Sterile sky, p.23
Sterile Sky, page 23
‘I know of your kindness to my son. Almighty God will reward you.’
‘Thank you, Mother. Murtala has been a good friend. My parents like him.’
‘They must be very kind. How are they?’
‘They’re fine.’
‘Please, greet them for me.’ Mama turned to me and said, ‘Maybe we should go and thank them someday, Murtala.’
‘Thank you, Mother. Murtala has just told me of what happened,’ Ola said.
‘About his father?’
‘Yes.’
‘We’re confused, my son. Help us pray.’
‘I will.’
I walked with Ola to the main road. Before he boarded a cab, I faced him and looked imploringly into his eyes. ‘Please, don’t tell any of our mates about my father’s disappearance.’
He understood. ‘I promise.’
*
I decided to go to school. On my way, I went to the rock near the cemetery hoping to find Baba sitting on it. A night rain had brought cold to the early morning. I saw a few people moving around, smoking, but not Baba. I only heard the wind soughing in the leaves as I stared at the stone intently. Like the stream near our village, you’ve witnessed my father’s decisions. I implore you, tell me my father’s whereabouts.
The odour of ganja wafted towards me. It was so strong that I covered my nose with my hand.
I left the rock, feeling sad. At a slow pace, I walked out of the bush between the cemetery and the double-lane Airport Road. A few cars were speeding to and from the airport. I crossed the road and took the street to my left. I saw a huge storey building on my right, burnt. There was a small mosque beside it, also burnt and two burnt kiosks beside the mosque. I walked down the street and saw, on my left, a small heap of debris, beaten by rain. The sun had spread out its splendid rays.
I was shocked to see Linda standing on the roadside, looking towards me. She was in her uniform. I knew this was not her route.
As I approached her, I wondered aloud, ‘What are you doing here, Linda?’
‘What happened to you, sweetie? I have been coming here every morning for three days, waiting to see you.’
She held my hand and pulled me towards a roadside shop. I did not resist her. I tripped and almost fell.
‘O sorry, sweetie.’
Her bag was on a bench in front of the shop. She chuckled and gestured me to sit down. Instead of sitting, I told her, ‘We’ll be late, let’s go.’
She picked up her bag and we walked on.
‘Have you been ill?’ Linda looked at my face each time she spoke.
‘I’m well.’
‘You’ve grown lean.’
‘I’m becoming a man.’
She giggled. ‘I hope you’ll behave like a real man around me.’
I was amused. ‘I don’t understand what you mean.’
We walked on silently for some time.
‘Sweetie, the JSSCE is drawing nearer. What plan do you have for me?’
‘I don’t understand.’ I looked at her.
‘That’s how you answer when you’re up to some mischief.’
‘Well, I’m not up to some mischief.’
‘But you know I can’t write the exams without your help.’
‘That’s malpractice. I can’t help you.’
‘But I need your help. I know you can. Besides, I’ve explained things to you.’ She looked at me. Our eyes met, she giggled and I grinned.
I asked, ‘How can I help you when I’m also writing the exams?’
‘I’ve talked to Mr Ejiro about it. He’ll help.’
I stopped and turned to Linda. She bobbed her head to the left and to the right, opened her lips in a low laugh and wagged her tongue sensually.
‘Are you referring to Mr Ejiro, our Exams Officer?’
‘Who else?’
I burst into laughter and began to walk again. Mr Ejiro was the strictest teacher in our school.
Linda was walking close to me, her hip touching me.
‘So what do you want me to do?’
‘Two options, sweetie. Either I sit close to you to copy your work or he’ll give you two answer sheets, one for me.’
I became mute.
We walked on slowly, my eyes scanning the horizon. The day was bright, the sky blue. The sun seemed to be making a grand appearance, but I knew the clouds would come later.
I felt Linda’s long fingers round my arm. I did not respond. Then she tugged at my arm, but I did not say a word, nor did I look at her face. We were close to the school. She held my arm. My eyes were on the ground as I walked.
‘S-w-e-e-t-ie,’ she drawled, ‘please tell me something.’
