Pigment (11 page)
July 18
The moon hangs full-bodied and low, well past its nightly peak, flicking glimpses of figures emerging from the thickest black. Drums beat rampant, the pulse to the attack. White. Black. White. Black. Blacks powdered white, white power, in the night. Ghosts with blades drawn and led by the Creepy Man in white face. They encroach upon the Mukuyu.
Jalil is at the base of the tree, hidden in the shadows of the trunk. He sees them coming. He looks up in the branches of the tree. Aliya is there, ghostly white. Her arm is outstretched like a branch. Luamke’s words sound in his head, “Here people with your daughter’s condition are zeru-zeru. They are ghosts. You can’t kill a ghost.” Creepy Man grabs the arm and holds up his knife to strike. Jalil is about to fight back, but freezes when he sees Creepy Man’s face morph into his own.
#
Jalil wakes from his nightmare, sweaty and disturbed. His eyes are wide and wild looking. He gets up quickly, still in his clothes, puts on his shoes and runs from his quiet hotel room into the hazy morning streets. He runs past the mines and to the Magistrate’s office. The door is locked. He’s that early. He waits, pacing and pensive.
Eventually, the Magistrate Luamke approaches, on his way in. Jalil sees him and hurries down the block to meet him. “Magistrate?”
It’s obvious by the downward shift in his expression, that he’s not thrilled to see him, “Mr. Scott. What brings you here this early?” He keeps walking.
Jalil stays with him. “Why do albinos sell for so much money? It can’t be the bush people. They don’t have that kind of money. Who is paying $1000 for a foot?”
The Magistrate is annoyed. “Good question, Mr. Scott.” Emphasizing if, “If that is the case, then, who do you think?”
“But, the only people with money are people rich off the resources and mines...”
“As I said.”
“Do you believe in albino magic?”
“What are you implying? You sound more and more like your daughter.”
“Oh, now you remember speaking with her about more than the Lakers.”
“I’m due in court.”
“Why bother? Your court is a lie.”
“Enough, Mr. Scott, or I will have you arrested for obstructing justice.”
“What justice!”
This is enough to stop Luamke on the steps to face him.
“What would you do? If she were your daughter?”
“She’s not.” The magistrate steps past him and walks into the building. As the door closes behind him, Jalil sees a man through the door who looks like the Creepy Man. Jalil tries to pursue him, but the magistrate’s aide blocks the entrance. The Creepy Man is gone.
#
Jalil is at the front desk of the police station. Akida’s deputy responds to Jalil, “
Aucune personne de ce nom.
No one by that name.”
Jalil goes to Akida’s office while the deputy tries to stop him. “
Monsieur, vous ne pouvez pas...
Sir, you can’t...”
Jalil opens the door. The office is empty.
“
Vous ne pouvez pas être ici.
You can’t be in here.”
Jalil looks around for his next move when Akida arrives, his voice is raspy, and perhaps these are his first words of the day, “
Bonjour, M. Scott.
Good morning, Mr. Scott.”
“
Vous laissez Rhadi aller.
You let Rhadi go.”
“
On n'a rien à lui tenir avec.
We have nothing to hold him with.”
“
Il est la dernière personne qui les vit.
He’s the last one who saw them.”
“
Il est le dernier que nous savons pour les voir. Je lui ai presque pris en garde à vue pour le protéger de vous. Il a un alibi. Il vérifie
.
He’s the last one we know to have sees them. I almost took him into custody to protect him from you. He has an alibi. It checks out.”
Akida takes a seat at his desk, Jalil follows.
“
Il est confirmé, le corps appartient à Kennen. Ce garçon a été brûlé vif. La cause de Rhadi est plus important pour lui. Tout ce atroce ne l'aidera pas. Ce genre d'attention se serait tué aussi.
It is confirmed, the body belongs to Kennen. That boy was burned alive. Rhadi’s cause is more important to him. Anything this atrocious will not help it. This kind of attention would get him killed too.”
“
Par qui?
By who?”
“
Vous ne faites pas amis quand vous menacez les gens religieux au pouvoir ou leurs croyances.
You don’t make friends when you threaten religious people in power or their beliefs.”
