Two Hangmen, One Scaffold Book I: Baiting the Hangman

Chapter 21

187 C Chapter 21 pon coming to about half an hour after the mysterious horde abducted Peza and left, Matipa wailed, throwing herself at the floor, at walls and on the ground in suicidal leaps. It took many men and women from the compound to restrain her. They pinned her to the ground and tied her ankles and wrists together, but she remained hysterical, screaming her son’s name and calling her husband to come to Peza’s rescue. All the while, her hands were at her belly as she wriggled in pain akin to labour. The pain reminded her of the day she gave birth to the boy, and the preceding nine months of his pregnancy. She cried the more and came close to cursing God. As she looked at the clouds in an attempt to see God and send a petition to Him, her conviction that God worked all things for her eventual good fell apart. There just was no God in Heaven or on earth, otherwise the gang wouldn’t have kidnapped Peza and burnt Remegio alive. For the first time in her life, she blamed herself abysmally for believing in a God that looked away when she most needed Him. Perhaps, after all, there once was God, now He was dead. Mr Gilchrist Keneas drove into the mine premises a few minutes after the disappearance of the gang into the nearby western wild forest. He didn’t see any of the savages though he found Remegio smouldering and coughing smoke. He rushed Remegio to Kadoma General Hospital in his jeep no one else at the mine had ever ridden but Ivy. About two hours later, he brought six armed police officers to the mine. Four of the six police officers quickly secured the mine, while a sergeant and a constable came to interview her in the lounge. The officers unbound her ankles and wrists. U 188 “I could’ve brought more policemen but there was no way I could fit them in the jeep,” Mr Keneas said. “Venice Police Post has only one vehicle.” “At least the policemen should’ve come with some dogs,” she protested. “Their sergeant-in-charge was out on routine patrol. I made a trespassing, kidnapping and attempted murder report against the horde. The man responsible gave me six men.” The Sergeant and the mill manager entered the bedroom and inspected the bloodied shards of glass on the floor. Proof of violence implored the officer to radio Kadoma Central Police Station for the Support Unit, an auxiliary back-up arm of the police. He pleaded for the urgent deployment of the Dog Unit. Matipa couldn’t help eavesdropping on the jarring radio communication made in her lounge. “The Police Commissioner disbanded the district’s Dog Unit years ago. Kindly lodge your request in writing with Police Headquarters in Harare. Over.” “Roger. Time is of the essence. Five suspects kidnapped a boy. Suspects fleeing westwards. Confirm copy and advise. Over.” “Boy Kidnapped. Five suspects fleeing westwards from Sakis Mine. Venice Post requesting Dog Unit. Over.” “Good copy, Sergeant. Advise. Over.” “Request impossible. I repeat: Request impossible. Only major cities have dog units. Kindly raise the Officer Commanding Kadoma district authorised to make applications to HQ. Over.” “Loud and clear, Officer, but our sergeant-in-charge is out on patrol. This is an emergency. Over.” The signal’s man at Kadoma sighed in exasperation, “Roger, emergencies don’t override protocol and procedure. Support Unit is on its way. Do you copy?” “Good copy, Roger.” “Roger out.” 189 Time dragged. Mr Keneas tired of idling and left for his house. Matipa mourned her son, neighbours and members of her sect consoling her. A truckload of members of the Police Support Unit arrived after forty-five minutes in a grey truck. The armed men in dark blue fatigues, about a score and a half, gathered for a briefing at the scene of the crime before the sergeant sent them out on foot to comb the surrounding forest and hills, especially on the westward side. The men were sunburnt and physically fit, and seemed vying to rout anything. Matipa knew the men also doubled as the Riot Police in times of political upheavals and demonstrations. A helicopter would’ve been ideal, she felt, but Zimbabwe was a developing country. Nevertheless, she supposed if it were the child of a cabinet minister or someone on the...