Fear

A malignant fear was devouring them all.

In just one week five girls had been attacked; every girl had her face brutally scratched. There was an enemy out there in the forest but no one knew who that enemy was.

Everyone was thinking of the old man. He was a maverick but he was wise. He could talk to birds and animals and the spirits of the forest. He was fearless and even the ghosts were terrified of him. But they had annoyed him. 

He just wanted to marry a little pretty girl with beautiful eyes.  But the Chief intervened; the Chief had chosen to have that girl as his new wife.The old man seethed with frustration; he cursed them all and left the tribe.

It was late afternoon. The old man was squatting under a tree. He chuckled at the huge monkey who was greedily picking little berries from his hand. These berries were the best aphrodisiac he had ever tried. The monkey, like the old man, relished these berries.

The old man said to the monkey, “They must all be regretting now, no? Fear has descended on them like a thick fog. They are all frightened like little rats. Should I help the ungrateful folks? What do you say? They are nothing but filthy scum; don’t you think so? But if you allow I will help them. I know how to deal with the invisible enemy, no?”

The old man winked at the monkey. It had eagerly gulped all the berries; it clawed his empty hand and laughed viciously as if the old man had said a funny thing.

Post for A to Z Challenge 2016

My earlier posts are here

A B C D E