Fear gripped Adu. Where was he? Now he new that it was he that was moving from the sound of the night.The stories of Susa haunting his young mind. He was moving away from the village as if compelled by a force beyond his strength.
He was in the forest, all alone. He looked around,but there was no one.How did he came to be there? he asked himself.But before he had time to think-
Adu! -someone called him. The voice was coming from the wawa tree in front of him.It sounded lie the voice of a woman. Fear overwhelmed him .
Adu! The voice came again.He looked behind him;there was no one.
Suddenly there arose a wawa tree from behind what at first seems like a dark winding smoke curling up the tree. Then it seems to become the figure of a long, thin human being peering down at him. He screamed. A deep voice echo his own voice. He heard a rustle behind him and turned to see. There, strong and alert, stood a giant leopard. The animal snarled at him. Her red eyes scrutinized Adu. When she began to wag her tail Adu knew he was in danger. He took to his heels, but his legs couldn't carry him fast enough. He yelled, but his own voice bounced back to him. The echo this time was deeper. The leopard chased him, gnarling and bellowing
Adu!
He stopped. Who called him? He turned around to see. The leopard stop too, and began wagging her tail. Adu was about to take his heels again when the animal crouched and sprang at him.
Adu cried out and dived to the path. He heard many voices calling him but he couldn't tell where they came from or whose they were. As he swung away from the path the huge animal missed him and fell heavily. She rose up and chased at Adu as he ran through the forest of Susan. Did he not love the plants, the trees and the birds? Why had they now deserted him? For they are now on the side of pursuing animal. They got to his way and hampered his progress. Susan slept on, while one of the sons of the village struggled alone in the forest with a beast that was determined to distroy him.
Fireflies blurred his vision. He saw people hiding behind trees, but no one came to his aid. He yelled and kicked.
Adu! Adu! Adu! Adu!
The voice now surrounded him. He felt someone pulling his legs and then his arms. Surely the animal was tearing him limb by limb.
'Papa..... Mama.... she is killing me..... aaaaagh!
' Adu.... Adu... wake up.... wake up '.
Adu wake up. He leapt from his bed and about to rush out of the room when his father grabbed him in his strong hands.' 'Hey, Adu, look here. What is the matter?
Adu struggle briefly in his father's arms before he calmed down. Sweat covered his forehead. He breathed heavily and turned his head from side to side as if he was looking for something. He saw his mother gazing at him in bewilderment. She held Yaa tightly to herself, as if to prevent her from going through similar experiences. Taa, also confused, looked on. Tears stood in their eyes.
What is the matter? His father asked again. He sahim down on the bed, looked straight at him, and asked. What did you see?
Adu looked around before he spoke: 'I saw a leopard.... she was running after me... she she was going to kill me... Adu told the story in a broken voice but in great detail. His father Nimo rose up and left the room.
It was daybreak. The darkness that has wrapped Susan round was gone. The sun has replaced the dying moon 🎑 and was bright over the great mountain. Fireflies no longer roamed the sky; birds now sang in the trees. Adu was confused. One moment everything and everybody was against him. Now he was surrounded by his family, loving and caring.
It was only a dream, Adu, his mother said, trying to encourage him. You're all right. But the look on her face said something different; she was scared.
To be continued....