It was a night like any other in the Harlem district.
While the city of New York maintained the reputation of "never sleep", in a small apartment, N'Jobu, called Joshua, was reading a series of documents on the kitchen table.
Damn! thought the man
There is nothing to do, they will never accept.
His thoughts were interrupted by his son, Erik, who had come to ask him for a homework school.
Dad, I need a hand.
Later Erik, I'm working replied Joshua
Is a short thing, it's a project of genealogy.
So?
Nothing is just that ... where do we come from?
The skin speak my son, where do you think you come from?
I know we are Afro-Americans, but where did we start?
Erik, not now! replied the frustrated father.
The child turned dissapoined on his room.
Didn't take long for Joshua to realize that he had raised his voice a little too much.
Erik's mother had not been there for a long time and for one reason or another it had never been easy to deal with Erik alone.
So he went to knock on his son's door and asking permission, he went into the room.
Hey, Joshua said
Hi.
Listen ... i'm sorry if I was rude it's just that ...
It doesn't matter. replied Erik
No Erik, I'm serious, I...
Joshu then went to sit on his son's bed, smiled and said:
Tell me Erik, have you ever heard of the great and powerful kingdom of Wakanda?
No.
What I'm about to tell you is not just about the kingdom, it's about us too, my son.
Seriously? He asked, full of that age curiosity.
A long time ago, a brave African warrior, known as Shaka Zulu, supreme leader of the Zulu tribe, dreamed of a god in the shape of a Panther, following the visions and the advice of the mystical form, went as far as the territories of the Niganda, decided to to conquer what the spirit considered a rich and strong land.
In the end Shaka managed to get into that legendary land and from the beginning it was clear to him why the Panther had guided him there.
Due to an energy of unknown origin, the earth was not only more fertile than normal, but had also modified the plants, men and animals of the area.
Understanding that he could not lose this opportunity, Shaka Zulu decided to reunite with all the tribes of the area and together they formed the kingdom of Wakanda, under the protection of the great Black Panther.
She would have given the opportunity to a man or a woman of great value, to become his avatar, his earthly representative, to guide the people like a king.
The child gasped in amazement.
Cool.
And... we come to there?
Yes replied Joshua
But ... why did they never talk about it? Asked Erik
Let's say that to keep a jewel sometimes it's better not to let anyone see it.
I... don't understand.
See Erik, the fact is that for me Wakanda has never been a jewel, but a source of infinite water.
If we succeeded in overcoming certain stupid and limiting ideas, everyone could know and benefit from Wakanda.
A great good for the greatest of peoples, the human race.
Erik was confused by the revelation.
I still don't understand but I would love to see it one day.
If things go the right way, maybe one day I'll take you there, Joshua said, stroking his son's head.
A sudden noise was heard in the corridor and Joshua was alerted.
Erik, hide.
What? asked the child.
Hide, now!
The child sneaked into the closet.
Stay there and don't open up to anyone, ok?
Erik consented shaking his head as Joshua rushed into the living room.
The man tried to hide the documents he had on the table, but was stopped by the two men who had entered by breaking the door.
The two sat Joshua down and tied him up.
The man struggled without success and eventually the man Joshua, Ulysses Claw, the most dangerous smuggler in America, came into.
Claw?
Joshua, my friend. the old man said approaching with a malignant smile.
What does all this mean?!
Nothing, I passed around here and I thought of ... invading you.
But the reason I'm here, you already know him. said Claw
Vibranium ... I still want it.
Joshua began to cold sweat, he could not please Ulysses and even if he wanted to, he would not have been possible.
Claw, give me another month and you'll see that ...
Ulysses fired Joshua's leg.
The pain was immense and the fear grew more and more.
I will try again Joshua.
Vibranium, I still want it, we understand each other?
Joshua began to stutter, trying to regain control, but it was impossible.
He was not just trembling at the thought of dying, but also for Erik.
The child could eavesdrop on everything that was happening in the other room and cried, feeling what they were doing to the father, not knowing how to help him.
"Where you get it!" Shouted Claw.
What?
Ulysses fired another warning shot.
English motherfucker, my tongue, do you know how to talk?!
Claw, please!Joshua pleaded.
Answer my question, where the fuck do you keep it?! shouted Ulysses
The man was still shaking, breathing hard, he could not in any way formulate a coherent thought.
Ok, I'll count slowly up to ten, if you don't get something for ten, I'll find out for myself.
Ulysses pulled the gun cart.
one.
He pointed the gun at Joshua's head.
nine.
At that moment, a reflection in Joshua's eyes caught Ulysses's attention.
They aimed at the sheets on the table and the smuggler went to read them and every line that flowed, his evil smile increased more and more.
Yes ... well, well, well.
I would say that this solves everything.
Claw, please, you had what you want, release me. Joshua said, tired and wounded.
Yes, I'd say you're right.
Erik, hearing those words, thought that the danger to his father would disappear, but soon after he heard a series of shots and the bitter truth was clear to him.
Pussy said Ulysses
The two thugs watched him, incredulous of his words.
What ? Asked the smuggler.
50cents shot him nine times, this was about to die with a single bullet.
Erik exploded, could not accept what he had heard and so, going against what his father had told him, he came out of hiding and rushed at Ulysses.
the child tried to strike, cursing him for doing so.
And who the fuck are you?
You killed my father, you ugly bastard!
Ulyssess will take Erik's arm and hurl him at the kitchen cupboards.
He thought he had gotten rid of the baby, but it returned to the load.
Ulysess treated him like a punchingball , beating him and throwing him against the walls of the whole house until he was exhausted.
You're a tough kid, but you'd better stay on the ground.
Trembling and with the taste of blood in his mouth and nose, Erik looked up at Ulysses.
"What ... is your name?" Asked Erik
The smuggler went down and, smiling, replied:
Ulysses Claw...why do you ask me?
So ... so I will find you.
Ulysses laughed loudly.
Goodnight darling.
Then he kicked him in the face.
For Erik the world became dark.
The child's eyes widened, finding himself in a comfortable white bed.
What a nightmare he thought.
But he quickly realized that it wasn't just a nightmare, the room where he was was that of a hospital.
How did he get there?
Erik managed to escape from his room and being careful not to get noticed, he left the hospital.
It was raining heavily.
Thanks to public transport and a half miracle, Erik was able to return to Harlem and up the stairs to his apartment, he saw the terrible truth.
Blood everywhere, broken furniture, destroyed walls.
Erik sank to the ground, his father was really dead.
His house no longer existed.
In the following days, the social services dealt with Erik's case and although they had managed to find a welcoming family home and continued to carry out its normal activities, the child always had a glazed look.
A thought had been undermined in Erik's mind.
He kept wondering if he too should have died in the discount with Claw.
One day like the others, the social worker came to visit him and gave him a box full of documents belonging to his father.
And leafing through them, Erik learned the truth.
His father, Born N'Jobu, was a prince, exiled by his brother for his ideas on the opening of Wakanda to the world.
"A water source", that's what you mean dad.
He looked at the photos, studied Wakanda's resources and discovered that his father had joined Claw as a supplier of the sacred metal, the Vibranium, one of the most resistant materials in the world.
An entire scheme, made up of betrayals and deceptions.
In the face of all this, Erik looked for a sign of what to do, but there was only silence and thinking back to everything he had lost and would never have, he decided what his life mission would be.
He would kill Ulysses Claw and return to Wakanda.