Rumpey seriously you have to go. John says. This is all I can do for you for now. If you can't follow the river at the broken bridge and don't want to be seen by those you owe, also you know the bridge is broken and damaged beyond repair, then you have to make up your mind to follow this path I am considering, which is the only route for you home.
Rumpey: Which path? Rumpey asked. The lion's pathway. John informs. It is sunny now and they would be resting as you can see we cannot have them in sight. I have been checking for you. Since we stood in this ranch at the bushy areas you also can tell that we have not sighted them. So, you see this walk way. He pointed at human carved pathways to Rumpey. These are the paths you can either follow. Our old day's fathers made it so when they hunt. But people only follow it when they are very sure the lions are far away and or are sleeping.
Rumpey: But I can't hunt lions! Why telling me all this? I know I am only saying you can follow this path steadily. Don't be stupid! Rumpey cautioned angrily. Are you talking to a kid? A lion I can't see that sees me walking quietly or steadily would always come after me. Even though I have not combated one before I have heard stories about them, and have seen movies in the cities on National Geo Wild documentaries when I visited my sister in Lagos. Forget the fact that you people don't have DSTV in this village. And of course you won't have seen since you don't have a DSTV. He mocks. John reverses the insult: Thank you! Do you have DSTV in your father's house? Ordinary small cash you are running up and down to pay people of your village and mine but you are here talking about DSTV. You are just too funny and pompous, and that's why you are having troubles owing people here and there ubiquitously.
John: Shut up! Rumpey: Keep quiet! I will go back and leave you here all alone, now. John threatens. Please don't come to my house again, my mum is tired of taking care of another's responsibility. Thank you. Thanks, after all your "so called mum" never wanted me to stay because of food and feeding. Rumpey became ungrateful. In any case, you stayed and she fed you! Rumpey went infuriated, drags John by his shirt to his neck. Don't insult me. Don't try it. You know I can be very brutal at times like a lion, and you know my story. Like a lion you say! Ah ah! John laughed it off and continued: " Yes, I know you, I know your story; you are a debtor, a thief, a trouble maker and an ingrate. Now you are about to face the lion, brutal boy!" He says in a furious face off. Rumpey fumes in anger. Tries to fight but the fight was halted at this time as both of them heard the town crier mentioning Rumpey's name. Then they paused and looked at each other's face in a serious confrontation as John continues. "And if you listen you will hear your name." Rumpey left his shirt, looks down and listened attentively as he noses around to hear what the town crier was announcing. The town crier announces: "Whether Rudey or Rumpey. He is wanted at home. The king has demanded his presence and anyone who has him should report where he is hiding before tomorrow. And as a matter of fact, his mum and dad are in serious danger because of him. The fight seems to be caused by him and now the boy has left his mother in the hands of angered youths from Mokpo village. The matter must be resolved before nightfall, he must pay them what he owes before his mum and dad will be set free, that the bridge also will be built jointly by all the youths involved, both from this community and the next. The king also announced that his hands have been washed already if Rumpey's mother or father dies in the hands of those he offended. So we should all take note. All of this will be addressed if Rumpey comes back home. Everything will become normal as long as Rumpey is found alive to address the issue. The King has also promised to help pay off his debt. So please if you have him, hide him or know where he is hiding let us know or simply report to the king of Okumu land and we will bring him home. With this, our elders and farmers can now follow the repaired bridge to the stream and to farm. Without this, life will remain difficult for all of us. I have delivered the king's message. I have delivered it as it is. The king has spoken! The king has spoken!! The king of Okumu land has spoken on Rumpey's matter and Mokpo's village!!! The messenger delivered the message verbally with traditional microphone.
You see! How many times did you hear your name? Wait, that's about me. About four or five times! He answered. I am leaving you, so they won't catch me with you please brutal man. Thanks for coming! Wait Rumpey pleaded. Please hold on. Let's find a way to get me home. The choice is yours! Have you resolved to follow these pathways? Yes, I have! Rumpey answered confidently. After some seconds he said: "Wait!" He looked up and drew John's attention to a lion resting on a tree. That looks like a lion. Isn't that a lion? Where? Which tree? I can't see anything. John said
That. Rumpey pointed. Oh Wao…It is, hope it hasn't seen us. Let's hope it won't see us. The Lion was asleep on the Tree. Somehow, Rumpey and John disturbed the Lion, so it wakes up. "I told you. It has seen us but I am very sure it is still resting.John spoke as if everything was fine.
Okay, I have an idea Rumpey suggested quickly in confusion. What again? John asked. Rumpey: I won't walk or sneak. Rumpey speaks boldly. Okay. John said. So what are you saying! You are always full of ideas. No wonder you are wanted everywhere. Nigerian government should need and sponsor people like you. So let's hear you out whether this time around this idea will sell you out and you will be sponsored by federal scholarship board of our country if it's sell-able. You want to disappear? You know as for you, nothing is too hard. (Laughter : Ah ah ah ah!!)
