Chapter 27

I greeted him. Kwaghtagher gave me the coldest reception I had ever got since I knew him fifteen years ago. What could have been wrong? I walked awkwardly to a chair and sat down.

Soon after I had sat down, a man who had apparently been in the bathroom emerged in the parlour and went to sit near Kwaghtagher. I greeted this man. He did not even respond. Nancy also came from the bedroom and joined us. They behaved so strangelyvthat my fury at Nancy gave way to a feeling of danger. Then Kwaghtagher invited all of us to a table. I was expecting

sumptuous meal.

No sumptuous meal came. Instead, Kwaghtagher addressed this new man Bendega, I called you here to bear witness to this."

Turning to me he said 'Akaa, since I called you to find job here, can you say that I have ever done any bad thing to you?' I was not prepared to answer this question without knowing the reason

why it was asked. Why do you ask? 'I asked. Kwaghtagher ignored me and continued 'the rule in our village is that one should not bite the finger that fed him. Akaa, you have bitten the finger that fed you.' I was too stunned to say anything. He

continued 'If you are starving for women, shouldn't you have asked me to help you get one?' 'Should you instead try to lure my wife into having affairs with you in my absence?

If Nancy wasn't such an extraordinarily faithful wife, you would have corrupted her. Why should it be my wife of all women that you want to seduce??

What I was hearing was like a dream to me. I was too shocked to utter a word.

Kwaghtagher continued. 'I called you. to my house because I trusted you. I did not know that I was making a mistake. Can any man attempt what you attempted?' The man who he called

Bendega cut in to say that he was really disappointed at my behaviour. Kwaghtagher continued while I remained speechless.

Nancy had never been corrupted by any man, friend or foe. You cannot corrupt her. I will not tell you to pack from my house. But don't try to seduce her again.' Turning to Nancy he said 'Nancy I will reward you for your faithfulness."

I sat for long without knowing how to respond to this embarrassment. Who told you I wanted to have affairs with your wife?' I asked with the gravest tone I could muster. 'Shamelessman.' Nancy shouted 'Shameless man! I will fight you!' and she went to pick a kitchen knife.

Kwaghtagher and Bandega held her, pleading with her to leave me alone. Was it Nancy who told you this?" I asked with an unusual patience. "Who else do you expect!"

yelled Nancy 'Ingrate! Shameless man! rapist!...and she started struggling to get herself free from their grip so that she could come and fight with me.

Why did you believe your wife without first asking me?" I asked Kwaghtagher That's a stupid question!" Kvaghtagher screamed 'you knew what you did!' All this time Nancy was crying and struggling to come and fight with me, but she could not leave Bandega's grip. I did not attempt to do anything with your wife' I said firmly.

'Indeed you did not attempt!' Nancy said

sarcastically. Bandega turned to me and said Please behave like a gentleman. You should apologise for your behaviour. A lot of trust was bestowed on you by Kwaghtagher. You betrayed this trust... You should apologise."

I was becoming more and more provoked. I am too trustful!' Screamed Kwaghtagher That's my undoing!' Amazed at Kwaghtagher's credulity I said 'God is my witness. I had no such evil intention towards your wife.' Kwaghtagher turned to me screaming wildly 'calling on God! You godless man! Traitor...

My patience reached its limit. 'I will make startling revelations to you' I said. 'Your wife is fundamentally a hopeless exhibitionist

who.... 'I was cut short by Nancy's successful physical attack on me. I didn't know how she managed to wriggle herself out of Bendega's grip. Just as she let loose her feigned fury on me,

Kwaghagher also pounced on me. At first I didn't want to fight back. But all of a sudden I threw my fists in two opposite directions, to the left and to the right, leaving two bodies lying flat both ways. I used such force that if I had struck empty spaces

with the two hands, they would have been dismembered from my body.

Bendega went to minister to them as I went into my pigeon hole and packed all my property. I was soon in the parlour. Its good you've packed your things' said Kwaghtagher from the floor. You imagine that my wife is an exhibitionist and so you want to rape her. She' is not an exhibitionist. She usually wears only her towel to the bathroom and I never complained.' I gave Nancy an ugly look.

Do not let my wife report you to the police for

attempted rape.' said Kwaghtagher.

This threat had immediate impact on me. I was the last person to encourage anyone to take me to the police for another trumped up charge of rape. That would ruin me. My record as an ex- convict wouldn't help. I did not want to loose the chance of working in Mohammed Ali's Company, and loose the chance of being a success.

Having ensured that I had packed all my clothes, I walked across the parlour, going out to a place I did not know. 'Leave our house rapist' Nancy shouted after me. I went to the main road and stopped a taxi. Where?' the driver asked.

'Bolori layout.'