The second son

Chapter five

Jaachi was late for the burial of his father and brother. He had had a very long quarel with Lola that morning, she insisted that he shouldn't be the one to make the speech about the Ochia and Prince Nikku. He couldn't understand what was wrong with her, a lot of people in his life had been acting wierd lately. His mother, trying to force him to propose to Nmaka, Ms.Maopa and all her issues with the redirect virus and now Lola. He tried not to attract attention to himself as he quietly slid into his seat by his mother. Lola had told him she was not going to come at all. 

     The burial was a complete state affair, with top officers from the Army, Airforce and Navy, the press, both local and foreign, directors from various government institutions, the entire ELOE and a very great crowd gathered outside the church to mourn the exit of a king and a prince who were well loved. There were no foreign envoy although the government's of Russia, Japan, the United States, Ghana ,United Kingdom, Nigeria and Spain sent condolence letters and an alumni group from the University of Cape town were also present. Jaachi's speech took even him by surprise. He had deliberately not made any notes because he wanted his speech to be hundred percent natural but the absence of the note terrified him. Instead in preparation of his speech, he had took a moment to think about his father and older brother, what mattered to them and how they mattered. Now as he stood speaking, he was not ashamed of the tears in his eyes. He spoke about life before the secession, his father's passion and zeal for what was right. He spoke about growing up with Nikku, about Nikku's gentle strength and patience in moments of crisis. He spoke about the secession, how much it meant to his family even before his Father was asked to attend his first ELOE meeting. He spoke of integrity, love, sacrifice,faith, of East Hendosia, her history, the Mmiri people, their culture and pride "This is the Essence of us." He said at the end of his speech."This is who we are, this is East Hendosia, we are the Mmiri people." Cheers erupted as he made his way back to his seat, as moved as everyone in the church. Cries of 'keep hope alive' were ringing from all corners of the church and from the people outside, Ms Maopa was smiling, a strange little smile with tears streaming down her face. The members of ELOE looked sober and even the priest had tears in his eyes. A lady in the church broke down, weeping uncontrollably "I'm so sorry." She kept saying when she saw the attention she was bringing to herself. It was Flora, the Lady who had jumped the fence into the palace to demand a press conference from Jaachi.

    Jaachi found himself drawn to Flora after the service. His family was hosting a reception at the palace but he was not yet ready to face Lola. He found who he was looking for outside the church, she was leaning on the wall, still crying. He stood in front of her. "Hey!"

    " Jaachi.... I mean your royal... Prince Jaachi, I'm so sorry for causing a scene back there. "

   " No it's fine, I guess you can say everyone was a bit emotional."

   " It's just.... I was eleven when the East seceded, I was to young to understand the importance, the need for our people to leave. I've been so naive." She drew in a breath. " So naive. I actually came here with my camera to take videos. I didn't even trust the press! I was just wrapped up in my mind, had all these conspiracy theories in my head, I don't even know what I was thinking." She was crying again, uncontrollably and Jaachi put his arms around her.

    "Ssssh! It's okay. Your behavior was very natural and patriotic. It's good to stand up for what you believe."

    " Yeah but I believed a lie ! " She drew away from his embrace and searched his eyes. " I thought you were a monster. I was so consumed by hate, our country is the first to practice a system of absolute monarchy since the french or Japanese revolution or whatever and I guess I was just embarrassed. I went to school in U.K and each time someone asked me what country I was from, I could feel their attitude change towards me. It wasn't just the fact that I was from Africa, but East Hendosia is famous for our absolute monarchy..... It wasn't really discrimination, more like the people got kinder in a very patronizing way, offering to pay for my lunch, telling me I was beautiful - out of the blue and even explaining the mechanics of how to use a phone!" She took the hankey he was offering and blew her nose. " That day at the palace, I actually climbed into your home - "

    "Forget it."

    " I can't ! I mean I was a monster. You had just lost your father and brother in such a terrible way and all I could think about was my embarrassment! I was embarrassed about who I was - "

    Jaachi noticed the press gathering, taking photos of them, some private people were also making videos with their cell phones. "Flora."

   " I was actually thrilled when you agreed to the press conference, I thought I was bringing civilization to East Hendosia, I didn't care at all if we lost the war or if we surrendered, I was just so wrapped up in myself - "

    " Flora !" Jaachi tried again.

    She was talking faster, sobbing more. " I can't imagine the pain you must be going through - "

    "Flora ! They have us on camera." She finally calmed down and let him lead her to his limo while his security detail pushed away the bold press trying to get them to answer questions. He opened the door for her then got in.

