It had been such an awful night as I felt that it would ...ptc29/pages/writings/shortstory.… ·...
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Prince Titus Codjoe The Time Kings go to Battle
THE TIME KINGS GO TO BATTLE
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The sheep and the bear
It had been such an awful night as I felt that it would probably be my last. The
whole cell smelled of a mixture of death and aloes. The writings on the wall didn’t help
my fate. “quel sera sera” was on one of the walls written with blood. The blood looked
like that of the bear I killed. I remembered it so well.
It happened on the morning when I had put the sheep out to pasture. I heard a
growl behind me as a bear emerged from no where. I could see hunger written all over its
face. It was the same smell that hour; a mixture of death and aloes. It intended to snatch
one of my dear sheep. It first took a glance at me and I realized it assumed I was no
match for it because it darted fearlessly towards the direction of where the sheep were
grazing. I started to run also throwing my stick at it in utter confusion. It stopped for a
second as it stared at me being the obstacle between my food and me. This time it
charged towards me not knowing that I was ready to fight for my friends. I grasped a long
knife from my bag and stood still praying in my heart and relying on my instincts to lead
me to victory. As the bear jumped on me I stretched my knife to meet the bear. On the
ground we both went with the bear on top of me but with time the tide turned and I came
on top. After some minutes of fighting, the bear gave out a loud cry of help and fell
motionless. The long knife had pierced the heart and it had fallen dead. I got up and
looked at the sheep and gave a sigh of relief to make sure that none was lost. The bear
was on the ground as blood was oozing out of the heart. It gushed out like a fountain
since it looked like the heart had not given up pumping the blood yet. That blood was
brownish red and so different from what I was used to seeing. It also seemed to propitiate
that smell the first time I saw it.
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My eyes fell on the bloody writing again on the prison walls. The writings on the
wall definitely were that from the blood of a bear. From the cell, I could even see a bear
skin on one of the walls adding beauty to a prison. “What irony,” I thought. There was
nothing good to write home about a prison anyway. This time I felt I would be at the
losing end as I continued to smell death and aloes all around me. I started to feel itches on
my bare feet when I realized that the prison floor had worms all over the place climbing
onto me. Then I began to reminisce, “light has evaded me this hour and I feel for the first
time darkness will win. “Does the king want to see me dead or want to kill me himself?”
What lied ahead of me I had no clue but I definitely knew it wasn’t going to be a good
one. Suddenly a beam swept across the prison room. “What was that?” My life started to
appear to me in flashes in my mind. If there was a turning point, it was the desert to
Apollonius. I could remember it so well…
On the Road to Apollonius
I had been sent by my father to deliver a message to my brothers. It was definitely
going to take me some days to get to the battle grounds of Apollonius, I envisioned as I
walked through the desert. How would Eldad react to this news? How would I have
reacted had it been me?” I kept thinking as I counted my last bread left in my bag. I
didn’t want to assume it would finish before reaching Apollonius. The thought of being
afraid of dying out of scarcity was something my father had always taught against;
negativity. “What I feared most would happen to me,” he used to say. Job endured crisis
not because God allowed it but because he has given us the choice. It is because he
allowed his fear to win. He sowed a seed of fear of losing all what he had and it
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happened. I couldn’t afford to think about hunger and death. It was left with barely a
bottle of water and I had a day more journey to deliver the good news to my eldest
brother. I could see little insects flying across my face as I saw a scorpion scuttle right in
front of me. My strength was waning but I knew it was going to be tough from the
beginning moving from Likki. After about half a day walk, I heard war cries and shouts.
That was strange because they were not shouts of my people. “Long live the King! Long
Live Chikata! Long live the Asantes! Those words kept echoing to and fro as I got closer
to the battle field. I had started crawling but thank God it was dark and I had less energy
to lose. Who in the world is Chikata? Is that another name for Gyro, the king of the
Fantes? Had my people lost this battle? That would be the first time in our 100 year
history of such a thing. Once again, I refused to let my mind ponder over defeat. I didn’t
want my fear to override my destiny like Job did. At that moment my thoughts were on
my survival.
I felt the lightning flash my eyes again and I realized I was at the verge of death in
prison. That was definitely the turning point. Oh, how I wished I had died that day; I
wouldn’t have to feel worms climbing all around me. M-e N-y-a-m-e! M-e N-y-a-m-e! I
shouted as I looked up to heaven. My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me? Why
have you brought me this far to leave me? I felt in my spirit I was paying for past sins I
had committed. My experiences had been a mixture of good and bad. I had learned many
things the hard way and I felt it was time to repay, there was no hope. Bible says that
whatever a man sows, that shall he reap; a good measure, pressed down, shaken together,
running over will be meted out to the one.
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Maybe memories of Apollonius were actually good ones but after crossing the
Osaka desert and seeing the battlefields for the first time, I knew I had a future there.
After seeming defeat, I got to Apollonius and I realized the war had not even started. The
grasses were still green and the sky didn’t smell of blood. This was my first time on a
battle field and it was indeed noisy. My next mission was to find Eldad and give him the
news, pack my baggage with fresh food and leave as early as possible to send a reply to
my father. I started to ask around for my brothers when I was directed to the stations of
one of them. I told him the news and with all eagerness and excitement, we left to find
Eldad since he knew where he was. I began to ask how things were going when he began
to tell me the story of a weapon the Asantes had built that seemed undefeatable.
That two headed beast is even hideous to look at and it really takes so much guts
to stare at it to make a decision to even fight it, my brother said.
Reluctant to tell me, he kept asking about home and I was excited to tell him about home:
the sheep, grandpa, grandma, father and what was going on in the towns. It had been
months since they had come home and I was happy being his only source of information
to this. As we got to Eldad’s station, there was a loud gong as a beast, ten feet tall, two
faced, hairy chest with hard breasts stood at the middle of the field. “What in the world is
that?” I stared. It smelled ridiculous like the smell of death and aloes…
Lois
Death and aloes! That smell was getting too strong in the cell and I knew that
didn’t mean my good. I wished it would leave me. That smell had never brought fortune
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my way. I held the bars of the prison doors as my mind resurfaced towards Lois and
Monique. I had learned a lot out of love. I had learned a lot just knowing them. My early
years of life had been an experiment which had produced devastating results. These
memories kept creeping up into mind. Lois had died and Monique had been taken away
to a far country. At this point in time, it all didn’t matter as my death was near.
