010 MAI'ALJANU 2

BINTA

"What does that mean, father?" Aisha asked, still crying. I looked at Aisha and the man she called father; I could see no resemblance between the two. I just figured she looked like her mother and let the thought go.

"I am not at liberty to tell you, my dear," he replied.

"What will we need for the summoning?" Nana asked. It was evident that she wanted to get right to it.

"A ram, a lizard's tail, a clay pot, and a vulture's feather." He responded.

"These things are expensive, especially the vulture's feather. Where can we buy these items?" Nana asked.

"Well, you should know where to buy a ram and clay pot. You will find the tail and feather in the night market. The market opens only at night. The traders are not normal humans, so whoever you send to acquire these things must be very careful. I will offer advice that the person should not go alone."

Nana was worried. I could see it written all over her face. The ram she would have gotten easily from her son, my father if he were still alive. I could read panic on her face, but I chose to remain silent and not get involved. Aisha and her sons were Nana's mess, and I doubted my mother would help her with the problem, nor would she let me involve myself even though Aisha's sons were my brothers. Nana made a big mistake the morning she slapped my mother. If there was anything specific about my mother's character, it was the fact that she was not forgiving at all, and Nana had managed to place herself in her black book with that one action. How would she now request help from my mother? My mother had a herd of rams on the farm, but I was sure she would never sacrifice anything again for this family's cause, and her reasons were justified.

Kawu walked in and saw how distraught Nana was. He asked me to bring him drinking water and sat right where I was seated, meaning I would have to stand when I returned with the water. I brought him the water and saw him comforting Nana. I looked towards where my mother and Gogo were sitting. They were having dinner; I was suddenly hungry, so I went to join them.

While we were eating, my mother asked me what was going on with Nana and her grandsons. I told them what had happened. My mother giggled and reminded me about Nana's reaction when I suggested earlier that they would need Mai'Aljanu. Although the giggle was subtle, I found it offensive. My mother was angry about my father's betrayal, but it was wrong to laugh at another person's predicament.

"Mother, you have a herd of rams; why not give them one?" I requested. My mother looked at me with disgust and anger. Gogo placed her hand on my mother's shoulder and asked her to calm down.

"Mother, I know you are angry, but I implore you to do the right thing by helping. Those children are innocent. They do not have to pay for their father's crime." I begged her.

"Huh," my mother tried to laugh but held it and said, "They are already paying for their father's crime."

With the way my mother reacted, I knew she would not help them. So I did not push the matter any further. I just let her be. My mother looked at me suspiciously and asked, "I hope you are not planning anything stupid?" I just looked at her and smiled. There was no convincing an angry woman, and my mother was furious at my late father for what he did.

After dinner, I went over to Nana to find out if everything was ok. Nana was sad, and Aisha kept weeping. They did not have the resources to pull off the summoning. Nana knew my mother would not give them a ram from her herd, and Kawu did not have enough money to support them. Aisha and Nana were not earners, so they had no means to complete the funds needed to carry out the purchase.

I had money saved away from my work. I had been keeping the money for a while, hoping that one day I might get the chance to escape the island. At that point, that dream looked more real to me than ever. The Sarki had asked me to move into the palace and take over his administrative affairs. If I considered and took the job, I would be earning fifty times more than what I received for my services.

Moreover, I would not be incurring any expenses. The only thing I will need to do is send money home to my mother. My mother was a successful farmer, so she would not need to depend on me. I decided to complete the necessary funds for the summoning. It was the only way I could help because I knew my mother would not allow me to get involved.

"I will complete the remaining money for the items," I told Nana. Immediately I saw Aisha wipe her tears and look in my mother's direction. By then, my mother and Gogo had retired to their huts, so they were not sitting outside. I knew what Aisha meant by looking in that direction, so I assured them, "It is money that I have worked for and earned. It has nothing to do with my mother. Although I am her daughter, she does not have to know I helped you." I told Aisha. Aisha looked like she was filled with joy. Nana stared at me with wonder. "I can't believe you will do this for your mother's rival," she started crying. "Even though I indicated you to be useless because you are female."

Nana stopped and composed herself, "you have proven to me that a daughter is just as valuable as a son. My grandchild, you have a kind and forgiving heart. I never imagined that you would be the one to help us after what I did to your mother and the way I treated you, even though you were speaking the truth. I am ashamed because you told us we would need Mai'Aljanu, and I dammed you and called you ignorant. I am so sorry." Nana stood up and hugged me tightly. I could feel the relief she felt in her through that hug, and it felt good to know that I had the power to take away her pain. She was wrong about one thing, my mother never had a rival where my father was concerned. The business with Aisha was to please Nana, something I believed he regretted till the day he was killed.

I went to my room and broke my Asusu (piggy bank in the Hausa language); I had about fifty banks. I broke one for Nana and what I had was more than what they needed, but I gave it to them anyway with extra just in case they would need something when Mai'Aljanu arrived. I had to give them the extra because I doubted I would have the chance to help them discreetly again. Nana, Kawu, Aisha and Mai'Karfi were grateful. I saw hope in Aisha's eyes.

Kawu and Aisha went to the night market while I waited quietly with Nana. It was already very late. I later excused myself and went to my hut to sleep. I tossed and turned all through the night. The king's offer kept playing in my mind. A more significant part of me wanted to take the offer, as I knew the opportunities that would be open to me if I took the proposal would be limitless. But a small part of me wanted to remain here with my mother, so I could care for her and protect her from the wicked island and its deities. I knew I would have to leave home eventually and do what was best for me. I decided I would take the job. I decided to break the news to my mother the next day.