By Felix Brambaifa
She waited for them to come. Her anger was now like
the beauty of the insane. Days had passed since her first attempt at bringing
justice with her own hands. Ekadi was a good runner, it was easy admitting to
that fact even though she hated the taste of it. There was a time she had felt
her heart rejoice, she had pursued him towards an high fence designed not to be
climbed over by anyone but then in surprising shock she saw Ekadi without any physical assistance do the
unexpected with flawless ease. In retrospect she had come to agree that, day
had been created to bless her efforts with frustration and disappointments. It
was minutes after the unsuccessful pursuit, on her way back that she had fallen
into the arms of a police van, her pockets had wraps of marijuana and for two
weeks she had stayed in police custody while Ekadi rejoiced.
But now she
was back and Ekadi was still ignorant of it, the hunger to bleed his head was
now like a righteous calling. Her return had been visited by the numerous
rumors of how he had openly celebrated her shame. So now she waited, ready to show how a woman could
actually make his life unpleasant.
One of the boys had gone to his house, to make report of the unhealthy
return. He had met the absence of his boss and immediately began his return
trip with an insane
speed.
The happiness to run
from a house too disturbing to endure because of Nfong had prompted the early
morning flight and without planning for the unexpected he had gone ahead with
his eyes closed.
This time he
was unlucky, this time he walked into her waiting arms and his legs stood transfixed
for the reason of sudden fear. He was too close and any sudden move would put
Ngozi on a swift offensive. Their eyes stayed on each other, waiting for the
time when their legs would do their commands. Then she ran towards him with a devilish rage and from nowhere she brought out a
short machete.
The
heartbeats in his chest congealed as fear came upon him like cold sent from the
arctic. But then he moved his hand to the ground and in great desperation gave
a great swipe.
He had
embraced the initiative the very instant his eyes fell on a discarded baton
very close within reach. She came towards him already feeling triumphant,
expecting not even the least attempt at defense but as they say surprise was
never a thing to be expected. He flogged her hand; the machete fell as she
slowly absorbed the pains, he took flight.
She had seen
his hand move but at that instant her speed became her mistake, the reason
Ekadi had once again escaped her fury. She nursed her injured hand, her mind
boiling by the seconds and it was then she knew the line had been drawn by her
pains and the time for real barbarity had come.
He had been
wise situating his business far from his house. But he knew only foolishness
was to be held responsible for falling into the trouble Ngozi would violently
turn into a funeral dance. She was like the Mother of the area urchins combined;
they respected her and went on errands like pigeons begging to fly into their
freedom, Messages that sometimes sent people to hospital beds and others packing. All she had to
do was say the words and the name on the list would start asking for God.
He had
attacked in self defense and this was trouble, no explanation or pleading would
erase the punishment looming in the dark and this he was sure of. He was now a
finished man and like one trying to live his new status he walked his various paths with a certain
sluggishness as if to attract pity. The workshop was his everything but because
of the need to pay for a
certain
disaster manifested from
Nfong’s troubles which at that time had seemed more important he had gone ahead
and not knowing what the future had in store had brought a more serious trouble
on his head.
He heard the
familiar shout that was the everyday mood of the compound as he entered. Again
he met the land lord who would not waste time on emphasizing his belief.
“I swear on
my old age, that woman will dig your grave even before you are ready to go”
With his
eyes he searched her out from among the crowd and his heart quaked in pains
while his head
grumbled in disapproval at his greatest mistake
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