Amasa

Chapter seven- A snake in the grass

Karimba was filled with excited chatter. The last preparations for the upcoming rain festival that was to be held the following evening were coming to an end. The spring in the step of the villagers was more pronounced and joy radiated from the swaying of the women's hips to the puffing out of the men's chests.

The flowers for facial decorations had been collected and pounded into fine powder, the wood for the fire had been chopped and laid neatly on top of each other and the men worked tirelessly as they hunted for more game to add to the meat for the festival.

The elderly sat outside on their rukukwe mats catching up while stretching new skin over the drums with precision and skill they had acquired over the years. Little children brought in the seeds they had collected so that their mothers could gratefully add them into their shakers as a sign of their participation in an event of utmost importance.

Although the blue skies had not opened up to let go of the rain and the sun shone brightly above, a bitter cold fell upon the fingertips and toes of the villagers even during the course of the afternoon.

 Children would wake up early in the morning just before the cock crowed to breathe the morning air and see mist form as their warm breathe mixed with the still outside air, as it slowly vanished before their eyes, the annoyed mothers shouted threats of discipline if they did not take shelter in the warmth of the hut.

Chief Moyo hardly seemed affected by the weather on such days, handling frivolous disputes from the early morning till the sun lay to rest; he never ordered for the bringing of any sort of covering, he stayed in his skin skirt with the accompanied warmth of mere thin fur bands tied around his ankles and wrists.

 Young villagers would praise him as Chief thick skin, however, the elders quickly reprimanded them with the thought that due to his sandy brown hair and complexion, he was weaker than most men and because of their praise, he would refute to wear warm clothing in order to keep his status as crocodile skinned, furthermore, it would lead to his future untimely demise. 

The elders dispersed at Chief Moyo's command satisfied with the ruling they had given to the young men who had been in conflict over the demarcations and sharing of their land. Rima stayed seated on his wooden stool ignoring the call to scatter from his father.

"I can see that you have nothing better to do than to warm yourself in the morning sun on that seat."

Chief Moyo carried his slender frame as if it were the size of the larger, pushing his body up slowly from his stool and pacing his steps wide, balancing the non- existent weight dangling above his waist.

"I have plenty to do, knowing that my future wife is to arrive in less than a day."

Rima coolly replied as his elbows rest on his inner thighs, hands clasped together with his gaze resting upon his Father.

"I find that you are looking for a reaction from me, I am unaffected as I know King Toga would never let a snake get hold of his beloved daughter."

"Ah Chief Moyo, you are now calling your own son a snake heh? I am simply speaking in love...why can't you give me your blessing?"

Rima slithered his words out slowly to emphasize his insincerity, he knew how aggravating it was to his father to speak of grave matters with a tone of dishonesty. Chief Moyo stood there, speaking with his head tilted upward, looking as if he were addressing the peaceful birds nested in the surrounding trees.

"You couldn't feel love even if it was a pit of fire and you were thrown in it Rima. You resist all that is taught to you. Just take a good look at yourself, I raised you to be a respectable and a dignified young man and yet you have chosen to be a viper, causing chaos wherever you go, including within the Palace walls."