Chapter 7: Strangers

Matthew couldn't go back home because he wanted to save his face. He was too embarrassed to face his uncle much more explain why he came back home much earlier than he had said, so he decided to walk to the largest garden in the country. It was called "Seed Island," and it took about thirty minutes walk from Laura's house, but Matthew made it in about forty-five minutes because he was engrossed in his thoughts. 'Why didn't she want to go out with me? Is she sick?...but she seemed pretty fine. Or does she not love me anymore? It's not even up to twenty-four hours." All these were his thoughts, and it very much drove him crazy.

A couple of minutes later, from the garden on which Matthew sat, he could feel the ground shaking and vibrating - he was perplexed. And soon, he could hear rumbles and numerous stompings. 'Where is everyone going?" he asked himself but as he listened closely, he could hear roars of men and neighs of horses but the problem was they don't have horses in the country, they used cows to transport whatever they wanted to transport. His mind was getting unsettled now, so he dashed away from the garden into the streets of the country, only to see hundreds of men matching from afar, a few were on horses while the others followed behind. The impact of their stomps shook the ground uncontrollably.

'Who are these people?' He thought to himself as he hid behind a wall where he could still get a good view of them. These people were different from them. Their skins were pale; a complete contrast of theirs, and they had a weird attire on. 'Wait a minute, are these the people Uncle Mark always told me about when I was a kid?' He soliloquized. 'The folks that wore long drape jackets, drainpipe trousers, and crepe-soled shoes. The empire of which the sun never sets. These were them?!'

They fitted the description of the people his uncle had described to him in the tales he told. This wasn't good. Their appearance here was bad news. He has to go and inform every citizen about this before they get to the heart of the country. He sprang up immediately and ran to the meeting hall.

'Hurry Matthew! Hurry!' He spoke as he sprinted back. A couple of minutes later, he was now at the country's meeting hall. This was the moment he had always dreamed of, the moment where he addresses the whole country, but still, he didn't think it would be this soon. He rang the bell with so much urgency, and he grabbed the condenser microphone, and with heavy and forced out breaths, he spoke.

'Listen all ye citizens of country B...' The people started to gather.

'What's Matthew doing up there?' A woman asked.

'I don't know. I saw him sprinting so fast earlier. He must have something very important to say.' Another said.

'He better have a good thing to say.' The woman spoke.

'We have a very crucial situation at hand.' Matt continued.

'What is it, Matthew?' A man yelled out.

'There are intruders in the country.' He responded.

'Intruders?!' The people chorused.

'Yes, yes! intruders.' Matthew confirmed.

'What do you mean, son?' Mark spoke as he arrived.

'Uhm, uncle, remember those people you used to tell me about as a kid? Those ones that wore long drape jackets, drainpipe trousers, and crepe-soled shoes. They're here, Uncle!" Matthew yelled.

'What?!' The crowd roared. No one was oblivious to that story tale. In fact, the little children knew about the tale. Everyone started to panick.

'Are you sure about what you're saying, Matthew?' Oberon asked.

'Yes, I saw them while I was on the Seed Island. There are hundreds of them, and they're on their way here as we speak. We don't have much time, uncle, what are we going to do?'

'Hundreds of them?!' With this, everyone's panick mode doubled.

'Are they here to hold us captive too?!' An elderly woman yelled.

'What are we going to do, Governor?' The people chanted.

'Calm down people, we shall find a way to tackle this problem, but first, Scofield and Barry, take all the women and children to the town's hall and secure them.'

'Yes, sir!' Scofield and Barry saluted.

'The soldiers should go and prepare and get ready for whatever that may happen. There is no need to panick my people. We shall overcome this hurdle together. Soldiers take your stand! Archers be ready! It's time to save ourselves! God bless country B!'

'God bless country B!' The crowd followed suit.

'Now disperse!' Mark commanded. 'Come down here, son.' Mark instructed Matt, who was still on the high platform.

'Uncle, what should I do?Matthew asked his uncle as they started walking.

'I need you to go back home and stay indoor.' Mark replied offhandedly.

'No, I'm not doing that!' Matthew countered.

'What?' Mark, who was too engrossed in the situation, didn't pay much attention to what his nephew said.

'I said I am not doing that. I've waited for this moment all my life, the moment where I come out of my shell and be brave, the moment....' He tried to convince his uncle, but he was cut short.

'Matthew, this is no child's play. Just do as I have told you.'

'But...'

'No buts, Matthew! Would you listen to me just for your own sake? Please, son, just do as I have instructed.' And with this, Matthew withdrew and ran towards home reluctantly. Except, he didn't actually go home. He decided to stick around but away from his uncle's vicinity.

Matthew had never seen his country in so much disorder and panick as this before. The soldiers who weren't exactly trained to be soldiers but the guards of the country were perplexed. They had never faced this kind of situation before. Everyone ran helter-skelter just to find safety, but what puzzled Matthew the most was the fear his fellow citizens had for these strangers.

Just like his uncle told him, these people go to other countries and dominate them forcibly with some dreadful measures. But his uncle never explained further than that. So, it got Matthew wondering what sort of measures they took to dominate those countries. Right about that time, heavy stomps and gallops of horses were heard. The soldiers, or perhaps more correctly, the guards took their stance with their swords in one hand and their shield in the other as they await the command of their general, who is also their governor.