CHAPTER ONE.

It was in the afternoon. Paul decided to take a walk round the neighbourhood to while away the day. This was good for his health. It helped to stretch his numb legs and tone his muscles. His late father had told him this. He strode across the path that led to the village stream. Just as he slowed down, he heard a loud scream. It was neither the bellowing of a donkey nor the chattering of a monkey, but a human voice off in the distance. He stood still to be

sure, and craned his neck in the direction of the noise. This time, thescream was loud and clear. It was coming from the same direction.

Convinced that someone was in serious peril, Paul quickened his pace and hurried on. The cry echoed in his ears.He ran as fast as his legs could carry him, his feet barely touching the ground. Finally, he was in the vicinity of the stream. When he reached the spot, he was shocked. His heart jumped into his mouthas he trembled with fear on seeing a young woman thrashing around in the water, definitely in danger, her water pot floating on the rear

side. “How did this happen? She must have slipped off the edge,” he pondered, pacing to and fro in vexation. The hair stood stiff on hishead as he shuddered. The poor creature gasped for breath as she swallowed gallons of water.

Suzanna treaded the delicate line between life and death underneath the water. As she wrestled for her life, she could clearly see her odds of surviving diminish every moment that passed by. This was

a battle between life and death, and, by the look of things, the latter was clutching tightly with earnest determination. Having used up all her energy with no grace left, she gave up the fight, and waited. She would accept whatever fate threw at her.

Water clogged up her throat, and choked her voice that she could no longer utter any sound. In jaws of death, in her subconscious mind, she was parading with angels in a tumult of merriment that she had

never embraced before.

Paul bustled about wearily contemplating what to do. Chance had set a challenge before him to prove his valour yet he knew not how to defeat it. The dreadful sight wrenched at his heart. He was

caught in between. It was either he risked his life to save hers, or let her die. He was not a good swimmer, and more to the point, he feared

leaping into water. Though he knew he had to do something, he could not gather any useful idea regarding his sudden course of action.

Despite his many attempts to jump into the water, he did not succeed .Every time he tried, a strong grip of fear would draw him back.

“For the one I hold dear, don’t be a coward, my son, and don’t prove me wrong! Much as you are a product of an ugly past, you take after me: my blood runs through your veins; I can never beget a coward

for a son. I was seldom one in the world of the living, nor am I in this dorm of darkness where I now dwell.” He was confused. The voice was his father’s— a man who was laid to rest years back, whose

confidence in him had never faltered.

The fear of betraying the memory of the one man whom he cherished began to torment him. He ruefully scratched his head and

racked his brain over and over again for a hint. Then, with the rapidity of lightening, he jumped to his feet, and into the stream he leapt. How

he dispelled his fears, and summoned the courage to do the impossible, no one could reckon. The numbness and the strong weight of the

ripple almost held him back, but his conscience was awakened by her dictating circumstances. Seeing her vulnerability, he was willing to go above and beyond to rescue her, even if it meant risking his life.

She was wedged on the side by a cold wave. His strength grew proportionate to the creature’s susceptibility to danger.

Paul splashed the waters fearlessly. The fact that he’d proven himself worthy thrived his efforts. He wasn’t a base imitation of a man; he wasn’t a chicken that he would cower in face of danger. He carefully got hold of her amidst his supplication for her good health, carried her out of the stream with his muscled up arms and laid her on levelled

ground. She looked pale and was in a horrible state. He stared at her, not knowing what to do, for fear had seized him. Stooping, he pressed

her wrist vein to ascertain whether she still had a pulse. Much to hisrelief, she was alive indeed. He could feel her faint heart beats, which would certainly come to a halt any moment. The thought of it made his heart sink.The retrospection of his father’s last moments was most

dreadful that he didn’t wish to conjure the memories, but already, they welled up in him like a flood. For a moment, he waited with eagerness with an outstretched neck and distended eyes. ‘There has to be a way,’he thought to himself. But it was hard to discern which course to take to attain positive results.

