Chương 12: Chapter twelve
CHAPTER 12
The final day of the week found all the elders at Butita palace. Ofcourse it had been a long week and despite their well crafted case which was sure to take victory home, their throats were in great need of some cold coconut wine. It was the official signature at the palace and was always served to generous portions. There was this saying that the cheaper the brew the louder the crew. Coconut wine was the most rare drink and according to the brains of the clan, it adjusted one to an argumentative mood. That was still subject to proof. Arafat was standing at one of the big windows admiring the evening rays which were always a constant reminder that his bald head had seen much. He was now grey of age, supporting himself with some middle sized stick with black and white stripes. He always argued that the longer a dog stayed the more skills it gained in the field. Strange how he never mentioned the loss of teeth and harbored movement which the granny dog had to overcome. It was a beautiful evening full of hope and great expectations.
King Daudi was comfortably seated at his study, a study previously used by some settler farmer in the colonial days. It now had nothing to show safe for afew 18th century agricultural journals which no one in the kingdom could make a thing out of. He looked across the perfect tend lawns, the little stretch of grasslands which afforded him a full view of Leiton hills and in a distance saw the returning herds. It was the high time they had a real discussion, maybe the elders had a point
Earlier that day,
"So you're going to advice the king that he should punish my daughter for teaching your little kids", Hannah asked sarcastically sipping millet porridge.
"Don't put it like that, you know very well I'll be at your side sis", Fache tried avoiding her eyes.
"Look, just make it clear to both of us. This very evening, you will be comfortably seated at a boardroom being consoled by sweet coconut oil, trying to hammer your very own kind", Hannah's smile was hard and mocking.
"Come on mom, you know he will stand with us all the time, it will be fine". Eddy tried charging her mother's hopes.
"Trust me, we've seen worse than this. Of course they're all going to vote for the idea but I'll be there. I know when I'm needed". Fache was more confident than sure.
"Just do whatever you have to do, I've already made up my mind". Hannah concluded with surprising surety.
"Don't say it, don't say you'll have to run to the lake basin. Don't I beg don't, don't say you'll run to the sickening city again so that I have no one to call a relation in the land. Oh no!" Fache had lost all the fighting spirit he had, it was apparent he was squarely losing the battle.
" We're not going anywhere, this is our land and running like cowards will be the last move ", Eddy said it as if there was someone inside her speaking. Fache's glass was still full of the almost cold porridge. She woke up without saying another word and headed to where Hannah was, placing his palms on her forehead." It shall be well, fam".
He departed without looking back, he knew very well winning the battle by himself would only happen by some magical power from who-knows-where.
He sat on an empty bench by the palace, he tried as much to force a smile with an elder and another but this wasn't just any other day in business. Despite his appetite for wine, Fache remained glued to the same spot for a time he could not quantify.
"Hey man, we're starting", A young elder brought him back from his reverie.
The sun had already kissed Leiton hills goodbye and now the only sign that the orange ball existed was a yellow sky, how time moves.
"I greet you my elders and the most high king Daudi, our greatest inspiration and a living legend whose name had being shouted from ridge to ridge. I hereby welcome you to the sword of urban law which cuts with both ends", Arafat might have tasted salt but his tone was still commanding.
" I hereby invite Yelima to present the details of the case in a broader sketch", he gestured to Yelima, a young elder who seemed to have mastered the art of communication from his juvenile days.
"Greetings great ones and thank you father, what we have here is not as argumentative as we've seen in the previous cases. This is a case of an evil spirit which has been eating our very society in the broad daylight. Of two ladies who went to some city and came back with spirits thirsty for human blood which ended in one of our vibrant brains dead". Yelima was not giving it a pause.
"I hereby regret every time we have wasted on the streets drinking cane beer while we watched our young children's minds being corrupted with foreign ideas. I bet it was the work of the devil".
A light foam was forming at the corners of Fache's mouth, he looked at Yelima and wondered why some narrow minded busy body like him had found a place in the highest committee of the land.
"It is therefore in this interest that I suggest we find the most suitable solution for this vailas (for virus) which has been putting down our community part by part". He concluded all at once eyeing his audience to enjoy the attention he had created. The lights now sprung and the whole room was covered by cream rays, maybe yellow.
"I think it's a matter of a vote, the one's who want to keep the curse among us and the one's who want the curse chased out of our land". Another elder supplied.
"Excuse me but I think you're going in too fast, maybe..." Fache never finished the statement.
"Before the vote gentlemen, I suggest that our brother Fache stay out of this for he is an interested party, being the only thing close to a relative to the evil doers". That came from Arafat.
"Don't be a fool buddy, you're such a loser. Someone who can't even contain a slight fever and still finds time to lay blame on innocent ladies , don't you think it's time you should be babysitting your grandchildren? Such a creep". Fache was exploding and now afew elders stood close to him trying to calm him down.
"I think you need a rest, elder". The king said calmly and as the saying went. The king was the law.
Fache arrived at Hannah's place just a moment before they spread their sleeping mats, he was sweating profusely despite the weather, he held a huge mug of cane brew on his right hand. From the look of it all, Hannah knew it was all done. The village could accommodate them no more.
"Thank you, brother. I know you've done the best you could, may the lord who rises the sun bless you". Hannah looked at him with great sympathy.
"Whatever happens, remember I love you all". Fache managed afew lines.
"We love you more", Eddy and mother said in unison.
"Goodnight good people"
"Goodnight, remember me to the fam". Eddy added.
"It's the end of yet another season". Hannah said sitting on a wooden stool at her pallet corner. She placed both her hands in the elbows supporting her chin and said a prayer she had learnt in a random city church. She wished the cup would be taken before them and remembered how it was never taken before the original savior, it was almost late.
Early the following day, the war drum sounded exactly like the day a young moran was killed, the only difference was that the two knew what was going to happen. They had already parked and had said goodbye to the Fache's at the wee hours of the night. It was a matter of a peaceful breaking of the news and acting solid. The early birds were already up chanting afew consoling tunes, maybe this was the last time they saw people in the homestead. Or maybe not. Hannah looked keenly at Eddy and assured her that everything would be okay, it is always the duty of every parent to assure her kids that there's still an hope even at the face of death.
"With all powers conferred to us by the mighty king, we request you to get out of your house for a briefing". Masha had not finished the statement when Hannah got out followed by Eddy, they were all parked and dressed to leave.
"Peace be with you, our lords". Hannah greeted as they left the group of bewildered morans.
Young boys and girls waved as their teacher passed by, Tande was shaking with pain, Chuma the blacksmith waved at them as they crossed the bridge. Thahu river flowed meticulously like it had done for ages.
King Daudi was quick to grab Hannah's piece of land safe for their homestead and the training building which was marked as cursed and therefore out of boulds for anyone whatsoever. It was the end of the woman rule, atleast for time.
The sun was shinning brightly.
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