Part 8 (1)
The terrifying bats and the newborn Monster were finally decimated and the Batang empire was thus now rid of all known enemies.
The kingdom of pain was in shambles since its ruler Edimo, the god of ruin was mad because of his recent defeat against the defenders of the most coveted empire in the universe by the spirits.
The dark divinity had lost in a short time his two most devilish creatures which perished under the merciless weapons and the cunningness of the men in uniform led by Babida the lumberjack.
Angry, the god of ruin blamed the defeat on the Witches of evil.
Therefore he severely punished them. The luckiest ones received a hundred lashes on the back. The unluckiest ones were deprived of all power and thrown out of the kingdom of pain.
They found themselves weaker than the weakest of humans and they wandered across the globe without aim.
The war had ended and Babida the lumberjack was now the most respected man in the Batang empire after His Majesty Batang V.
And as promised, the Emperor invited him to the lunar palace in Ekule to elevate him from the position of Commander of the imperial forces to the rank of Governor of the province of Okunde.
In the meantime, the ceremony was also an opportunity for him to stop by the young maiden Suzie's house and bring her moral support for the loss of her relative, uncle Bibi, who was also a Commander and dear companion to him.
He planned to make the journey to Ekule with his aide-de-camp, the youngster Baba.
"Comrade, be prepared, for tomorrow by dawn, shall it please the ancestors we shall travel to Ekule for my elevation as the new Governor of this village," Babida told his henchman as they were spending the afternoon together in the latter's office around a cup of coffee.
"At your service, My Commander!" Baba replied while giving a military salute to his superior.
"Well, drink up your beverage and come with me. I have some business I would like to handle before we leave tomorrow!" The woodsman instructed his aide-de-camp Baba.
The two men rose from their seats and left the office.
The lumberjack went with his henchman Baba to the animal market in eastern Okunde, for he needed the biggest and the finest sheep ever.
The woodsman had a pending promise to the ancestors that he wanted to fulfill.
During his time in prison in the underground of the administrative headquarters, when he and his companions, the late uncle Bibi and the young maiden Suzie, as well as a squad of imperial sentinels, were attacked by a pack of five bats, he had invoked the ancestors for help.
Weah, the god of fire, gave the woodsman his most ardent flames that the latter used to burn seriously the flying mammals which consequently died.
However, the logger had given his word to the divinity. During his mediation, he silently promised the god of fire that he would offer him the biggest and the finest sheep ever bred in the empire should the divinity save his life and that of his companions.
Guided by Weah, the lumberjack was ultimately victorious.
The time had then come for him to pay for his debt.
"Good afternoon sir! May I please see your most valuable sheep?" uttered Babida as he entered the property of a shepherd.
"Good afternoon, My Commander! Sure you can." The animal breeder replied to him.
Then he took the lumberjack along with his aide-de-camp Baba to his farm at the back of the domain where over a hundred healthy sheep were eating the grass.
"Oh! Give me this one, please!" said Babida as he fell in love with the fattest and the freshest sheep.
"How much is it?" He then asked the shepherd.
"Ninety Batangi, My Commander." The animal breeder said to him.
"Here is a hundred Batangi! Please keep the change! The lumberjack paid then took the animal and left the farm accompanied by his henchman Baba.
They returned to the administrative headquarters and went straight to the backside with the breed, for the logger wanted to fulfill his pledge before sunset.
Babida ordered the youngster Baba to bring to him a few fagot sticks he would use to make fire and grill the animal, which the latter hastened to do.
While his henchman was on the lookout for woods, Babida cut off the sheep's neck with a sharp hit of his axe. The animal bled profusely and its blood was sucked up by the ground, for the ancestors were pleased.
Baba came back with dry fagot sticks and matches and helped the Commander in chief light them.
A big and ardent fire aroused and served to smoke the flesh of the animal.
Within two hours, the animal was ready to end its voyage in the large bellies of the lumberjack and his henchman Baba.
Babida the lumberjack was done feasting with his henchman Baba in the backside of the administrative headquarters and it was now time to digest the tasty grilled sheep meat that he had sacrificed to please the ancestors and prepare for the long journey to Ekule the next day morning.
"Now comrade, let's have some rest! Tomorrow right after dawn, we shall embark on a long trip to the imperial city." The woodsman told the youngster, Baba.
"Fine, My Commander!" answered the interim aide-de-camp.
Baba then rose and went to his room inside the administrative headquarters, leaving behind the Commander of the imperial forces Babida alone with the carcass of the slaughtered sheep.
The lumberjack rapidly cleared the place, for it was dirty and bloody after the sacrifice of the mutton and its grill.
Done, Babida went immediately to the main guest room inside the administrative headquarters that had become over the days like his private room.
He picked up from the wardrobe two brand-new military outfits and a pair of sandals and packed them in a bag along with all the necessary kit for the shower.
He then stood up in the middle of the chamber and began to verify by counting with his fingers if he had forgotten something important.
When he was assured that everything was on track, he jumped on the bed and dozed.
Cocorico! Cocorico!
A hen sang as the day was about to break.
Cocorico!
The bird repeated its song and Babida woke up, sluggish.
Though he was still sleepy and wanted to stay longer in bed, the invitation to the imperial palace was far too important to mess it up by not showing up before His Majesty and hence offense the Ruler.
So after a short moment resisting falling asleep again, Babida finally rose and went to bathe.
Done gearing up, the logger took his baggage and left the room.
He arrived in the hall of the administrative headquarters and met the young henchman Baba who had long been ready to depart with him to Ekule.
Babida was pleased by the youngster's early readiness. They exchanged a few casual words before climbing on the back of a camel and starting their journey.
Just before the fall of the night, the Commander of the imperial forces Babida arrived at the east gate of Ekule accompanied by his aide-de-camp Baba.
They had all day long been on the way to the imperial city. They were extremely exhausted, and so was the camel that carried them and their loads.
At the sight of the Commander in chief, the imperial sentinels at the barricade lined up in front of Babida and gave him a warm military salute.
"Greetings, My Commander! Welcome to Ekule!" said the leader of the squad to the lumberjack as he placed his right hand on the temple before slamming powerfully his thigh with the same hand.
"Thank you, comrades!" replied the superior army Chief Babida who greeted back the imperial guards.
"You may continue your journey." The leader then said and ordered one of his comrades to open the gate.
Babida and his henchman Baba crossed the checkpoint and were now en route to the center of Ekule.
As they were about to penetrate the bustling streets of the mythic downtown of the imperial city, the inhabitants recognize the lumberjack, and very quickly a massive crowd formed around the Killer of the Monster of the forbidden mountain.
"Babidaaaa!" They hailed the name of their hero tirelessly and were extremely excited.
Quickly the road became narrow and it was difficult for the Commander of the imperial forces to move the camel in the middle of the mob.
Emperor Batang V who was sitting in the palace's hall was informed about the arrival of his army commander and was very contented.
He ordered that they arranged immediately the finest guest room of the lunar palace and lodged the holder of the medal of the highest honor and merit there and that early in the morning they brought the man before him to the reception venue.
The palace's servants hastened to do what the Ruler had commanded.
Though Babida was slowed down by the excited crowd, he finally reached the entrance of the imperial palace where the sentinels were already lined up to give him the most agreeable welcome they could.
The leader of the squad at the sight of the superior Commander ordered his comrades to play the trumpets as he saluted Babida who got down the camel along with his aide-de-camp Baba.
The woodsman greeted back the leader of the imperial guards who instructed a comrade to take the animal with the visitors' luggage and escort the latter to the main guest room of the palace.