Towards Ayesha cont...
The Following Alexander Party continues towards Ayesha in Kor. They decide to spend the night at the pygmy village at which they are treated to a great feast of smelly poison fruit and other yummy things. Chief Farthrower and the other Pygmies (Toa?) are very excited by the presence of "two" different parties of human-sized adventurers. They introduce us to the witch hunter Abubec and her two companions, brothers Muluken and Mihuet. Abubec and her party are headed to Axum to kill the Bokor Nelenteyos who inhabits Yodit's court and ask that we accompany them. After some discussion we decide to ' let the dance decide '. Harald defeats Muluken in single combat, so we do not return to Axum with them, and Abubec gives us the following advice:
- There are three beautiful sights in the world; the finger of God, the goya lily, and Fantouma (Ayesha).
- Fantouma can only be slain by one thing, but no one knows what.
- She loves only two things, one of which is Wisdom.
She and the pygmies also warned us of the Ninkinunka and all sorts of other monsters that will probably kill us.
The next day (june 11) we leave the pygmies, and head off once again through the perilous, disease ridden jungle. Our travels are interrupted by some red-toothed undead pygmies, an evil frog-woman (Iccicucuandivu) who swallows Ailyll whole, and some mummies, but we finally reach the swamp (june 23). There we are met by some jungle inhabitants who speak to us in (very) broken Arabic of Hiiya Ayesha. We communicate in some fashion, giving evasive replies to their queries. "Hiya see you?" "I'm sure she will soon." "No, no, Hiya expect you?" "Well, she's none too likely to expect strangers from the North, right?" "What?" "Uh, just let us go, we'll meet up with her on our own time." "You no come with us, swamp kill you. Me see encounter table." We have another brief run in with Oe, who tells us that although we are now under the protection of She Who Must be Obeyed, we will not be for long.
On June 25 we reach our destination.