Duty-Calls ( 2 )

"Sure am coming back . But don't wait for me . I'll ring you ," I
replied
over my shoulder . Judith calmly shut and bolted the door .
Actually I knew that she wanted to advise me not to risk walking back
home in the dead of the night due to the rumours doing rounds in the
village
that cattle-rustlers had been spotted in the neighborhood , but held
her tongue ; nothing could stop me from going back home .
I zipped-up the jacket to my chin and plodded in the puddles that had
collected outside the house . It was pitch-dark and it took me sometime
before my eyes could pick out the trail that lead to the farm .
All the while I was wondering what had really happened at the farm
this time , which could prompt Baba , one of the mechanics , to call me ,
something which could not wait till morning .
The rain was now hammering down on me like nobody's business . I was
finding it more and more difficult to keep on the track , slipping with
each step I took . Lightning tore at darkness every now and then ;
cicadas and the frogs sang in accompaniment to the roaring stream that
fed the dam . My hat clung to my head like a second skin , salty water
from it dripping into my eyes and made them water . The boots were
half-full of muddy water , each booted foot weighed almost a ton .
The night-guard at the main water-pump was nowhere in sight ; either
he had dozed -off somewhere or he had sneaked back home only to
resurface early the following morning in time to hand over to the
day-guard .
A lonely jackal barked piteously in the far end of the eucalyptus
forest , only to be answered back by the hoot of an owl somewhere high
up in the trees . I solemnly cursed these ill-omened creatures under my
breath as I hastened my steps . The lights at the milking-plant glared
at me like half a dozen evil eyes , and so did the lights at the yard
which housed our offices . When I got to within ahundred yards of the
guarded perimeter , I could hear subdued murmurs from within . One of
the old gate-men opened the gate and his two mates showed me to a group
that huddled in a whispering group at the far end by an idling tractor .
" Ojwang' , do you know that someone might die here if none of you
stores'-people get to reside on the farm ? " It was Baba the mechanic .
" What is it this time ? " I asked , already guessing that it probably
was one of his wives who had been taken-ill .
" No use for that now . Better fuel that tractor fast " , the old-man
cried . Normally we are not permitted to issue items without the
duly signed order and authority of the head of section and Technical
Officer , or his next in command in his absence , respectively ; and
never after official-closing hours , which in this case is five o'clock .
But somehow the rules were bent one way or other to suit the case as
the situation warranted , provided the right procedure is followed and
in the knowledge and or presence of a responsibly-accountable officer .
So , Baba's case was not valid because there were no authorizing
signatories around as far as I could see . I explained the predicament
to him but he cut me short ,
" Young-man , my daughter is in labour and we have to do something
quickly to ensure she reaches Endebess hospital before it's too late .
Those other things about paper and signature can wait ". There was no
point trying to put sense in this thunder-head . Under normal
circumstance , Baba doesn't listen to reason and so one cannot expect
him to do so now under stress . I opened the office , took out the
Issuing note and handed it to Baba . The man signed every available
space including the order , authority and even the driver's part without
a blink . I did not bother to correct him , obviously he was not in his
right senses . I unlocked the fuel store , switched on the interior
lights and gave him a twenty-litre can full of diesel . But then there
were no visible drivers in sight as far as I could see .
" Who's the driver and where's his work-ticket ? " I wanted to know .
But again , Baba silenced me with his now famous remark which stressed
the importance of life as compared to material obligations . Since he
was such a numskull , I decided to mind my own business , which is to
make sure the doors were firmly and securely locked .
Outside the gate , I was faced with the problem of whether to go back
home or spend the night at the emergency house on the farm . This house
has been set aside for such members of staff who do not reside on the
farm and who might find themselves on the wrong side of the tide ;
that is having to work over-time and hence not being able to make it
home . Most staff and management have residence on Afro-Agricultural
Corporation so do most of the casual farm-hands . But those of us whose
homes are within hailing distance don't bother to live at work . Such
nights as this one leave one with no other alternative but to hole-up there.