Blood Legacy – Episode 11

Blood Legacy – Episode 11

© Brian Ngoma

Trying to think of what had happened in the two villages in two consecutive nights bothered and gave Hunter a terrible headache. He had first thought of Ben and Devi and knowing them, he knew everything was about the land. What if they planned of getting rid of Chief Chovu’s whole family including his daughter in the other village? He asked himself. What was the big deal with the land that they were willing to go to that extent of killing everyone in their way? He knew they worked as contractors but who was behind the all the scheme? He remembered what Walutanga’s sister said before dying. She mentioned something about children, did she mean her children? That wasn’t his concern at the moment but Walu was and he had to get to him as soon possible. He didn’t know why but there was some sort of urgency in his heart and through his job in the past, he learned to trust his instinct.

The truck he had gotten onto had many problems on the way. They had to stop several times and repair it. Despite being in pain, Hunter did all the work. The old man tried to stop him but he couldn’t let him because that meant wasting a lot of time. They reached the city on Monday morning. He had been in the city some two years ago when he came to check up on Ludo. Like last time, he went to check on her incognito. Before heading to the hospital, he went to her work place and stood in the shadows and watched her hurriedly going to the gate and dropping something on the ground. She got up and looked back.

“Same old Ludo,” He said before leaving.

He reached the hospital around 10am. It wasn’t difficult finding Walutanga because the moment he mentioned a fire victim, the Nurses knew who he was referring to. They escorted him to the ward. He found Walutanga under some sedatives. He got a chair and sat beside him while the nurse checked on the boy.

“We are glad he has a guardian, ” she said. “He’s been crying that he is alone. It’s such a tragedy that his whole family died. ”

Hunter didn’t say anything.

“You don’t look so good yourself, ” she noticed some bruises on his face. “Can I check?”

“No thank you,” he refused politely.

“Okay. ”

The nurse left him. He was tired. He hadn’t had any descent sleep in the last 48 hours and his whole body was burning up from the burn wounds as well as the hit from the car. The pain was incredibly disturbing but he succumbed. He had faced worse, this was child’s play.

“It hurts,” Walu moaned.

Hunter sat upright, “It’s okay boy.”

Walutanga didn’t believe his ears, he turned his head and yes, it was who he thought it was, his bestfriend Hunter.

“Hello boy.”

“Hunter!” he exclaimed trying to move.

“Watch that leg.”

“When did you get here?”

“An hour ago.”

“Where is my family? Where are we? I have been told i’m in the city.”

“Yes. We are in the city.”

“What happened?”

“You don’t remember? ”

“All I remember is a big fire and I passed out. Is my family safe?”

Hunter bowed his head. He didn’t know what to tell the boy. He felt a great responsibility thrust upon his shoulders. He knew he had to tell the boy so that he found out what he knew. There was no time to waste, the sense of urgency struck again.

****

Around 5pm, every worker at Lance and Associate was clearing their desks and getting ready to go back to their homes. Ludo was taking a final look at the files that she had been reviewing. Her bosses had been in their offices the whole day. She hadn’t seen either of the two since morning when she was excused by Lance. She packed the file, unplugged her phone from the charger and stood up. She looked around one more time and walked to the door. She didn’t see anyone, the place was deserted. She figured most of her workmates had knocked off.

When she got outside, she found Lance and Caesar’s cars still there. She found the security guard dosing in his small office.

“Ba Mbewe wake up!” she shouted.

Startled, Mbewe jerked up to his feet, “Ba Ludo mwasebenza bwanji?” (How was work?)

“Bwino Bwa Ba Mbewe, (Fine and you?) sleeping on duty ka?”

“Ah nalema. Onikombola naye sabwela ayi.” (I am tired. The guard in the next shift hasn’t come yet.)

“He’s coming,” Ludo laughed and started walking.

“Oh, Ba Ludo,” Mbewe stopped her. “Kwenze kwabwela bamuna so benzo kufunani. Bayenda manje manje so,” (There was a man who came here looking for you) he got out of his small office and checked the road.

There was no one but a young couple walking on the road. Ludo looked around too but she didn’t see anyone familiar. She said bye to Mbewe and walked down the road to the station. Whilst waiting for the bus, a hand touched her shoulder. She turned around and it was Evan.

“Hi Ludo,” he said nervously.

How could i have missed it, she asked herself. Of course it was Evan Ba Mbewe had said came. She stared at him for a good ten seconds without uttering anything. She could tell he was high on something but didn’t care. She was done with him.

“I’m sorry Ludo, i was around these areas and thought of checking up on you,” his hands were filthy.

“What’s happening to you Evan?”

“What do you mean?”

“You need help.”

“I need a K50.”

“Oh my god,” she rolled her eyes. “Really?”

He didn’t say anything.

“Do you know that Erica is back in town?”

“What!”

“Yes.”

“Where is she?”

“High Bridge Hotel with Jean.”

“She’s still with that bas***d.”

“I wouldn’t say that looking at the current events. Go see her she might need your help and you definitely need hers.”

Evan didn’t say a word but looked at Ludo for a while. She was avoiding his eyes and he could tell that from the few glimpses she had caught of him, she was disgusted by him.

Behind them, a car pulled up.

“Everything alright here,” Caesar inquired with his hand hanging out carefully looking at Ludo.

Ludo turned around, “Everything is fine sir.”

“I thought this man was troubling you.”

“No sir.”

“Do you mind a lift, I’m heading to Avondale too.”

Ludo wasn’t surprised that her new boss knew where she resided. He probably checked her file.

“I don’t but I’m not going home directly sir, thank you.”

“If you say so,” Caesar drove off looking at Evan dreadfully.

A bus stopped at the station. Ludo looked at Evan and told him to go see Erica as soon as possible. She told the conductor to give him a K50. The bus left him standing wondering what the hell was going on with his life. He felt ashamed of himself. He knew he had to turn things around and with What Ludo had said about Erica, perhaps this would be a breakthrough for him. He decided to go and meet her.

****

Hunter had had a long day consoling Walutanga at the hospital. He had told him about his family and the boy had been crying all day refusing to eat or do anything. He couldn’t even tell him about the other death of his sister and the missing children. He knew it would break him off. He decided to wait till he was better.

Walutanga slept and that gave Hunter some time for reflection of what was happening. He watched the boy sleep and he started dosing as well. He decided to go outside for some air and probably get some water. He got outside and it was dark already. He felt his wound burn inside his coat. He ignored the pain. After some minutes, he decided to go back inside. As he was walking to the ward, he noticed something strange, the nurses were nowhere to be seen. He hurried to where Walutanga was. As he got closer, he noticed the curtain to Walutanga’s stall was slightly moved. He had pushed it all the way. He put the bottle of water on a table and slowly walked to the stall. He heard some grumbling coming from the stall and the bed could be heard shaking. He moved the curtain and found Walutanga was being strangled by no other than Devi.

To be continued

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