The Fortuitous Meeting Read online

  The journey was well spent, as Oyewole told him much of the politics and history of Ketu. Oludara liked the man and imagined they could have been friends if Oyewole did not hold a rank in society so far above his own.

  As they neared the city, they passed through a multitude of farms. They then navigated the complex system of bulwarks and moats, the innermost courtyards surrounded by walls twice the height of a man. The locals used different colors and fashions than those in Oludara’s village. Massive squares full of wooden stands sat empty, waiting to be filled by crowds and merchandise on market day.

  Oyewole led him to a guest house and told him to prepare himself for his audience with the oba. A young woman helped him draw a bath and he washed off the red dust accumulated during the trip.

  For his meeting with the oba, he vested a short-sleeved robe and tied it around the waist with a sash. A close-fitting cap completed the ensemble. The outfit was not elegant, but the best that could be expected from a poor farmer.

  Oyewole escorted him to the palace. The sight of the grandiose building—a towering clay construction—awed him. Two massive gates stood open in front. The guards, upon seeing Oyewole, motioned them through.

  Warriors guarded the hall inside and out. Most held swords or bows, but some were equipped with Portuguese crossbows. Oludara had heard of them, but never seen one before. As he walked the long hall, he glanced at the brass heads on each side: representations of all past obas of Ketu. These were interspersed among fine ivory carvings.

  When he reached the end, he saw the oba’s council: seven chiefs sitting on lion-skin mats. Several eunuchs, the personal servants of the oba, stood at attention. Oludara identified them by the way they wore their robes bunched upon their shoulders. Drummers and other attendants waited around the hall.

  Oyewole shook Oludara’s hand goodbye and motioned to a leopard skin mat, where Oludara knelt to wait. Two eunuchs carried a wooden stool to the front of the hall. Oludara could see elaborate carvings covering the stool, but could not make out the details from his vantage point.

  Shortly after, one of the attendants shouted, “The Alaketu, Oba Ekoshoni enters!” A trumpet blast and drums accented his announcement.

  The oba entered, flanked by two guards bearing halberds topped with thick bronze blades. In the few seconds that ceremony allowed, Oludara soaked in as much detail as possible. The oba wore a coral collar and silk sash upon his chest. A crown of red beads came to a point above his head, and lines of beads cascaded down from it, leaving little of his face exposed. Rings covered his neck all the way to his chin.

  As the oba approached the wooden stool, Oludara and all others prostrated themselves upon the ground. After a few moments, they returned to the kneeling position. Oludara kept his eyes pointed down in reverence, but longed to stare at his regal lord.

  “You have been summoned because my diviners consulted the Ifa Oracle.” Oba Ekoshoni spoke in an even voice, just loud enough for Oludara to hear every word clearly. “They told me to seek the eldest progeny of a man who aided me long ago.”

  Oludara felt honored to hear the voice of the oba; it was a rare privilege. In public, the oba whispered through a cow tail whisk and a eunuch shouted his words to the people.

  “Your father helped me once when I was young,” continued the oba. “With his cunning he killed Souyuu, a terrible beast which ravaged the local villages. Now, I face a similar problem, so I assume that you are the one I seek.

  “Six months ago, a dragon stopped one of my sons on the road and demanded that a sacrifice, taken from the vassals of my court, be tied and left at the sacred grove of Ofru every full moon. When my son told me the news, I refused. When the sacrifice was not sent, the dragon went to a village and killed everyone there. The next full moon, I sent fifty warriors to slay the beast. Only a few survived, and they reported that not even the bolts of the Portuguese crossbows could penetrate the beast’s scales. Since then, left without options, I have sacrificed one of my vassals every month to this abominable creature. I would continue no longer.”

  After a pause, the oba spoke again. “I fear the beast cannot be bested by force alone; cunning is also required. I hear you have faced many trials, even at your young age. You battled our enemies from Dauma, and you tricked and slew the very beast which killed your father.”

  The reminder sent a pang through Oludara, but he pushed it down.

