SASABONSAM

Chapter 4

Opokuaa was lying on the bed where she heard a knock on the door. She woke up off the bed walked slowly to the door and opened the door. She was traumatized by her son’s accusation and what broke her down was the fact he was going to be hanged before everybody. If she would have attended the ceremony she would collapse out of pain watching her son hanged, she decided to just get the news rather watching it.

Opening the door, she found her husband who was looking sad standing at the doorstep. Opokuaa faced Agyemang directly knowing the answer she asked, “What have they done to him?” though he as a failure to him he felt deep the loss of his son; blood is always strong he responded, “They hugged him before everybody.”

The words they were as if a sword persed through her heart slowly tears started to flow from Opokuaa’s eyes knowing that was his only son that she had. Agyemang he had to act as a man though he felt the lose he tightly hugged her. Opokuaa she was crying asked,

“And where is his body.”

“Maybe we can go and talk to them to give us.”

“And where are my daughters?”

“There at the road waiting for you.”

When a witch was killed, his body was not supposed to be buried round the community because of the curse that the body could bring. Deep down Opokuaa knew her son was accused falsely because in the family there was never a witch. She pulled back from the hug whipped of her tears then moved out of the house and said to Agyemang, “Let’s go,” hoping to be given the body to bury.

In the evening, the ten elders were standing beside the podium silent looking at the body was unhanged by the guards. At that time everybody in the gathering had already gone to their homes and they will transport the body in ease, the people of the community had condemn witchcraft so badly where they could also go in an extend to punish a dead body.

The elders they had to stay with the body until the end to confirm the body has not restricted as the myth that people have about witches. Chief Ashanti was staring at Ofori’s body as it was lowered down he was tapped on his back. He then faced back to find Opokuaa, Agyemang, and their two daughters. Opokuaa said to Chief Ashanti,

“He is my son can I take his body to bury it?”

“No, this body must be thrown at the savanna so that to be eaten by wild dogs so that no harm can come to us.”

“I am neither a witch nor my linage why judge him quick?”

“So what are you tiring to mean.”

Without saying any word, Opokuaa knelt before Chief Ashanti as tears were flowing off her eyes. Kneeling was only done to God who was above all; kneeling before him showed she had fully submitted and was ready to do anything, she would be asked. This caught the others elders attention to her. Opokuaa at the time she had cried also where she had lose her voice. With a fading away voice, she pleaded to Chief Ashanti, “Please let me bury my son’s body in Horner.”

The death of her son had made her lose hope and kneeling before another man showed she had loosed dignity with life. Serwa her daughter was not going to watch to see her mother lose respect alone she rushed to where her mother was kneeling faced Chief Ashanti and said, “Please do us this one favor.”

For a moment, the cry of the two ladies touched the chief. Fante noticed that the chief he was going to give in, he rudely responded, “We don’t care a crime must be punished and no one should enter in between,” and it was for sure he wanted this. Serwa responded, “I will do anything if you ask me so that you can give us Ofori’s body.” Fante giggled-faced Serwa and said, “This is the last time am saying go away.”

Serwa faced Fante on a desperation look and softly said, “Please!” Fante on pride pulled off a leaf of a plant beside him went to Ofori’s body whipped blood using the Leaf and walked back to Opokuaa threw the leaf to them and said, “At least I have shown some little mercy.” However, he was not the richest, but he was the kind of a man who diminished the poor.

Chief Ashanti and the other clan of elders looked at the scene silently. Chief Ashanti faced the guard beside him and ordered them to take Opokuaa and Serwa away. The soldiers without questioning orders they went and did what he was asked ruthlessly. Agyemang trying to protect his family he rushed to stop the act but the soldiers turned on him and beat him with no respect as a criminal, as Opokuaa and her daughters were ruthlessly pulled off the scene by other guards.

Owusu took the leaf that had Ofori’s blood. Due to the commotion, it fell on the ground. Walked to where the family was ruthlessly treated and as good leader that had heart to his people he stopped the soldiers. After the guards moved back Owusu gave Opokuaa the leaf and said, “I knew Ofori he was a friend to my son and because of that I respect him to take this and go away the clan won’t listen to any word now.”

Opokuaa for once he saw a good leader, she took the leaf and responded, “Thank you.” Then Fante turned to the guards who were at the time still standing beside them and ordered, “You may go and take the body where you were taking it.” The guards at once them complied and walked to the body.

In Agyemang homestead at the compound, Opokuaa was sited on a stool holding on the leaf that had Ofori’s blood looking lonely. That was the only thing he looked at it at the time and remember her son. Besides Opokuaa, Serwa was whipping her mother dust off her shoulder with a piece of cloth. She was weak but her mother was weaker than her.

Suddenly Akyaa went running to Opokuaa and hugged her crying. The death had also hit her but as friend to the late Ofori she had to go and comfort the family because they were the one who had felt the lose more. Opokuaa was looking lonely said, “She was my only son.”

“I have also lost the only person who I trusted.”

Knowing she was the only person that her son was social to she asked while sobbing, “I know he was with you the whole of yesterday. Who might have said that he saw him at the cliff?”

Akyaa before answering she turned to Serwa who was standing beside them and looking at Akyaa angrily. She knew her brother had a crush on Akyaa where she always friend zone him even if how many times he made himself available for her that was making him get into troubles. She only respected her because her weak brother aske to.

