The Reckoning

Speaking Lions: Episode One

LetsStra tOver

Published in

Speaking Lions — a period piece

7 min readSep 12, 2020

EXT. NBO — MORNING

2020 A.D.

A gloomy-yet-glorious sunrise splashes itself across the horizon as a spoilt Nairobi, the section of it that is already up at least, stares at it’s phones — oblivious.

…Or just exhausted.

Before the sunlight pierces through the clingy fog — insisting on giving the Grey City In The Fog another dementor kiss — and turns the city over to warm its innards. If you stand a certain point on Upper Hill, at a certain time, and look in a certain direction; the crawling early bird Matatus look like orcs patrolling the murky depths of Mordor.

EXT. BCSTJRC* HQs — MORNING

[Best Case Scenario Truth Justice & Reconciliation Commission]

INT. NBO COURT OF HISTORICAL CRIMES — DAY

McMILLAN CHAPTER

The Pio Gama Pinto Chamber:

The famous Book Bunk rebuilding anthem “Renovation” (grafted off Eric Wainaina’s “Revolution” as the Kenyan Anthem is grafted off that Pokomo jam) is playing from an unseen source, setting a most chilled out vibe.

The regal chamber is voluminous — the immediate effect of the vastness, from a gilded wall to a pillared one, is an unintentional gasp. As if lungs have suddenly become aware of surplus oxygen.

It is that airy.

The bench has an air of timelessness. Bearing the sacred quality of a shrine and the intimate safety of a lover’s bed.

Intertwined.

The arches steal that breath right from under your diaphragm…

So that when the glinting, glittering, glistering morning rays filter through the stained glass windows, the beauty hits you like a punch in the gut.

It is unfairly spectacular for a government institution— but who cares, it is after The rEVOLution. Artists run the country! Scientists teach the kids! Politicians lead the Leaders of Organized religion — and Ezekiel Mutua — in a remote, isolated, barricaded, mined, and surveilled island.
This is The Era Of Glam.
We throw glitter wherever we like.
ESPECIALLY ON THE PORTRAYAL OF OUR HISTORY!
Okay, there might be waaay too many explosions in those classes. And the government policies take long to implement because every department has a designer who is crazy about fonts. BUT read up on the the mess that was Ke, and NBO specifically, during The Jubilee Error.

We are waiting for The NBO Council.

The best of the wisest, most experienced, most innovative, most courageous, most incorruptible artizens.

An NBO People’s Guard — dressed in re-imagined, chic, funcshionable Moran outfit stands by the entrance.

His name is OW (Otenyo Waciuri). He is part of a squad of volunteer martial arts experts that surfaced after the abolition of the police and prison systems.

They are often criticized for being too aggressive in their efforts to protect the NBO population, but history had already given them cause.

Raiyaa — the artizens who choose to exercise their individual freedoms and liberties within the city alone — and Umati — those artizens who choose to live in communities, communes and villages — have the same level of access to the hearings.

They occupy the galleries, every sit with a premium view of justice being served. Above the main gallery entrance, the old NBO adage proudly proclaims:

There is always a seat for an artizen at the gallery, and a hot meal after.

OW taps his Digispear M94x on the floor.

We pan right on time to see M³ hit a button on his Ableton Push, ending the music ends perfectly just as…

The door glides open and The Council glides in in majestic robes re-imagined from across Kenya.

The Council is made of people strongly inspired by the likes of JSO, Mumbi Kaigwa, Willy Mutunga, Zarina Patel, Field Marshal Muthoni, David Mulwa, Yash Pal Ghai, Wangari Maathai, Wacuka Mungai, Rasnah Warah, Wanjiru Kinyanjui…

But the coolest, most Nai, most mathree versions of them ever.

Aleya, leading adorned emissaries of the Ismaili Community, focuses on the bench.

Across from them, Wachuka, Wanjiru, leading a Book Bunk retinue, also regard the bench.

The Council takes its place.

They are moving in sync. Smiling and chuckling over private jokes shared through the M-Bongo — an advanced neurolink communications system. Brilliantly executed — like everything in the post-rona technological boom of Silicon Savannah.
Unfortunately named — some Kenyan things do not change.

The Council takes it place.

Calm suddenly emanates from The Council, swiftly seeping through the room.

At distance, there are muffled screams as depression and anxiety aree scorted to the neutralization labs by Mizuka — human guardians from the Ancestral Realm, manifesting in a manner that can be narrowly compared to that of the patronus.

One of The Illuminated Illustrious — a reknown prodigy from a long line of indomitable sensates speaks first.

NBO People’s Moral Guide:

“After much deliberation with my Esteemed Colleagues, with whom it is a immeasurable honour to serve The Resplendent People of NBO, we have come to a consensus:

Yes.
Just over a century ago, in this City, a group of unscrupulous imperialists committed a Great Crime against the honourable Ismaili Community.
The Community is, today, here, represented by our good friend, Aleya Kassam The Splendiferous— whose pre-eminence is of unmatched distinction.
This wrong needs to be corrected. It should have been fixed decades ago. But only the people of Kenya have the power to fix that. I wonder how long cowardice shall keep us shackled.
BUT we are not totally helpless. We can still do a lot.”

NBO Peoples Philosophical Guide:

“A shitload actually.

We conquer the psychological first and the physical shall follow.”

NBO People’s Creative Guide:

“You could always say “mind over matter” Jontez.

Book Bunk.

You carry a heavy and noble responsibility for this city. But only the worthy are trusted with such deeds.

You took up a job to renovate a problematic building. We are sure the result will be glorious. But glory often comes with a curse.

Yours is that you will have to renovate the narrative rot as well.”

NBO People’s Collaborative Guides:

“And because we never leave our own alone, we have just the back up you need.”

The People’s Guard taps his Digispear M94x.

M³ hits a button on his Ableton Push and Fena’s “Royalty” starts playing right on cue.

The doors slide open.

Gathoni strides in slow motion. She is dressed in a reimagination of African Royalty expressed through Kikuyu/Hood style (plush golden crown on a headwrap, Fenty facebeat with African ethnic influences, long flowing khanga/kitenge robes with pockets, with rich embroidery finished with golden/purple trimmings.

She acknowledges everyone’s presence.

She lifts a finger and the music fades away.

Gathoni:

“You requested my presence Comrades.”

NBO People’s Strategic Guide:

“How is your squad?”

Gathoni:

“Ready to rock and roll.”

Council’s SpokesPerson:

It is settled then.

The People Of NBO assign the responsibility of retelling the history of The McMillan family of Memorial Libraries. Highly prioritize the broadcasting of the story behind the crime that has gathered us here today.