My anger was growing. Abruptly, she let go of my arm. I raised my eyes from the ground and saw Millicent.
*
I reached home late in the evening. My younger ones had just eaten their supper. Oyigwu sat on a chair, dozing. Emayabo was playing with an old toy. Yakubu was absent. Ajara too. Mama was in the inner room, looking frail, lying on the bed. As soon as I stepped into the inner room to undress, she spoke to me.
‘What took you so long, the rational one?’
‘I was with a friend.’
‘Do you want to give me more worries?’
‘I’m sorry, Mama. I didn’t mean that.’
‘Isn’t it better for you to stop going to school so that we face the problem at hand?’
Stung, I said, ‘Mama, even the Bible says the dead should bury their dead.’
‘Yes, but we’re not sure if your father whom you love very much has joined the dead.’
‘I’ve heard you, Mama. Our exams begin next month. It’s called JSSCE, meaning that we’ll be given a certificate for the first three years of secondary school. So please, let me take the exams and then we’ll go to the village.’
I was standing by the bed, not able to pull off my uniform yet.
‘The foodstuffs your father bought are running out. There’ll be no food to live on.’
I implored, ‘I know, Mama. God will help us. If I don’t take the exams, it’ll be a terrible setback for me.’
‘Murtala, I understand your point.’
I hoped she did.
‘Church members have given us five hundred naira. The pastor says if we’re ready to go home they’ll release the church bus for us.’
‘Thank God.’
‘On Sunday, we’ll tell the pastor to thank the church on our behalf.’
‘That’s good, Mama.’
Relieved that Mama had not stopped me from taking the exams, I undressed and came to the outer room in my shorts.
It had begun to rain outside.
Later in the night, as I was unpacking my school bag to begin studying, I saw a small brown envelope inside my economics notebook. It was settled. I held it up and turned it over. There was no writing on it. I tore the edge carefully. I pulled out new twenty naira notes, and with them a slim white sheet of paper, almost the size of the notes. I raised the lamplight and read what was written on it. A single line: Assistance to the family, please give to your mother. The money totalled one hundred naira. I was sure it was Linda’s design. Was this her plan to outdo Ola?
I could not read further and put away my books. Quietly, I climbed onto the bed and lay beside Yakubu.
Sleep eluded me. Where was my life heading? The fear of Mama suddenly taking a decision that would prevent me from writing the JSSCE gripped me. I knew she could suddenly make a decision any day, any minute. If only Baba had not disappeared. Where could he be now? What was he doing now? Did he have a place to lie down and sleep?
If only you were here, Ukpo. Now I need you to be by my side, to give me your knowing grin and to lend your voice to what I feel. If you were here, we would have together sought answers to the mystery of Baba’s disappearance. Two heads would have made this burden lighter to bear.
My thoughts led me nowhere. I got out of bed. I took out Wild Animals and began to turn the pages. A lion stared bravely at me. Two elephants were walking away, the tips of their trunks coiled. A gorilla stood up on its legs, looking squat. The gazelle, slender and beautiful, stared at me. The hare was racing across a vast green land.
After going through the book I went to bed, determined to sleep.
*
The Wind must have brought me here. I look from right to left and turn around. I turn around again. It is not just the vastness of the land, but its lush greenery and smooth terrain that attract me. Where is this? No trees, no hills, no mountains. Nothing to prevent me from looking to the far horizon. Where is the sun? The air is cool, damp. It changes colour from light blue to light green to light brown. I turn instinctively. Behold it comes. A gazelle is racing towards me from the horizon, its legs rhythmically rising above the green undergrowth. I watch keenly, fascinated, entranced. Gazelle! The distance seems great. It comes. It comes. It comes. My fascination suddenly turns into fear. It is coming right towards me, perhaps to attack me.
It stops before me, quite close. I am terrified as our eyes meet. Then laughter fills the air. It’s a girl’s voice. My terror turns into amazement as I see the gazelle raise its forelegs, standing erect, turning into a human being, with fair skin, young and sturdy bandy legs, smooth thighs, round hips, her crotch slightly darkened by the pubic hair, her torso smooth with a protruding navel and round, pointed breasts. She is charming. Her arms open towards me. I grab her in an embrace. We hold each other tight. She is still laughing, her laughter filling the universe.