“
Où puis-je acheter du sang albinos?
Where can I buy albino blood?”
Akida takes a step back, unsure. He sees it now, the wild desperation in a father’s eyes.
“
Où est-ce que je vais?
Where do I go?”
Akida steps back again, holding the door for him to enter. Akida motions for him to sit. Jalil is too restless to sit, instead he paces. “
Les chances de votre fille en vie sont impossibles.
The odds of your daughter being alive are impossible.”
“
Où est-ce que je vais?
Where do I go?”
“
Vous pensez que vous trouverez la paix de cette façon?
You think you will find peace this way?”
“
La paix? Je trouverai Aliya.
Peace? I’ll find Aliya.
”
“Mr. Scott...”
“
Avez-vous passé aux sorciers? Avez-vous demandé l'un d'eux?
Have you gone to the witch doctors? Have you asked any of them?”
“
Tu es fatigué. Je ne pense pas que vous comprenez.
You are tired. I don’t think you understand...”
“
Je comprends que ma fille a été prise, son amie brûlé vif et il n'y a personne pour me dire ce qui lui est arrivé. Je comprends qu'il ya quelqu'un en haut de cette chaîne de la corruption, un peuple puissant qui peuvent payer 100K $ pour un albinos. Je comprends que la seule façon que je vais arriver à cette personne et de trouver ma fille est en commençant par le bas de cette chaîne. Aliya est vivant et je vais la trouver, peu importe où je dois aller ou ce que je dois faire.
I understand that my daughter was taken, her friend burned alive and there is no one to tell me what has happened to her. I understand that there is someone at the top of this chain of corruption, a powerful person who can pay $100K for an albino. I understand that the only way I’m gonna get to that person and find my daughter is by starting at the bottom of that chain. Aliya is alive and I will find her, no matter where I have to go or what I have to do.
” Jalil storms out into the street.
Rhadi is outside in the shadows. He has been listening at the open office window. Jalil doesn’t see him as he walks away.
Jalil goes to the Hotel Geita. He looks crazed compared to the reserved somber solace of the lobby. He collects his messages in the lobby at the front desk. There is a note for him which reads: “Mr. Scott, I am staying at the Geita Hotel tonight, retrieving my brother’s remains and leaving for Ireland in the morning. I’d welcome the chance to meet with you. I am in room #13. - Fiona Dunnovan” Jalil goes straight to her room.
July 18 (later)
Fiona is seated on the balcony looking out at Lake Victoria. Her eyes are set in swollen sockets from days of weeping, more tired than her soul. A gentle breeze blows fallen wisps of her loose bun. She is more reserved than her brother, but clearly kin by their features.
“I don’t know why I wanted to see you. Maybe to put a face to your voice, to see the face of someone else who is going through this...”
Jalil is seated in the chair across from her, also facing the Lake. “I was there when they removed his body from the van. I’m very sorry for your loss.”
“And I yours.”
Jalil looks away.
“You think she is still alive?”
Jalil nods.
“Have you considered that maybe...It’s just...I can only imagine what she’d be going through if she were still alive. Maybe she’d be better off.”
Jalil abruptly stands to leave, but something keeps him. At some level she’s right.
“Aliya never would have come here if it weren’t for your brother.”
“How dare you come in here and say such a thing! If anything, Kenny would have protected Aliya. He probably died trying. I was wrong to invite you here.”
He doesn’t go. Rethinking his words. Fiona stands to show him out. “What happened was pure evil, Mr. Scott. I’m praying for your daughter, every day, praying that wherever she is, she isn’t suffering. And what have you done for our Kenny? You come here and insult his memory. I’ll not have it. Please go.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m lost.” Jalil breaks down.
Fiona’s too unfurled to have much empathy for him at this point. “I suggest you look closer to your own.”
“What do you mean?”
“Never you mind.” she tries to dismiss her own words.
“What?”
“I spoke out of turn...I didn’t want to show this to you. It’s a video Kennen uploaded to his cloud the day before...” Fiona pulls up a video on her tablet. She presses play…
Aliya is driving. Kennen is secretly filming her on his mobile phone. She looks fragile, defeated. Kennen puts his finger on her nose playfully. His attempt to cheer her falls short as she pushes his hand away.