Lois was one of the most brilliant girls I had ever known. Born from a rich family
and mild at heart, she had everything at her disposal. She was the first among many
children. Her plump face brought out the beauty in her resembling her mother so much. I
first saw her at the town square. Her beauty dazzled me. Her smile excited my spirit and I
knew I wanted to know more about who she was. I hid myself the first day because I was
shy but I mastered courage the second time to approach her.
“Hello, my name is Melchiot and who are you?”
“I am Lois”, she replied.
The voice sounded like smooth waters rushing over a cliff. The voice was able to dazzle
and melt even the hardest of hearts. Definitely that voice was different from the gruff
growl that seemed to haunt me anywhere I went…grrrr! I could hear the cheetah’s voice
again. As a young man, with animal killing exploits, the same memories that haunted
mighty men of war haunted me too. Sometimes, I could hear and see the wild animals in
my dreams. The sound of this cheetah would never leave me after I had killed it for a
month…
It happened in the meadows one day with the sheep when I heard a growl behind
me. I turned and didn’t see anything even though I knew I had heard something. Then, I
turned to make sure none of the sheep had gone astray. I counted and realized I couldn’t
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find one of them. Immediately, I guided them all to a safe place under the care of another
shepherd and went in search for the lost sheep. I could hear its bleating grow fainter so I
doubled my pace till I met a cheetah grasping the neck of the lamb. Melchiot threw a
stone at the cheetah. From nowhere, two other cheetahs arrived to aid the first cheetah. I
looked around and grabbed a long rod on the ground and dashed towards the cheetah with
the lamb. As I dashed towards it, one of the cheetahs pounced on me but I hit it to the
ground with the stick and it started howling hurt on the ground. I attacked the second
cheetah the same way as it also pounced on me next till it also fell down. The cheetah
with the lamb let go and dashed into the forest. “You, lazy bones; come let’s fight, you
vagabond!” I was used to talking to animals then. It looked stupid but I knew they
understood me. The other two cheetahs trotted sorrowfully to whine about their hunger
and wait in search for another prey. I returned the wounded lamb back to the flock to take
care of it till it got better.
Amidst Lois mentioning her name, I could hear grrr!” I could hear it again. “I am
Lois.” I could hear that too. I was ready to hear the voice over and over again. Maybe that
would help me get rid of that haunting voice in my ears, I thought. I engaged in
conversation with her as her beauty and voice was so tantalizing to let go of. What was
beauty to me at that young age? I may not have known but I had come to the conclusion
that it was worth exploring. Her idea of being and presence motivated me to come to the
town square every time. I used the town square debates as an excuse to leave for town as
I enjoyed my times with her learning to know her more. I got to know about her plan to
go to girls’ school, about her brothers, her rich father and most of all about what she liked
and didn’t like. Each day, I knew I was feeling something within me which I didn’t know
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what it was? I could stare up in the skies just smiling to myself when I was alone? Is that
what they called love? I had started day dreaming a lot till I met another angel, Monique.
Monique
On one of those days strolling around in the town center, I met Monique. Maybe
both Lois and Monique were angels but the exquisiteness, gorgeousness and
magnificence of Monique broke all my defenses the first time I saw her. I actually knelt
down the first time I saw her thinking she was a goddess in human form. “What are you
doing?” “My queen” I responded. She began to giggle as she asked me if I was alright.
Oh maybe I fooled and humiliated myself that day but what I saw I knew Lois didn’t
have. I gathered courage to say hello, introduce myself and start a conversation with her.
She was on her way running errands for her mum who used to sell mutton at the market
place. That alone was a byline to maintain a conversation with this queen if she really
wasn’t one like she claimed she wasn’t. Fortunately that was after I had gone to see Lois
so I knew there was no way I would meet Lois on the way. Like a routine, I would go
around with her also to help her with errands so that I could get to know her more.
Monique wasn’t from a rich family like Lois was but she sure was more responsible and
more beautiful. I wouldn’t get her to spend so much time with me but those few times I
spent with her on her errands made me like her a lot. I learned to be focused and
responsible from her. To her, family came first because that was all that she had. She
knew her part to play in establishing peace at home; she had to be obedient at all times.
Then I heard the sound of thunder behind the prison bar, boogam! What a sound?
It made my hairs stand on my head and for a second, it made me forget I was in the
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prison room. Such thunders can cause havoc. I had had a fair share of them in my life. As
a matter of fact, they had started all the trouble for me; thunders and lightning. One
shows you the way and one confuses you of the way. Sometimes I would wonder why
God created both. He seemed to have a purpose for everything but these two actually
seemed meaningless to me. They brought back sad memories. It made me remember that
night when chaos either struck my life of that of my two beloveds.
When my love grew
Lois would ask us to go out into the fields to spend sometime alone away from
everybody. I agreed and I could tell that as young people, we were feeling something
inexplicable even though I was feeling it with Monique also. On the first day she asked, I
waited for her after market day and we darted into the woods happily to explore the night.
As we stood together in our secret place, with the sound of the crowd so far away, I
would take her hand and it always felt like home. It seemed like we both understood that
we belonged to each other. It seemed we both had dreams to fly together. I would look in
her eyes and she would look in mine. Her words seemed to mean never to leave her and
make her unhappy “Let’s take tonight to carry us through the lonely times when we go
home,” I would tell her. We would start singing slowly to ourselves as we started to
dance and kiss, dancing and kissing like there was no tomorrow. I knew we would
treasure such moments anytime till we had them again. “Just close your eyes and I will be
in your dreams.” Her eyes were closed and she hummed and danced with me all night.
That was a night of many nights to come I spent with her all by ourselves. Our love for
one another grew.
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However I still felt that same love for Monique. I would go with Monique to the
same spot in the woods and spend time intimately with her also. Maybe I knew what I
was doing was unfair to both of them and intentionally wanted to enjoy my youth as
much as possible. I would always quote from the Bible which said “Rejoice, young man,
during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood.