‘Oh Helen! But why did…’
She interrupts me. ‘I miss you.’
‘I miss you too. But I saw a…’
‘I see you every day, follow you wherever you go.’
Surprised, I ask, ‘You see me every day?’ I look into her eyes. The eyeballs glow.
‘Sure.’
‘But didn’t I see a…’
‘You’re always mine. Remember that day?’
‘When…’
‘We…’
‘Cut…’
‘Each other’s…’
‘Palms…’
‘And…’
‘Sucked the blood?’
She is giggling. I am also giggling, extremely pleased that I have found her at last.
I ask, ‘Where is…’
Again, she interrupts me. ‘No more talk.’ She holds my hand. ‘Come.’
Just a few steps away, we find a beautiful raffia mat spread on the floor. She sits on it and gestures me to sit beside her. I find myself stark naked, like her. My erection is sudden, really unwanted. All I want is to be with her, to talk, to admire her body, to listen to her sing, the way we used to do in those days.
‘Take the offering.’
Reluctantly, as if mesmerised, I mount her. The sensation is unprecedented. I lose my senses immediately as I slide into her. Then while she is under me, with the sensation rising, I notice something strange happening. Her body, under mine, is shrinking into a hairy skin. Fear grips me. ‘Helen! Helen! Helen!’ I feel my shout receding into my throat. I want to pull out of her, but I cannot. I’m stuck to a gazelle.
I woke up suddenly and sat up. My penis was erect. My crotch felt wet. I quietly pulled down my shorts and touched the tip of my penis, which was becoming limp now. The wetness felt sticky on my fingers. The room was dark. I felt Yakubu beside me. I heard the heavy breathing of sleepers from the inner room and the chaotic movements of the mice.
Ah Helen! She was full of strange ideas. ‘My mama told me that she and my papa sucked each other’s blood. They married against their parents’ wishes.’
‘What do you mean? Does blood make people marry?’ I had asked her.
We were seated under a tree, near our primary school, where we usually sneaked when we wanted to be alone. We were both in primary six.
‘The blood is the love,’ she had said, looking happy that she was telling me what I didn’t know.
‘But my father and mother married without sucking each other’s blood,’ I had said.
‘I’m talking of love, not marriage.’
‘In my case, I want to marry you.’
‘You must love me first.’
‘Don’t I love you?’
‘You may love another girl and abandon me. Or your parents may prevent you. If we suck each other’s blood, nothing of that nature will happen. ’
‘How do you know?’
‘It worked for my mama.’
Helen had convinced me after a few days. She brought a new razor blade. After school, while everything seemed to stand still in the hot sun, Helen had made an incision at the centre of my palm and sucked the blood. I did the same to her.
*
Linda stood up from the bench and catwalked towards me with a charming smile. I stopped walking. My thoughts ceased.
‘You don’t have to be coming around here to wait for me.’
‘I have to, sweetie.’
I felt anger welling up in me. The Hausa traders stared at us. She stretched her hand to give me a wrapped object she was carrying. I refused to take it and began to walk away.
‘Why are you rejecting what I’ve bought for you?’
‘I don’t need it. Let’s go to school.’
We walked side by side, silently. The day was bright and I saw a number of chicks pecking, flapping their wings and jumping happily. I saw a large dog, unusually hairy, walking with a woman, its tail wagging.
Linda cleared her throat. ‘Sweetie, I’d like to remind you of the help you’ve promised to give me in the…’
‘I didn’t promise you anything!’ My voice was loud, tinged with anger.
‘You’re shouting at me.’
I shouted louder. ‘Leave me alone! You’re disturbing my life!’
She shouted back at me. ‘Why are you being hostile to me?’
I stopped walking and turned to face her. ‘Look Linda, I don’t want to be hostile to yon. Kindly leave me alone. I can’t help you in the exams. Please.’
