Salvation Colony

Chapter One

3 Salvation Colony: Sequel to No Way to Die Chapter One Dr. William Eshuonti W hen I picked up the receiver and looked across at the clock on the wall, the time was exactly 11 p. m, on Wednesday, the 10th day of the month of May, 1971. May is traditionally the cruellest month of the rainy season. It was so unpredictable. It could begin with scorching sunshine early in the morning, deceive you into washing your dirty clothes and bedding, or into planting your crops in the garden or leave for the farm without an umbrella. And then an hour or two later it would turn into a deluge for hours. Some years the rains began so heavily in April that farmers rushed into their farms to plant. And then with only a brief rainfall in early May, the rest of the month would witness not a single drop more. May 1971 was such a month. Although rain had been expected for weeks, thick clouds gathered in the horizon every afternoon, but dissipated by the evening without as much as a shower. The weather on such occasions was unbearably hot. “Willie, you may not know what has happened,” Dr. Essemo began. “Until you tell me,” I responded. Dr. Essemo’s breathing was fast and he spoke with a voice that contradicted the repose air I had always attributed to him. “What is it, boss?” “That your albatross...” he began “Mr. Dennis?” I asked immediately. “Yes,” he answered. 4 Linus T. Asong “What is he up to this time?” “He tried to hang himself a few minutes ago.” “You don’t mean it. Found him with a rope near a tree or something?” It sounded bizarre in my ears. “He has just been removed from under the roof of my boys’ quarters where he lived. The roof broke when he hung on it and fell on him. But for that I would be sending funeral messages across the country now.” “You say ashia they leave the kenja for ya hand,” I mused. “So where is he?” I then inquired. “Right here in the compound. The place is full. Too bad.” I could hear Dr. Essemo transfer the receiver from one hand to the other. I did not say anything for some time, and then I said: “I will be there soon.” *** Dr. Essemo did not leave the main house until he heard me drive in. I must not have taken more than thirty minutes to arrive because I was anxious to see for myself what had happened. “Where is Dr. Essemo?” I asked as soon as I got out of my car. “Upstairs,” somebody told me. “Where is the corpse? Where is the Dennis?” I could not wait for an answer because I could see a crowd that had gathered to the back of the building just in front of the Boys’ Quarters. There must have been about fifty persons, for many kept coming while others were leaving. The crowd made way for me as I approached. They all knew me as a good friend to Dr. Essemo. Mr. Dennis Nunqam was sitting on a mound like a bundle of excrement on a rock, a long rope hanging round his neck. His head was lowered in shame, his hair dishevelled, his 5 Salvation Colony: Sequel to No Way to Die shirt torn in front and behind, and there were bruises on his right shoulder. The left leg of his trousers was torn from the knee to the ankle. He was shoeless, and sat with his hands clasped between his knees. “Terrible,” I exclaimed. “Absolutely terrible,” I found myself repeating, bending down and giving Dennis a very long considering look. His eyes were dark and distraught, ghastly even, his lips bleeding. Dr. Essemo heaved a long disconsolate sigh. “I always told you that there was something the matter with this man,” I said before recalling that I could be making the matter worse. “Now you will begin to believe me. See the trouble into which he has almost dragged us.” “And the swine was not going alone,” Dr. Essemo said. “He had his two children with him.” “What?” I shouted. Dr. Essemo grinned. “How did the children get involved? I thought you said the family was in Mbongo?” I asked. “The wife came in this afternoon,” Dr. Essemo said, “with their two children which he wanted to suicide, along...