Chapter 17

The missing crystal

'Mommy, mommy there is a bad man looking at me' 2 year old Rosemary cried.
'Not now darling I play with you later I said not realising what she just said, then realisation dawned, 'what man, point him out?'
'Over there' pointing at the path where the chief goes to keep an eye on his tribe.
'Right I'm going to have a word with him for once and for all, you go and tell daddy I need him now Rosemary and till your mommy said it is urgent'.

Rosemary went off looking for daddy and I walked to the path and when I got there he had gone. I was just turning to walk back when I felt someone touch me shoulder and I suddenly yelled in fright, then I heard someone say, Calm down woman it's only me and I turned to see it was only Seven. Then I had to make sure it was Seven and not Sef, 'prove it'
'Look at my hair it's parted on the left side and...'
'Yes of course I remember now, he is a mirror image of you in reverse.' I replied feeling somewhat silly.
'So Rosemary found you then!!!' This was statement not a question but.
'Rosemary? No was she looking for me? Seven said. I will help you to find the crystal you won't find it on your own, besides Sef can be capable for anything.
'Rosemary told me something about that bad man is looking at me she said from this path and I know it was Sef. 'We better ask Pickle to keep an eye on her'.

Sad news

I want to talk to Pickle and I wondered why every one looked down when I ask where Pickle was and one of the doctors broke the bad news to me, 'I am sorry to say that Pickle passed away this morning.'
'Nooo she can't be, I don't believe you, and people like Pickle live for ever, doctors can live to their 90s'. She not reaches 80 yet.' In self denial I was.
'I am really sorry Becca the chief is arranging her burial at noon.'
'Thank you doctor, what's your name?'
'I'm pickle's granddaughter Gata.'
'Please you have followed your grandmother's occupation, you make a good doctor!!!'
Gata was age 15 and looked like her mother with long black hair whereas Pickles hair once was long and black had turned grey. Gata had already become a master Doctor and was into researching as well almost the same age as me. Gata and I were to become great friends. I explained about the dangerous situation my family were in leaving out the part of the crystal, as I was afraid that involving any one else might put them in danger the less Gata knew the better.
'I will keep an eye on Rosemary while you and Seven deal with Sef.'
'Thank you, I am ever so grateful to you and I am really sorry about your lost I said and I just knew how she felt.

I told Seven the sad news about Pickle and that Kenya was arranging her funeral at noon

The death of the Tribal Chief

Just before noon Kenya died as she sat thinking at the amphitheatre she was age 73 and Pickle was age 77 that was written on the roster of the dead, all the graves had been used up many years ago so Pickle's and the Tribal chiefs names were engraved on the roster so that many of the generations of villagers would be remembered. All the villagers came to Kenya's funeral. I was just a small part in a crowd who attended the large funeral of the tribal chief and of many of the elderly that died that day. All my worries about evil Sef was put aside until later, hoping he would not do anything during the state funeral.

Who will be the next Tribal Chief?

The cloak was now hung up at the amphitheatre waiting to be tried on by each villager to see which villager it would fit.

To be continued