Darkness in Progress (rough first half of re-write)

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Cast:
*African name (meaning in English) role in the story
*Baobab (the tree of life) avatar of the wilderness
*Cudjo (born on a Monday) narrator
*Azubuike (has much strength) hunter/protector
*Abrafo (executioner) hunter/protector
*Kamau (quiet warrior) hunter/protector
*Tapiwa (ravager) hunter/protector
*Daktari (healer) healer
*Duna (lord/master) chief
*Kalisha (sorceress) main witch
*Malaika (angel) student witch/Kurtz intended
*Ramla (predictor of the future) wise fortune telling elder
*Olumide (“god has bought me”) Kurtz

One

“Initially, they had terrified us. We first heard of them when three fishermen returned from the riverbank. They ran, clambering over each other, towards the house of Duna, our great uncle. Later I heard that they had spoken of a beast on the water; a great otherworldly thing made of rock and teeth. It had shrieked warning at them. Two of the warriors, Azubuike and Tapiwa, had almost immediately gathered their armour and weapons and were dispatched to the riverbanks to investigate the claims further.

“In their absence, fear spread through the village like a hungry flame. Stories were swapped for descriptions of the beast, even though none involved had witnessed it in person. Nevertheless, one could feel something ominous in the air. A strange devil had reared its head here and surely there would be grave consequence.

“’Calm yourselves for we have not yet ascertained the nature or intention of the beast’ Duna had called. ‘There is work to be done and we cannot afford to fret over what may be but a minor folly’. The villagers had taken heed and stepped back into their respective routines. It was not over though, whispers of the beast could still be heard in the village’s motionless corners. Workers exchanged worried glances as they went on with their tasks. An unspoken but universally recognised concern had descended on the village that day, and not one man woman or child was free from it.

“Duna had gathered council inside the meeting house. Among those he spoke with was Ramla, the eldest woman in our village. Ever since her youth in ages long past she had been able to foretell coming events. Heeding her advice, Duna had been able to steer the village away from famine and war. Along with Duna and Ramla, Kalisha too was in attendance that day. Kalisha was a powerful witch, a kind soul, beloved by all of the children. Daktari was there too, the old healer. The last man in attendance was the warrior Abrafo, a man who knew the smell of evil better than anyone. The five souls sat huddled, speaking in quiet tones, their heads low and their gaze fixated purely on whoever spoke.

“Standing outside the meeting house was Kamau, son of Abrafo. Kamau too was a warrior, there to keep guard. Malaika also stood outside. She was a beautiful young witch and apprentice of Kalisha, whom Ramla had predicted would one day possess great power.  Although I had no right to approach and ask questions, my curiousity had the better of me.

“Malaika” I said quietly. “What will become of us?”

“Silence, boy. They will hear you. And this business doesn’t yet concern you.”

“But I am worried” I pleaded, “for the village, for our family.”

“We are all worried. Please, Cudjo, leave us be. You cannot help us here. Soon we will go to Baobab for guidance, and when we have devised a course of action I personally will seek your assistance. Be patient.” There was a warmth and openness to Malaika that was at once maternally comforting, yet her beauty was equal parts hypnotizing and terrifying.

“I will be waiting. Good luck to you Malaika.” With that I returned to my house and waited.

Two

“It was that evening that Tapiwa returned. Alone. The entire village gathered around as he spoke to Duna. ‘We found the beast, and it was not alone. There were many more. I saw pale men climb down from the backs of the beasts. Azubuike suggested that these beasts were vessels for the pale men, he saw fire in their bellies. He has stayed to keep watch, while I have returned to gather more warriors.’ The crowd murmered and shuffled, uneasy.

‘Who are the pale men?” Duna asked.

“What do they want?” someone else called.

“I do not know. They are pale not only in appearance, but also in spirit. Many of these men are soulless and small, but they must not be underestimated. They are setting up camp and we must watch them to discern what it is they have come for and prepare in the event that what they have come for is us.”

“From there the entire village erupted into preparation. Each soul knew the job that they must do. Warriors mobilized into two groups; one led by Tapiwa to take the charge and return to Azubuike’s position, the other led by Abrafo to hold and defend the village from potential attack. Weapons were prepared by the armoury, farmers prepared provisions for the outgoing warriors. A drum beat was struck up, and a great performance of an ancient protection rite began. I was not a part of these proceedings; instead I listened to the drum and the chants and felt the tingling magic in my bones, as one does in these moments. I was on the edge of the village, watching as Kamau, Kalisha and Malaika ascended the hills into the wilderness to consult Baobab. I let them travel a safe distance before I grabbed my staff and followed behind, carefully, quietly.

Three A

“Kamau lead the two women through the forest along a makeshift passage that seemed to open at your approach and grow over as you passed. This journey turned out to be quite a long one, and at times I thought that Kamau was aware of my lingering presence, though at no point did he acknowledge my hiding out of sight in the thick of the green.

“Finally, we approached Baobab as the sun began to rise. It was the first time I had beheld the Tree of Life with my own eyes, and it was beautiful. As wide as ten men at his trunk, taller than twenty at his peak, his snake-like branches spreading up, out and back down towards earth again. Daktari had once told us that Baobab was modest, and pointed his branches down so as not to overshadow the rest of the forest. Daktari also said that a man could live for one thousand years on only one of Baobab’s fruit per season, and that Baobab’s bark could be woven into fireproof fabric.  Daktari said in his youth he had seen a dead man resurrected when Baobab reached out and touched him. Standing there in his shadow I believed every word, the Tree of Life was sacred, and I felt naked and ashamed to be there in that way – hiding from my own kin. The three stood in front of Baobab, bowing in respect. Kalisha signaled for Malaika to proceed, and in doing so she walked toward the mighty trunk and placed her hand flat on the bark. The bark seemed to move as it rotated her hand inside the trunk. It sounds impossible, I know, but I saw. She reached inside of Baobab, and in turn, Baobab reached inside of her.”