Masisi stayed awake all night, consulting dark powers for access to the signet ring. In the palace, there is a section designed for his diabolical purposes, which contained different evil articles – scrolls, calabash, candles and Algae of different colors (Green, Red, and purple). After intense consultations with no result, he became frustrated and furiously commanded the guards to drag-in Ruhu to him immediately. Ruhu was still awake, as though expecting to be summoned.
He was taken from his cubicle at the lower chambers.
"You are the great guardian of the Stone Wall of Secrets, I'm sure you can reveal where to find the signet ring".
"You know it is impossible to find the signet ring, it doesn't exist in this realm, where ever Nyambe is, only there will you find it".
"Ahhh, Ruhu, you see nothing is impossible unto him that believes, and I believe. Also, whoever seeks, surely shall he find, therefore, I shall know no rest until I find the signet ring and you are going to help me find it".
"How? I have already told you it is not within my powers".
"Yes, but the scrolls are in your possession for centuries, you will use your powers to access them for me, every single one of them. There lies the secret and therein, will the mystery be unveiled."
"What you ask for is difficult, I cannot evoke ten thousand scrolls at once, especially not in this atmosphere. The evil here is too much of a distraction for my mind".
"And who said we will be doing it here, we shall take some soldiers along and ride to the mountains, far away from Malunga, there shall we find the right place. You shall evoke all the scrolls into several animal skins and if you try to be mischievous, the sharp edge of my horn driving through your heart will be the last thing you'll ever feel. We shall wait for as long as it takes, but we shall accomplish the mission".
Ruhu had no time to bid Atama farewell, for he was whisked away that night.
Knock! Knock!! Knock!!! Atama knock on Ruhu's door when she didn't see him in the garden that morning. She wondered if he was sick, but does Ruhu ever gets sick or tired? Sometimes she feels he is super human, other times she thinks he is deific.
Anyway, she has to see him, considering how their last lesson went. Although she was sickened by the outcome, she was more disappointed in her failures and had decided to try again this time, more determined to get it right as time was not a luxury.
She checked the window and could see his bed empty, when she tried the door knob, the door opened. She went in and checked but obviously he wasn't there.
"Where could he be?" She wondered aloud.
Later, Atama found Zuchi sitting by the window in her chambers. She bowed in greeting.
"Come on Princess Atama, you don't have to put on the act when we are alone".
"Ah! My lady, I'm already used to it and besides, it doesn't take away a thing from me, nor does it add to it. As a matter of fact, it makes me feel more human".
"Really!"
Zuchi could not comprehend that, but didn't linger on it.
Atama sits on the bed while Zuchi came to sit beside her.
"You look troubled, what's the matter?" Zuchi asked
"It's Ruhu, I can't find him. I checked his chambers but he's not there. Do you have the slightest idea where he might be?"
Raising her brow for a moment.
"Ah! Last night, from my window, I saw them rode away with some guards and they were fully armed. I think Masisi has taken him away. I hope he doesn't intend killing him?''
Atama was saddened, her heart was in turmoil and afraid Masisi might kill him, knowing exactly what that would mean. She needs him, the mission cannot be accomplished without his help.
"I must go find him", she turned to Zuchi.
"Are you sure about that? It's dangerous out there and you do not know the way they went, although I saw them go through the city".
"I must find him, I need him, the mission needs him, and besides he might be in trouble, I must come to his rescue".
"I shall come with you then. If you must go, then we shall go together".
"Oh no! I don't think it's a good idea, besides, the throne needs your crown and it will be suspicious if we both go missing. You must stay here and keep an eye on things, I'm the maid here, remember? Besides, no one will care if I'm gone, or dead".
With that, she prepared herself immediately, and went through the direction that she was told they had followed.
Atama did not believe the ruins in the city. This was her first time going through the city since it was captured by Masisi. The powers of Buwana had rendered the place desolate. There were soldiers everywhere, tormenting the citizens with all kinds of weapons. She could see women being flogged with whips openly on the street. Curses and insults were hurled like the rain of hays. The city reeked of blood and raw human flesh. The scene was devastating.
"Hey, look where you are going, you little brat", an angry soldier spat the words at her in irritation. He shoved her aside while the thin looking man who was pushing the soldier's cart also hurled insults at her. His pain and outrage was birthed out of frustration, emanating from her obstructing and causing him more pain.
