Episode 3 WELCOME TO YESTERDAY (The Anaconda) By Gabriel Ette

January 13, 2018 LIFESTYLE No Comments

Episode 3
WELCOME TO YESTERDAY (The Anaconda)
By Gabriel Ette
Akpan Umogwo's greatest dread was the possibility of the forest deity alias Echid Itiaba appearing exactly from the opposite direction of where he stood. He knew that if that happened, he will be a mere sitting duck to the venomous reptile. He knew if he is discovered, there is no power to salvage him from making residence in the beast's stomach as her midnight meal. Besides the noise of its approach, the hunter could see the forest beginning to glow like a lit bulb. The meaning being that the Anaconda had already released the light. Akpan Umogwo became startled when he caught the first glimpse of the giant snake, surveying its environment and carefully moving in his exact direction about a quarter of a kilometer from where he stood by the Ukpa tree. By impulse he also surveyed his immediate environment should it become necessary to attempt an escape.

He knew it was futile to attempt to climb a tree. No tree defies the reach of the giant who can stand from the ground and best the very best of heights. Again he looked at the direction of the Anaconda's approach and it was still moving the direction he stood. Fright almost made him give away his hide out by the turn of events. This time around, the giant reptile had the moon on its head as it went hunting. Her eyes were angrily red. He knew he stood no chance in the event that the snake makes out his human odor and comes for his jugular. As the strength of the light kept increasing his fears became confirmed, the Anaconda was approaching his direction in the exact opposite compass point. He knew it will take a miracle for him not to be discovered. Sweat broke out on his brow as he held his breath and watched as a giant palm like trunk of a snake meandered her way towards the giant Ukpa tree where he stood.

The glow of the giant bulb on the huge head of the giant reptile awed other forest animals that came out to forage for a meal. The illumination gave away edi Ikot (bush pig) as it stood and watched the glowing moon in transit. Even to the beasts of the forest, such rare illumination was spell binding. Akpan Umogwo knew his salvation lay in action. He quickly thought out a decoy plan and quietly drew his bow and arrow and aimed a shot at the bush pig. As he released the string and the arrow struck the bush pig on her stomach,the reaction of the bush pig distracted the Anaconda who swiftly went in hot pursuit of the escaping bush pig.

As it twirled in hot pursuit of a late night snack, the giant snake dropped her light by inadvertence. Several small trees could be heard breaking in pieces as they had to make way for the forest deity. The desire to fill its extra large stomach was too compelling for the snake to bother about the safety of her prized possession- the glowing reptile moon. The bush pig is noted for her fleet footedness but she met her match in her predator. As both prey and predator raced deeper into the thick forest, the hunter knew it was now or never.

He listened hard as the sound of pursuit receded into the far distance. Akpan Umogwo knew that one of two possibilities had happened. It was either that the Anaconda had overtaken the bush pig and was in the swallowing process or that the fleet footed Bush pig was still taking her on a marathon. Whatever the case was he knew then was time for action. If the Snake was swallowing the big bush pig, it can't be trusted to be able to speed back to catch him and or if the race had taken them far into the forest, before it returns, he will be miles away, so he emerged from his hide out into the glare of the glowing light.

At his appearance, other ruminants who were bold enough to reappear after the attack by the Anaconda scampered for safety. Akpan Umogwo dashed straight for the crystal clear moon of the snake. He took it adoringly with both hands. It was slimy but smooth. It's glow wasn't hostile but crystal clear. The moon shaped object almost fell from his hands. He quickly put it into the ISIGHE ( thick native sack) which he carried and deposited it into the clay pot. He also stuffed some dry leaves into the Ako ata (earthen pot) to further diminish any escaping ray of light from the prying sight of the owner. He then dashed for home with the speed of the wind.

The Bush pig had given the giant snake a run for its money. It was as if it determined not to die without a fight, but it had lost so much blood and in the process was slowing down. It knew that the end was near when it experienced a tremendous hit and fast muscular action around her torso ebbing life out of her weakened frame. As the pig gave out her last grunt and quivered as death seized upon it. The Anaconda tightened the muscular strangulation until it noticed that the pig was motionless. It proceeded to spew slime on it preparing it for a swallow.

Then intuitively, it stooped as if on cue. It lifted its giant head in the direction from which the chase started. It let out a tremendous sound in anguish and turned swiftly as it started a race towards where it left the light abandoning the pig in the process. The twist of her giant trunk fell a palm tree and many trees became her victim that night as it went back towards the giant Ukpa tree where it dropped her light in the process of chasing the pig.

Akpan Umogwo heard the angry squirm of the Anaconda from a distance having ran about three kilometers from the theater of action and it sent shivers down his spine. He knew that he was involved in a race for his life and vowed never to take such risk ever in his lifetime. He ran as fast as the dense forest could permit and his feet could carry him. He knew he had never ran that fast in his entire life. It was his familiarity with the forest routes which they the hunters had created and his fearlessness that proved his great advantage. When he arrived the fringes of the forest and stepped out into farmland as dawn broke, he could not give himself the leisure of collapsing to catch breath. He ran all the way to his family compound and collapsed in his Afe. It was a miracle that his collision with trees did not out rightly scatter the Ako Ata though part of the edges were gone. As he looked into its inside and saw the glow which had defied the Isighe, he smiled. Mission accomplished. He collapsed in a heap on his easy chair with the Ako ata in his firm grip letting out steam in quick gasps. (To be continued)