Love in trial

NOON 2

From it he reveals a wad of pound notes and kola nuts. Mutual understanding is established. the surveyor frowns heavily, rubs his chin and consults his map. reexamine the contracts of the bowl, shakes his head. Odama adds more money, This time 'truth' dawn's on him at last, he has Made a mistake. The track really should go the other way. What an unfortunate error, discovered just in time!! No, no, no possibility of a mistake this time, the track should be much further away. ln fact ( scooping up the soil) the earth is most unsuitable, couldn't possibly support the weight of a railway engine.

A gourd of palm wine is brought to seal the agreement and a kola nut is broken. Odama's men help the surveyor pack and they leave with their arms around each other followed by the surveyor's booty.)

Lunle:: ( as the last of the procession disappear, shakes his first at them, stamping on the ground.)

Voluptuous beast! He loves this life too well

To bear to part from it. And motor roads

And railways would do just that, forcing

Civilization at his door. He foresaw it And he barred the gates, securing fast, his dogs and horses, his wives and all his Concubines.... ah ... yes... all those concubines Odama has such a selective eye, none suits him but the best....

( his eyes truly light up. Sidi and Sadiku snigger, tip- toe off stage)

...... yes, one must grant him that.

Ah, l sometimes wish l led his kind of life.

such luscious bosoms make his nightly pillow.

I am sure he keeps a time- table just as l do at school. only way to ensure fair play. He must be healthy to keep going as he does.

l don't know what the woman see in him. his eyes are small and always red with wine. he must possess some secret...... No! l do not envy him! just the one woman for me. alone l stand for progress, with sidi my chosen soulmate, the one woman of my life..... Sidi! Sidi where are you?

( Rushes out after them, returns to fetch the discarded firewood and run out again)

( Odama in bed, naked for baggy trousers, half-length. it is a rich bedroom with animal sink and ties.

weapon around the wall. also a strange machine, a most peculiar contraption with a long lever. kneeling beside the bed is Odama's current favourite wife 'Nancy', engaged in plucking the hairs from his armpit. she does the first massaging the spot around the selected hair very gently with her forefinger. then, with hardly a break, she pulls out the hair between her finger and the thumb with a sudden sharp movement. Odama twitches slightly with each pull. Then an aspirated' A- ah'. and a look of complete beatitude spreads all over his face)

Nancy::: did l improve my lord?

Odama:: you are still somewhat over gentle with the pull as if you feared to hurt the panther of the trees.

Be sharp and sweet

like the swift sting of a vicious wasp for there the pleasure lies the cooling aftermath

Nancy:: I'll learn, my lord

Odama:: you have no time, my dear.

Tonight l hope to take in another wife

and the honour of this task, you know,

Belongs by right to my latest choice.

But_ A- ah _ now that was sharp.

it had in it the scorpion 's sudden sting without it's poison.

it was an angry pull, you tried to hurt for l had made you wrathful with my boast, but now your anger flows in my blood stream. how sweet it is! A_ ah!! that was sweeter still. l think perph that l shall let you stay, the sole out puller of my sweat- bathed hairs.

Ach!

( sits up suddenly and rubs the sore point angrily. )

Now that l have far more pain than pleasure

Vengeful creature, you did not caress

The area of extraction long enough!

( Enter Sadiku, she goes down on her knees at once and bows her head into her lap )

aha! Here comes Sadiku.

To soothe the smart of my misused armpit?

away, you enemy!

( Exit the favourite.)

Sadiku:: my lord...

Odama:: you have my leave to speak.

what did she say??

Sadiku:: she will not, my lord . l did my best, but she will have none of you

Aroka:: it follows the pattern a firm refusal

at the start. why will she not?

Adiku:: that is the strange part of it . she say's you're much too old. If you ask me, l think that she is really off her head

all this excitement of the book has been too much for her

Odama::: ( springs to his feet)

she says ..... that l am old

That l am much too old? Did a slight unripened girl say that about me?

Sadiku:: my lord, l had the incredible words with my ears, and l thought the world was mad.

Odama:: but is this possible, Sadiku? is this right?

did l not? on the festival of rain,

Defeat the men in the most log- tossing match?

Do l not stay with the most fearless one, hunt the leopard and the boa at night

and save the farmers goats from furtyharm? and dose she say I'm old?

did l not announce the Harmattan,

climb to the top of the silk- cotton tree,

Break the first pod, and scatter tasselled seeds to the four winds_ and this but yesterday?

Do any of my wives report

A falling in my manliness?

The strongest of them all

still wearies long before the lion does!

And so would she, had l the briefest chance To teach this unfledged birding

That lacks the wisdom to embrace

The rich mustiness of age.... if l could once.... come hither, soothe me, Sadiku for l am worth at heart.

( Lies back on the bed, staring up as before. sadiku takes her place at the foot of the bed and begins to tickle the soles of his feet. Odama turns to the left suddenly, reaches down the side, and come up with a copy of the magazine. Opens it and begins to study the pictures. He heaven a long sigh)

That is good, Sadiku, very good.

( He begins to compare some pictures in the book, obviously his own and Sidi's. Flings the back away suddenly and stares at the ceiling for a second or two. Then, unsmiling.)

perhyit is as well, sadiku.

Sadiku:: my lord, what did you say?

Odama::: yes, faithful one, l say it is as well.

the scorn, the laughter and the jeers would have been bitter.

Had she consented and my purposes failed, l would have sunk with shame.

Sadiku:: my lord, l do not understand.

Odama:: the time has come when l can fool myself no more. l am no man, Sadiku. my manhood Ended near a week ago.

Sadiku:: The gods forbid.

Odama:: l wanted Sidi because l still hoped that , with a virgin young and hot within, my failing strength would rise and save my pride.

( Sadiku begins to Incan)

A waste of hope. l knew it even then. but it's a human failing never to accept the worst; and so l pandered to my vanity. when manhood must, it ends.

the well of living, tapped beyond it's depth, Dries up and mocks the wastrel in the in the end.

I am withered and unsapped, the joy of ballad- mongers, the aged butt of youth's ribaldry.

Sadiku::: ( tearfully ) The Gods must have mercy yet.

Odama::: ( as if suddenly aware of her presence, starts up )

I have told this to no one but you,

who are my eldest, my most faithful wife.

But if you dare parade my shame before the world....

( Sadiku shakes her head in protest and begins to stroke the soles of his feet with renewed tenderness. Odama sighs and falls back slowly).