Kennen’s voice is clear “Come on now. We should be having fun and resting.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever rest again.” Says the decided voice from beneath the dark circles under her eyes. She’s depressed.
“Aliya, ya can’t keep doin this to yourself.”
“I’m not doing anything...That’s the problem. But I will.”
“What are you on about?”
“I’m going to do something.”
“Tell me. What about ye?”
“It’s just. It’s the only way I know how...” Tears swell up in her eyes with her resignation.
“Maybe you should go home.”
“This is my home now.” She finally looks at him and notices his camera phone on. After a beat, “Are you filming this? Turn it off. Now.”
Fiona’s voice breaks the gravity of what they’ve just seen. “I found it yesterday, going through his web accounts. The time-stamp is July 8
th
, the day they were taken from us. He must have been in range of a tower in order to post it.”
“We need to find out what happened.”
“I can’t stay.”
“You can’t go. Will Kennen rest? Can he, without answers, without resolution?”
“Will you, Jalil? This is not my war. It wasn’t Kenny’s yet he sacrificed his life for it. I hope you understand that there...”
He cuts her off, “We can find the people who did this to him and hold them accountable. If we walk away, it doesn’t mean anything.”
“It means plenty. I’m taking my brother home. We don’t even know who did this. I’m not going to sacrifice myself for them too. My heart goes out to these people, the albinos and the hunters. There’s something dark here. I don’t understand it enough to fight it. My family has given my brother. May he rest in peace. And whether you accept it or not, you’ve given your daughter. She and you are in our prayers.”
July 19
Jalil is in his room. He sits on the edge of the bed palming the knife Rolf gave him. There is a knock on the door. Jalil puts the knife in his pocket and opens the door, surprised by who is there, he turns his back to gain his composure so he doesn’t punch him.
Rhadi’s voice cuts through the shadows, “The cross road at Batumi.”
“What about it?”
Rhadi steps into the light of the room and we see that he has been crying. “Fahamu is there. A witch doctor.”
“Why should I listen to you?”
“Because you are right. I was outside Akida’s window. I heard your conversation. I didn’t take them, Mr. Scott. I wish I had taken them. Then they’d be safe. No one has gone down the dark road to look for them. I will take you.”
Jalil takes out the knife. When Jalil turns around, Rhadi sees this and jumps back with his hands up. “Wait, man!”
Jalil puts it in his belt concealed under his jacket. “Let’s go.”
#
Bakuma Street has woken up since Jalil’s early frenzy, now vibrant with people living and trading their wares. Rhadi leads Jalil down one of the many paths, deeper into a poverty stricken neighborhood. There is trash everywhere and an awful sewer stench. It is dark and dirty. People stand in their makeshift doorways, cautiously taking in the rare sight of a stranger on their street. Tourists don’t come here.
At the back of the alley is a small shack with ritualistic animal carcasses and chachkis hanging over the door. Smoke from the small fire within seeps out the door and cracks in the wall giving a misty hue to the scant light in this dark sparse place. They enter.
In the corner of the room in dark shadow on the floor is a round middle aged woman in a mix of tribal wear and western style clothing, her head is wrapped in cloth piled on her head, some of her teeth are missing but her face is kind, her eyes are deep set and otherworldly. She is barefoot and wearing shells that drape on the remnants of a loose fitting t-shirt over her loose chest. Fahamu.
Rhadi speaks to her, “Fahamu, tunataka msaada wako.
We want your help.”
She steps into the muted light and studies the men. She passes Rhadi over to take a closer look at Jalil. He speaks the words Rhadi taught him on the way there which say he wants to buy good fortune, “Nataka kununua bahati nzuri.”
Fahamu takes one of many small bowls from the floor. It has a light colored powder in it. She brings it over to him and spouts, “Ni aina gani? Unataka nini?
What kind? What do you want?”
Crippled without enough language, Rhadi answers for him, “Nimeona mzimu nyeupe katika ndoto yangu na mimi lazima kupata wake.
He has seen a white ghost in his dream and he must find her.”
She shakes her head. “Mimi wala kufanya hivyo.
I don’t do that.”