  “I regret sending such a fine man,” continued the oba, “so recently turned to adulthood, on such a terrible task. However, the oba does not question, he does not ask, he orders. Thus, I order you to do everything in your power to slay the beast. Do you understand?”

  “Yes,” responded Oludara, “it will be an honor to serve the great Oba Ekoshoni.”

  “Good. I am gladdened to see you here before me. You remind me of your father in both build and manner. I do not know if you realize the depth of his wisdom. When he slew Souyuu, I offered him anything in my power as a reward. He could have chosen riches or land or anything else which could have brought him temporal pleasure in this world, but he was too wise for that. Instead, he asked me to choose a name for his newborn son.” At this, the oba laughed heartily. “He knew the gift would cost me not the price of a yam, but that an oba surely would choose a princely name. And thus I did. I chose the name Oludara for his son, and brought great honor to his family for all generations to come. I have no doubt he will stand by your side in the trial which awaits you.”

  After a pause, the oba asked, “Do you remember the dagger your father wore?”

  “Yes.”

  “He carried that dagger because your name was not the only present I gave him. I could not leave such wisdom unrewarded, so I also gave him that dagger, one of the greatest treasures in all Ketu. Since all ivory belongs to the oba, your village elders rightfully returned it to me upon his death. However, the chiefs agree,” he held a hand toward the seven counselors for emphasis, and they nodded in response, “that it would make a fine present for you now, to help with what you must face.”

  The oba motioned with a wave and a eunuch carrying a fine brass tray stepped forward. The eunuch knelt before Oludara, holding out the tray and presenting the dagger which lay upon it.

  The dagger was exactly as Oludara remembered it: fine ivory tinted red from palm oil. The hilt contained intricate carvings; the side with a lightning bolt rested on top. The other side, he knew, showed a double-bladed axe. Those two symbols represented the god Shango, as his father had taught him long ago. The sight flooded him with memories, but he shook them off and reached down to accept the gift, not wanting to appear unappreciative. As Oludara touched the hilt, a strange sensation passed through his arm, causing him to jerk in surprise.

  The oba saw his reaction and said, “The enchantment on that dagger is strong; it is rumored to come from Shango himself. Whether or not that is true not even I can say, but guard it well, because you will never again find its equal.”

  Oludara grasped the hilt firmly and lifted the dagger. The eunuch with the tray walked away.

  “The Iya Kere controls my treasury,” said the oba. “She will see to it that you have whatever equipment you need.”

  “Great Oba,” said Oludara, “How do I find the dragon?”

  “No one knows where it lives. You must go to Ofru on the next full moon, two days hence, and witness the sacrifice. Hide yourself as best you can and observe. The beast is treacherous; you must learn as much as you can before you confront it. Do not interfere with the sacrifice, no matter how much it pains you to watch. That is my command. May Olorun protect you.”

  The oba rose and everyone prostrated again.

  Before the oba even left the hall, Oludara’s mind swirled with ideas for the task before him.

  #

  Oludara, his body camouflaged by red clay dust, hid among bushes in the sacred grove of Ofru. Some eighty paces before him, at the foot of an enormous baobab, the sacrifice lay tied and gagged. Oludara regretted he could do nothi
ng to save the man, but he respected the oba’s order and knew it made sense; it would be foolish to face the dragon before observing it. At the moment, Oludara had to concern himself with concealment. If the dragon caught a whiff of his scent, it would mean a quick end to his task.

  When the moon reached its zenith, the dragon appeared. It resembled a massive green snake, except for some tiny, apparently useless wings and several stubby pairs of legs which propelled it along in a half-walking, half-slithering fashion. The scales appeared impenetrable, like painted iron plates stacked upon each other.

  The sacrificial victim, eyes wide, thrashed in his bonds and grunted muted screams through the gag. The dragon ignored him at first, flicking its tongue repeatedly to test the air around it. Oludara tensed, but the dragon completed its examination without incident and returned its attention to the man. The moment it made eye contact with its victim, the man stiffened and fell silent.

