Techira was perplexed and watched the person disappear into the crowd. Badow’s nudge startled her and she shook her head when he asked if anything was wrong. The Chief lit the first bundle of thatch with the fire that had already been prepared, to signify the commencement of the festival, and everyone began lighting theirs too. They sang the fire festival song and proceeded to the outskirt of the village, towards the bush, where all the torches would be discarded. As they walked, thoughts of the person Techira had met at the chief’s palace, lingered in her mind. The person’s demeanour was strange and Techira wondered if the person was even from the village. When it struck midnight, Techira heard the sound of the flute. She turned her head ferociously towards the direction of the sound. She looked around her, but no one seemed to have heard it, not even Badow whom she had clasped hands with. She suddenly felt numb and could barely hear the voices of the people around her. All that she saw was the opening and closing of their mouths. She was interrupted by Badow’s friend, Achulo, the biggest man in the village with a thunderous gait and hideous laughter.

As the men got buried in their conversation, Techira slowly slipped her hand away from Badow’s and turned to the direction of the tune. This time, she wasn’t going to allow anyone stop her. In fact, there was no one to stop her, as everyone was engrossed with merrymaking. She went in the opposite direction of the crowd and headed to the forest. The last time she stepped foot in the forest, was the day her baby was carried away by the river. The coos of the owls, flapping wings of the bats, the circular motion in which the moths flew around her head and the waddle of the badgers didn’t scare her. She heard a swift movement behind her and when she whirled around, she saw no one. Her heart began to beat fast, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead and trickled down her neck. She increased her pace and intermittently stumbled over the roots of trees. She paused when she heard a movement from the right side of the forest. Without knowing where to go next, she turned to her right, hoping to see whoever it was. She found no one and her legs began to ache. She squatted against a tree and dabbed her face with the hem of her skirt.
“Are you looking for me?” a croaky voice asked and Techira hopped to her feet. She squinted in the direction of the voice but only saw darkness. Gradually, she saw a person in a grey cloak emerge. Techira was certain it was the same person she had met at the chief’s palace. As the person got closer, Techira realised it was an old woman.
“Come with me,” the woman said and turned, heading back to where she came from. Techira didn’t move, instead, she thought of returning to the village. Realising she wasn’t being followed, the woman stopped and turned to her again, “There’s no need going back, I will not harm you. There’s something I need to show you, so come with me.” Techira reluctantly followed her while hoping vehemently that the woman kept her word.

They walked past tall trees that sheltered owls and bats and Techira fought back the urge to look up. She was scared she would sight something she wouldn’t be able to erase from her memory. After commuting in silence for what felt like a lifetime to Techira, they finally got to the river where a canoe rested on the bank. The old woman entered the canoe and urged Techira to come along with her. Techira hesitated and stared at the woman with skepticism. She had never crossed the river before because as a child, she was told never to. No one in the village was allowed to do so, ever since a great hunter mysteriously died, while hunting decades ago.
“Come my child, we are almost at our destination. I promise, nothing will happen to you,” the woman assured her while stretching a hand to her. Techira slowly took the frail hand, and entered the canoe. She was astonished at how fast the woman paddled the canoe and wondered where she accumulated her strength from. Techira offered to help her, but she declined, saying it was something she did frequently. They eventually reached the opposite bank of the river and continued their journey on foot. The woman finally halted abruptly, causing Techira to bump into her.
“We are here,” the woman announced, pointing to a small hut. At the entrance of the hut, she offered Techira a calabash of water to wash her face and feet before entering the hut.Techira was first greeted by the coziness of the room, and then the cry of a white cat which appeared from nowhere. Techira was startled by its presence and clutched her chest, hesitating to move any further. For reasons unknown to her, she never liked cats. They scared her so much that once, Badow brought one home and was compelled to return it that same day.
“Don’t worry, it’s a friendly cat,” the woman assured her, and Techira exhaled in relief. The woman asked her to sit on a mat, which was already spread on the floor and had a flickering lantern positioned next to it. She also sat on the bare floor, opposite Techira and folded her legs. She took off her hood and Techira saw her face clearly now. Her hair was fully gray and Techira realised for the first time that there was a scar on her face. She also removed a flute from the pocket of her cloak and placed it beside her.
“I am glad you finally heeded my call after all these years. I thought you would never come,” the woman said with a wavering smile.
“Who are you and why am I the only one able to hear the tune of your flute?” Techira inquired.

“My name is Safo and I am the great granddaughter of Ekumpo, the Diviner.” Techira’s forehead wrinkled, as she tried to remember where she had heard the name “Ekumpo” from. Then it struck her. That name was popular in the folklore that was told in the village when she was a child. Ekumpo was described as a wicked witch and was the villain in most of the stories that were being told. Techira nervously shifted in her seat, hoping it wasn’t the same “Ekumpo” Safo was referring to.
“And as for the flute,” Safo continued, “Its tune can only be heard by the person to whom I wish to send a message. And in this case, it was you. I apologise if it made you look insane, but I had to see you before I finally join my ancestors.”
“Why am I here then?”
“It’s time you knew the real cause of your barrenness and the death of your first child,” Safo declared. Techira sat upright, looking more interested than before.

To be continued…

© Nasreen Zankawah,2025