The handing over of the public place of convenience was done two weeks later.
It was a funfair.
The King and Queen of Densua were present.
The Prince and Princess were present.
Every notable Elder was present, and so was almost every citizen of the village.
There was food, palm wine and akpeteshie.
Everybody was mostly dressed in white.
They examined the new multiple-purpose toilet Zack and his team had built.
They had even added a bath with cubicles, and this thrills the people very much.
Everybody was overwhelmed, and the King gave a glowing tribute to Zack.
A cultural troupe played music, sang and danced.
It was indeed a very happy occasion.
Zack was then brought to the middle of the gathering, and a sub-chief presented him with the biggest award of the village, the Golden Sword of Densua.
It was a curved metal sword with a curved blade and a golden hilt. It was designed with the Adinkra Symbols.
“You’ve shown yourself to be a warrior, and your ingenuity had improved the lifestyle of our noble village. We accepted you as a brother and friend, and you have not betrayed the trust we reposed in you,” the sub-chief said. “Today, the King and his wise Elders, together with a grateful citizenry, confer on you the greatest award of this noble land, The Golden Sword of Densua!”
Zack in his batakari received the sword amidst shouts and applause from the people.
Sitting under the grand tent, the Prince of Densua watched with a stony face as Kuukuwaa beamed with pride as she stood in the group of people nearest Zack.
He did not fail to see that Zack’s eyes sought hers first.
Sitting by his side, Princess Yaa noticed the secret smile that passed between Zack and Kuukuwaa, and she set her lips hard with sudden fury.
Zack, laughing, walked to where the Medicine Man was sitting with his wife and handed his sword to Opanyin Amoah.
The Prince noticed the look of profound happiness and admiration that crossed the Medicine Man’s face and the way his wife also embraced and smiled with genuine fondness at Zack.
He also did not miss the camaraderie that was exhibited between Kobby and the stranger.
Later, when people were eating, the Prince and the Princess both noticed how Kuukuwaa went to the tables and filled a bowl with food and meat and took it straight to Zack, even before serving her own father.
The Princess leaned towards her brother and spoke viciously.
“Seems to me your Kuukuwaa is quite besotted with the stranger!” Yaa said mischievously. “If you have any sense, brother, you will make your move soon before you lose her forever!”
The Prince turned towards his sister, smiled coldly and spoke sardonically.
“Well, my dear sister, are you really looking out for my interest here, or your little heart is fluttering with a wee bit of trepidation because your little bastard seems to be attached to Kuukuwaa? I know you took him to the Royal Cabin, my dear.”
Princess Yaa pouted, and her eyes filled with only rage and jealousy as she gazed at Zack and Kuukuwaa.
And then, getting to the end of the programme, Prince Obodai leaned close to his father and spoke quietly for a while.
The King’s face brightened and he craned his neck to look at the beautiful black briefcase lying beside his son.
The King beckoned, and the Sub-Chief approached him and listened attentively, nodding his head alternatively.
Finally, the Sub-Chief walked to the middle of the gathering, and a gong-gong was beaten to silence the crowd.
“Hear, hear, hear! In our midst is a man who came to us under very strenuous situations! A great man who has lost his memory, as we all know, but whose ingenuity has today solved one of the challenges we have been facing as citizens of Densua,” the sub-chief stated. “However, we are certain that the gods reign, and indeed he shall remember every bit of memory lost! We’re glad to announce that we have recovered something from the car the stranger was in, and we have the utmost pleasure of giving it back to him with the hope that it will help him start on the road to self-discovery. I can firmly tell you that we now know the full name of our Honourable stranger! Please, Onua Zack, kindly join me here!”
Zack looked up slowly, and there was sudden apprehension on his face. For several seconds, he just stared at the Sub-Chief in incomprehension.
“Go on, son,” Opanyin Amoah urged with a smile. “They’re waiting. It is okay.”
Zack stood up and slowly approached the Sub-Chief, who looked towards the Prince.
Prince Obodai was watching Zack critically as he lifted the beautiful black case and gave it to a Royal Servant to send it to the Sub-Chief.
Prince Obodai had not included the silver metal case and its contents. He was keeping that one. He knew he will use its contents to his advantage soon.
He had been informed by specialists he had summoned from the city that the black case cannot be opened by anybody else but its owner because it uses the eyes or some fingerprints, and he has no other option than to hand it over.
