| (Ojuri’s
bedroom). |
| OTOKITI: |
|
Oh dear! Thanks to the gods that I came in as scheduled.
Thanks to ‘Ifa’ oracle
too because I consulted him before I came. If not for that, Ojuri,
they nearly caught me at the entrance of the palace when I was coming. |
| OJURI: |
|
Who nearly caught you? |
| OTOKITI: |
|
The
palace guards. And that could have spelt my doom. They could have cut off
my neck (demonstrates) before asking me what my
mission was. |
| OJURI: |
|
Do you think they are so rash to do such a
thing? They are not like that. Besides, they do not even think about
guarding us. They have their own problems too. |
| OTOKITI: |
|
Do
you think that those deaf and dumb guards will listen to anyone at all? |
|
|
Ojuri, may be you meant that they listen to people after they
have reached heaven’s gate. |
| OJURI: |
|
They
won’t do that. Anytime you are coming, you just walk straight to the
palace and enter my room. Pretend that you are a member of the palace. And
if they ask you where you are going to, frame a lie. Tell them that you
are looking for any of the palace eunuchs. |
| OTOKITI: |
|
I will try it next time. I won’t shiver again.
I will go home and pluck the leaf of boldness |
| (There is a knock on the door) |
| OTOKITI: |
|
(Whispering) Yeah! I’m in trouble. Maybe
that is the king. |
| (Knock) |
| OJURI: |
|
(Whispering)
He might be the one. What can we do? This is a serious problem. He
must not know that you are here. Yes, I now know what to do. Come along
with me and hide there. |
| OJURI: |
|
(She drags him up)
Come along quickly before he suspects. (She
drags) |
| (knock) |
| OTOKITI: |
|
You want to hide me? Where do you want to hide
me? Don’t let it be that filthy sac over there. It will itch. Where do
you think I will hide you? |
|
|
You have no choice. You can’t dictate under the present
circumstance. (She picks the sac) |
|
|
Please stretch the opening quickly with me |
| (They stretch the sac). |
| OTOKITI: |
|
Let the gods be with me and protect me as I
enter this thing. |
|
|
Yeah! I’m in trouble. What will I tell my wife today? Or
what kind of embarrassment is this? |
| (He enters the sac and she covers it. He relaxes inside) |
| OJURI: |
|
(Opens the door and shows surprise) It is
even you. What do you want here? What do you want here? Who called
you here? You have now come to sniff my room. |
| EFUMI: (Stammers) |
|
That man. Bring him out. I saw him when he entered. He walked
like a crab into your room like this, |
|
|
(She dramatizes) I saw him. I think I
told you before. Like this, he walked. (She
laughs) |
|
|
He must be a very funny man walking like that. Don’t you
like the man? No, I think that you like him more than the king. Tell me
more about him. Seriously speaking I won’t tell the king. |
| OJURI: |
|
When you finish your nonsense, you can tell me.
And then, I want to see your back. The gods knew the kind of person
you’ll become. That was why they created you an imbecile. Just go away.
Foolish woman. (She hits Efumi)
Go away. Leave my room. |
| EFUMI: |
|
Your room? It is not your fault. Your room is
not as good as mine. Yours is the worst in the palace. What is my business
here? Nothing. |
|
|
I’m going. You can eat your room. And I, I......won’t
forget to report you to the King. |
| OJURI: |
|
You go away, imbecile. You cannot remember
anything? |
|
|
You are very forgetful. If you do not go now, I will sweep
your ill luck. |
| (As Ojuri turns her back, Ojuri picks up a broom and sweeps
off her imaginary prints) |
| (Exit Efumi.) |
| OTOKITI: |
|
(From the sac) Can I come out now? I’m
suffocating here. |
| OJURI: |
|
You can come out; the fool has gone. |
| OTOKITI: |
|
(Coming out) You see what I said? I
consulted the oracle. She could have captured me. |
| OJURI: |
|
Was that why you hid in the sac? |
| OTOKITI: |
|
That woman will tell the king. I’m going now. |
| OJURI: |
|
That
imbecile? She will forget before she gets to the King. The woman is
a nonentity in this palace. No one reckons with her. |
| OTOKITI: |
|
But that might not fit into the present case. I
believe that she saw me. That was why she came. |
|
|
Ojuri, I want to go to my house quickly. I do not want to die
right now. I’m still very young and strong. |
| (He stands up to leave. He embraces Ojuri and leaves her
quickly. He comes out while Ojuri stays in the room. Otokiti departs
through one side of the room. Jayin
appears and walks to the entrance of Ojuri’s room. He wants
to open the door, but hesitates, and turns away. As he is leaving, Efumi
appears. She walks quickly towards him). |
| EFUMI: |
|
(Whispering) My
lord, go.... something is there. I do not know how he entered. But
I saw him. |
| JAYIN: |
|
(He quickly understands)
All right. |
| EFUMI: |
|
I saw him my lord. He was walking like a crab.
He entered. She hid him.... she hid.... him. |
| JAYIN: |
|
Efumi, thank you. I already know. Someone had
told me. Maybe the lucky man had gone away. Everyday is for the thief, one
day is for the owner. I’m prepared for them. I will get them one day. |
| (They depart) |
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