Chapter 8 8th Chapter

Tina crawled back to her old position for some time and realising that she mightn't see Rabu soon, shifted and crouched beneath the tall grass adjacent to Rabu's hut and sulked.

As hours went by, Mahuge's compound became destitute of human figures. It was getting dark and time for supper was approaching. As everyone awaited nourishing their bellies with the day's last meal, the mosquitoes too woke up to hunt for human blood. Tina had curled in their habitat and they wouldn't miss the opportunity to prey on her. One of the ferocious insects stuck its sucker into her flesh.

"Ouch!" She smacked her arm and the insect escaped. She pursed her lips and grimaced in pain.

"These dumb mosquitoes are adding to my agony." She grumbled and hissed and for a long time battled with them, but they appeared to be wiser than her. Her body itched and ached. The sky grew darker and she was frightened. The fear of being attacked by the wild creatures clutched at her heart and she stared in the dark in apprehension. Muhuge's family had all converged in his hurt. They wouldn't be out until they had prepared for the visitor a comfortable place to sleep and that would be late in the night when they had exhausted every story about their legendary traditional roots as well as folk tales. It was merriment inside the hurt and none wanted to go to bed yet.

Tina lingered around in apprehension. She stretched up and decided to trot towards the hut.

"I will jump through the window if I have to. I hope it's not locked." She thought as her heart grew anxious.

Slowly and carefully, she advanced and stretched her hand and tugged the door but it was firm. They had locked it from inside. Whether it was foolery or myopia one can never comprehend. That she, at her young age, would abandon the love and comfort of her father's hut in pursuit of a man was a point to ponder.

Suddenly, from a distance, an owl hooted. Tina's heart twisted. That was a bird of bad omen. It announced a foreboding danger. Her hair stood on end. Perhaps the wolf was near, and it wouldn't be long and its fangs would shove deep into her flesh. At this thought, she trembled and her heart palpitated in fear.

"Where will I run to? Should I advance and knock on Mahuge's hut? No, he's worse than a wolf." She told herself and was frightened. Her body had been hit by irritating coldness and was now damp. Her teeth chattered. She wouldn't dare return home in the cloak of the night. Kaija would never let her in. He would skew him alive. She was stuck. Her skin freezes and is now covered with rashes.

"Gods, of my ancestors, please save me from the looming danger. Let no harm come to me before I embrace Rabu." She muttered and crossed her fingers. In the distance, she could hear her mother's voice calling, "Tina, Tina... "She turned and faced in the direction of the voice and stuck out her ears. "Mama..." she said quietly and wished she would appear in front of her, but after some time, walked further to hide from her. It was nothing but imagination.

Mauda, after searching for her around the neighbourhood in vain, descended into Rufu forest; an evil forest where the cursed and evildoers would be cast to be eaten by the wild beasts because their souls were unclean. Here their bodies would be feasted on by the animals and ravens and falcons of the air. With an instinct that Tina might have feared to return home and could have decided to hide there, Mauda compelled herself to go and check in the forest of death regardless of the risks involved in the undertaking.

Something hissed nearby and Tina hitched her dress and took to her heels as one chased by a ghost and stopped behind the hut,

"Whew! Whew! Ah, what was..." She gasped and panted like a dog." The number of times she tumbled down was remarkably countless. Her stomach hurt. She squats and carries her hands on her head. One tear and another and then another stole from her eyes. She was tired; tired and desperate for love.

" If only Rabu can come out of that damn hut!" She had no sooner peered in the direction of Mahuge's hut when she heard Rabu's voice; It was her charm. She quickly brushed off the tears from her face. "Finally, my heart will rest, and you, Rabu I won't let you go once you are in my arms." She muttered and her face beamed a smile of relief. Rabu held a small candle whose light flickered in his hand time and again because of the wind. She neared to the corner of the hut ready to surprise him.

Rabu shaded the lamp with his hand. Just before Tina could announce her presence to Rabu whose mind was occupied by Ngeruwa, a girl he had always adored and now craved allying with her, victor stopped him,

"Hey Rabu, wait for me. Have you forgotten it's dark?"

"Sorry, uncle," he said in an apologetic tone. He turned and trotted towards him and the two walked along towards Rabu's hut. He opened the door and they went inside and then closed the door behind them.