What a Next of Kin!

Chapter Fifteen

73 Chapter Fifteen N di sat devastated like a person slapped on both jaws. And really, the two encounters that day were like slaps on his jaws. The, matron had blasted him in the morning for untoward language against his daughters and now, Enanga had brought in a loathsome forewarning – the possibility of losing his manhood in the accident and that of getting a girl from the ghetto and after raising her status, she turns out to be his suicidal weapon. That was a death knell. Either or both of the two predictions were worse than death. It was still early evening, and he could not contemplate going back to his ward. Suppose he returned and the matron came back to chastise him once more? At the same time, his stay at the under-tree was proving as uncomfortable as going back. In short, the hospital environment in and out of the ward had become inhospitable to him. But the undertree was better. There, people cracked jokes that distracted one from his main worries. So, he took courage and stayed on. Customers trickled in and gradually the place filled up. Ndi admired the spirit of camaraderie with which the under-tree community greeted each other. They would rise in unison with open hands and embrace and hug a new comer as if he was returning from an overseas trip. Then they all would burst into a guffaw as if to purge themselves of previous days’ quarrels and insults. As the pantomime of greetings was going on, there was a rattling noise coming from the main road. At first, nobody paid attention to it. But as it came nearer and louder, everybody turned to see 74 Charles Alobwed’Epie what it was all about. And lo! It was the foul-mouthed once bastardized fellow shouting, “Nobody can beat me twice,” and dragging a larger draughts board with him and challenging the craftsman who had beaten him in the game a few days back. “Nobody can beat me twice. I sold nine human heads to acquire these skills. I am the alpha and the omega, the horizon that has no end, the September rains that respect no occasion, o song o ngwe, o ngwe, ngwe. He who treads on me treads on glowing magma. I challenge the under-tree community especially this fool who claims to have beaten me once, to a game of draughts. I shall bastardize any idiot who will dare look straight into my forehead,” the fellow shouted. The master craftsman whom the fellow targeted sat unruffled. The fellow moved onto him provokingly and placed the board on his legs. “If you pretend not to hear me, know I am addressing myself to you. I challenge you. The other day, I was ill prepared. Come on, if you dare, if your mother did not deliver you on a rainy day, come on. You’ll be disgraced now, you fool.” “My friend, you are joking with fire. I shan’t play with you until the exchange of currency is complete. I still respect and mourn the gradual loss of the British pound;” the master craftsman said and put the board away.” “That’s escapism. The French franc is as good. Let our fans bet. Give your money to a referee. I challenge you,” he said and placed the board on his legs again. The master craftsman took the challenge and beckoning Ndi declared him the referee and gave two thousand francs to him. “Give yours also and let’s start,” he challenged. The fellow sulked. “We are not here to display money. We are here to display skills in draughts. It’s five hundred francs.” 75 What a Next of Kin! “OK, five hundred, poor thing.” “Take; you amateur,” the fellow slammed the first move. “Take, empty-mouthed fellow,” the craftsman responded with a blocking tactics. The fellow looked confused as he risked losing several pieces if he made a wrong move. “Take, your mami pima,” the fellow countered as he unblocked the trick. “Give, your papa pima,” Enanga interrupted and kicked the board out of their hands sending the pieces flying all over. “Enanga be careful e, I am not playing with you e, that nonsense that you do to your husband you should limit it e, this is a public place e, before you were born women sold palm wine here e!” the fellow shouted, and...