Savageries

Mary had given a large portion of her earnings to her mother and sisters.

”Thank you, Mary. I couldn have asked for a better child ”

”Oh, Mother. I love you… and my sisters. Take care of yourselves, okay? ”

”I should say that to you. Do you sleep in the woods? I do not want to hear of another malaria episode, Mary ”

Mary laughed.

”You will not hear of any more episodes, mother. I have to go now ”. She kissed her mother on both sides of her cheeks, hugged her tightly, and left the house.

Tears ran down Marys mothers cheeks. Her heart was pounding and she didn know why.

[Dear Lord, protect my child and bring her back safely to my arms]…she silently prayed.

Getting to where the ship was docked, both her sisters were there with her luggage. ”Mary!!! ”… they ran and flung themselves on her body, nearly knocking her over.

”You both think you are still little. Wanting to drop me with all that weight ”

”Sorry… I will miss you ”, one of them said.

”No… I will miss her more. You are always with your boyfriend ”… the other one said.

”Boyfriend? ”, Mary asked.

Sister 1 gave the one that just spilled the tea a look… ”Yes, there is someone I like ”

”And it is now I am getting to hear about this? On my way out? ”

”It is not like that, Mary. You were sick, you know ”

”Write me letters…detailed ones about everything. Be careful, girls, and take care of our mother. She needs all of us. Okay? ”

They both nodded and hugged their big sister tightly. Watching Mary board the ship, they sobbed.

Sister 1 punched the other sister, ”Big mouth ”.

The smaller sister chuckled with tears still on her face, stuck out her tongue, and dashed towards their house, ”Close my mouth if you can ”

* * *

Sailing back, her mind drifted to Edidiong. She missed the witty woman and she hoped she would meet her again in Ufas.

[What must have been going on there? Have they buried the Obong? I know I must have missed a lot]

Mary held a small book where she wrote down all her findings, questions, worries, and concerns about the Ufik tradition and all sorts of thoughts about the native people. It had been about fifteen months since Mary had been away, and she found herself missing the company of the friends she had made there.

Mary noted that one of the pressing situations was the lack of education. They weren being taught anything and they didn understand the English language at all. So, Mary made a mental note to talk to the people in charge so they could start the process of introducing Western Education to especially the upcoming generation.

A few weeks passed.

Mary Hutchison could tell she was close to the Ufas land because of the warmth she felt on her face… with the clammy atmosphere.

Her superiors had assigned to Mary a new location. She didn return to the particular compound she had stayed in during her previous visit, where Edidiong and some of the extended royals were. She was a bit downcast but Mary didn have an option. So, she moved farther deep into the village of Ufas.

Because of the money she had left with her mother and sisters, Mary had to learn how to eat the food of the natives. She had compared the expenses between shipping the preserved meals she was used to from Ocland and getting someone in Ufas to cook for her after buying food products from their local market. Mary noticed that the latter was way cheaper.

[I hope I enjoy it though. I have to employ a personal cook then].

* * *

”Ah! She is back?! ”

”Yes, Edidiong ”, her mate replied to her.

Edidiongs mate was a fellow concubine to the late Obong.

Edidiong stood up from the mat she was sitting on, tried her wrapper around her chest firmly, and picked up a scarf for her head.

”Where are you going to? ”

”To look for her, of course. ”

”You do not even know where she is staying now ”

”Ah, I will ask around. Are you coming with me? ”, Edidiong asked.

”What concerns me in the matter? No, I am not coming. Enjoy your quest ”, her mate rolled her eyes and continued removing dirt from the beans in front of her.

Edidiong hissed and left the room.

[Who will I ask about where Mary is now?], Edidiong thought.

She was so deep in thoughts that she didn see one of the chiefs coming out of the crowned princes tent. They bumped into each other.

”Watch where you are going, woman ”, he said as he arranged his native cap that had almost fallen from his head.

”Sorry, chief. I wasn looking at where I was going ”

”I see. What disturbs your mind? Aren you too young to be thinking like that? ”

[I wasn so young but compared to him… I agree. The man was too old, I wonder how he was still walking by himself], she thought.

”I was thinking about the stranger, the red-haired woman, Mary ”

”What about her? I hear she had returned ”, he said.

”Yes, chief. She has. Do you by any chance know where she is staying now? ”

”Ah! What do you want to do, this woman? ”

”I am supposed to be teaching her about our culture and beliefs. The late Obong had given me that work before he died ”…[Perfect excuse, but it wasn a lie.]

”Oh, yes! I remember that ”

He described to her where he knew the stranger was staying now.

”Thank you, chief. I apologize for making you stand for so long in the sun. ”

”I will accept your apology if you bring me a fresh cup of palm wine to my tent later in the evening ”, he said to Edidiong.

She smiled, ”I will not forget ”. As she turned to walk away, she forgot about the palm wine.

Edidiong jumped with glee, happy she was about to see her friend that had been away for a long while. There were many things she had to tell Mary, especially about the tragedy that had been happening.

The Obong had been buried, but as usual, it had brought tears to the eyes of several parents in their land.