Two Hangmen, One Scaffold Book I: Baiting the Hangman

Chapter 19

163 C Chapter 19 rom about 11 am on 29 November, Matipa stood at the window and looked at the gathering of elders and the acolyte under the mango tree. Now it was almost midday. Routine monthly maintenance service had brought the gold mill to a halt, suspending the perpetual thuds that were the order of life at the mine. She knew her family was the subject of the meeting because Madzibaba Tinashe called at her house two days earlier and informed her he would convene a meeting for their protection. His concern and worry over her family apparent, he said as an elder it was within his powers to convene such a meeting at the earliest convenience and as close as possible to her house, for the working out of a practicable strategy. Though he said he didn’t mean to alarm her, he made it clear it was sensible to expect the worst so that the community could put in place a counter measure. The elder’s objectives were clear; if the demon came in the body of a man, then men could fight it. If it came as a spirit, it was up to Madzibaba Jatropha to keep it at bay. However, the prophet’s absence at the meeting was conspicuous. Had he availed himself, surely the meeting would’ve taken a different character. She felt Madzibaba Tinashe should’ve invited her, at least as a non-contributing listener, but she was a woman and not privy to a gathering of men. The sect’s ethics stipulated a woman had no place in the company of men. Her presence would’ve been taboo and immoral. Through the window, she witnessed the arrival of all the men, including the Chief’s representative. True to the elder’s word, the gathering met, with Madzibaba Tinashe moderating by default. With a brief speech, he opened the meeting. Though he wasn’t prophetic, he had vast oratory skills to sway the others. F 164 As the men deliberated under the tree, she derived a sense of protection from their sainthood as ordained elders; certain no demon could overpower or outmanoeuvre them. However, the Chief’s representative marred the gathering with his presence and snuff. She saw the elders’ mouths open and close, and their hands make gestures and adjust the shawls on their shoulders, but the gathering was out of earshot. Though she felt secure from their presence and proximity, it rather disturbed her to see that Madzibaba Tinashe and overzealous Remegio were the only contributors. It appeared the two were arguing. Remegio seemed to jut now and then in counteroffensive . She continued to watch through the window, finding offence in the teenager’s actions, but helpless about it. Disapproval murmurs and Amen choruses reached her. After about half an hour, to her dismay, Madzibaba Tinashe rose, honked and spat phlegm in the most repulsive manner she had ever witnessed. The Chief’s representative, the seasoned sect elder and eight others walked out of the meeting gesturing disappointment. It baffled her that the convenor was abandoning a crucial meeting to fanatical Remegio and three passive elders. The men who remained were a fallacy of the elder’s intentions. She believed they had no right to discuss her family or welfare. She detested Madzibaba Tinashe for walking away. Apparently, Remegio had erred by arguing with the elder. She guessed the teenager had sought to humiliate the senior, but thought the elder should’ve stayed and fought the boy, with clenched fists if need be. If the elder chose to be fatherly, he should’ve looked for a rawhide whip and thrashed him reformatory-style across the buttocks. Distorting or pervading the right thing was among one of sin’s definitions. She would inform the prophet of Remegio’s unbecoming and sinful behaviour. It was high time Prophet Jatropha clipped the boy’s wings. She began to hate Remegio, but hated the elder more for walking away. At the next shrine meeting, she would confess to the sin of hatred, which would lead to an explanation of her disappointment. 165 Not all the congregants would see the teenager in good light. Indeed Prophet Jatropha would find another acolyte, suitable material this time, not the delusional dropout. By dropping out of school, he irked his father and brought dishonour to his family. Despite the sad development, Matipa eventually drew solace from the...