The chimpanzee returned from the search on the ninth day when everyone have given up on the search. Even the king no longer want to hear from anyone about his son for he assumed his son would be dead by that time for if they were asked to make haste and for seven days no body has come up with what they can start with how should they still believe the prince is still alive?
The king mourned his son properly as the dead should be mourned. He couldn’t persevere the grief and couldn’t stop being nervous about loosing the throne to another family. He will be humiliated not really by someone else but by his own thoughts and emotions. The dynasty is about ending at his reign. His wife supported the idea of taking another wife as soon as possible. But the problem is, is he still fertile? How long will they have to wait for the child? How sure are they that it will not be females that will be coming? There were many discouraging thoughts impeding.
The king was told not to go remind the king of what he is trying to forget. That its very possible that the king will punish him a instead. They advised him that if he must go to the palace it should be for condolence and not to talk about his experience in the search. He heeded because he knows that what they say is certainly what will be.
So as the situation demanded the chimpanzee followed those who were going to the palace to sympathize with the king and his wife. He couldn’t bear to watch tears stream down their faces. He pitied them so much but could not do a thing. He has no power to reverse what happened. And also, he can not forsake the warning he got from his people by going to discuss his forest experience. The king was surrounded by sympathizers who weren’t making move to leave. He was there for hours. Those that came with him left and some replaced. He was waiting so that when everyone goes and the king is left alone he will go and console him one-on-one. Then maybe he will have his attention all paid to him and may ask him about his journey. If he does, ten that the only opportunity he has to tell him but if he doesn’t then he has to remaining n quiet, but the opportunity to meet the king was never coming. Before the sympathizers would leave, they are replace by a greater number whom would have to stay for hours. He waited until, at a point he came up with some unhelpful idea. He would cough and slap himself not because he really want to easy his throat or drive away insects.
“Hey!” the Orangutan showed up “When did you return that you didn’t come to see us at the palace?” his voice was loud so it attracted the attention of the king and all those with him.
“I returned last-night but I was scared to bother the king for I heard he bound more reporters.”
“Yes he did thinking that he has seen all those who survived in the search and anymore reporter was rather coming to scratch his wounds. He did not actually stop them. He only told them that if anyone is coming with a story other than where exactly his son is should keep it to themselves”
Bara was unable to speak. Now he knows he would be expected to narrate his experience which he was certain It would not be a good one to his hearers. He wish he could leave but it was late. He can’t walk out of an elder that way.
“Do you have something to share?”
“No, not really”
“You can’t say no” the old orangutan became persuasive which made the chimpanzee not to be comfortable the more.
“Ok. Tell me where and where you found yourself, who you met, things you saw and what you discovered”
The Orangutan invited him to a quieter place. Seeing how eager the ugly old creature and those around are, he had no way out. No choice other than doing what they demanded for even though it’s not what they really want to hear.
“You are snubbing me young ape. Talk to me”
“I travelled many places across the Northern hills. The farthest is Dew rocks”
“Unbelievable! Dew-rocks? What a brave beast you are” this exclamation captured the attention of those who weren’t listening.
“So, what did you find out?”
“Sorry, it’s not something the king will like to hear. It’s not re”
“ The king isn’t the one asking, I am. And moreover, I haven’t specified what exactly I will like to hear so calm down and tell me whatever it is you discovered. There’s nothing I wouldn’t want to hear now. It must not be that you saw the prince or that you know where his body can be found”
“The thing is that I am not certain about what I think of the prince's whereabouts. It’s base on suggestion and may not worth listening to”
“Suggestion? About the missing prince? About finding him? At this time? Won’t he be dead by now? Where do you suggest we go?” the colored bird asked too many questions on the roll.