She quickly jumped aside, and hide in the crowd that was soon gathering at a corner, close to the city gate.
A woman was shouting and pleading for her life, while two merciless soldiers threw countless punches and kicks on her.
The crowd was increasing in number, the soldiers kept throwing punches at her, and when her cries had seized, the soldiers thought she was dead, they took her body outside the city and dumped it along with several corpses and skeletons.
Atama closed her eyes in deep sadness, telling herself to keep calm and focused. She stayed for about a minute or two, just to calm herself. She tried to look within to find peace. She opened her mind's eye to the same darkness she had experienced with Ruhu, but just as she was about to shut her mind and open her physical eyes, she saw the woman who had been beaten and left to die outside the gate.
Although she wasn't at the gate yet, but she could see the woman clearly as if she was standing right there. Then the most shocking thing happened, she began to hear the woman's inner thought pleading for help.
"Who will help my daughter? I need help, I can't die, oh please, I'm dying, but my daughter, she's only three, please help! Nyambe where are you? Where are you?"
The woman lamented in her heart.
Atama was more amazed than afraid that she could see and hear the thoughts of this woman clearly. She wanted to shout and scream for joy, she wanted to run to Ruhu and tell him that she had found the path right in the darkness, but then she remembered that she was on a mission to find and rescue Ruhu. And this helpless woman, she needs to quickly help her before she continued on her mission.
The clouds had gathered, robust and ready to rain. People were beginning to find shelter. She rushed to the gates and there she was, panting for life.
She looked round but no one was in sight. So she bent over and touched the woman, looking for pulse to ascertain if she's alive.
"Excuse me, I'm here to help you, do not be afraid". But the woman was in too much pain to hear or comprehend what she was saying, she was semiconscious. She decided to try again.
"Ma'ale (mother), can you hear me?" still there was no sound, then she decided to try communicating through the mind.
"Ma'ale, can you hear me?"
"Help me, don't let me die here, help my daughter", came the woman's heart cry.
"Rebutu, Ina wale chiko dim anam (don't worry, your daughter will not die), let me help you first to safety then we can find your daughter".
She helped the woman up, into the woods and in no time, they found a cave. She laid her and began nursing her. She took out the jar of water by her waist band and gave her a drink.
"kwenu, kwenu, (drink, drink)", she forced open her mouth and forced some quantity down her throat.
She cleaned up the injuries, took out from her bag-pack some ointment and applied on the injuries. The woman went into deep sleep.
When night came, Atama made up fire to keep them warm. Later that night, she was awoken by the woman's groan.
Atama touched her forehead to feel her temperature.
"Oh no! You're burning with fever".
She brought out a small bottle, got a small bowl, heated a small quantity of water, and added two drops of the content from the bottle.
Sitting the woman upon her laps, "kwenu, kwenu (drink, drink), she forced it into her mouth, down her throat, until the whole content was consumed. Almost immediately, the woman went back to sleep.
"You look much better, how are you feeling today?" she asked when the woman woke up the next morning.
Atama had prepared another concoction for her, but first, she served her a piece of bread and water, before giving her the hot brew, and by noon, the woman was feeling a lot better and the fever completely gone.
"Utambga, (thank you)", she said hours later after Atama gave her the last dosage of the concoction.
"You look a lot better, you will live", Atama added.
"Utambga, (thank you)" she said again.
"My daughter, I need to find her, please help me find her, she's only three and she must have eaten the last bread I gave her before leaving the house. I told her I will be back soon".
Wearing a sad face. She continued.
"She will cry all night and, will be afraid of the dark. Sisir (Please help me)".
"Yes I will find her, Rebutu, ina wale chiko zim kurbe (don't worry, your daughter would be found). Now tell me, where is your house?"
The woman looked blank, as if she can't remember.
For a while she thought, but still couldn't figure out.
"How do I describe the hideout to her", Atama heard the woman's thought loud and clear, then decided to converse with her through the mind.
A thought came to her mind, then she asked the woman.
"Do you mind thinking about where your house is and I will follow the direction from your mind?"
The woman began to locate the hideout they called home. She moved until she stopped at a building that looked like an abandoned bakery. Inside the bakery, there was a wooden cabinet, it served as a door to a small room formally used as store. No one will notice nor ever imagine it's a shelter, and so no one cared to look or bother to pry in that direction.
