Chapter 1
E
very second grows in to a minute. Every minute makes up an hour. Hours gradually swell to be days, days become weeks. Slowly weeks make months and eventually years evolve. And with that every human being grows, for no one knows the exact criteria God used to make time. Science and Religion have been like oil and water. Both parties never willing to loosen up; forgo their ways, and abandon their faith because their beliefs have a basis and with that they are ready for the battle. Religious men and women areguided by the torch and pillar of miracles from the Holy Doctrine. On the other hand science has found solace in facts. And the combat will go on and on until the Almighty knows when for he has eluded us the knowledge of knowing what misery holds in the next hundredth of a second. A great secrecy and privacy he holds inside himself that even the Son, entrusted to save the universe, knows not of. I won't talk about this lest I darken my pure ways.For more than ten years Max had been waiting for this day. It had been like an obsession, a divine driving power assigned to him by a master he did not know. Yet here he was and he felt no difference. He saw no changes. He didn't know what he had expected to feel when he'd see the monstrous gates opened for him to enter. I may never know, he thought. The sun was starting to rise, its golden yellow strikes penetrating through the man planted trees to rest on his eyes. He smiled to himself for he had achieved. UNIVERSITY of MOMBASA, he read aloud. As the day will never stand in the way of the night, exams never stood in Max's way. He took them with renewed enthusiasm, zeal and zest, stepping harder on the pedal for he had a great target ahead; a great multi-headed monster, campus.Standing in front of the Iron Gate he felt like an outcast. Like a demon in the midst of Angels and Saints. A caravan Matatu pulled up a few meters from him. The tout was singing his destination. His accent defined him as a local. Max turned to its direction. Four beautiful girls and two boys alighted from it. His attention was drawn by the girls' code-red cladding. There are more than a million reasons to be a Kenyan, Max sighed. Make conduct as early as possible Max. When you enter the walls the chances are fifty fifty but don't be sure to bet against the odds because you don't know how to play the game. Max told himself. Max stretched his neck, keeping his eyes on his prey. His stomach rambled and he remembered he didn't take supper the previous night. He hated travelling much more than he hated his personality. And fearing to throw up in the bus he had opted not to take anything before he made the six hundred kilometers. At times in the bus his stomach had reminded him of its abandonment. The sight of the girls had triggered more than five hundred muscles inside his body. By doing so, energy had been used and the body immediately reminded the stomach of its failure in the previous hours. He ruffled his hand through his kinky hair for the tenth time since he had been dropped at the gate. The cold ocean breeze added an anticipating ecstasy over his joy when he caught a few words from the girls. He listened carefully to what they were saying, obviously not interested in what they were saying but their diction. Their Swahili and English were flawless but he understood they came from upcountry because their sheng was wanting.Now you've an edge and a weakness Max. He smiled. One of the boys was forcing jokes to impress the beauty pageants. The other one was busy straightening and dusting his piece of luggage. Max felt his with his right leg. Most of Max's friends referred to him as a boy trapped in between centuries. His character was never clear to any of them. Today he'd be Shakespeare, talking in poetic prose, his words catching and adding sweet spice to the ears but tomorrow he'd be another man with no substance but a guilty conscious. None really understood his weird nature. Not even he himself. He claimed to be a pure vessel of love and hope. One prophesied many years ago in prophesy no one knew about but him, for he claimed the books which contained the enlightening words had been burned a long time ago. In a dream he had seen everything like Prince Siddhartha Gautama and he had believed in the purpose of thecreation of a man like him. When he talked about these dreams he found himself out of friends for no one was ready to listen to his stupid tales. "God wouldn't be so foolish to enlighten someone like you," they all would say. This was the first personality he hated about himself; believing in what he knew was not true. He kept his gaze glued to the girls."Hey there," one of the girls called at Max. Max was almost chocked. He had been looking at them but his thoughts had been far away. Her voice was beautiful yet he found it annoying. His hand went for his jacket pocket and took out a packet of Dunhill. He extracted one stick from it and lighted it up. "What's so funny you keep looking at us? Haven't you seen beautiful girls?" Max was confused. He didn't know which question to answer. One of the girls distanced herself from the smiling three. She had heard stories about campus boys. How violent they could get! Beauty to her didn't mean to stick itup one's nose. It was only seven hours since they had met at the bus terminal. Then they had becomefriends. But that didn't mean she would do what they did. She send another glance to the boy, then to the three girls and got busy with her bag. The boy seemed to weigh options about her.To the other three girls he seemed to be scared. His face brightened. The calmer the water the deeper the pool,the girl assured herself in her heart.Max puffed his cigarette. The boy dusting his briefcase stared at him. "I don't like you slapstick, comedian." Max shouted at him. The girls turned tothe boy. "And you, what were you asking? Am Max Mwai Karimi and Max ain't a short form of maximum; it's Max and only Max. What's your name?" he sauntered to where they stood, surprised by his arrogant nature. The three girls coiled back. "Good, I don't care if I get your names or not, because the chances are hundred percent that I won't even remember them when I enter through that gate. You," he pointed at the girl who had called him, "miss uncouth mouth I'd like to call you that but you are x to me, and you y, and you z. A complete Cartesian plane axis. And you, you are my queen. They may be beautiful but who cares? Look at them? X probably suffers from ... what's do we call a stinking