Rose of Numen

by Olatunde, Biola;

  Her thoughts took her back to the times she had shared with her mother, those nights that her mum had watched stoically over her knowing Ife only felt indifference. She felt the pain and was horrified at her treatment.

  I really gave her a horrid time with all my arrogance of knowing better. I think she was scared living the rest of her life with me to look for an affection that would not have been forthcoming. Ife felt the need to seek forgiveness from her mum.

  Older and more compassionate she understood the problems of women who had to go through the life of being a wife to a man that had no guarantees. It was one thing to fall in love but could she cope with living with a husband who will marry another woman?

  Ife was deep in thought and did not notice that a couple had been waving at her until an arm pulled at her sleeve and she swung around into the face of Ndana. There was alarm in her eyes but Ndana was whispering, telling her to be careful, that she was being watched by two people but she was to act naturally. These were mind messages sent to her and Ife casually looked around as if she was recovering from her deep thoughts. She looked up and saw the couple as Ndana faded away. Ife immediately saw that the beings were not earthly and had borrowed human forms. They had an aura that put her on guard so Ife put a screen across her thoughts as the couple approached. Ife’s back hair pricked in clear warning that the two personalities were intent on evil so she sent up a prayer of help as she approached them. They paused, suddenly unsure, and gave each other a puzzled look. Ife moved closer to them and they very abruptly turned away.

  As the couple disappeared Ndana re-emerged and stood beside her. He spoke in distress, “I saw them at the children’s ward, Princess. Something didn’t feel right so I caused some bit of stir and came to fetch you. It was not visiting time so the nurse was still questioning them when I caused the stir. I was supposed to be discharged today. I am sure they came for me.”

  “I think you are right, Ndana.” Ife gave him a smile. “That was quick thinking on your part. You had better return as Kunle while I pretend to be puzzled about your apparent relapse and talk with your mother; we will make you an out-patient.”

  Ndana left just as Ife saw a nurse hurrying towards her flat and she decided that the nurse should find her asleep on her couch. She smiled and took the path through the lights.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Babatunde was having his morning bath when he heard a knocking on the door. He wrapped his towel around his midriff and went to answer. He looked through the peephole and saw Tope who looked impatient.

  He surveyed his brother frowning heavily. “So they have installed the king and the town burned down?”

  Tope was serious. “You have to get out of the house now.”

  Babatunde raised his eyebrows. “Have you been drinking or lost your front door?”

  Tope pushed him out of the way and made for Babatunde’s bedroom. He fished out some old clothes and urged his brother to put them on. Tope motioned to Babatunde to stay quiet and locked the door. He was just in time as the front door crashed open and they heard footsteps. Someone moved past the door and tried opening it then Babatunde heard the bathroom door being opened and quietly closed. The steps went away to the front door and a satisfied voice was telling someone to give it ten minutes then enter and pretend to raise the alarm.

  Babatunde was coldly angry and kept his expression rigid. He dropped on his knees and gave a full-throated roar that sent Tope, and everyone else, scampering for the front door. Babatunde went straight to his bathroom and saw the large snake that had been dropped there. The snake raised it head but Babatunde showed no emotion and just simply trapped the snake in by closing the bathroom door. He fetched a plant and dropped it in the bathroom window and jammed the window shut with a long rod. He listened by the door as the snake thrashed about trying to avoid the smell of the plant. Babatunde waited grimly by the door.

  Tope gingerly walked up and stared in awed horror at his brother swallowing several times.

  Babatunde kept staring at the door. The thrashing slowed, then stopped and Babatunde looked at the clock in the living room then he opened the door. The snake was still. Apparently it had succumbed to the anti-snake plant. When Tope saw that the snake was dead he jumped almost his own height into the air.

  There was silence and respect in the eyes of Tope as he gave his brother the one fist salute. “Maybe I should not have bothered.”

  Babatunde put a hand on Tope’s shoulder. His voice had returned to normal as he thanked Tope for coming to warn him. He offered to take Tope back to the garage after breakfast. He called his office and said he would be late coming in.

  There was silence as Babatunde went back into his bedroom to change. He made cornmeal for his brother and asked him to share what he learned and why he had come to town to warn him.

  Tope said he had gone to his usual relaxation spot and was nursing a calabash of palm wine when he picked up backchat and learned that Babatunde was going to have some kind of misfortune. He had kept his back turned so they wouldn’t notice his presence. He also had to wait for the men to finish their drinks and head for home before he could leave.

  “In fact Abeni wondered what I was up to when I asked for another calabash and did not join in the general joke. I lied that I was waiting for Akin about the new cocoa prizes. I explained to Papa and we both agreed that I had to leave at first dawn to get here. If I knew the fireworks you were going to pull, I should have told Papa not to worry.”

  “But I needed and appreciate the warning and I still thank you. The snake I can deal with, but the human snakes? I have only contempt for them.”

  “I think it was the Alasiri boys. It was the senior one that was at Apata Gangan boasting that they can prove that the Oracle is a liar.”

  “Boye Alasiri was given a motorbike by Prince Adewunmi some months back, right?” Babatunde asked his brother.

