SOMALINZE: THE GREAT RIVERS

ATO: THE RETURN HOME (1)

The trees blocked the light of the red sunset as somma's dad, chinedu, drove along the Narrow road. They swayed slowly in the evening breeze, waving branches of goodwill. Somma looked through the car window as the greenery flashed before her eyes. She was in solemn thought. ' The south is beautiful ' she thought. It was different from the north.

Crossing the great hills of Kogi state, the green trees spread over the horizon, over the hills and mountains. The confluence of the great Niger and Benue was breathtaking. The cities were beautiful. But there was something, Somma found more beautiful here. The tall palm trees covered every inch of the lands. The forest was thick, thicker than any she had ever seen. The smell was distinct but sweet. palm kernels. It was pure, no pollution, and the southern evening winds were just the right kind of violent, and cool.

Somma smiled to her thoughts. She knew this was going to be a good stay and she couldn't wait.

It was six pm already. They were still on the narrow road. Chinedu, Somma's dad drove faster now, a lot faster. Few people were still on the road at this hour. And they were all pushing their vehicles to the limit. There were no lights on the road. Only the ones from the vehicles illuminated the evening. The last light of the day was ending. The forest that the road passes through was very dark. 'Thieves or kidnappers could be hiding in there' he thought. 'I have to go faster',
and he did. Faster and faster.

A little bit up the road, the headlights shone clearly on a sign, it read, 'MILE NKË ATO'. "Mile three? " Somma asked looking at her parents. Her mom, Sopuru turned back, she was smiling. "What? " Somma said blushing. "You're right Som... And you're getting good at igbo. I'm so proud of you" Sopuru said extending her hand to Somma in the back seat and blowing air kisses. "Ewww! " Somma and Jeff said together. Sopuru laughed and turned back.
Somma smiled to herself as she used her phone. She was chatting with James. She giggled, then laughed then, giggled again. Suddenly a thought. She dropped her phone slowly as she looked up. When she did, the headlights shone on another sign. It read 'TOMB ROCK'. Somma just looked at it as it disappeared into the night. "Dad, what's tomb rock? " she asked. "I don't know honey, what is it? " Chinedu replied trying so hard to stay focused on the road. "Well I just saw a sign that had the words 'tomb rock' on it, and an arrow, Like a direction. " well honey you've got a sharp eye, I didn't see anything" Chinedu replied still trying to focus. "Well...uh... Are you sure? Because it was right in front of you. There's no way you could not have seen it... Mom? " Somma said. "Honey, your dad is driving here, these roads aren't safe. I didn't see it, but you did. What's the big deal? " Sopuru asked. "You're right mom. I shouldn't put any thought to it" Somma said.
"We're home! " Chinedu said as the car drove towards some lights. Mom smiled, then stretched to kiss dad. But the cool night was drowned in Somma's thoughts. Suddenly a hand touched her. She turned. Jeff was looking at her, "I saw it too" he said. He said and wore back his earphones. Somma wore hers slowly as well.

***

A few miles, in the old world at Nkanu's valley. A company of tired women and men trod the greenless path. The flags they carried were torn and soiled. It had a symbol on it, an eagle burning and it eating the flames that burns it. The journey home was long, sad and dreadful. The company would stop every hour to bury the dead. Those they had finally managed to let go of. The winds were violent and the skies were black, soon it mourned as well. Heavy rains poured down upon these sad people. They were drenched, desolate and washed away of all honour.
For most it was a dream. Their thoughts were sad and filled with questions. 'This can't be the great ucheki army' one would think. 'How can this be? ' another would. 'For this, the gendrians must die, all of them. We will burn their cities and their temples to the ground' . This, many was thinking. It was what drove them forward.
The remnants of the ucheki army. They were no more than a hundred. Their transport birds were destroyed by the gendrian air force. Their Eze fled the battle, with his commanders and his personal guard, all on horseback. He left his people to die. They would spit on the ground anytime his name was called. They called him names, coward was used more than once. They hated him and vowed, the unending vow. That they would sieze the Ófór from the Eze. And take away his right to rule. That was their consolation under the harshness of the elements.