And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes…” I tried to enjoy my
youth as much as possible but I had forgotten the last words of that verse which said “…
Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things.” We would talk about
the things we wanted to do to each other when we grew up and married. We would talk
about our fantasies and our dreams and we will dance and kiss all night. Sexual
intercourse was forbidden and if found out was tantamount to ostracism. Many times we
had been tempted to go on that front but Monique would always bring me back to reality.
The tree came tumbling down
Hardly did it occur to me that Lois was actually going to our secret place with
someone else. One day I had planned to go with Monique and from far away, I could see
people holding each other in their arms right where we liked to stand hidden from
everyone. When I got closer, the girl looked so much like Lois to me. They turned
towards our direction kissing and that made me hide. I told Monique we had to leave. She
didn’t understand why because we could definitely go somewhere else there but I insisted
we had to leave.
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“This is a large place; we can definitely find somewhere else. I can’t come all this
far to go back just because of two other lovers?” She said.
I had already made my route to the house as she began to follow. I didn’t care so much
about me finding out she was cheating as she finding out that I was cheating. I had a
reputation to keep. I left the place with a mixed feeling of rage and fortune as I held
Monique’s hand back to our houses.
It started raining so heavily that fateful day as we walked home. The thunders
began to roar and it looked like we had found ourselves in a very great storm. Being
already night didn’t help us at all as it seemed darker and more difficult to hear anything
or beating the wind’s force felt insurmountable. We had to seek shelter somewhere
because the ground was so muddy that walking or running in it could make you slip.
There seemed to be no shelter anywhere as we seemed to be quite far from the town. My
mind started to wonder about what Lois and the other boy were probably hiding now. On
looking around and moving closer to town, we saw a building that looked deserted to us
and seemed our only choice for shelter. It was a hut built with mud. It didn’t have a door
and it looked risky of stray wild animals but that was our only choice. The lightning and
thunder kept roaring and we heard a tree fall behind the heart. It was so noisy and I could
sense that Monique was so much afraid. I looked at her and I knew I didn’t want her to
get hurt. I was hopeful that we would get home safely. My Bible said “the eyes of the
Lord ranged throughout the whole earth to strengthen those whose hearts were committed
to him.” I needed strength at that point in time and I knew he would give it me. The wind
began to take over as the rains subsided and it uprooted another tree that came tumbling
upon the hut we had sought shelter in.
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Boom! We felt the roof coming down towards us. At that point in time, all what I
could remember was God and Monique. I grabbed her to run out quickly out of the hut
but the roof fell on her feet and she broke her feet. I was out first so unharmed but I
couldn’t leave her there. I started to shed tears as I heard her shout for help. The leg was
stuck under the roof with the tree on top and I had to come up with something. At that
point, all what I could remember was the God I worshipped. The roof was made of
kreketu, a mixture of bamboo, palm leaves and a metallic substance that could prevent
anything from invisible smell and physical rain from entering a room. Kreketu could
actually cut through flesh due to its metallic nature. That frightened me more as I
comforted her and asked her not to worry. She was crying and moaning out of pain.
“Why did this not happen to me instead, not this beautiful one?” She seemed too perfect
for something like this to happen to her. I took away the first kreketu plate on her and my
fingers were drenched in blood. It had cut through her flesh and that made me frightened.
I was weak but all of a sudden I felt strong. I pulled out the second kreketu on top of her
with all the strength I had amidst the wailing. The wind was still blowing so hard and
another tree falling was imminent. Monique was more important to me at that time than
me dying myself. I knew it was going to be fine because my Bible said so but we had to
go through it. If God had taken me to it, then he would definitely take me through it; that
was my encouragement.
I was able to free her leg and lifted her up in my arms. The wind was blowing
more than ever and our only shelter had been destroyed by the wind. Lightning struck and
I saw where I was heading to as it was so dark. In some few minutes, Boogam! I heard
the thunder again. I nearly dropped Monique to run. That seemed like right behind me. It
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was usually a ten minute walk to the closest house but in this wind it would take three
times that. I was not ready to make her lose any more blood. This was so much for me to
bear. I prayed and asked God to save her as I continued crying too. Little by little I got
closer to the town. My mind was so overcrowded that there was no room even to think
about what happened to Lois and the other person. That would come later.
Krrrk! The thunder struck again and I realized I had been lost in thoughts and
memories for the last half hour. Damn it, the worms were still crawling higher up my legs
and I didn’t even have the urge to clean them off. I would die in the hands of animals
than in the eyes of someone I had helped. My memories were what were keeping me
alive. I was taking solace in the ones who made my heart tick throughout my whole life
till that point. The thunder certainly brought bad memories. Hearing it again in prison had
cemented by beliefs in thunders. They shall never be any good to me. There in prison
about to die, with worms climbing all over me, the last thing I was expecting to hear was
thunder so large a camel would seek shelter in the eye of a needle. With such things
around, I would always be reminded of bad luck. Why couldn’t my last days be one to
remember? Remember? I was about to die. What was there to remember? There I
understood why it was said that the richest places in the world were the cemeteries, my
father used to say. Many ideas that could make people rich have been buried forever;
mines of gold lay buried never to be excavated. Boogam! I heard it again.
The fate of the ones I loved
Boogam! I got to the first house in sight carrying Monique and knocked on the
door. When they opened and saw Monique in my hands with blood all over her feet, they
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took her from my hands and took her into the cozy room. They immediately started
working on the leg as I stared and watched. Then did it occur to me that I wouldn’t have a
good answer if they had asked me where I found her. I had to run away some way. It was
highly unacceptable for teenagers to be doing what we were doing. It would be a disgrace
to our families. I could only think of absconding at that point in time. “Where did you
find her?”
I was gone. I had taken off and running towards home. I was not ready to answer
any questions. I could smell the sand that had been blown up by the wind. That was the
smell of the bear I killed in the meadows once. It smelled like death and aloes. I was
afraid because it made me think someone was going to die but I was hopeful Monique
was going to be safe. It was dark all around me and it seemed even the clouds were
succumbing to the wind. I had not experienced such a pitfall in my life before and it made
me wonder if this was what life was all about. Monique had fainted and I knew there
were people who would probably come and search for me if something bad should
happen to her.