 Akyaa faced back Opokuaa protect her boyfriend reputation though angry at him answered, “I don’t know who did it.” Serwa suddenly was feed up with her pretend asked Akyaa, “Can you please follow me Akyaa,” knowing they both fought she had to play cool before the parents and followed her.

Behind the hut, Serwa stopped where Akyaa reached to where Serwa was and immediately asked her,

“What’s wrong?”

“Don’t you know you are the last person she needs to see now?”

“Why are you saying that?”

“I know the way you used to use my brother.”

“I never used your brother.”

“He always covered up for you and you; you were busy with Osei not knowing what he was going through.”

“You don’t know what we shared with Ofori.”

“Where was Ofori yesterday because I know he was not with you?”

“See you knew nothing about me and Ofori.”

Osei after messing up things he walked round the community to try to make a good apology to Akyaa where he found her at Agyemang compound. Serwawho was at strategic place to see who was walking in the compound saw Osei. She moved closer to Akyaa wanting her to leave she whispered to her, “Here is you prince charming come to check on you.”  Serwa walked away leaving Akyaa silently looking at her.

Immediately Akyaa reached where Osei was standing not ready to forgive him, she rudely asked him,

“What have you come here to do and you know you are the cause of all this.”

“I am sorry and I have been looking for you to apologize.”

“Apologizing won’t bring him back.”

Osei held both Akyaa’s hands knelt on the ground at a distance Serwa who was with her mother were both facing them. Serwa helped her mother in the hut while saying, “Let the love birds live their life,” to protect her from the truth.

Osei said while facing Akyaa, “Please forgive me I promise I will not mess again and I’ll pay for what I have done.” Akyaa noticed Serwa and her mother were walking away and said to Osei,

“Look now you have caused a scene.”

“I don’t care about what people will say all I care is about you.”

“Ok bring Ofori back.”

“We both know that is impossible.”

“Osei I love you but what you have done I don’t think if I will easily forgive you.”

“I am ready to take the blame.”

Akyaa knelt before Osei, faced him directly, and said, “Now all I need is a break and as I leave please don’t do anything stupid.” Osei held Akyaa on both cheeks and said,

“How can I live without you?”

“Osei you are the only one I love and am not leaving you all I want is space. Just promise me you won’t do anything stupid.’

“Ok and don’t take the space for long.”

“Don’t be sure I’ll come back.”

Akyaa then stood left away as her eyes were wet leaving Osei still on the ground while kneeling.

At night, there was heavy rain all over the land. Far away from the village area, two men were caring Ofori’s dead body towards the savanna. For a witch body it was recommended that the body should be thrown in the wild to be feed on by the wild beast so this was an indication that they did not have the respect on witches’ dead body.  Due to the strong rain, the ground was slippery and the man who was at the legs trimmed and fell. This made the other man fall on the ground due to his body weight.

The man who fell secondly faced the other men and rudely asked him with a loud voice due to the rain,

“What’s the wrong man?”

“The ground was slippery.”

“Ok get up faster and continue with the way.”

“What about this strong rain.”

“So what do you want us to do?”

The man who fell first stood on the ground and looked around and noticed at the foot of the cliff there was a cave where he faced the other man and said, “Over there, there is a cave.” The other man agreed and they both took the body to shelter with them in the cave. Caves were homes of the homes of the criminals that were barn of the community, such people were witches and killers so no one had the confidence enough to walk into the caves.

Immediately the men entered the cave they placed the body at the cave entrance and moved aside and both sat on a rock. The man who fell first asked the other man,

“What if we leave the body here?”

“No that is against the rules and if they notice they will punish us.”

“Who will tell them that we left the body here?”

“You know we will wait until the rain calms down and will continue with our journey of taking the body to the savannah.”

“Ok will do that if that is what you want.”

The other man faced deep into the cave looking afraid. The man who fell first noticed that and asked, “What’s the wrong man?” the man faced him and asked’

“Are you sure this place is safe for us to take shelter?”

“Yea or are you afraid of the dark?”

“No, it is only because I have a family and I don’t want them to lose me.”

The other man laughed stood off the rock and started moving slowly deep into the cave backward while, trying to show there was nothing he said, “There is nothing in here.” The man who was seated on the rock slowly looking at the other man, as he was moving deep into the cave.

As the man moved deep into the cave, a sudden strange sound came from the deep cave that where the man suddenly pause. It was for sure their was somebody in the cave. The man who was sited on the rock stood facing the other man not believing his ears he asked,

“Was that you?”

“No, I think there is something else in here.”

“You are joking.”

Suddenly deep in the cave, they both saw a spark of light, which was followed by a voice that said, “Who aver seeks for death shall come to me.” The men did not wait for another word they both ran away leaving the body behind.

As the rain was raining Osei went running and enters his hut lighted the house using flaming wood. Immediately the whole room lighted he saw his father was sited on his bed. It was odd for a parent to walk in his circumcised son room. Owusu, Osei’s father asked, “Where were you?” Osei with confidence he replied, “I was out with my girlfriend Akyaa.”

Owusu stood off the bed walked to his son and placed his right arm on Osei’s shoulder and said, “it is ok I believe you my son all I wanted is to congratulate you on your patriotic act.”

Then Owusu moved out, and immediately Osei bangs the door due to tension as if he had done something wrong. He sprung over the edge of his bed and took out with dagga that was covered blood. He then closely looked at the dagga then he faced the door if he had properly locked it.