Breaking into a sweat, the saga returned. A lone beast staggers in the night sky, frightening the majestic owl out of the mahogany tree. The easy meal was not robust or fast, it's fur feigned riches for beneath, it was drained of all life and infectious. The horseman of death hovered above it, spinning a web of deceit and enticing all to join it, feast on it and devour it and all its ticking time bomb. The bat under a full moon screeched and limbs spread as it approaches it's prey. Mosquitoes rejoice and flee Because they are no longer on the bats menus. A curious monkey scuttled out of a swinging palm tree and the race to catch the infected rodent in the rich African forest begins. The Owl, the Bat And The Monkey Scuttled To Devour The Bitten Rodent that barely escaped the claws of an infectious Monkey. On this cruel food chain, isolated from man. War and fear chase a family to seek refuge in the lone forest as the bat swoops in to claim it's price. Fat and full the bat licked it's lips and a catapult knocked it out of the sky to the ground. The family feast on the first meal in a week over a flame they fear the rebels might see. The rodent isn't quite devoured and they rejoice at the rich protein meal they have been given. And then, it begins. The sweat and fever and in one touch, the horseman of death spun its web of the spread of the deadly disease. As the family of nine is truncated to one lone sweating man stumbling in the dark.
Somehow, he finds a pool of water, dehydrated and weak, speaking incoherently about bats, monkeys and rats doing the job war could not. Killing his family with bleeding eyes, sweating and maiming his joy, forcing him to bury a baby in a shallow grave. He was on his knees now drinking as a girl fetched water from down stream watching. Panicked, she drops the pouch but stops and fetched the water. Mother may think her lazy but this strangers tale was horrid. By night, she had given the cluster of thirsty people water and hope. The stranger had died and was buried as the small community quiet whispers of a deadly outbreak begin. For a price, the men buried him quietly. Quelling all rumors of a spread of an outbreak. Then that week the brave girl collapsed, bleeding from the eyes and then another.
1976 Jump From Animal To Man The 2014 Scorge Returns, Ebola is back with a vengeance.
Oh no, it's back. The reason to run away, hide and panic. The reason to stay at home, away from the crowd and human touch. The reason I don't eat bushmeat anymore, yes Ebola is back. Not here in Nigeria but DR Congo and reading about it is scary. I'm genuinely scared, why? It's simple, back then in 2014, the world ignored Ebola. It spread to Nigeria. I will forever be grateful to our Lagos state and Nigerian medical experts, government officials, civilians, volunteers and World Health Organization team that truncated the Scorge that could have wiped off Nigeria as a whole. Ebola found its way to America and the world buckled up and paid attention.
I've never been so scared in my life, a simple sneeze sent everyone running and human contact meant ones possible demise. It's really an end of days disease and it's sipping back into the news and creeping back up.
Now Ajoke likes bushmeat and I can't touch it, not sure if it's monkey, bat meat or any animal I don't ever want to consume.
Memories of my childhood and eating Grasscutters with Grandma will always stay that way. As memories and once I'm not sure of the kind of meat served, I order chicken or fish with its parts complete. As in whole chicken or fish.
'Ade you are paranoid'
'Ajoke, I agree', I add staring at the delicious plate on a golden sun rays platter.
'So are you digging in?'
I stopped her from taking away my plate of food.
'Face your own food', I snapped at her.
'Babangida's daughter got married yesterday', Nnoye adds..
'And you are here, shocker's, Celine poked at her.
'It was Daniel Ojora versus a society wedding'
'And Daniel won?', Ajoke had sarcasm written all over her words.
Celine and I chuckled and I immediately felt guilty.
'Ade it's fine, you all can laugh but this Nnoye is now a responsible mummy to be'
'I die fighting', Ajoke says not believing her.
'True to God who made me, I will change'
'Will?', Celine asked now laughing.
'Je ko soro, now', I plead with Celine.
'My husband is doing great things you know...'
'Marry one first, Ajoke adds in all seriousness.
'Should we bet?', Nnoye had her pinky finger curved and ready to locked with Ajoke's.
'Stop it you don't bet on marriage', Celine spanked away the hand.
'Why you want to spoil my market?'
'Marriage is not a market', Celine grumbled.
'Ask when or why people sign prenuptial agreements'
I feel a cramp and then another. The pain resembled what mother's described as dilating and giving birth.
Six months is too early to be having these babes.
'Lord Almighty, please protect me', I wailed grabbing the edge of the table and grumbling
As a big storm begins to brew.
**Season 1, Episode 26**
*"ADE'S JOURNAL", 26, COPYRIGHT 2017*
*BUSOLA ELEGBEDE COPYRIGHT 2017**
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