Chapter 4

After walking for some minutes, Jacquard suddenly stopped. " I feel something doesn't feel alright here. No one is ahead of us"

"Hey, quiet Jacquard."

"Mum, can you hear the screaming of people from far? I suspect something bad is happening from afar.  Zuluh warriors might be hiding somewhere around. He said to his mother.

He then turned to his brother. Can you also hear the screaming, Jack?" 

"I can also hear that, I guessed a fatal accident happened probably something bad. That should probably be the reason for their screaming.

What if Zuluh warriors are the ones slaughtering people over there? That is a bad omen.  I am scared." Jacquard replied.

"You guys need to keep quiet and stop thinking negatively, nothing is happening over there. I believe maybe someone get hurt or mistakenly stepped on a trap, or an accident as you have said" Gift said that to her children.

The screaming was getting more intense as they continue their journey in that direction.

"Dad, do you think going in this direction is safe for us. Why don't you let us go back or maybe stay somewhere till the night. By then we can continue our journey." A girl said to her father.

"I believe everything is under control. We will get to our destination safely, unharmed. Trust me my baby girl." That father said to the girl. 

" I hope so, Dad. I won't lie to you. I am scared. But I always believe in you." She replied. 

"Put your mind at rest. We will some reach the Duha town, from there everything will be fine. I know you can't wait to meet your mother." The father said. 

"Thank God you knew that." She said smiling. 

" Yeah." They both smiled.

Few minutes later. Jack suddenly stopped and turned to his mother. 

"Mum, I think we should change our direction and try to take another path because the more we move closer, the more the screaming is getting intense and continuous.  I think that will be a better option and the best decision at this moment. You know we are helpless. No one to come to our rescue." Jack said to his mum.

They continued their journey without Gift, their making any utterances in response to what jack has said.

As at that time, they were all looking bewildered and terrified. But all the adults tried to form a bravery and undisturbed look. 

After walking a few meters, they met people running in their direction, screaming and seeking help at the top of their voices. Help! help..!!

Gift, his children, and other people got startled. They were all confused. They don't know what to do. 

At that very moment, some had already ran into the side way bushes while some were running backwards.

Gift and her kids together with some people were still standing. 

" We need to know what and who is chasing or after our life before we start to run." A man said. 

No one knows which direction is  the bloodthirsty warriors were coming from because they were standing at a junction that parted into four different paths and it was from all these paths screamings are been heard.G

Gift tried her best to stop one of those people running from those paths and ask what is happening.

Fortunately for them. A woman stopped to provide answers to their questions. 

"Zuluh warriors are coming towards this direction, killing anybody they met on the way," The woman said and continued running. 

Before the woman could finish her last statement, a man standing behind Gift and her children saw a man bleeding profusely using his hands to hold tight the posterior part of his hand with a lot of injuries. His clothes were soaked with blood signifying he had been attacked by the Zuluh warriors.

Upon getting close, he then shouted.

"They are coming. Run for your life!" He everybody running helter-skelter. They all knew that Zuluh warriors kill irrespective of their tribe and age.Noting matters to them more than taking people's life.

It was also reported that some ladies from the villages Zuluh's warriors had attacked were also raped to death. Some were running into the nearby bush, some climbing trees they found on their way,  just to escape death.

Gift and her children were so overweight by shock. The gift didn't know where to run to but later ran into a nearby bush along the road holding her kids firmly.

 Luckily for them, they ran into a cave they found behind one big tree in the bush they ran into where they met some people also hiding in there.

Zulu warriors did as expected, killing every single person they met on the road with their arrows, swords, and guns. Hundreds of people both young and old, male and Female were brutalized, and some ladies were raped and killed on the spot. Those who narrowly escaped were severally injured. What a narrow death escaped by Gifts and his children. 

After several hours of being in the cave, when no sound or traces of the Zuluh's warriors can be perceived, People started coming out of every crevices to find their way to their various destinations. 

The road was flooded with blood and dead bodies all over the roads. Some members of families got missing, while some got killed. A whole family got killed, to some their wife while to some, their children. Everyone with a loss. Fortunately for Gift and his children, they were all safe.

Gift and her children were still in the cave waiting for jacquard to regain consciousness. Jacquard passed out while peeping from the cave and saw the atrocities perpetrated by the warriors, how Zuluh warriors were killing innocent people, cutting off their heads. He could withstand what he saw that really contributed to his passing out. 

That caused Jack to screamed. 