In a time where the weather was unpredictable, things like this were bound to
happen. Boogam! I heard one right in from of me as I ran home. I think it was telling me
to stop and return to her. I halted for a while, looked behind me. “Melchiot, you are doing
the right thing. She is in good hands.” I began to run again. It would take me a while to
get home as I fought with the wind. Bible talks about the signs of the end of age but it
seemed to me that these were always signs that accompanied something terrible was
going to happen. I had developed these superstitions concerning my whole life so far.
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The killing of the gigantic beast
I felt so miserable as I looked all around me in prison and on my legs. With my
hand, I eventually cleared the worms of me. I could do myself a favor of prolonging my
death a little bit. Once you have breath, you have hope of living, my Bible would say. I
had believed it till now and I would do myself some favor still believing it though I knew
there was no chance of survival. How could I be brought so low as this? Two months
before, I was basking in glory with the King himself. What happened, O God? Memories
of the hours before glory stared at me right in my eyes. It looked like the prison had for a
reason suddenly turned to light and I realized I was on the grounds at Apollonius.
I stared at the hideous beast once more as I asked once again why it seemed the
battle had not started. “No one can fight it, Melchiot. He is said to wound ten warriors at
a strike. No one stands a chance. This is the eighth day and neither Gyro nor Caiaphas
has a clue what to do but to concede defeat without fighting.” Caiaphas was the great
commander of the armed forces of the whole Fante tribe. It is said that he alone was able
to kill three lions with his bare hands. Never had the Fantes conceded defeat in his regime
as the commander. If he and a great warrior as the king were out of ideas, then it meant
our freedom lied in jeopardy.
At that moment, some questions started stirring up in my head: when the Hittu
walls came down, everyone attributed it to God. When our people conquered the great
indomitable Gonja army, everyone attributed it to God. What made them afraid this time?
If what my father sat down to tell me always about our history and our God was true,
what was happening? Whether in battle or as a civilian, I was bound to die if these
Asantes won anyway. Known for their cruelty and thirst for blood, they would kill rather
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than make slaves. I decided to give it a try. I had the belief that I would come out
victorious. I told my brother my intentions and he scolded me for demeaning them.
“I was just trying to offer help. What is there to prove?” I said.
I had irritated him as he told my other brothers of my intentions. They stared at me as if I
had just emerged from the womb of a woman for the first time.
“Have you considered what will happen to father if he hears we made you kill
yourself?” They said.
I think father will be wondering why none of his children on a day like this will
deny the God he had talked to us so much about? Don’t you remember the day the
Hittu walls went down? Don’t you remember the indomitable Gonja army? Don’t
tell me you have forgotten? I want you to allow me to go and fight this beast who
the Lord will toast anyway, I retorted.
I talked with so much importunity but that made them ponder on their smallest brother’s
cryptic talk and they finally agreed to let me see the king.
That was how I got to meet the king; the one who craves my heart’s destruction
right now, the one who can’t even stare at me out of jealousy and guilt. He laughed when
I told him I wanted to fight the beast. To me, he was laughing at God because he didn’t
believe even God could kill this beast. I was persistent as I cajoled him to my impending
death. I didn’t believe that I could kill the beast that I was sure of but I believed God
could kill the beast and he was still with his people. That was what the king didn’t
understand. It was Caiaphas who talked the king into accepting. He was huge seven feet
high as he turned his head low to look at me: the great commander of the hosts of the
Fantes. He whispered something to the king and then they left into the secret room. It is
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said that only two groups of people ever went into that room: kings and commanders. The
king came back smiling and told me I could go. Now I knew I didn’t want to go. His
smile sounded fishy and I wondered what they had planned to do.
I grabbed my lucky knife; the one I slay the bear with, wore the soldier’s apparel I
was given and set off to battle. I heard the gong again as there was going to be an
announcement that a warrior was going to take on the beast. Word had already spread in
the Fante camp that a young man from, Likki, one of the Fante villages was ready to fight
the beast. I smelled aloes and death again and then I knew there was trouble.
I heard a loud roar as the gates to the cage was opened and something jumped out.
It looked happy to be out and then I saw water drip out of its mouth. It looked at me and
looked around it to probably see how full it would be after its meal. It took a step forward
and I could hear the ground shake. It took three more steps and the whole ground shook
as if there was an earthquake. It carried it’s sword in its mouth and it wore a helmet on its
horns. It had such a hideous sight like it was a beast filled with legion. It started running
towards me and swung its sword in my direction but I jumped quickly from its direction.
I opened my legs, bent my body, held my long knife, stared at it and poised ready for my
next move. It swung again and I dived farther from it. The sound of the sword hitting the
ground could rip any flying bird of its feathers; the air around that sword could cut in
itself. For the next hour, it was a war of swing and dodge and getting to the one hour
mark, I had gained more confidence and knew I could win this.
On the other hand, the last two battalions in the Fante army were sneaking behind
the Asantes as they enjoyed the battle between the beast and I. It wasn’t even a battle. I
would definitely be toast in a while. Never did I know what the king and the commander
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had planned to do was to outsmart the Asantes by attacking them on both frontiers in
their time of distraction. It was definitely a good plan. Krrrgh! The sound of his sword hit
a stone. I knew for sure this beast wasn’t smart. That was only what it could and had been
taught to fight. After an hour, it was getting tired and I was now regaining confidence and
strength. There I remembered what Bible said that those that waited on God would renew
their strength and that they would walk and not faint; run and not go weary and soar like
eagle. I felt in my spirit I was ready to soar like one over this beast. Krrgh! And this time
I somersaulted to a point in between its legs and then I swung my knife and cut both legs
till something liquid started coming out. I jumped to a safer place as I met another swung.
Uuugh! That’s not blood? It was a black smelly thick liquid. I had no clue of what this
beast was made and fed on but it looked more hideous now that it had ever. It seemed to
be losing grasp of itself. I felt like an eagle already. We had gone two hours before
striking first and the beast was so frustrated I could see. Krrgh! I jumped again and
somersaulted and cut the same two places to deepen the wounds. There and then it lost
control of its legs and fell on its knees. Krrgh! This time I was cut. I had missed the
sword but the air around me had cut me. I had lost focus because I was rejoicing inward
already of victory. It then occurred to me that I was taking victory from God and giving it
to myself already before the fight was over. I fell down and got up quickly from another
blow; all this while the beast was swinging on its knees.
