The Legend Of Karachuo 36 The Death Of Lanok

After taking a few steps, Ochieng' heard that familiar melodious sound from above. He lifted his head only to see a large bird flying over. The bird was as large as his white horse. It was a gray bird with white wings and an orange beak. How it became that large, he did not understand though he had heard of it. Seeing it made him feel his emotions surge.

"Jakony!" Apeleka leaped in joy on seeing her friend appear.

The bird landed just next to her. After doing so, Apeleka climbed her back filled with a feeling of euphoria. The bird always expanded to that size when it wanted to carry Apeleka. That was how they wandered in the forbidden land. She had told Ochieng' this so he wasn't surprised when he saw it.

The onlookers jaws dropped. They had never seen such a large bird in their lives. The chiefs' expressions were even more exaggerated. They could not tell what could happen after this, as the saying goes, 'the most mysterious enemy is the one you do not know completely'. The vena on the chiefs' temples bulged out, their eyes widened in terror. Lanok also looked fearful.

After picking Apeleka and her mother, the bird flew to Ochieng's side. The young man nodded before asking, "How did you get here?"

"I followed your trail."

The moment the bird answered, the many onlookers took their flight. None of those who fled even looked back once they turned.

Was it for real?

Could an animal really talk?

They took it when they saw such a large bird even though it was larger than the ostriches they knew. But seeing it talk! Anyone who saw an animal talk in the past died for heaven's sake, could they just stand there and watch?

The few who remained like the two chiefs, a few warriors and Lanok were trembling out of shock when they saw the bird and the young man talk like they were both human friends.

"You followed our trail?" The young man asked looking confused.

"That's right. I felt you two were in trouble so I came over."

"How did you feel that?" Apeleka asked her expression not looking any different from Ochieng's.

"Let's talk about that another time, let's end this problem first."

The young couple only laughed bitterly and decided to play along. Apeleka realized she still did not know this friend of hers, despite living together for four good years. Ochieng' was in muddiness. This bird was strange than all the beasts he had encountered in the forbidden land. 'It seems I have to have some time with her, then I need to train hard, what I have experienced today clearly shows I am not yet there', he thought.

"I will deal with the old man who both of you do not know, Ochieng' take care of the chiefs. I want to avenge my sister Apeleka." The beast said in a frigid manner.

Horror dawned on the chief and the old man immediately, they knew this was their end. Lanok activated all the power he had, and like a rocket soaring the s.p.a.ce, he flew.

"Trying to escape?" The bird harrumphed before producing a terrible 'naaaalaaa!' sound. The old man plumped down with great force.

When he landed, the cracking of bones was heard. The elegant man a moment ago turned to a lamp of meat. Those who looked at him puked. Even Ochieng' who did not care about the life of some people turned his head away not to see the mess. He returned to where Jakony was. He did not feel like killing the chiefs anymore, after all, with the help of Jakony, he had already casted great fear in their hearts. Not even the tribe would find trouble with them considering that their guardian had died. Moreover, Apeleka had avenged herself the previous night.

"Why couldn't you wait until I dealt with them?" Ochieng' asked Jakony immediately he arrived before them quite indignantly. The bird just smiled and let Ochieng' on it's back. Before it flew, it produced a shrill sound, breaking the tendons and ligaments in the feet of the two chiefs and Apeleka's father. Just like that, the three became cripples for the rest of their lives.

"We should pick the horse first." Ochieng' reminded as they flew towards home.

"I sent him back home, you don't have to worry about him." The beast replied.

It was in the afternoon when they arrived. They landed away from home where n.o.body could see them to avoid creating a tumult in his clan. This is because no one had seen someone riding on such a large bird.

The chief's wife and son had been buried the previous day and the people they found within the compound were those keeping the chief company for a period of one week when the funeral celebration would completely end.

The bird flew away and only Ochieng' and the two women were left to enter the chief's compound. They got Chief Ong'am seated with fifteen clan elders enjoying the elixir of the great Lu tribe liquor called 'kong'o'. The place of the late Elder Anyona had been taken by someone else and the traitor was replaced by another person who was more devoted to the clan.

"I great you all that peace be in our tribe." Ochieng' bowed alongside the women and greeted.

"We receive your greetings our son." The elders replied clasping their hands.

Anyango who was busy with cooking heard the elders. She walked out to take a look only to see her son, the woman she had barely known but liked and another woman around her age. She rushed towards them and greeted them cheerfully. After sharing some formalities, the women went to Anyango's hut while Ochieng' joined his father and the chiefs to enjoy 'kong'o'.

"Now that you have buried Ok.u.mu and his mother, when are we going to usher in the reign of Okoth Ang'wen? " One elder asked the chief after the long silence.

"Is he from Kisum yet? As one of the advisors of the tribe head, I believe he'll make a good chief." One elder chipped in excitedly.

Okoth Ang'wen was the son of the chief's fifth wife Akinyi Nyabera. She was 'jaber'¹ just like her name suggested. She was the most hardworking wife beside Anyango Ogola. She taught all her five children how to carry out themselves in decorum in the tribe. That is the reason why during the selection of the tribe head advisors, her eldest son between her two sons and her second child was chosen since he was a man with the best conduct amongst the many candidates. Witnessing how the head of the whole tribe managed his territory, Okoth Ang'wen was definitely the best person for the chief's stool.

The chief knew this so well but he wanted to hand over his 'orengo' to his son Ochieng' because he knew how wise the son was. Even though it was inconceivable for a younger son to lead anywhere else, the chief managed to convince his people and so many of them were waiting for the coming of Ochieng'. He would have handed over power to Ok.u.mu if Ochieng' did not want it and let Ang'wen serve the tribe, but Ok.u.mu had proved to be an unreliable fellow so he would have chosen Ang'wen even if Ochieng' did not kill Ok.u.mu.

"He will be inaugurated two weeks from now a day like this. I have already sent a messenger to the headquarters to bring him here. They will arrive after a week since they will be using a horse." Ong'am answered. What followed was the nodding of The elders and they continued enjoying 'kong'o' through the pipes they connected to the pot holding the liquor.

1: Luo word for the beautiful one.