CHAPTER 5
Tambo’s Choice

The dream of Father’s death persisted over the next four nights; exactly the same: a young girl with her, Father coughing, dying with a smile on his face. Nasomi spoke to neither Naena nor Father about it. She spoke little about anything else, anyway. She bit and plucked at her fingernails, nibbled at her food, lolled her head, sighed incessantly.

Naena let slip to Father what was bothering Nasomi. He called her and Naena to sit with him outside when the rains stopped and the sun burned. Naena prepared boiled peanuts and wheatbeer, and they talked as they ate.

“He's a good man, isn't he?” Father said.

“Yes, Father,” Nasomi replied. She gave Naena a look of impending retribution.

“We were strangers to him but see what he did for us. And Gani and Nas, the two men he sent to help at the farm, always speak good things about him. They can go on and on about his kindness, his well-cultured manner of speech. Not so his siblings, they tell me. You'd almost think he was born of a different family.” He cracked a peanut shell, tossed the seeds in his mouth, chewed with patience. “If I'd known about his interest in you… Well, I wouldn't have refused him if you told me you wanted to marry him.”

“You wouldn't?” Her eyes watered but she didn't let a tear fall.

“I wouldn't. He's kind and thoughtful of others, and, to add honey to a hot brew, he’s a tribal lord. Imagine my daughter a tribal queen. Maybe you can go for one of his brothers.”

“Father!”

He laughed, then sighed and looked at her like he always did when she had come to him with a problem. It was a look of pride in her. “You're a grown woman, my daughter. Your mother would have loved to see you grow stronger each year. You're generous, mature, thrifty, helpful. No matter our circumstances, I am glad you're my daughter. I'm proud of you too, Naena.”

“Thank you, Father,” Naena said. “What would you be without me?”

“Indeed.” He laughed. “You girls bring joy to my heart. Good men will come your way. The Mara will bless you with good families and wealth, and lots of happiness.”

Both girls clasped their palms together, to indicate they received the blessings.

“Nasomi, heal your heart.”

“I thank you, Father. I cannot weep forever about it. I am well now.”

“I hope you are. Now give your father a warm embrace.” They stood to give their hugs.

Nasomi felt better, the gloom of her brooding was fading. She found herself singing throughout the day, and there was a lightness within her. That night, the dream changed: she floated through a majestic palace. The walls were white, adorned with black and ochre sketches of warriors, winged creatures, and red blobs that looked like suns. She was in a cavernous corridor, lit by bulbous firestones hung from the ceiling. Two people came up from behind, talking. She couldn't hide even if she tried. She was like a ghost there, formless, an unseen presence, an awareness. They couldn't see her. They walked through her and she followed after them.

“...is not just right,” the young man said. He resembled Tambo, but it wasn’t him. This one was younger, perhaps twenty years old, and slimmer. And he groomed his hair better than Tambo. “It just isn’t.”

“I hear you,” the girl replied. She looked to be about fourteen years old. They both had rings on all their fingers. “It isn’t like Big Brother to behave like this. I know he isn’t into Reema as she’s into him, but—”

“What? How can you say that? Of course he loves Reema.”

“Oh please, I know what I see. She’s a duty to him, not a stars-bright-in-the-sky kind of love.”

He laughed, with a meanness to it. “You’re too young, Yana. A man can love a woman and still need… you know, a friend by the side. But this girl I hear about... She’s a dirty farm girl. Tambo should not stoop so low. It just isn’t right.”

“That’s just wrong, Kukalo. A man must be faithful to his woman.”

“You’re too young.”

“Too young to see that you’re the one who fawns over Reema?”

He scowled at her. “Watch your lips, Yana. “Don’t accuse me of such things. We’re on the same team here. We must expose Tambo… So that he sees the error of his ways and make him focus on his bride and royal duties.”

“I am only interested in this because I want to see this other girl. We shouldn’t take it too far.”

“It’s already gone far enough.” They reached a door and he opened it as he said, “This is the one who will take us to the slut.”

In the gloomy, smaller room — a storage room, from what Nasomi could make of it — a man lay on the floor. He jerked at the opening of the door, raised himself languidly. His face was bruised, an eye swollen. Nasomi recognized him as the servant who brought and held Tambo’s horse when he came to see her.

In the morning, as she was going about her chores, Nasomi reflected on the dream. She was stunned when the people in it actually walked through her gateway. The young lord and lady, as well as four muscular men. They pushed forward the beaten servant.

“My Chiefs,” Nasomi and Naena said, performing their acts of respect. A crowd was gathering at the gate.

“Which one is it?” Tambo’s brother asked the bruised man.

The servant pointed at Nasomi. The muscular men stepped toward her as Father emerged from the house. “My Chiefs!” he said. “The Mara bless you for visiting my home.” He eyed Nasomi, but she shook her head to indicate she didn’t know what was going on. She knew but was too bemused to accept that her dream had been real.

“And you too, old man.” the young lord answered impatiently. “Get her quickly.”

