Blood Legacy – Episode 17

Blood Legacy – Episode 17

© Brian Ngoma

Feeling accomplished over the last three weeks, Mapulanga was on top of it all. He never thought he would ever be this close to becoming chief when he exiled himself with Grace. The last few weeks had been handful for him. Against the wishes of some village members, He went ahead and planned the funerals for his brother and family. There was nothing anyone could have done but just watch and hope for a miracle. He had made himself Chief but it wasn’t official because Walu was apparently missing and nobody knew where he was. Mapulanga had theorized to the elders that the boy was dead because the hospital he had been taken to had no records of him. This raised suspicions but no one dared to ask. They were only waiting for the day when some other elders would come to Chisoti village and crown him as chief.

He sat next to his wife he now referred to as Queen with no trace of shame. They were both happy and were really convinced that this was the work of Karma for what happened a long time ago. As they sat, Ben arrived as requested by Mapulanga. He made himself comfortable and sighed.

“It has been three weeks Ben,” Mapulanga rested his chin on his palm.

“I know.”

“What happened to the boy? You clearly have no idea where he is.”

Ben held his anger. If it wasn’t for the deal he was trying to close, he would have blasted Mapulanga’s brains on the floor. He had been traveling back and forth the last three weeks.

“He disappeared in thin air that i am aware of.”

“What are you doing about it? That friend of yours seems to have some things under control but have never seen him the last days.”

“He’s busy looking for the boy. He has searched everywhere but he just can’t seem to locate him.”

“This doesn’t sit well with all of us. Whoever you’re working for needs the land and i need the money and that cannot happen till this village sees the boys body. I am forcing myself on them but i know they have been delaying on making me Chief because they somehow hope that the boy will return.”

Ben sat thinking hard like he had been doing the past three weeks. He and Devi and searched the whole city. They had literally turned it upside down but to no avail.

“I sent one of my men last week like i told you. He’s an expert and i am sure in three days, i will have great news.”

“Perhaps he can work with Devi in the city. Putting their heads together and come up with something.”

“What good will that do?” Mapulanga smacked his lips. “The boy has a friend by the name of Hunter, so i heard. I believe he’s the one he’s hiding with.”

“Devi was in a confrontation with that man.”

“That Hunter has friends in the city. He had lived in this village for close to five years and where would you think he would go in the city?”

Ben liked where this was going. This fool had some brains, he thought as he listened attentively.

“I don’t want to get ahead of all of this but the boy will be dead before the end of this week,” Mapulanga assured Ben.

“You’re damn sure,” Ben smiled. “Well that would be beneficial to all parties,” he stood up and said, “I hope you’re doing this for the urgency of the situation not what you mentioned last time about adding a K1 million.”

Mapulanga didn’t say anything. Ben left him and Grace and walked outside where he made a call to Devi. He told him about what he had discussed with Mapulanga and how faded he had started of getting of him. They both agreed that they both overlooked the aspect of Hunter and Walu hiding at one of Hunter’s friends. They thought he was wondering in the city with the boy and if that was true, it would have made finding them easier. Ben told Devi that he was traveling back and should find he had a breakthrough. Devi was interested in knowing who Mapulanga had sent but Ben didn’t know him too but whoever he was, they both had a feeling that he was an expert.

“Find out who he is before cominqg. If possible get his contacts. I need him, i have a plan,” Devi cut the call.

*****

Watching cartoons had become Walutanga’s hobby and he was now getting bored of it. His leg was now way much better despite some pains once in a while. He had grown fond of Ludo and her family. They were good people, he thought. They had made him feel at home and bought him some clothes. He had everything he wanted. Well, not everything. He wanted Hunter and had been asking for him pestering Ludo each and every day and she was getting tired of the questions. She had assured him that he was fine but the boy was stubborn. He had one thing on his mind, he wanted to go back to his home and Hunter was definitely going back with him.

“I have some good news,” Ludo said putting somethings in her hand bag while Walu was watching a movie early in the morning.

“What is it?” his eyes widened with excitement.

“I think we might see Hunter today.”

Walutanga jumped to his feet. He walked to Ludo with disbelief in his eyes.

“Yes, when i come back from work this afternoon, we will go visit Hunter. He misses you too and wants to see you.”

