08 IN THE GARDEN

BINTA

"My father holds you in high regard," Adam said to me, strolling through the garden. "He's always talking about you. Binta this, Binta that. You are the biggest topic whenever he comes to Duniya to visit. It made me curious to meet this special lady my father always talks about. Now here you are." He looked at me with charm. "And I am not in a bit disappointed with what I am seeing."

I was speechless. I wasn't as enlightened as he was. I knew very little of the modern world and did not want to show my ignorance all in one day. I decided to let him do the talking while I listened, but soon, he started asking me questions.

"So, how did you get lucky? I know the deities in this village are against western education and development. How were you able to survive the conflict and punishment that goes with defying the gods?" he asked. "I am asking you this because I remembered we had to relocate with our mother to Duniya just so we could be educated and be at par with our mates out there. Because of this, we could not leave Rayuwa for fear of what the gods might do to us for defying them. What I have always wondered is, why is it so important for the so call deities to keep this village in darkness? If they are as powerful as they claim to be, then they should not fear knowledge and development." He concluded.

"So you think the gods are afraid of modern knowledge and development?" I asked, a bit surprised and, at the same time, impressed by his confidence and courage to question the power of the gods.

"Hum, hum." He replied. "Now tell me how you did it," he requested.

"Well," I started, "unlike you, I was not properly educated. I was only taught to read, write, and speak in the white man's tongue, English." While talking to him, I spotted a beautiful cocoyam plant and stopped to touch its soft leaves in admiration of its beauty. Then I continued my response, "I was taught by the Catholic church. The church was sacked by the people eight years ago and along with the church went my chance of furthering my education." I sighed.

"Why did they leave?" Adam asked me.

"It had to do with knowledge and deities. The white people wanted to open a school here in Rayuwa to educate the people. Their intentions were questioned by the chief Boka of the land deity. Because they did not only want to teach them how to read, write and speak English but also to teach their spiritual beliefs about mother Mary and her son Jesus Christ. The gods' priest council would not have it. So they frustrated them and made life unbearable for them. At first, the people of Rayuwa did not support the priest, and neither were they shaken by the deities, but when famine struck the island, the people themselves sacked the church." I concluded sadly because I missed my friends, the kind priest, and the nuns so much a tear almost escaped my control.

Adam paused and looked at me. He seemed to be admiring me, but at the same time, there was some sadness in the way he looked at me. I did not have the same luxury they had, and he expressed his sympathy for my disadvantage. I could see that he genuinely felt bad for me. Looking at him, I realised how unlucky I was indeed. I would have been great and achieved a lot outside this backward, cursed island that was now my prison. My desperation to leave Rayuwa took over me, and I prayed silently for that opportunity to come.

He raised his hands to my face and used his thumb to brush my cheeks gently; then, he bent forward and landed a kiss on my lips, and I was unprepared. I had never been kissed before, so I did not know how to respond, but I knew what had just happened. I stood still, and when he pulled away and looked into my eyes, I could see that he knew that I was innocent.

"I can see you are untouched," he said, smiled and urged me to continue the walk with him. He pretended as if the kiss was nothing, so I did not have any ideas; instead saw it as a curiosity on his part. Maybe somewhere in his mind, my education might have included kissing lessons.

"I think these so-called priests are just using fear to control and rule this village with all the deity talk and nonsense." Adam continued. I could see that he hated the current situation in the village. He did not hide his hatred for the so-called priests and deities.

"Why would say that. What makes you think that is what is going on here?" I asked.

"The biggest weapon one can use to control another is fear, and these men are good at creating fear in the hearts and minds of the people of Rayuwa." He explained.

"How do you explain the plagues, deaths, and madness all under spiritual attack from angry gods?" I asked curiously.

"My dear, it's all coincidence. And these assholes know how to use people's misfortune to their advantage. This is why I can never live in Rayuwa." He complained.

The things Adam was saying made me nervous. I had witnessed the power of a deity first-hand this morning in my father's compound. My parents' predicament also proved to me how ruthless the deities could be. Aljanan Daji had held Rayuwa for ransom. I was afraid for Adam. I was worried that he would anger one Aljanan Daji, and he would be made to pay for his sins. The only thing that put him at an advantage was that he did not live in the village. Therefore, he could create trouble and leave them behind.

Adam noticed I was deep in thought and said, "the whole conversation seems too much for you to handle," he said. He had seen my uneasiness even though I tried hard to mask it. It only proved to me that I was a terrible actress, and acting as a career would not be the right choice for me.

"Let us change the topic." He requested. But I knew we had been in the garden for a while now. Although the Sarki told his son to keep me company, he was the one that had sent for me initially and was yet to tell me why. It was best we headed back. So I told Adam that we had to return to the palace. He agreed, and we returned.

The Sarki was very angry with both of us. He felt disrespected and slighted. I remained in a squatting position all through as he lashed out his anger and disappointment. The Sarki was not angry we were talking, but he said we should have waited for him to discuss the reason he sent for me first before taking the stroll. He expressed his disappointment, and it sounded like I was an easy target for manipulation. When he noticed I was crying. He calmed down and asked us to sit.

"Binta, I called you here for a purpose," he explained. "I know that you just lost your father, and being a girl, they might decide to marry you off to the highest bidder. You are an asset to Rayuwa, and soon we will build a school here. The island needs you, and I need you here to help me with my administrative work as none of my children is around to assist with the affairs of this village." Then he paused. What he was saying was already getting me nervous. "I want you to come live in the palace with me. Not as a servant but for administrative purposes only. You will be cared for and paid well better than what you earn from writing and reading for people. You will have your freedom as you would not be a servant, but you will have to respect my rules." He finished. I just stared at him blankly. I couldn't believe what I had just heard, but it was real; the Sarki wanted me to move into the palace. I had mixed feelings of fear, joy and sadness. Could this be happening to me now? I asked myself.