Chapter 20: Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
The following morning, Thounder left the island on board the first ferry. Imara stood on the jetty waving as tears ran down her face. Imara’s eyes were still red with crying when Abude returned from his Pyramid City trip. He looked at her strangely when he first arrived home, but it did not take long for him to find out at least some of what had been going on in his absence. The cook was the first to let the cat out of the bag. “We had a guest in the vip suite all the week” she informed him. “A couple on honey moon? “Abude asked. “Well, if you want to put it that way”, the cook said with a shrug “but the man was supposed to be madam’s brother but she spent most of her time with him up there”. Abude was visibly angry but was reluctant to jump to conclusion. “Any way “he said, “Imara was in charge and beside she’s not a kid, it’s up to her what she did”. That evening it was a very subdued Imara who served behind the bar. Being a Friday and the beginning of the weekend the sailors and the locals came in numbers to satisfy their thirst. Huddled together and alone gossiping while the men played draughts or simply lounged against the bar. It was a nice homely scene and usually Imara felt very much at home in such gatherings; she liked the locals and they in turn were fond of her. But tonight she was feeling a little shifty about her behaviour the week before. She had come down to the bar on Saturday evening with Thounder and unfortunately, they had a few drinks too many. Without thinking, Imara was all over Thounder, fussing and petting him, and practically raping him with her dark, passionate eyes. The other patrons of the bar were amazed and shocked at this display. “What in tar nation?” Busar had said in her funny accent,” but there’re brother and sister”, Kedah replied. “I don’t agree, I’ve never shown this type of fondness to my brother”, Kedah’s daughter said.
With total disregard of the people around, Imara had continued to love and fondle her man. “Common” remarked Kedah’s daughter, “she’s even setting me on fire!” remarked Keddah’s son in law, who was playing draughts across the room, and was known to everyone as saddam. The news zipped around the bar like a wild fire during dry season, and there was a series of nudges punctuated with ‘oh’ and winks as Imara kissed her man and played with his knees. Imara’s romantic advances were too much for Thounder who had begun to look embarrassed and uncomfortable as his penis stiffened and showed through his jeans. Then the men passed coarse remarks among themselves and laughed loudly. “Who is he?” Kedah demanded. “I’ve never seen him before” “he’s from somewhere near the Atlantic ocean ”, saddam said. “Spoke with him at the airstrip, a nice guy though”. “But why’s Imara acting like this”, Kedah’s daughter asked looking very concerned. “ I thought she was Abude’s wife?” “That is disloyalty and I hate it”, Kedah said. And so the conversation in the bar continued until the manager asked everyone to leave since it was getting to midnight. The locals began to leave, but Imara and her man had already vanished back to bed.“Ah well, Bufo”, saddam said to the manager, “I better get going all this talk about sex has turned me on”. “All I’m hoping”, said Kedah’s husband “Is that Abude doesn’t get to know. It’ll kill him. Bad news travel fast”, Abude had quickly got wind of events when he returned from Pyramid City. In fact, he was fed up to teeth by the number of people itching to report Imara to him. He only had to walk down to the harbour to be stopped several times by people who felt he was being taken for a ride. He returned to the hotel feeling despondent. His shoulders were slightly bowed and he felt he had something to say to Imara or better still Imara had some explaining to do. Another Friday night had come again and Imara had to face the consequences of her behaviour. “I wonder what this local gossip will have to say tonight”, she muttered somewhat anxiously to Klara, who was drying glasses. “Well, you were very careless in the way you conducted yourself, Imara. The cook heard some of your cries of pleasure while with Thounder”. “Oh, to hell with them” Imara said angrily. “If Abude ask me, I’ll just tell him the whole truth” Imara said fuming. “That’s okay just please be careful I don’t want any thing that will take me back to Itharkar” Klara pleaded. “Now don’t worry, we’re here to stay Abude can’t do without us”, Imara reassured her. “If you say so” When Abude came in from his trip to the quay, he slowly put his overall coat on the hanger and wearily wiped his feet on the foot cleaner. From her position in the bar, Imara watched him. He looked pale and his features were tired looking. “You look tired”, Imara said. “I’m sure you trekked all the way”. “Didn’t go far, Imara”, Abude said. “The whole island’s filled with villagers itching to inform me about your fling with a guy from Itharkar?”. Imara blushed but right there she decided to settle the issue once and for all. “Any way that’s true, Abude. Do you want to hear my own side of the story?” Abude nodded. “I’d love to hear you indeed”. “Fine”, Imara said taking a deep breath. “The guy they are all taking about is Thounder Akins, who recently breathe the air of freedom after being in jail for almost nine years”. “I see”, Abude said nodding his head. “But at least you should have shielded the affair from the villagers or you should have gone elsewhere”. Abude’s response made Imara become very angry. Why should she make excuses or hide? After all Thounder was just a friend. “Why hide why don’t you say it out you don’t like the fact that my friend came to visit,” Imara snapped irritably. Abude sat up as if hit by a bolt of lightning. He looked offended but he was in all circumstances a gentle man. “You’re my wife, the villagers see you in that light and they have learned to respect you, Imara please don’t lose that respect” he pleaded. “That’s their business,” Imara fired back.” I don’t care about their foolish gossips anymore. As soon as Thounder clears with the prison authorities in Nigeria he’s relocating to Maffia Islands.”
