Duty-Calls ( 4 )

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 .