Liberian Classic
Liberian Literary Magazine Promoting Liberian literature, Arts and Culture
Liberian Classic
Murder in the Cassava Patch III
Bai. T Moore
The first thing that came to my mind was, how to obtain Tene ' s toenails. I resorted to the technique of the rat. When he wants to eat off your toe nails, he bites and blows. So with the aid of the scissors and plenty of gently blowing I managed to clip off three of Tene ' s toenails. Then, my luck turned. Maneuvering to reach the head of the bed to cut off a braid of Tene ' s hair, I clumsily knocked against a pan, causing Kema to scream,“ Tene! Tene! Is that you?““ What is it sister?”“ Someone is in the room!
The window is wide open!”
The alarm plunged Bendabli into one helluva holler holler. All able bodied men were ordered to converge on old man Joma ' s quarter with whatever defensive weapons they could get hold of. When I heard the creaking of doors and rapid footsteps close by our house, I felt the impending danger facing me. It was during this state of confusion, that Tene jumped right into my arms and cried,“ Sister Kema! Sister Kema! The person ' s got me. 0 God help me.”
Already, I could hear men banging at the door with mortar pestles and sticks to force it open. Two men with raised cutlasses had taken positions at the window.
In the tossle, I hurriedly slashed off a braid of Tene ' s hair with my razor, then managed to fight my way out through the window. How I succeeded in concealing my identity is a miracle. I must thank whatever gods smiled on me. Dawn found me half way between Suehn and Bendabli. In order to stick to my alibi, I delayed my arrival in Suehn by a couple of days.
News travel so rapidly in these days of motor cars, I had no doubt that my landlord had heard about the incident in Bendabli. This is the first thing he and the landlady asked me on my arrival. I conveniently forgot that my foster father was supposed to have been at the point of death and said that in the middle of the journey my toe had started giving me trouble again, so I decided to come back.
Both my landlord and my friend Buu had some misgivings about the story, to judge from the expression on their faces. From the gossip I picked up from the palm wine circles, my landlord actually suspected that I had been in Bendabli on the night of the incident. My father ' s health was not mentioned again, but the atmosphere around me became unbearable. I yearned to escape.
After a few days, I plucked up enough courage to tell my landlord, I was feeling weak and unable to do the job. I said,
I wanted to go home. I still owed him a few dollars’ worth of work, but graciously he waved it. Old man Bleng got through with all my works and told me to meet him so he could deliver them to me.
Two nights after my departure from Suehn, the old man and I met in a small room in a village not far from Bendabli. When Bleng poured out the contents of the carryall raffia bag unto the small table between us, I noticed that every item was neatly wrapped.
“ Now Kai, let me explain to you how to use each item,” the old man paused.“ You have here three packets containing gunpowder. When you get home, get a torch or box of matches and ignite each packet, calling Tene ' s name each time. The rolled up otter skin contains her hair and nails. This you keep on your person, at all times. In the antelope horn,” Bleng went on,“ you will find strong love powders. Try to put some in food for Tene to eat. Her heart will jump after you, whenever you desire her.”
I hurriedly repeated everything the old man told me, to be sure I would not make any mistake. Before departing, I handed Bleng ten silver dollars and told him he would hear from me.
I arrived in Bendabli shortly after parting with the old crystal reader. Everyone had gone to bed. I moved straight to our big house and knocked on the door.“ Who is that?” A heavy voice asked hoarsely. It was
12