The old thatch roof was the first thing the gorilla saw when he woke up from his nap. Black cobwebs, wasps and termites nests explains how old the cottage is. And they too were part of decorations. He rolled his eyes to the wall, only blurry objects could be seen. He moved his heavy arm to his face and rubbed it for a clearer sight, then took a glance at the opened windows but his eyes couldn’t bear the brightness. He turned away quickly to another direction discovering that the light had made his sight worse. Everything became blurry again. He caught a glimpse of an macaw standing at a corner, in the room. Assuming there were many macaws in the palace he wouldn’t have been able to distinguish which of them was there at that moment.
Things appear clearer every second until he fully regained his sight. He could see the flowers on the table and the ones on the walls. bright purple, red and white colors. They were more beautiful than those in clay pots, on the balcony. Their family pictures drawn by a good artist, a late monkey, was clear enough to identify how many eyes were there altogether. Sculptures of their kinds too were there. A map of Greenwoods was boldly covering part of the wall. His cupboard was still at its position likewise every other properties. The room had enough properties though including official documents. Apart from the king and his family it’s only the smaller servants that were allowed to go up into the tree house.
He rolled his body to one side of the reed stacked bed and groaned as he weakly tried to pull his body up. His fur was shabby and entangled with cuts of grass.
“How long have I been on bed?” the gorilla asked his servant removing what was not part of his body. He stretch gently, yawned and listened.
“Over three hours your highness” the macaw answered sitting on a crossed bar in the room.
The gorilla needed to confirm the truth from the sun. He looked at the window facing the West, through thick leaves descending from the large tree, allowing the light from the sun peep through shaking foliage but the sun itself was hidden. In as much as he could see just little of the light penetrating the tiny gaps the leaves created for it, he knew it was evening and the sun is gradually setting. The gorilla ambled to a wide Calabash placed on a stick with three separated branches. It was one of the tree's branches that strayed into the king’s chamber from the floor. The clean water in the calabash was stagnant, very still that his face appeared in it like in a mirror. Black rough face, deep small greyish eyes, flat nose, wide curved lips that makes him look old and angry. He hate when talked about his looks. He knows what he looks like. Yes! He is a beast, a dreadful looking one at that. He needs no one to tell him. Not even as a praise whatever. Whichever way was an insult. The silly monkey that jokingly described him spent months in the prison.
“Although I am not good looking, I am not the largest, I am not the strongest, I am not the wisest, neither am I the fastest to have become the King over this great kingdom, but I am sure this royalty got to us through my fathers base on the trust they have for us. If we are neither of all those qualities and yet we were chosen, then it entails we posses something better. I am great, indeed I am, not by words. I have ruled my subjects not by rod. And if they have not grieved by my lead it means I am doing well. But that is yet enough. Their happiness is my greatest. Without them I am no king. Without the satisfaction among them I achieve nothing. I will not get tired. I have no reason to look more superior or important. However, I will take them to a cliff. Where happiness, unity, prosperity, health and abundance shall come after them……” the gorilla meditated as though he was communicating to his reflection in the water.
He fetched water with his palms that nature and battles have hardened and washed his face. The water was cold and he loved the relief it ensured. The sounds of the droplets however represents life and its beauty. He lingered in front of the Calabash more than supposed due to the freshness of the water.
“Did anyone come for me?” he asked the macaw. For he knows that being a special day, many would definitely come to see him most especially his cabinet members. The festival to be held that night at the public arena near the palace was a big one which would involve a lot entertainments, thereby needing so much preparation. And whatever was to be done was to be rounded up before night falls. It happens once in a year towards the end of the rainy season to celebrate the fortune the year brought forth.
“Yes, two ibex from the hills and the secretary. I told them you were asleep. They waited but when they could no longer wait, they reversed”
“Did any of them leave a message?”
“None did”
“Is any of them coming back today?”
“Yes. The secretary said so but the ibex, I don’t know”
“let the secretary know that I am up”
He collected the woolen material that the macaw was holding up for him to mop his face with. The macaw dashed out of the room immediately. The king followed the same direction to see how things were going outside.
Plants in the vicinity were well arranged. Coconut trees were aligned on both sides, right from the main gate where two powerful elks were assigned to guide, leading to the king’s chamber. Those trees waves to the rhythm of the gentle wind that passes, whereas giving its own attraction.
Stones with variegated surfaces were carefully arranged in a pattern to separate the gardens from pathways. Pathways were bare while other areas where covered with carpet grasses. Different crops were planted in the garden to give it a splendid color. A natural fountain that pumps out water during winter created what looks like a poor. Swans and geese swims there very often. Those where the ones in charge of watering plants. Two short trees in the shape of an umbrella stood near the angles of the fence reserved for the purpose of testing and solitary moments. The fence was built to secure the palace from illegal entries and more. But to most animals like the birds, rodents and ones that climbs things, the fence wasn’t really a barrier but they never imagined doing so for whoever was found guilty faces a severe penalty. Only few birds could fly above the fence and there won’t be a problem.
There was a large thatch cabin constructed for formal gatherings. Behind it, in the middle of the palace was a tree with buttress and widespread limbs. In Greenwoods there were other threes of the same size and even bigger even in the center of Greenwoods it wasn’t the biggest but one with perfect limbs for the cottage. That was for the royal family and from which the king was taking the view. From the balcony was a staircase that races down the trunk to the ground to enable a safe and easy climb. There were dark holes beneath the root which accommodates few rodents working in the palace. The bigger workers takes shelter from a long segmented cabin near a barn where various food stuffs where stored, located behind the treehouse.
The palace was located in the middle of Greenwoods for the purpose of those coming to the palace from the farthest parts to be able to locate it with less stress. The tree house will be a guide as it will be seen up from a distance. Also, for the royal household to be easily informed of things happening around.
The palace was constantly busy. From dawn till night. Different animals had different roles to play. Mostly according to size and skills. The stronger the animal Is, the greater his task. No one goes beyond limit and no one seem negligent. And doing it together made everything easier. Rodents enjoyed team work most.
“Your royal majesty, you are awake” The female gorilla greeted coming up from the stairs. The king did not answer the question, but that wasn’t necessary.
“I told them not to wake you up. You need full time rest” She said smiling. She was close to her husband.
“Thoughtful of you. Thanks for that. So, where are you coming from?”
“From places I need to supervise”
“How is it going?”
“It is going well. They have just little things left”
“This year’s festival will definitely extend to the skies”
“I perceive that too. It’s in the air. Well, at this point I need to go ice up things before time races ahead”
“I still have enough time for that. I will wait a moment”
“You have less to bother about” She pounded the floor majestically into the thatch cabin.