After two and a half hours, the Fante soldiers had secretively aligned themselves
waiting for signal to attack with or without the death of the beast. It then occurred to me
that I had been used as bait for the plan. They knew I was going to die but if I could while
away time for them to assemble themselves for bloodshed. I moved farther away from the
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beast as it was losing control of the legs. I took my long knife and with a good aim, I
threw it towards the beast. It pierced right at the forehead as it penetrated into the
dividing asunder of the brain and cranium and out at the back. It fell down dead. God had
won this battle for us. I ran towards it, pulled out the sword and cut his head at a swing. It
was huge. I lifted it towards the people which signified victory.
I then lifted my hands and held a prison bar for support. I wished I could have the
spirit to soar again like an eagle as I said to myself in the prison. I didn’t know where that
strength came from but it had left me. I was fainting and I wasn’t even walking. I was
wearied already and I wasn’t even running. I felt deserted and miserable. Definitely not
like that day I killed the beast. That day was one of joy and not one of sorrow. What is
the king really planning against me? How is he planning to kill me? Is he planning to kill
a hero like me before the people or he shall secretly do it? Why was he keeping me here
to have all these strange nightmares of death? And that smell, it keeps coming. It’s so
acute. Oh God, let aloes prevail this time over death I prayed. What could I do anyway? It
was the same God who I knew had brought me this far. Many questions clouded my mind
like the first day I stepped on the ground to face the beast.
THIS IS WHERE I HAVE REACHED EDITING
The Asantes Vanquished
My joy of victory as I lifted the head up high on the battlefield brightened the sky
immediately. The odor of defeat was gone. The Asantes turned back and started to run for
their lives including the king when they met the rear guard of Fantes ready to fight. The
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order was given and then it was war time. From all four sides, they had been trapped
none of them ever to live to tell their story. It reminded me of the time in the Bible when
God vanquished the whole Egyptian army by drowning them all in the red sea. That day
was victory for God and I thought it would be the beginning of forever happy days to
come.
It didn’t look like it as my life seemed over already from this king I knew deeply
in me I had not offended in anyway. The prison door opened and then I was asked to
come out by one of the guards. These guards had all sang my name one time or the other.
Today, they looked at me in hate. He pushed me out of the prison. I sighed to myself,
“They had once sung my name. What treachery?” At that point in time I had learned not
to ever dwell on the praises of men. How much one could exude pride when everyone
sings your name? It then dawned on me why Bible championed humility as the reason for
success in life. God could only work with such people.
I was carried on their shoulders after the victory at Apollonius as the battle songs
began. “Long live the God of the Fantes! Long Live the King! Long Live the Commander
and Long Live Melchiot!” They sang their songs and jubilated throughout. The Asantes
had been woefully conquered by the master class of a brave young man, a warrior at
heart. I was brought before the king who looked at me in awe. I was happy but I hated
them not giving God credit for my victory. I was just a vessel he used to show his glory,
the same way He used Moses, Joshua, David and Gideon in the Bible as warriors to save
his people. The king placed his sword upon me and on that day pronounced me a member
of his army. Not only that but he placed me in charge of a battalion and to be trained by
Commander Caiaphas himself. I was also granted the honor to live in the palace with the
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king. That was the highest position anyone could receive in the kingdom, an opportunity
to dine with the king each night.
I thought that day would be the beginning of greatness to come. Unlike being
pushed reluctantly out of prison and walking through the dungeon to be slaughtered if
even that would befit a death of a once sang hero. Words couldn’t describe what I
thought was going to be the way I died. It was too gross for me to even think about. The
prison guard pushed me again and I stumbled upon something and fell down. Thump! I
could feel myself on top of these worms. I couldn’t fight back out of shock that I was
really ending up like this. I then questioned what Bible meant when it said that no eye
had seen, nor had ear heard, nor had it entered the heart of man what God had planned for
those who loved him. I began to shed tears as strong as I was. God had planned my death
this way. I thought that they were plans always for my good and not to harm me but this
seemed that it was meant for my harm. I got up and looked at the guard again. I was filled
with anger and pity. Anger because there was nothing I had done to be treated by one of
such low caliber and secondly his eyes told me they were things he didn’t want to do.
Those eyes…
Many of such eyes stared at me when we got back to town after the victory at
Apollonius. The women began to sing my name. “Gyro killed humans; Melchiot killed
giants” These words were resounded almost everywhere I went. They had been written
on walls wherever people got a chance to see me. I had turned into a celebrity because I
had faith in God. That was unbelievable. We were all as Fantes entreated by the priest to
uphold God first and trust him in all our doings. That was my secret and I had tried to
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propagate it as much as possible that it didn’t seem a secret to me anymore. Everywhere I
went I saw happy eyes; eyes that stared at me and ones that turned away.
The King planned to throw a party to commemorate the thrashing of the great
Asante army. I had been invited as the special guest of honor for the occasion. Many
things had gone into the organization of the party as it seemed that it represented the
greatest victory of King Gyro. It was to be held in the great gardens of Kalamusa.
Kalamusa was the first king of the Fantes. The garden was filled with flowers of diverse
assortments. The fragrance the flowers produced could fill the whole palace with awe.
The best cooks of the land were called to put their heads together in celebration of this
event. The head of the giant I killed was fixed to the top of the tree where I was going to
sit. I could see three big chairs. I assumed the king, queen and the commander would sit
on them. These men were described as mighty men of war and valor. I had been ascribed
that title also. The long awaited party began as servers walked the place serving assorted
dishes. I got the grilled monkey eye which was my best hors d’oeuvres served that night
though I tried the others. It was a night of singing and dancing as the palace choir sang
and various popular musicians sang to entertain the king in his highest honor. It was the
time of the formal declaration of the special honor. After the pronunciation of the honor,
the shouts were unbelievable as the song started “the king killed humans; Melchiot killed
giants.” That was the first time the king had heard it and he didn’t seem to have taken it
lightly. People danced as the musicians sang the song. I enjoyed the whole evening of
merry making.
There was so much noise in the gardens. I tripped on something and it became so
quiet and dark. That was when I realized I was still in prison ready to face my death. That
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was indeed a happy day. I started singing to myself but out of my mouth came songs of
sorrow. “Silence”, the guard commanded. “You will need the last energy you have left.”
