A Writer's Wonderland [PDF] - University of Portsmouth

stopped half a dozen times on the journey. Each time they showed their papers and smiled at
the now familiar faces.
‘Pray and find your path, my son,’ said his father when they were away from the
checkpoint. ‘But do not speak your doubts in open forum. They will not be as forgiving here, as
I am in my home.’
Abel nodded but said nothing. He forced his eyes to remain downwards on the road
before him. He felt the tightening of his chest and the deepening of his breaths.
embrace.
‘Abel,’ boomed a worshiper as they took the steps to the hall. ‘How are you my son?’
‘I am good.’
‘Your time for greatness draws near,’ the worshipper said as he pulled Abel into an
‘Babasi is speaking in the lower hall,’ he continued, loosing his grip and holding Abel at
arm’s length. ‘I think he would very much like to see you today.’
Abel nodded and turned away. He made the sign before he crossed the holy threshold
and nodded respectfully to the elders as he turned towards the Lower Hall.
‘Maybe I will come with you today,’ his father said. ‘Time spent hearing the founding
principles together, may do us both good.’
‘Father, you have heard three generations of Babasi preach to the young of our people. I
will not shame you; I will not shame my mother.’
The anger he expected did not surface. Instead he saw something that made his
stomach ache like the worst hunger they had endured; he saw love.
words.
‘Then go,’ said his father. ‘Tomorrow you achieve a greatness that I can never aspire to.’
His father nodded and turned away, hiding his face, even before he had finished his
***
‘And so, you can see that it is through love that we must defeat our enemy; it is through
kindness that we must sow seeds of doubt in their hearts. They see us as ignorant, but we are
wise. They see us as primitive, but we are older and more learned than they. They think that
power comes with weapons and technology, but we know that true power can only be gained
through love.’
33