The next day of the ritual I woke up before the sun came up, I had to meet with the village chief to discuss some issues. I tried all I could to keep my mind off that girl and focus on my activity today.
We got to the village palace and the chief welcome us. As king of the five lands, meetings with my chiefs were important.
"Majesty, welcome to our humble village. You have graced us with your presence for this years moon festival. I was so surprised to hear that you will be taking the ritual.
Today is the second day so do I suppose you took the first ritual yesterday night?" the chief asked curiously
"Yes I did" I answered him then said "I will be taking one of your maidens for my wife search and thus my influence in your village will increase. I want to open a plantation in your village and your people will be recruited and paid, the outputs will be traded in your markets and in other Villages. I will enhance the growth of your village and your people.
Unfortunately a man in your village has succeeded in getting in my bad book." with serious look explain to him "this person thinks that I have become so generous overnight and can own my land for free"
The chief became pale in the face and spoke "Majesty, I had no idea of this, I am hearing it from you just now. Please tell me who this person is and I will handle..."
Before he could finish speaking I answered "no need cause I will deal with this person myself before going back to Goma tomorrow. Malla, what is the name of that man who thinks I do charity with my possessions" I asked and malla answered
"Ozu my king, the villager's name is Ozu"
"Ozu" I repeated the name and the chief looked at me with a shocked face and said
"Majesty, Mr Ozu is a very honoured man in this village. A good farmer but lately I heard he has been having financial difficulty and he has a wife and two children. I believe he did that for his family, his not a trouble maker but a calm man and his wife and children are very humble. I also heard his daughter is taking the ritual, maybe he took the land so he can get her prepared for the festival. please Majesty be linear with your verdict" the chief said.
I listened to what he said and after some time a while of thinking I said to him "I have heard you and if that be the case then I will consider my verdict but I will punish him for thinking that I have become a saint to give free lands"
We spoke for some time and he invited me for lunch. He introduced me to his entire family and slowly the evening came. I decided to go to the river to take my bath.
The sun could no more be seen and the moon had already appear in the sky. I took the road passing through the semi forest to the river. As I moved silently my thoughts were taking to last night and that girl 'who was she' my mind kept asking but I could not give an answer.
I looked around me an noticed this was the exact place she stood at yesterday while staring at me.
I hurrily shift the thoughts of that girl off my head and continue waking to the river.
When I arrived my eyes took a quick glance around the river and I immediately froze with what I saw. A girl in the river glowing under the moon light. The water ended around her belly and I saw only her behind but I can tell it was her again.