A Time for Vines from 'The Sycamore Warrior' III

It's one thing to get a kick in the head from a monster, but imagine receiving a kick from one with iron feet? Yes, iron toenails: some would call them claws. The kick would rip you up! You don't want to get a bite from this character either, because he has iron dental work too, which I imagine him sharpening on rocks. The character I'm talking about is Sasabonsam; the old nemesis of the Sycamore Warrior, as both reside in Ashantiland.

The tale is told of a weaver, who made wonders called Kente, killed by Sasabonsam. Walking home as dusk began to fall, caught up in thought, he became an easy victim for the watchful one in the tree. This coincided with the ending of a battle in Zambia, where he'd defeated Kongamato, the avian demon. So straight back to homeland Ghana, to another battle with the old enemy; this time, he was going to use vines and leaves.

Because of those such as the recently deceased master weaver, some members of humanity, get to walk around wrapped in a rainbow. He killed a maker of kente. Who can imagine such a thing? Like the execution of beauty. Tourists stand rooted to the spot, when they first see someone wrapped in kente, shimmering down the street; they stand, marvelling at the intermingling of colour and craftsmanship: the interweaving of iridescence.

So, before the collecting of vines began, under a banyan tree, he said a prayer to Asase Yaa, Mother Earth; promising not to take anything from the sacred groves. The Banyan tree – known as ''Kum'' – the tree of Ashanti unity. Then the legendary supplicant went through the forest, gathering lianas and runners – the strongest ones - banana leaves and palm fronds too; then sat plaiting them together. And when he had made two long lengths of these plants, like elongated braids, he encircled one end of each of them and began to practise, throwing them over tree stumps, mounds and boulders, strengthening them where he needed to. I think you know by now, that preparation is paramount, when confronting a member of the monster clan. Born and raised in Ashantiland, he didn't need to gather any local intel on the monster: he knew Sasabonsam quite well. He knows that he often sits in trees, dangling his long spindly legs, resembling hanging branches or vines. So the unsuspecting victim walking along, is trapped by the iron hooks.

As part of his final preparations, he again says a prayer under the banyan tree, thanking Asase Yaa, for the collected items and asking for ancestral protection. Then he rubs the sycamore twig, along the whole length of the plaited plants. Finally, he puts cassava leaves in his pocket, a traditional talisman of the Ashanti: then he is ready. Searching for the adversary, he takes his time. He knows the area and the places Sasabonsam likes to be, so he takes his time, enjoying again the homeland forest; the waterfall that always sings, the backing vocals from the bamboo grove; somersault of the blue flycatcher, pirouette of the red butterfly: he has celebrated this forest since childhood.

Sensing the presence of the monster, his level of stealth increases. Surprise is crucial here; without it, he may face defeat. Cool, cool; watching the every movement of adversary; thankful that like owl, he can't swivel his head around. And he can't move too much anyway, as when he's in a tree, he uses motionlessness to snare his victims. He knows he's only got once chance: the reality of the scenario. So he has to find a place, where he can stand and manouvre his arms, that has a clear access to the monster. So each step look a lifetime, each movement lasted forever. Never had he moved so slow, like he was out for a Sunday stroll with a snail. As aids in locating it's presence, he watched the flight of the birds and the movement of the animals.

He knew he was getting closer, as he was in an area where no birds flew above and there was no sound of monkeys in the trees.

Then he sees him. He has the advantage, coming up behind him. Like a legendary hunter, he moves without sound. At a perfect spot for the offensive. A hooped end in his right hand, the rest of it in his left; within one movement from behind a tree, he throws the first of the lengths over the feet of old nemesis, yanking him from the tree. Hitting his head on a bit of concrete, he is concussed. With this unexpected aid to the offensive, the Sycamore Warrior quickly tightens the binding on the feet; then uses the other length, to bind him around his body; his teeth aren't long enough to bite through the rope. And this monster isn't infamous for monumental strength; no, more for his cunning and iron weaponry.

Emerging from concussion; fuming, restive, writhing on the ground; cussing the world and all its inhabitants.

So that's another area free from Sasabonsam attack; they tend to stay away from areas where they've known defeat; bad vibes and all that. Some battles last for hours, some for half hour; some like this one, are just a brief skirmish, or should I say, ambush. The monster fighter always wonders why he can never defeat this enemy. Is it because of his help in guarding ancient Ashanti law? Thursday was a rest day for Mother Earth, when hoes and machetes went unused, as they believe Creation occurred on a Thursday. To break the rest day, was a major crime in Ashanti culture. It is said that Sasabonsam caught offenders, sneaking into the forest, taking what they wanted. So he feet-cuffed them in his claws, until the rest of the community could come and deal with them. Is it for this reason, that he could defeat him, but never kill him. Who knows? Anyway, his remit is just to battle the foe. He kisses the sycamore twig, while drums begin to play and the sky spangles orange and vermilion.