Jack screaming got into the hearings of one of the warriors who was nearby ready to kill any living things around. 

The fierce looking warrior did noting than to trace the source of the sound. Trying to sneece

He then pulled forward his spear and get himself charged.

After some minutes of inspecting, sniffing every single things around, he pulled his spear into an opening. 

Without any disappointment, his spear was stained with blood. 

He smiled and left. 

After few minutes that the Zuluh warrior had left. 

Gift quickly dragged Jacquard closer to her, rubbing her palms against his palms to regain his consciousness." Please help me with my child, I don't know what to do to wake him up, He is getting cold. He must not die." Gift said while weeping profusely.

The spear of the fierce-looking warrior hurt no one. What has happened? Probably a dangerous animal in the other openings was killed. 

All thanks to the gods. 

Gift sought help from other people present in the cave. 

"It's okay woman, your son will wake up, the shock was too much for him to withstand so he passed out. Just give him time to regain his consciousness, everything is under control." One of those people present in the cave said to Grelaxinglling her not to panic.

Jacquard woke up after some milestones later. He was so terrified. " Mum, I don't want to die, please let us get out of here." He lamented. " We will soon get out of this cave, people had already left. I want you to take things easy. I am with you, am not going to allow anything to happen to you." Gift told her son.

That's better. "I don't feel comfortable here," Jack added relieved. After some hours, when everywhere was dark, they began to get their things ready to continue the journey. They use hundreds of dead bodies on the road, and people t, that were killed by warriors. They continue their journey at the midnight, then look for a safe place to rest during the day.

Finally, after working several miles, they were surprised at the number of people, le they saw at Duha town's major park waiting for taxis to convey them to the train station.

"Mother, where are all these people going to?" Jack asked looking at the crowd with luggage of different sizes waiting for let to go to different places. 

"I think they are from villages and towns affected by the tribal war. They are trying to get their families to safe places. I think it will be very difficult to get a taxi heading to the train station today, a  whiminute'ss getting to the east today doesnseemems possible." Gift replied sadly.

"Mother, why can't we take a taxi from here to wherever we are going? Because traveling by train takes longer time and days to reach the destination not to talk of traveling with a cart. After all, it is more costly, not safe and it is faster than traveling by train. The path taken by carts seemed shorter but risky. 

Also, those carts being used for commercial purposes heading to the Abasia Kingdom are still available, we don't no need to struggle for them here. Carts heading to the train station are already being flooded by passengers at the other end of the terminal. After all, we still have enough money with us that can take us anywhere we want to." Jacquard said to her mother.

"Yeah, you are right, why don't we just go over there and get a cart heading straight to the Abasia Kingdom without any stopover? I'm pretty sure that uncle Siyabong will be expecting us and will be worried. I don't like traveling by train, I prefer a cart. It's just us and the rider. It won't be crowded, unlike the train. Have you forgotten what uncle Siyabong told us about his experience the last time he visited us during the last harmattan period? He said the train he boarded was attacked by a gang of thieves. They all got on board just as every other did, and all the passengers were robbed, and even one security officer got shot during the robbery They took all their money and every value that was with them.

 Even the bicycle he both for us was taken away then. They all escaped into the bush along the railway track before getting to the station. We don't need to risk l that.

"It's preferable we go by train. We will spend more time on the train but I think it's the best way," Gift replied to his children.

"We don't have enough money for a cart. I forgot to inform you that some amounts of money were in those sacks the Zuluh's warriors packed during the attack. We are left with little amounts here." Gift effect

"Okay, we don't know we don't have much money." Jack and Jacquard said. After a few seconds. they all agreed to travel to the eastern region, Abasia Kingdom to be precise where uncle Siyabong lives.

After several failed attempts by Gift to secure a cart that will conoverheardo the train station, which they believe won't be survival of the fittest compared to their present location.

you Gift was so tired, that she can't even stand well on her feet, "my children, let's rest a little and get something to eat because I am starving right now and I know you kids are also. Because it seems not easy to even get vehicles heading to the train station right now maybe after we are done eating and relaxing we should be able to get a taxi. The kids had already eaten some cereal given to them by those people they met in the cave because they already lost all their luggage while they were t trying to attack. Where can we even get a restaurant or a mini shop where we can get something okay to eat? The remaining money should be enough to take care o. ours. fare" She said to her children.

