Everything happens in, and for a season
Every word for a reason.
Loyalty, I fear, is a an expensive tradeoff
Apportion trust deliberately thereof.
Protect yourself at all times
Against love, religion – all the sublimes!
To be forewarned is but divine courtesy
Lips ultimately leak evil you cannot see.
Even if you currently have no clue
Read again, and glean a truth or two.
“Veni veni, Emmanuel captivum solve Israel, qui gemit in exsilio, privatus Dei Filio.
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel, nascetur pro te Israel!”
I do not think that there are many of us left. I am afraid I may be the last one.
Lore, strange truths were whispered in my ears from birth. From lips I never saw. They told me of ancient mysteries, they spoke to me repeatedly long before I had understanding. I have grown with these ‘gifts’. I Am.
Joan was there.
Becky was there.
I. K. was there.
Nura too, I think. The remaining Backpackers were in the second Hilux pickup truck.
It began that morning when we set out to camp at Mayo Kam. We stopped after the petrol station. It’s name (the petrol stations’) escapes me now. Where those traders line up to sell their wares to travellers. As always, we stopped to ‘eat local’. We got some moi-moi (bean pudding) cooked in plastic bags. We also got the yams we intended to roast by the camp fire from there too.
I was seated in front with ‘It Is Raining‘, our eerily quiet driver. I cannot lie, his name really is, It Is Raining. The rest of the team were fussing about trying to buy a bunch of stuff we did not need. I. K. came to me smoking a cigarette and being as rambunctious as only he can manage.
She was standing slightly behind the rest of the traders. She was tall for a local. The table upon which her kuli -kuli (deep-fried, hard and crunchy groundnut paste) was placed was understandably higher than anyone else’s. She had a boy of about ten years old beside her. She was close to this child I perceived. Not a sibling, he was too plain. Or maybe I should say that she was too beautiful. As of right now, despite all that transpired, I still do not know the ties that bound them together.
She was wearing a black cotton embroidered gown. She was slim and lithe. She was exotically beautiful. Dark Nubian. She truly did not belong there.
She and the boy… And so I stared a tad too long.
Naturally, she bristled under my direct gaze and as is the manner of men and women and love and sex and marriage; she made me know that she was interested in me too.
Taraba state of Nigeria still embraces a laid back and traditional culture. Decorum, modesty and decency still obtain. So I discretely commissioned It Is Raining to arrange for a discreet rendezvous scheduled for the next day. Seven pm to be exact. It Is Raining returned to me bearing news that gladdened my heart and my pleasure showed. She watched my face and coyly began stealing admiring glances at me. While Backpackers are not in fairness indecent, they can be quite direct. They teased me relentlessly about the obvious chemistry Serti (yes, that was her name) and I just shared.
As I have revealed in a previous tale, Mayo Kam was a kind of ‘Garden of Eden’. Permit me not to relive that past at the expense of this future. Suffice it to say that we got back to the transit camp the next day, at about noon.
I. K. and I immediately set about imbibing copious amounts of beer. We were joined by one Backpacker after the other until the makeshift ‘bar’ became pleasantly rowdy. At some point, we all decided to barbecue some meat later that night.
That evening, in preparation for my date, I had a long shower and massaged a lot of coconut oil onto my entire skin. It was lightly perfumed with frankincense. I donned a flowing white robe and made sure to wear my ceremonial beads. I finished my ritual by burning a specific special Oudh from Asia.
My ‘hotel room’ (if you could call it that) was basic. A small bed, a one-seat sofa and a plastic chair. I had arranged both seats side by side at the foot of the bed. Behind the seats was a large window it’s panes were made of glass louvres. I shut them and pulled the curtains shut. I required privacy.
I then proceeded to sit in the dark. I meditated on Serti until a soft knock on my door announced her arrival.
I turned on the lights and opened the door. Unsurprisingly she was still as beautiful as the day before. Unsurprisingly, she came with the boy. I sat them on the seats and then sat down opposite them both.