“Skulland. U would have entered there but it’s dangerous for me alone. I was with no one by then. My group deserted me when I talked about going North wards”
“Nobody would have agreed to that. That’s Practically a suicide mission going into the land of no return. You all would have perished there. And that was not the instruction given to you. You were sent to find the prince and not to do otherwise”
“That’s the only place I am sure anyone have searched. The only hope”
“Actually, you have tried for your friend for having gone that far. You deserve something even without finding him. Why are you so optimistic about finding the prince in that kind of place?”
“Well, I just think there’s every need to go there. I am not assuring you guys he will be there but at least let’s be sure that we search everywhere. Then, if we don’t find him we will know that he’s not in the physical world”
“We must not go there to confirm he’s not in the physical world”
“I think so too. But I speak base on what the mole told me”
“And what was that the mole told you?”
“He had severally witnessed the carnivores pass with animals from our community to theirs. Some alive, some dead”
“That’s a long distance. How can they travel that far carrying an animal? So you believed that? Was the mole not intended to mislead you?”
“In favor of who? They too detest the carnivores. He’s absolutely right”
“So now you are suggesting we go?”
“Exactly”
“Are you out of your mind? Do you know how risky it is? What if those going there all perish when they don’t even know if really what the are looking for is there?”
“Old one, it’s worth dying for. What if he’s there and alive, we can’t rescue him because we are scared?”
“Then go. Count me out. What nonsense”
The gorilla drew closer and placed a hand on the chimp’s shoulder like one whom he’s so impressed with. But the porcupine was still not comfortable with that.
“look, have you come to think about the inhabitants of the valley after the northern hills where you saw the mole? They are populous enough that if those from Skull-land rely on them for food they can still survive. So tell me, if such a thing is close to them what will they come down here looking for? Do you know how stressful it is dragging a living thing? Whether dead or alive”
“If they should come down here to hunt they have a reason too”
“ What reasons?”
“Saving themselves the stress of chasing those tiny underground creatures and digging holes. You know their holes has different ways inside, some are vertical and endless. So you know how disappointing it will be digging for hours and at the end you see nothing?”
“He’s right” the crowned one said with a gentle voice
“Ah! You highness. You are in support of this?”
“the chief priest answered your questions a week ago. Try to recall”
“He said many things but none of this was mentioned”
“You have automatically become the giraffe today. Ok, now let me remind you. Did he not say someone from among us will tell us what to do about my missing son?....…
“He said the person will tell us where exactly to find him not suggesting a dangerous place like this”
“Is that what you think? Good! Let me remind you of another thing. Didn’t he say that the place may be dangerous? And may seem impossible rescuing him?” Now, the porcupine did not talk. He kept quiet and thought over it. “He advised us that even at that we shouldn’t be discouraged. Unity and determination. Didn’t he say a thing like that too? And to conclude it he said that whatever we decide, the gods will support us. What more are you trying to say?”
“With all due respect your highness. I am not sure those will reach there alive let alone finding the prince and bringing him home. Which we are not even sure he’s there, but even if he’s there and is alive, how do you think they will hand him over to us? How do we talk to them about it that it won’t provoke them to kill us too? If it result into a fight, can you stand them? Think about it your Majesty. Understand what I am trying to say?”
“I shall see to that before dawn Bara”
“Your-Ma-je-sty. This thing may be a very big mistake. It’s obvious that whoever that’s going there is going to….”
“To die. I know, complete it. If it’s to die then why not? What’s life to me without a son? I rather die trying than to live a hopeless coward. You don’t know how shameful that can be”
The Macaw could not say more. He gave in. He had no right to argue with the king and now over his son’s case? The gorilla went to discuss it with his wife. They linked it to what the chief priest told them. However, they have to make haste as the instruction was. That evening he called for an urgent meeting and they quickly planned on travelling to Skull-land early the next day. On the plan, nobody was forced to go. Only those who willingly volunteered themselves were to go. Some came out because others did so that they are not seen as a coward or as an enemy. The king was going too. That made it look official. Being a dangerous mission they took enough well equipped warriors for protection. Bara led the way.