Thu, November 14, 2013 at 8:27 am GMT
Part 3 The Royal Kingdom
Patson Becomes a Prisoner
In the land of Meweka village, far away from the palace lived Chief Zezu who had a daughter named Camino.
Patson became a prisoner in Meweka village. He was treated harshly and suffered as if he was a slave. He couldn't bathe, and wasn’t even given a bite to eat. As days passed, Patson became thinner and thinner.
One day camino wanted to have a speech with Patson. So she went to her father in the siting room to ask permission. “Dad, can I have a speech with the prisoner?” she asked.
“No, no, no, you shouldn’t do that. You know that in this village it is not allowed to do so!” he answered. “You know that he is a stranger. You can’t know what he might do to you when you go in that prison to speak with him.”
Camino left the room while thinking of a way to sneak into the prison. Later that night Camino went to the guards and asked them if she could go in and have a short speech with the prisoner. The guards wouldn't let her in because they were afraid they would lose their jobs if the Chief found out. But, Camino corrupted the guards by giving them the gold ornaments she was wearing. So the guards let her into the prison.
As soon as Camino entered the prison and saw Patson on the ground weak and starving. She felt something in her heart. She wanted to ask Patson some questions:
“What’s your name, and where do you come from?” Camino asked. “I am Patson, prince of a certain kingdom far away from this place” Patson answered weakly. As Camino was about to ask another question, the guards came in and dragged her out of the prison.
Camino went to bed dripping in tears thinking about Patson’s situation. His situation was unbearable, and Camino felt so sorry for him.
The next day, early in the morning, Camino prepared some food and visited the prison. As usual she had to bribe the guards to enter the prison. She gave Patson the food, and told him to eat. “Thank you very much. But who are you and why are you doing this for me? Why are you risking your life to help me?” asked Patson weakly. “Oh, um, I am Camino. The daughter of Cheif Zezu” answered camino with a smile. “I am doing this for you because you don’t deserve this. You are an innocent person. It’s just that my father is following the rules of our ancestors which says that anyone caught in this territory, who is not a member of this village must be killed and given as a sacrifice at an important ceremony” she said while dripping tears.
As Patson hungrily at the food, he told Camino that his life was in her hands. “B-u-u-t what do you mean?” she asked. “You, the lovely daughter of the chief came to save me from being sacrificed” said Patson. “Yes, but because I am the chief’s daughter, this is very dangerous. If anyone finds out that I am helping you escape, we both will be killed” Camino answered.
“Don’t worry, I will teach you a song to sing to my father. My mother taught me this song when I was a small boy, if he hears it he will know that I am alive” Patson explained. “What song is that?” she asked. Patson taught Camino how to sing the song that his mother taught him as a small boy. He told her that if she sang this song, his father would know it was a message from Patson, and Camino should bring the King here to save him. Of course this was not a simple song to learn. Camino had to practice the song each and every day. One night her father heard her singing the song softly and beautifully. “Where did you learn that song? Who taught it to you?” her father said. She only responded with “Dad, I heard it on the radio.”
1 WEEK LATER
Early one morning, when Camino was busy in the kitchen preparing breakfast, she overheard her father, the Chief, having a conversation with the prison guards. “Guards, tomorrow that prisoner should be killed as a sacrifice for the evening. Do you understand!?” “Yes your honor” answered the guards politely.
As quickly as she could, Camino secretly packed her things and left the village. No one had known that she left the village. Camino walked for many hours looking for a the place where Patson was from. Finally, late in the afternoon, she came to a certain palace and asked the guards “ is this the palace where Prince Patson originated?” The 1st guard answered “yes madam, this is where he originated,” “but unfortunately we lost him. He died in a road accident” interrupted the 2nd guard with sorrow. “Just after he died, his father, our King, became very ill. He cant even walk” he added.
Camino asked the guards for permission to enter the palace and see the King. But the guards would not let her in. They were not to let any stranger to see the King, especially in his condition. But camino begged and told the guards that she had a very important message the the King about the missing prince. When the guards hear that, they let her in and took her to where the King was sleeping.
