PUBLISH’D AFRIKA Magazine Facebook Short Story Competition – April 2023 Leg/ Julia Lemekwane

THEME: KNOCK YOURSELF OUT

TITLE: The Cave Of The Wise Decisions

Written by Julia Lemekwane

Once upon a time, in a tropical town on the outskirts of a small village called Ntshava-Riwa, in Tzaneen there lived a wise, old woman named Amazon. Her special hut was situated amid the mountain and a waterfall. The land had rich soil, fruitful nature, and flowing rivers that spiraled through the leafy vegetation. The people of this village lived in peace and harmony on the saturated ground. They had a profound respect for wildlife and understood the interconnectedness of all things. They knew that every living organism, plants and animals had a purpose and a role to play in the delicate proportion of life and they knew that their very existence depended on conserving this balance.

Amazon had been blessed with an incredible lifespan of one hundred and ninety years. Her name, which was given to her by the tenth descendant of the Kuvatla  clan, was a depiction of a tall, strong warrior. Despite her dark skin, she never wrinkled or withered, regardless of the season. With her owl-like eyes, she had the gift of predicting the future, and her long nails were celebrated for lulling babies to sleep. She could walk miles barefoot without getting fatigued.

Amazon was full of life and showed no signs of illness, which was astonishing for a woman her age. She discovered her spiritual gift of fortune-telling as a teenager, inherited from her late grandmother, Kiwi. Amazon could use people’s palms to prophesy and a mirror to identify the gender of an unborn child. Later on, she became famous for performing miracles in the surrounding areas, taking after Queen Modjadji, the rain queen, as she could change the weather from cloudy to sunny in a blink of an eye.

Amazon was also admired for her kindness and humility and was seen as a great leader of the village. She used words sparingly, but when she spoke, everyone listened. Amazon spent most of her time engaging with the residents because their happiness was all that made a difference in her existence. Some people called her a magician, and some would go to the extent of calling her a witch. Nonetheless, Amazon continued to pursue her calling, which her grandmother had left to her. Kiwi taught her how to read bones, study people’s energetic walls, travel between space and time, and make her own medication using herbs and plants. Amazon’s medicines never failed, and she could cure any disease. Inside her yard, there was a blue gum tree that had healing properties, and it was said that anything declared under the tree happened. The mystery of this place drew people from far and wide.

People came from all corners of the world daily to speak about their troubles, cast their wishes, seeking to discover the secrets of this enchanting place, and each time people came here the feedback was always a positive manifestation. Amazon shared her wisdom and knowledge with the people, teaching them the ways of the land.

Amazon had a fist full of followers and quite a number of enemies. One of her jealous neighbours, named Kwena, despised it when she saw visitors in Amazon’s yard, as no one came into her immaculate hut. Kwena’s personality was the polar opposite of Amazon’s; her heart was filled with hatred and envy, and she could not praise Amazon for being such an inspiration to the community. One day, she decided to visit a wizard who lived in a dark cave far in the mountains to seek advice on how to be more powerful than Amazon. With her heart strong as a lead, she took the trip to the caves of wise decisions. The wizard was a short old man with a creased face and a huge nose. His face was covered with a white beard, and his hair was long and pure like white wool. He took Kwena’s palm before she could explain anything and studied the deep lines. He then told her that he knew she wanted power and everything that Amazon had.

“Witchdoctor,” the woman proclaimed, “You must help me.” 

He didn’t respond for a while as he studied the deep lines in her palms.

“I know you want power and everything she has, am I wrong?”  he said to her, and she nodded, “In your roots, I see very powerful people. You are from a place of royalty. How come you are powerless?”

Kwena was surprised to hear such.

“How did you know all of these?”  she asked, surprised. “My great-grandfather was a king.”

“I know because I am the wisest man on Earth.”

The wizard began to laugh, his voice echoing. He then gave her a potion along with instructions. Kwena was told that before dawn the next day, she should go to the lake and say all she wished for as she faced her reflection on the clear water, shout Amazon’s name four times in different directions, pour the potion in a circular form, wash her hands, and then head to her hut, making sure no one noticed her.

“Don’t be surprised if something strange happens. Our king is on our side, and all you have to do is bow down,” these were the wizard’s final words.

As Kwena made her way home, tears of joy flowed from her eyes at the thought of being more powerful than Amazon. She wanted to make everyone who never believed in her to suffer, and make them pay for not choosing her. Anxiety kept her from sleeping soundly.