"Let me ask the man standing over there. He seems to be an easterner because of his choice of fashion. He should be to direct us to a nearby restaurant." She added

"Excuse me, sir, pls can you direct me to a nearby restaurant," Gift approached the man and astornhim.

"Okay, I think there is a restaurant over there, people a few shops where some men were standing". Thank you very much, sir, I'm grateful" Gift said with a smiling face.

"You welcome madam." The man replied.  The gift was so happy and quickly rushed down to where he left his kids, " Okay, guys, there is a restaurant over there. Let's quickly get there". She said to her kids. They were so happy to hear that.

Since they already lost all their luggage except a little sack with a Gift, which contains little things given to them .by those people, le they met in the cave.

After a few walks, they got to the restaurant and entered. They were welcomed cheerfully by a beautiful, decently dressed lady.

"Good day. madam, you are welcome to our restaurant, how may I help you? We have various delicious dishes with s, stipulated prices, pls go through the menu list." The waiter said to Gs and his children. 

Everything wasn't new to Gift because she already had a similar experience of how things are being done in various restaurants during her youthful days before she was out, but every single thing, protocol, structure, and setting of the restaurant was so new to the kids. They were looking curiously. They have no experience of such before becau.se they never had the opportunity to leave the four corners of their village.

"We will love to have three plates of rice, and an apple sauce, that's all. Thank you." Gift said to the waiter as she handed over the menu list together with the stipulated amount for every selected for her. 

After some minutes, the waiter returned with what they ordered and they all started eating. Sthanminutes aware gift stood up, she was savers to find that a meal, cleaned her mouth with the tissue paper and said to his ki.ds "I will be waiting for you kids outside the restaurant. I need to continue the search for a cart that will convey us to the train station because we can't afford to miss the early next train." Then she  left them on the table and went outside to continue the search.

While she was standing outside the restaurant, A man also came out of the restaurant, then walked up to Gift, " Good day madam.  I am sorry for the interruption if there is any way you got distant, I am Mr. William, an business man ,  owns Johnson Enterprises in Newcastle town, one of the town effect by the war." 

He is so handsome that ladies fall in love with him at first sight, has curly hair, is a few meters tall, and is well dressed.

"How can I help you," Gift asked. "I overheard your conversation with your kids, about a cart  and train station. If you don't mind I can assist you, convey you to the train station. My cart is over there, I am also heading to the station where don't have of the way to the station and  It seems you know the way." The man saids her.

"Yes, you are right, we need to get to the station and it seems kind of tedious and seems impossible to get a cart heading towards that route. We will be glad if you can help us." Gift pleaded for help from the man.

"No problem ma, you are the one helping me out of this situation I found myself in. I will be waiting for you and your children over there." The man said with smiling faces 

"Are you with any luggage so I can help you place them in my cart?" Mr. William added.

"Thank you so much. We lost all our luggage on our way down here. We were been attacked by Zuluh's warriors on our way down here. Even the clothes we were all putting on were given to us by people we met on our own here because, after the attack, our clothes got torn, nothing differentiated my children and me from insane people.

A few minutes later, Jack and Jacquard came out of the restaurant. "Mum have you been able things a taxi," Jack asked his mother. 

"Yeah, we have seen a man who offered to give us a lift to the train station. The cart over there, he  is waiting for getting over there." Gift replied to his son. 

They all moved towards the cart. " Good morning sir, thanks for the life are grateful." Jack and Jacquard echoed together.

"You welcome. Can we start the journey Mrs. Gift?"  "Yes, we can." She replied.

It wasn't long before they drove down to the train station. Gift and his kids were so reclusive since they began the journey, every attempt by Mr. William to engage Gift in a discussion failed.

Gift's facial expressions showed she is unhappy, worried, and heavily hearted. She had a lot running through her mind, experiencing excruciating distress. Whenever Mr. Willgets asked her about the direction, she answered by pointing to the right paths. There was a moment she got carried away when they drove past where to make a U-turn and join the main road that lead to the train station. 

After a few minutes of the ride, she got herself back and suddenly realized that they have drove passed the right path. " Mr. William, it seems we already missed the road, you are supposed to make a U-turn and join the other road at the last junction we just passed." Gift said to Mr. William.

"Oh! I thought as much because I noticed most carts that we all left made a U-turn at that junction. I was thinking maybe they were heading to destinations different from ours, or there is a better route that seems faster than you that will eventually save our time, that's the reason you didn't say anything or point with your fingers." Mr. William replied in a jovial and respectful which was different from Gift's expectations of how his reaction would be in response to her attitude since they started the journey. She hasn't altered a single word since they began the journey.

