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Chapter 12
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115 C Chapter 12 atipa spent 26 November fasting indoors, only emerging to pray. After breaking the fast in the evening, she bid Peza goodnight and went to bed, but the prophet’s words haunted her as she lay under the blankets. What tormented her was the certainty of the prophecy. In her imagination, she saw a swarthy character walking into the compound. The character cursed and damned everyone with words and gestures. On waking up the next day, 27 November, she put on her religious garments and went outside to pray. Prayer wasn’t an indoor affair to the sect’s members. Their cue came from Jesus' escapades in the wilderness. She knelt in prayer in the area in front of the house she designated for supplication. Facing eastwards, she levelled her eyes at the point of sunrise in the dark far distance. Under a starry sky and in her white garments flowing and flapping in the hot November wind she was angelic. She made sure the tail of her matching headscarf also covered her feet completely as stipulated by the sect’s elders. Distant cries of birds reminded her of the compound’s location in the midst of a vanishing forest. The workers' compound at Sakis Mine was sleepy and in semi-darkness. Open spaces and footpaths were deserted. Drunken figures returning from drinking binges in surrounding compounds moved here and there. However, prayer and prayer time weren’t dependent on the presence or absence of detractors. She crossed herself thrice, opened her hands and spread her arms. Her voice drawn and sangfroid she prayed, “In the holy name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.... Amen." She clasped her hands and paused briefly “O God, Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Creator of the Heavens and the earth, I pray to you through the Archangel Gabriel and Michael, the commanders of M 116 hosts of heavenly angels in the Heavens and on earth. Archangel Gabriel, I present to you my prayer that you set it before the Holy Gate manned by Peter. Oh, Peter, you whom Christ gave the heavenly keys because of your belief, open the Holy Gate for Archangel Gabriel to enter and present my prayer to the Lamb. Christ, receive and present my prayer to the Holy Throne of the Father surrounded by hosts of angels in their infancy, seven hundredfold glory and seven ever-burning fires standing for the overriding power of the heavenly Kingdom, where the only song sang continuously is: Hosanna! Gloria! Halleluiah! God Almighty be forever happy,” She paused to catch her breath; she had to drag and sing many elements of the prayer before she could inhale. Now, with the mandatory opening over, she sent her petition. “Father, I pray you bring back my husband. Herd Akar Muja back home, for I know there’s no shortage of angels in Heaven for that job. Bring him back to me unharmed that we may leave this mine as a family and as ceremoniously as possible despite the disgrace. Bring him home before the advent of the demon. Cripple the demon that he cannot reach Sakis Mine. Bind the demon with an invisible cord that he may not walk. Blind his eyes that he may not see.” She paused again. She was now about to close her prayer and had to move from self and pray for others. She prayed for the President of the Republic, a normal rain season and the safety of the mine’s workers. She unclasped her hands and spread her arms again. “Our Lord and Master, I now rest my petition. May Your Grace and the mercy of Your Beloved Son, whom the Jews slaughtered overseas, reside in [3.235.140.73] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 07:20 GMT) 117 the hearts of believers so that all who believe attain eternity. Abide in us today and forever, Amen.” She crossed herself thrice again, rose steadily and genuflected thrice facing the east, her hands clasped. Then she waved her hands in the air in bidding farewell to the Spirit and its legion of angels. She entered the house and sat in a sofa instead of going into the bedroom to remove the flowing garments in preparation for chores. Peza lay at her feet on the floor. She worried sick about her husband and the boy. Was it a wise idea to tell Peza a devil would come looking for his father? It seemed...