UNKNOWN LAND - CHAPTER 3: EMPTY POCKETS, HEAVY HEART

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKkWwxhiEK

Chapter 3: Empty Pockets, Heavy Hearts

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LfpC1QE32

"The tree that wishes to touch the sky must first survive the storm."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinKlvX2AnN

The morning sun rose slowly over Ajanaku village, painting the dusty roads in shades of gold.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NKiDDLy6X

Roosters crowed.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWnJMUFKru

Women swept the compounds.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyhpLjqhDO

Children prepared for school.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2cuWlFzKd

Everything appeared normal.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAQwcbMLqp

Yet for Tunde, Musa, and Emeka, nothing felt normal anymore.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeS7lyUWqNP

The conversation they had shared with Baba Ade the previous evening had planted a seed in their hearts.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyyZ64YdiD

A dangerous seed.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobUfP63IB3

A hopeful seed.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQDHDInuPL

The seed of departure.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsHUNwsk04

For years they had dreamed about leaving the village.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJaik3YoJj

Now, for the first time, the dream felt real.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYX6O3b85vv

And reality was frightening.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgZtqI9qvZ

Dreams were easy when they lived only in the mind.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujEKJQ79oZ

But once dreams demanded action, fear followed closely behind.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcNjpjEfGs

Tunde walked slowly toward his father's farm.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4lYLTYS5P

His feet moved automatically along the familiar path.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHQR87gxbQ

Tall grasses swayed in the morning breeze.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI4tB8n29F

Birds sang from nearby trees.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0xfFzz3BI

Yet his thoughts were far away.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7enCOaCSoN

As he reached the farm, he found his father bent over a row of cassava plants.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSiH9b2Dpk

The old man's shirt was soaked with sweat.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBvPZWUwfD

His hands were rough and scarred from years of labor.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNllmBbaw40

Tunde watched him quietly.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlm8h7uhuC

For a moment, guilt filled his heart.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31skWKIlan

How could he leave this man behind?

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcpACiAljl

How could he abandon the person who had sacrificed everything for him?

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6p15pQ6ZMr

His father looked up and noticed him.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81zfzDe0qI

"You are late today."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MwAUb6sDp

"I'm sorry, Papa."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCn09Aqvub

The old man smiled.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpertYlJVh4

"You've been thinking."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68NeLGBLfz

Tunde froze.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPPUUN2JOX

His father chuckled softly.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGbrsMNAXR

"A father knows."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgp8De3HYX7

They worked in silence for a while.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCfeVEzudQ

Then suddenly the old man spoke.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PZPu6gZyH

"You want to leave."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDr1QgTdYiJ

The words struck Tunde like lightning.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sSSS9rw4p

His hoe slipped from his hand.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgQ9r1nxPQ

He stared at his father.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yiaAVphbh

"How did you know?"

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FloUMVp5e

His father laughed quietly.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ898ntyln1C

"Because I once had the same look in my eyes."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgzTx5GxBs

Tunde felt his throat tighten.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7uLACPm6L

The old man stopped working.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCh1sDNf47

For a long moment he stared across the farmland.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkA47V2xxK

"When I was young, I wanted to leave too."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoVr3hHfly

"You did?"

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLEv4e3eui

"Yes."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ey4QAAo4b

"What happened?"

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyM5nU8jvx

His father's face darkened.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QLieBWTtP

"Life happened."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8XWBkNU5a

The answer carried years of pain.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD47XMje4iI

Years of disappointment.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj25yPxHWXk

Years of broken dreams.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXnxgDXMQ9

Tunde lowered his eyes.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEijVCckKZC

"I'm sorry, Papa."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMBo4TMwGW

The old man placed a hand on his shoulder.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6sp1Uwvmu

"Never apologize for wanting more from life."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkXUaXVFpD

Tunde looked up.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZ1uuM5u7J

"But..."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlhqkCNUoF

His father interrupted him.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BN0rPJVqy

"The bird was not given wings to remain on the ground."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHkmKaq8gT

Tears gathered in Tunde's eyes.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyL4RErK2xR

For the first time, he realized his father understood him completely.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqUhC4LXfZ

The old man sighed.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJCFzcEW9u

"But remember another proverb."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHHsOQgn57

"What is it?"

