Blood Contract by Biola Olatunde

Author:Biola Olatunde [Olatunde, Biola]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Action & Adventure
ISBN: 9781925148435
Google: JYqsZwEACAAJ
Amazon: 1925148432
Goodreads: 22407887
Publisher: Smashwords Edition
Published: 2010-09-15T04:55:36+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Ken woke up in the middle of the night wondering what had stirred him. He listened intently, slightly disoriented with his surroundings. He had heard the murmur of low voices, so he left his bed and tip-toed silently to the main living room. His father was on the local easy chair, his mouth open and breathing with difficulty, Tonbra was standing over him offering him something to drink. He moved in and appraised Papa. She was fighting back tears.

Ken watched grimly. So the old man was sick and he had not known, and in spite of everything, the old man offered him help. He felt terrible, but did not show it. He simply carried his father…God! He is so light!

Tonbra followed, carrying a bowl with a local herb she had been giving him. Ken was angry with her. Why had she never told him that their father was this ill?

He made his father as comfortable as he could. It was late and there was little he could do for him now, but he had come to a decision. He signaled for Tonbra to join him after their father had drifted into sleep.

In the main living room, he questioned her. “How long has he been like this?”

She lifted her shoulders in a sign of resignation as she replied, “Some two years back.”

“So why didn’t you think of—”

“Telling you?” Tonbra asked, and shrugged. “He said you had enough to contend with now; besides, he wanted to tell you the day you walked in but said it was not the best way to welcome you home, and then you did your bad man act and walked away.” She finished, sniffing.

Ken paced as he listened to her, then sighed. “I want to know something. Do you have a hospital here?”

She almost laughed as she replied, “What a daft question! Is God here?”

He winced—there was no need to pursue the question. He went to his room and changed into complete black attire, the only splash of contrast was a strip of white kerchief he had tied round his forehead.

When he emerged into the living room, Tonbra was horrified. She knew the meaning of his appearance. He was now an Egbesu boy. Soldiers of the deity dressed that way when they were going to war or, as they often said, running errands for the deity. It was believed they stood under the protection of this being.

In broad daylight they would be dressed in complete white. Every able bodied Izon boy was automatically a soldier of Egbesu. It was the national war god of the Izons and they believed they stood under its special protection. She stared as he gave her an almost impersonal look.

“Look after papa. I will be back in the morning, okay?” Ken said.

Tonbra simply nodded. She was afraid and it showed in her eyes. Ken saw the fear and came over to her holding out his arms. She silently ran into them and cried.

Ken comforted her, telling her he was going to be okay.

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