Energy! I had lost so much energy. It had been a whole day since I had eaten and my
strength was waning. I looked at what I was wearing and it reminded me of the king’s
pursuit of me.
The Day I Fled
The king had pursued me for almost two weeks now to kill me and my garments
looked tattered. He had not taken it lightly with me and feared I would overthrow him as
king as it seemed the people liked me more than him. A week after the party had been
held for me, he was diagnosed of the palace herbalist of demon attacks and he
recommended rest and music particularly the xylophone to be played for him to help cure
him. I was picked to play for him in his room. I was called in there one day and with an
innocent conscience I knocked on the door. The door suddenly opened by itself and I
went in. I realized the king was in bed and that there was a spear by his side.
Unknowingly, I took my place behind the xylophone with my back facing the king. I
started to play and with the king in bed I started to hear sighs of relief from his bed
behind me. I realized it was working. I kept playing just to make the king happy and
serve him also. As I played, the book I was looking into dropped onto the floor and I
bended to pick it up. Kling! I looked up and a spear had penetrated into the xylophone. I
turned and the king was about to grab another one. I darted out of the room and straight
into mine. I grabbed a cloak and run out.
Where was I heading to I had no idea? Many thoughts began to flood my mind
like a waterfall overflowing its bank. Did the king intend to kill me? I thought he was my
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friend. I decided to go home to Likki and hide and tell my father the whole story. I
needed someone to guide me in this instance and my father would be the best person to
do that for me. It started to rain as I kept running towards home. These were fine showers
that anybody would like to just lie in to dissolve all their problems away. I wanted to do
that also but I was afraid the king was probably riding behind me to kill me. I got home
and went straight to see my father.
Father how are you doing?
“I am fine my son. I have missed you so much. What brings you to Likki?” my
father asked.
I just came to visit my father because I have missed him so much. I am missing
food at home. The food in the palace is too exotic for my liking. How are my
brothers?
“They should all be fine this afternoon. I haven’t seen Eldad today and I presume
he is with his wife. He has grown so much fond of the baby,” my father said.
We lived in a big round fenced compound with eight buildings each with about four
rooms. All my brothers lived together and I was the only one not at home because I had
relocated to the king’s palace.
That baby looks so much like him. He was definitely going to get fond of him, I
said.
“I know, my son. It reminds me when your mother had you. You looked so much
like me and I took deep liking in you,” my father said.
I love you too father and I will always love you.
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“My son, you seem to be shaking. Is it the rain? You should be dried up by now.
What is wrong?” my father asked.
Nothing father. I just came here on a normal visit.
“Hmm, are you sure? You came here last week and it usually takes you a while
before I see you again. You will never visit me in rain. I know you this long to
know that you want my advice on something,” my father bellowed.
Have they been treating you well? I hope they get the time for you like I used to.
“They do and I’m fine but you have still not answered my question,” said my
father.
The king wants to kill me. He is after my life and I don’t know what I have done.
“How can you not know what you have done? To every action, there is an equal
and opposite reaction. You should definitely have an idea,” my father startled.
I think he has grown jealous of me. I think it is because people have started
praising me more than him and he is afraid they will make me king.
My father stared at me and couldn’t fathom the thought that the king was after his most
beloved son.
“Have you talked to Caiaphas about it? Do you think he also wants your life?
I don’t think Caiaphas should have a problem with that. I am just afraid that the
king will pollute him before I talk to him also.
“Why don’t you quickly talk to him then and give your version of the story and
let us pray that God helps you. Send one of your men with this message that you
want to meet with him privately,” said my father.
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Immediately I sent one of my messengers to send the message. We would meet in
Appollonius. That seemed the only place the king wouldn’t probably go around this time.
In my father’s house, I was shaking all over.
I was still shaking as I went through the long dungeon with my hands and legs
fettered; I walked slowly. With two guards behind me and the order not to sing, I moved
silently. I couldn’t afford to not shake because I had lost control of my nerves. For the
first time I could see that God had left me. Suddenly, I felt peace in my heart and I didn’t
worry any more. I couldn’t even think about my impending doom. I was just thinking
about my father in heaven. The dark alley couldn’t explain that peace that had suddenly
filled me but it was like the days after I had returned Monique into good hands.
The end of Lois and Monique
Two days after leaving Monique to be catered for, I felt the urge to go and see her
again. Those were times of peace in spirit knowing she was fine. The brightness of the
sky and a glimpse of hope brightened those days. She had lost blood but there was the
possibility that she would survive and that made me so happy. I told my father what had
happened after two days of mind debates and in his wisdom, he told me it was alright.
The next day we went to see her at where I left her and I wasn’t afraid because I knew my
father was with me. I saw Monique’s parents there as they had come to take her home.
“There is the boy who brought her.” The father stared at me with suspicion and anger but
the mother looked at me in gratitude. “What were you planning to do?” the father asked. I
was scared but my father took him to the side and talked to him. Apparently, Monique
had told them everything and how much I was a help to her but the father thought my
intentions were really not angelic like the daughter thought. I was happy to hear she was
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awake and she was ok. My father talked on my behalf. He would never let anyone touch
his beloved son if even he was in the wrong. I got to speak to her and I was so happy. I
was filled with so much peace and joy. My strength had not fainted that night. Bible said
we should call unto him and he would answer and show us great and unsearchable things
we would never think of. I called unto him that night and he did answer. I was grateful to
him for everything. Her smile mesmerized me even though she looked weak. Apparently
she had not said we were lovers and for the first time, I knew I loved her more than Lois.
It then occurred to me that I didn’t know the whereabouts of Lois. What had happened to
her? I had never been to the town center after the incident so I had not seen her.
The brightness in my life was about to shatter when I heard the story of Lois’ fate.
That night, they couldn’t make it back to the village before they were swept away by the
villainous wind that took us also. The muddy ground had not helped her too. A search
was proclaimed for her and the other boy I found them with as they had not been seen for
two days. Their bodies were found at the confluence of River Abanga, the main river
used by my town. The storm had caused havoc in my town which would take days to
recover. My heart throbbed at the news of their funeral as I began to weep within me
because I felt guilty. I could have saved them had I confronted her that night. Maybe she
would have returned with me. I could also have died also since in anger we left earlier.
