Week 9 Story: Revenge of the Sandfly

Revenge of the Sandfly

(A Prolouge to How Nzambi Won and Lost Her Daughter)

Nzambi, the Divine Mother, dwells on Earth with her daughter while Nzambi Mpungu - a supreme diety, a creator god - sits in the heavens.  It was a warm day when Nzambi awoke to unusual silence.  Her ears strained for the sound of her child's laughter, but she did not hear the joyful noise.  Startled, Nzambi strode into wakefulness and looked around.  There was a mess about their den and the dirt was peppered with unfamiliar prints.  Breathing deep, Nzambi called to the spirits of the Earth to guide her to the lost child.

Along the way, Nzambi stumbled upon a tortiose turned upon his back.  His short legs pedaled in the air, for the sound of the lion's paws spurred fear into the creature even more so than his current predictiament did.  But he was soon to realize that the predator who stalked through the tall grass was not like the other beasts who roamed about.

Since her heart was kind and she could not turn away from those in trouble, Nzambi was quick to step from the path of her mission and offer help to the wise old turtle.  The tortiose was awed by her generosity and bowed his shrived head low to the ground.

"Divine Mother, my life is at your debt.  You have stopped to help me in my peril, yet I sense a dark trouble in your heart.  If you would be consoled by such news, I will tell you I have beheld your daughter.  It was her captor who knocked me onto my back."

Nzambi was delighted at such news, and asked if he would share the identity of the kidnapper.  The tortiose sighed heavily, forelorn as he lifted his head.  Nzambi quickly saw the reason for his disappointment, for wrinkles covered the tortiose's morose eyes.  He explained to the lionness, "Age has covered my eyes so I am afraid I did not see who has taken your daughter.  Though, I will offer what assistance I can."

Nzambi was not deterred and proudly strengthed her resolve.  Thanking the tortiose, Nzambi turned her gaze back to the path of her duty.  She did not notice the small sandfly which was perched upon the tortiose's shell, but as Nzambi glanced around she saw the long pink tail of a rat.

"We must find eyes who have witnessed the one holding my daughter." Nzambi announced and strode over to the other creature.  Tortiose trailed behind her as they came upon the rat, who was accompained by a woodpecker.  The two were arguing about who had awoken who by shaking the tree the pair resided in.  As Nzambi neared, they were stunned into quietness.

After investigating, Nzambi was able to solve the arguement.  It was clear that whoever had knocked over the tortoise had also shaken their tree.  Unfortanately, this meant that the woodpecker and the rat had also not seen the captor.  Then, the sandfly spoke up in a tiny voice Nzambi almost did not hear.

"I have seen who has taken your daughter." The Sandfly buzzed, landing on Nzambi's flickering ear.  Into that ear, he told of how he witnessed the Spider sneaking into her den.  The Sandfly recounted at the capture, of the way in which the silken thread of the Spider's web had been spilled until Nzambi's daughter was tangled in the sticky mess.  Then, the Sandfly smiled as Nzambi was filled with rage.

Finally, after all the death the Spider had punished the Sandfly with, the flying insect would have his revenge.

Image from UK blog Telegraph

Author's Note: This story is originally called How The Spider Won and Lost Nzambi's Daughter, which can be found in Notes on the Folklore of the Fjort by Richard Edward Dennett (1898).  The story is from the Congo Unit, which has some really awesome stories about tricksters!  In my version of this tale, instead of the Spider trying to win the hand of her daughter it is Nzambi trying to win her daughter back from the Spider - who captured her beloved child.  The roles of Nzambi and the Spider are simply inversed.  I gave Nzambi and her daughter a form since it is not specified in the original how they look.  With all the other animals in the story, I decided to make Nzambi a great lionness - i.e. why they live in a den.  As I was writing, my goal changed and I decided to make this story a prolouge to the tale of How Nzambi Won and Lost Her Daughter.  Nzambi goes off to look for her daughter but encounters some other animals along the way.  The Sandfly soon realizes his chance for vengence and takes it.  I think this is an interesting plot twist to the tale and it gives reason to the other animals to help.