He opened an amazing pot and brought out some strange stones that were like human heads painted with a shining black color.
Madone opened his eyes wide. He looked away quickly pretending, he never saw it. He began to sweat profusely, and at the same time became more afraid. He wondered what this whole thing will turn out to be. He sucked his lips with his tongue in fear as he watched Zikiziki, who was getting charged up every passing minute. He could hear him shouting, and screaming like a wounded lion in strange incantations.
He took the seven shining black stones and threw them hard on the ground. He also picked up a round-shaped mirror and then shouted, “The Zus, I can see them. They are extremely powerful. Mike was one of them,” he took black clothe and covered the mirror. He never wanted to see more, “I’m afraid, I don’t toy with the unknown. The Zus is a violent spiritual mission force that combines witchcraft and mystic power. They operate in a realm I know little about, more like Vampires. They could be visible or invisible. They are wealthy people—billionaires. I hope you did not come here to mock me?” he shouted in anger.
Madone was deeply frightened, his heart started racing, and for a moment, he became speechless. And when he recovered, he managed, “no Zikiziki, far from it, I came because there would be a hearing tomorrow and I want my brother’s wife to be rendered speechless—” he was trembling all over now.
Zikiziki calmed down his fast-growing anger, “I will do it if you insist because, I wouldn’t want to have my family go hungry, but not without warning you. Listen, the Zus properties can never be inherited by a stranger, as it is, you aren’t an heir, only the child of Mike has the right only if Mike did what the covenant of wealth transfer requires. Certainly, you can’t have his properties. However, if you insist, take that coconut on the head of that tortoise you see over there, break it carefully when you get home, and mixed it with half a liter of fresh undiluted Palm wine and sprinkle it overnight on the ground of the meeting, and it will work for you according to your desire.” He pointed to the coconut on the head of a strange-looking tortoise. He rested his back on a bamboo stick behind him as he watched Madone with eyes half-closed walking nervously towards the coconut.
Madone picked it up with his trembling hands and was about to walk away when, he heard the voice of Zikiziki again, this time echoing harshly, “Caution—don’t let it fall to the ground. If you do, you will run mad and nothing can be done to make you come around again as long as you live; only death can wipe the shame. I tell you again be careful.”
Those warning words rang a bell in Madone’s head. He can’t imagine running mad. Madness is not the right word to use here he thought as he watched Zikiziki. Besides, he is paying for the services.
Why must he say a horrible thing like this?
He felt dizzy for a while and suddenly regained his strength. He looked back at him as if telling him he understood. He dropped his consultation fee on a bowl full of snails, and glanced in his direction, “thank you for telling me,” he replied faintly almost to himself as he headed home. He was full of thought as he rode back home.
Stephnie must be prepared to be his sixth wife or run to hell, his thought swung in one direction, and then the other. He wasn’t so sure how the meeting would be but was certain as long as Stephnie's mouth remains shut, the final decision by the elders will go his way—he laughed wildly as he rode on.
************
Jeffon had searched for his brother Madone. He had asked Madone's wives if they had the slightest idea where he had gone and none of them seemed to have an answer or any clue to his whereabouts.
Jeffon was afraid of what Madone could be planning. He had always been evil right from their youth days. Madone is the eldest among the three sons, Jeffon second, and Mike third.
Mike had left for the city immediately after the death of their father. They had lost their mother two years earlier.
Their father believed in one wife, and he refused to remarry after he lost his wife. He believed the world is not all about women, and that there is more to it rather than wasting your strength on them.
Madone had always been a troubled child and a torn in their flesh. He got his younger sister Suss pregnant when she was only twelve, and this made Mike hate him. Mike had called it an abomination.
Suss had been fortunate to have gotten married. But then, the news spread around Alliya.
The shame and stigma were unbearable, and so hard for her to handle as she grew up. The talk of her pregnancy was everywhere.
When luck ran her way, she ceased it quickly and got married eventually.
Jeffon had never liked Madone either because he does a lot of wrong things.
His fear now was where is Madone?
What mischief could he be up to now?
Where exactly has he gone?
He never stopped asking himself. He pondered for a while with his head bent over with lips shivering as if the chilled wind was beating hard against him, but it was still sunny outside.
He thought he heard a strange noise behind him. He spun around and suddenly like a flash—
***********
The road to Alliya was bad, and with a lot of potholes, the journey lost excitement.