Ludo had gone against Hunter’s wishes of not allowing the boy to leave the house until he had found Ben and Devi. They had been talking about it the past week everytime they met and Ludo assured him that Ben and Devi’s address was nowhere where they were. The address she refused to give him saying he had to be perfectly fit and he was now. He had been exercising day and night and eating healthy thanks to Melanie who made sure she brought him something every week. She didn’t want a dead body to be found at her husband’s flat.

With Ludo’s persuasiveness, Hunter agreed Walutanga to be brought to his hiding place on one condition; that he had to be brought at night. That was the agreement.

On her way to work, Ludo stopped by Manda hill and walked to Nandos where she found Caesar waiting for her. The two had become very close and intimate in the past weeks. They had gone on dates several times and Caesar had invited Ludo to his place but she told him it would have to wait. Caesar was a gentleman about it and was in no rush. His intentions for her were genuine and she knew that but she didn’t want to rush things.

“I am sorry i am late,” Ludo said as she sat down.

Caesar wasn’t bothered. Instead he smiled at her like he did everytime he saw her. She noticed the grin on his face and asked him what that was all about.

“I love this morning dates,” he answered. “I look forward to each and every morning.”

Ludo stared at him for a while and remembered the days with Evan. It was all rosey like this at first but then he changed. She didn’t want to compare Caesar to Evan but he was a man too. She snapped convincing herself that he was different.

“I look forward to them too. Let’s eat, i am sure Lance is already at the office waiting for us.”

They had their breakfast in perfect peace and once they were done. They went to the office separately, a thing they agreed on. Ludo reached some minutes after Caesar had arrived. She found the two gentleman talking outside. She greeted Lance and concealed a smile towards Caesar.

“What’s going on between you two?” Lance asked after ludo had entered the building.

“What do you mean?”

“Never mind. Too many relationships, now Stone seems to be dating Lauren the Secretary and you?” Lance raised his hands. “I’m too busy for this.”

Lance had taken full responsibility of the case and had pressure everywhere ; his wife’s due date was approaching and she demanded being seen almost everyday which put a toll on him. Another thing that was bothering him was how Stone had become close with his secretary. He didn’t want to think about it much because they were both adults the same way Ludo and Caesar were.

He also had to put up with Anderson and Erica. Erica had becoming to the firm once in a while and never looked in Ludo’s direction. Lance ensured that each time she came, Ludo was in her office working out on some discrepancies in the case. She saw Erica countless times but never once did she saw Evan. She figured he had met up with her. She only hoped his life was now turning around.

*****

6pm on the dot, Ludo and Walutanga were on a bus to Lusaka West and Walu couldn’t wait to get there. On their way, they had passed through shoprite and bought a few things. Whilst in the amidst of people, Ludo thought she saw someone strange staring at them from a distance. She locked eyes with the man but after a second of looking away, he vanished. She thought that as odd and decided to leave the supermarket as fast as possible. Walutanga didn’t notice this. On their way to the station, Lauren the Secretary sent her a whatsapp message which contained a pic of her and Stone on a date. Ludo just looked at it and felt everything wrong with Lance, she didn’t like him but she never told her friend.

They reached the flat Hunter was taking refugee in and before they entered, Ludo looked around ensuring no one was in sight. It was now dark, she couldn’t see anybody on sight. Satisfied, she knocked and Hunter opened the door and let them in. For 30 minutes, Ludo watched and listened to Hunter and Walu chat. Walu told Hunter everything about his stay at Ludo’s. Ludo could see the bond the two had and figured it was this reason that Hunter was slowly becoming soft. He had found a friend and was obviously tired of his old life.

After chatting with Walutanga, Hunter turned to Ludo requesting for the address of Ben and Devi. Ludo got her phone and was about to text it to him when they heard approaching footsteps from outside. Ludo thought she had heard them alone but when she looked at Hunter, he had his finger on his mouth motioning them not to say anything. He slowly stood up walking to the window beside the door. He checked outside but he couldn’t see anyone at the door. He looked back at Ludo and Walu who were dead scared and holding each other. He stepped forward and heard the knob squealing. There was someone outside and whoever it was, Hunter knew he had to protect Walu and Ludo at all cost.

To be continued

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