  Tope nodded. “Looks like you have sized them up pretty well.”

  Babatunde grinned. “Some losers can be mean and I knew what was coming—just hadn’t thought of snakes.”

  Tope stood up and scowled at Babatunde. “Never thought of snakes too, Brother, or I could have used one when you and the queen did a mean one and called home at the particular time when I was at the farm harvesting cocoa.”

  Babatunde shook his head. “Thought you said you were afraid of her type.”

  Tope gave him an innocent look. “Looks like you can cope, and I am better you know.”

  “Better at what?” Babatunde asked slowly.

  They went back to the brotherly teasing as Babatunde took his brother to the car park and saw him off.

  He returned to the hospital and his office to find Ngozi had been asking to see him. He was puzzled with what she wanted so he called her on the office internal phone and explained he was back.

  However, it was Yomi that knocked on his office door a few minutes later. He was wary and wondered what the tall lawyer wanted. Yomi didn’t waste time.

  “Please, I need your help,” Yomi stated.

  Babatunde inclined his head and waited. Yomi asked what types of herbs he could use to treat his son Kunle. There was love and concern in his voice as he mentioned Kunle’s name. Babatunde smiled and told him he was not permitted to use alternative herbs in an orthodox hospital.

  I think Kunle has some kind of blood problem and I feel you can help and I want to explore a traditional way to help him. He should not go through life like that and having to keep himself away from being just a boy and enjoy the fun of being a boy. He is only ten please.”

  Babatunde said that he will help find out what herbal remedies are available to treat mild forms of blood related ailments.

  Yomi expressed his thanks and stood up to leave. Babatunde also stood up and both men stared at each other. Yomi grinned and shook his head. “Try as I might, I couldn’t be jealous of you. You have a jewel and you know it so I guess I will sincerely like to wish you every happiness when you fellows do decide
on the next level.”

  “Sounds like you approve of me then?”

  Yomi chuckled.” I am a lawyer. I know when the odds are stacked against me. Just send me a case anytime, then you will know I approve of you, man.”

  They shook hands and both knew that they had become firm friends. My first real Earth friend, Babatunde thought.

  Yomi left and Babatunde returned to his seat, a contemplative look coming into his eyes. Could there be a treatment for the problem of Yomi’s son? He knew of mild forms of the condition and remembered his father saying sometime back in the old days that the good Lord understood the nature of man and had placed the appropriate remedy for every condition. He felt if he pressed hard enough he would learn of a remedy to treat that. There was a lot he wanted to know and sometimes he felt frustrated by the blanket of secrecy and superstition that the older medicine men placed on some of the things he asked about.

  Babamogba had shaken his head one day when Babatunde said he wanted to learn about borrowing skins. He smiled as he remembered Babamogba’s scandalized expression and comments, “If we told everybody who asked, what do you think will happen?” While Babatunde was still thinking of an answer the old man had snorted. “And we called you the Lion?” The last comment had stung. Babatunde did not pursue the issue further.

  Sasa walked in and Babatunde frowned. “Have you ever heard the word ‘knock’ by any chance?”

  Sasa grinned and sat down. He was dressed like Prince Adewunmi.

  “What is that man up to now?”

  “He is trying to manage a crisis brought about by a dead snake in one bathroom,” Sasa said with an innocent look in those eyes.

  Babatunde laughed. “What was the snake supposed to do to me?”

  “What do snakes do in an unfamiliar environment if they feel threatened?”

  Babatunde shook his head. “That is so unlike him. He is a bold person, and does not need that kind of trick. He already knew he had lost the competition to someone else so why—”

  Sasa smoothly interrupted, “He is suing the whole council of kingmakers including you for breach of trust, bribery, and what is that word you always keep talking about…corruption. He has appealed to your governor and asked him not to approve the choice as your selection process was flawed.”

  Babatunde stared at him stunned. “What?”