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssvrusNYls

"The traveler who forgets where he came from may one day have no place to return to."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPe6EvVmyj

The words settled deeply inside him.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOHSoAaX8F

No matter how far he traveled, Ajanaku would always be home.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSpjiNimD8

No success should make him forget that.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULGkgp328K

Meanwhile, Musa faced a different battle.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyrmLewbJb

His mother sat beside her roadside stand, selling roasted corn.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjGL2lidOY

The day's business was poor.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8sAn44Oki

Very poor.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGN4uvEZtw6

Only a few customers had stopped by.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoHYzpfdoH

Musa watched her from a distance.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNW10pcOVeT

The wrinkles on her face seemed deeper than before.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsumczxUvQe

The years had not been kind to her.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZpuuOWrW3

Since his father's death, she had carried the burden of raising five children alone.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG04bh1jQkZ

Every sacrifice.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuCKxwGo0j

Every struggle.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEDtd9XZev

Every hardship.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bBAYSzV40

She carried them without complaint.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHCS3gF5UA

That evening, Musa finally gathered the courage to speak.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4LHrGFj0k

"Mama."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoCLIyhRtS

She looked up.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOKiVSRCXT

"Yes, my son?"

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGtSExySom

He swallowed hard.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnj0EryDnvj

"What if I leave the village?"

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bXgbChvZP

The woman became silent.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdAwrMaLIz

The fire beneath the roasting corn crackled softly.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImKcUYpzHo

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbhppvulHJ

Then she smiled sadly.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkL299v2ofu

"I knew this day would come."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPg0PmNDuQt

Musa's heart sank.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYo7Kpi0wU

"You knew?"

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAG3FAW8xf

She nodded.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1NSjRtfjw

"Long ago."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgyPKVLL5b

The young man sat beside her.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRXOhqQZFg

His eyes filled with emotion.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvF2OACiPp

"Aren't you angry?"

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0sGRMeXPr

His mother shook her head.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeImkQCbRny

"No."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwK6iCDwuf

"Aren't you afraid?"

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEnNfjxwZK

The woman looked at the sky.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNi9A3fKT1k

"Every mother is afraid."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImacdlJcTG

The answer pierced his heart.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJ94Cp386G

She continued quietly.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswYlq4t1gv

"When you were born, I became afraid."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0MoHGm6xW

Musa listened carefully.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzX79pUTBQ

"I became afraid you might get sick."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NBvTIiala

She smiled faintly.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ObmpS94dF

"I became afraid you might fall."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknt7R1sYbZ

A tear escaped her eye.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3MmfOKVSQ

"I became afraid you might suffer."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Yex5NKJPd

She turned toward him.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVV5DR2SF7y

"But I learned something."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9ouzTSuhF

"What?"

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RNYWujOrZ

"The chick that never leaves the mother hen never learns how to find food."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJgUZWxMy6

Musa lowered his head.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwje4JOuUZe

His mother took his hand.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZR41pcUTJ1

"Go and chase your future."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VRPJKR7uH

The tears he had been holding back finally fell.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahbPKIQBAp

She wiped them away.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZ9bYV84uR

"But promise me something."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjZ5pJLQQZ

"Anything."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbck4Ufj0e

"Do not let hardship change your heart."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QZxnlhvtF

Musa nodded.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc76UpQHe3Q

"I promise."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvd00OCT85

At that exact moment, Emeka faced his own struggle.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYUHcWiLPH

His notebook rested on the table before him.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1dodrd5VW

Page after page was filled with dreams.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsO0R3vYEqw

Dreams that poverty had delayed.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlknM1jc7L8

Dreams that reality had crushed.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1HNeLi5rp

Dreams that refused to die.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrSgNKpFqs

His younger sister entered the room.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuKjS1YYYk

"You are leaving, aren't you?"

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOhS2vNNCE

Emeka looked up.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjxdCIOpB8

The little girl was staring at him.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWQjjN8yUK

He smiled weakly.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8s0UFwMmVk

"Who told you?"

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwiNObpXjZ

She shrugged.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0gHI6ui6V

"Nobody."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyvYoHzJEP

Children often noticed things adults ignored.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSicPBuOLtn

She sat beside him.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPdv3AK3Wi

"When are you coming back?"