That saved Monique and I. Tears dropped from my eyes as I read her obituary. I could
have saved her I kept saying to myself. At least I was able to save Monique; I kept
encouraging myself with that even though I felt guilty. It was going to be a hole that
would be created in my life forever because I had feelings for her too though I knew now
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that I loved Monique. The thought of doing something like this and dying without
knowing made me feel guilty. My mood became dark and gloomy.
All of a sudden, I could feel pains in my neck so I rotated it. Then I realized I was
still walking in the dungeon which felt like forever. It was as dark and gloomy as the day
I heard about her death. I had learned my lesson on faithfulness and guilt and I vowed to
stay faithful to Monique. A door came into view as we continued walking. My heart
throbbed once more as I felt in me that my heart wanted to beat for a last time before it
gave up my ghost. One guard moved in front of me and opened the door and beckoned
me to follow as I did. I was taken into a room. I was pushed into the room and
blindfolded. I could hear whisperings in the other room as I was left there blindfolded and
tied. Were they trying to figure out a way to kill me more or less painfully? These were
people who had once praised my name. The darkness brought so much uncertainty to me
like when the king started to pursue me.
I was so uncertain about what the king wanted to do next. That evening when the
cockerels had gone to sleep in Likki, I left for Apollonius to meet Caiaphas who I was
sure would be on my side. When I got there, he had already tied his horse and had started
a fire waiting for me. I had built my friendship with Caiaphas who kept telling me that I
was the one who was to replace him when he couldn’t go to war anymore. He loved me
with the love of a father and I poured out my woes to him.
“I have never been disloyal to the king. I have always stood by him and that is
how I have made myself a mighty man,” Caiaphas said. “This thing you have told
me is indeed hard.”
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I wished I had not fought the giant the first place. All this wouldn’t have
happened.
“Stop saying that. That was victory the Lord gave the Fantes through you. The
period of war and the period after war are two different things and I have learned
that over many years,” Caiaphas said.
So what should I do?
“What you are asking me is indeed hard because he will send me after you,” said
Caiaphas. “I can’t let you kill my king but I will always give you a step ahead of
his plans to kill you. I would definitely know someway somehow. He told me he
would set off to Likki tomorrow. I had no idea he was in pursuit of you,” He
iterated.
He suggested I moved two towns from Likki and wait there with some of my men
for a signal to move on. We held hands and hit each other’s chest as a way of greeting
and friendship. I left with that uncertainty as I am blindfolded now. Oh the heart of man
is desperately wicked and will never be grateful.
Back in the dark room, blindfolded I began to smell something burning. That was
when it occurred to me that it had been planned for them to burn me alive. A man of such
achievement it was unfair to die such a treacherous and cruel death. My head was worth
beheading and not suffer to die. I was being killed like a criminal who had murdered
many in the time of peace. My heart began to cry out for my beloved who because I was
running never got to see her again, Monique.
The thought of Monique changed the beating rhythm of my heart. On that bright
sunny day, on her bed, I told her what I was doing at her back with Lois. Later I told her
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what had happened to her and it made me feel so bad. She stared at me in a way I had
never seen.
I hate you. If anybody not that beast!
She turned her face to the wall and wouldn’t talk to me again.
“What we went through together has made me see you in a different way now. I
love you and I am willing to repay all the hurt I have made you feel now.”
Repay me by leaving me alone, you cheat and scumbag.
I kept apologizing for my selfish behavior but all to no avail. I had no choice than
to leave her and give her time to assimilate the news. Maybe that was when my woes
started because I never got to see her again. The next time I went, I had been told that her
sickness had aggravated for a reason they didn’t know and she had been sent to see an
acupuncture doctor in a far away land. I knew I had caused this deterioration. I was now
going to be the cause of the death of these two most beautiful ladies I had ever known.
Tears rolled down my eyes all day when I knew I would probably not see her again and
that news would come of her death too. My heart began to fear. I told my father what had
happened and he watched me as his son hurt in heart.
Fear! That is one thing you don’t want to develop. Do you know why Job in the
Bible went through all those troubles and trials in his day?
No, father.
Bible says when Job got stricken with leprosy and had lost all, these were his
words, “what I feared most has happened to me.” My son, Job allowed all this
into his life because he sowed a seed of fear which the devil used in his favor. Do
you want her to die?
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No father.
Do you want to see her again?
Yes father.
Then my son, do not sow that seed of fear of not seeing her again. You might not
see her again. Believe you would see her again and in due season, you shall reap
if you faint not.
Even though I understood what he was saying quite well, it was so difficult, thinking that
I would probably not see her again for the rest of my life.
Conquered by the King
I began to cough in the dark as I struggled to set myself free. If there was one
thing, I prayed to God for it was to see my love again, that is, if she truly wasn’t dead.
From there, I would tell her I loved her and die but memories of my capture began to
flood my mind. I was totally outsmarted by the king. Caiaphas never knew the king
would send spies that fast to neighboring villages even before he left his palace. Word
had come to him that I had moved and when Caiaphas got to know he had already asked
men to prevent anyone from entering or leaving the town till he got there. I stayed there
thinking I was safe even though I was cautious. That was the day; I met the priest of our
tribe. He was the only one the king could not do anything to and could not be ordered by.
As God’s medium for us, he did what God told him to and not what any person would tell
him to. He took me to a room and anointed me saying: “Today, you have been anointed
to be the next king of the Fantes. The dynasty of Gyro has come to an end because he
disobeyed the Lord his God. The Spirit of the Lord is upon you, because he has anointed
you to preach good news to the poor. He has sent you to fight for freedom for the
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prisoners and release for the oppressed” As he poured the oil on me, I was rejuvenated
and felt the peace of God in me that surpassed anything I ever understood. I wasn’t afraid
anymore. “Go my son; your way shall be crooked but pass through, pass through the
gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones
and raise a banner for the nations. The Lord shall make straight the path for you”
I could hear the fire burning as I stood on the chair I was sitting on and started to
scream. I knew I would definitely not be king. It was hard for me to believe I would
escape death but for the first time, I knew a man who had beaten God. Don’t sow a seed
of fear, it will happen, my father’s words re-echoed in my head as I continued to place
faith in my God that something would happen. Blindfolded, tied and burning, where was
my hope? I couldn’t lose hope; the greatest disease anyone could ever have was to lose
hope.
