Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Chapter Nineteen

The Fokker 29 touched down forty five minutes later at the Maffia Island Airport. “Thank God, It’s all over”. Imara said as she unclasped her seat belt. “Is this the final destination?” Klara asked. “Yes, we’re in Maffia Island”, Imara replied. “Thank God. I’m so tired right now I need good food and good sleep”. “Stop complaining and help with the baggage”, Imara said Abude was at the airport to meet them. Sitting in his tricycle, he looked very tired. His face seemed more lined and was pale and drawn. As the tricycle sped along the airport road, Imara took in the sights and could not help but agree that the island looked fantastic on this fine sunny day, from her position she could get a vantage view of the sea and the long stretch of the sea round a cave and glowing white and green in the bright sunshine. While the only port on the island was busy, the beach as she could see was empty, for it was still too early for the holiday makers. It’s as if everything has just been newly washed even the walls of the houses looked scrubbed. “I guess it’s the rain that fell last week that must’ve done the trick!” Abude remarked. There’s been heavy flooding in some areas of the Island. But Imara was not listening anymore as they drove along the road to the hotel for her heart was pounding with excitement as she saw the waves crashing on the beach. This was to be her new home now, she thought. And it felt like home, as no other place ever had before, Imara was very happy indeed. “What’d you think of our new home?” She asked beaming at Klara.“Well, if you like it then it’s okay with me”, Klara answered her. But deep down she was happy to be with Imara on maffia island .they settled down very fast, and Klara began to feel at home the moment she realized how much she was needed to keep the huge, rather neglected hotel in order .she became even more active than before and even acknowledged Abude’s jovial banter with a grin. Her past training made a big asset to the hotel, the chrome plated designs and kitchen tiles were all grimy and black from neglect .Abude was not fit enough to do them and the daily paid workers refused to do them .Klara took up the challenge and worked on them until they began to shine. Imara and Abude were pleased.

“My goodness what a hard worker we have here” Abude declared to Imara. The entire kitchen hasn’t looked like that for the last ten years”. “She’s indeed very hardworking and a very big asset” Imara told him.

As the second-in-command, Imara learned to serve drinks in the bar and soon became very popular among all the patrons, whether they were in the public bar or the hotel. Abude was overwhelmed at the wonderful changes that had taken place since their arrival. “They’ve virtually transformed the entire hotel”, he told a groups of friends. “Can’t imagine how I managed without them”.

“Do you know Imara’s reputation is spreading fast?” One of the men said. “I heard a man say if you want the best services go to Imara at the Abude hotel and Towers”.

“Wallah”, Abude exclaimed. “That means more customers and more dollars”. During the day in a smart clerk suit, Imara would look after the reception desk and ensure that the guests were booked in and out. Beautiful, tall and bursting with energy, Imara was the missing link in the hotel. “What an asset they are he would tell himself repeatedly”. One of Imara’s past times was to leave for the harbour in the morning to watch the fishing boats come in on the quayside she would wonder between the huge baskets of seafood and most times she bought some for lunch and dinner. it didn’t take long before she became friendly with the fishermen who were also glad to make the acquaintance of this black beautiful woman from Itharkar. With the exit of the rains, the heat became terrible due to long spell of sunshine. Imara began going to the beach where she would spend her leisure hours lying on the beach clothe in a sexy swimming suit and taking occasional dips into the sea she would often imagine herself and Thounder floating out there on a raft. She knew that Thounder could swim, for he had learned all this while playing on the lagoon. She smiled to herself as she thought of Thounder again. She was sure he would love Maffia Island Tunde would come out of prison especially if his appeal for pardon went through. Suddenly she leaped to her feet, scattering sand everywhere. She knew what to do………. She would go home and send a text message though she had never done that before but if it did not go she would call him before opting to write as a last resort. on reaching the hotel Imara went to her room picked up her handset and sent a text message to Thounder in prison but the text did not go, she tired phoning and got through to the prison but she was total prisoners were not allowed the luxury of telephone calls. She then opted to write Thounder, her first letter in years to find out if he still loved her. Thank God she now had a respectable address for his letters to come to, so it could not do any harm.

It had been a very busy day for them, so it was not until midnight before Imara finally sat down in her room and composed a love letter to her man. In her letter, Imara talked about her love for him and about her new job in Maffia Islands. Imara read the letter but then writing had never been one of her vices least of all writing love letter. After reading through for the fourth time, she went to the hotel’s business centre and sent her message. After the message was gone Imara remained rooted. Like a statue. “Oh God, let Thounder still be in love with me’ she prayed silently. Thounder’s reply came two months later, unlike Imara he opted to write instead of replying by e-mail. The mails that had come in that afternoon were dropped at Abude’s office. Picking up Thounder’s letter, Abude gazed curiously at this particular letter addressed to Imara. The white envelop was marked ‘Port City prison service’. he sent for Imara “This is your letter” he said.