Jalil takes his phone from his pocket and shows her a picture of Aliya. “I am looking for her. She is my...”
Rhadi, “Yeye mahitaji ya albino. Yeye mahitaji ya tiba.
He needs the albino. He needs the cure.”
#
Rhadi, “Ni ni nafasi yake ya pekee ya kuishi. Yeye kulipa.
It is his only chance to live. He will pay you.”
“Mimi wala kufanya hivyo. Je, wewe kujaribu kupata mimi kuuawa?
I don’t do that. Are you trying to get me killed?”
Rhadi pushes, “Nani anafanya?
Who does?”
She looks away to her potions, as if looking for an escape an end to this threat. She moves quickly, so fast, the others aren’t sure what she is diving for. She takes a jar and pours some of its contents into her hand. She comes at Jalil strong, Rhadi almost stops her to protect him, but she more quickly blows blue powder into his face.
Jalil squints, coughs, and puts his hand on his knife, ready to draw. Rhadi puts himself between them.
“Je, wewe kuweka juu yake?
What did you put on him?”
“Ukweli.
Truth.”
Fahamu comes up close to Jalil. She is short compared to Jalil, but she still exudes big power. She stares in his eyes. “Kuna ni kifo. Kuna roho. Giza. Mimi tu kuona giza. Wewe ... Wewe wamewaua wengi.
There is death. There is the ghost. Darkness. I only see darkness. You...You have killed many.
She shrinks in fear of what she sees in Jalil’s eyes.”
“Tell me where to find her.”
Rhadi tells Jalil to, “Give her your watch.”
He takes it off his wrist and tries to hand it to her. She won’t take it, but instead points at Jalil’s phone. Jalil gives her the phone.
She relents, trembling. Anything to make him leave. “Kuna ni mchawi giza zamani mwamba kubwa zaidi ya mto wafu. Mahali giza sana. Jina lake ni Bui Bui. Yeye huwanasa vizuka huko katika mtandao wake na anatumia wao wa kutibu VVU. Sasa, wewe ni vizuka kwangu. Wewe ulikuwa kamwe hapa.
There is a dark sorcerer past the great rock beyond the dead river. A very dark place. His name is Bui Bui. He catches the ghosts there in his web and uses them to cure the HIV. Now, you are ghosts to me. You were never here.”
Rhadi leads Jalil out of the hut. She swipes branches she’s bundled into a broom wiping the air, pushing away the darkness, clearing the room, clearing the energy.
A few steps down the road, Jalil asks, “What did you say to her?”
A small poorly dressed barefoot child runs up to them and puts Jalil’s phone in Rhadi’s hand and runs away.
“What did she see in your eyes?”
Jalil looks away.
“There is a chance Aliya is alive.”
“What is Bui Bui?”
“Bui Bui is Spider. He’s a witch doctor. Fahuma says he has her.”
“What is VVU?”
Rhadi hesitates. He slows his pace and finally stops walking entirely. Jalil stops and turns to him with full attention. Rhadi doesn’t want to tell him this but he does any way, “VVU is HIV. Some people infected with HIV believe they can be cured if they have sex with an albino. Aliya may be a sex slave.”
“What!”
“It is horrific, but there is a greater chance she is alive. She would bring more money for a longer time if they could keep selling her body as a cure, rather than sell her off in pieces.”
“You knew this? You knew they did this?”
“I didn’t want to think it out loud. This is our best hope for her being alive if Bui Bui has her. She would bring more money as a foreign albino, and also as a virgin.”
Jalil shoots him an icy look.
“She told me. I wanted her. She told me she was saving herself.” He can’t believe he is speaking like this. He didn’t know how to tell him this. The father of the woman he is in love with. It comes out matter-of-factly, but fast. As Rhadi ’d been harboring it. It’s a relief for him to let it out. Even the punch is a relief. It hurts less than holding it in.
Jalil punches him fast and hard, intentionally building on the remnants of the bruise already there, a bruise which he doesn’t know was given to him by Kennen after Saba Saba. Rhadi recovers, slowly.
“Let’s go.”
Rhadi walks away, pawing his sore jaw. Jalil follows, rubbing his hand.
