In the tropical region of Uguru was a forest rich in wild life. Lions, tigers, wolves, hyenas, monkeys, zebras, and many more were in this forest.
Each animal had its own territory and did everything possible to protect it, especially the predators. Local hunters used to visit this forest for games to be sold to foreigners, parks and for their personal consumption especially in dry season. Some of the species of some of the animals were going into extinction already because of the mindless hunt for them in Uguru. The natives didn’t have adequate orientation on how to treat and protect wild life. They did so many silly things on the forest and got away with them.
Close to the forest was a big river which served the needs of the natives. Wild animals used to visit the river for a drink but were afraid in most cases because of the presence of fully armed humans there every now and then. Domestic animals too visited the river in the company of a human being who usually led them back to the village and protect them from the onslaught of hungry beasts like lions, hyenas, tigers and wolves.
The sun was about going back to the west one fateful evening in Uguru when there was an encounter - a big encounter between two worlds. The sheep were going towards the river and the wolves were in search of a prey, probably an unlucky one to kill their appetite.
They had searched everywhere but there was no prey in sight.
“Where are you all these animals? Where did they all go?!” said Boss, leader of the pack.
“I don’t know, Boss!”
“We are all famished! Are we going to sleep without food tonight?” intoned Bara, third in command to Boss.
“Calm down, everyone! It is not too late to eat. We all have searched everywhere for food from morning till now. There is no prey in sight but calm down, it is not over!” consoled Boss.
“Well, I believe you, Boss but let us go to the river for a drink. Perhaps, we will be so lucky to see some of our preys there,” advised Boma.
“That’s true but there is always presence of human beings near the river, especially those who walk their animals to the river to drink water!” Reminded Bara.
“You are right, Bara! But let’s keep going, we might be lucky this time.”
So, they decided to go near the river to drink water in order to slake their thirst after combing the forest in vain for food. At a distance, they saw their meal.
“There they are, my people!” exclaimed Boss, as he saw a flock of sheep at a distance.
“We will eat tonight!” announced Bara.
“No more hunger!” said Boma.
“Did I not tell you?” reminded boss.
“No condition is permanent. However, let’s be strategic. If not, we might miss our chances!” advised Bara.
“Let’s watch out for the presence of human beings!” advised Kiki, one of the packs.
“That’s true! Human beings are very cunning. They might be hiding somewhere. However, it appears they don’t come with the flock,” said Kinku.
“Wait, everyone, don’t move!” ordered Boss.
“But this is our chance,” remined Bara.
“Silence! I know! Let some go…! Whispered Boss to some of the wolves.
The sheep too saw their devourers and stood still. Perhaps, wondering what to do. Were they praying to have the wings of birds to fly or to have the agility of monkeys to jump from one tree to another? Were they secretly craving for power that would make them suddenly disappear to the chagrin of their nightmare? Were they wishing they had the speed of a cheetah to outrun their mere mortal enemy in the wolves?
Wolves, as they knew, were never their friends. Any time there was an encounter between the two parties, the weaker one always bled profusely.
The sheep looked bewildered.
“Can you see them, my people? We are done for! What do we do now?” asked Agi, the leader of the flock.
“I told you to let us stay back in the village but you would not listen to me,” reminded Coru, one of the sheep as she trembled.
“We are dead! Yes, we are walking corpse as we are!” declared Kora.
“Where do we go from here? Let’s run!”
“No!” opposed Agi.
“We are done for!” said Dindu, crying like a baby.
“Remain silent! Stay put. Luck might smile on us. I regret my decision of bring you all here this evening, I will never make such a mistake again,” regretted Agi.
On the part of the wolves, the sight of the sheep was an answer to their prayer. One of the wolves possibly thought, “If I pounce on that black sheep over there, I will start consuming him with glee from the hind limb.”
After a period of indecision and silence from both parties, the sheep decided to make a u-turn but it was too late as some of the wolves had sneaked round the flock. There was bloodletting as the pack of wolves descended on two of the sheep, leaving several of them badly wounded.
“Run! Run for dear life, my people,” shouted Agi as the sheep began to run.
“Attack them!” commanded Boss.
The pack of wolves went after the preys in a quite dramatic manner.
“My stomach!” shouted one of the sheep attacked by the pack.
“I am gone,” cried Dindu whose hind limb was grabbed by the pack.
The wounded sheep, out of desperation and need to run for dear life, limped home with drops of blood on the foot path that led to the village. The pack of wolves couldn't be more happier. They devoured their helpless victims with glee, leaving them to cry in agony, silencing them not quite long. Cruel were these wolves. No feelings whatsoever for their victims. They are never satisified. Once there is an encounter with their preys, they devour them, leaving behind their bones.
Such was the case of the helpless and hapless sheep that came to drink water near Uguru forest. The wolves did justice to their flesh and left their bones and some flesh for waiting vultures. They went to the river and lapped some water and left, apparently excited that they would not go hungry that night.
“Today is the best day in the history of my life,”declared Boma.
“Me too,”added Bara!
“I told you it wasn’t too late to eat”.
“Yes, Boss! You are a true leader.”
“We all can now go to bed with our stomachs full,” said Boss.
Wolves are everywhere. There are wolves in human clothing. They live where you live. They speak your language. In fact, a wolf might be your bed partner or a business associate. They consume your happiness and joy. They embezzle money in work place, use and dump a woman or milk a man dry and leave him miserable. They devour your flesh, leaving your bones and shadows of old self behind. They have no mercy in their veins. They leave you with no other gift than trauma, heart break, hatred and many more.
There are also sheep, sometimes, sheep in humans borne out of ignorance, simplicity, inexperience and sometimes religious indoctrination, thus making such ready meals in the hands of wolves in a dubious and complicated twenty-first century society. These wolves might come like angels, pretending to help the poor and simple-minded with a view to unleashing violence on them. Life is too complicated in this era as people hardly say what they mean or mean what they say. One must read their lips, read their minds with both physical and spiritual eyes. A lot of problems have been created because people never open their eyes or are not watchful.
So many are also caught in the valley of indecision, refusing or reluctant to take a life-saving decision in the face of danger or death. Are people overwhelmed or ready to succumb to fate or pressure? Why would a sane mind stay put in a deadly situation? Why would one play safe where there is no need to play at all in a certain situation? Why do we wait and relax when we ought to take to our heels? Why would a right-thinking person play with fire? Why and why?