Part 9 (5)

Governor Babida went to his private apartment, and the henchmen Polo and Baba hastened to execute what they had been instructed to do by the Okunde's ruler.
They had to select five lucky imperial warriors among the troop in Okunde's garden so that they take part in the wedding ceremony of the Supreme Commander Babida.
However, the woodsman hadn't given them any criteria on which they had to base their choices.
Knowing that most of the men would be happy to be among the five special guests of His Highness Babida, Polo the cunning suggested to the interim aide-de-camp Baba that they organize a game from which the five lucky attendees would emerge.
So they thought about making the men in uniform go through a stamina contest that consisted to test the latter endurance during particularly difficult military exercises.
The two henchmen thus left their office and headed straight to Okunde's garden.
At their sight, the troop understood that there was news either from Emperor Batang V himself or from Governor Babida.
So they waited for the two henchmen to close the gap that was between them so the latter would announce them the news that they were carrying with them.
Meanwhile, a bunch of impatient warriors began to make upfront assumptions.
"My Commander, are we going back to the main barracks?" said some of them.
"My Commander, has the Emperor ordered that we go home and see our families?" asked others.
"None of that, comrades!" responded the aide-de-camp Polo.
"The reason that brings us over here is that we have received a command from His Highness Babida," Polo said to the men in uniform while the interim henchman Baba stood behind him and silently approved his words.
"The lumberjack is going to wed in three moons. However, only five of you are allowed to attend the event."The henchman Polo explained.
"Who then is invited and who is not, My Commander?" interrogated an imperial soldier in the troop.
"Well, all interested candidates will go through a stamina contest that will take place tomorrow early morning right after sunrise.
"Alright, I'm going to take part in the contest. I wouldn't miss for all the gold of the world a chance to be by the side of the killer of the Monster of the forbidden mountain on the happiest day of his life." declared an imperial warrior excitedly.
"So do I" began to repeat one after another a group of tens of prospective competitors.
"Well, so now that everything is clear for everyone. See you therefore tomorrow by the grace of the ancestors!" Polo concluded and along with the youngster Baba, went back inside the imperial headquarters.
It was now evening in Okunde and the sky was marvelously enlightened by a beautiful and round moon.
For the two lovebirds Babida the lumberjack and the young maiden Suzie, the appearance of the satellite had a particular meaning. It meant in the next two moons, they would get married.
So each lover was burning with impatience in their respective room and was coping alone with the coldness of the night.
Babida was lodged in the most spacious sleeping room of the administrative headquarters, the Governor's chamber.
The nights in the Commander's private apartment began to be endless and boring, for he dozed all by himself, without his other half Suzie who was staying in one of the guest rooms of the building.
Nevertheless the bachelor's life was soon going to end for the two soul mates.
"Only two more moons!" said Babida the lumberjack to himself before falling asleep.
The night flew by in its slowest pace ever, however the morning finally came up.
The henchmen Polo and Baba woke up and rapidly prepared themselves to go to Okunde's garden where men in uniform hoping to be selected for the private marriage ceremony of Babida the lumberjack and the beautiful Suzie, were waiting for them.
As the two aides-de-camp stepped on the lawn of the garden, over a hundred competitors were already boosted.
They screamed and slapped themselves on the cheeks and chest to give themselves courage.
The henchmen Polo and Baba challenged them to marathon, deadlift, heavy loads pulling and pushing, push-ups, and arm wrestling.
The military exercises unfoled under the hot and energy-consuming sun over the firmament of Okunde.
At the of the mid-day, the organisms were sucked up. The challengers had nothing left in the tank.
However, five of the competing men in uniform who were braver and more enduring than the rest were declared winners and therefore got their passes for the wedding ceremony of their hero Babida, a man they looked up to.
As the night was falling and the sky was lit by another incredibly full moon, the henchmen Polo and Baba hastened to go back to the administrative headquarters.
They went to the Governor's office to give to him the list of the five imperial warriors they had chosen to be among his guests for his marriage with the pretty young maiden Suzie.
The latter was spending her day in front of the mirror of her room, trying on the most extravagant female robes of the empire.
Finally, she had found what was fitting her to perfection and couldn't wait to make the sand of the coast dance as she moved toward the groom Babida the lumberjack.