African Violet prologe
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Prologue
In 1833, the British Empire abolished slavery. In a small coastal village, on the western shores of Africa, a young man searching for his lost boomerang along the rivers edge. He notices a glinting of light shining through the shallow waters. Reaching into the muddy bottom pulls a glass rock, the size of a green olive from its hold. He rinses it off thoroughly, holding it up to the sunlight. Examining it very closely, as the colors of the spectrum change from green to blue, then red.
Amazed at this discovery, he quickly placed the stone into his cloth pants and continued his search for his lost boomerang. Upon returning to his village, a local missionary affectionately known as African Violet, was busy assisting the woman with the new chapel and its construction. Excited to show her his discovery, he quickly ran towards shouting in his mother tongue.
Violet stumbled forward as the young boy slammed into her, then wrapping his thin arms around her waist, holding the treasure in the air with his small hands.
The young man is scolded by the female villagers that were there with Violet, for behaving so badly. In a calmer manner he apologizes in English, grabs her hand and drops the rock into her palm. She quickly realizes that this is no ordinary rock, and quickly closes her hand and hides the stone into her skirt pocket, hoping no one has seen the object. Violet calmly walks away to find the head missionary. Her hands trembling as the implications as to what will become of this newly formed village should the locals and the British government discover that , somewhere nearby, lies a fortune of unmined diamonds. Her thoughts raced, as she imagined a now freed people will be forced back into slavery and death for the great wealth that lingers in the ground beneath their feet.
Violet is unaware that her revelation has already been realized by a ruthless British lieutenant stationed nearby. He has his suspicions stemming from the rumors circulating around the country side regarding these precious stones. But is uncertain of their location. He narrowed his search to this area of Africa, that is why he accepted the responsibility of overseeing this particular encampment: In secret, he can explore the region, hoping to find what he came there for.
Along his journey, he has encountered an Irishman who lives among the natives. He has great respect and reverence for the people whom have accepted him into their lives and has sworn an oath to defend them in battle and to protect the lands and all of its secrets.
These two men have become fierce adversaries after the British soldier, stumbled upon the hunting grounds meant only for the tribesman best warriors to hunt upon. No warning was given to the British lieutenant, to leave quietly on that day. He was met with a bullet and a stark reminder to never again trespass on sacred ground. The cane this British soldier now uses to steady his gait serves as a testament. These sacred bulletcame from the rifle of the Irishman, and on that day he made a promise to the lieutenant, to not spare his life should he feel compelled to return.
These sacred sites are also where the boy found the unpolished stone. The Irishman knows the secret Violet now holds in her hands. And, he will guard this hidden wealth, no matter what.
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