The Chief of the village where Jude and Shanty found themselves and where they had been arrested and made to stand before stood up from his throne and spoke to his people after Jude had spoken at length.
"I can see pride in this one and I am not surprised that he is filled with pride. Looking at him it is clear he has what it takes to do whatever he wants. Our people are known by our law and so when it has to do with our law we do not joke around. Therefore I have decided and here is my decision; to have these two killed by the sword by this time tomorrow and to have my last wife whose interest shifted from me and went to my enemies, to have her burned alive at the stake" Immediately he pronounced this judgement the last wife knelt and thanked him for giving her the honor of dying in his hands. At this Shanty spat.
The two of them; Shanty and Jude to the palace dungeon where they were made to sit in the dark. When the guard that took them in there left Jude stood and began to check for the window but then Shanty wanted to know what he was looking for.
"I need to find a window here" he said while still looking about him.
"You should not look for a window because it seems this room doesn't have one" said Shanty.
*****
Ken had just seen Rose off after her son Abel was discharged from the hospital. He went back to his house and sank on his seat. Having dialed the number of Charles multiple times and not being able to reach him he decided to reach out to Sarah and Emeka who were working in the company.
"I want to see you and your wife at my place after dismissal from work" he said.
"Yes boss, we will be there" said Emeka.
That evening the two couple arrived and Jude served them a drink. While they sipped their drink in silence Ken cleared his throat and said, "I called the both of you because I am worried"
"What worries you if I may ask please?" asked Sarah.
"Boss, he is on his way to something I consider suicide and he did not think twice to listen to me. We need to look for him and we need to do that as soon as possible" said Ken.
"Sir, if you ask me I will suggest its best we leave him alone to finish what he started..Going after him to look for him will distract his mission and you and I know that boss at these times have grown so serious with his privacy. I think we need to only continue to try his line, to know if he will pick. Rushing there to look for him will make the company suffer" said Emeka.
"Sir, I think my husband is right. Remember the times that he always had to go by himself to the places he wanted to go without having to have anyone follow him. He always returned safely and we need to also believe that his mission this time will be fruitful and that he will also return from it safely" this was Sarah speaking.
"I have heard the both of you. But it doesn't change the fact that there are things we need to still look up to, things that need our help no matter what happens. We need to focus on the company like never before. There are people he is needed to meet by himself but he is not here to meet with them and some of these men are too stubborn, they insist they must see him and they will not trade with me. Meanwhile I think it's high time we focused our mind on what matters the most and not allow ourselves to present ourselves many other things. Having seen this this way I want to commend both of you for your job and for your hard work" He then dismissed them and retired to his room, trying Charles's line all along.
******
Veronica did not want to have visitors in her house and this she meant with all her heart. Edu on the other hand was looking sad in his father's compound but his mother was not going to allow anything to be a hindrance to what she was trying to build for her son.
"I thought we discussed this already and I already promised you that I am going to ensure that you receive the amount you are looking for to start the little business idea you have in mind. I am still looking for money and money will come. When you appear this sad it makes me sad too. My son, talk to me, what is the problem?"
"Mother, I am not sulky because of money, that is not what bothers me if truth must be told" said Edu.
"Then tell me, talk to me and let me hear you, what is bothering you?" asked the mother.
"What bothers me is Veronica" when he said this the mother stood up quietly and left him. He was surprised at her behavior.
"Mama?" he called for her attention but the old woman had already left him and was attending to other things calling for her attention in the compound. Edu remained seated there wondering what prompted him to say what he already said. He was not happy to say that and he felt even if he was not told by anyone he knew that his mother had already grown tired of his way of raising the issue of Veronica constantly. At one of the occasions when he had to raise the topic the mother stood up and said, "I think I have to stop listening to you whenever you talk about this Veronica. You will run mad if you do not take your eyes off her" But it was impossible for Edu to take his eyes off someone he started life with, someone he had loved right from the time immemorial. He remained seated there after his mother left and there was regret in his heart.
*****
The next day and just like the man of the village where Jude and Shanty had found themselves in and had been locked up inside the cell of the Chief the people gathered to witness the killing of the three; Jude, Shanty and the third wife of the Chief. When they arrived they saw that the Chief was already seated on his seat for he himself was so ready to have the three of them killed. His adviser had to said to him the night before; "If you let them live any further your people, most of your people will begin to believe in the things that young man said concerning you. Oh did you not know that during the time you ordered that they be put in the cell that some of the villagers while on their way home began to talk in whispers, there were some amongst them who already began to think and to discuss about the things the young man said. You see we need to make sure that we kill them and to kill them as soon as possible to avoid anything that would become a problem to us. We are not going to let anyone to go beyond anything else. We must not allow anyone to become the very thing that makes alot sense. Let us get them executed as soon as possible"
"I have heard you and yes I have already decided that they were not going to become the reason why things are happening to us. We need them killed just like you said but just like you equally said, some of the villagers started talking about what he said while they were returning to their homes and since it has come to that we are not supposed to do anything that will end up making the utterances of that man legendary in the hearts of our people"
"What do you then suggest my Chief?" asked the adviser.
"I think before we kill them and to be able to avoid making him a hero before some of our villagers it is better we first prove to the people that the man some of them had already started to believe in is not actually what he has presented himself to be" said the Chief.
"I think you are right and if we do that it will make the people respect you the more and also cause the rest that already started to doubt your leadership because of what that moron said to start to rekindle their trust in your leadership" said the Adviser before he then sighed and added, "Now the question is how are we going to do that, how are we going to prove to the people that the one some of them had already begun to trust is not who they think of him as?"
"Do not worry about that. Since we already have them in our dungeon I have my plans for that tomorrow. Even you will know that yes I have decided to do this and it is already done"
And so the next day it was presented before the one standing as judge under the Chief of the plan they had in place. When all had gathered and the Chief was about to speak, having the three of them stand before him they heard a sound that caused the beds perching ontop of trees to start to run. When it had already been decided that they were going to die and the Chief was about to say things, to lie in order to discredit Jude before his people the sound had sounded. When the people turned to see they were shocked to see a strange man approaching. Shanty and Jude turned as well and to their greatest shock they saw that it was Charles approaching the arena. They were shocked to the brim.
"And who is it that comes into my palace in this manner?" the Chief was asking.
"That is the devil himself. We are dead" this was Jude saying to the hearing of Shanty.
"The devil is still learning how to be wicked from him" Shanty whispered back.
"This means our death is already too close than we had expected" said Jude. Charles reached where they were standing and scanned them with his eyes, discovering that they were bound. He did not know what crime they committed yet but he was going to find out.
"Now, I am sorry to come at a time like this but my presence is needed here!" Charles said to the hearing of the people.
"Who re you and what are you doing here?" asked the Chief. Charles turning to face him began to chuckle. He then walked up to the Chief although he was prevented half way from nearing him he stood and said, "My name is Charles. I am a King" Said Charles.
"A King? What kingdom?" asked the Chief.
"One you wouldn't want to mess with" said Charles.
"What is giving him so much courage to speak to the Chief in that manner?" asked Shanty.
"These people don't know anything about guns and other ways of war except the sword and the shield but you see if the one talking to them, if boss were to fire at any of them with his gun and the person falls to the ground you will be surprised that even the Chief will call it witchcraft and will step down for him" said Jude.
"If we knew that they were ignorant of these things we wouldn't have allowed them to treat us this way" asked Shanty.
"What would you have done if you had known?" asked Jude.
"I would have..." she paused, remembering that she had no gun with her.
"What do you want from here?" The Chief was asking Charles.