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NQcM4Xxhe

The question struck him unexpectedly.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyChoTX9CIa

He had no answer.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnPQYxEEjL

How could he promise something he did not know?

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExWNry7yak

The little girl stared at him.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUITtR5L0b

"Will you forget us?"

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9naqRAMKpZ

Emeka immediately shook his head.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXQdc1Xl1a

"Never."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuSwR3lUlR

She smiled.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡia7ugdWJ8B

"Good."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKw1iSUFUf

Then she hugged him tightly.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKrHZrtEbP

The simple gesture nearly broke him.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACN9tTThmg

For years he had focused on escaping poverty.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHDMbfulr5

Now he was realizing the true cost of leaving.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9jy0g0WzZ

Behind every traveler stood people who loved them.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHHEPGvwz0

People who worried.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRa8EYvG4Bp

People who waited.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡex5t9A1x5w

People who prayed.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8p7njVGcq

That night, the three friends met beneath the iroko tree once again.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzoOUwPdhT

The moon hung above the village.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdkFxWotoX

The air was cool.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZAIo3lOwY

And their hearts were heavy.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1XSWjrHMu

For a while, nobody spoke.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8RKmo99qw

Finally, Tunde broke the silence.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdlQ6ZszWW

"My father knows."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgkwVxeyfN

Musa sighed.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINTPKiqTqt

"So does my mother."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuw90Gr3w06

Emeka nodded.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qkvSarwGM

"My family too."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNriC7PX8bb

The reality felt closer than ever.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxckjBsbDsH

Leaving was no longer just an idea.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2O111YOBe

It was becoming a decision.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPLXgkCHJu

And decisions change lives.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5PnT2JIR5

Baba Ade appeared from the darkness.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iyC0MbKKg

As if he had been expecting them.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZVpHoXjsU

The old man sat beside them.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2HxzQwMnk

Without speaking, he stared toward the horizon.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJ59ucK3lv

Then he shared another Yoruba proverb.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLBvbdK9C8

"When a canoe is about to cross a deep river, everyone inside must paddle with one mind."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq2RUmrnnj

The three friends listened.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZQQhC3K4f

"You boys are about to cross your own river."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qzPr7yNcj

The old man's voice was calm.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntpZShGtWz

"And rivers do not care about dreams."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvp8uzX2tN

They remained silent.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61aEkEb4az

"Rivers test strength."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFe6QCpxkJw

He looked at each of them.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcabwmpzno

"Rivers test character."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdnxBXigHa

His gaze became serious.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84982ajwBG

"And rivers reveal who people truly are."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbE98USS4Iy

A cold breeze passed through the village.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYav2MkaS5p

The words sent chills down their spines.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeRx9x1PdE

For the first time, fear began to mix with hope.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzez2IUaJU

The journey ahead would not be easy.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIsEnpNScO

The Unknown Land was still far away.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhihDkQ0dk

Yet already sacrifices were being made.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ijUZ230oZ

Already hearts were breaking.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2tiecnApH

Already goodbyes were forming.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23BHmqGDQg

Baba Ade slowly stood.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEhnqwJ9wV

Before leaving, he spoke one final proverb.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbk4wLKsycx

"The road does not tell the traveler where danger sleeps."

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvgX7jdSUd

Then he disappeared into the darkness.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejBaavUpCY

The three friends sat quietly beneath the ancient tree.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNUoe19HTd

Above them, the stars shone brightly.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ233jyHvMLE

Ahead of them, the future waited.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDM99fctoK

Behind them, the life they had always known was slowly slipping away.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkrcdAq0X5

And though their pockets were empty, their hearts carried something powerful.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpi7hSgjXs

Hope.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhXJgWdbMl

The very thing that pushes ordinary people to attempt extraordinary journeys.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5140iDFC8

The very thing that convinces dreamers to leave home.

45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsaqIFl1qv

The very thing that was about to lead them toward the Unknown Land.45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkgd93MDGH

ns216.73.216.208da2

Reading Theme:

Font Size:

Line Spacing:

Paragraph Spacing:

Load the next issue automatically