“Well, it is your life, Imara, but be careful you know the guy’s an ex-convict now and the authorities here will focus on him”. Imara contorted her face in rage. “Is that what you think?” She screamed. “Well you’re wrong Thounder’s a changed man and l won’t abandon him now. He was my man before going to jail”. “That’s okay!” Abude said trying to calm her. “That’s all up to you if you want to go off with him no problem. You’ve been a great asset to me here and l’ll miss you. You know l’m not as fit as l was.” As he spoke, his hand trembled and he grabbed the back of the chair to steady himself.
In a jiffy Imara was at his side. She put her arms about his neck. “I’m very sorry please,” she said. “Sit down now, and stop working yourself up.” “It’s all right, my dear,” Abude said patting her shoulder his voice was choked. “I care very much for you but it’s like I also expected too much of you.” He sat down in the chair as Imara went to the sideboard and poured him a glass of whisky she gave him the drink and sat down beside him. “Let me clarify something here,” Imara began.” You’ve brought me out of the pit into a better life. I will always be grateful to you for the new lease of life you’ve given to Klara and me. But Thounder was my lover and would’ve married me if not that he went to jail for attempting to kill a top politician. Now he’s coming out of prison is it too much to stand by a man l cherished so much?” Imara asked.
Abude shook his head and patted her hand. “I guess you’re right, l just allowed these busy bodies to get to me we’ll take things the way they are won’t we?” “That’s the spirit my darling,” Imara said kissing him on the lips and very relieved that the issue had been laid to rest.” You just relax here. I’ll go and open the bar for the day’s business.”
A couple of weekends later, with the gossips and rumours laid to rest; Imara once again became a well loved figure and part of the community again. Life settled down once more and Imara continued with her daily routine. On the other hand, with the arrival of the harmattan cold, Abude’s health deteriorated so much that he now relied on Imara to manage the hotel. Imara continued sending messages to Thounder outlining plans for the future, and she also visited a property agent to investigate the possibility of renting a flat. In January, the harmattan was sever the air was dry and dusty; visibility was poor thus grounding flights out of Maffia Island. Imara was amazed at the turn in the weather; the dusty and howling winds filled her with fear for the safety of their lives. Due to the bad weather, the ferries and fishing boats laid at anchor while the sailors and fishermen swarmed the bar for anything that will drive out the cold. Despite her relationship with Abude, Imara could not help but wish Thounder was by her side in such cold weather. To while away time, Imara resorted to ticking away the days as she did a countdown to Thounder’s final release from prison in Itharkar.
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Abude’s health went from bad to worse. He coughed repeatedly all through the night and in the day he spent the time in bed. The doctor had been called in and drugs had been prescribed but
Abude’s condition did not improve. One very chilly harmattan night, Abude crept into Imara’s room and asked sorrowfully, “please can l join you in bed? It’s terribly cold and l can’t sleep.”
“Be my guest,” Imara said sighing as she moved over to make room for Abude. He had moved out of their rooms on returning from Pyramid City but suddenly the cold had driven him back into her arms. The entire room was filled with the smell of the embrocation he used to rub his chest, Imara over looked all that and cuddled her lover to her warm supple body and Abude sighing like a well fed child went to sleep immediately.
This gesture reconciled them once again and they began sleeping together as couples. But one night, after about a month of sleeping together Imara had gone to sleep with Abude in her arms, she woke up to find her arm trapped uncomfortably under Abude’s head. She pushed him over in order to try to dislodge it and switched on the bedside light with her free arm. “My God, Abude when did you put on all this weight,” she said, “Please move over so that l can have some space.”
Somehow, she managed to sit up. Abude had still not moved. His mouth was wide open but no sound came from it and the colour on his face looked pale and sickly. Imara gave him another push but his head was very heavy and did not budge. Suddenly, in panic, she wrenched her arm away. Rather than him waking up his head rolled to one side and Imara knew immediately that Abude was dead. Her screams made Klara dash in wearing her night gown. Klara took one look at the dead body and rushed to Imara. “You must be strong, my love,” she said. “He’s gone for good.”
