Chapter 1
Episode 3: The Stranger
Months of backbreaking labor had transformed my once-barren land into a sea of green. The crops swayed gently in the breeze, a testament to my relentless determination. I stood at the edge of my field, a sense of pride swelling in my chest.
“Impressive,” a deep voice startled me from my reverie.
I whirled around, coming face to face with a stranger. He was tall and lean, with piercing eyes that seemed to look right through me. My heart skipped a beat, but I steeled myself, wary of his intentions.
“Who are you?” I demanded, my hand instinctively reaching for the hoe at my belt.
The stranger held up his hands, a disarming smile playing on his lips. “Peace, friend. I’m merely a traveler, passing through these lands. Your field caught my eye – it’s quite remarkable.”
I relaxed slightly, but kept my guard up. “Thank you. It’s taken a lot of work.”
“I can imagine,” he nodded, his eyes scanning the lush crops. “Tell me, would you consider selling this land?”
The question caught me off guard. “Selling? No, absolutely not. This land is my inheritance, my future.”
The stranger’s smile widened. “Come now, surely everything has a price. I’ll offer you a handsome sum – enough to live comfortably for years to come.”
I shook my head firmly. “I’m not interested. This land means more to me than money ever could.”
As we spoke, I noticed movement in the corner of my eye. Bidemi was lurking behind a nearby tree, eavesdropping on our conversation. Her eyes gleamed with a mixture of curiosity and greed.
The stranger noticed my distraction and followed my gaze. “Ah, I see we have company. Perhaps your neighbor would be more amenable to a deal?”
Before I could respond, Bidemi burst from her hiding place. “I’ll sell!” she exclaimed, her voice heavy with desperation. “My land is even more fertile than hers. I’ll sell it to you right now!”
The stranger turned to her, his expression unreadable. “Is that so? And what price would you ask for such prime real estate?”
Bidemi’s eyes darted between the stranger and me, calculation evident in her gaze. “Whatever you offered her, I’ll take half.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. How could she be so foolish? But then again, Bidemi had never understood the value of hard work. She’d always taken the easy way out.
The stranger nodded slowly. “Very well. We have a deal.”
As they shook hands, sealing the transaction, I felt a chill run down my spine. Something about this didn’t feel right. The stranger’s eyes met mine once more, and I could have sworn I saw a glimmer of something – approval? amusement? – before he turned away.
Little did I know, this encounter would set in motion a chain of events that would change all our lives forever.