"I am sorry for that,  I got lost in my thoughts." Gift apologized.

"It's okay. I could do that also. The war has created trauma for everyone. We all have one or two things we've lost. Not to make mentioned our relatives and loved ones that got killed or missing due to this bloodthirsty inter-tribal war. As I've said earlier, I am an engineer and also an entrepreneur. I owned a big mall named Johnson  Enterprises and a restaurant at different locations in Newcastle town. My workshop was attacked by Zuluh's warriors two weeks ago. It was as if I was targeted.

 All the workers in my workshop and my restaurant were killed, about fifty in number, and were set. My restaurant, which has invested ninety percent of my resources into, was more excruciating because right now my in debt.

The restaurant was located in the railway station in Newcastle town, with a motive to serve rail customers. Just as travelers taking road trips may need to take a break for food at a rest area along the highway, settlers traversing the regions by train often found themselves in need of refreshments. The business was so successful because settlers traversing the west in particular by train often found themselves in need of  The restaurant was unique for its high standards of service and quality. The menu was modeled after those fine restaurants, so the food was leagues beyond the abysmal fare travelers were accustomed to receiving in transit.

The restaurant was run with business practices different from the ones everyone is accustomed to. I employed different workers from different regions and different tribes with different languages to create effective communication between the workers and restaurants because that has always been one of the problems faced by most restaurants.

Fortunately for me, I traveled to a town in the northern region to get done, two days before the attack. I couldn't withstand the shock when Iareot this. I fainted. I don't even know who took me to the hospital. how do I get there?  I don't know. I was just discharged three days ago. 

I wanted to go there to see for myself, what happened to my mall and my restaurant but I was advised not to. After a while, then I decided to travel to the east and stay with my friend just to get over it because everything I had in this world is gone except for this cart. Not married yet, had no wife, no kids, no family to commiserate with me for my loss, or financial assistance from anybody to compensate me for the calamity that befell me. I'm an orphan whose parents died in an accident while traveling when he was young. Everyone gets his story." Mr. William replied with anguish accompanied by continuous cleaning off his face using his handkerchief to prevent tears from running down his cheeks.

"It quite nice to be optimistic, having a positive outlook on life and facing the struggle with a smile", Mr. William added with a smile on his face while a ceaseless stream of saline gushed out of his eyes.

"It's okay Mr. William, may the gods replenish all your loss in the manifold," She said to him. " Everyone has his or her story, I was thinking about my husband. He was unable to follow us on this journey because he was enlisted among the Nguni tribe warriors who are to fight and defend their land and the life of their people. He is a member of Nguni's tribe. We reside in the west, Ifakoko village. I am very sure the village must have been invaded by the Nguni's warriors and for that to happen, it means my husband is dead, seriously wounded, or enslaved by the Nguni tribe warriors. 

No one to ask, about our village, or about his whereabouts. I just pray he is save and healthy so he could return to us." Gift said anguishedly. 

"Sorry for that. I can understand how you feeling right now and what you've gone through. Where are you heading to, since you left everything in the west,? Or did you have any relative in the east?" Mr. William sympathized with her and asked about their destination.

"My brother has a younger brother in the east. He is also an engineer. My husband gave me his address before we departed. That Is where we are heading to." Gift replied to him. "Okay. All is well and everything will be back to normal very soon." He replied.

After several minutes of riding, they finally arrived at the train station. Jack and  Jacquard slept all through the journey. "Hey! You guys should wake up, we are already at the train station. Let's get out of the cart. Make sure you don't leave any of your things behind." Gift instructed his kids and they all tried to get out of Mr. William's cart. 

"How are you going to take care of your car since the rest of your journey will be by train." Gift asked Mr. William. " Yeah, the rest of my journey will be by train but my cart will be traveling with me also. There is a section in the train that is meant for something like this, just that it requires an extra fee, multiples of the usual charges. I can't leave my cart behind because I don't know how long I'm going to spend in the east with my friend, maybe weeks, months, or even years, and might be stolen before I returned." He replied

"It is very easy, once you can afford the fee just that the process does time. I wish you a safe journey on your trip, or do you need extra money to complete your ticket fee." Mr. William said to Gift. 

"Thank you very much, sir, my kids and I are grateful and appreciate everything you've done for us. If not for you I'm very sure that we'll still be stranded in Duha town, struggling to get a taxi to convey us here. May the gods reward you." Gift said to Mr. William.