Having seen the place, Atama decided to look further, she was surprised to find a little dark skin girl sleeping with her hand wrapped around a dirty looking rubber doll while the thumb of the other hand was in her mouth. Her face was stained with dried tears. Atama's heart went all out for the three year old and she knew she will find no rest until she brings the girl to safety.
"I will go and get her right away, she turned to the woman".
"Utambga (thank you)" she responded with much expression of gratitude.
"Please keep still and rest, by the time you awake, your little one will be in your arms". With that she headed back into the city to find the girl.
By the time she got to the gate, the soldiers had brought two more bodies and dumped outside the city gate, along with other corpses. No one noticed nor cared about the absence of the woman's body. She passed in silence, deliberately shutting her mind, lest she finds another helpless soul amongst the corpse seeking her help.
She entered the city and began to use her mind to locate the old bakery. She passed a garbage dump site with rotten vegetables emanating strong pungent smell. Two kids of about nine and twelve were scavenging, obviously for something to eat. She felt stomach cramps as she saw one of them grabbed something wrapped in an animal skin to eat. It must have been rotten but they shared it and almost got into a fist fight when one of the boys felt he was cheated in the sharing.
Her heart went out to them, poor children. See what they have become. She soon realized that paying allegiance to Masisi doesn't guarantee your safety, in fact you are as vulnerable as the resistance. And you are not exempted from the hardship either.
Atama soon located the bakery, she entered but didn't find anyone.
Afraid the girl isn't here, she looked around but was nowhere to be found. Remembering that she hadn't asked the woman the child's name and didn't even ask the woman of her own name. Atama felt lost and confused.
"What will I do now? I pray she's still alive. What if the soldiers heard her crying and took her away. Oh no, please may it not be so".
She closed her eyes to think for a while, then came the darkness and she looked deeper and began to hear the sound of a child laughing, she followed the sound of the laughter which led her out of the house to the backyard. There she saw a little dark girl, with an unkempt short pony tail hairstyle, chasing after a kitten and laughing all along.
Atama, snapped from the vision and ran to the back of the old bakery, and there she was, playing with a kitten and, having a carefree attitude. She didn't care or worry about a thing not even the mucus flowing down her nostrils, dripping occasionally into her mouth. She immediately approached the child.
"Loko! (Hello!)", stretching her hands in greetings. The child looked at her suspiciously for a while before answering. "Loko mala, (hello aunty)".
"Is that your kitten?" Pointing at the smallish kitten wrapped under her armpit.
With much joy and enthusiasm, the child began to tell her all about the kitten.
"She's my best friend after Ma'ale (mother), she can play but doesn't talk, I found her when I came out to pee, Ma'ale, said don't come out, but I got pressed and Ma'ale said go out when you want to pee, and Ma'ale said don't pee on the bed. I tell Ma'ale I didn't pee on the bed but Ma'ale will be sad I played outside.
"Don't worry, I'm sure Ma'ale will understand you had to go out to pee in other not to wet the bed."
The child wasn't sure, but didn't say, she's obviously excited to tell someone about her new friend that she didn't give much thought about what Atama said.
"Look", she continued, showing Atama the claws of the kitten.
"We shared my bread with her, she was very hungry, I'm hungry too", then as if she suddenly remembered that her mother wasn't back.
"Ma'ale (mother), went away and Ma'ale (mother), is not back", she said as a tear escaped her eyes.
Atama pulled the child and embraced her.
"Ma'ale (mother) is fine and I am going to take you to her. By the way, my name is Atama, would you mind telling me yours?"
"Anu".
"Such a beautiful name, Anu".
"Utamgba mala Atama (thank you aunty Atama).
"We will go to Ma'ale (mother) but first, you must promise me that you will do as I say, okay".
Anu nods her head in affirmation.
"Do you want to go with your kitten?"
"Yes, please!"
"Okay, quickly, let's go get your cape and we will go and meet Ma'ale (mother), she's waiting for us. Do not speak to anyone as we go okay".
"Okay Mala Atama".
It was getting late, and the clouds was heavy. Atama quickly took Anu by the hand while she clutch on to her kitten and they navigated their way through the city, following routes with less suspicion and piercing eyes.
