THE ROYAL GOAT

Chapter 1

Many years ago in a land called Umunze lived a humble man named Okonkwo. He married a beautiful woman named Chinyere.
Chinyere’s beauty was such that people envied Okonkwo for her sake.

However, things didn’t go quite well with her.
After Okonkwo had finished performing all the marriage rights on Chinyere’s head. She was given to him as his legitimate wife.

The couple lived happily as days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years. Yet Chinyere wasn’t showing any sign of conception.

This occurrence caused many allegations to be raised against her, some said she might have used her womb in exchange for beauty while some said she was not a human at all.

Okonkwo wasn’t so bothered by these. The love he had for Chinyere was unconditional.

His aged mother who wasn’t so pleased that her only son was yet to produce an offspring would have forced him into marrying a second wife but she joined her ancestors in the process of time.

Her departure caused many to believe the saying that Chinyere was not ordinary, claiming that she undid her mother-in-law to prevent her from making Okonkwo marry another wife.

As time went on, Chinyere finally took in and gave birth to two beautiful baby girls. Okonkwo’s rate of happiness was unquantified.

However, this joy didn’t last quite long. Chinyere after 5 days of putting to bed mysteriously gave up the ghost. Her demise pained Okonkwo so much that he mourned her from days to weeks, and weeks to months and refused to be comforted.

The only thing that gave him reason to move on was one night when he slept and saw his late wife in a dream. She told him that his tears were preventing her from being happy in eternity.

From that day, he stopped mourning her, for one thing, he never enjoyed was doing anything that displeased her.

He focused on taking care of his two daughters. The first to come out of the womb named him Adaugo and the second Adaku.
Instead of human breastmilk, he gave them cow milk which nourished them very well.

As years went by, Adaku grew into a very fair complexioned beautiful girl, Likewise Adaugo. Their beauty was so much that people would pause their activities just to admire them whenever they passed.

They looked exactly the same and no one could differentiate between the two save only Okonkwo their father.

Although they both looked identical. Their personalities were not the same at all. Adaku was too full of her beauty that she developed a feeling of pride.
She even saw herself as better than anyone else including Adaugo her sister whereas they looked completely indifferent.

Adaugo on the other hand was so humble and meek. She would oft time try to talk her sister out of her lifestyle but she never listened.
Instead, She would just take offense.

Okonkwo was very much aware of this, and he also warned Adaku from time to time to back off from her inappropriate behavior, but she still didn’t listen to her father.

One day, Adaku went to the stream to fetch water. Not because she wanted to be useful but just to showcase her beauty and enjoy admiration from onlookers.

As she got there, a man was sitting close to the stream with his head bent down. He was barefooted and putting on torn and dirty clothes.
Looking at him alone would make one believe he was living in abject poverty.

Adaku had dipped her pot into the stream, filled it with water, and brought it out when the man called her attention.

“Beautiful damsel, please let me drink a little water from your pot.” He pleaded.

Adaku turned and seeing how unkept and poor the man looked was filled with wrath.

“You poor commoner! you lowlife and dísguisting búllshit! If you say anything to me again, you’ll be amazed to see my action.”

When Adaku was done shouting at the man, she carried her water pot and left.

When she got home, it was Adaugo’s turn to go to the stream.
She carried the water pot and headed to the stream.

When she arrived at the stream, she saw the same man that was insulted by Adaku.
He looked so weary that Adaugo couldn’t just overlook him.

“Hello, Can I fetch you water to at least cool your throat and wash your feet?” She questioned in concern.

“I will be pleased. “The man answered with a shaking voice.
Adaugo quickly filled the pot with water and brought it for him to drink.
He drank and drank till he emptied the pot.

“Hmmmm.” He breathed and gazed up in relief.

Adaugo quickly went and filled the pot with water and brought it to him again.
He drank till the water remained just a little in the pot.

“You’re my heroine.” He looked at Adaugo as he breathed heavily.

Adaugo made to wash his feet with the remaining water but he prevented her and said,
” Please don’t, I now have enough strength to go to the stream and take care of myself. Thank you very much.”

” You’re welcome. ” Adaugo filled the pot with water and placed it on her head,
“I have to go.”
She said and made to leave.

” Please wait. “The man said.” Are you, not the same lady that came here a while ago? ” He asked curiously. (for he noticed that Adaugo and Adaku looked the same)

“No, that was Adaku, my twin sister. “Adaugo explained.

Hearing that, the man removed a bid he was wearing and slid it to Adaugo’s wrist.
“Please this is a token I have in appreciation for what you did.”

“Please, remove it, I didn’t do it to receive anything in return.” Adaugo objected.

” I know but I’m just delighted to give you this, please don’t reject it. ”
” Thank you. “Adaugo said and made to leave but the man called her back again.

” My name is Dike, and please don’t go without letting me know your name. ”
The man said to her.

” My name is Adaugo. ” She answered and left quickly.

6 days after the incident, it was a cool beautiful morning, cocks Crowed followed by beautiful songs of birds. A sign of a beautiful brand-new day.

“Good morning, great people of this Land.” The town crier shouted and bit his metal gong thrice.
“This message is from the King, so listen attentively.
As we all know that the prince who went missing a long time ago is back.
The king calls for everyone to gather at the palace as the sun rises tomorrow for the celebration of his son’s return.
He also noted that all maidens of this land should prepare specially because the prince will be choosing a wife as well.
Whoever hears should tell another ooo! ”

After hearing the announcement by the town crier. Adaku was so excited, for she believed that the prince would choose her as the most beautiful maiden in the land.

But she remembered Adaugo her twin sister who looked exactly like her. She didn’t want any rival at all. So she began to devise a way to prevent her sister from being at the palace.
She sneaked to a powerful witch doctor and requested for her sister to be transformed into a goat.

The witch doctor gave her a bewitched apple and told her that once she eats it, she would transform into a goat. But warned her not to mention her name (Adaugo) for 5 days or the spell would be reversed to her.
Adaku collected the apple and happily left the shrine.

“I’m sorry for always being rude to you, I have learned my lesson now. I won’t do it again.” Adaku apologized to Adaugo.

“It’s ok, my sister, I’m glad you’ve changed.” Adaugo hugged her sister tightly, thinking that she meant her confession.

“Let’s go to the forest and fetch firewood,” Adaku suggested and Adaugo agreed.
They went together to the forest and as they got there, Adaku brought out the bewitched apple.
” I got this to show you that I love you very much. “She stretched it to Adaugo.

Adaugo was so happy that her sister really changed for her to even get her an apple.
“Thank you so much.”
She collected the apple and took a bite.

Immediately, she transformed into a white goat.
Adaku used a rope to tie the goat to a tree and ran out of the forest immediately.

As she got back to the village, she broke the news that Adaugo had been £aten by a wild animal.
Okonkwo was so sad that he wept bitterly.

To be continued.