Simons Dilemma Pt 3-Finale Simon was generally lazy and enjoyed regular piwari; his favourite spot a dirty hammock in the benab. He had three children. His wife who did all the hard and heavy work was becoming weak, tired and sickly. She was advanced in pregnancy of their fourth child when Simon in a drunken rage kicked her in the stomach. She died two days later including the unborn child. Five days after the funeral, her father and three brothers arrived at Cabacaburi; not a word was uttered as they sat down on a log watching Simon mending his fishing nets. Simon hazarded a sideway glance at the four men who sat there in silence seemingly gazing on the ground. Not a sound was heard except the hum of innumerable insects, the distant boom of the bull frogs, the shrill chattering of the sakawinki, the cicadas beetling, and the howlers from somewhere in the dense bush. Tired of waiting Simon got up, took the fish pepper-pot off the fire and began eating, dipping the cassava bread into the pot. But today his appetite wasnt good and not surprising really. As he replaced the pot he took a hasty glance in the direction of the four men. He then eyed his own rifle in the corner which he picked up. He then proceeded to rapidly slinging a piece of bamboo containing powder, shot and caps round his neck. His plan was to slip out at the end of the benab into the bush which he was familiar with and escape from the men. The men were watching him very closely now observing his every movement. As Simon took the first step outside the benab, the four men suddenly sprang to their feet and in an instant an arrow was nocked and in the blink of an eye it was quivering in his thigh, and the discharge of two rifles into his back brought Simon to the ground. Rushing up to him, the four men with the butts of their rifles and with sticks began to beat the unfortunate Simon to death. Satisfied that he was dead they dragged the body taking care not to enter the shadow of Simons house, until they came to the grave of their relative, the dead mans wife. But their work was not yet done. They were afraid his jumbi or spirit might rise and haunt them for the deed they had just committed. With a sharp machete they hacked off Simons head and after leaving it on his wifes grave for a moment, they buried it about fifty yards from the place where the trunk was afterwards buried. When it was all over, they returned to Maccaseema and reported to the magistrate McClintock, their hideous crime. McClintock who knew the men from when they were boys did not believe their confession despite insisting its truth. At last relenting, McClintock decided the men will be confined to his house until a trial could be arranged. The End
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 03:38:29 +0000
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