Before the breaking of dawn, she found herself in the lake, following the instructions she had been given. After pouring the potion into the water, she yelled in a bold voice, “Amazon!” facing different directions as advised. As she washed her hands, the sound of the water came alive and the river flowed between the rocks, forming gigantic waves. Birds fled from the trees as the rumble repeated itself, louder this time.

Suddenly, a heavy thud shook the ground, and a big black shadow resembling a snake with two heads appeared in front of her. Kwena was paralyzsd with fear when she saw this frightening creature before her eyes, until she remembered the witch doctor’s words: ‘Our king is on our side, all you have to do is bow!’ 

She bowed and worshipped King Python. The sun disappeared behind the clouds, and darkness visited the village. 

Amazon couldn’t perform any miracle any longer because her strength had mysteriously been taken away. Kwena began to rule with an iron fist, casting spells and killing for power. To keep the king alive and gain more strength, she had to throw a small child into the lake every week as a sacrifice to keep her power alive.

People lived in fear, and mothers hid their toddlers. Once Kwena had completed the ritual and made her way back to her hut, strange things began to happen. At first, it seemed like a coincidence, but as time passed, it became evident that her actions had caused a shift in the delicate balance of the village. The rivers began to dry up, the vegetation started to wither, and the animals started to behave erratically. The people of the village were puzzled and could not understand what was happening.

Amazon was deeply troubled by these changes, and she knew that something was amiss. She decided to consult with the spirits and the ancestors to find out what was causing this disturbance. After conducting a ritual of her own, Amazon was able to connect with the spirits and the ancestors, and they revealed to her that Kwena’s actions had caused a great imbalance in the village. The spirits warned Amazon that if the imbalance was not corrected, the consequences would be disastrous for the village and its inhabitants.

One night, Kiwi visited Amazon in her dreams and gave her an idea on how to regain her strength. Amazon found herself sleepwalking and woke up near the lake. Suddenly, something came from the water, making gigantic waves.

“The king of the dark world!” she whispered, remembering the stories her grandmother used to tell her. For the first time in her life, Amazon felt afraid, having lost her power. But she also knew that she was going to die that day. When Kwena appeared riding the snake’s head, Amazon was shocked. However, her grandmother suddenly appeared out of nowhere, more powerful than all of them, and began to fight the king. Amazon’s powers returned, and she struck lightning into the water, electrocuting both Kwena and the snake. Kiwi took Kwena out of the water and saved her, and then Amazon’s grandmother disappeared into thin air, saying,

 “I am leaving now, my child. The war is done.”

The next morning, Amazon found herself asleep next to the lake, and she was teleported to her hut. When the villagers heard that she was powerful again, they were relieved and happy to be safe. Kwena was banished from the village, and the snake never returned. Amazon knew that she had to act fast to restore the balance. She gathered the people of the village and explained to them what had happened. She asked for their help to restore the balance by performing a ritual to counteract the effects of Kwena’s actions.

The people of the village agreed to help Amazon, and they all came together to perform the ritual. They chanted, danced, and sang as they called upon the spirits and the ancestors to help them restore the balance. The energy in the village was intense, and everyone could feel the power of the ritual.

As the ritual reached its climax, the skies opened up, and a torrential downpour of rain came pouring down. The rain was so heavy that it washed away all the negative energy that Kwena’s actions had caused. The rivers began to flow again, and the vegetation started to come back to life. The animals also returned to their normal behaviour, and the village was once again in harmony with nature. Lightness was restored, and Amazon ruled and protected everyone.

Kwena, who had been watching from a distance, was filled with remorse and regret. She realised that her actions had caused harm to the village, and she felt ashamed of herself. She made her way to Amazon’s hut and apologised for what she had done. Amazon forgave Kwena and taught her the ways of the village. Kwena learned to live in unity with nature, and she became a respected member of the village.

From that day on, the people of the village continued to live in peace with nature, and they never forgot the lesson that they had learned. They knew that every action they took had consequences, and that it was their responsibility to maintain the delicate balance of life. Amazon continued to be a wise and respected leader, and her teachings were passed down from generation to generation.

The story shows that while power can be desirable, it can also be dangerous if one becomes obsessed with it. The story also highlights the importance of seeking help and guidance when in need, following your roots and the consequences of one’s actions.

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PUBLISH’D AFRIKA Magazine Facebook Short Story Competition is funded by the National Arts Council, Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme 3