mouth?that. I don't care what the name is.The way y stands shows discomfort in her genitals and am I wrong to say you are suffering from syphilis because you had unprotected sex the day before yesterday? And you z, God must have been too sleepy but he did a good job to create such a handsome girl. Thump up Queen. Can I be of service M'lady?" Max turned to the boy who had been cracking jokes to the girls, "Men, I liked your jokes but these girls have boiling egos, free advice; go search for new girls inside the walls. Girls are like fish; you don't splash the water, chose the right bait and cast the hook." Queen smiled. "I told you men.""Travis.""Pleasure," they shook hands, "What's your destination Queen? A man of good health like Max can impress a full grown flower in many ways.""And the fishis in the hook!" Queen joked. There was something in her joke that sent a quiver in Max's body. He hesitated for a moment. Travis studied him very closely. "What's your name, Queen?" Max rolled the stick in his fingers. He took one last puff and let it go. They all followed it until he crushed it under his sole. His eyes never left Queen's eyes. They danced over her face like demons."Nice trial Maxunfortunately it is off the menu today.""How long is that menu we are talking of?""Two items.""Yes and No!"Queen nodded, "you are a great thinker.""When Iam motivated. Five six, slender, narrow face, great hair, not bad2GB."Queen's face tightened. Her jaws made a clear cut in her soft cheeks yet she managed a smile. Max knew this moment would come. He glanced away from her for a second. "Don't scribe your own name in my vendetta list.""And my Queen flies me to Italy or are we inci..ca " Max stuttered. "Corsica""You have read Mario Puzo? That's makes two of us." "I give upbut my namenot today or tomorrow or any day.""At the starting line we are again. When will I learn not to call girls Queen, lest they feel they aint beautiful? Patience Max.""You are running out of time. We are in a circle, no starting point." She bent for her bag but Max held her hand. His eyes felt hard on her than the grip. She wanted to shout athim but she lacked the courage. Max was like a chatting bird to her and she knew she liked him. "Through patience, a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. Which book do I refer?" he let her hand go. She tried to think. But the answer eluded her. She nodded at last. "Bible, Proverbs twenty five fifteen." Queen sighed."You don't strike like the religious type Max!" In her voice there was a void. Max had waited for it for so long."A coin has infinite sides but a common man knows of two. Your eyes tell me you are no commoner.""I'll take that for a compliment.""Something I don't award without stinting." "You are charming.""That's what I saidwaitwas that meantto hurt me?""My experience with you tells me that you love nasty words. I give up! Why don't we give up and settle for a draw?" Max laughed. "Giving up is out of my menu.""You don't give up?""Not when the finishing line is so close.""You said you are a fishermanright?" Max nodded. "A good fisher man knows when the fish has taken all the bait without the hook getting it. You don't look like a foolish fisherman to me Max ""It seems like am giving up today." Queen smiled. "You chose the wrong bite today. But you are a good fisherman." Queen teased. She was enjoying her victory."Queen," his voice was calm; his eyes darted from their sockets to her like those of a hunting jaguar. Something about his calm nature after defeat softened her. She knew she was falling. Falling in an abyss with no return yet instead of holding on to the rope she let go. She yearned for that day he'd call her by her name but she had to protect herself. Beauty was nothing without character. The more their eyes locked, the more she felt vulnerable. His voice rescued her. Her attention diverted to his words. But his words were sweet venom to her ears, "You should know I haven't made the hook yet. When I do you won't even know. Shall we get going Queen?"This -she hadn't predicted. Her voice and words were strange to her too. "With pleasure Max." There is nothing to lose. She comforted herself. Max helped her with her bag."Am not a clown. My name is Michael." The boy who had been annoyed by Max's smoking said to him. His eyes darted from him to the girls,and then to Travis"Sorry for that Mike. Will you check my suitcase for me? Five minutes."Michael gnawed internally. "One minute tops." He pulled his suitcase to where Max's was."Thank you. Travis, may the god of love fill your veins." Max paused, "AmenXyz, pleasure meeting you." Max and Queen made for the gate. More freshmen were arriving."Do you know xyz is my favourite TV series?" Queen whispered in his ears. "Holy crap!" Max exclaimed. "I thought I was original." He turned to the girls. "Zyxnext time we meet I will change the names. Something better just came up."Queen laughed. One of the girls bubbled her lips."It doesn't seem to be your style to give up. Why did you give up on my name?"Max looked from her to the girls. "You should learn to stick with your friends even if they suck Alessandra." Z cried after them.Max smiled, "I knew Z would tell me. Now your name is on menu but I won't even use it Queen."Queen turned towards Z. She felt anger boilingin her. Z didn't deviate from her stare. "Size yako. Let's go.""Not without a word Max.""Sometimes it's worth it. You will apologize some other time." Max pulled her."Apologize? What for?""People don't apologize because they are wrong.""Why then?""If your enemy is hungry give him food. If he is thirsty give him pure water to drink. In doing this you will heap burning coal on his head. Believe me on this.""So said the Padre.""Do you know why I like you Alle?""Thought my name was off menu. I didn't know that you liked menow I know, may I ask why?"Max didn't know why but he never lacked answers. "Because you are my best student. A good student always knows where to place a quote.""That makes me realize that having a good teacher like you around me always; I may be able to know everything."They stopped for a split moment and looked at each other. Max slipped his hand in Alessandra's. "Always and everything are such strong words.""Yeahfor a strong man." Max gave up and they walked through the gate. Blood uniting their hands.Mike took his pen and scribbled something on his note book. He glanced at his watch. Two minutes were over. A nerve inside him admired them as they walked away.
Full Post
No comments:
Post a Comment