Love in trial

MORNING 4

Lunle follows a little later, more slowly, trying to wring out the water from his cloths. he has lost all his appendage except the camera.Sidi has run right across the stage, and return a short while later, accompanied by the villagers. the same cast has disappear and reforms behind Sidi as the villagers. they are in an ugly mood, and in spite of his protest, haul him off to the town center, in front of the ' Odan' tree.

Everything comes to a sudden stop as Odama the Bale, wiry, goateed, tougher than his sixty_two years, himself emerges at this point from behind the tree. All go down, prostrate or kneeling with the greetings of ' kabiyesi' 'Baba' etc. all except Lunle who begins to sneak off )

Odama:: Akowe. Teacher wa. Mr Lunle

( as the others take up the cry ' Mr Lunle ' he is forced to stop. he returns and bows deeply from the waist)

Lunle:: A good morning to you sir

Odama:: good morning, good morning!

l came to your house hoping you will serve me beer, but all l get is good morning, will good morning wet my throat?

well, well our man of knowledge, l hope you have no query for an old man today.

Lunle:: no complaints

Odama:: and we are not feuding in something l have forgotten.

Lunle:: feuding, sir? l see no cause at all.

Odama:: well, the play was much alive until l came. and now everything stop, and you were leaving us. after all, l knew the story and l came in right on cue. lt makes me feel as if l was chief Baseje.

Lunle:: One hardly think the Bale would have the time for such childish nonsense

Odama:: Mr Lunle. without these things you call nonsense, a Bale's life would be pretty dull.

well, now that you said I am welcome, shall we resume the play?

( Turns suddenly to his attendants) seize him!

Lunle:: ( momentarily baffled) what for? what have l done?

Odama:: you tried to steal our village maidenhead have you forgotten? if he has, serve him a slap to wake his brain.

( An uplifted arm being proffered, Lunle quickly recollects and nods his head vigorously. so the play is back in performance. the villagers gather round threatening, clamouring for his blood.

Lunle tries bluff. indignation, appeasement in turn. at a sudden signal from the Bale, they throw him down prostrate on his face. only then does the chief begin to show him sympathy, paper to understand the stranger's plight, and pacify the villagers on his behalf. he orders dry clothes for him, seats him on his right and order a feast in his honour. The stranger springs up every second to take photographs of the party but most of the time his attention is fixed on Sidi dancing with abandon. Eventually he whispers to the chief, who nods in consent, and Sidi is sent for the stranger arranges Sidi in all sorts of magazine posture and takes innumerable photographs of her drinks are pressed upon him; he refused at first, eventually tries the local brew with scepticism, appears to relish it, and drinks profusely. before long however; he leaves the party to be sick. they clap him on dancing round him nearly cause the calamity to happen on the mouth. Lunle's exit seems to signify the end of the mime. he returns almost at once and the others discard their roles )

Sidi:: ( delightedly ) what did l say? you played him to the bone,

A court jester would have been the life for you, Instead of school.

( points contemptuously to the school)

Odama:: And where would the village be, robbed of such wisdom as Mr Lunle dispenses daily? who would tell us where we go wrong?

Eh, Mr Lunle?

Sidi:: ( hardly listening, still in the full grip of her excitement)

who comes with me to find a man?

but Lunle, you'll have to come and find sense in his clipping tongue. you see book man we Connor really do without your head.

( Lunle begins to protest, but they crowd him and try to bear him down. suddenly he breaks free and takes to his heels with all the woman in the full pursuit. Odama is left sitting by himself, his wrestler who accompanied him on his entry, stands a respectful distance away staring at the flock of women in fight. from the folds of his agenda he brings out his copy of the magazine and admires the heroine of the publication. Nods slowly to himself )

Odama:: yes, yes... it is five full months since last

l took a wife... five full months

NOON

A road by the market. Enter Sidi, happily engrossed in the picture of herself in the magazine. Lunle follows one or two paces behind carrying a bundle of firewood which Sidi has set out to obtain. They are met in the center by sadiku, who has entered from the opposite direction. sadiku is an old woman, with a shawl over her head

Sadiku:: Fortune is with me. l was going to your house to see you.

Sidi:: ( startled cut of her occupation) oh, it is you, sadiku

sadiku:: The lion sent me. he wishes you well

Sidi:: Thank him for me.

( Then excitedly)

have you seen these?

have you seen these images of me

wrought by the man from the capital city?

have you felt than parrot's breast.

Sadiku:: l have, l have. l saw them as soon as the city man came...

sidi, l bring a message from my lord. ( jerks her head at Lunle) shall we draw aside a little?

Sidi:: him? pay no more heed to that

than you would a eunuch.

Sadiku:: Then, in as few words as it takes to tell, Odama wants you for a wife

Lunle:: ( bounds forward, dropping the wood)

what! the greedy dog!

insatiate camel of a foolish, doting race; is he at his tricks again?

Sidi:: be quiet, 'kunle. you get so tiresome

the message is for me, not you.

Lunle:: ( down on his knees at once. cover Sidi's hands with kisses)

my Ruth, my Rachel, my Esther, Bathsheba thou sum of fabled perfection from genesis to the revelation listen not to the voice of this infidel....

Sidi:: ( snatches her hand away)

now that's your other game

giving me funny names you pick up

in your wretched books

my name is Sidi, and l am beautiful

The stranger took my beauty and placed it my hands

here, here it is, l need no funny names to tell me of my fame.

Loveliness beyond the jewels of a throne that is what he said