The Birth

CHAPTER 1

"Are you prepared to this Garanewako? Do you not the fear the consequences that will arise because of your actions? You might even lose your…" Makata was really worried about her niece's decision. She knew she could not stop her but rather support her every decision because she loved her so much that she could not discern what's good and bad for her. Makata was the one who raised Garanewako after her parents had died so she had a very strong bond with her. Also because Makata did not have a child of her own, so she cherished her.

That day Makata and Garanewako had visited the infamous wizard Chazezesachitunha at his shrine in Mount Mapereanorura. They went with Shupikai the slave maid who was going to be used as a sacrifice which strengthens spells since they wanted to cast a spell at Chitopichedu to terminate her unborn child. Poor Shupikai followed not knowingly that her master was planning to butcher her. They had spent 3 days and 3 nights to reach Mapereanorura. Luckily they arrived there sound and safe. Chazezesachitunha didn't waste time as a person who loved his occupation so he prepared the ceremony which helps him to cast a spell on the day they arrived.

"Makata I'm not afraid of death aunt. What's daunting is to see Chitopichedu with a son. You know very well what that means. I have failed once in my entire life when I allowed Chitopichedu to rob me my future husband. I loved Chongavamwe to an extent that I would sacrifice my own life but unfortunately he never looked at me. He looked at me as if I was his mother or sister. But I staked my own life in order to have him. Now that Chitopichedu is pregnant obviously her child will get all the inheritance. It means that my offspring will have nothing but Chitopichedu's offspring will inherit all the wealth that Chongavamwe has amassed all his entire life. I won't let that happen. Not until I'm still breathing. Now let us start the ceremony!" Garanewako was very firm about her decision so she left Makata and paced into the ritual grounds that were prepared by Chazezesachitunha and went to sit into the winnowing basket that was prepared for her that was placed at the middle. She sat there while holding an owl.

Shupikai was also sitting next to Garanewako naked with both her legs and hands tied. She had no power to cry or talk because she knew it was of no avail. She regretted the day she had volunteered to accompany Garanewako on their journey.

Chazezesachitunha started chanting creepy hymns and slowly took his dagga and went straight to Shupikai's where he stabbed her lethally. With no time she had stopped breathing. He quickly took his wooden bowel and collected the blood which oozed from Shupikai's chest. He took a sip of the blood. It was bloodcurdling. He took some of the blood and sprinkled the ritual ground.

The ritual ground was decorated with petrifying objects. Even the custom that Chazezesachitunha left a chilling effect. He had bones of dead people on his neck. His body was covered in tattoos of skeletons. His face was painted red while showing his huge eyes which looked like they were going to poop out of its socket. On his head behold he had very long dread which was long to reach his back. One look at him, you could not dare to look at him again. I'm sure one who have nightmares after looking at him.

"Now it's your turn to act my daughter." Chazezesachitunha advised Garanewako who sluggishly took the bowel of the blood and took a sip. She slowly changed her sitting posture and kneeled down.

"Eh! Samanyanga people

The ancient battlefields,

The forgotten battlefield

Grant me your muscle

For me to be able to fight my battle

For I'm innocent

Chitopichedu your child

Fights me without cause

Please keep your guard down

Put down your swords

And allow us to do our work."

After she had finished chanting she started to ululate and clap her hands hysterically. She abruptly stood up and started dancing according to the tune of the drum. It looked like she had possessed by an evil spirit. After some minutes, she was drenched in sweat. Her aunt was only observing the ceremony from afar. After some time Garanewako started to cough blood.

"What's wrong with her?" Makata shouted

"I think the sacrifice which we presented to the gods was no longer a virgin so the spell has caused her harm! How could you think of scorning my gods by using the defiled sacrifice?" Chazezesachitunha bellowed.

"Oh my god! What will now happen?" Garanewako screamed.

"Just as I have said. The gods are angry! But don't worry what you desire is already achieved. Chitopichedu has lost her child but she could not lose her life because the spell was weak. Now go to sleep here it's already past midnight. Makumbiashe!"

"Yes grandfather what should I do for you?" Makumbiashe replied

"Lead the visitors to the guesthouse. They will leave tomorrow morning." Chazezesachitunha demanded.

**********

"I'm tired of this! This is the third time. At first I thought that you were still young. The second time I blamed myself and let you off easily. Now it's the third time. I won't let you off easily this time. How much more children are you going to munch? This is the reason why I did not want you to marry my son. You are nothing but a calamity in house. Now tell me. Did you sleep with another man or are you a witch? It's one of the two. Tell me you witch. It's been six hours since you had delivered a healthy baby boy but now look. There is nothing left. Just a soulless dead body. Am I asking for too much? Tell me you witch. I just want a grandchild when I'm still alive. Die! Die! Die you useless women." Kachipari was fumed with fury. She was pushing Chitopichedu left and right.

"Is this my fault mot…?" Chitopichedu could not finish her sentence because she was slapped by Kachipari her mother-in-law.

"How dare you raise your voice at me? And also who are you calling your mother? I don't have such a daughter like you. Whether you protest or not just know that it's your fault" Kachipari barked.

"Just think what you want to. Do you think that I do not know that you are using my adversary to oust me in this house? I always knew that you loathed me but I did not think that it was to this degree. Instead of crying with me since I have lost my child, you are busy adding oil to the fire. Do you not fear the wrath of the gods? Do you have no shame? If I were your biological daughter would you do the same for her?" Chitopichedu was crying. She could no longer contain the injustice she received from her mother-in-law.

