Theatre of The Absurd
The rod that was stolen by Felix from his father's palace was finally sold to Maxwell. Maxwell was very happy that he bought the rod. He planned to take it to America as a souvenir. Because of the various network of evil and the activities of the nocturnal club on the street where they lived, John and Hain decided to travel out of Buenos to the Federal Republic of Atlantis, a country very close to the Mediterranean ocean. From there, they believed that they would later travel to the United States. Both of them applied for a traveling visa to the Federal Republic of Atlantis and they were later invited for interview.
On the day of the interview, it rained. But it did not stop applicants from converging at the entrance of the embassy to the Federal Republic of Atlantic for the interview for their visa. This was the place where Hain and John planned to take their visa too. There were all kinds of people demanding one form of attention or the other in front of the embassy that day. The place had become a kind of market place. Spiritualists, beggars, and all kinds of salesmen have found this spot very attractive to sell their items and they screamed to high heavens to demand the attention of those who were passing by and visa applicants.
This spot has been renamed Mid Day Channel Television because it was an attractive place where all kinds of drama take place like on a television channel.
The front of the edifice had become a base for spiritualists and urchins who adorn the street. All of them wanted to sell talisman that would make the consular officer more sympathetic to people's application bearing in mind that these officers reject many applications. On display at the spot where applicants were to be called in were many waistbands and spells that magicians and spiritualists claimed could assist applicants to travel without a visa.
One of the itinerant magicians and spiritualists was the most vocal of all those who gathered at the spot. There was no talisman that he did not claim to have in his possession. He said that he could do so many things for people and was speaking from both sides of his mouth. He sang and danced for the people just to gain their attention.
"Where are the lucky ones?
Show me the lucky people around here?
Better market sells itself
I have great talisman here
Try one today and you will not regret it," he said to the people as they looked at him with amazement.
"My compatriots. Do not let them fool you?
The holy book says;" In my father's house, there are many mansions."
Yes it is true. What was written many years ago is still very relevant today! In this my little bag, I have many potent talisman and spell that will make your dream a reality. Just try any of them and you will be glad you did. If the talisman I sell to you does not work, you can have a refund when next you see me. My name is Ajanlekoko, meaning The Dog is chasing the Hyena and people also give me the nickname, The Husband of Mary, the One Endowed with Six Breasts and Nipples.
"What kind of a name is that?" Asked one of the applicants on the queue jokingly.
"Yes, it is my name. Buy this talisman and if you are not satisfied, I will refund your money the next time you se me. But before we go on, we will like to give you a small drama so that you will be vigilant when you face the panel inside. Here, I have some mobile actors that go with me everywhere I sell my product. You know, the competition has become very stiff these days. Ladies and gentlemen, enjoy this drama sketch between an official who is interviewing a prospective traveler. After our drama, buy our products," the man said.
(The medicine sellers begin the drama sketch to entertain those who had come for visa application.)
"The drama you are about to watch is free. But our products are not free," he said.
(A girl steps forward imitating an official. Another boy joins her. First, they dance and begin to mime)
OFFICIAL: Why do you want to go to the Federal Republic of Atlantis?
BOY: To go and study?
OFFICIAL: Study what?
BOY: Computer Science!
OFFICIAL: Why don't you want to study here in Freedomtown? There are many computer schools here.
BOY: Yes. But you get the latest innovation in the Atlantis Republic!
OFFICIAL: Let me see your other documents (she goes through)
Convince me enough, By the way, why did you have a Second Class, Lower Division grade in your first degree? I can see that you are a weak student!
BOY: (Dazed) Checks the result and the papers well. I was not weak in my first degree and I passed my exams very well.
OFFICIAL: Anyway, visa application rejected
BOY: But we have paid school fees and I am supposed to resume school next week.
OFFICIAL: Application Received. Your Visa Application is rejected. Next person!
BOY: (Packs his documents and leaves)
"You have just seen the drama sketch that we have brought before you. Why don't you buy your own charms, and talisman? At least we can be held accountable for our product and we will refund your money. We guarantee that these products work," said the itinerant talisman seller.
