Akyeaa: Chapter 18

A stunned Akyeaa watched the kakai leave and tried to remember everything she had read about how to cure humans who had turned into kakai. Warily the villagers stepped out of their huts. They gave way for the old woman who Akyeaa recognised as Bashiratu, the previous owner of a chain of shops that sold fried plantain chips and groundnut cakes.
A stunned Akyeaa watched the kakai leave and tried to remember everything she had read about how to cure humans who had turned into kakai. Warily the villagers stepped out of their huts. They gave way for the old woman who Akyeaa recognised as Bashiratu, the previous owner of a chain of shops that sold fried plantain chips and groundnut cakes. Five minutes later, after Akyeaa was seated in her hut, Bashiratu spoke.

'After Ekuaba and her followers burnt down the village, some of us decided to settle down in this forest. We wanted to put as much distance between us and Ekuaba as possible. It took a while to build the village you see before you today.'

She paused, 'Ekuaba isn't heading this way,is she?'

'No, I buried her myself'.

'Good' she sighed in relief. 'Anyway, the craziness with the tiger kakai began six days ago. Our nkunimdifo) decided to keep us safe from the rabbit like kakai. She said there was an old woman who had assured her that she could grant her any wish. The next day, she was nowhere to be found and then the kakai began attacking our village.'

'If you could kill it for us, we would be most grateful.'

'That kakai used to be your nkunimdifo). I'll bring her back to you in three days. But first, I'll need to gather some herbs.'

Akyeaa followed the kakai's trail with a knapsack slung over right shoulder, stopping short of a small cave next to a river. Inside it lay a dishevelled, lean woman in a torn grey suit and trousers.

'Um, hi there, Miss...'

'Kwansaa'

'Right. Miss Kwansa. I'm here to help you. I know an ancestress named Bimm transformed you and I can reverse it.'

'Really?"

'Yes, but it will mean staying in here for three days and taking a special herbal mixture I've prepared'.

She set the knapsack down and took a plastic bottle from it. It was filled with a red and black liquid. She approached Kwansaa carefully, knowing she could transform at any moment. Kwansaa took the bottle from her and drank a bit of it. Then she capped it.
'Bitter' she muttered.

'I know. That's what Fosuaa told me.'

Kwansaa slumped to the ground. 'Why can't I move?'

'I put in a paralytic drug' Akyeaa explained, as she tied her hands together with her flying tie. 'I can't have you going back to the village during the treatment period'.

'I see.' Kwansaa sighed. 'It was so stupid though'.

'What was stupid?"

'Trying to fight fire with fire. Stopping a kakai by becoming one. I never should have approached the old woman with that request'.
Kwansaa sighed as she closed her eyes, then she opened them again.

'Did you give me something to keep me awake througout the night as well?'


'Yes, sorry about that. The transformation has affected your subconsciousness. If you fall asleep now, you'll awaken as the kakai. You need to be fully awake in order for the drug to take effect. Also you have spent only two days as a kakai. Any longer and you would be incurable.'

'Lucky me, huh.'

'I'll stay awake with you for as long as I can. I'm not leaving till you are fully cured.'