Liberian Literary Magazine Promoting Liberian literature , Arts and Culture that if anyone wanted to see him they should follow him to his fish-trap . I was directed to the place , a makeshift shed , where the old man spent the night when it was not convenient to return to his village . He was accompanied by his grandson , a child of ten . The little boy was the first to see me . He ran to tell the old man . When Bleng saw me he called ,
“ Kai friend , where is your shadow ?”
“ Old man , it is not all the time friends must know what you are doing .”
“ You are right .” The old man agreed . “ Some people who pretend to be your friends are the very ones who help to spoil your palava .”
After the usual greetings , the old man offered me a seat . He wanted to know how Buu ' s old lady in the swamp was coming on .
“ The old lady had a misfortune for some reason ,” I informed the old man . “ I understand that
Buu permitted a novice to attend it .”
“ What a pity ,” Bleng admitted .
“ The fool cut the heart of the tree too far back and she refuses to leak .”
The sand reader grinned . “ When I was making palm wine , I never permitted anyone to go up in my trees . Everyone in this country knows this . Some people got bad luck and when they go up in a palm wine tree , they cast an evil spell on it .”
We soon got to the problem which brought me to the old man . The first thing I did was to reach in my bag and hand Bleng a big bottle of cane juice .
“ Old man ,” I told him , “ my heart is heavy . I love Tene too much . God knows it . I have slaved all my life for her . I can ' t sit down and see another man get her .”
“ Of course not .” The crystal reader agreed with a deep voice .
“ Bleng I beg you , do it for God ' s sake , make all the strong medicines you know to make
Tene ' s heart turn towards me alone .”
I noticed old man Bleng commenced thinking very seriously . His ears began to move up and down as if they were being pulled by some mechanical device . “ Gortokai ,” he raised his head , “ for true , the palava don ' t reach a man ' s kinja . We got to put fire behind turtle ' s behind to make things move . I can try to help you , but this will tost you plenty money .”
“ Old man , I don ' t care what the cost is , if I get Tene , I am willing to enslave for myself for the rest of my life to pay you .”
“ Young man , are you serious about this woman ?”
“ Yes .” I assured the old man .
“ The things I need to make the love medicines for you are difficult to obtain . For instance , I need right away , a braid of Tene ' s hair , a piece of her garment , three of her toe nails , a piece of otter skin , particularly from the breast section , some gun powder and other odds and ends .
But some of these I believe I can get locally . The immediate needs are the hair , nails and garment . “
“ I think I can get you these easily .”
“ That ' s how I like to hear a man talk . I see that you are brave my son , how long you think will take you ? “
I pondered over my reply . “ In seven days . You see Bleng ,
I cannot trust anyone with a mission as delicate as this . I must go myself .”
“ Weil Kai , my son , as soon as you can bring the items I need for your job , I will fix Tene ' s heart in such a way she will eat out of your hands .”
I felt relieved for the first time in days . I asked the old man about his fee , and how he wanted it paid . “ Kai , I like you as my own son . I understand your Problems . When we get our hands on all the things I have asked for , I will want an advance of sixteen dollars in America money .
When the work is finished and you are satisfied , I will demand an additional sixteen dollars and wave the balance . Some people pay me one hundred dollars for jobs like this .”
I thanked the old man for his generosity , handed him fifty cents and bid him goodnight . I reaffirmed my promise that I would see Bleng in seven days . Back in Suehn , I met my landlord , his wife and my friend Buu sitting on the veranda with some of Kema ' s concoction .
I could just imagine what they were talking about - me and Tene of course .
I wanted to avoid them and go straight in my room , but this was not feasible . Buu had seen me . He called , “ Kai , come here and join us ! Your landlord has found something new to add to the Kema concoction .”
“ And what is this new invention ?” I asked .
“ A big secret ,” my landlord said with a broad smile . I tasted the stuff and found it even superior to Kema ' s brand .
“ Come from old man Bleng , I suppose ?” Buu inquired inquisitively .
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