “She will both live and die regretting her actions!” When the governor informed Miafra the remaining interlopers were Outlanders, he quietened. In a exceptionally low voice, he asked, “Outlanders?”
“Yes, Emperor…”
“From where on their Earth do they hail?”
“Considering their pasty, pale skins,” the frightened governor replied, “it is most certainly from northern climes.”
In the same low voice, Miafra asked, “Where are they now and what are they doing?”
“We, we do not have any further information Emperor.”
Miafra, returning to his former demeanour, hollering at the governor, said, “Do you know anything at all?” By now, suffering from the continuous verbal assault upon him, the governor was cringing in despair. He had truly thought that bringing this news to Miafra would have seen him in good stead. He had sorely mistaken.
Having moved on from his governor, Miafra said, slowly, quietly, “Away with you. Get out of my sight.” The poor man, retreating backwards away from his leader, exited the room. Heading for his chambers, Miafra had things to work out, plans to set into motion. He did not want to be disturbed…
In the short time that it took Miafra to reach his chambers, he had the plan prepared. Although he had no idea where the interlopers were now located, he did know they were heading due north. Strolling across to the one small window in his chamber, Miafra gazed out, across the landscape. Everything seemed as he had planned. However, in his heart he knew this was not the case. “The meddlers,” he whispered, “the Outlanders must be stopped.”
Opening the window, extending a gloved hand through to the fresh air beyond, Miafra smiled as a large brown coloured dragonfly landed upon it. It was in no way as large or colourful as those in Ogbo Island were, but it was big by Earth’s standards. Looking intently at the insect, Miafra spoke quietly to it. In words barely audible, he said…
“Dragonfly, be my eyes.
Soar away before me,
Seek and find in our midst,
Strangers be they three,
Stop them in their real intent,
By any means within you,
Go fly my dragonfly.”
Its wings buzzing fast and furious, the giant insect took off from the gloved hand. After circling the area three times, it flew away, disappearing into the distance. Smiling, Miafra closed the window and returned to his rest. Seated, calling his guards, he ordered the immediate dispatch of the Protectors, a band of his most loyal guards, to backup the insect beast he had sent forth.
The Protectors wasted no time in getting ready. The very instant their attendants saddled and loaded up their steeds with all the necessary provisions, they mounted and were off. Their steeds, not your ordinary everyday horse by any stretch of the imagination, resembled dogs more than horses, and very large ones at that. In case you are wondering what type of dog, it is greyhounds. Sitting atop their steeds, galloping out through the gates of Onisha city, the Protectors would soon catch up with the foolish interlopers.
The road to Gandu Point was as expected they had good. With such a high density of population in the area, there were many buildings lining it. These buildings while similar to those in Oweena were generally taller, many of them having three or more stories. Like in Oweena, they were in a poor state of repair, some looking so fragile, the Outlanders wondered how they were still standing. From time to time, someone or another would cast the band of three a glance, but no more than that, just a glance. Sure, why would they? In the state of consciousness the people were descending into, looking out for strangers was less and less of a priority. They simply went along on their day-to-day activities, like clockwork, with little or no thought as to anything else.
The closer the band of three got to Gandu Point, the bleaker the land became. The small bit of colour there had been in the landscape, almost completely faded away. Although many buildings still lined the roadside, fewer and fewer people were about. The area began to take on a decidedly eerie appearance. The clouds, unmoving and grey, looked as if they had stopped dead in their tracks. It was late afternoon when they reached the top of a small ridge. Looking over it, the three weary travellers caught their first glimpse of the sea.
“There, lady and gentleman,” Nott triumphantly declared, “is our objective – Gandu Point,”
Looking in the direction in which he was pointing, Wot said, “I can see a large building, over yonder. It seems so strange... ” He was right, there was something strange going on in Gandu Point – but what? Descending the hill, they set off to see what it was…
Arriving at the bottom of the hill, into Gandu Point proper, an eerie calm greeted the travellers. There were many fine buildings, but no one at all. There were no animals, birds or insects. The flora, devoid of all colours, was, like everything around, a deathly grey. It was as if all living things in Gandu Point had ceased to be.
“I don’t like it,” whispered Wot, “I don’t like it at all...” Looking about him, he said, “I can’t shake off this feeling that we are being watched.”