Father jumped in between the men and Nasomi. “My Chief! She’s my daughter.”

“She’s been summoned,” the young lady answered. “Father means to question her.”

“Over what, My Chief? Perhaps if we can sit here and discuss—”

“We’ll discuss nothing with you, old man,” the young lord said, pointing a warning finger at Father. “Move away, don’t try my patience. You know what this is about. You even cajoled my brother into giving you two workers so he can have a way with your daughter. Don’t think I don’t find out things.”

“I would never… My daughter would never—”

The young lord came forward and shoved Father away. Father fell to the ground. Nasomi and Naena jumped to his aid, but the big men grabbed Nasomi, carried her off. She kicked and bit at them, and received a head-throbbing slap for all her efforts. Father, after being helped to stand by Naena, ran after her.

“Please, My Chiefs, let me come and talk to the big chieftain. As one father to another. I will tell him the truth.”

He continued pleading with them as they threw Nasomi into a wagon outside the gate. The lord, lady, and brutes got into the wagon as well. Father followed at a stumbling trot when the rider kicked the two horses to start moving. “Please. My. Chiefs,” Father begged, panting. “It is not. The way you think. Let me talk. Listen to me please.”

Teeyana, as Nasomi remembered was the girl’s name, said to her brother, “Kukalo. We must let him come along, or he’ll fall from exhaustion.”

“Let him fall… Don’t look at me like that… Alright. Stop the wagon!”

One of the brutes helped Father into the wagon. His thanks came out as a cough. Kukalo waved him to sit and be quiet. The journey was conducted in heavy silence, Nasomi keeping her face down under the incredulous gazes of Tambo’s siblings. Kukalo’s was laced with fury, Teeyana’s with cheerful curiosity.

The palace, in the heart of Kwindi District, stronghold of the Kepe clan, was as grand outside as it was on the bit of inside that Nasomi dreamed about. In all her life, she’d come close to three of the eight tribal palaces in the city, but this was the first time being ushered through the gate of one. White walls, wide cobbled paths, a grand lawn, tall rondavels, long bungalows.

She was lifted off the wagon and dragged by two of the brutes.

“Let her go!” a voice shouted, and Tambo came running out of an arched garden. “Kukalo! What is the meaning of this? How can you do this?”

“Father wants to see her.”

“May the Tumina swallow you! This is none of your business!” He chased Kukalo around the wagon.

“Father sent us to get her—”

“This is none of his business, either. Yana, even you?”

The girl seemed ashamed.

“Let her go, I said!” He came to Nasomi, took her by the hand. “Get in the wagon. They will take you home.”

“It is my business,” another voice said. It was the chieftain himself, emerging from the garden in the company of three people. And she was among them: the dark beauty with gold on her neck and arms and feet and hair. She was in a seamless blazing white dress, extending from under the armpits to just above the knees. A white cloth around her right wrist looked out of place among the golden bangles. She was barefoot as was customary before a marriage. She stabbed Nasomi with her gaze.

Tambo, Kukalo, and Teeyana knelt before their father.

“Is this the girl, Tambo?” the chieftain asked.

“She’s the one,” Kukalo said when Tambo didn’t respond.

The chieftain snorted. “Is this what has beguiled you? You have closed your eyes, shut your senses. Is this the woman who made you sneak out of the yard?”

Tambo didn’t answer. He kept his face down, and Nasomi could see he made a fist that slightly trembled.

“Please, my love,” the Bride said. “Tell me this is not true.”

“Stand up!” Chieftain Go said his children. He pointed at Tambo. “You remain on your knees until you find your mouth.” Kukalo and Teeyana stood and went to their father’s side.

“You,” the chieftain said to Nasomi’s father. “Sapato is your name, is it not?”

“It is, My Chief,” Father replied. He looked unsure of whether to kneel or remain standing.

“I make sure to find out things about people who vex me. First you take my land, and now you want to take my son.”

“I would do no such thing, My Chief. I didn’t know… It is not that way. It is only a misunderstanding.”

“I was disturbed last night when I heard about it. The way I hear it, you offered her to fornicate with him while you used some of his workers to dig around your garden for you. You know it is against our deep traditions for a man to do this, especially before his marriage. The shame it has brought upon my house!”

Father gasped. “I would never lose my dignity in such a manner. What I have, I worked for with my own hands. Your son here is a good man, and he did what he did out of the kindness of his heart. My daughter would never do such as she is accused of. I have raised her in a proper way.”

“Not proper enough from what I can see. The moment I saw you, I knew you were a man of trouble. This—” he waved in the air with both hands —“confirms it. I will tell you, I am a man of instinct, I follow it. I rise above my enemies because of it.”

“Tambo, how could you?” the bride said. “It’s not like you. I love you so much. Please tell me it’s not true.”

“It’s not true, Reema,” Tambo said. “Ask her. Nasomi, have I ever lain with you?”

“Not at all, My Chief.”

“She might be lying,” Kukalo said.