I gazed into her eyes for a bit, and then his. I returned to her lovely face and smiled at her. She smiled shyly in response. I held out both my hands; one to Serti, the other to the boy. They took my hand in theirs and then at my request, held hands too.
“It is time Serti…” I gently informed her.
Her face clouded over as the pain, bitterness, memories all popped out of her soul, through her eyes and into my consciousness. The preceding twenty two words is the part of my calling I hate. I blinked back tears of empathy and gently whispered,
“It is time Serti.”
This time she nodded curtly. The boy answered ‘yes’ even though I was not talking to him.
And so I lifted up my voice…
“…O come, thou Rod of Jesse’s stem
From every foe deliver them
That trust thy mighty power to save,
And give them victory o’er the grave.
O come, thou Branch of Jesse’s Tree
Free them from Satan’s tyranny
That trust thy mighty power to save,
And give them Victory o’er the grave...Amen! “
And they both vanished into the bosom of the Lord.
Then I cried.
Mourning them.
Those two Spirits Lost.
I do not think that there are many of us left. I am afraid I may be the last one.
Lore…, strange truths were whispered in my ears from birth. From lips I never saw. They told me of ancient mysteries, they spoke to me repeatedly long before I had understanding. I have grown with these ‘gifts’.
I Am A Watcher.
I am mandated to maintain spiritual harmony and balance.
To evict and to summon.
To bind and to cast out.
I have been blessed with (The) requisite power and authority.
About my Christmas…
It was supposed to be nice and easy. Time spent with family and friends. That is until she called me from the fire.
My muse I mean. Not the young, hot one though. It was old, old mother. I was stir-frying venison and vegetables on the 21st of December 2017 when the bright blue flames of the gas burner cackled and grew. She was within. Within hours I was mysteriously the wildcard selected to accompany the urban myths, adventurers extraordinaire and totally bonkers Backpackers Nigeria® to climb Chappal Wadi. The highest point in West Africa and Nigeria. And aka, The Mountain of Death.
We took off on the 23rd of December, 2017. I refuse to bore you with details of that journey. It was gruelling and fun though.
Fast-forward to the 26th of December, 2017. We were finally at Ngoruje, a transit camp run by the Nigerian Gashaka Gumti National Park. We arrived at about six pm after about seven hours traveling on bad roads. We set up our tents and soon had a fire going. We were surrounded by the reserved trees of the national park. It was chilly and windy. It was dark. The only light came from the campfire.
Yet I could sense that she was waiting for me. And so I walked towards the edge of the forest. It was dark and cold there, but quiet. I sat gingerly on the exposed roots of a tree and almost immediately I perceived her. She always smelled of cinnamon and wood smoke. Old old mother is very very old. She told me a lot of things about the Backpackers Nigeria® and bid me to put my life on the line for them. She is not one known to be garrulous or to linger. I left the edge of the forest with a heavy heart.
It is called the Mountain of Death for various reasons. The park rangers told me that it was because many tourists had died there.
The majority of the good people of Taraba state were largely unaware of the existence of the Mountain of Death. Did not know, did not care.
The motorcycle riders that risked their lives and ours for about four hours ferrying us on dangerously undulating rocky foot-wide trails up and down mountain sides from Ngoruje to Njawai told me that it was because many families had died there simultaneously – mysteriously many years ago. No evident reason.
The head of the hamlet at the base of the mountain, in Njawai told me a lot of things. He especially asked me to convince the Backpackers Nigeria® not to climb. When I asked why, he said that I had ‘the mark of pure light’, and that I knew why. The conversation was in Fulfulde (pronounced Fool-fool-day), the main tongue of the Fulanis. One of the motorcycle riders was ineffectively translating to and fro because I was speaking in the Hausa language.
At the end, the head of the hamlet reluctantly gave us his permission to go up the mountain… But not his blessings. We were ten Backpackers, two park rangers, two journalists and three local guides.
Just before I lost view of the hamlet, I raised my hand in salutation to the head of the hamlet, and he curiously waved ‘goodbye’ back at me.
