Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty Three

Imara was alarmed. “No? Surely Jemi wouldn’t be so foolish,” she said.

“She’s hot,” cackled Klara, “Just waiting to be laid.” “Will you shut up’” Imara said. “I’ll indeed be relieved when she finally goes off at the end of this month.”

On Friday morning Jemima caught the bus into town. She was looking very pretty, with her hair nicely curled and wearing a nice looking jeans outfit and carrying a blue handbag. In the bag she had all the money that Imara had so kindly given her.

When she arrived in town and had been to the bank, to her amazement, she met Fefah. It was such a coincidence, she told herself, but at the same time she was pleased to see him.

“Hi baby! How about a bite?” Fefah asked, piloting her into an eatery. She was happy to be with Fefah and enjoyed sitting at the table and sipping from her iced cold drink. “I must remember the time the bus leaves”, she said. “I promised madam l’d be back by one o’clock”.

“Well, there it goes,” grinned Fefah, pointing out of the window. “It’s going up the road.”

“Oh my God,” cried Jemima in dismay, l’ve missed it”. “Don’t worry,” Fefah reassured her, “there’ll be another bus in two hours time. How about a trip to the amusement park in the meantime? Would you like a merry go round on the rollers? His suggestion sounded very exciting particularly since she had to hang around for a couple of hours. “No problem, Fefah,” she replied sweetly.

“Right, then,” Fefah said, swaggering to the counter, he paid the bill with some of the money he had stolen from Jemima’s things. They walked along side by side down the streets of Maffia Island. Jemima was shyly silent but Fefah walked with his hands in his pockets, whistling a tune. At the park they had a ride on the merry go round bumper mobiles. Fefah behaved badly yelling, shoving violently at other fun seekers. “Oh, dear,” cried Jamima. “I feel sick, Fefah, let’s get off please.”

“Yea! Nice bit of fresh air will do you well,” Fefah said smiling at her. “Come on, then let’s go to the gardens the air is cool and fresh.”

Holding her hand he guided her along the path into the cool garden. Quite unexpectedly, Fefah grabbed hold of her knee. Jemima pushed him away. “What’re you up to Fefah?” she asked.

But Fefah ignored her. “Come darling” he urged “Give daddy a little sweet kiss.” With that, he pushed her back down into the long grass. But Jemima was big and strong and she fought like a tigress to get free.

Sensing that she was going to be much trouble, Fefah jumped up at last. “Silly whore,” he sneered. Jemima got to her feet and, from her greater height, looked down at Fefah with an air of superiority. “You know l have a fiancé,” she said, “so you behave yourself otherwise I’d have you castrated by the boys. I’m going to wait for the bus at the station.” “Be my guest,” shrugged Fefah. “I’m going to get myself another drink. Thought you’d be eager for a little action,” he taunted her. “I don’t know why you are hoarding it.” With that he walked away.

Jamima carefully made her way down the slopy garden path and sat in the bus station to wait for her bus. At last it came but it was just pulling out of the bus terminus, when Fefah looking a little worse for drink, shuffled out of a drinking joint opposite and jumped aboard. He positioned himself behind Jemima, giving her an occasional poke in the ribs.

“What is it, why are you disturbing me?” Jemima asked in irritation.

“Did they swear for you not to be friendly?” Fefah demanded aggressively.

Jemima blushed and decided not to speak to him anymore. But when they got off the bus at the end of the road that led up to Abude Hotel and Towers, Fefah ambled along beside her. Jemima did not protest because she had always been a little afraid of the winding cliff roads, as though somebody or some big dog might jump out at her from behind a bush. So she did not complain when Fefah kept pace with her, particularly since he seemed quite sober.

“This fiancé of yours, what does he do for a living?” Fefah asked sounding very friendly.

“He’s a pilot with a courier company,” Jemima replied. “How long since you saw him?” Fefah continued.

“About three weeks ago,” Jemima added innocently and in another two weeks l’m going to wed him”. “Waow! You must be hungry and lonely,” Fefah remarked with a change of tone.

“Sorry, l don’t know what you’re getting at, Fefah,” Jemima replied mildly.

“Come off it”, Fefah said “are you saying that you won’t fancy a little tickling of your love pot?”

As Jemima realized what she meant, she stopped and stared at Fefah looking very shocked. But with a quick shove of his shoulder Fefah sent her spinning towards a dark spot where the path divided into a deep cavern.

“Stop it, Fefah!” Jemima screamed out with fear, but his fist landed her a blow to the chin. Her handbag flew out of her hands and she fell on her knees. He was on top of her in a flash and had her spread eagled on the ground. His knees held her legs apart as he lifted up her jeans skirt and tore apart her undergarment. Jemima bit and scratched and fought, but when she tried to scream again he shoved his hands over his mouth.

“Shut up, you stupid girl!” he hissed. “Because l’m going to have my pleasure with you whether you like it or not”.