Rumpey Imagines using a Tire
I must save my mum! He said conclusively. I don't joke with her at all. You know what? What? John asked. See that tire over there. Get it. Please, quickly get it, let's do what we have to. Okay! Without thinking twice, John concurred, moves quickly and brought the tire: Here it is! The tire is brought by John and rolled towards Rumpey. Rumpey halts it with his leg. No. This is too small, let's look for a bigger and fatter one. So they got a bigger sized tire, and gets set. He pulls off his sandals to hold in his hands.What are you trying to do? John asked. Rumpey explains: Now I will squeeze myself inside this tire. You know how we used to roll in it when we were kids. They remembered their youthful days and became friends again. Tearfully they hugged each other. Separating from the hug John laughed saying: You are a true friend.
Ah.. Ah… but that's when we were kids. This is dangerous. We are adults now besides you are talking about a lion here o. Don't worry. It's time to get home. All I need is a very strong push. Push me like your friend- I mean like your enemy. Use all, your negative, hate energies and give me and the tire that very strong push. I want to travel across the lion's bush with full force and speed. Ah! John exclaimed. Do it! Rumpey ordered. Ah, I am scared o! John exclaimed again. Please do it! Rumpey begged. What if you fall out of the pathway? May be get stuck up by stones or something? John asked expressing his fearful concerns. "I will find my way! Now you are talking too much. Have you forgotten the message from the messenger?" "Do you want scaley to manhandle my mother when I am alive?" They entered into a small argument.
"Roooooooaaahhhh!!!!!" The lion roared, which made them to be on their toes. John getting scared: The lion is no longer on the tree. John informed Rumpey. I can't find it. The lion came down from the tree, walking in between rocks. It is now walking through the bush path towards the carved out pathway which is located inside the middle of the bush. But Rumpey insisted he must go and be pushed. So he told John about Samson who killed a lion in the Bible. We all as men have to always face dangers anywhere, anyplace and or anytime so it is my turn. If I die so be it but I will find a way to defeat the lion and pass trust me. They looked at each other, but John was scared. The lion walks into the bush quickly after seeing Rumpey and John. John moves backwards while Rumpey enters the tire, carved up in a curled manner with his legs folded inside, he dropped his sandals inside too. Push me for the last time! If this lion gets to us, you caused it. Now push me! You are my friend.
Reluctantly, John aided him: Well your wish is my command. So please! John closed his eyes and moved backwards like he wanted to play a penalty shootout on a ball. He moved some distance away and then opened his eyes. He ran with so much energetic power and speed and then getting close to the tire, he gave a strong push that sets rumpey on to his journey down the hill. The tire encircling Rumpey was stationed on a hilly sloppy area, which travelled with full bouncing force after the push.
Afterwards, John climbed a tree to watch Rumpey rolling on, at the same time wish him well as he bade him goodbye from his house. Rumpey starts his journey within the bush where the lion can't see, but in no time, caught the questing lion's attention as he passed swiftly into the cleared area where the lion could see a moving object. The lion started a chase as Rumpey journeys on while John looked on from a tree after climbing it to keep Rumpey in sight. Lion moving close to the pathway to be sure Rumpey is traveling. Rumpey is successfully giving the lion a wild gap as he speedily rolls over in line with the pathway. But the lion never gave up. Across the lion's view Rumpey travelled in the Tire. The Lion started a hot chase, making noises with the bushes, after seeing a rolling tire.
As Rumpey journeys on he realized heavy noises from the grasses caused by the lion's movement and paws, he became distracted and his sandals fell over some distance in front of the rolling tire which made the tire to change direction. Rumpey luckily scampered behind a tree, while the tire bounced towards another direction. The tire distracted the lion while it stopped.
On the tree outside the hill, John noticed Rumpey has paused, confirming his fears he gaped and as he tries to cover his mouth, he lost a grip of the wooden branch he was holding on to, so he fell to the ground and broke his spinal cord. There he remained as he continues writhing in pain, when his mother found him when she sought him to fetch her water.
Rumpey pulled out and used his legs with screaming he scrambles through the bushes: Help! Help!! Help!!! The lion got closer, closer and closer but first to the tire, which fortunately for Rumpey distracted the lion with as it gave it a little bite, it realized it is a non-living material, the lion continued after Rumpey who is very close to jumping a stream demarcating the lion's bush path and the Okumu's village. He realised there was a river when it was too late, without the thoughts or fear of crocodile, he jumped in and swam happily across the river.
The lion aggressively doubles its speed but Rumpey mustered all his energy to jump over the stream. Rumpey looks back fearfully while swimming across the river. He then came out of it and fell on the ground in front of their neighbours, king and enemies who all jointly carried various weapons including sticks, matchets and clubs intending to fight Rumpey and his community to chase back the lion into the bush. The lion lost the fight and could not meet up with Rumpey. Oh, Rumpey was lucky to cross over to his village while the Lion stayed back unhappy. Rumpey learnt the hard way, but was very happy to beat the Lion in a run.