Two Hangmen, One Scaffold Book II: In The Hangman�s Shadow

Chapter 8

79 C Chapter 8 he door opened slowly, drawing Binga and Gillian’s attention, and Bertha poked in her head. “Learn to knock, you little rascal!” Gillian exploded. Bertha rudely turned her eyeballs inwards, showing them the whites of her eyes. “Why should I knock? Were you about to make love in my father’s house?” “Go say that in a Synagogue,” she erupted, swinging to her side and grabbing a boot on the floor, which she flung in a rage at Bertha, but the young sister ducked. The boot hit the wall, missing her head by a few inches. “Breakfast is ready, love birds, and Dad wants his paper.” Bertha laughed, turned her eyes inwards again and left. “You got yourself a cross between heaven and hell in Bertha,” he said. “I’d be happy to take my breakfast in this room, if you don’t mind.” “Oh, don’t mind the little creature, Ralph. We’ll breakfast with everyone. You’re more of family now than anything else. Don’t forget you need to say goodbye to everybody since you’re leaving. It’s a very sad day to me. I’ll miss you. I love you to bits. I think God gifted me to love no one but you.” “Love,” he said ponderously, squinting. “How much do you think love can be bought for?” “It cannot be bought with money. Are you crazy? It’s a feeling.” “Oh,” he said in mock surprise. “How come men buy it?” “Only morons think they can buy it. A man shouldn’t be empty of three things. Empty of seed, he becomes impotent. Empty of money, he becomes an undesirable goof. Empty of ideas, he becomes a moron. That’s when he becomes a problem and thinks he can buy love. Why do you ask?” T 80 “Forget it, Gillian. My stupid mind, or moronic disposition, says to me I bought your love, or I’m buying you as if you’re some commodity.” He shrugged. “Never mind.” She rose and climbed out of the bed. “Let’s go for breakfast, dear, before you spoil the day with irrelevant thoughts. Maybe something is bothering you. Please say it, sweetie.” “Don’t call me sweetie. Please.” His breathing became a little heavy. He felt like strangling her and breaking every bone in her body. “You’re a damn bitch, Gillian. Call me a fool... an idiot.” He watched her brow furrow and her eyes dart and water. “Ralph, what’s got into you? What’s the matter?” “You’ll never know how much you and your family have ruined me and my family ... my wives and kid.” She stood akimbo, shaking with emotion. “Ralph. You’re married?” “I’ve two wives, Gillian. One lives in Bulawayo. The other is a proper homemaker. She bore me a son. His name is Peza. I named him after a summit. I’m not Ralph. I was named after something higher than Peza which I won’t tell you.” She pointed at the door. “Get out of my father’s house, Ralph!” “You leave me with no option.” “What’re you talking about?” “I’ll get out after I kill you and your godforsaken father.” “I’m not joking, Ralph. I said get out of my father’s house!” “Don’t call this place your father’s house. This is a house of decadence, an atrium to Hades.” She shook her head and covered her ears with her hands for a while. When she uncovered her ears, he continued. “You shouldn’t be in a university but a strip-tease club or a brothel.” “I think you’ve overstayed.” “How many men have you slept with? Tell me. Eh?” 81 Her legs shook in their leggings. She sank on the bed, slowly, staring at him, and held her head, finally turning her eyes to the floor. The door opened and Bertha stepped in. “What’s all the noise about?” She glanced at him, searching his face, then at Gillian from whose bowed face teardrops were falling to the floor. “Gillian, my sister, let him go,” she pleaded. “You don’t have to cry. He’ll come back for you. Everyone knows he loves you.” Gillian didn’t move. Tears continued to fall between her feet, her shoulders shuddering as she began to whimper. There was a knock and Auntie Roselyn scuffled in. She...