The altitude sickness was gradual and severe. We were in poor shape within the hour. The climb was up a gradual slope. We sighted antelopes, birds and startled God-knows-what further into the bushes.
There were a couple of things that had been bothering me.
Firstly, we were definitely in Cameroon and not Nigeria-Mambilla as was advertised. Secondly, we had not secured migration passes from the Cameroon’s immigration authority, I was not sure, but I felt like we were being watched. Stalked even. Thirdly, and most importantly I was gradually getting covered in goosebumps… It’s my gift. An early warning signal of sorts.
I was one of the only three that was armed with a firearm. I was the only civilian armed. I had fallen behind because I had to relieve myself. I was on my way back when I heard muffled moans and hushed tones ahead. When I caught up, my team were all standing still like statues. All of them.
I could hear the sound of flapping. Like really large wings flapping. But I could see nothing. The pungent smell of sulphur confirmed the presence of what I could not see. The gusts of wind from the flapping was raising up dust, leaves and grass. Items of clothing worn by people standing stock-still billowing eerily.
I heard the flaps move slightly away to the first local tour guide. Before my eyes, and in a few seconds, the man gradually emaciated like he was being sucked dry. Like an adult dragging on caprisonne quickly. Kukah crumpled (obviously) lifeless to the ground. Bardeh, the second local tour guide suffered the same fate. Then I perceived it move towards Sarai.
“Stop!” I yelled.
I felt it stop, deliberate and veer towards me in a slow whoosh. I remember wishing that I had called out ‘stop in Jesus name’ instead of just ‘stop’.
However, about a meter away from me, I heard the sound of singeing and I smelled burning feathers… I think.
I swear I heard whimpering and another rush toward me and then singeing again, burning feathers… and then all went quiet.
It spoke in an ancient tongue. In guttural and curt syllables. I deduced that I was being asked questions. And so I introduced everyone by name and explained in English why we were here… And then all went quiet.
“Please. Leave. Now… ” it grated in its harsh guttural voice. And yes, in English.
Instantly the air cleared. The bodies on the floor vanished and the trance was broken. The Backpackers® emerged all seemingly clueless as to current direction, location, urgency and time.
“Let’s hurry back down!” I shouted.
“Hey Big D, what about Bardeh and the other one?! Raj enquired.
“They went back faster.” I quietly replied turning away so he could not see my face.
“It’s getting dark, I’m getting cold…” Rebecca petulantly whined.
“We need to pick up the pace! This place is dangerous, especially at night!!” I called out and began to lead the long way down.
All Backpackers® are alive and well. Clueless about what really happened on the Mountain of Death, but alive and well.
May Bardeh and Kukah rest in peace.
Happy New Year!
“…Ego, the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity…”
“…Pride is the burden of a foolish person…”
Yet you; my lovely stupid foolishness, are my obligatory burden.
D. O-B
I can not believe that this impetuous, over-pampered and carnally-minded simpleton actually picked up that phone call…
I swear by the throne of Jehovah, I will kill him first chance I get.
Ring… Ring… Ring… Ring…
“Hello…?”
“… I kept hoping that you’d pick up one day…”
“Uhmmmm… Yeah… I was conflicted.”
“Because of what I am?”
“What are you exactly?”
“I could show you…”
Laughs…“For real?”
More nervous laughter… “Where are you exactly?”
“Here.” She answered from behind him.
I kept watch over him. He could not see me, but she could.
From that day they were inseparable. That day in which he had unwittingly summoned her by accepting her ‘hello’ from’ the other side’. They talked a lot. Very often. He was a very curious soul.
He was exactly thirty three years, three months, three days, three hours, three minutes and three seconds old when he (unfortunately) stumbled upon the ability to ‘summon’.
I confronted her one night when he was asleep. I was after all his protector. In righteous indignation I insisted on being told her plans.
She knew that I had the power to translate her spirit back into the abyss. I am holy and righteous. Maybe that is why she demurely replied me in almost suspicious humility.