“I know,” replied Nott, also in a whisper. “I have the very same feeling. Are you alright, Kakuri?” She nodded.
With uneasy feelings and ever-vigilant eyes, the trio continued further into the Point. However, they failed to see the large dragonfly land on a leafless branch high above them.
“At one time Gandu Point must have been a wonderful place,” said Wot. “Such fine buildings, but so rundown... It looks as if no one has lived here for years.” As they got closer to the object of their search, the odd-looking building at the far end of Gan
du Point, they had no doubts whatsoever that something very unusual was going on in the Seat of the Axis.
This smooth faced exterior of the structure resembled highly polished steel. There were many tall windows high up in the walls – but there was no visible entrance! Even stranger, the Seat of the Axis was disappearing and reappearing before their very eyes! One moment it was visible, the next it was gone, and then it reappeared.
“Inside this building is the Axis of Perpetual Time,” said Nott. “Don’t ask me how I know it, I just do. We must get inside and fix it, the Axis.”
“But where is the door?” asked Wot, scratching his head, puzzled.
“Supposing we do find the door, how can we open it when it keeps vanishing along with the building around it?” Kakuri grumbled.
“I don’t know! I really don’t know!” Nott answered. “I can’t know everything, you know!”
Little did they realise this matter would soon be the least of their worries, because high above them, perched on that bare branch, the dragonfly had begun growing in size. Now three times its original size, the insect was still growing.
Oblivious to strange happenings above, the band of three were deep in conversation. “Surely we can use the amulet?” said Kakuri, pointing to Wot
“Hmm, I had almost forgotten about that,” said Nott. “Yes, that’s a good idea.” Erring on the side of caution (it was quite unusual for him), he said, “As with all things in Onisha, we can only guess as to how we might use it.”
“That’s where I can help you,” said Kakuri. She was smiling from ear to ear. “As I have previously told you, my parents taught me many of the old ways. I can operate the amulet – I am sure I can do it!” Extending a hand, she said, “Give it to me, Wot.”
Taken aback by her sudden request for his prized possession, Wot, playing for time, fidgeted about with his fingers.
“Having no such concerns, Nott said, “What are you waiting for – give it to her!”
Removing the amulet and chain from about his person, Wot placed it safely (though reluctantly) around Kakuri’s neck. Although it seemed so much larger upon her, it peculiarly appeared right, as if it belonged to her.
“Like I said,” Kakuri explained, “I think I know how to use it. It’s all about projecting ones thoughts, while at the same time petitioning its help. Shall I give it a go?” she asked.
“Yes, go on,” they replied.
“But do be careful!” Wot added.
“Right, here I go,” she said. With that, Kakuri turned towards the strange building and fixed her gaze firmly upon it. While remaining motionless, she continued to stare at it, and then she said…
“I call upon the Amulet,
To help us in our need,
In our deeds of honour,
To stop this man of greed.
By the power of Oxmosis,
By the power within us all,
By the power of all goodness,
Open up the wall.”
A huge ray of red light, shooting out from the amulet, tore across to the building, striking it squarely at ground level, where it proceeded to burn a hole in the wall. When the structure phased out, the powerful beam simply passed through the air, doing no harm, but when it reappeared, the beam continued cutting an entrance. Even with all of the phasing in and out, the process did not take long. When it was complete, the red beam of light stopped, revealing a large gaping hole in the wall.
Removing the amulet and chain from her person, Kakuri offered it Wot. Stretching out his arms, symbolically pushing it away from him, he said, “No, you keep it, Kakuri. I am not worthy of it. It favours you. It is therefore you who must wear it.” Ever so humbly, Kakuri returned the amulet and chain around her neck.
Taking charge, Nott said, “We now have an entrance, that’s good!”
“But it’s fazing in and out, along with the building!” said Wot.
“I know,” he replied, “and that’s bad. But with a little bit of ingenuity,” he continued, “we can overcome such a thing.”
“We can?” Wot asked, agog.
“Yes, of course,” he insisted. “Look, all that we have to do is...
TO BE CONTINUED
Wot, Nott, Kakuri and the HU BA HOU
Part Two - The Realm of the Black Crystals
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