| (The
palace. The chiefs are sitting down morning the death of Olusi. Amongst
them is the Poet). |
| HEAD CHIEF: |
|
It was a shock to us King that Olusi, the beloved hair to the throne,
the Prince of Oyo died like that, like the wind. It was very strange to
the chiefs of Oyo. |
|
|
But we do believe that there is no smoke without fire. |
|
|
Olusi couldn’t have gone like that without any trace. |
|
|
Like
a fowl. We know that there is something fishy about Olusi’s death
because we saw him have and hearty yesterday. |
| JAYIN: |
|
My people, it’s a shock to me. I could not believe it when they broke
the news to me. It was the worst thing that ever happened during my reign. |
|
|
But
you know that the toad says, when there is a matter that concerns tails,
one should overlook it. |
|
|
It
is a very long story. I won’t like to elaborate because any attempt to
do that I find that my eyes are always soaked. |
|
|
He
died as a result of an accident. His horse threw him and kicked him. |
| CHIEFS: |
|
His horse? Threw and kicked him? |
| JAYIN: |
|
Yes! His horse threw him. |
| CHIEFS: |
|
Incredible. Unbelievable. This is baffling. |
|
|
It
looked like a cock and bull story. This is not the first time we’ve seen
him riding. |
| HEAD
CHIEF: |
|
King, we must go now. And we shall find out what killed Olusi. |
| JAYIN: |
|
Thank you for staying with me. May the gods be with you. May we never
have such an experience again. |
| (As they stand up,
the poet begins to recite) |
| POET: |
|
Olusi, |
|
|
The redeemer we thought will lighten our burden. |
|
|
Our burden has gone to the world of our elders |
|
|
Death, |
|
|
How wicked you are. |
|
|
- Olusi the prince amongst prices. |
|
|
Death, why did you do this? |
|
|
Olusi, if we had known, |
|
|
We could have offered death an immaculate cow. |
| (The chiefs leave
after merely observing the poet. Jayin looks at the him with hate) |
| POET: |
|
Or at least, the madman at the market square. |
|
|
We exchange him in place of Olusi |
|
|
The only prince amongst princes. |
| JAYIN: |
|
(hisses) Which madman? Basa, go and throw this madman into the dungeon. |
| (Basa is baffled. He
seizes the Poet and drags him away. |
| Ojuri enters clasping
her hands on her head. |
| Jayin looks at her
full of hate. For a moment, he looks in bewilderment before he orders her
out of the town. Without hesitation, she walks off. Jayin stands at a
distance looking at her as she goes). |
| JAYIN: |
|
(Curses) It is the
going of dragonfly that we see. We never see its return. Yes.
Dragonfly has never journeyed back. (Spits) |
|
|
I have cursed you, and it’s irrevocable. |
|
|
The dragonfly will never return. |
| Fade-out |
