In these paragraphs, all three meet up at Aphrodites’ mud hut, Andromeda says goodbye to her friends, and Eros arrives carrying two leather water containers. Eros commented, ‘Mother, did you pack as much food as you and Andromeda can carry?’
Aphrodites replied, ‘Yes, but I’m unsure if she wants to come.’
Andromeda overheard Aphrodites and cried with sadness. She answered, ‘Yes, I’m coming.’
Tears well up in her eyes, and our hero wraps his arms around her to comfort her. Eros asks, ‘Do you have all your belongings?’
Andromeda responds, ‘Yes, thank you for the hug. I feel so much better with your warm, strong arms around me. Are you both ready to leave now?’
They both answered, ‘Yes.’
**A Trip to Destiny**
So, they set off to start their journey north from present-day Uganda. They followed a stream that flowed into the Nile, the longest river in Africa, at 6,650 km.
The Nile runs through ten modern-day countries at an elevation of 1,134 metres above sea level. It then drains into rainforests adjoining open savannas.
The River Nile flows south to north from the highlands of Lake Victoria, weaving its way through the landscape before ending its journey in the Mediterranean Sea.
Following the river, their hike was difficult, tricky, strenuous, and challenging. Eros, Andromeda, and Aphrodites crawled through the dense rainforest at night.
During the day, they avoided fearful creatures, such as lions and packs of hungry hyenas.
They waded across the Nile, with snap-chopping chop-chop crocodiles swimming after wildebeests. The creatures were trying to cross the rushing mud-brown river.
After following the brightest star north for a few months, they walked through a muddy marshland. With tall trees wrapped in vines, the green grass was as tall as the trees.
Then, Andromeda walked into a patch of mud, but her feet were stuck. In fear, she cried, ‘Eros, I am sinking. What is this?’
The urgency in her voice shocked Eros. He turned to look behind. Andromeda was stomping on the spot, trying to pull her feet out of the mud.
But she was slowly sinking lower and lower into the quicksand. Eros shouted, ‘Andromeda, keep still. You will sink faster the more you move. Don’t move until I get to you.’
Eros dashes to the nearest tree. Cuts a thick, long length of vine. Then, he ran to where Andromeda was disappearing into the quicksand up to her neck.
Eros launched the length of the vine to Andromeda. She struggled to free her right arm from the mud. Then, her left hand grabbed the vine.
Eros pulled the vine until Andromeda was pulled to safety. In relief, they held each other covered in mud. Andromeda said, ‘You are my hero, Eros. Thank you.’
Eros kissed her muddy face. He added, ‘Despite the mud on your face, my soul has the purest affection for you. I would be lost without you.’
He turned to his mother and shouted, ‘Mother, can you follow my footsteps here?’
Aphrodites replied, ‘Yes, just have that vine ready in case I sink into quicksand.’
Eros chuckled and answered, ‘Don’t worry.’
They decided to rest for a while, ate luscious fruit from the trees and bushes, and then they were on their way.
Add comment
Comments