Imara broke down and began to weep, as Klara made concerted efforts to console her. Abude’s sudden death affected Imara. She had dealt with the dead before and had a terrible feeling towards illness and death. She recalled how shocked she had been when news of her father’s death in Liberia was broken to them and when the corpse was brought home for burial. And now Abude was gone, it was with great sadness that she remembered his jovial nature which had the ability to make the saddest of persons to smile. But now he was no more. Imara shuddered every time she thought of his cold stiff body lying in her arms all night. The mere thought of it made her want to vomit.
An autopsy was conducted and the verdict was death from systems shut down. Two days later his body was released from the mortuary and in a well attended ceremony Abude’s body was committed to mother earth as it was laid to rest in the Maffia Island local cemetery. Imara and Klara attended to the feeding needs of the mourners. None of his family members attended the burial even though the news was communicated to them. Thus Abude departed without the pleasure of receiving the last burial rites from his family.
A week after his death and burial, the will was read in the conference room of the hotel. In a solemn voice the lawyer read Abude’s will… The day to day runnings of my hotels in Europe l leave to my wife. The hotel in Maffia Island and all money in my bank accounts l bequeath to Imara as long as she will continue to run the hotel in the manner that l did.” There followed a few bequests of his collection of coins to old friends. All outstanding debts owed him were cancelled forthwith.
Imara was amazed at the good fortune that had befallen her. She really had not expected anything. Totally astonished; she sat trying to comprehend this generous and fantastic gift. Then she turned to Klara and said “we shall run the hotel together for Abude’s sake won’t we?”
“Of course, we will if that will make Abude happy where he is,” Klara replied.
Inwardly Imara could not believe her luck, this was a nice hotel and it had dropped right into her lap. What more could she and Thounder want? The fact that the villagers were a little suspicious of Abude’s sudden death did not bother her. In that respect her hands were clean. Shortly after the burial, tongues began to wag as accusation followed accusation all alleging that Imara had a hand in Abude’s death. But Imara though aware of the side talk’s ignored them and continued with life as usual.
“Don’t mind them, they’re just envious of you that’s all,” Klara consoled.
“I won’t mind,” Imara began. “You don’t prove what nobody doubts and certainly not these ones.” “Thank God for you this is very a nice place and managed properly will feed you forever,” Klara added brightly.
“Well, it’s mine now and nothing can be done about it and soon Thounder will join me here what else do l want out of life?” Imara asked.
“Nothing more”, Klara replied. “Poor old Abude he was such a nice man. May his soul rest in peace”. Then she made the sign of the cross.
“Amen,” Imara replied mockingly.”Now if you’re through please give me a hand in preparing the next room for my beloved Thounder.”
All efforts by Klara to change Imara’s mind failed woefully as that night Imara moved out of the room she had shared with Abude.
“What’re you afraid of?” Klara asked teasingly.” Dead men don’t bite you know.” “Shut up,” Imara ordered.” Do as you’re told. Klara obeyed and joined her quietly as they continued the transfer of Imara’s belongings to another room. Imara spared no efforts in equipping the room in preparation for Thounder’s return from Itharkar. Where he had been serving a stiff jail term for attempting to kill a politician. She had redesigned the room completely buying new colourful curtains and cover, installed a full loader Sony DVD player and a rackful of movies. Thounder was not young to be deprived of anything anymore not when he had spent these last nine years in prison. My love I shall give you the treat of a lifetime, she vowed. Standing back she surveyed the room with pride ‘boy by the time I’ve finished spoiling you with love you will never let me go, Imara said silently. The future looked very bright, she thought and by the grace of God each of them would have a fruitful and wonderful life together. As the new boss of the hotel, Imara gathered all the staff for a crucial meeting. She was determined to assert her authority as well as gain their confidence. On the whole Imara inherited ten staff six men and four ladies..they all lived outside the hotel and had held this job for years. They were experienced, efficient and Imara did not wish to lose such dedicated staff. The meeting was holding in the hotel’s conference room, the staffs were all were all gathered and looked very anxious. “There are drinks in the fridge” Imara said smiling at them. “Why are you all looking anxious I’m not going to sack any one” Imara reassured them. “But I do want to know if I have your cooperation to help run this place .I’m a newcomer to this business and you all know it more than I do . So I’d like to establish a good working relationship between us. I may not be what you call a fire fire Christian but I do remember the bible says that two cannot walk except they agree but I don’t know where it is in the bible, any question so far?”