Chapter 3

Due to the tribal war between two major tribes, Zuluh and Nguni that began in Carea town and spread rapidly into the nearby town, Madukoko and Ifakoko, vehicles no longer found it as easy to ply these villages as they used to because of that news and their little experience of how some of their partners got killed and vandalization of their vehicles. Life is hard but no one wants to die.

This was the reason why it was difficult for the nearby town to flee by road into these bloodshed zones for the feat they may not make it out alive. People who have horses, camels, or donkeys found it quite convenient and easy to embark on the journey. 

Gift and her two children, Jacquard and Jack, had to make the long journey, thousands of miles, on foot to the towns with the hope to board a bus or taxi. All their horses and camel had been stolen by the villagers. They knew this will take them many days and nights before they get to their destination and also tried to be careful in order not to fall into the hands of Zuluh Zuluors.

Gift and her children left the house immediately after her husband left with the warriors. She had no choice but to reduce the luggage she had already packed for the journey. Jacquard and his twin brother, Jack, carried one sack each following their capacity, jack being more muscular than Jacquard carrying the heavier sack compared to the sack carried by Jacquard, while their mother carried the remaining luggage. 

They all gathered and had a short prayer before they stepped out of the house. It was dark and stormy. night, Jack leads the way, while jacquard and Gift come at the back. After some minutes, it started raining heavily, and they had nowhere to hide, no shield to run to, and even if there is, they were determined not to.

"Mum, don't you think we need to find somewhere to hide, till this heavy rain stops." Jac, asked his mother, Gift.  

"We have no reasons to hide after we've been inside this rain since it started and our clothes are wet already. Also, we do, don't know where the Zuluh's warriors are now, whether they are close or far behind. Let's continue with our journey. The rain soon stops." replied her son, Jack. Jacquard was already at the front, without altering a statement or showing interest in Gift, his mother, and his twin brother, Jack, conversation. Not even sure whether he heard want they were saying.

After a few minutes, the rain stopped which enable them to walk more. As they joined the main road, they met a great number of people, mostly women and their children from the affected villages and towns, all with luggage plying the main road that connect every village including Ifakoko village, and all towns in their region with Duha town where they can get a taxi to the major train station in the region so they will all be able to board a train heading towards the eastern part of the nation.

Duha town is known to serve as a border between the western and eastern regions. The town is the safest option for them all because it is on eastern region soil. The Eastern region is the most developed among all other regions in the nation. 

The Eastern region is made up of two major kingdoms, Abasia Kingdom and the Amah Kingdom. In the past, Amah Kingdom has known as a small village under the control of the Abasia Kingdom. An increase in its size and population created a series of disputes that was later resolved and it was allowed to be a kingdom of its own.

The industrial and activities of the east are dominated by the Abasia Kingdom, being more populous and more developed than the Amah Kingdom.

After some hours of walking, stress and distress were well written on the face of Jack and Jacquard. They seemed tired, he could barely stand. stand feet were asleep, his muscle felt rubbery, he felt dizzy and slow slow-wittedddenly, Jack slumped to the ground. Jacquard ran to him and assisted him in getting on his feet." hope you are not hurt, or should I assist you with your sack?" Jacquard asked his twin brother, Jack. 

"No need my dear brother, I am fine. Let's tell mum that we need to rest. At least we've been on this journey since daybreak, now the sun is out. I don't think I can continue. I can't bear the pain and the shivering anymore, let's look for a shed and rest for a while." Jack replied.

"Mother, how long do you think this journey will last because jack and I are very tired? We can't continue this journey. We need to rest in a shed. Jacquard questioned his mother while sitting on the ground to signify that they are tired.

"You don't need to worry much. As long as we can make it to Duha town, we will be safe. We will get a taxi from there fast to the main town and from there to the East directly," Gift replied.

"Mum let's have some rest under the big tree over there, and also, we are hungry, we need to eat something. We haven't eaten anything since morning, just filling our stomachs with water." Jack said to their mother, Gift, pointing to a big tree along the side of the road where some people were sighted under the tree having a nap. Those who are not sleeping were seen resting their back on the tree while some were eating.

"I wish we make it out of there fast, it's not safe to stop here, I think this zone is one of the Zuluh tribe's territories. We must continue our journey we still have more than two miles to cover. We will surely find a place where we can rest assured that we are saved and secured, then we stay there for a while maybe till sunset but my mind is not at rest staying here. Please my children let us endure a little bit more." Looking around the area and faces around them Gift said to her children in an attempt to convince them.q

Though they had gone far away from the war zones and were very close to Duha town, they were still afraid of the opposition tribe, they might appear at any time.

"We have to let our minds be at rest. Noting will happen to us. The gods which are our grandfathers and our fathers will not abandon us. They will surely guide us to our destination safely." Jacquard assured calmly. Their mother stared at both twin brothers and breathed deeply. Her only wish now was to lead her twins out of the village to Duha town, so they would be safe. She had to do her best to get them to Duha town.

"I think we need to get going," Gift informed her two kids.