"THE DRUMMER'S GUILT: A KING’S CLEVER TRAP"

Once upon a time, in the kingdom of BUIN NKUM, there lived a powerful and wise king named King Yaji. He was known for his fairness and wisdom, and his subjects respected him greatly. The kingdom flourished under his rule, but one day, something happened that shook the king and all who served him.

One morning, King Yaji awoke to find that his most prized possession—a precious golden amulet, passed down through generations—was missing from its place in the palace treasury. The amulet wasn’t just valuable; it symbolized the protection of BUIN NKUM, said to bring prosperity and peace to the land. Losing it was not only a blow to the king’s honor but a grave threat to the well-being of the kingdom.

Furious but determined to recover the amulet, King Yaji summoned his advisors and guards, demanding they find the thief. They searched every corner of the palace, questioned servants and guards alike, but no one could identify the culprit. Word of the theft spread, and the villagers, who loved their king and prized the prosperity of their land, grew anxious, whispering rumors about the bold thief among them.

Days turned to weeks, and still, the thief was nowhere to be found. One evening, as the king sat in deep thought, he had an idea. Smiling to himself, he called his chief advisor and instructed him to arrange a grand feast. “Invite everyone from the kingdom,” he ordered. “Make it a celebration like no other, with drums, dances, and a great feast.”

The announcement was made, and soon, the villagers buzzed with excitement. A feast! But for what occasion? They didn’t know, but with excitement in the air, they gathered in the palace courtyard on the day of the feast, bringing their families and friends, eager to join the mysterious celebration.

On the day of the feast, the palace was alive with music and laughter, and villagers filled the courtyard, dancing to the beat of the drums and celebrating under the light of torches. At the center of the festivities was a young man named Njoma, a skillful drummer who beat his drum with great energy, seeming to forget himself in the rhythm. Little did anyone know that Njoma was the very thief they were all unknowingly celebrating among. He had come, heart pounding but hopeful that his guilt wouldn’t show, blending in with the crowd and enjoying the feast like everyone else.

King Yaji watched his people with a silent, keen gaze, observing their every move. When he was ready, he stood, and the crowd grew quiet. Njoma, who was still drumming, slowed his beat until it stopped, his heart racing as he looked up at the king, curious about what the announcement would be.

The king raised his hand, commanding everyone’s attention. In his other hand, he held a rifle, its gleaming metal catching the light and sending a murmur through the crowd.

“My beloved people,” King Yaji began, his voice deep and steady, “tonight, I called you here not only to celebrate but to resolve a matter that weighs heavily on my heart.”

The crowd exchanged glances, whispering in confusion. Njoma’s pulse quickened, his palms sweating as he gripped his drumsticks.

“Someone in this kingdom,” continued the king, “has stolen a priceless treasure from me, an amulet that belongs to our land and protects our people.”

The crowd gasped, shocked. Njoma’s heart skipped a beat, and he shifted nervously, hoping his face didn’t betray his fear.

“Do not be alarmed,” the king said, scanning the crowd with calm authority. “I have found a way to discover the thief.”

A tense silence fell over the courtyard. The king raised the rifle and pointed it towards the sky. “This rifle holds a special power. When I fire it, it will strike down the thief wherever he may be in this crowd.”

The crowd froze, eyes wide with anticipation. Njoma’s heart pounded so loudly he thought everyone around him could hear it. He tried to keep still, to hide his fear, but the king’s piercing gaze seemed to burn through him.

Without warning, a spark of panic ignited in Njoma’s chest. His guilt overwhelmed him, and before he knew it, he had dropped his drum and bolted, shoving through the crowd in a desperate attempt to escape.

“There he is!” someone shouted, pointing towards Njoma as he ran.

The crowd surged, grabbing at Njoma’s arms and holding him back as he struggled. The king lowered the rifle, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

“Well, well,” he said, approaching the captured man. “It seems we’ve found our thief.”

Realizing he had been outwitted, Njoma sank to his knees, head hanging in shame. He knew he was caught, not by the power of the king’s rifle, but by his own guilty conscience, which had driven him to expose himself.

The king looked down at Njoma, his expression stern but thoughtful. “Tell me,” he said, “what drove you to commit such a crime?”

Trembling, Njoma replied, “Your Majesty, I… I saw the amulet shining in the treasury, and I was overcome with desire for its beauty and value. I thought that if I could have it, my life would be better, that I would be free from the struggles of my poverty. But now I see that my own greed has brought me nothing but disgrace.”

The king nodded, understanding the struggles his people often faced. But he knew that theft, especially of something as sacred as the kingdom’s amulet, could not go unpunished. Turning to the crowd, he raised his voice.

“Let this be a lesson to all who are here tonight,” he said. “When we act against what is right, we carry the weight of guilt in our hearts. No matter how we try to hide, a guilty conscience will always betray us, for it is as fierce as any fire and as sharp as any weapon.”

He then turned back to Njoma, his eyes softened. “I will not take your life, for mercy is also a part of justice. But you will repay what you have taken. You will work in the palace until your debt is fulfilled, and you will serve this kingdom with honesty, showing others the value of integrity.”

Njoma looked up, his eyes filled with gratitude and relief. “Thank you, Your Majesty,” he whispered, bowing deeply. “I promise to repay you, not only with my work but with a life lived honorably.”

From that day on, Njoma served in the palace, proving himself as a faithful servant, working with dedication and humility. The people of BUIN NKUM often spoke of the feast where the thief was caught by his own guilty conscience, a story passed down through generations as a reminder of the power of integrity and the consequences of deception.

King Yaji’s wisdom was remembered as well, for he taught his people not only to value honesty but to understand that true justice is balanced with mercy. And so, the people of BUIN NKUM lived with greater integrity and trust, knowing that while they were ruled with justice, they were also protected by a king whose wisdom ran deeper than the fear of punishment alone.