UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Fifteen minutes later, he stood at the gateway to Becky's compound. Much to his surprise, smoke spewed out of one of the houses that served as a kitchen; a sign that she was already awake. He scanned the compound and at first, he could not see any sign of her, then he moved closer, and she came into view bent down next to a chicken coop, her back to him, washing dishes.

Becky soon heard the footsteps, stood upright and turned around to face him. She paced aside from the dishes and wiped her hands dry against the leso wrapped around her lower body from the waist. She intended to shake his hand. And so, with a smile lighting up her face, she boisterously extended her hand towards him; a courteous and polite gesture.

Pabonya had not expected to be treated to such a welcome sight. But still, he would not be easily entertained. He did not take her hand. Instead, he just stood still staring hard at her, a look of disdain in his eyes. This act reminded Becky how she had crossed paths with him, and at that instant she perceived that his visit was not socially concerned. Perhaps he had devised a way to settle the unfinished business of the previous day. And so the smile on her face died, degenerating into something different.

“I haven't come in peace,” Pabonya proclaimed. “I am here to serve a notice. Your days in the clan have come to an end.”

“What does that mean?” Becky asked?

“You are in so much trouble. Yesterday, you created an enemy in me with your outburst; by the reckless words you spat in my face you declared war between us.”

Becky no longer felt any need to contest with him, and preferred to end the feud and save it from escalating. “I am sorry!” She said. “Whatever happened yesterday, I sincerely regret it.” She was trying her best to sound conciliatory.

Pabonya was amused. He had stamped his authority once more. Now he needed to give it more prominence. “Apology not accepted,” he said. “To serve as an example to women with such minds as yours in this clan, you shall be punished. Yesterday you drew the battle lines. Let’s get on with the war and see who wins, and what becomes of your arrogance. I assure you, I will blow up your world in a way you will never be able to mend.”

Becky took a sigh of disappointment. Her goodwill and pursuit of reconciliation would not bear any fruits. None of her efforts to be amiable would result in any harmonious existence between them. 

Becky had had an immense respect for this elder. But with his disquieting nagging, he had aided it to evaporate bit by bit. There is no dignity in respecting someone who does not respect you, she thought. 

It was incredible how Pabonya had changed. He was no longer the very kind man she had known in her early days in the clan when things were rosy. He had been of great help during the cultivating season. He would lend his men and oxen to help with tilling her land. Now he was always scolding, showing every indication of contempt and watching her every move with an appraising eye.

“So you won’t forgive me?” she asked, giving a callous smile, “You came here just to aggravate me? You think you can scare me?” Her tone had changed.

“I am not here to scare, but like I said, just to declare what is about to befall you. What you have committed is a great evil. And that would be paid for in full measure. I will not put up with your madness any longer. You will be relieved of your membership in this clan. For nothing can atone for your sins.” His voice was quiet but fatally sincere.

Though Becky did not see the real meaning of his threat, she felt its hostility differently. And her heart ached. For how long would she bear his humiliation?

The elder was going overboard, pushing her to the wall and if she would not push back, she would soon crush against it. “Perhaps we need to get a few things clear here," she had become so serious. "It is because of one man that I live among you. Kindly understand that I am neither married to you nor to the clan. If you find any shortcomings in me, or so do any of the elders, report to my husband. He will listen to you. Don’t barge into my house as early as this rattling at me like that.” She was fuming. 

Becky needed to resist any of his attempts to bully and molest her to give up her self. She would not allow him to destroy every facet of the person she was and replace it with a being of his own creation. Neither would she let anyone rob her of her ability to think and judge for herself what is right and what is wrong, regardless of whether her ideals subscribed to the sway of the majority of those around her.

There was that tone of confidence in her voice which Pabonya didn’t like. Once again, he had been rubbed the wrong way. How could he be so dominated in his own territory? He was a permanent citizen of the clan, unlike the hard-headed woman standing before him whose place could be substituted anytime. Was respect for the elders no longer an integral part of the norms and customs of the Kapsoket clan? 

Becky was a deviant. She had failed to meet the minimum requirements to continue being a member of the clan.

“You have forgotten your place,” he said. “Don’t think for a second that there is anything special about you. Your marrying our son gave you no license to hurl insults at elders like you do.”

“I am tired! I am tired! I am tired!” she yelled, raising her hands and locking fingers behind the back of her head. She had turned black with rage.

Pabonya stared at her with astonishment. “Calm down,” he was now pleading with her.

“Don’t tell me to calm down. You can’t be stepping all over me like I am nothing. Hurry up with whatever you want to do.”

He felt the lethal bite in her words.  He looked into her eyes calculatingly, trying very hard not to show a shiver that coursed through him. He was conscious of the fact that the engagement was getting chaotic and out of control. They could soon be creating a scene. People would soon be flocking around to watch them. And they would begin to speculate on the matter and Becky could end up with a bunch of sympathizers. He didn’t want that, and a moment of quick calculation allowed him to pick the best cause of action: tactically withdraw and go tie up some loose ends. He needed to relay his plans with more precisions. He would need a coalition to back him war successfully and prevail against Becky. He would need to induce a few people to look at her in a bad light. He would need a little stain on her image. And with that he could turn everyone against her.

He cast a look at her one last time and the flaming raging hatred in his heart intensified. He felt like grabbing her by the arms and crushing her on the ground under his feet; crushing her into a paste as if she was some annoying bedbug.

But how sorrowful, his powers were inadequate to do just that. Yet he would find some way to do it in the future.

To Becky’s relief, Pabonya turned around and left. And she resumed her work with the dishes. But her mind lingered on the ordeal. Was there any real power in him? Was he capable of ruining her life? She could not tell exactly in which way that would come. The man enjoyed great honor and respectability in the two villages of Tirita and Kures, and more importantly in the whole of Kapsoket clan. How would she stand up to a man of such influence? How would she put up resistance?

She was not a coward. She was not afraid of him. Whatever plans he had against her, she would face it like a brave soldier in a raging battle. Besides, her husband would protect her. She was sure of their love and nothing could come in between them.