Thus Fefah stole Jemima’s virginity in a very brutal manner, that precious thing she had hung onto with such tenacity for her pilot fiancé.

When Fefah released her finally, Jemima got up and ran blindly up the path towards the comforting sight of the lights of Abude Hotel and Towers. She did not even notice that she had lost one shoe and her blue handbag, which Fefah immediately rifled taking her purse and the passbook before throwing it in the sea. Fefah then ambled quickly back down the road to lie low until things had blown over.

When Jemima burst into the hotel kitchen, Imara was refilling an ice bucket for the counter.” Oh, my God,” she cried when she saw the state of Jemima, she rush forward to the young girl. Jemima’s skirt was torn and there was blood running down her face. “What the dickens happened to you? Jemi, Jemi”, Imara held her tight rocking her like a baby.

“Klara, come down here!” Imara yelled. Immediately Klara left the program she was watching and came to the aid of the distressed Jemima.

They took the girl upstairs and bathed her gently. They gave her beverage mixed with a little brandy and then put her to bed. Throughout this time, Imara was very angry and it showed on her face. “The bastard,” she muttered, “the filthy, slimy serpent, he’s done it finally. Stay with her, Klara and lock the door. I ‘v got to go back to the bar.”

Her face contorted with rage, Imara walked into the bar.

“What’s up, Imara?” Thounder asked.

“Where’s that snake you call mate?” Imara hissed.

“Who? Fefah? He’s gone to town. Why, what’s the matter? What has he done again?”

“Never mind,” Imara replied, her face set hard with hate.

“Oh, this boy why can’t he stay out of trouble?” Thounder asked no one in particular. “Well l’ll go and get ready now, Imara,” Thounder said. He always went out with the men of Maffia Island on Saturday nights on some legal business runs across the sea but Imara hardly heard him, her rage was so great that she could have torn a lion to pieces without any sense of remorse.

When the bar finally closed and Jemima in bed fast asleep, Imara called to Klara. “Alright let’s go now lock the door and let’s wait for him. He’s likely going to sneak through the back door. Ensure all the other doors are locked while we wait for him here” Imara instructed.

The two women then waited in one of the little stores until at last they heard a well-boozed Fefah come whistling up the garden path to the back door. He breezed into the lavatory. While he was busy in there, Imara took off her high heeled shoe and as Fefah came out, she made a mad lash at him waving the shoe and crying out, “you slimy serpent!”.

“You two faced monkey!” Imara cried as she struck him on the head and about the face with the sharp heel of the shoe.

Fefah was taken completely by surprise and instinctively backed away but from behind him another figure jumped on his back and pulled him down on the concrete, floor where his head struck the floor with a dull jump. Klara grabbed his head and proceeded to bang his head on the floor while Imara hammered at him with her shoe, and kicked and jumped on him like a maniac.

Fefah’s eyes rolled in terror and he gave a loud gasp as he passed out.

“My God,” Imara cried, suddenly backing away. “It’s like we’ve killed him.”

“I don’t think so dogs like him are very hard to kill,” Klara replied giving him an extra kick in the ribs. “Let’s drag him along and throw him out of the back door,” she suggested.

So they dragged him down the passage and pushed him out of the back door down a steep flight

Of steps so that he lay on the path in an unconscious heap.

“Now, lock the doors, Klara. Thounder won’t be back till the following day. Then get Fefah’s belongings and throw them out on top of him in case he gets any ideas about coming back in. I’m going to get myself a night cap”.

Obediently, Klara took the travelling bag and all Fefah’s clothes and threw them out onto the grass. Perched on a stool in the bar, Imara sipped a big mixture of brandy and fruit juice.” Well, l feel much better,” she said with satisfaction, “we’ve really done it now, Klara.”

“Fine job, too” announced Klara, looking quite invigorated. “I enjoyed every moment.” “Next time he’ll think twice before corrupting young girls like Jemima,” Imara remarked. “Maybe we should have castrated him to really teach him a lesson about taking advantage of little girls” Klara added “Goodness me no Klara, that’ll be going too far now,” Imara chided her. Klara remained adamant; people like Fefah as far as she was concerned did not deserve pity nor half measures when dealing with them. “Don’t worry he won’t be bothering anybody in this area again,” Imara assured her draining her glass at the same time.

“I hope you’re right,” Klara said as she got up from her stool and together they left the bar for their various rooms.

It was a cold morning when Thounder and the other men came ashore. He spent a while with the other men sorting out the merchandise. In the old boat shed, he joined the men taking hot coco sprinkled with brandy. He enjoyed nothing more than being out there, battling with those huge Atlantic waves, and he never missed the Saturday night trips, if he could help it.