    "Where are we going ?" She asked wiping her eyes.

    "The reception. Today, you are my special guest."Rota was the perfect hostess at the reception. Making sure all her guest got served according to their preferences. Hugging old aquintances, kissing cheeks. She went through the routines, doing what was expected of her and being extra nice to Nmaka. She was damned if she was going to let her husband's kingdom crumble before her. She could feel the ELOE watching, making up their minds and she turned up the charm, playing the part of the broken heroine trying to keep hope alive. She watched Jaachi, he was acting perfectly well but if he was actually being genuine or putting up an appearance, she couldn't tell. She however knew that her second son was too stubborn to do anything he did not want to, it was as if he too had been moved by his own speech at the funeral, she was moved too, motivated and now she decided never to give up. Iloruku's candle was not going to be put out. She was happy Lola had not shown up at the church and was yet to show her face at the reception. Jaachi did not need the people remembering his ties to the West. Ejiofor was giving a toast to royalty that was loyal to the people, and Rota smiled. Ever since her husband and first son, two men she had come to rely on a whole lot died, her brother in-law has been a great pillar, she was sure Iloruku would be proud.

   Ejiofor on his part was feeling devastated. His plans were finally falling in place and all he could think of was the royal jet that had killed his brother and nephew. He kept wondering what would have happened if they had not gone on that trip. The Prime minister had not even shown up for the funeral, instead he had sent a condolence letter that had just been mere formality.

    After the lunch, at Rota's invitation, Nmaka decided to sleep over. She was in the room that was given to her, opening condolence letters, reading emails and i********: messages and posts. Some made her smile, even laugh, others brought tears to her eyes. She picked up an envelope, it was addressed to Odoba Rota Mashi and she laughed foreigners always failed to use those titles correctly, Odoba and Ochia were more of positions than a titles. You didn't say Odoba Rota, you just called her Rota or 'the Odoba'. She got up to find Rota and give her the envelope, there must have been a mix up and someone put it among her letters.

    She found the Odoba on a wicker chair in a small garden in the palace,sipping from a glass and crying quietly. "I brought this for you." She said softly, wondering if she should intrude on such a quiet moment.

    " Nmaka." The Odoba shifting to make room for her on the sit. "Come and sit with me my child. You don't mind my calling you that, do you?" She asked softly, Nmaka shook her head. " I never really had a daughter you know.... and I always wanted one. When I first met you, fresh out of uni, I just thought 'if I had a daughter, I would like her to be like this.' Your so brave, beautiful, intelligent and you love the people."

    Nmaka was embarrassed " Thank you Ma, I... here," she pushed the envelope to Rota.

    " Oh ! That." The Odoba took the envelope and opened it. " It's from the University of Cape town, their alumni association. We met there, Ilo and I and it was just like love at first sight. We were from the same country, same tribe, same passion for our people, even back then, he was already talking about the oppression of Mmiri, about how we needed to break away." She paused and cut Nmaka's hand in her's, stroking her fingers gently. "I saw that same Passion for the people in Jaachi today, I had thought him incapable of it, I thought with the loss of my husband and first son, I had lost the only people who loved East Hendosia the way I did but I was wrong. Jaachi and Ejiofor have been more than great, showing me ones again that the fate of Mmiri land was the big picture, bigger than us, than our petty likes and dislikes than life and death than marriages and romance....." She trailed off, watching Nmaka closely.

    Nmaka was getting very uncomfortable with the way the conversation was going. " I understand Ma'am."

    "And you, how are you feeling?" 

    "I don't know, I'm still ... I think this is something I would never get over." 

     " Neither will I." Rota said drawing in a breath." You've been a pillar in this country Nmaka, you may not know it but you have given people reason to believe."

      " Thank you Ma."

      " No, thank you! You're a heroine Nmaka and your people need you once again. Marry my son."

      " Your son, the one I love is dead."

      " And you can't love Jaachi ?"

      " It's not that, Jaachi is noble and great and... You may not approve but he actually stands up for what he believes in but he is not Nikku and he doesn't need to be! He is perfect the way he is and he would find the right woman for him one day. I hear he has a girlfriend, one Lola."

     Rota waived her hand dismissively at the mention of Lola's name. " Look Nmaka, I'm sorry to drop all this on you, you must be exhausted. Rest, you need it but think about what I told you."