Suddenly, his senses came back to him. He bent towards hersupple body, pressed his lips against hers, and blew inside her seemingly lifeless body. He then pressed her protruding belly gently and carefully with his palms. He tried this severally and had almost given up when the girl’s chest heaved. Conceiving that these could be death rattles, he jumped to a standing posture, breathing heavily. His

hair stood on end. He was ill at ease. She threw up gallons of water as he watched intently. He repeated the practice until she responded positively. He was thrilled after seeing her gain consciousness. His

efforts had paid off. His heart rejoiced at his apparent success. He sighed deeply in relief, and the tension in his heart slowly reduced. It was a restoration of his lost hope. She had gained consciousness, but her face was etched with

tiredness. Suzanna slowly opened her drowsy eyes, and descried a stranger—her saviour. It felt as though she was on another planet above the universe. In a land where dwelled righteousness: where neither sorrow nor suffering reigned, where there was only a fair existence of complete happiness.

A few minutes later, she was fully awake to the reality; death had almost snatched her youthfulness. She was paralyzed. To think that she could be lying dead engulfed in some lonesome enclosure that

knows no light but sheer darkness made her teeth chatter in her head. It must have been her lucky day or else…

Paul took a glimpse at her in amusement. He had not taken into account her striking beauty –not until now. Her dazzling eyes, her dark complexion, and her fine lips were a summation and embodiment

of African beauty. With the help of his muscular arms and broad shoulders, she clutched onto him, and he made her lean against the

sycamore tree that stood adjacent to the stream. The inhabitants called it ‘the lover’s shade,’ for many a time, young men and women wouldcome to nourish their youthful enchantments under its umbrella.

Suzanna was tense. She felt so tired that for a moment she wouldn’t sit or stand on her own. Her head throbbed painfully. “How are you, how

do you feel now?” asked Paul, his heart palpitating in anxiety, his voice thick with emotions.

She turned her head slightly and grimaced, “My stomach hurts a little, and I have a headache, but I’ll be fine.” Paul looked at her smilingly and said, “Thank God you are out of danger.” Thereafter, he

sat in thoughtful silence. ‘It would have been a disaster if she too had died fatally like the other two. Death is a blood-thirsty old curse!’

He had almost gotten lost in this oblivion when she interrupted him with her sentimental appreciation. “It’s a good thing you arrived here in time. Thank you,” she said chattering and shivering with coldness.

“What for?’’ Paul asked, fixing his eyes on her pretty face, and then straying them over to the shape of her body to which her wet dress clung.

“I owe you for saving my life,” she replied as tears brimmed in her eyes.

“Never mind, it’s nothing really,” said Paul his voice wobbling with emotions, and then resumed, “To be honest, you have to be extra careful because the grass is always slippery especially after the rain.

Many have fallen victim and lost lives this way.”

“But it did not…” she stopped. She had almost refuted that it hadn’t rained, but remembered that an hour ago, there had been a monkey’s wedding. Surely he was right, for the ground was still wet.

Suzanna nodded her head in hearty agreement.

“Thank you again.” She smiled attractively, her voice full of imposing grate. Paul nodded his assent with a toothy grin. He was doubly impressed by her gentility. He stole a glance at her, and couldn’t

stop admiring her blithering beauty. The gap between her teeth, and her two dimples were a symbol of true African beauty-an adoration of

every man. She pondered on how a total stranger could possibly have rescued her life. As she talked to him, she felt an easiness that was quite

indescribable.

After a long pause, she clamped her lips tightly together and aid, “I have to be on my way. My mother must be worried sick about

me.”

“All right, if you insist.” His eyes glinted. It was nakedly obvious that he still enjoyed her company. He reached for her small hand and helped her stand up. She led the way, and he tagged behind her, her

pot balanced on his head. Suzanna trod on the grass with her tender feet. She was the epitome of beauty, and there was no doubt about it.

As she walked, he kept admiring her exquisite beauty and her graceful figure that Mother Nature had gifted her with, and did it with a satisfaction that he couldn’t abhor. Had she died, everything graceful

would have been dragged along with her to her grave, and all around her would have been at a loss. He mumbled silently causing his companion to look behind. Their eyes met and they exchanged shy

smiles. When they reached the threshold, he lowered the pot from his head to hers with politeness that she smiled soothingly. She balanced

it on her head and said, “Thank you, it was very thoughtful of you.”

Her polished manners enticed him. He caught hold of her arm as she pushed past him and said, “You didn’t tell me your name though.” Hesmiled broadly. He had clicked with her the very moment he saw her.

“Suzanna-Suzanna Makanga.” She said this as she broke away hurriedly. Paul felt a fit of sadness and wished she had stayed with him a bit longer. He couldn’t explain why he felt a strong attachment to a

stranger, a girl he had just met once. Hence forth, her picture was imprinted on his mind. He stood motionless as his face beamed, and watched her until he lost sight of her.