An extract from the diary of a stores clerk . |
Now this was the tricky part . The phone was in the rain-coat lying in the far corner . The snake stood between me and the phone . I racked my brain for the best way to reach the ladle with which to kill the serpent . Naturally a snake is man's enemy number one ; but my phobia of serpents is unnaturally beyond measure . My knees buckled at the very thought of having to face the reptile with my bare arms . Everytime I looked at its red eyes I felt like my world was fast coming to an untimely end . The snake was sizing me the way a bull-fighter sizes his opponent . Finally realizing that I was just another harmless jelly-kneed mammal , he gently lowered his gleaming head and slithered toward a hole in the wall , keeping a wary eye riveted on me in case I became wise and made silly moves like trying to throw things at him . I let him get most of his length into the crack before I jumped off the bed , grabbed my sword from the pile of rain-soaked clothing in the corner and , in one heroic surge of warrior-blood , with closed eyes , slashed at the dangling end of the snake . I opened my eyes in time to see sixty centimetres of snake writhing on the floor , sending spurts of crimson all over the house . That was the first snake I had ever killed in my life . I watched the ghastly spectacle with mixed feelings , revolt and pride at the feat I had accomplished . Now I had no more curiosity to know where the head-end had gone . What mattered most was that I take the chance to slip out of the hovel and hit the trail homewards . I grabbed my things from the floor and jumped out , not even bothering to lock the door . I hastily shrugged into the dripping coat and boots and went my way . About a hundred metres away from the house , I remembered my phone . I searched my pockets to no avail . I had dropped it back in the house . Now this was as another tricky turn . I went back with my heart in my mouth . The door creaked open and I went in , praying through chattering teeth that I don't encounter another surprise . Luckily , the tin-lamp was still burning and I had no problem locating the phone . The snake , or to be precise the tail-end of the snake , lay still where it had dropped . I ignored , scooped up my phone , blew out the lamp ; kicking the door shut as I went out . The storm had subsided and a sliver of moon was lingering over Mount Elgon . I rang Judith's number but there was no answer . Maybe she had fallen asleep when her phone-call went unanswered . With a heavy step , I trudged on towards home . The eucalyptus forest was unusually calm . No cricket nor cicada chirped , the unmelodious bull-frog had ceased his croaking . The jackal had either found her mate or had barked herself hoarse and finally fallen asleep . Smoke rose up from the watchman's shack at the engine . That was funny . Only some hours earlier there had been no sign of life at the water- pump . Could it be that the guard had crept back ? And if so , then what time could this be ? I took out my phone , switched on the luminous dial and got the shock of my life . It was half-past two in the morning ! When I got to within twenty yards of the water-pump shade , I was stopped by a commanding voice . " Stop right there son . Hands up and you wont get hurt . " I raised up my arms , trying to place the voice which sounded familiar . The beam of a powerful spot-light cracked the darkness before me , played about my face and rested there for a moment before dying out . I was instantly blinded . " Where are you from at this hour ? " the voice demanded . It was then I recognized him . It was the Head of Security on the farm . He had only muffled his voice . " Drop the joke Juma , you know where I am coming from . " He laughed out loud then . " Forgive the dirty trick . I know that the guard seldom spends the night here . So I want him to find me here and see what excuses he'll give this time . " If the Supervisor knew that the guards usually sneaked from work , then somebody was going to get the sack . " Well , I'll be on my way . I need some sleep badly . " " I saw you at the yard but thought you went to spend the night at the farm-house . Duty calls ? " he asked rhetorically . " You can say that again ! " I replied as I resumed my journey . The hay-pasture was alive with herds of cattle , presumably illegal grazers from neighbouring settlement-schemes , who usually took advantage of the darkness and rain to feed their stocks . All of the herders know me and usually offer their greetings . But now they were nowhere in sight . I knocked twice before Judith opened the door . Rubbing the sleep from her eyes , she brushed past me and went outside to ease herself . I was dying on my feet and couldn't get out of the wet cloths fast enough . Just then , Judith jumped back into the house as yells rent the air . Rustlers ! Then I remembered the cows out there without herders . |