"Chitopichedu stop crying I know you will have a child of your own sooner. You are still young after all. Just think of this as a nightmare you will soon forget after you work up." Mavhaire consoled her sister in-law. The two had been friends since childhood. When Chitopichedu married Mavhaire's brother Chongavamwe, their bond strengthened further.

"You useless daughter! I should have married you off! Now you take your friend's side instead of your mother. Now tell me, what are we going to tell the people who will come to congratulate us." She turned to Chitopichedu, "if you really want to save my face, go and die. I can't keep being humiliated like this. I'm tired of this too!" Kachipari started crying. Chitopichedu could not stand the scene so she sprinted out of the house. Mavhaire tried to follow her but could not keep up with the pace so she returned home and tried to calm her mother.

Chitopichedu ran and kept running until she arrived at Masangoashe the nearest forest that was close to their territory. This forest provided fruits, wood, herbs, wild animals to the people of Sanganai Kingdom. Most people would frequent the forest but today it seemed as though she was the only one in the forest.

The forest did not seem to welcome her. She looked beautiful yet distant in that forest. She had small breasts that suited her small and petite body. Her thin waist looked like it was tweaking all the time because she had big back with average hips. Her legs were so smooth that every man she met wished to have even just for one single night. She had on her ankle an anklet which was made from bean, maize and groundnuts seed. The anklet seemed to make a beautiful music when she cat walked around the forest. She had worn cow's skin to cover her chest and loins. This matched her as if she was born with them.

"You are a useless daughter-in-law who cannot bring his husband an heir." This words started ringing continually in her ears. She started having hallucinations. Trees, stones and even the ground was mocking her for her failure of not having babies. She couldn't stand the pain any longer. She tried covering her ears with her hands, tightly closed her eyes but still it could not work. That's when she started running like a fool until she reached the cliff. She could feel the wind hit right through her face. It felt so nice. An evil thought rushed into her mind. She could die here and leave her pain behind.

'Come my daughter and rest forever.' That sweet voice started ringing into her ears. She slowly walked further to the cliff. As she was about to jump she had the sound of a baby crying. She wanted to ignore it and end her life but she could not. She turned the other side and saw a baby who was covered by lion's skin. She rushed to pick him up. The baby stopped crying as soon as Chitopichedu picked him. She took the baby home.

**********

"My daughter in law are you back now? How many times did I tell you that you must not go outside with a new born baby? What if someone casts an evil spell to him? What are you going to tell your husband? Now let us go inside. I have boiled some medicinal herbs for you. You just gave birth, you need to keep strong." Kachipari was so excited that she was jumping up and down like a little child.

"Mavhaire! Mavhaire!" Chitopichedu shouted. Mavhaire came sprinting thinking that something bad had happened.

"What is it Chitopichedu. Did something bad happen. Where did you get this child?"

"Yes something did happen. What's wrong with mother?" Chitopichedu looked very shocked as if she had seen bizarre things.

"Don't worry she will come back to her senses soon or later. It's not the first time she had done this. You know that she has dementia. If she suffers severe stress she losses her mind for a few months and will come back later. What about you. Where did you get the child?"

"It's a long story. I will tell you soon. Let's go to my bedroom." Chitopichedu looked very pale.

"Have you thought of the name of the baby? You know we cannot wait for your husband to give the baby name. You never know he might come back after some few months" Kachipari was shouting outside.

"Truly speaking I'm afraid of mother's behaviour". Chitopichedu told Mavhaire.

"Don't worry about it dear. Worry about your next step. What are you going to do with the baby? And where did you get him."

Chitopichedu told Mavhaire about all that had happened. The two quickly took the dead body to the river where infants are buried. They were afraid on their way but they didn't meet or see anyone so they buried the baby smartly. No evidence was left on their part.

"I think the gods have head my woes. I have buried my dead son but now the gods have gave me another son. Mavhaire, I will never forget your kindness as long as I'm alive. I will repay your kindness. I will tell my relatives of your kindness such that they will never forget you." Chitopichedu vowed to Mavhaire.

"There is no such thing between families." Mavhaire said

The two returned back to their homestead. The two went straight to Chitopichedu's bedroom. Luckily Kachipari didn't notice their absence. Two days passed and there was still no sign of Chongavamwe.

"Sister in law it's been two days now, I think it's time to name the baby. We have tried to wait for Chongavamwe but what if he never returns next year. What are you going to name him?" Mavhaire asked

"I found this baby all alone in the forest. He was wearing the skin of a lion so I assume his totem is Sumba (lion).He did not suffer any injury despite being in that place all alone so I will call him Mudzovamusango meaning the one who roars in the forest." She said emotionally while looking into the baby's eyes. Mudzovamusango smiled as if he had heard what his mother was saying.

"You will name him Mudzovamusango?" As Kachipari said this Chitopichedu and Mavhaire were so shocked because they thought that she had heard the whole conversation when in fact she had heard only the last part. 'It's a very good name. I hope our ancestors will protect and guide my first grandchild just like they have protected his father." Kachipari said.

"Yes mother." Chitopichedu and Mavhaire replied their mother and the trio smiled while holding hands.

After a few days, Garanewako and Makata arrived at the homestead. They heard bursts of laughter and followed where the laughter was. To their surprise it came from Chitopichedu's bedroom. This worried them a lot. Can a mother who lost her child laugh. The two announced themselves and barged into the house only to find Chitopichedu smiling.

"You have come back Garanewako." Chitopichedu said. "Mudzovamusango your mother has come back from the mountains after praying for you shouted. Come and let your mother hold you." Chitopichedu then took the baby and gave it to Garanewako so that she could hold the baby but she stood still. Her hands were shaking, here mouth was quivering as if she had seen a ghost, and her eyes were opened wide and appeared to be bulging.