3– No talking

The healer was not too happy about my burn. He was a chubby old man with a big round tummy. He was wearing a long furry garment over his shoulders. There were white patterns drawn all over his face.

He scolded Gamu for my burn. Gamu didn't say anything, she just kept her head down and her hands behind her back. She looked so submissive and quiet; unlike the carefree girl she was this morning in the forest.

I felt really bad for her, although I did not understand the reason behind them locking me under that blanket with such hot water.

I was sitting on the bed with my legs hanging to the floor. The healer was kneeling by my foot examining the yellow swollen bump on my foot. I kept looking at his round tummy. I had not seen anyone with a tummy that big in the village. The people I saw were all well-built, with strong features and muscles.

Furah and the chief were seated around on little benches watching the healer rant on and on. They did not interrupt the healer as he complained.

After trying so hard and ignoring the urge to stick up for poor Gamu I finally gave in.

"It actually wasn't her fault..." I tried to calm the healer down.

The healer stopped talking and looked at me. In fact, all of them turned to look at me. It was an awkward moment of silence.

"What?" The healer finally asked me. I understood because I noticed that whenever I said something to them, they said ‘hega’ I figured it meant ‘what?’.

"I said, me. My fault." I used gestures.

Yoké suddenly walked into the hut and told them what I had just said. The healer continued his complaints.

"The healer said that you shouldn't have fought them off. The healing water was for your own good, you had a fever. And by the way, he is not scolding Gamu for you getting burnt, he is angry at her for not holding you down strong enough."

My mouth fell open.

"Really?"

"Yeah it was good for your fever." Yoké nodded at me while moving over to stand next to the chief.

"Fever?"

"The heating up of your body internally or whatever." He shrugged.

"Or what?"

"I don't know, I'm not a doctor."

"But you are a teacher."

"I don't teach medicine, I teach kids. Little kids. I teach them numbers and letters and how to write in our languages. I also tell them stories and teach them how to paint."

"Can you teach me how to paint?" I asked smiling up at him.

"You ask too many questions, lady." Yoké gave me an exasperated look.

Before I could reply, the healer interrupted with a complaint.

"What's wrong now?"

"He asked how come I'm not interpreting what you are saying."

"Oh."

"Ohhh." Yoké turned to the healer and said.

I giggled. The chief shot me a disapproving look.

After applying a slimy ointment to the fluid-filled bump on my foot, the healer began treating my wounds. He treated the ones on my arms, legs, and face.

"He told me to ask you how you are feeling now."

"Now?"

"Yes, how are you feeling now. You heard me."

"I'm fine." I shrugged.

Yoké interpreted.

Furah said... the chief also spoke.

"They are saying that you shouted in your sleep last night and it seemed as if you were fighting someone or something in your sleep."

I did not say anything.

"Why? What did you dream about?" Yoké asked me, looking genuinely concerned.

"I... I don't even understand it myself. I was somewhere in the dream but-"

The healer interrupted me.

"He said that the wounds on your chest Gamu will treat it for you. And that in the meantime you should have proper food and get enough rest."

"Okay."

When the healer was done treating me, he turned to the chief and they started to talk. Furah got up and went to their chamber. Yoké remained put with his hands behind his back and looking at the ground.

"Are you coming again tomorrow?" I asked him.

"I don't think so, the healer said that you are healing fast and soon your wounds will close up. Plus, he mentioned leaving them the ointments so they will be applying it on you. There's no need for him to come again."

"That means you won't come here again?"

"Probably, unless you fall sick or something."

"Then I will come to you. I will ask Gamu to take me to your hut tomorrow."

"She won't come, and you probably shouldn't ask her to do such a thing."

"Why not?"

"It's not allowed. She is the servant of this house and cannot go anywhere she is not sent."

"How will they know?"

"Trust me. It doesn't matter. Girls are very obedient in our village."

"But-"

Yoké cut me off. "Stop talking to me. The chief is complaining about you talking so much with me."

"Why?"

"There is no reason for us to continue talking." Yoké replied hastily, looking a little uncomfortable under the watchful eye of the chief. "I've already completed my work."

"Why is the chief always so upset?"

"Don't talk to me." Yoké told me quickly and walked towards them like nothing happened. He joined their conversation and didn't even look at me again.

Furah then came out with a handful of the same yellow corns and gave Yoké to put in his little sack. They exchanged a few phrases and then Yoké walked out of the hut without even saying bye to me or looking my way.

I didn't feel good about that. Why didn't the chief want us to speak? Yoké was the only person who understood me so why would he complain about us talking? Why was he so strict? And why was he always so angry at me? I looked at Gamu for at least a clue, but she refused to meet my eyes. I was so confused. What did I do wrong?