Title:

The Lies of the Ajungo

Author:

Moses Ose Utomi

Category:

Science Fiction / Fantasy

Rating:

Date Reviewed:

July 2, 2023
t what point does a novella become a novelette? The Lies of the Ajungo possesses a mere 84 pages - is that a large enough word count to still be a novella? Novelette or novella, The Lies of the Ajungo is an excellent story by new author Moses Ose Utomi.

Despite its brevity, The Lies of the Ajungo packs a lot of story into its pages. A well drawn fantasy landscape is sketched in with a few precise descriptions: the hero, a thirteen year old boy named Tutu, lives in a city in the middle of the Forever Desert. Alas, the citizens have almost no water. It seems that the powerful, mysterious invaders called the Ajungo conquered the city in the past, and now they withhold all water. Unable to survive without water, the rulers pleaded with the ruthless Ajungo for water, and the Ajungo agreed - but their terms are harsh. Every adult older than 13 years old shall have their tongue cut off, because their city is The City of Lies, and the only way to stop the torrent of lies to halt speech all together. With no recourse, the citizens have agreed to this harsh demand - and yet the Ajungo only release the barest trickle of water, hardly enough to keep The City of Lies flourishing.

Since Tutu is about to turn thirteen, his tongue will soon be cut off. The rest of his poor family has already perished except his beloved mother - and Tutu finds her lying in the street outside their hovel, dehydrated and dying. Incensed, Tutu storms to the palace of the City of Lies and announces to the ruler, Oba Ijefi, that he will go out into the desert and discover water for the city. Many have tried previously, and none have returned successful. Nevertheless, Tutu vows that he shall bring water to The City of Lies.

Impressed by Tutu's bravado, Oba Ijefi orders that Tutu be equipped with a spear and daggers, with desert clothing, with dried meat and cactus - and most precious of all - a full canteen of water. Tutu is given a camel named Bango, and he rides out into the Forever Desert. Tutu's mother will be given water rations for one year; she will be kept alive until Tutu's return.

Tutu endures hardship and suffers in the desert. Yet he never falters, his beloved mother is counting on him. There are desert monsters. Unforgiving heat. And no where a drop to drink.

Tutu encounters three warrior women - Asilah, Funme and Lami in the trackless desert. It turns out that they are from The City of Lies, which is cruelly deprived of iron by the Ajungo. In exchange for iron, the citizens of this City of Lies must have their ears cutoff. So now these three women roam the Forever Desert looking for iron. But Tutu's home city has plenty of iron, it has no water. What is going on here? Someone is telling a whole lot of lies.