Cardiff Jaklis had been one of Mike’s best drivers. He had been depressed ever since the death of his Boss. It took a lot of persuasion from Stephnie to get him on the wheels. He had succumbed much later when he realized that was the only way he could pay his last respects to the Boss he so loved, and wouldn’t see again. Mike had been the best employer he remembered he ever worked for. His pay was extremely attractive, and his attitude towards him was very friendly.
His death to him was still a huge nightmare. The future looks hopeless to him, but he knew, he mustn’t think about that until after Mike’s remains have been buried.
His mind was busy as he drove. He could barely hear what Stephnie, Donnie, and Janny were discussing. He took a sharp curve and ten minutes later, he entered Alliya.
They came right on time he thought. He glanced at his wristwatch and then started admiring most of the females with only their wrappers tied slightly above their breasts. They came running out of their houses to have a glimpse of their Jeep. They had never seen a car so raised from the ground with extremely huge tyres. Some stood in a small gathering discussing what looks like a wonder to them with eyes still fixed on the Jeep.
Stephnie looked around from her side window, and the thought of Mike not having a house at home came taunting at her again.
Was it a silly mistake?
No, it can’t be, he never wanted to mingle. He never trusted the people either, they were poverty-stricken and wanted others to be like them, and this was disgusting to him and made him stay apart—apart for good.
She smiled soberly with her mind working fast because she had arrived, arrived at Alliya. The smell of captivity filled the air. She flinched and her thought blazed again.
Mike must be buried, she pondered as she placed her hands on her chest, pressing on it so hard to suppress her swift heartbeat that had suddenly mounted just as they drove into Alliya.
Cardiff parked the Jeep in front of Mike’s father's house, now Madone’s. He looked around and wondered why the house had not changed a bit. The same old wall paint now fading with broken window panes. He remembered coming to the Alliya a few months ago with Mike, and that was quite a long time he thought, but while has nothing changed?
Why is everything looking the same?
He knew he will never get an answer to that even though he kept pondering for a long time.
His thought just kept piling and bouncing within his head until one thought stayed.
His this how Mike wants it?
He pondered for a while, but as soon as he heard Stephnie open her side door, his thought dropped.
Stephnie came out of the Jeep carrying Terry with her. She put him down holding onto his left hand and waited for Donnie and Janny to come down.
She handed Terry to Donnie with a thoughtful smile on her face, “please wait here, let me go round through the back door and see who is at home, I will be back.” She hurried away.
She walked by the side of the house to get to the backyard, and as she was about to enter through the back door, Suss blocked her, “where do you think you are going? I see you have turned silly. I have heard so much about you and I see you are really what they said you are—very proud, and extremely arrogant. You had sucked Mike my beloved brother to death, right? Just look at yourself, your chains, your shoe, and your attire. They must have cost Mike a fortune. You are a strong possessive witch. Listen, the end has come for your insatiable folly, and we will return you to the gutters where you belong, you pig!” She spat on the ground. She kept her eyes on Stephnie, and never stopped admiring the clothes she puts on. She allowed jealousy to eat deep down within her, and now, she sees nothing else, but Stephnie as the cause of Mike’s death.
She wanted to look this good at the expense of Mike’s death she pondered.
Stephnie was perturbed, she couldn’t believe her ears. The insults she never expected or dreamt about came like cold water upon her, flogging so hard on her. She wondered where on earth Suss got the temerity to talk at her so callously. As she recovered from her shock very quickly, she straightens up staring at her angrily, “what has come over you? I mean what has gone into your naughty head, Suss? You are a woman like me, and it beat my imagination why you have chosen to speak like this to me. Can’t you see your heart is dark like charcoal? And your utterances smell like rotten—spoilt broken eggs. Mike’s death has nothing to do with me; if I have done what you are thinking then I shouldn’t be here. Why this wicked talk, I don’t blame you at all. I see you are drunk, drunk with jealousy, and hatred. You disgust me. Show me to Madone!” Her voice echoed.
Suss was wrath, and she had never expected Stephnie to talk back at her. She placed her hands to her waist, gave Stephnie a horrifying look, and then hissed loudly, “See who is talking, small brat like you now have the nerves to talk back at me. I see you have grown big breasts to mess around with unpalatable words. Listen, you are in our hands now, and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. What a pity you don’t know where you are. This is Alliya. I can assure you, you will go begging before the end of today.” She flared.
Now, she is ready for a fight, and she knew Stephnie cannot dare hit her or she suffers injuries all over her body, and she can’t recover from it for a long time to come. She sees Stephnie as an enemy and one that needs to be devoured.