  Without ceremony, the dragon unhooked its jaw and clasped down over the man’s head. With the eye contact broken, the man resumed his thrashing, however, it made little difference as his body receded down the dragon’s gullet. His movement stopped after a minute, when, Oludara presumed, either his head was crushed or he ran out of air.

  “Olorun save us!” Oludara whispered under his breath.

  Shortly after finishing its meal, the dragon looked around, flicked its tongue a few more times, and turned back in the direction from which it had come.

  Oludara waited half an hour, then crawled to the middle of the grove and found the tracks made by the dragon’s slithering. Using the stealth he had developed while hunting the savannah with his brothers, he trailed the beast. He crawled for at least three hours before discovering the bedded dragon. It had coiled itself up near a tree. In the moonlight, Oludara could see a glint where one of the beast’s eyes remained open.

  As he crawled away, Oludara formed his plan.

  #

  Two days later, Oludara found himself kneeling once again before Oba Ekoshoni.

  “The Iya Kere informs me that for some reason you require an elephant in order to slay the beast,” began the oba. “I have but one, and he has been with me for many years. I am loath to part with him, but I told you I would give you anything in my power, so it shall be done. However, the Iya Kere also informs me that there is something else you require which could only be discussed in my presence. I am curious to hear this request.”

  “It is indeed something only you can provide, great Oba,” replied Oludara. “I need you and the village chiefs to impart a nobleman’s status upon the elephant.”

  A commotion rose among the counselors.

  “Outrageous!” shouted the oba, rising to his feet. “Our ancestors will laugh at such folly.”

  “Nevertheless,” replied Oludara, “I must ask it. As it is said, ‘a thief is more merciful than a fire,’ and we must choose the lesser of these evils.”

  Oludara dared to look up at the oba, who, to his relief, seemed more interested than angered.

  “Elephants and dragons are ancient enemies,” he continued, “and in this case, one noble elephant can do what a thousand men cannot. I do not think our ancestors will mock us if we succeed in our task. If you will but let me explain, I will make my plan clear.”

  #

  Oludara sat in silence as the dragon entered the grove and cocked its head in puzzlement at the bound elephant. It flicked its tongue and immediately turned to spot Oludara, sitting at the foot of the baobab. Oludara felt the dragon’s gaze bore into him and his stomach clenched.

  The dragon slithered to within a few paces of him, never breaking eye contact. Its forked tongue flicked out, almost touching him. Oludara tried to hold himself calmly, but knew he couldn’t move his muscles, even if he wanted.

  The dragon spoke in a hissing voice, “What trickery is this? Why is this cursed elephant here?”

  Oludara struggled to begin his speech, but surprised himself when the words came out confidently. “Did you not ask the oba to send a sacrifice each full moon? One of his choosing?”

  “Yes, but I asked for a vassal, fool, not an elephant. I think I’ll have you instead.”

  “There has been no mistake, mighty dragon, the elephant is the sacrifice. I am but a farmer, yet this elephant is a noble of the oba’s court.”

  “What?”

  “As you are such a marvelous being, the Oba Ekoshoni wished to offer a meal worthy of your stature.”

  “No man may look into my eyes and lie, this elephant must indeed be a noble.” The dragon paused, as if thinking. “But this insult will not go unpunished. When I’m done with this wretched creature, I’ll eat you and your presumptuous oba as well.”

  The dragon turned, allowing Oludara the opportunity to take in a deep breath.

  The dragon wrapped itself around the elephant’s neck. The elephant fought mightily, throwing its weight from side to side. The dragon absorbed several blows during the struggle, but eventually managed to strangle the tied animal. After a short rest, it unhinged its jaw and fit its mouth around the elephant’s legs. The dragon’s skin expanded as it crushed the elephant bit by bit. It required hours to ingest the entire animal, ending when the trunk receded into its bloated body.

