Lightning Catcher 2

As Ladi ran, she noticed that the wind had been blowing a little bit strongly for a while. Still, it was unlikely that there would be rain; when the year was close to the solstice, rain very rarely fell. As a matter of fact, at this time, rain was considered a supernatural event.

But soon the skies began to look threatening, as billows of dark clouds rose in the firmament and sailed across the sky. There was no lightning though. Ladi didn’t turn back, though. Butu was her father’s close friend, and if the rain bothered to fall while she was at his steading, she was sure she could wait out the weather there.

Very soon, Ladi saw the tops of the huts of Butu’s steading as she struggled up the hill that led to his home. Butu was a rich man, but he was kind, and Ladi’s father was not one to seek unnecessary favors from those who seemed more fortunate than he, which made Butu able to trust the man.

As Ladi approached the bamboo fence that demarcated Butu’s large steading, she saw one of his servants at the fence, mending a breach. He looked up at the sound of footfalls and smiled when he saw Ladi. She was known by almost everyone in Butu’s steading.

“Greetings, Hasa,” Ladi said, struggling to catch her breath, as she rested her hands on her knees. ”Is Great Butu around?” It was tradition to affix the word ‘great’ before the name of someone who was held in high regard, or who was much older than you.

“No,” Hasa said, tying a bamboo stem to a post. “Great Butu is out with his cattle herders, although he will be back soon.”

“Before the rains come?” Ladi asked, looking concerned.

“I do not think it will rain,” Hasa replied, looking at the sky, although his brow creased a bit in worry. “But if it will rain, you may stay here until the rain is over.”

“Don’t want to stay,” Ladi answered, “can I give you a message?”

“Go ahead.”

“My big-headed brother caught a large antelope today. We would like to share the meat.”

“Your ‘big-headed’ brother is a good trapper,” Hasa said with a laugh.

“You’re only talking because you’re his friend,” Ladi shot back. Deep down, she was as proud as could be of her elder brother, and knew Anjo felt the same about her. However, it was their nature to poke fun at each other when and where they could. “In any case, will you tell Great Butu?”

“I will.”

“Then I will be off. Farewell, Hasa,” Ladi said, turning and running back down the hill.

To be continued...

Thanks for coming!

That little boy,

@pearlumie