howareyou wrote:
Ak'kulula enters the strange rock-hut with the familiarity and posture of a servant of the master of the place. He stops just inside the hut beside the entrance and turns to look at the party, waiting patiently until everyone of them have come in and found a seat. Seeing that the guests, all five of them, are more or less comfortably seated, he moves to a spot beside the ancient woman where he squats down comfortably.
The stranger with the proud noble bearing of a warrior speaks. And as the old woman begins her tale in answer, Ak'kulula's studies each of the five guests in turn, his dark eyes seeing more in their mannerisms, gestures, and eyes than in their words.
As the tale draws to a close, Ak'kulula turns to the old woman, his eyes looking at the strangers. His words come out in a soft enquiring tone, almost shyly. "Nana...who they?"
The ancient woman leaned forward and pointed at each of them in turn,
" This is Kuublu, he is a prince and his cousin has been taken by Mother of Moons."
" This is Chiemeka, a priest and healer from the far north."
" This is Pulgil, her people are the River People from near the great water in the North-East."
" This is Ammu from the South-West lands. He shares the Gift with yourself and I."
" And this is Mthunzi, who has washed his hands in the Great River and looks to the future."