  When it finished, it slithered away heavily without even sparing a glance at Oludara. Oludara grinned as the dragon’s boast of devouring him remained unfulfilled, much as he expected.

  Oludara waited a half-hour before setting out after the dragon. He walked leisurely, unconcerned with concealment, and found the serpent at only half the distance it had crawled the previous time. It lay spread out, too bloated to coil. This time, the creature slept with both eyes closed.

  All along the dragon—its skin stretched to the limit by the elephant within—the scales had separated enough to expose the flesh beneath. Oludara spotted a bulge formed by a tusk, and he chose that point to make the first incision with his ivory knife. The dragon could do nothing more than shudder as he opened it.

  #

  “So I gave the head to the oba and he allowed me to take the skin to my village, where we used it to create many great things. And that is the end of my tale.”

  Gerard sat quietly, digesting all he had heard.

  After sipping the last of the water, Oludara broke the silence. “So Antonio’s group must have done something similar?”

  “It appears they found a giant tapir, probably the closest thing to your elephant in these parts, and tied it to a tree as bait. But even with their ruse, it still took fifty men and over a hundred rounds of harquebus fire to bring down the beast. I’d say your kill was much more elegant.”

  Oludara smiled at the compliment.

  Gerard leaned forward. “I have a proposition for you. Brazil is a land for the taking. Precious stones, magic, and adventure without limit are spread throughout this giant, unexplored territory. There would be hundreds arriving daily if not for the monsters which inhabit the wilds. Fame and fortune await those brave enough to face them—and quick enough to find them first.”

  “Yes,” agreed Oludara, “both here and in Africa, two places the white man has not yet overrun with his civilizations, the ancient magics still live strong.”

  “I believe that destiny brought me here,” said Gerard. “My earliest memories are of the Brazilian Festival held for King Henry. It was unbelievable, an entire forest had been erected in the middle of Rouen. My parents took me to see it, and we watched a show of beasts, natives, and fireworks the like of which I have never seen since. A thousand times in my childhood I imagined myself adventuring through the wilds of this strange land, and even when adolescence turned my thoughts to other pursuits, the memory lived on in the back of my mind.

  “Then, a few months ago, I happened to meet a captain preparing an expedition here, and I sold what I had for passage. This is a chance to live like the ancient heroes of Greece, battling monsters and magic. Europe has forgotten those times. The nations are constantly at war, killing each
other at the whims of monarchs, switching alliances like most men switch clothes. Here, one can become a true hero, not a mercenary butcher of men.”

  “So why do you come to me?” asked Oludara.

  “Because Antonio won’t allow me to serve under his standard. Worse, he’s accused me of vagrancy, and I could be arrested at any moment. But I won’t desist. I want to form my own band and explore the wilderness. To do that, I need your help. I need someone clever, fast on their feet. I’m not a stupid man, I’m educated, but I’m not shrewd enough. Like yesterday, Pero doubled your price on the spot. A clever man would have tricked him into getting you for half, don’t you think?”

  “Yes, a clever man would have pointed out my insolence as a defect, not a strength; made me look like a troublemaker so he would want to pass me off on an outlander like yourself, rather than risk problems with an important buyer.”

  “See, that’s it,” said Gerard. “Defeating monsters requires guile, and if all you say is true, I’m sure you know better than anyone. I need your cunning, and it sounds like you can hold your own in battle as well.”

  “It is true,” replied Oludara. “I have fought both men and monsters, and still I live.”

  “So, if I find a way to free you, will you go with me?”

  “You would go with two men where others walk in fear with fifty?”

  “Yes, if those two are us!”

  Oludara laughed deeply. “Sorry to laugh at you, Gerard van Oost, but how can one not laugh when presented with such madness? Yet I must also be mad, for I accept your proposal. I see you are sincere, and I am sincere in saying that nothing in this world happens by chance. Who can say if the gods themselves didn’t have something to do with our fortuitous meeting? Perhaps they placed me into the slaver’s hands so I could live out some purpose here on the other side of the world.