Dogs in the Sun

Chapter Ten

113 Dogs in the Sun Chapter Ten A unt Sabina had arrived from Tazim the following day and chosen to live with Uncle Abua instead. Good news for Lemea; at least she would not be under the woman’s nose for tormenting instructions on marriage. Why did she even bother about where her aunt lived? For all she cared, the woman could live with them and pester her every single day on who to marry and how to behave in her marriage. She had prepared a set attitude for all situations. She ran a sample encounter with her aunt over in her mind and laughed in satisfaction at the way she kept the woman at bay; no easy exercise if one thought of Aunt Sabina’s tactics, all made of sweet language and tempting references to her own experience. Her power of conviction had sent many girls of the family to marriages they had not sued for; and it was known in a wide circle that whenever she set to work, the marriage was as good as sealed. Lemea knew what to expect now that her aunt had come. She knew that the woman would rest for just one day, if at all, then she would send for her. She always liked to talk to the family girls in the presence of Uncle Abua, who lent her the support of manliness and scolding if it came to that. She would go if her aunt sent for her, but would remain defiant. Not rude. Only steadfastly defiant – no I am not going to marry Dinga. My daughter! Auntie, I do not know the man you are talking about. I did not know my own man before I entered his house. You are you and I am me. Just wait. What am I hearing? Lemea, put your eyes in my eyes. She would. She would look her uncle straight in the eyes and keep her eyes there. She has. Can you see? No more fear. No more respect. Never mind. You can look at me for 114 G. D. Nyamndi as long as you like, but you will marry Dinga. That’s the way it is done in this family. Uncle, I do not know the man you are talking about. I do not know the man, I do not know the man. How do you know a man? And what do you mean by knowing a man? There’s only one way of knowing a man and it is by marrying him. Uncle, I cannot marry a man I do not know. Leave the matter to me…you will, unless you are not my daughter. Uncle Abua would storm out in anger cursing to himself. Aunt Sabina would draw her seat closer and place her heavy right arm on her shoulder – My daughter, marriage is a thing of pride for the family. Auntie, marriage should be a thing of pride for those who marry first. My daughter, bad thoughts. These things you say are things to put sadness in the family. Auntie, it is instead what you say that will put sadness in the hearts of those who marry. Which god shall I call for help? Laikum? Or Belahmandji? None of the gods, Auntie. Only give happiness to those who marry. And the family? Those who marry: that’s the family. She did not know how her aunt would take this, but that was the attitude she would put on all through. She was ready for the insults and threats, but she was not going to shed any of her determination. When she stirred out of the rehearsal she caught the sound of drums from Chief Ndelu’s palace. A rhythm had sorted itself out of the initial mix so that there was now a steady rise and fall of the male drum, a variation of the powerful and the sublime in the rhythmic appeal. The hamlet of Nwemba was alive. The stars above, too, were warming up for the dance. The sounds that came could only be the work of Benti Edinge. His fingers produced rhythms on drums with rare virtuosity; his voice caressed tunes in a manner that brought tears of admiration to the eyes of many women. When he took to the floor everyone else became a muted spectator of his ordained performance. 115 Dogs in the Sun I knew Benti Edinge’s voice well for...