The Feather of Glory ( a Novella )
By David Aoloch Bion
Chapter Three
It was the beginning of another year and a beginning of dry season. All the cattle camps of the clans were driven to the toc along the great river. The pastures were very excellent. The cattle grew fatter. Madut and his Mabior generation were now struggling with older generation who were initiated three years ago. If a cow dies, Madut’s group was sent to skin the cow and roasted for the elders and other young men. It was bad season for them. It appeared as though cattle camps could not go back to the villages and it appeared as though Madut and his group could not grow strong like their elder brothers. The rain came and the cattle were returned to the villages.
The first option Madut suggested to his friend was the spearing of cattle, “If we spear cattle, we may get bit of recognition and respect as an adult”. One night, Madut speared to death very fat bull. Other five men from his group speared to death cows too. There was big celebration on the following afternoon. The cattle were skinned and ate with great happiness. “Now, you look like men, because you did some thing little” One man remarked. It has remained one that you should fully be recognized as men and adults. If is the spearing of an elephant, buffalo, lion, or rhinoceros, if you do that there would be no man to talk with you again with a humiliating glances. After four days, a man came and said let us the people from the cattle camp came. We Mabior have killed an elephant, they should go and eat the meat since they could not eat what they had been spearing.
It was now the middle of rain season, the crops are being harvested and the cows are being milked too much. Madut had now a colored bull to drive to the dance. At one night he persuaded his friend to go to the neighbouring cattle camp. They stole one of the big bulls of a man by name Awar. It was a custom, if you admired another man’s bull, you just stole. In the morning, he sent a messenger with a message “don’t look for your bull it is with me Madut”. The owner of the bull came with the red eyes as fire. He would prefer fighting Madut but was controlled by his accomplices. They were told that they should bring their father, the father of Awar because Madut would love to buy the bull with cattle. However, the owner of the bull rejected that idea. He was convinced by his brothers. So they left and in the morning they returned for the buying of the bull was made. The owners of the bull chose six cows from Madut’s herd as the price for buying his bull.
That very month, Madut pierced the horn of the bull. On the piercing day ceremony, Madut speared to death forty cows and bulls. He had killed cattle from his relatives’ herds. He became sick because of the numbers of cattle he killed. At night he could have a nightmare; cattle were bellowing and lowing from his throat at night.
After he recovered from spearing fever, he bought a bundle of giraffe tails, a bundle of buffalo tails, and a bundle horse tail with four cattle that could be fastened and hanged at top of pierced horns of his bull when he would be going out for singing and dancing. He also bought an elephant horn ring to wear on his arms with one bull. He bought a very gigantic gong for calling cattle in the forest when the cattle get lost. He composed brilliant songs about his bull and his gong. His songs were sung pleasantly in the dances.
About Post Author