  Sasa brought his fingers together in the form of a pyramid and regarded Babatunde from the tips of his fingers. “Maybe you should call your new friend quickly as you need a lawyer to follow tradition. This is going to be very interesting I can tell you. By the way, I have sent your request about the blood stuff to Agba Ekun—will let you know as soon as I get an answer myself.” Sasa stood up and deliberately knocked on the desk. “See I do know how to knock.” And then walked out.

  ~~~

  The next morning, Babatunde received a letter from the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs requesting his presence at the office of the principal officer. He was reading the letter when Prince Adewunmi gave a short sharp knock and breezed in. He stopped abruptly when Babatunde looked up from the letter he was reading.

  “I am sorry to barge in, your secretary didn’t want me to come in.”

  Babatunde considered him silently so the prince was forced to stand. “Prince Adewunmi, I am a pharmacist, which means I am not in the habit of receiving visitors in the course of my duty. I simply manage the pharmacy for the hospital; however, how may I help you this morning?”

  Prince slowly sat down, and cleared his throat. “I come in peace.”

  “I don’t recall being at war with anybody, Prince.”

  Prince looked at him and he seemed to be debating what to say, then suddenly squared his shoulders. “I told the Alasiri boys that I was quite capable of fighting my battles myself.”

  “I should think so, Prince,” Babatunde agreed in a soft voice.

  “I think what they did was uncalled for, and I came here to put things right.”

  “I am sure you have come here to do that. First, I have not had the pleasure to meet the Alasiri boys, and secondly, I have no war with you. I did not choose, the Oracle did. I find that quite a puzzle that you think I have met the Alasiri boys. Maybe you got the wrong story.” Babatunde gave him a very intent look.

  There was a stillness about Babatunde that made his visitor uneasy. Prince looked everywhere but at his host. Now nervous, he suddenly broke out in sweat and pulled at his tie trying to get some air. Babatunde just watched. The room fell silent.

  Prince Adewunmi cleared his throat. “I was told that they attempted to frighten you with a snake, which I thought was in serious bad taste.”

  Babatunde replied softly that he agreed with the prince that it was really in bad taste but that he had shrugged off the event as being of no real importance. He asked if that was why the prince had come and pointed out that it was a prank by some ill-advised drunken louts. He assured the prince that no damage had been done so it was okay.

  Prince Adewunmi gave Babatunde a calm, level look and said he was suing the council of kingmakers because he believed he had been misjudged and that he had not been given a level playing ground.

  Babatunde sighed and passed over the letter he had been reading. Prince read it quickly and stared at Babatunde who smiled at him and advised him to go see a lawyer.

  “You know, Prince, choosing a king is asking the soul of the town to choose who will best serve the interest of the people and it is done in a very traditional way. There are guidelines and we allow the guidelines to point the way to the representatives. Since you have decided to seek redress, I doubt there is much we are likely to gain discussing it here in the office. I bear no hard feelings, Prince.”

  The prince stood up and gave Babatunde a sad look. “I am committed to the course of action I have taken. I wanted you to hear me out.” He walked out.

  Babatunde stared at the letter and sighed. He had his own troubles to look at. He wanted his own woman and did not exactly like going home to the loneliness that seemed to seep into his very bones echoing his footsteps into his heart. He longed for Ife. At the mention of her name to his heart he felt himself harden and groaned inwardly. Desire gripped him and he decided to go for a drink.

  A few minutes later he was staring at a drink in the bar he had walked into.

  Sudden bile rose in his throat and his eyes dimmed. A wave of nausea hit him in acute self-contempt of his weakness. He was not a man at all. No wonder Ife didn’t feel desire for him.

  I wouldn’t take me to bed at this rate, he thought, whipping himself in self-mockery.

  “What bad manners drinking alone.” The voice interrupted his thoughts.

  Babatunde looked up straight into the eyes of Ngozi. A sudden crazy thought taunted him. Come on stud, she has the hots for you—why don’t you find out if you can get it up for her. There is no way to determine a male virgin, you know.

  He felt heat rise in him as he lazily said with a smile, “Let’s correct that shall we? And indicated Ngozi should sit with him.

  Ngozi hesitated by a half second and grabbed a chair.

  He ordered her a drink.

  ~~~

  Babatunde did not remember how he drove home with Ngozi but woke up in the middle of the night with Ngozi in his bed. He was shocked and he rushed for his bathroom trembling. He had acute stomach cramps and held his midriff in pain as he retched almost all his intestines out.

  His vomiting woke Ngozi up and she came to the bathroom trying to help him. As she made to touch Babatunde he recoiled and barked at her to stay away from him. There was so much agony in his voice that Ngozi stayed her hand.

  Still holding his midriff he crawled back to bed and in a fetal position shook uncontrollably.

  Ngozi was alarmed and knelt down to help him but each time she tried to touch him, he jerked. It was the strangest thing and she was getting alarmed.

  Dawn came a few short hours later and with it there was a knock on the front door. Ngozi, in Babatunde
’s bathrobe, innocently went to the front door. She almost fainted in shock because standing there was her friend from secondary school days, Ife.

  Both stared at each other for a shocked second.

  “Josephine?” Ife asked tentatively, confused at seeing her friend in male bathrobes in Babatunde’s apartment. As the import of that dress dawned on Ife, she turned on her heel and ran.

  Ngozi ran to catch up, pulling Ife to face her. She pointed to the front door of Babatunde. “Who is he to you?”

  “Does it matter?” Ife asked in a strained, thin voice, wanting very badly to just disappear.

  Josephine suddenly became aware she was standing in the middle of the road in a male bathrobe and barefoot. She grabbed Ife’s hand and half-dragged Ife back into the living room.

  That was when she noticed the full-size painting of Ife by the side of the wall. She dropped Ife’s hand and stared in shock.

  “Holy smokes—that is you! Who is he?”

  Ife sat and simply covered her head with her hands, rocking herself.

  The door opened and Babatunde walked in.

  The women turned and stared at him.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Ife and Ngozi sat in a restaurant. The last two hours had been surreal for both of them. When Babatunde had walked in, he had stared at both of them and fled back to his bedroom clicking the door shut. After recovering from the stunned shock of seeing her friend, Ife had calmly said they both needed breakfast and offered to take Ngozi to where they could order breakfast nearby. They both ordered but didn’t touch their food.