Kintu and Nambi; The Key to End All Wars #27

Continued from; The song of war #26

By Mugabe Victor

Her eyes were filled with tears and her voice shook. “Kayikuzi, you have to help me, father has run mad!”

“Father has run mad!” She cried

“What has that old fool done this time?” Kayikuzi growled; his teeth grinding intensely. 

“He wants to kill Kintu,” Nambi yelled, pulling him into the darkness of the forest. 

Madness had ensued the night. It did not sound like father at all. Kayikuzi’s mind struggled to stay with Nambi at that moment. All that rang through his mind was muffled yelling as she dragged him forward. As they got closer, the cries of war took form of distant mumbling. His head blowing into a daze, it felt light yet unfocused as liquid. He could barely believe it when he saw it. 

Walumbe thrust himself in front of the both of them, blocking a mere shred of the view. Nambi, desperate, burst into uncoordinated attacks at him, slapping his chest and shoving him in an attempt to get him out of the way. 

It happened so fast. To Kayikuzi it felt as though everything was slowing down before his own eyes. He could not keep his mind off the distant spectacle. The muscled figure that tore past him a few minutes back holding the shepherd’s staff.

 Gulu, stood over the now tremoring little man as he begged the Almighty to heed his cries of mercy. His eyes bled with unforgiving intent that could tear a hole through the core of the earth. With a single thrust of the staff he was holding over Kintu, he struck the human’s chest mercilessly with one single blow.

From the man’s chest exploded a mirage of sorts, dispersing tiny sparks of light over the area that slowly vanished in the wind, into the darkness. Kintu endlessly coughed, clasping his chest in sheer agony. He turned to the ground, tearing at it, in an  attempt to crawl away from the towering figure. 

“Do you know what I’ve done to you,boy?” Gulu bellowed, “I have taken away your immortality, you shall now live and die like that cow you love so much.” With that single statement he went on to kick the wretched thing in its stomach, further enjoying the ear-splitting screams of his victim, “Your end will be more pleasurable this way.” He snarled.

War, so cold and cruel. Ironic how it is as a result of something so warm and loving. It is also the distant cry of the heart’s aching. The physical manifestation of what cannot be spoken. 

Kayikuzi knew one thing at that moment. Fighting Walumbe would be a waste of talent and time. Nambi would deal with his petty attempt to show loyalty to father. He had no chance against Walumbe and Gulu at the same time anyways, so he had to think fast and implement the reckless plan instantly. The one way to beat a snake is to take out its head. The perfect moment was then; when Walumbe was too busy to keep an eye on him, and Gulu was too distracted to expect an interruption. He could already feel the food he ate that evening reroute through his gullet as his leg muscles tightened for that one quick surge of energy he needed.

Walumbe slowly turned in disbelief as Kayikuzi dropped his staff. It had barely made its landing when the young god felt the air explode around him as he made his way forward. The long savannah grass froze in the moment as his heels pounded the ground in an attempt to gain more speed. Every muscle in his body was strained as the mindless juggernaut made a run for it. He reached out to Gulu’s face, taking him by surprise. His thumbs clearly in position and mind focused. 

The only way to end all wars lay in one form. The key of understanding. 

Kayikuzi, set his thumbs upon Gulu’s forehead and for a brief moment as he held the contact, he wanted to allow him the pleasure of journeying through the life of Kintu. The worthless human that he had come to be fond of. 

He could feel the mental struggle as the old man tried to fight but it was more than enough for what he  wanted.

The mind is a large place with a different timeline than the rest of the world. That is why people can dream entire lifetimes in one night. However, for Kayikuzi, he did not have a night but only a moment. The old man’s eyes went white as the session got intense. The struggle left Kintu in awe, his mouth agape and his pain forgotten.

 “Run!” Kayikuzi growled as his grasp on Gulu’s forehead got loose. Gulu’s roars subsided as he finally managed to recover his mind, grabbing Kayikuzi by his wrist and thrusting him to the side. A loud pop sound went off as Kayikuzi landed with a thud. He had never shown any sign of weakness before but the loud groan that emanated from his chest was more than enough to show the power Gulu held.  The agony, according to the sight was pure torture as he clasped his knee, desperate to sooth it.  

Gulu stood tall, his shadow towering over everyone. A wide grin grew over Walumbe’s face having witnessed Kayikuzi’s first defeat. The joy that pounded at his heart almost got it tied in a knot. Nambi immediately ran past him, getting to Kayikuzi’s side and turning to Kintu. The odd shift between the two left her in more tears as she tried to help both to no accord. 

“Today you fetched water using a basket, tomorrow you shall pick your cow amongst mine, pick the correct one and you may go with your wife and your cow.”

‘No father, he deserves more, you can’t let him just get away.” Walumbe pleaded.

“Shut it, boy,” Gulu barked, “I should have left you all in that rock.”

Turning his back towards them, Gulu made his way to the palace. The cries of war echoed through the valley that night.  From the corner of his eye, a little tear made its way down his rugged face.