She told me that she loved him.
“But you are a succubus, a demon!” I recall blurting out.
She then reminded me about the time the sons of God took for themselves wives of the sons of men. And how they cohabited in love and harmony ever after. It was their offspring that became unruly, not the abominable anomaly.
I can not believe that I am admitting this, but she was right.
I immediately summoned Headquarters for wisdom; and reinforcements were expeditiously despatched. The Company clearly considered this client untouchable. He was the apple of someone’s eye. He was clearly special and the beloved of someone important.
We watched as ABIKU taught him great mysteries. She revealed ancient Truths and Verities that he clearly hungered for. She showed him the treasures of darkness and the hidden riches of secret places. He inevitably became very rich and prosperous speedily. He practically rode the high places of at least two worlds.
She was plump, shapely and comely. The human vessel she chose was as he found pleasing. She inexplicably favored him for his warmth and meekness. Under our surveillance, she metamorphosed into human (female) tendencies of jealousy, tears and domestication.
They were under no illusions about who and what she was, and yet they proceeded to know each other carnally. Because of her default (basic) existence and office, they copulated often, and with reckless abandon. Succubi are carnal like that. She was extremely pleased with him. They were in love.
It has been a decade now. Their unholy liaison is now confirmed by the presence of a ruddy, cheeky and naughty lad. ABIKU is a mother.
My name is Chrioni. I am the messenger of Yahweh; (The Alpha and The Omega, The First and The Last, Holy of Holies, Jehovah.)
I am the head guardian angel primarily assigned to this mortal, and then to his family.
The situation has all of us messengers befuddled. And from the murderous looks of the demons snarling and hissing constantly at ABIKU, her kind are incensed beyond belief.
We are all watching and waiting.
The devil before us
Deep sea behind
Enemies within
There are such times.
No rustle, nor jingle
No relief, or release
No love, no lust
These too, shall pass.
Mimic water
To thyself be true
Embrace the true Light
And from those ashes you will rise!
Saw this meme and stuff got funny in my head.
(Hehehehe, what’s new dude?)
Naturally, I enjoyed several spectra of alternate reasonings on the robust plethora of outcomes, explanations and conjecture.
I can share one of those ‘alternate reasonings’ with you if you want?
Yes?
Aiight… I will.
Good thing you want to hear it, because the other ‘reasonings’ will have me precariously perched on the precipice of Apostasy. Or is it Heresy?
Sigh… Note to self, Google the difference! ASAP dude!!
Asiwassaying…
Enoch did not die because he was God’s friend.
I know the meme was about Methuselah, but…actually… but nothing!
It’s my blog, my random (albeit nearly heretic) musings, and my…my…my everything!
Deal with it!
Asiwassaying…
They were very close. They spent hours chatting and talking mostly about everything Enoch knew; (and I suspect) infinitesimally little about what God knew.
Let me just say it out without fear or favour, Enoch was probably God’s first Best Friend Forever!
Too Apostasy-ish?
Check this out then:- even the Grim Reaper recognized that Enoch was God’s BFF and wisely gave Enoch a wide berth-harvesting other souls instead. Let me put this point in a human – relatable perspective for you; think about and recognise how careful the average American/America is around Chelsea Clinton? Or how Al Capone’s son in-law must have been on his best behaviour whilst the godfather was alive?
I also imagined another matter; that so robust was their friendship, that God ‘forgot’ to allow him die.
Proof?
Here,
“And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: [24] And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.”
(Genesis 5:23-24).
Uhmmmm, just in case you are that uhmmmm…unknowing, the reference is from the Holy Bible. Just in case.
I imagine that after a long time spent talking with Enoch one day. After a flurry of particularly spiritual and intellectually stimulating conversation with Enoch God got up and suggested,
“Come Enoch, walk me home. We can continue this conversation all the way to my place”
Bearing in mind that it is not everyday God invites you to his house, Enoch probably replied,
“Yes Lord.”
And then,“he (Enoch) was not; for God took him.”