There was raw hatred in her eyes. ‘You’re an ingrate! An ingrate!’
I was speechless. I started walking away. She rushed forward and blocked my way. ‘I say, you’re an ingrate and a shameless wretch, a beggar! Think of how much I’ve spent on you!’
I glared at her, not knowing what to do. I decided to walk away, but she was still blocking my way. Then I pushed her. She staggered back and then lunged at me, slapping me hard across the face. I stood still, covering my face with my hands. My school bag had fallen to the ground.
‘What’s the matter, young man?’ a man across the road asked.
I raised my head and saw other people watching me. Linda was charging away in front of me. The man asked me again, but I could not answer. Tears kept falling on my shirt. It was not the pain of the slap that made me weep.
25
I Rush from the Room
I rushed out of our room to join those crowding around Baba Peter. An early riser, because of the factory job he had recently secured, Baba Peter had almost reached his workplace when he turned and ran back home. He was panting. ‘Haa! My people, dem don begin to kill again o.’
‘Wetin happen?’ a frightened Baba Eddy cried, his voice filling the whole compound.
‘Make una listen, listen first, I say listen!’ Baba Peter was desperate as he raised a hand eastward in a dramatic gesture. ‘Listen to dat song!’
We all hushed up to hear the distant chants.
‘Wetin I see ehn!’
‘Be a man and tell us wetin you see,’ Baba Fatima said impatiently.
‘Dem cut woman head, chuck am for stick and raise am up like dis.’ Baba Peter’s arms glistened with sweat as he raised them towards the sky.
‘Hey Jesus Christ!’ Mama Eddy burst into tears.
Omodiale asked, ‘What’s her offence, Baba Peter?’
‘Dem say she tear paper from Koran clean im pikin nyash.’
Omodiale chuckled.
‘Why she ma go do dat?!’ Baba Tindele yelled.
‘Chei! Which kin’ wahala be dis?’
‘E fit be lie!’ Baba Eddy sputtered.
‘Which kin’ yeye woman go do dis kin’ ting?’ Baba Fatima asked, deeply sad.
Baba Peter trembled as he said, ‘Dey don declare jihad now. Dem wan chase every kafiri comot from Kano.’
‘Oh our own don finish.’
Baba Tindele went straight to the mosque. I saw Zubairu hurrying into the compound, glancing at us and disappearing into his room. The loud slap-slap of his slippers seemed to bear the message of death.
Most people did not wait to hear the end of Baba Peter’s story. He shouted at his wife and children to pack their belongings. His wife roared back at him to enter the room and pack himself, else she would smash the same mouth that brought the sad news.
Baba Fatima struck an important pose and began to make a speech. ‘My dear brodas and sisters, make you na no run go anywhere. Na Muslim I be. And oder Muslims dey here. We go protect you people wey be Christians. Na one big family we be…’
Omodiale was blunt to him. ‘Baba Fatima, you’re talking bunkum.’
‘Ehm? Wetin be dat?’
‘I mean you’re talking nonsense! Didn’t I tell you of that cemetery?’ He pointed in the direction of the cemetery. ‘During the previous crisis, many non-Hausa Muslims were buried there. Y’know, don’t deceive yourself that you’re a…’
Baba Fatima interrupted, trying to control his temper. ‘Yes, but na dose people wey no comply.’
‘Comply with what? By the way, everybody in Kwanar Jabba knows you Islamised to be among the living in those hours of death. We’re in another hour…’
Baba Fatima was enraged now. ‘And so what? Abeg comot from here with your big grammar. You get head?’
‘They also know you’ve not been to the mosque after the hours you played the role of a Muslim in order to avoid death.’ Omodiale was chuckling.
‘God punish you!’
‘So allow the people to go wherever they’ll find life.’ He walked into his room, leaving Baba Fatima fuming.
Apart from the two of them, I was the only one still outside in the compound.
I met Mama in the outer room, very frightened. My siblings were around her, rigid with fear.
‘What do we do, Murtala the rational one?’ She spoke to me the way she would to Baba.