The sun was still up when I understood why the king was actually pursuing me.
He knew I was going to be king and he wanted his son to be. The chants of the people
had just insinuated him to embark on this trail. The priest had made everything clear to
me. The priest left as I awaited the next message from Caiapahas as to what to do. As I
waited in my room, I was caught unawares when the king’s men forced themselves into
my room and arrested me. I was tied at the back as I was taken out of my hiding. I was
taken to the king. He stared at me and said, “Take this imbecile to the Afram prisons.” As
I was about to be taken word came that a remnant of a resurgent Asante army had
attacked the capital city unawares. The king knew he would need my services but he
decided to do it with his commander and other leaders of the various battalions.
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Free from Prison
As I struggled for life in the burning room almost at the verge of suffocation, I
heard the door open and I was lifted up as they ran out of the room. I was laid in the grass
still blindfolded and tied. I could hear familiar voices especially that of the priest who
was giving orders for my release. I felt so weak as I laid on the grass. The sun shone so
brightly in my eyes after the blindfold was removed and I was untied. I sat straight and
the first thing I did was to take a look at the effect of the worms on my leg back in the
prison. It was not that bad after all. It took me about 5 minutes to be able to see the
people around me as it took a while for my eyes to accept the new light. I had been in the
darkness for goodness knows how long. King Gyro was not there I realized and so was
Caiaphas. The priest looked at me and told me it was time. The king and his commander
had been killed in battle and I was the only one who could lead them to victory.
I stood up and some food was brought to me to enable me gain strength. It was
my favorite. I gobbled it up quickly and at the sound of the voices I was able to decipher
the two soldiers who led me into the burning room. I grabbed a knife and went straight to
the first one and pierced him with the knife. I rolled it to one side as his intestines came
out and blood gushed out of him. He held his belly and knelt down staring at me. “Sorry,
my king,” were his last words before he fell down and died. I knew I would definitely
meet the second voice one day as I wore my armor and prepared for battle. “Take him
away and give him to the vultures,” I commanded one of my soldiers who came to carry
him away. I jumped on my horse and setoff for Apollonius with my battalion to lead the
armies of the Fantes. There was bloodshed all over the place. Most of our people were
dead and it was left with about three hundred men against about thousand Asante men we
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had no clue where they had come from. It was then I understood their emblem: if you kill
a thousand, thousand shall come.
I mounted my horse and galloped in front of the assembled three hundred as I saw
fear of death in their faces. I told them, “A time is coming when your courage shall fail in
battle and you shall feel that God has deserted you but let it not be this day. A time is
coming when you shall have to leave your families and friends and be with our Father in
heaven but let it not be this day. I see in your eyes the love and fear of God that will take
my breath away. They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall soar
with wings as eagles. They shall ran and not go weary. They shall walk and not faint.
Even the young lions do lack and suffer hunger but they that fight for him shall not lack
any good thing, which is what Bible says.
Are we the Lord’s?
Yeahhhh!
Are we his people?
Yeahhhh!
Are we going to walk, run and fight till we go weary?
Yeahhhh!
Our God shall send angels with flaming swords to mount guard upon us today.
Holding all what you cherish on this good earth right in your hand, I proffer you to stand,
mighty men of Apollonius.
Yeahhhh!
Spears were lifted high up. Swords were lifted high up. Shields were lifted high
up and I could see in the eyes of the people the desire to not accept retreat, not when our
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God was still with us. The three hundred started running outwards to face the Asante
army one last time.
Kling! Kling! Kling! Kling! Swords met in battle. There was bloodshed that day
as the people fought for what they felt was good. This was the hour they needed each
other most and the miraculous God did something great for the Fante people in those
three hours left for the day to fall. By night time, there were Asante heads all over the
place. There were spears all over the place. I was covered in blood; blood of warriors.
This was definitely a time that kings went to battle. My three hundred had been spared in
a time of battle. This was definitely the doing of God. I ordered the people to assemble
and gather the bodies of our enemies to be burned.
Early the next morning as we were still celebrating victory in the city, the priest
appeared with his horn. Everyone knew a new king was about to be instituted and they all
began to look at me. I heard someone whisper to someone behind me. I recognized that
voice; the second guard who wanted to kill me. I pulled out my knife, turned around saw
him and dug my knife into his belly. I rotated it in there till blood gushed out onto my
face and his intestines came out. He also knelt down and said “sorry, my king” before
dying. I left my knife in him as I went forward to meet the priest. “I have something to
say,” the priest said. “Always remember why King Gyro and Commander Caiaphas and
all the other thousand warriors died today? They died for being what a Fante stands for:
hope, love and faith. They wouldn’t wish tribute or song or poems of war or valor. This is
what they would wish that you remember. They died for these three greatest statutes and
we won for the same battle. We have not just conquered the Asantes again but we have
conquered heresies that shall one day infiltrate our camps and break the unity of our
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Prince Titus Codjoe The Time Kings go to Battle
people. In all the countless years ahead of us, teach your children this day, when our
beliefs fought and won.
Today a king is born. Today a son has been given. The Lord has placed the
government upon his shoulders and he shall be the counselor of our people, the father of
our people and the propagator of what God stands for. He shall be a ruler of God’s
people. All spears be lifted up to the newly anointed king of the Fantes, MELCHIOT.
There and then, many memories came into my head. All the things I had gone through
were for this day: my sheep, my father, my brothers, my arrest, my friendships, Lois,
Monique. I understood what Bible now meant when it said that all things worked together
for good for them that loved him. I had done some wrong things here and there. I have
made wrong decisions. I have broken hearts but it was all for my good. As my thoughts
were overshadowed by the noise all around me, a tear dropped from my eyes. I had to
control it in front of my people. I lifted my hands up in agreement to the verdict proposed
by the priest. How, I wished Monique would see this.
The Return of the New King
We left Apollonius as the news spread of the new king; the giant killer. There was
great merry in the capital city as everyone welcomed the warriors who had fought for the
people came back with another victory in a short time against these barbarians. This
would be once and for all. As the people partied all day, I just thought about where my
heart was. Monique had taken my heart away.
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