Night in a Drum A Short Story by Emmanuel Sigauke “Someone
catch that rabbit!” shouted the man who saw me first. I
stopped in the middle of the yard, already thinking of
turning and running in another direction, but then Mai Ranga
saw me and said, “What is it, young boy? Come tell mbuya what’s the matter.” “I said catch
that hare!” shouted the man, who tried to get up, but fell
right back on his baboon stool. Mai Ranga,
her hand wiping tears off my face, turned and looked at the
man, “Tukano! You say one more word and this is the last
time you will set your foot here.” “You know
when these little ones–.” “Shut your
tin!” said VaDzoro, the old man who had seven wives, who sat
opposite Tukano, on a leopard stool. “You shut
yours, old man!” said Tukano. Mai Ranga
pulled me across the yard to the fire, and while she parked
me by her side, she pushed Tukano, saying, “I don’t care
about the little coins you give me for my beer. Leave now!” Then another
man, Mirosi, Mukoma’s friend, said, “I will apologize on
behalf of Tukano.” And he started clapping his hands in
apology; a few of the men followed suit. Mirosi, addressing
Mai Ranga, then said, “You better do something with that
boy; otherwise his brother will be here soon, and you know
when he takes his stuff what he does.” “He is always
like that,” said VaDzoro. “Something sure got in him in
Joni.” “Leave Joni
alone people. It’s the war. The spirits of the dead soldiers
are possessing everyone nowadays,” a man I had never seen
before said. “Nonsense!”
shouted Tukano eyes torching the man. He looked at Mai
Ranga. “I too suggest that you do something with that boy
soon though.” I was surprised he did not call me a rabbit
this time, but instead looked in the direction I had emerged
as if he expected to see Mukoma. “He is
right,” said VaDzoro. “But what can you do though? You know
he will be here soon. And that one, he will find the boy
even if you hide him in your skirts!” A few men broke into
laughter. “Nothing is
funny!” shouted Mai Ranga. “I know what I can do.” “Hide him
well, and I don’t mean just hiding him. Think of something,
hide him like a comrade,” said someone. I stood by Mai
Ranga’s side, but my mind was not here. My head kept turning
to Chigorira Hill. Then I saw someone, or something, and
heard a man say, “Better hurry up. The crazy one will be
here soon.” Several arms
pulled me. My head kept turning; I didn’t want it to, but it
could not stop. A door opened and a man said, “Let me lift
him, you hold the door.” “No, you hold
the door. Hurry up.” Mai Ranga
called from within, “Ehe! Perfect place. Here! Bring him
here!” We were now
in her dark storage hut. The man said, “There? Are you
sure?” “He would
never guess, even if we let him search in this hut.” I was lifted,
and then placed in a huge container, and as I felt my way
around, I realized I was in a drum. “Are we
closing it?” “Let’s close
it.” I started to
struggle, because I wanted to escape and continue running. “Hey! Hey!
Sit in there. You want to stay alive, then sit there,” said
Mai Ranga, slapping the sides of the drum. My heart
knocked hard against my chest. Deep in the container,
darkness held its fists high. “Close it. He
is going to be fine; there are two holes so he can
breathe.” I heard Mai Ranga say, as the drum’s lid was put
in place. Then there was a knock on the top of the drum.
“Hey in there! Make sure you keep your nose by this hole
here, or this one here. Do you see them, Tari?” “Ye-es”, I
said, suppressing the urge to sneeze. They talked
for a few moments longer, then I heard the door close. As I
was about to shift for comfort against the metal of the
drum, I heard the door banging open and Mukoma saying, “You
said you didn’t see him at all?” “No, why
would I have seen him?” Mai Ranga said in a low voice, like
a whisper. “I am just
asking.” Pause. ‘And you are serious that he is not in here
somewhere?” “Why would he
be there? Is he my child?” asked Mai Ranga. “Because if
he is, there will be trouble here.” “Says who?” “So you want
to play games with me now? You do?” “Don’t even
dare get closer to me, young man. I want you away from my
hut too. Yes, I am talking to you. I’m not one of your
girlfriends. Move.” “Listen,
lady.” Mukoma’s voice was shaking again. Top of page | Page 4/5 | Next Page | 