The Campaign Trail

Chapter Eight

35 Chapter Eight hen moments of political tension get to their peak, it is as if the world is coming to an end. Friends are turned into enemies. Families are fragmented. People are ready to take all kinds of risks even to the point of self-sacrifice. But since no condition is permanent, life soon returns to normal after the heat is over. Even the outrageous River Kimbi that destroys any vegetation around it after a flood regains its tranquillity soon afterwards, permitting any cripple to cross even where there is no bridge. Just one week later, Jampassdie, the hero of the launch, found himself in a sort of political recess. He had attended to the burial of the victims of the launch and had shared in the suffering of the bereaved families. Today he was at his farm, clearing to free his crops from grass. As he worked, he had his mind focused on the event of the previous week. He regretted not staying on to challenge the military and fall like the heroes who had dropped dead. But the thought that it was necessary for him to live on so as to continue the revolution reassured him. He had not run away like a coward, but rather had tried to sustain the revolution. As these thoughts flashed through his mind, he heard some footsteps behind him. These days he worried about his personal security, so any strange noise like this one made him shake with fright. He turned round with his machete for selfdefence . To his greatest surprise, he was visited by the broad smile of a beautiful lady. This was comrade Natti, the brave lady who had killed the secret police officer. He replied to this smile with an even more generous one. W 36 “How did you know I was here?” he asked. “I was merely passing by and threw my eyes in this direction,” she lied. They both sat down on a banana stem and he put his arm round her neck. “Thank you for the visit even if it was not planned,” he went ahead. “Ever since the launch, I have been anxious to see you. Congratulations on the part you played.” “Thank you,” she replied. “Also accept my congratulations for your bravery in forming our party. Our republic will never be the same again.” They recounted the event in detail, talking about the inhuman regime and their determination for change. When there was nothing more to talk about, the hand caressing her back continued in non-verbal language. Action in this case speaks louder than words, it is often said. He turned towards her, took her two soft arms, threw them round his neck and pressed his chest to hers. Thus, they started their own intimacy. The politicians in Kutuma, not just Jampassdie, shared an instinct in common. Every politician has a hidden sore which he hides during elections in well-wrapped words. Some have as many as ten mistresses. After all, some claimed, lovemaking to middle age people is just a form of exercise. There were many role models in this domain among leaders of the ruling party. Every visit to the outskirts presented an opportunity to take along one or another mistress. Natti had an interesting romantic biography. She was once the girlfriend of Bebin Samali, a night watchman with a German firm. She often visited him at his work place and on some occasions they would both have fun. One day, thieves visited the firm when the two lovers were in full activity. They successfully made away with expensive valuables 37 without the Bebin’s knowledge. When the boss came and learned of this great loss, Bebin was sacked. Having no more income to continue satisfying Natti, she abandoned him. Then she met the security guard who was lynched at the rally. This one had a handsome pay package and everything it took to manage Natti. But he treated with many girls at the same time. There were frequent fights at his house when rival girl-friends met. But Natti had no rival for she was a man in terms of energy. At one occasion, she had two teeth plucked out of her rival’s mouth and threatened to cut off the boyfriend ’s manhood. He threatened her with his pistol and she fled. They separated, but she kept him in bitter memory. So when she had the...