The return home

Treasure Trove - around 1,000 words, continuing the tal

ght: Echoe

silent. No birds sang. Even the

n warming their faces. Behind them, the entrance to the treasure cham

off his hand

"We bought time

"You said someone was co

He's been collecting ancient artifacts tied to power. He believes

t that kind of treasure. It

with greedy hearts don't care. They

o hum faintly, like a whisper only she could hear. She looke

t ready," s

i agreed. "

clucked in the yard. Smoke curled lazily from the

, something had

randah, Baraka joined her, holding two mugs of s

a moment. "I left because I was angry. At Fa

the tea, say

way out." He chuckled bitterly. "Turns o

at him. "S

e protect it. Quietly. Fro

upted them. It came

ts later, a stranger w

nen suit that didn't belong in the dust of Mwali

th. "I'm Dr. Kenga. I believe you hav

antly. Zawadi s

trangers who come uninvite

, Mama Zawadi. I only wish to prese

rway, jaw clenched. "You'r

aka. Still playing

narrowed. "Y

crossed paths once. In N

g under Kikombe Hill, didn't you? A mask. A chamber. Te

g. But her silen

d softly. "The world is changing. You can eit

ned an

moments, n

spoke, her

reached beyo

e. We have to hide what we can. Pass t

Sammy, Baraka, Zawadi, and three elders from the village. Lina shared

When she was done, the eldest of

It is real. It is buried deep. And its roo

dn't f

"Then what

ome what the line has waited for.

"Your grandfather believed you'd c

y. "Then I'll lea

nned. "Co

s cup. "To the n

together, not in cele

ind passed throug

mask pulsed once w

maps and relics, Dr. Kenga lit a candle ov

smi

's b

Chapter

tinue with Chapter Ni