He was, however, very interested in Zack’s reaction.
As the Royal Messenger approached with the black case, Zack stared at it with sudden interest, and sweat suddenly formed on his face.
The Sub-Chief took the case and spoke loudly.
“This belongs to Onua Zack because the teachers have confirmed that the name on this bag is Zack Larbi! Our Honourable guest is called Zack Larbi! Here, take it, Zack!”
The Sub-Chief proffered the briefcase to Zack.
And then a terrible thing happened!
Zack’s face was suddenly filled with horror!
His whole body was covered with sweat as if a bucket of water has been poured on him. He made croaking sounds in his throat and stared at the black case as if it was a snake.
He took swift steps back, his legs seeming to buckle. Opanyin Nana Amoah got to his feet quickly.
“No, no! It has triggered a bad memory for him! This is bad!”
Kuukuwaa was already moving towards Zack, her face filled with love and concern! Suddenly Zack’s legs gave, and he collapsed to the ground in a heap.
He had passed out! Kuukuwaa run to him and gathered him in her arms, her face shattered with love and fear.
The Medicine Man and Kobby and other people now surround Zack and Kuukuwaa, hiding them from sight.
The King was concerned to the extent that he also stood up and approached.
Prince Obodai’s face was dark with hatred and jealousy.
It had been confirmed now!
That look on Kuukuwaa’s face said it all!
She was madly in love with the stranger!
The Prince and Princess looked at each other.
“You have to do something about it! He is mine!” Yaa urged viciously.
Obodai nodded once, stood up angrily and began to walk away.
He did not care if Zack fainted. He would’ve loved it if the bastard had died!
Now, he knew he had to make his move, and use the contents of the silver case to get rid of Zack forever!
The Medicine Man gently asked his distraught daughter to step aside.
He had to repeat it a couple of times more before Kuukuwaa let Zack go, her face drenched with sweat.
Opanyin Amoah felt Zack’s pulse, and then he reached into his pocket and brought out several small containers. He selected one, opened it, and held its flat surface under Zack’s nose.
“Is he going to be alright?” King Obodai asked with worry.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
A moment later, Zack sneezed twice, and then with his eyes still shut he reached out with his right hand.
“Kuks…” he said weakly.
Kuukuwaa reached for him blindly, taking him in her arms and putting her cheeks next to his.
“I’m here. I see you,” she responded tenderly.
“Don’t leave me. Kuks…” he implored weakly.
“Never. Zack. Never!” she assured softly, but her voice was filled with passion.
He held on to her, and then finally he opened his eyes.
He looked so weak, so vulnerable, so innocent and so handsome that Kuukuwaa’s heart melted all over again.
Looking into his eyes, she was suddenly lost in the moment.
Suddenly no one mattered, and place was relative.
She just wanted to hold him tight and melt inside him.
She smiled although tears still coursed down her cheeks, and as her head began to descend to kiss him, her father quickly pulled Zack out of her arms, his face suddenly filled with horror at what had almost happened.
Kuukuwaa looked up, angry and disappointed, but then she saw her father’s desperate plea in his eyes, and she relaxed slowly.
Zack got to his feet, and a great cheer went up.
The King even forsook protocol and held him by the shoulder.
“My friend, what happened?” the king asked, still worried.
Zack spoke calmly.
“That briefcase. I had a terrible recollection…I remember it! I remember holding it in the car before the accident, and I saw the car crashing all over again and erupting in a fire!”
“That’s okay, my son. You’re among friends now,” the king said sympathetically. “Nothing bad will happen to you.”
“Thank you very much, Your Majesty.”
Later, when they were going home, with Zack walking ahead with The Medicine Man and Kuukuwaa, with Kobby and his mother walking behind them, the Medicine Man spoke.
“The memory flash you got when you saw that case wasn’t about the car and the accident, Zack,” Opanyin Amoah said gently.
Zack and Kuukuwaa exchanged glances. Kuukuwaa was holding the briefcase. She put a loving hand on Zack’s shoulder.
“No, no, Wise One,” Zack answered painfully. “What I remembered was me holding that bag and being chased by two men with guns, and they were firing at me, and I jumped from the top of a precipice…”
“It’s alright, my love. You’ll be fine! We’ll be fine!” Kuukuwaa said quickly.
He smiled down at her, but she could still see that he was very worried and scared!
It was quite evident that Zack is very troubled.
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