     Nmaka nodded, it was the least she could do. She was frightened to realize that she was actually thinking about it as she made her way back to her room.

                                                                                             ***

      Flora  had been beside herself through out the reception, Jaachi had been charming, considerate, by the way he deferred to her, one would think it was her instead him who had lost a loved one. The entire Mashi family had been wonderful even in the midst of their grief. She was beginning to see the entire family in a new light and she felt ashamed of her previous protests against them. After the reception, she had been driven home by Jaachi's personal chauffeur. Flora liked to believe she was a very sincere person, did not lie to herself. She knew she was in love with Jaachi, she also knew he had a girlfriend he was serious about, knew there could be no hope for her and so she planned to disappear, just the way she had came.

     Jaachi had been told not to leave the palace without a bodyguard, this was a critical time and East Hendosia could not afford to lose the only Prince they had left, with the referendum only one week away, protests were springing up here and there and one never knew when they would decide to go violent. He understood their concerns, he did not want to go out alone but more than that, he did not want to face his mother and her matchmaking, he did not also want to face Lola. So instead, he decided to jogg a little. What harm could possibly come to him while jogging the neighborhood trail. He missed her, the Old Lola, missed that carefree spoiled last daughter of her father who could actually be caring when she chose to. The fact that those occasions were rare only made them more endearing

     The evening breeze felt good on his face, there was something about jogging that cleared the mind and he had really needed to clear his mind. For the first time since he received that phone call at the stadium in Germany, he missed football, there was just so much drama going on in his life at the moment and he needed something as straight forward as football. He laughed silently at his description. Football was far from being straight forward but at least he had always in sync with the ball. He was feeling very out of odds lately with them two women that mattered the most to him and he couldn't help thinking football would have been a welcome distraction at the moment. He had turned down many offers from clubs because he had known deep down that he was going to give up football a little earlier than some. He increased his pace and with the speed, he felt the increased clarity of mind. What was it his grandmother had said, that taking a walk in ones motherland actually connected one to his land. The trees spoke and told their secrets, the birds sang to you in their wisdom, the land spoke to you and Jaachi actually felt it at the moment, heard the land welcome him, whisper to him. He increased his pace till he was actually running. He saw it, the schools, research institutions, inventions springing up everyday, solutions to world problems that would announce East Hendosia to the world. He saw the economy bubble, saw football, he saw football at everz turn, academies, clubs and the Red foxes, formidable, dynamic and winning and then he saw it. He actually saw the fighter jet fly over him, saw the missile drop then he couldn't run fast enough. He bursted his lungs trying to get to his uncle's house as fast as he could, he prayed for more speed or a taxi, berating himself for being foolish enough to leave the palace without a cell phone.

    When Jaachi got to the house, the General was already leaving, rushing to his car while buttoning his uniform. "Jaachi" the General said side stepping him. " Not the best time."

    Jaachi kept up his pace, entering the jeep with him when he did. " I saw the enemy jet, I want to help. What's going on?"

    " The Cyber Military has been bombed." The General said, his jaw tight.

    Jaachi was trown. " What I don't understand is how the jet wat able to infiltrate airspace. I thought Ms. Maopa fixed the redirect problem, why didn't the detectors pick up the enemy?"

    " Well it appears she didn't." The General muttered.

    " I don't understand, why would she pretend to solve a problem she didn't."

     " Well she can answer that when she's brought into custody, for all I know, she just pretended to kill the virus, provided false security. The snipers at our borders were removed, those patrolling relaxed. We thought we had damned sensors! And now this. First they bombed the special ammunition storage area in Flava, now they've taken out the Cyber Military. The West is strategically destroying our military might, trying to force us to a surrender, they know no Country would give us military aid and once they destroy our defense, they'll infiltrate the country, their soldiers would be every where ! And they've been able to do all this without even killing up to five hundred people."

     " So Amnesty would not step in." Jaachi thought aloud. " I still don't believe Ms Maopa had anything to do with this" Jaachi said, not even believing himself. Ms Maopa had actually been acting very fishy that day. Jaachi could not just understand what she would stand to gain from betraying her country then, it clicked.

     The jeep came to a sharp halt in front of a wasteland that was once the Cyber Military base. The General got out, saluting two other officers of rank. Jaachi wondered what he was really doing there. He could do nothing except watch the soldiers, technicians and experts walking all over the place, giving orders and receiving them, occasionally giving him quizzical glances. He tried to keep out of their way.