Down the road, a soldier and a woman were openly making love by a corner on the street, moaning aloud from their lustful pleasures, Atama quickly shielded Anu's eye with her hands from seeing the illicit act. They passed in a hurry.
Atama keeps looking from left to right lest any soldier appear out of the blues and try to force her into any sexual affair.
As they approached the city gate, a soldier called out,
"Hey, you skinny whore come over here. Atama, turned her back and her first instinct is to dash off with Anu for their lives, but upon turning her back, she realized that the voice wasn't referring to her. There, stood a slim damsel dressed seductively, revealing her luscious cleavages. Her makeup was heavily done, obviously out for the night business.
Relief washed over Atama as she realized the call wasn't for her. The soldier walked up to the damsel as Atama hurriedly rushed Anu out of sight, into the woods.
When they arrived, they met the anxious mother who was sitting restlessly by the cave entrance, anticipating their arrival.
"Ma'ale! (Mother!)"
Came the joyous scream, as Anu dashed into the open arms of her mother. Atama watched with teary eyes as mother and daughter re-united in a firm clinched. The woman let her tears flow without restrain, she sobbed uncontrollably like a baby herself.
Atama felt fulfilled. She could feel a sense of accomplishment that she had done something good for someone, she had brought joy and restored life to a dying mother and missing daughter. Oh, such unexplainable joy and pleasure flooded her heart. With that, she resolved to find Ruhu and tell him of all her successes and achievements.
Overwhelmed with joy, she found a new zeal and the determination to pursue her course and achieve the mission.
That evening, they feasted on wild caterpillar she found on her way to the city, and some wild fruits she picked on their way back. The small camp ate in excitement by the fire, everyone in the peace of their space.
After the meal, Anu was fast asleep with her kitten wrapped in her arms beside her mother.
The woman turned to Atama. "Utamgba (Thank you) for everything Mala … (aunty…)".
"Atama, is the name".
"Male Atama".
"I'm Malaika", the woman introduced herself for the first time.
"Princess Atama we must not delay your mission, we are grateful and forever indebted to you for your kindness".
"How do you know I'm the princess?" Atama was truly surprised, she couldn't remember telling the woman such information about her identity.
"My husband, the baker that wouldn't pledge his allegiance to Masisi was killed and used as an example to whomever dared to resist the ruler-ship of Masisi. He told me a story few years ago, when we were courting that there was a little girl in the Palace of king Nyambe that will one day conquer and defeat the rise of evil. She had the powers to see and read minds but, she will also have close knitted friends that are enemies, she must watch her back else the enemy within will crash her before she gets to the enemy without".
"Hmm, so what makes you think I'm the princess?"
She smiled.
"When I was at the verge of death that day, in my pain I pleaded with Nyambe to save me and spare the life of my child. Then you showed up, having the ability to read my thoughts, I felt the presence of Nyambe and only a man consumed with the evil of Buwana's powers will not smell the clean and purity emanating from your being, even your breath has the aroma of life, of hope and of peace. So I knew, it must be the once little princess that carried the veins of Nyambe".
Atama listened in silence.
"I will go away for a while, you are strong enough to care for yourself and your daughter Anu. The city is not safe for now but you can stay here for a while until you can figure out what to do".
"I will be gone before the first cockcrow tomorrow".
"Okay, I will like to give you a little gift".
Malaika loosened the edge of her wrapper and handed her three fine stones. "These were given to me by my husband on our wedding night. He told me they have life in them but I have never seen the life in it, perhaps they will breathe in the right hand or at the right time".
"This stone, lifting the smallest one, has the ability to grow into a rock, it's called the protector, this one, next to the smallest one, has the ability for speed, but it reduces it size to almost invisible and keeps to time when sent on a mission, and the last one keeps a secret. Now I don't know how true this myth is, may be you will have to find out yourself".
"Whenever I teased that they were just mere stones, my husband always says you never know the powers within a thing until you activate it", she looked faraway, with a sad face, as if missing her husband gravely.
"But I kept them for long because they were gifts, and beautiful". She added.
"Well, I think they may come alive in the right hands". Stretching out the stones to her, "please accept it as token of my appreciation".
Atama received it with gratitude covered it with the piece of cloth and put it carefully into her bag pack.
"Utamgba (thank you)", she said, as she prepared a spot to lay her head for the night.