They call it the paradise on earth. Africa. A land where life thrives in numerous colours and shapes and sizes. Here death and kill is an everyday affair that holds as much acceptance as the setting of sun. Amongst today's scientific community probing into the genesis of viruses there is great intrigue in tracing the origin of some of last centuries most lethal viruses to a certain region of this wild paradise.

From tribals they here of a mysterious cave from which have erupted some of the deadliest ills to have killed humans and beasts in great numbers. The locals also call it the 'Satan's Cave'. The say goes, those who have entered the cave have returned with deadly diseases that were never before known to exist.

Two years ago, a young Masai warrior hunting for the mane of the lion who had killed his cow, finally caught up with the killer after many days of
pursuing its trail. The killer, desperate to get the unrelenting Masaya off its back, took refuge in the first cave it came across. The Masaya, though brave was wise not to enter the lion's den and risk his own. He waited patiently outside, hiding himself in a nearby bush.

For two days the Masai eye did not wink from the cave. And for two days the lion did not dare to step out. Finally it was hunger that drove the lion to where its courage had failed. As it stepped from the cave's mouth, the
Masaya took his shot. Before the lion's ears could hear the tearing in the
wind, the Masaya spear found its mark, piercing the lion in one ear and
remained stuck with the blade tearing its way out through the other. The
lion too remained still. It had died before its body could register the lethal
strike.

Blood trickled through the ruptured ears, dyeing the lifeless mane in red.
Even the Masaya eyes took a while to learn life had escaped his victim. And when they did, the Masaya leapt out of his hide like a lion himself and shouting a cry of victory.

The bloodied mane was cut in ease with the masaya's razor sharp stone. The elated Masaya drinked the lion's blood trickling down the mane, and then wore it round his neck. Pulling off the spear in subtle but yet ruthless force, the Masaya then performed the famous Masai leap as he went dancing round the dead but standing lion, chanting the Masai song of victory.

Before the Masaya could complete his second orbit, his feet stopped just as sudden as the lion had gone still. They never moved again. Few months later fellow Masayas searching for their tribesman found the masaya's tattered red cloak and spear amongst a debris of skeleton that had amongst them a lion, a human skull and about 40-50 pairs of vultures wings.

The spear and cloak returned to the Masai tribe. But as they neared their
settlement, the Masai shaman came out of his hut and yelled asking the
men to stop where they were. Only after an elaborate ritual unlike any the
Masayas had ever seen were the tribesmen asked to come forth and enter the village... leaving the spear and cloak where they stood and not looking back until they had crossed the Masai shaman standing before the fence.

Since then, often the Masayas hear the shaman talk of a dark maneless lion in his trance. 'Kiza', he calls it meaning 'darkness', and reveals no more. Even the Masayas are scared to ask.

©yogeshchandrate2008 All rights reserved

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