Chapter 19: Chapter 19

The night was pitch dark and silent. It was the light out hours. The winds outside was whistling; the leaves of trees were rustling and Martha’s door was rattling. It was a damp and cold night. The chirping of crickets in their hiding places and the sounds of a trillion night-insects filled the air, punctuating the silence of the night. Martha was still awake. She could hear the chirping of the crickets as she smeared her lips with lip gloss, and placed it on the table. She opened the door gingerly and went out of her room and into the cold. The cold night air swished past her ears like the unwelcomed wailing of mosquitoes. She gritted her teeth in sheer defiance of the stinging cold. She cast a long stare into the darkness, scouring the area with her eyes to make sure no one was in sight. She needed to be with Moses. It had been agonizingly cold for her and she needed to cuddle with him. Staying away from him now was nearly impossible.

Moses’s room was far from hers, but it did not matter. The home of the one you love is never far away. Martha began her solitary trot, holding her braless breasts in her hands, to stop them from slapping on her chest. Her footsteps were cautious and noiseless. The moon was half-full, with fireflies fluttering about in their tiny yellow lamps. Her heart was thudding fast and filled with the sweet thought of Moses as she trotted. When she reached his room, the door was slightly ajar. Moses was standing behind the door, waiting for her. Martha ran into his arms, and her breasts, the shape of a teardrop, pressed against his chest. Moses clasped her in his arms and ran his hand on her hair. Martha’s breath increased as she placed her head on his shoulder.

‘I’ve missed you so much,’ she moaned, kissing him passionately.

‘So have I. I love you,’ Moses replied as he cupped her face in his hands. Martha’s face beamed with a guiltless smile.

‘All my life I’ve been lonely until I met you,’ she said, looking up at Moses. ‘I’ve been empty and sad. You’ve brought sunshine into my life. You’ve made my life complete. I feel like my life has only begun.’ Moses wiped the tears on Martha’s love-filled eyes and kissed her on the forehead.

‘Please don’t cry; I am always here for you,’ he said. ‘I feel you everywhere. What will I do if I can’t be with you? You’re perfect for me. The world will say we are wrong to love each other, but does it matter? We’re fated to love each other,’ Moses went on.

‘I think you should put a rainbow in the sky for me as a reminder of your love,’ Martha said, smiling; her teeth sparkling like the brilliant white flesh of the coconut. ‘I love you. I don’t want to leave you.’

‘I’ll never leave you, either. You’re right about the rainbow. I’ll think about it. I want us to fight for this love together. I’ll be with you and hold your hands till the cows come home,’ Moses replied, wiping Martha’s eyes. Martha smiled and Moses smiled back.

‘I’ve something for you,’ Martha said. She put her hand in her pocket and brought out flowers. ‘They are for you,’ she said, handing them to Moses. ‘I am sorry I couldn’t find orchids or the sunflowers to show you the depth of my love, and how bright you have made my life.’

‘It doesn’t matter. These ones are perfect,’ Moses replied. ‘Where did you get this deep knowledge of flowers and their significances? And how did you know I love flowers?’ Moses asked, as he smelled the flowers.

‘I think it’s because we’re both anthophiles; and if I can remember where and how we met, and then I should know you love flowers,’ she replied. Moses smiled beautifully at Martha and slung his arm across her shoulder and led her to the bed. They laid down talking and giggling in a low tone. Their voices trailed off soon as the conversation turned arid. Moses exhaled and Martha came closer. Their legs tangled as they clasped together, dry-humping. Martha’s hands tightened Moses in her grip, as he thrusted slowly into her, her soft moaning filling the room. They remained in the sheer bliss of each other’s arms.

James had woken up early, before the morning bell. He sat on the chair, facing the chapel; he had had a terrible bellyache the previous night. Martha and Moses were still asleep in the blessedness of their arms when the morning bell sliced through the cold morning air. Martha woke from sleep and rubbed her eyes with the back of her fist.

‘I must go now. It’s time for the morning prayers,’ she said, rushing into her clothes. Moses opened his eyes and looked at her. He ran his hand on the bedsheet and felt the lingering warmth of her beautiful body.

‘Must you go for the prayers?’ he asked.

‘Yes, I have to. If your mother doesn’t see me at the chapel she would ask me about it. She sits next to me. I don’t want us to be found out yet,’ Martha said, walking towards the door.

‘I don’t care if we’re found out,’ Moses said. On his face was defiance and bravery.

‘You may not care, but we need to buy time,’ Martha replied. Moses rose from the bed and Martha returned to his arms; her body warm and sweet to him. It was like a new refreshing feeling. He kissed Martha and she melted in his arms.

‘Please… I must go now,’ she muttered. Moses stared at her longingly as the taste of her lips lingered in his mouth. Martha left Moses’s room and began to run to her room. Her thoughts filled with Moses and the great moments they have spent together. She was close to her room when she struck her foot on a stone. She screamed, as pain spread all over her body. Her screaming alerted James.

‘Reverend Martha, are you all right?’ James asked when he reached her.

‘I hurt my foot.’ Martha was furrowing her face.

‘It’s a pity,’ James said consolingly, ‘I shall help you to the chapel.’

‘No. I’m not going to the chapel. I am going to my room,’ Martha said. James looked at Martha and noticed she was not wearing her habit. She was strangely dressed; and it looked somewhat odd. The improperness of that caught his eye.

‘Where are you coming from?’ James asked her. Martha remained silent, unsure of what to say.

‘I jog every morning. It helps me stay fit,’ Martha lied. James nodded his head suspiciously; he could discern the falsehood in Martha’s voice. Martha could not have fooled him.

‘All right, we should go to your room,’ James said, helping Martha up. Martha slung her arm across James’s shoulder as she limped to her room. When James returned to the gatepost, the thought of Martha and what he had seen filled his mind. His mind was in a scramble. Something was certainly amiss. Then in a stroke of genius, everything coalesced in his head. If Moses was still at the convent, then there was the chance that Martha could be seeing him. Who else could it be? A toad did not run in the daytime for nothing. He would whisper with Reverend Grace. He would tell her to keep an eye on the pair. Or better still ask them some questions. He was certain there was more to it than meets the eye. He would do that quickly. Informing Reverend Grace was extremely important for the safety of everyone and the convent.