(This place is the theater of the absurd. Another man steps forward and begins to sing his own songs).
Song:
Every living soul
Every living soul praise the Lord
Every living soul
Every living soul
Praise the Lord.
The Most High reigneth
The Most High reigneth
The Most High reigneth in my life today
The Most High reigneth in my life today.
(He switches on to another song)
This is the day
That the Lord has made,
I will rejoice
And be glad in it
Halleluiah,
This is the day that the Lord has include
I will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day
That the Lord has made.
The man who sang the song later announced what appeared to be his own spiritual message to those who had gathered in front of the embassy. But he was just a medicine seller trying to gain people's attention.
MEDICINEMAN: Ladies and gentlemen, enjoy my theatre company. With me here is a pregnant applicant.
"I put it to you that you are pregnant,"he said in a female's voice.
"I am not pregnant," answered a man that had followed him, dressed in a lady's skirt and blouse.
"But you are pregnant!" Said this medicine seller.
"I am not pregnant," answered the male clown imitating in a lady's voice.
"You are pregnant!"
"I am not"
"You are,"
"No".
"O.K. There is no visa for you because I suspect you are pregnant," said the medicine seller.
He began to address the crowd"; I am sorry for the distraction. Forgive me for trying to imitate the drama that you are likely to face when you face the interview. As you have seen me, I have become a thorn in the flesh of other rival medicine sellers. They do not know my marketing strategy and they are envious. The products that I have here are very potent. I have Magun which all of you know as Don't Climb. If you have a wayward wife or girl, pick any of these assorted Magun collections and you will be glad you did.
If you know of a man who likes horses and also chases your wife, go for this type. Just put it on the man's horse and he will regret climbing the horse," said the man amidst laughter.
John and Hain had already entered the embassy so they missed all the drama and the fun that went on outside. Unknown to them as they sat inside, the crow was on top of the tree watching everyone that entered. As they waited to be called, both men suddenly looked outside through the glass and they saw the strange bird watching people as they entered the embassy. The bird knew that people were now conscious of its presence. It later flew away. The bird on that day was acting on the instruction of the sea goddess. The bird was to transmit everything that happened inside the embassy to her inside the sea. The information gathered by the bird was also to be used by members of the nocturnal club.
The goddess had not forgiven John the way he treated Juliet who was a child given to her earthly parents by the goddess of the sea. She was still bent on punishing them. However, both John and Hain got a visa to travel to the Federal Republic of Atlantis. They were very happy as they returned home that afternoon after they had collected their visas.
Agama, one of the thieves who stole in Whirlwind's gang was happy that no one knew that he was keeping the passport belonging to Maxwell. He had the idea that he would be able to travel with the stolen passport and other documents and no one would detect him because of the spell that was given to him by Buffalo. He thought that the spell would shield him at the airport if he tried to board the plane.
Loyo, another thief in the gang always felt that he was the smartest of all the robbers that worked with Whirlwind. Although he was the youngest, he never had any serious ambition like the other thieves in the group and he had always seen himself in the same bracket as their boss. Though small in stature, he was a professional thief to the bones. While Agama secretly sought talisman and magic pendant that would make him invincible while on his search for greener pastures in a country in Europe, Loyo wanted was a very rare medicine that would make bullets to bounce from his body when they shoot him. He thought that this would make him a folk hero, a local thief that would be adored.
Buffalo who was never tired of giving charms and amulets to people as long as they paid him the fee promised Loyo that he would get the talisman that would make his body bullet proof. It was on the same day that John and Hain went for their visa that Loyo went to Buffalo to collect his own pendant for stealing. It was the small pendant that Buffalo said he should wear around his neck to bounce off bullets.
"This is the most potent talisman, yet very simple to use," said Buffalo as he gave the pendant to Loyo.
He told the desperate young thief that he did not have to say any incantation when he puts on the pendant stressing that it was very potent.
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