When Camino entered the room, she saw the King lying in his bed looking so ill he looked as if he would die any moment. Just as Patson had taught her, Camino closed her eyes and started singing his song softly and beautifully. As she was singing the song so beautifully, the sick King began to wake up. By the time she finished singing and opened her eyes, the King was on his feet standing. “Young lady, who taught you that song?” the King asked. “The prince of this land taught me, and he told me to sing it to you” she answered. “Young lady, which prince are you talking about, because the only price who knew that song died in a road accident!” said the King. “Prince Patson is not dead, he is alive!” exclaimed Camino. “But don’t worry about your son anymore because I can take you to where he has been kept in the morning” said Camino.
The following morning, the King, Camino, and some guards left early in the morning so that none of the Queens or Princes knew he had left. When they reached Meweka chiefdom, they discovered that all the people looked very happy. They were all celebrating something. The King didn’t know that they were celebrating because it was the day Patson was going to be killed and given as a sacrifice.
Chief Zezu and his wife were very surprised when they saw the King arrive in such beautiful cars. They hadn’t invited anyone to the celebration, especially not someone so rich. The induna and the guards stepped out of the cars to meet the Chief. Camino and the King remained behind in the car. “Greetings to you Chief Zezu and your chiefdom. We have come here because we have been sent by our King to retrieve his son” said the induna. “What are you talking about? And who is this prince you talk of; we don’t have any prince in this chiefdom!” the Chief shouted. Just then, the induna told one of the guards to call for Camino and the King from the car. When Chief Zezu saw the King and Camino coming out of the car he was shocked and surprised at the same time. He didn’t expect his daughter to disrespect the ancestral rules of his chiefdom. Chief Zezu and his wife were very disappointed in their daughter. Chief Zezu told the guards to release Patson. When Patson came out of prison and saw his father he was so excited it felt as if his bones would jump out of his skin. The King was happy as well, he started crying tears of joy when he saw Patson.
“Camino, thank you for what you have done. Because you have saved my life I want you to be safe. Come with me to a place where no one will find you” Patson said. Patson and Camino drove away in one of the cars to a place where no one knew of. The King left Meweka village with good news. He invited the Chief and his wife to an important celebration in his kingdom.
When the King reached his palace, everyone was surprised to see the king walking happily and joyfully. No one had known that the King was healed and could walk. “People of this palace, I have good news for you” he said joyfully. “My son who was meant to inherit my kingdom died months ago, and I have decided that tomorrow I will chose which of my sons will now inherit my kingdom when I die. I have decided to have a special celebration tomorrow to share the news.” Everyone in the palace was happy to hear the news, and couldn't wait for the tomorrow to come. However Patson’s mother felt sad at hearing this news as she was still mourning for Patson’s death.
The following day, early in the morning, people in the kingdom had already started celebrating. The palace was busy with everyone getting dressed in their best clothes and preparing for the celebration. By mid-day everyone had assembled and anxiously waited for the time when the King would stand in front of them and share the news. Some people sang traditional songs, and others dances happily.
Finally the time everyone was waiting for had come. But surprisingly a car approached the event with a special guest inside the car.. It was Patson and Camino! The King exclaimed “this is what we have been waiting for!” When Patson and Camino stepped out of the car, Patson’s mother couldn’t believe her eyes. She almost fainted. Everyone in the crowd almost collapsed with surprise. When Patson’s jealous brothers saw him they were surprised, shocked, and ashamed of themselves. “You sold your own brother to criminals. You wanted to kill him because of jealousy. Then most of you came to me and lied!!” the King said to his sons.
“Why?” he asked.
“Now my son, here you are, standing in front of me with the beautiful woman who saved your life. You are now crowned as King of the kingdom and now it is your turn to decide if your jealous brothers who made you suffer should be killed!” said the King to Patson. “If you choose not to spare their lives, then even their mothers lives should not be spared” explained the King.
Everyone waited anxiously..
Patson sighs..”ah, father, these are my brothers and I love them. Therefore, in front of all of the kingdom, I say I have forgiven my brothers and their mothers. They shall not be killed!” The jealous brothers and mothers went down and apologized to Patson and his mother. Patson’s mother was happy to see her son and she gave him a big hug.
Patson stood up in front of the people with Camino and said “now that I am the King of this kingdom, I am very happy. This is the day I have been waiting for. After all the torture I have received in Meweka village, I would like to ask the chief’s daughter if she will marry me.”
“Will you accept my proposal? asked Patson.
“Yes, I accept!” answered Camino happily. Everyone cheered for the new King and Queen, and they all started celebrating. That very day Patson and Camino got married and they lived happily every after.
The End
Written by Patson Z. Kaweme
