The Gods of Women Have Gone Mad by Wole Akosile

Author:Wole Akosile
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wosey Publishing House
Published: 2019-06-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Bad News Reaches the Nonconformist

It was a sad, long walk for Magda and Danjah. Both men were silent, each caught up in his own individual thoughts. They walked toward the southern border near the rain forest, where the vegetation seamlessly changed from grass to shrubbery to trees. They had both decided to take a longer route as they needed to come to terms with what had happened before heading home. Villagers going about their daily businesses who recognised them bowed, greeting them with the usual salutation. But Magda and Danjah were so caught up in the moment that they did not notice nor acknowledge them. Some of the villagers were puzzled as this was out of character for both men. They knew something serious must have happened at the council meeting.

Danjah slapped his face inadvertently to kill indolent mosquitoes, which seemingly mocked him by singing unwanted tunes in his ears. It was their time of the year, the blood-sucking insects unleashing their hunger upon the unsuspecting. It was particularly bad on days when there was a high tide. Today was one of those bad days and it felt like an army of mosquitoes had ambushed the poor citizens of Rolami.

Danjah kept his face like a flint, looking ahead and saying nothing. He kept on asking himself,

“What would I tell Lami? What will I tell her friend? How can I explain this to Mudi?”

Danjah’s eyes scanned the shrubs, looking for the leaf used to keep mosquitoes at bay. It was like a natural insect repellent. Ironically, it was abundant in the dry season and scarce in the rainy months when there were even more mosquitoes. His mind was in a state of entropy, wondering what could placate his friend. He could not imagine that three-legged fool Buzu touching Lami. But she had broken the law. For all their posturing, it was only right that she faced punishment, but was this punishment fair?

Danjah broke the silence.

“Magda, speak to me and tell me what you are thinking, the gods may fill my lips with soothing words.”

Magda began to cry.

“I can’t bear to imagine him touching her, that unscrupulous animal.”

Danjah held his arm and tapped him a few times on the shoulder. He frowned as he tried to imagine Buzu kissing Lami.

“Do not torture yourself with such dastardly thoughts. The more you think about it, the more helpless it will make you feel.”

“I can’t get it out of my mind, Danjah. The more I try, the more detailed it becomes. I pray to the gods that this is just a nightmare; perhaps I am in deep sleep. ‘Wake up!’ I scream within me, but the more I scream, the more my voice is drawn into this chasm of sorrow...”

“We can fight this. I am sure we can rally the young men for a revolt,” Danjah said enthusiastically, as though it was a possibility.

“Revolt? Violence? But you know me better than this. I can’t imagine sending the village into chaos over this matter. Regardless

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