Imara lay in bed restlessly looking out at the grey sky lit with the harmattan winds, and wondering where he was by now. The crows screeched and swirled around the chimney pots as she morbidly imagined Thounder coming up the path and seeing Fefah’s lifeless body lying there or worse imagining that Fefah had recovered and was now down at the harbor waiting for him, to enlighten him of Imara’s escapades while he was in prison. Her body shook with terror and sweat came to her brow, for she was still afraid of his violent temper. Unable to stand the anxiety any longer, she shot quickly out of bed and ran to the window. From where she stood, she could just see the back steps where Fefah had lain, but there was not a sight or sound of him and no bag or clothes littered the lawn. She drew a deep breath of relief and ran quickly along the corridor to look out of the back window. It was clear and thank God she had not heeded Klara’s advice to castrate Fefah now there was no reminder of last night’s horror scene.

“Klara! Klara! She called softly,” come out and behold this wonders” Imara said gushing with excitement.

Klara arrived, clad in blue house coat and looking irritated.

“Look, the criminal’s gone,” Imara gasped, pointing towards the steps.” You can see for yourself.”

“I’m not surprised,” Klara retorted.

“Why not? If l may ask?” Imara interrogated her. “I watched him pick up his things and go just before you woke up.” Klara announced non chalantly.

“Would you know where he’s gone? Imara asked. “I’m not a mind-reader. But he looked very sorry for himself,” Klara said with much satisfaction. “Gathered his clothes back in the bag, swearing all the time. I put two fingers up at him, l did,” she declared.

“Oh, Klara, l’m sure you didn’t,” Imara replied and laughed at the thought.

“Please with this serpent gone, l’d like to catch up on my morning sleep,” Klara said wandering back to bed.

Imara continued looking out of the window out to sea at the white choppy waves rolling line after line towards the shore. The sea always fascinated her and Thounder too, since he had come here. It was amazing too how he had adapted so well in Maffia Island and she had also succeeded in creating a destiny of her own, it would be a pity if it were all over due to that virus called Fefah. She could only hope and pray that this honey moon would last.

Imara went back to bed to wait for Thounder to return. After some moments she heard him dump his gear in the hall. Minutes later, he entered the bedroom. “Don’t bother getting up Imara,” he said. “I’m cold and badly in need of some warming up.”

Imara moved over to make room for him, sighing a deep sigh of relief. All was well. Thounder was home safe and Fefah had gone away. She put her arms about him.” Oh my sweetheart, my darling, l love you so much,” she whispered romantically.

“That’s my baby,” Thounder remarked with a laugh, “just wait for me, am coming to bed now…”

A week passed and there was still no news from Fefah, Thounder was very annoyed. “You can imagine the ungrateful fellow,” he said. “I’ve been very good to Fefah and when he wanted to go he just slipped away without a word of farewell.” He said fuming.

Imara made no comment but she knew Fefah. He was an animal, he would stay somewhere lick his wounds and then come back for his prey. Maybe Klara’s suggestion to castrate him would have been a better idea or she would have liaised with the bayside boys and ensure that Fefah goes on a trip that he will never return. But now as long as Fefah was still lurking somewhere her secrets would soon burst out in the open.

Jemima, looking very pale and subdued was up and about again.

“Would you like to go home a little early, Jemi?” Imara asked one morning. Jemima’s lip trembled. “Do you want to sack me?” She cried.

“God forbids that l should do such a thing,” Imara said.” I’ll pay your salary in advance that should help with the wedding. We shall be closing the hotel before Christmas, Tunde and l are going on holidays, so you can go home and be sweet to Kofi and get your wedding done”.

Jemima’s lip continued to tremble and her eyes filled with tears. “I’m afraid l don’t know, Kofi might not marry me now.”

But Imara grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her hard. “For goodness sake, Jemi don’t b e a fool! He’ll never know if you don’t tell him. You’re not wayward, you were raped. If you really love each other, it doesn’t matter.”

Jemima stared dolefully at Imara. “I believe you ma,” she said. “So if Kofi marries me all that Fefah had done will not matter.” “That’s it, just be positive.” Imara was relieved to know that Jemima was sensible after all. “Okay! Come on, let’s get your things packed so you can be on your way and you’ll be there when Kofi comes in from Dubai” Imara said softly.

So, Jemima was given a little farewell party and packed off on the bus the next day on her way to catch the ferry to the mainland. Imara watched as the girl waved from the deck of the ferry, her lovely hair shining in the morning sun. “May, all things go well with you?” Imara prayed silently as the ferry cruised out of sight. Imara continued starring at the long departed ferry, apparently she was lost in deep thoughts pondering on fate and the manner with which it tended to affect or influence the lives of individuals either for good or for bad. It was fate that had enabled her create a destiny of her own, yoked her with these lovely people while the same fate had brought pest like Fefah into their lives and the result was very visible for a blind man to see. Shortly after Jemima departure, Imara left the quay and began to make her way back to the hotel. Her mind was full of thoughts, thoughts of how to team up with Klara and get rid of the virus amongst them.