" It's okay Mrs. Gift, if you don't mind can you give me the address of your husband's brother's location in the west of this region so I could be able to just say hi to the kid's anything I'm opportune to come to that side." 

"That is not a big deal, that will grant me and my family the to pay back the good deed you've done for us. Give me a piece of paper and a pen to copy that for you."  

He handed over a pen and a sheet of paper to Gift. A few seconds later, she returned them to him. " I haven't been to his apartment before but I'm pretty sure that it is correct. Thank you very much once again." Gift said as she handed over the sheet to him and turned her back to join her kids at the entrance of the train station. "Goodbye, my regards to the kids," Mr. William said as he rode off.

The kids are already prancing joyously at the entrance of the train station. She joined them and they all went to the train all at once. 

On getting there to the train, they met an of people who were also waiting for the train but they were confident the train would provide adequate transportation for all.

"I think I have to go for our tickets before it finished." Gift told her children as she tried to secure seats for both of them so they could be able to get on the train heading towards the west of the region written on the address given to her by Lethabo, her husband. A gift was left for them and walked to join the queue for the tickets. Soon it got her turn. She paid the fare after confirming the destination of the next train. She hurried to join her children.

"The next train will be here very soon. We are lucky, we only have an hour and a half to wait for its arrival," Gift informed her children.

"Mother, I think I will like to use the restroom, you don't need to escort me, I will ask the security officer standing over there to direct me to the restroom. I will be back in a jiffy." Jacquard said as he was standing up.

"I think I will go with you, I also want to use the restroom," Jack said and stood up.

"Okay, you guys should not stay long, I don't want to start looking for you guys, we only have an hour and a half before the train arrives," Gift informed her twins and they left her sitting while walking up to the security officer standing in one corner of the hall.

Some minutes later, on coming back from the restroom, they were grabbed by a man, " who are you? what did you want from us? we haven't done anything wrong, we just coming from the restroom." Jacquard and Jack screamed, trying their best to get them free from the man. On looking up at the person. They were shocked at who he was. To their relief, he was their uncle, Siyabong.

"Uncle Siyabong, you are the one. You scared us. I thought we were about to be kidnapped. How are you doing?" Jacquard asked as they both hugged their uncle. "My little brothers, how are you? how have you been? Thank God you arrived here safely, I am happy to see you safe and healthy. Where are your dad and mum? Siyabong asked.?The kids went muted without making any utterances

Uncle Siyabond had been waiting for them since the day he received the message from his beloved brother with the determination that he won't leave the train station, without his brother Lethabo and his family, being the safest limit he could get if he don't wanna get killed by Zulu warriors, and also it is impossible for him to get a taxi to Duha town because all the drivers are all scared. After all, rumor has it that Duha town is under attack.

Siyabong and Lathabo, are the only sons of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gabron. Mrs. Gabron died immediately after giving birth to Siyabong, she never waited to be congratulated and their father, Mr. Gabron died of the shock of her wife's death. Since then, Lethabo had been the one taking care of Siyabong, taking over all the responsibilities, and sponsoring his education till the moment Siyabong the monet decided to migrate to the east.

Jack immediately left them and ran to where Gift was sitting, expecting them to return from the restroom, to inform her.

"Mum, see uncle Siyabong together with Jacquard, over there," Jacquard called her mother's attention in that direction. Just as if he heard them, he looked in that direction and saw Gift and Jack coming in his direction. 

Before she stood on her feet, Siyabong and Jacquard had already gotten to where she was. They both greeted each other. " Mama J, as he fondly calls her, how are you? Longest time. You didn't even bother to ask about my welfare. I'm holding that again you." Siyabong said they had all gotten settled. 

"Where is my uncle? He told me he will be coming along. Did go outside to get something?" He asked. No one provided answers to all his questions. "I sensed something is not right, or he didn't come along with you guys." He said curiously. 

"We came alone. He didn't." Gift responded and broke Into tears. 

Siyabong was silent for a while, but later stood up.," It's okay, he will be fine I'm very sure of that." He said. 

"Let me go get a ticket for myself before it all gets sold out. I will be back in a jiffy." He said and went straight to the desk where tickets are been dispatched.

A few minutes later, an announcement was made that the train is ready and that all passengers were to join the queue with their tickets so they would be able to get on the train. They all obeyed. A few minutes later, the train left the station.