Must Read: Kumalo… Season 1

6 years ago

Must Read: Kumalo… Season 1

RUGGED KUMALO

KUMALO stumbled, got up, ran and stumbled some more times before stopping to catch his breath. Looking backwards to ascertain if his assailants were still on his trail.

He removed his palm from the gun wound he had sustained in the stomach. His palm was sticky with clotted blood, his shirt is covered with his blood, fresh blood oozed out as he pants. He will die if he does not get help soonest. He trotted on, limping painfully.

He was being sapped of his remaining energy for every step he took made him weaker.

He knew the end had come, it was night, and the street was serene and deserted of all activities. No bike or Cab to hail at such unholy hour, it was past midnight.

Half spent, he crawled to the edge of the road and sat down clutching his stomach, the pain was excruciating, he could not even shout for help, he tried it but no sound came out of his mouth, he was breathing through the mouth.

The bullet had actually ripped his stomach through the right and came out from the left before nailing Jumbo who was reading his book on the head spilling blood and grey matter all over the wall and reading table. Such a gory sight as Jumbo was killed without any premonition.

If Kumalo had not lay down and pretended to be dead, his assailant would have finished him, but had left him to die in the pool of his blood as he lay down, arms spread out and legs contorting before rigor mortis. When he got up, he saw his younger brother’s face still showing surprise with eyes open and mouth agape. The side of the head where the bullet had ripped in was a dark hollow as its content had gushed out splattered on the wall and reading table. It had happened so fast, he never saw it coming but now he knows from whence it came.

He had gotten into a fight two days before the incident at the schools Cafeteria with a strange fellow who was bullying Jumbo his younger brother. They were on queue to buy food when the fellow came and jumped the queue, he went straight to the counter and ordered for a plate of food, other Students who knew the fellow did not say anything but Jumbo was a Jambite and he spoke out. He went and met the fellow and admonished him for not being civil.

He got a smack on the face for his boldness. It was the moment Kumalo walked into the hall and a fight ensued between Kumalo and the Capone of the Supreme Hawks fraternity.

They call him “The Kite” or “Egbe”. Kumalo beat him in the fight by raising him up and hitting him on the ground twice. Kumalo and Jumbo had to run away when he was told by some boys to run for his life before Egbe’s boys come into the Cafe.
He had thought it ended there; he went to school the next day and everything was normal, he felt like a hero when he entered his class room and some boys started to praise him for his bravado. The news was all round the Campus that a common civilian, a stinking Jew man had disgraced the lord of the Hawks! It was like a sacrilege. The Hawks were the most revered Confraternity on Campus, their arc rival “The Black Panthers” would laugh at them. The Blood brothers and the burkinafaso confraternities would ridicule them. A common Jew beating the Lord of the Hawks “Egbe” the Kite in public, slamming him upon tables and chairs in the Cafeteria!

That same night in the heart of Ugwuaji forest behind independence layout. The dark forest where different confraternities hold their meetings, they call it “the Wilderness”. When ever there was a clash between Cults in the day time and the Police appear, Ugwuaji forest is the escape zone as no police dare enter there in the day or at night.

Those living in the communities surrounding the small forest are used to hearing the songs of the Cultists when they meet in the forest at night. They are also used to see strange faces entering the forest an night and leaving in the early hours of the morning flying their colours with their beret.

Egbe sat face down at the middle of the circle formed by his men, there was a burn fire at the center behind Egbe, he sat of the walking stick that doubles as a sword and the handle is collapsible into a platform for sitting when the blade is buried in the earth. It was his late father’s sword of honour worn for his meritorious service in the Nigerian Navy.

Eeeeeeeeweleoooooo!!! He chanted
Hmmmmmmmmmmm! The chorus
Eeeeeeeeeweletiantian! He chanted
Hmmmmmmmmmmm! The chorus
Hawks of the sky! He chanted
Higher! Higher! Higher! The chorus
Higher! Higher! Higher! He chanted
Hawks of the sky! The chorus
My men! Lords and marines! “Ewu ataa m igu n’isi” The goat has eaten my hair! I have been humiliated in the most bizarre way! Chai! A whole me! “Egbe” ! A common Jew! I am yet to come to terms with how that guy did it!

How the guy did what? Stanley the butcher interrupted him!

I mean, I think the guy used jazz on me? Egbe said.

How nah? Asked the butcher; person beat you hands down! He use you sweep the cafeteria!

Now you say he used jazz! Which kain jazz?

I beg you don fall our hands! You don disgrace the whole Hawks for Campus! You don clip our wings! Butcher continued; It would have been better for you not to fight that guy than to disgrace us! You are no longer worthy to be number one!

Hawks of the sky! The number four man, the Judge chanted
Higher! Higher! Higher! The chorus
By the power vested on me by the council of the Lords, I hereby declare that “Egbe” be dethroned as “Lord of the Hawks” and Stanley “The Butcher” to ascend to the throne of the “Lord of the Hawks “
Stanley is to redress all Fork ups and redeem our image on Campus! This is to be done within twenty four hours!

Hawks of the Sky!

Higher! Higher! Higher!

The Judge stepped forward and removed the band of leadership from the hand of Egbe and wore it on the right hand of Stanley
You Stanley Muojekwu! Formerly butcher of the Hawks Confraternity! From today till the day you die, i hereby pronounce you as a “Lord of the Hawks” in this University and beyond! You are to lead us through thick and thin and make sure our face is not rubbed on the mud.

The Hawks interest comes first before any other in your life!

He collected the walking stick from “Egbe” and handed over to Stanley.

Your first speech as the number one my lord, he bows.

Stanley steps to the centre stage and coughs to get attention.

Hawks of the sky! He chanted
Higher! Higher! Higher! The chorus
Higher! Higher! Higher! He chanted
Hawks of the sky! The chorus
He went into a session of jolly songs which the members danced to while dancing around the burn fire.

Hawks of the sky! He shouted
Higher! Higher! Higher! The chorus
Yes! This is a new era! Stanley addressed the house. My own bible na old testament, and it says “an eye for an eye” a tooth for a tooth” but for me na “an eye for two eyes”[ and “a tooth for two teeth”
Those two Jew men must die!
Yes! Yes! The chorus

That will serve as a deterrent to every other Mosquito in the Campus that wants to try us!
I will personally lead the operation this time tomorrow night, Egbe will be there to redeem his image, Sparrow and Eagle will accompany us for the hit. I know where the two live at Trans Ekulu, in a boys quarter occupied by students.

Meanwhile Egbe! For bringing shame unto this house, you are fined a bottle of schnapps and a general jumping by the house! Come to the center!

Egbe went to center stage and was mauled by members of the house by flogging and kicking him while he jumped about falling and getting up.