From the couch where I scouted, I heard a shout come from the South. No doubt, my bout of search backed by my stout passion to remain on this route is about to sprout a good result. I raced quickly down the base of the hill at an unbelievable pace with the expectation to unveil the face behind the veil. Alas, a new case of total disappointment and a new phase of utter disgrace. What bellowed below was just the echo from a vast fallow land with no tracks to follow. My mind had played a fast one on me with the whistling of the nearby thistles and my heels waited for no further epistles before it sprinted foolishly down the bushy hill.
I know the familiar tune of mock that played in my head as my eyes sorrowfully traced the row of thistles back to the top of the high hill from where I had just descended. I looked ahead into the fallow emptiness to know what clue to follow next. My feet stayed glued to the ground as the pains from the descent now take its effect. I know I have to overcome the pains and inner feel of regret to continue my scout on this cunning route.
The sun now gradually cloe its window to retire for the day but I am resolved not to go back to bed until I find a female soul to share it with. I will not go back to cuddle on cold pillows on cold nights. I desire the cuddle and warmth of a sleek, curly body on my spring water bed and I will not retire until I get my desire. I must begin to prepare for dusk and put up the fires for the night camp.
The loud midnight howls jerked sleep off my tired body. I must keep vigil through the night so as not to get devoured by the lurking beasts. Tears trickled down my cheeks as the rains began to pour down. What a cool way to crown the pains of the night. The heavy shower seemed to bear a message for me as it pierced mercilessly through every tree I ran to for cover. I shivered through the night like a chicken beaten by rain. Of course, I wasn’t prepared for this and nature made me pay for it brutally.
With wet clothes, I set out in the morning on my scout for Aduke. I headed towards North not just because I will get sun bathed there quickly to get dry, but also it was the only other place yet to be scouted. Tonight, I must go back home; with or without Aduke. The night’s experience has brought about a new resolution. If I continue in this suffering I may eventually die before meeting Aduke. Today’s search will be thorough because it will be the last. By noon I must commence a return trip back home. Maybe, someday I'll come back better prepared for this search.
I advanced rapidly to cover more grounds before noon, climbing trees often to get a vast view of my surrounding, but yet no hope. By noon I decided to head back home and I began the homebound journey to the waiting succulence of my water bed. I plotted in my head how I would first take a cold shower and settle to prepare myself a sumptuous eba meal with egusi soup and bush meat. That means I either kill myself a game or buy one on my way back. How sweet will home be!
The bustle of the town becomes audible and my soul jubilated within me. I decided to take the front door to my house which I rarely took and haven’t taken in years. As I walked despairingly towards my front door, I could see a slim female figure by the door. “My mind must be at it again”, I told myself. What could a female figure be doing at my door? As I approached my door, the picture remained the same. This is not a mind trick, this is real. Someone was actually by my door and not just anyone…
She greeted me warmly before scolding me for my foolishness of embarking on an empty search. She told me she had been at the front door for months waiting for me to walk out the door but I never did, instead I always took the backdoor out. She said all I needed do was a single step of Faith through the front door instead I risked a back door journey into a wild search for what was not lost. I was thrown into complete reverie ruminating over my plight. She continued her rebuke of my actions saying, "you could have kept vigil of prayers in your room to receive the light of insight, instead you took the hard vigil of shivering in the dark wilderness". Oh! What a shame, what a plight………
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