STORYTIME: ANANSE AND THE RAINDRUM 4

 

RECAP

Ananse headed to King Crab's kingdom. He was thrown in jail because he had been banned from the kingdom. Through cunning means, he convinced a guard to take him to the king, whom he had once greatly betrayed.

 We proceed...

CHAPTER 4

Ananse nervously shifted on his feet as he stood behind the crab king. He had still not said a word; rather, he stood staring at his kingdom through the large windows in his throne room.

“Oh great King, see the wonderful work you’ve done. Your people walk in fine clothes of linen and on streets of gold. You are magnificent indeed.” The king rolled his eyes at the vain words that spewed out of Ananse’s mouth. 

He turned to face him. Finally! Ananse thought. He could start his plan. The king shushed him as he opened his mouth to state his emergency.

The look on his face brought satisfaction to the Crab King. Obviously, he had come to him for a serious reason. The person, who caused him to have no head, would not just waltz into his kingdom for a casual visit. 

But he, he would never show mercy to Ananse. He surveyed Ananse closely and could almost see the gears in his brain spinning, concocting a moving story or a plan to get what he came to the kingdom for. Fine, he would play along. He would make him believe he was ready to listen and forgive him.

He cleared his throat. Ananse jolted back to reality. The king walked briskly to his huge throne and sat in a kingly way. He beckoned to Ananse to approach and did not miss the smirk that appeared on his face as he walked toward him with feigned humility. “Why did you come?” the king asked.

Tears started to flow from Ananse’s eyes. He slumped on the floor and explained his trouble. The king listened in silence. He was not moved by the tears that were flowing in torrents.

When Ananse finished recounting his tale, the king sighed and shook his head. He had indeed heard the horrible stories of Iskoki the dwarf. He wasn’t ready to give in to Ananse yet. 

For all he knew, the story Ananse just told him could be one of the many tall tales he usually spins. He would test him to see how desperate he really is. Then he would make his decision.

 

To be continued…