Quickly Imara snatched the letter from him “it’s from my brother back home, she explained

“I wrote to him he’s in trouble for trying to kill a politician. We correspond”

“But you never told me “Abude said

“so sorry” she said dashing off to her room to read it Thounder’s hand writing had deteriorated a lot after the letter he had written to her while still in Itharkar. That was the problem with the prisons in this part of the world, instead of changing a man it would rather destroy the man and turn him into a vegetable. As she opened the letter a feeling of happiness washed over as she read his words.

Dear Imara,

I was really pleased to hear from you. I’m glad to know that you have the country and are now working in Maffia Island. I worried a lot about you. My appeal for pardon was successful, after twelve years in prison I am going to be released before Christmas. Your letters give me hope, please don’t stop writing. Your letters are very powerful, they can give hope to a monk in a monastery, and they can make just one marine to take on saddam Hussein entire troops. Your letters can make a dead man come back to life.

Finally your letters made me feel loved and on top of the world.

I love you more than words can say,

Thounder

Imara wept and hugged the letter as if it contained life. After that she kept it in her pocket and read it during her free moments within the hotel or at the beach,.and also before sleeping. Klara was amazed at the naked display of affection. “You must be really in love with this Thounder of yours’ she said. “How right you’re, Imara said. “I pray you fall in love very soon then you will know what I mean”.

“Thank you! I guess it is really wonderful being in love,” Klara remarked. Throughout that period spanning five months, Imara received a letter every two months from Thounder she in turn wrote to him twice a month by email and also used that opportunity to tell him of the money stashed in the account which he could use to travel down to Maffia Island and together they would rent a two bedroom flat to live in. But inwardly, Imara was worried about Abude and what his reaction would be to this scheme of hers. Moreover they were lovers and planning something else. She could recall the look on Abude’s face whenever he gave her Thounder’s letter. But Imara stood her ground and refused to divulge any of her plans to him. As the dry season approached, the early morning mist lay over the sea and a sharp breeze blew in from the east. The hotel began to experience a drop in their lodgings but they still received patrons who came in the evenings to drink. Even then there was still much less to do in the hotel and Imara would often sit with Abude and some of his friends sharing jokes. While Klara sat watching movies on satellite. It was obvious that Klara had really settled down on the Island.

“I’d be going to Pyramid City for a week; would you like to go with me? Abude asked one evening. “Klara can come too and together we’d do some shopping and visit some interesting sites”. “No I don’t think so, Imara replied. “Come on it’d do you a lot of good besides the hotel did very well this year, Thanks to my able, dedicated and hardworking team and I’d like to repay you and Klara for your hard work”. Imara hesitated for a while and then said, “no Abude you go Klara and I’ll look after things here” “okay! if you say so” she knew that Abude was disappointed at her rejecting the offer, but Tunde having been released from prison in November would be arriving Maffia island that week being the second week of December and she was determined not to miss him.

On a misty Wednesday morning in December Abude flew to Mogadishou enroute Pyramid City. On returning from the airport Imara went to work immediately.

“Come on Klara”, she said, “Help me get one of the suites ready. We’re going to have a very important Visitor”.

”Thounder’s coming into town; he has been released from prison, Imara?” Klara asked.

“Yes he has”, Imara replied. “But” Klara began. “Yes! What?” Imara said impatiently. “Is this fair on Abude?” She asked looking away. Klara had liked Abude from the first day and was thus loyal to him and felt Imara should do the same. “Who told you I’m cheating on anybody?” Imara fired back at Klara. And the fiery glint in her eyes made Klara retire “Nobody says you’re cheating on anybody”, Klara replied. She knew her stubborn and willful mistress very well and there was so point in arguing any further. Rather she moved on to do as she was instructed.

On Friday morning, two days after Abude left for Pyramid City, Imara went to meet Thounder at the airport. Dressed in a jeans outfit complete with black boots, she was a sight to behold. Thounder on the other hand before gaining total freedom had been allowed a couple of weeks in the free world to prepare him for his final release that would follow shortly. At first she did not recognize him as he sat alone in the arrival lounge of the Maffia island airport. He wore a black jacket that tended towards being oversized and it was obvious that he had lost weight. His hair was a bit brownish, this Imara attributed to bad feeding while in prison. But Thounder recognized her instantly and swept her into his arms. Regardless of their environment, they stood locked together in the airport lounge in a close embrace for several minutes. Then, hand in hand, they walked out of the terminal to the building parking lot. “Beautiful place to live in”, Thounder said. “How did you get a job of this magnitude?” he asked.

