Monday
The sound of alarm early this morning draws the entire village to Wakauna’s homestead. Everyone gathers around his kraal— known to house dozens of cows. But now, it stands nearly empty. I can see only a few: a mulukumu, inyenda, and the dreaded white cow.
Tuesday
In our village, there are three types of cows we disregard. They hold little resale value. They cannot be slaughtered for ceremonies, offered as dowry, or given as gifts.
“Mulukumu” is a hornless cow, feared for being possessed—the only known carnivorous cow. Some people say it is the one that devoured Wamono’s twin brother. Others insist that Wamono was born with leopard that roams the area, said to live in the shrub near the school. I’ve never seen it, but Munialo swears to having encountered it several times.
A white cow is another we don’t keep for value. It’s only used for rituals to cleanse a person or the village. But no one wants to keep it because when a white cow dies in the kraal, it’s a bad omen—often followed by a death in the homestead. We can’t forget what happened when Walyaula’s white cow died: Walyaula himself passed away, and his family fell apart. Some of his children never returned for circumcision even.
“Inyenda” is a cow with a stained coat, as if paint had been spilled across its skin. It’s unlike Friesian - Musubulaya, which bears neat black-and-white patches. Inyenda is also used for rituals and rarely do people buy it except for special purposes like treating infertility.
Wednesday
Therefore, Wakauna was robbed in the night, his kraal swept clean. To help catch the thieves, Munialo was tasked with guarding the kraal to make sure that no one enters it or picks anything before “investigations” are conducted. Meanwhile, Wakauna has gone to Busukuya to find a traditional healer - umufumu.
Thursday
When the traditional healer arrives, he was a skinny man, not one who inspires the fear or aura that engulfs one when you stand under the big healing Murukuru tree. Immediately he asks for a hen, which he slaughters at the kraal’s entrance, mumbles a few words, enters the kraal, pulls some grass, bites into it, and walks out.
Friday
“You will find the thief before the day ends,” he says —and walks away. Such persons in our area do not ask for pay; it is the served who is compelled to take a befitting gift to thank the gods’ messenger for the work done. If the cows are recovered, we are sure that he will be rewarded with a cow or two. But if the thief is caught and the cows not recovered, he will be appreciated with a goat.
Saturday
Before sunset, Wamimbi uwa Wapondo comes tumbling toward the kraal. Without talking to anyone, he drops to the ground and begins mowing grass—just like a cow.
The thief has been revealed.
Sunday
Justice has to be served. The healer has to be called back to release Wamimbi uwa Wapondo from the spell. Munialo is sent to fetch him. But by twilight, neither Munialo nor the healer have shown up. Wamimbi’s condition is worsening. If they don’t act soon, he might die.
Yet no one dares to approach him.
Till then, we shall keep you posted
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