PART 36

Eventually I joined in . I intended to do this a while just so that I could get back on time to speak with the new rector.


The village dweller at the other end had finished with the blazing heaps. For this reason we concentrated on our own portion of the acre. When we first started, you know, farming wasn't exactly what we anticipated, we thought it was all sweat, blisters and hard work. But we discovered that it was the love of nature; the way God intended it, that drove certain persons to take, farming seriously. By the word ''we,'' I am speaking for myself, Nadia and a few others. and by the words ''certain persons'' I was referring to the village dwellers.

Part 35

I sat on a tree stump next to her.

''So what happened at the convention?''

''I wasn't around as well, I was supposed to spend this christmas with my Dad but he eventually let go''.

By this time the sun had gone down not in it 's setting but it's intensity: a large cloud was in the way. In the exterior of the field, I could make a village dweller trying to start a fire to destroy the dried up weed gathered in heaps, ten metres apart each.

He had a match stick: one of the items we provide for them when we are out and about on welfare outreach. He struck it twice before it lit up, and in his stooping position leaned forward to light a part of the heap.

He would do this heap after heap until the last one, before I would look away.

PART 34

I was on my way, I was well without the premises of the Academy, on the way to the village nearby. It was the end of the year and it was farming season I saw Nadia not too far from the part of land I too used to till.

She had on a skinny pair of jeans that had been cut at the knees, a white tee shirt and a straw hat. And she was not alone, there were a few others: village dwellers with her.

''Hey Bewin'', she says,'' when did you get back?''

The villagers smiled when they saw me. I was familiar with quite a number of them.

''I arrived only just yesterday,'' I said.

''You are late again'', she said.

''My boss halted payments for a week: revenue return problems.''

She stood up holding the tool she had been using to till the land.

''How did it go, then?'' she asks.

''How did what go?,'' I feigned ignorance.

''Come on Bewin, did you pay back your mum?''

I had little time to discuss it with her, you know her, she would have nothing of it''.

''Look,'' I added ''I don't expect I would be around this weekend and the monday next, when I get back to her, I would convince her to take it.''

PART 33

I did not know Father Pietersen very well. I had only just met him. And though I wasn't about to find out, I asked anyway.

''Where has he gone, sir ?''

''Don't you worry, he has gone on sabbatical somewhere.''

I had my head down, deep in thought as I continued my search for Nadia. The meeting had caused a turn of events such that I did not expect I would be staying at the Academy afterall; this xmas season. Somehow I may be able to return for the rest of the season having informed my boss back in the city of the results of his request.

PART 32

Then I met him. I mean Revrend Pietersen; half way between the administrative building and the gates to the Academy.

''Hello you must be one of us.''

''Yes I school here.''

He introduced himself, I told him my name.

''I am the new rector here,'' he says,'' Father Aiken has gone.


That was about a month ago he added. It occurred to me that he meant that Father Aiken left just at the end of the christian convention, usually held by the Academy mid- november, just before students intending to travel home for the end of year festivities, vacate the premises.

What must have happened here? I question this, because Father Aiken I know was a very popular man even with the international christian community. Because of him, the Unction of the Spirit Christian Academy is known to be a very reputable institution across west Africa.

PART 31

My intentions was, come morning, I would head straight for the rector's office to talk with him. Father Aiken have always been my friend. He took very kindly to me the first time I met him and I have always reciprocated his kindness with rapt attention and similar understanding.

But I decided instead to set out in search of Nadia, recalling that we both had a fall out the last time we were together. On my way to the likely places I knew I could find Nadia I saw a strange Object that seemed half way buried into the ground. When I approached it I discovered it was a ''dried out'' plant that looked like a tree 2 feet high. But it's roots showed that it actually wasn't a plant, ''strange'', I thought, the student in charge must be away already.

PART 30

Bewin Smith narratting:
The following morning, after having collected my wages the previous day I set out on my journey to the academy. I did not arrive at the academy until late in the evening this was soley because the vehicle in which I travelled had some trouble with it's engine.

The taxi which ''ferried'' me directly to the gates of the academy was driven by a young man who was boisterious in the way he handled it. He drove on high speed even though the road wasn't tarred. I eventually got to my room on the hour of 8. The first thing I did was snack on the meal my mum made for me: leaf soup and yam. 8.30pm, I was fast asleep.

Of course I usually dream when I fall asleep out of fatigue. some times I recall my dreams sometimes I don't. This time I forgot.