“Shut up!” Tambo said. He pointed at Kukalo. “You have a foul mouth, boy. I will get my retribution. Don’t think I don’t see your scheming.”

“I will have no fighting amongst you,” the Chieftain said.

“But you have been seeing her?” Reema asked. “Be truthful to me. My heart is not at peace here.”

“Father,” Tambo said. “Father, I will speak truly, and defend myself in this matter.”

“I would expect nothing less. I am a man of discipline, and I require it of my children as of anybody else. Because I want you to see my fairness in this, and my arm of wrath on these people who have come to perturb our lives. I, Chieftain Shikepe Go, will not—”

“I cannot marry Reema.”

His father choked and coughed. Reema screeched. She went to stand before him. “Tambo! The wedding is tomorrow night!” She grabbed him by his garment, shaking him. “What are you saying?”

“Silence, Reema!” Tambo shouted. The shock that broke her face was evidence that she wasn't accustomed to Tambo speaking in such a manner.

“What is the meaning of this?” Tambo's father demanded.

“You want the truth, Father, and I am done pretending. It is not Reema I want.”

“You will throw your wife for this worm?”

“She is not a worm, Father,” Tambo said.

“This can't be Tambo, my own son. Speak again, but watch what you say this time.”

“I have always respected you, feared you. I have obeyed all your desires, fulfilled your wishes above my own. Your hand of discipline has been heavy on me, and I have done all I can to please you. But will you not understand this one desire of mine? It is customary among us for a man to seek his own wife.”

“You want her? Has she bewitched you?”

“She is a witch!” Reema cried. “That's what she is. She must be taken to the streets and flogged! Stoned! She must vomit all the evil powers she has accrued. She must release my husband!”

“She is no witch!” Tambo snapped. “Keep your mouth shut and watch what you say. Don’t deny you haven’t understood how I feel about you."

“Tambo, you have loved me always.” She fell to her knees, tugging at his garments, sobbing loudly. He wrenched her hands from him but she held him again. “That’s all I know, that you have loved me. You have told me so.”

“Get these filthy people out of my sight,” Chieftain Go said. “See how they divide my family. No, take them to prison. I will speak to a Justice to grant a punishment so big—”

“Father, please—” Tambo said.

“No! You must see your folly in this. You might be my heir, but I will not fail to discipline you right. I am your father and you will listen to me.”

“Father, listen—”

“Were we foolish in putting you together? Will you have not become heir to two inheritances? Will you throw it all for the dry bosom of a peasant? Your mother and I were delighted when you fell in love with Reema. We were happy with our arranging her for you. Your mother mustn’t return to this foolishness. You will cause her only grief. This ends now.”

“My heart is set, I will not marry Reema. We have all known she is bad-tempered, lazy, and will not make a good wife.”

Reema wailed. She rolled onto the ground, soiling her brideclothes.

The Chieftain shook with fury. “Your words, son... I don’t know you anymore. A few days have changed you. I regret you are a son of mine.”

“Because I want to choose my own wife?”

“Because you talk to me like I am a fool. Because you defile our honor with your foolish escapades. If your brother hadn’t brought this to me, the whole city would be whispering shame on my back. Because you dishonor the name of Go by refusing the hand of a chief’s daughter. Because you embarrass me before our servants, before a peasant farmer and his tramp daughter.”

“Father, I am my own man now—”

“You think so, don’t you?” The chieftain turned around. “I will not have you as my heir, then. I denounce you and replace you with your brother Kukalo.”

Nasomi saw a glimmer in Kukalo’s eyes.

“Father, this is harsh. And you have not taken time to listen to me.”

“You listen. Make your choice before the next watch,” his father replied without turning to face him. “Marry your bride or forfeit your inheritance.” He walked away.

Tambo stood and went to Nasomi. He held out his hand to her. “I choose you,” he said. “If you will choose me.”

For a moment, it seemed there were only the two of them there. The shouts and scuffle that arose, Kukalo diving to the aid of the bride, the chieftain walking away from all the trouble, Nasomi’s father calling her name… It all seemed to be in another palace, like a fading dream upon waking. There was only Tambo and her. Fear, shame, regret weighed down heavily on her. But also there was a sliver of certainty. She took his hand and let him pull her toward the gate.

She said to him, “I didn't mean for… I am so sorry… I didn’t want this… I shouldn’t have let you kiss me.”

Tambo walked fast, pulling her to quicken her pace. “It only shows what is truly in his heart, what kind of man he is. I care not for the inheritance anymore.”

“You do not?”

“No. Let them keep it, and may the depths swallow it all. Let them call us names if they want. We will live happily.”

It was a strange moment to smile, but she did. They were outside the gate now. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” she said.

He stopped and undid the cloth around his leg, tied it around her wrist. “On this day, Nasomi, daughter of Sapato, I bind myself to you until we are wed, and for all time till I die.”

Nasomi took off her sandals. “Tomorrow I’ll find me some brideclothes, and a white band for you.”