“I saw the advert in the dailies and so I applied”, Imara replied. “It’s a wonderful hotel, but right now the boss has gone to Pyramid City on holidays and put me in charge. I’m going to smuggle you in there. I hope you don’t mind, Thounder?” She stared lovingly at him. “I’ve got to be very careful, Imara. It was a tug of war before I was allowed to travel, besides I’m being watched so I must stay away from every appearance of trouble” Thounder said soberly. “No don’t worry”, Imara smiled assurringly at him. “There won’t be any problem; I can assure you on that. Everything planned out, trust me on this, I’ve already told the servants that you’re my brother. The hotel is empty having been closed down due to seasonal changes, only the barns are open”.

The tricycle arrived the hotel where Thounder was booked in as an unofficial guest and a brother to Imara. The cleaner and two other workers, the only staff retained for the season accepted the development as the sort of thing that happened when the boss was away. Thounder stared around the huge bedroom and at the bathroom attached to it. “Gracious father” He exclaimed in amazement. “Imara, what’s this? The honeymoon suite” “Yes it is my darling and you and I are on our honeymoon”, Imara replied a she undressed. It was early afternoon when they went to bed and made passionate love. Thounder did not display any inhibitions; as far as sex was concerned he was still aggressive as in the past. His long years in the prison had rather sharpened his libido. Imara had never been so happy. This was her man, her real soul mate. Not since her sad affair with Tony Farouk had she been so eager to love. They made love over and over again, and did not emerge from the guest room until the following morning. Throughout the period that Thounder visited lasted Imara was in cloud nine. She went about like a shy bride. Almost her entire moments were spent with Thounder who was ensconced in what they had christened the honeymoon suite. Together they made passionate love over and over while helping themselves to choice foods from the hotels Kitchen. Imara basking in the euphoria of this reunion was hoping that the moments would last forever. For once she even hoped and prayed Abude would extend his holidays or better still go away forever while Thounder remained with her. For Imara it was like the days had been shortened from twenty four hours to twelve hours. It was therefore a very sad moment for her when it was time for Thounder to return to Itharkar. The short holiday had been a success, Thounder had recovered rapidly, shaking off the signs of prison and putting on more weight. The best of the holiday had been in their using the opportunity to know and rediscover themselves, Imara loved Thounder’s aggressiveness in bed, and she was now reformed a new person indeed. And she displayed it in the subdued way she dressed and the nice way she walked. On their last day together while in bed, Thounder reached out and dragged Imara into his arms. “Imara my darling”, Thounder began. “I’ve been through a lot, but I want to ask you this question, do you consider me good enough to be your husband?” “Oh, Thounder” Imara cried ecstatically, throwing her arms about his neck. “I love you so much; I can’t bear the thought of you leaving me”.“Cool down, I’ll be back before you know it”, Thounder replied. “But don’t forget I’m jobless now and I’ve never been a good boy if you know what I mean”. “Oh, Thounder my darling”, Imara cried ecstatically, throwing her arms about his neck. “I love you so much; I can’t bear the thought of life without you”. “I’ll always be there for you”, Thounder replied. “But I’ll need a job to sustain us, it’ll be tough because I’ve never really held a regular job”.“We shall survive together”, Imara consoled holding on to him fiercely. “If I lose you or should you desert me. I don’t know what I will do. But we’ll get by, I’ve got some money saved for the rainy day. I could quit this job and find us a place elsewhere. Opportunities abound”. “Hey! I’m not a parasite “Thounder announced “so don’t move too fast I’m sure to come up with something too”

“You could acquire one of these tricycle and go into transportation most of the men do that down here”, Imara pointed out.

“There isn’t much to make from it but it’s better than doing nothing” Thounder replied Imara hugged him tight. “There’s nothing to worry about I’ve saved enough money to get us by” “when it’s all over we could just go back to our beloved country”, he told her. “My uncle is into fishing, he might give me job as a manager”. “Come on sweet heart”, Imara cried. “Please stop this complaint. Don’t spoil our last day together.” Thounder kissed her hard on the lips. “Don’t worry, I won’t”, he said with a smile. “And I promise to do away with my rough life. I was not born only to die in prison”. “That’s very good news to my ear sweetheart” Imara cried, covering his face with kisses. “Now let’s make love so that I can remember this moment”.