The man cried. There was no sign of life, heaven or his way home. He ran towards the light without hope. The creatures were near him and soon Manzy found himself flying, his body was in the air.
He did not see the lights again and found himself lying next to another strange creature that looked like a gorilla, but it could speak. He became feeble and wanted to run but he lost power.
“Over decades of years, no man has stepped here. What do you want?” it spoke with a frightening bass.
“I came… I came…” he stammered.
“This forest is protected by the spirits of my ancestors and no one comes here. Who are you? and what brought you here?”
Manzy was still speechless.
“Are you from the land of the living?”
He nodded. He felt his mouth was glued.
“You are now in a curve and you are protected here, speak up!”
Manzy felt at ease, like he was dreaming.
“I’m looking for the precious stone,” he said.
“Precious stone?” the creature replied with surprise.
“Yes.”
“Young man, you don’t know what you are looking for,” it moved towards him. “You are choosing life and death I have been here for many years and I never came across it.”
“No, just help me,” he demanded.
“No my son, then I’m bringing war to you and your family. The so-called ‘precious stone’ is protected, it was moved here to a certain place, the place where not even I’m allowed to go.”
“You can help me but…”
“Not at all because I don’t want war to break between me and my rivals. Many people have been missing and those big creatures you saw are responsible for that. They are the Faun, the leaders of the jungle chosen by my ancestors.”
The creature moved back and Manzy’s dreams were shuttered, the thought of living in a mansion dismissed. He sat down, hands akimbo. The story sounded very farfetched, it was difficult to fathom every word the creature-like person said.
“They light you saw came from that precious stone, it is a magical stone.”
“But don’t you think having that would make you defeat them?”
“I won’t defeat them. There is only one way in and out and I will help you on a condition. Most of them don’t know that way. However, always remember that the war will be at your door.”
Back in the village the people had lost hope and everyone paid their last respects. Vitima was hopeless and she sat quietly.
“I told him,” she cried.
Suddenly, a sound of someone coming was heard. The man was breathing so heavily, he ran so fast like he was chased by a lion. Vitima looked and it was Manzy.
“My husband is back!” she shouted.
People flocked to the place and Manzy was panting. Ululations were heard, a fanfare being sung, however, people were surprised at the reaction Manzy gave. Questions started pilling in. Manzy looked so frightened that no one had never ever seen him be like that before.
“Let’s move out now and go far away,” he shouted, he was panting and looked more terrified. Everyone looked at him and watched him run as a mad person.
From that day, Manzy was no longer the great hunter everyone once knew him as, he was now the madman of the village.
***
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