"This baobab tree has not only fed generations, it has also sheltered society's most vulnerable from the sharp stings of the sun. How dare you talk about bringing it to destruction?" Ametefe, queried angrily. "Even I Ametefe, the hunter of the deadliest predators; the son of Lavu, the only woodcutter to cut wood for the construction of an entire palace, do not see myself worthy enough to speak ill of Agumenu. How dare you whose father and his father have no folklore to their names speak ill of the mother of all our gods?" He continued. Ganyo was surprised by the sudden outburst by his friend because even though Ametefe is the bravest hunter and warrior in Adako and beyond, his humility is unprecedented. It then dawned on Ganyo that his ironic proposal for the ancient baobab to be cut and sold to the baobab traders must have really provoked his friend enough to awaken darker spirits within him. Before Ganyo could recover from the shock and begin thinking of how to explain himself, Ametefe sped off. Ganyo who despite his lack of strength and battle skills, is renowned in Adako and beyond for his thoughtfulness, decided to go to Ametefe's house and explain to him that his suggestion for Agumenu the baobab to be cut and traded to raise funds for the renovation of the palace instead of taxing the inhabitants of Adako was a paradox intended to make him view things from a different perspective.
As he walked away buried in parallel thoughts of both the future and the past of Adako, he prayed silently for society's most vulnerable who will definitely be unable to raise enough money to pay any more taxes should the King go ahead with the proposed draconian taxation ideas. Ganyo was lost in the haystack of his own thoughts so much so that he was startled when he raised his head and saw the chief priest standing just a few meters from him. "The rat does not roam about in broad daylight, neither does the cheetah set traps for it's prey. Why do you thread alone?" The chief priest queried. Ganyo and Ametefe's friendship began when they were just toddlers. Their father's were friends as both were woodcutters. Both children therefore grew up together especially after Ganyo's parents died mysteriously even before he could become a man. Even though he did not grow up to become a great hunter or a warlord, his bravery in the very face of adversity during the time of his parent's passing is commendable and has earned him a lot of respect among his people. "The first parable, I comprehend but the second is too much for a mere mortal like me please wise one." Ganyo responded. The priest of Agumenu jerked forwards, backwards and then forwards. He sang a short dirge-like eulogy in honor of Agumenu the baobab and danced to the tune in circles as he continuously shook his staff. The rings and gongs that hang on his staff combine to sing some very beautiful melodies yet no one wished to listen to the music of the gods.
Before Ganyo could get any explanation from the wise one, he danced passed him jerkily towards the palace. The words of the last song that the priest sang stuck to Ganyo's mind for a very long time.
"One path in the middle of it all,
One needle lost in this haystack.
Who visits the wise one without it?
Who? I said who visits the great one without it?
How will one reach Amita the stream goddess without it?
Just one path and it is where all is said" were the words of the song.
After a little thought, Ganyo realized that the song was actually making reference to the very path he was standing on. The path that connects the shrine to the palace and both the palace and the shrine to the stream. "Well! I am but a mere mortal and no one expects me to understand the language of the gods." He murmured as he shrugged and continued walking towards Ametefe's hut.
The creaky sound made by Ametefe's lazy chair which was made from bamboo and finely finished with raffia, prompted Ganyo to turn his head and look beneath the iroko. This iroko has seen generations of love and of hate, of bliss and of pain, of friendship and of war. Under this iroko, these two friends have also made uncountable promises to one another and both have kept these promises to the best of their abilities. Being the oldest and shadiest iroko in Adako, children from the community and beyond always come there everyday after their farm work to play and since the people of Adako do not go to the farm on Tuesdays, the children get to play all day on Tuesdays.
As he approached his friend who was seriously brooding over something, the memories they have made under this iroko flashed back and a flicker of smile flashed through his dark and gentle face.
When he got close enough to his friend, he sat on the edge of one of the numerous chairs they had both made and stared in his friends eyes. "Why are you so angry 'Tefe?" He queried. "We both want the same thing for our people; success. You know I am not the enemy." He said with utmost calmness.
Ametefe who was deeply touched by his friend's short speech, raised his brows wide enough to look him straight in the eye and reassured him that he Ametefe is very much aware of the irrefutable fact that he is not the enemy. "I however worry that your dedication to the success and well being of our people will lead you astray. I am a warrior of this land and I know the role patriotism has played in defending our people from other kingdoms. I just hope you understand that my friend." He explained. "Yes! I may not be a warrior and I may never have been on the battlefield with you but you see, I die seven times everyday when you are at war and all I could do is pray. I know my friend, I know how difficult it is to face our foes with the same number of arrows the enemy carries and bows made from the same wood as theirs. That is exactly why we must safeguard your toil my friend. What is the essence of heading off to war then if the people you fight so gallantly to defend end up as slaves to the ghosts of their own minds? I am sorry if my suggestion was wrong, tomorrow is Tuesday and we will have the whole day to find a solution but we can't do that if we are angry beyond repair." said Ganyo.
Both friends looked at each other in silence and as if they understood a different dialect that does not have audible syllables, got up and hugged each other very tight.