The village of Densua was buzzing with electric excitement!

The news that there was electricity without a generator in the Medicine Man’s house had turned the place into a tourist sight of sorts!

Each day people trooped in to catch a glimpse of the strange box that could provide such energy.

They packed themselves into Zack’s room in dozens to enjoy the cool breeze of the air-conditioner.

And then, incredibly, Zack informed them that they could all get wired to the network and enjoy free electricity!

Zack himself supervised the erecting of the electricity poles, and also the laying of the wires, which he had provided for free. Each house that was connected received bulbs for free, and soon the village began to glow at night!

There were some days when there were fights and arguments as the impatience of those who were not yet connected grew, but Zack assured them that the power was enough to serve everybody so they should exercise patience.

Perhaps, most wonderful of all was the fact that only single lines of cable were used to tap the power!

By the end of the second week, the village had been put on the grid up to the palace. Sensibly, Zack stayed away from the palace and let Kobby and his friends lay the connections at the palace.

And then the palace was also enjoying light, and the elated king wanted to see Zack.

The whole village sang his praises, and everywhere he went he was treated like a god!

Delegations from the next villages came to the King of Densua to enquire if they could also be put on the grid, and this made the king feel very honoured indeed. He sent for the man who had brought so much honour to Densua, and Zack received a beautiful treatment at the palace that infuriated Prince Obodai beyond measure.

Then, finally, it was the Prince’s Royal Day, and the celebrations in Densua were awesome, to say the least!

The Gong-Gong beater went around the previous night to announce that no one was supposed to be out of their houses before the first cock crow. Kuks later explained to Zack that the prince would be carried to the upper stream of the river to be bathed

Early in the morning, there was a durbar for the Prince.

It was being held on the huge school park.

The excitement was palpable!

Everyone was in new clothing, and the people took their baths and headed for the park, family by family.

Zack, who had been given a huge kente cloth by Opanyin Amoah, was taught how to drape the cloth around him and leave his left upper arm free. It took a long time before he could do it properly, and even then, the part of the cloth bunched under his arm kept falling off.

His feet were encased in a beautiful pair of ahenema sandals which Kuukuwaa had bought for him. A simple necklace made of beads completed his apparel, but he looked royal and handsome indeed.

Opanyin Amoah was dressed in a similar kente cloth, and his wife was in a beautiful white kaba and slit dress. They walked in front, and Kobby walked behind them, dressed in a nice batakari and holding the end of a rope tied around the neck of a huge goat meant as a gift for the prince.

Behind Kobby was Zack and Kuukuwaa.

She was wearing a simple white blouse and a loud yellow skirt. The dress code for the day was supposed to be in very bright colours, and so she was shining like a star.

She reached out, just before they left the house, and put her hand through Zack’s.

He felt her trembling, and felt her hot clammy hand, and he looked at her with sudden concern.

“Kuks!” Zack whispered with alarm. “Are you alright, my love?”

She stopped and looked earnestly at him, and her face was creased with worry.

“I’m so scared, Zack,” she whispered tremulously. “It feels as if I’m going to lose you! I don’t understand what is going on! My heart is in turmoil, Zack!”

Without a word Zack slipped his arms around her waist and drew her close, looking earnestly into her eyes.

“Is it because of the prince?” he asked gently.

She placed both hands flat on his chest and looked at him with those beautiful eyes.

“Partly, yes, my love,” she whispered. “It is our tradition amongst the villages around here that most princes choose their life partners during their special day celebrations. Over the past couple of years, I had lived in trepidation of him choosing me, even when I hadn’t met you yet. Now I love you, and I’m afraid he’s been making his intentions clear. I’m so scared, my love.”

“I don’t see why you should be scared, my Precious,” Zack said with a loving smile. “He can only ask you, and all you have to do is tell him you love someone else. Surely, he can’t force you into a marriage, can he?”

“He’s the prince!” Kuukuwaa cried desperately. “He usually doesn’t get refused!”

“You love me, Kuks, and I love you. There’s always a first time. Please, don’t tell me you’ll accept his proposal if he in fact proposes today!”

“Of course, I won’t do that, love,” Kuukuwaa said earnestly. “I love only you, and you know I can’t live without you. I just want you to be prepared. The prince is very wicked sometimes. I see trouble ahead.”

“Stop worrying, dear,” Zack said with a smile. “The king is a reasonable man, and he’s my friend. He’ll not let you go into something you don’t want to, sweetheart. Don’t fret your head.”

His lips descended, and he kissed her tenderly.

“Hey!” Opanyin Amoah shouted as he turned and saw them. “Stop that nonsense and let’s go!”

His wife looked at her husband with concern.

“My Lord,” she said softly. “The Prince could make his move for Kuukuwaa’s hand today.”

Opanyin Amoah resumed walking, trying not to show his worry.

“Everything is written in the stars by the gods!” he said.

“Our daughter loves the stranger, my Lord,” Obaapa Basiwaa insisted, reaching out to touch her husband’s arm lightly. “You know she never bends to anybody’s will and doesn’t take kindly to pressure. If the prince makes a move she will resist it, and cause him great embarrassment in public.”

Her husband finally looked at her, and she saw the acute tension in the depths of his eyes. He spoke to her calmly enough, but she knew he was under a lot of strain.

“And what do you suggest I do, my Precious?”

“Maybe find a subtle way to let the Prince and his father know that Kuukuwaa loves the stranger,” she said gently.

“Perhaps, if they both know before proceedings begin today, it would forestall a calamity.”

“Hmmm, you have spoken wisely, Rib of my ribs,” he said. “Very well then. I’ll see what I can do.”

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