EDMOND AND HIS DEAD WIFE 7
Edmond got into the car and they drove off.
By this time, the real hardship of this country was already shown on Edmond’s face. One could measure how hungry he was without using any apparatus.
“I don’t even know your name,” Edmond broke the silence.
“Austin. Austin Donwell.”
Austin took Edmond to his hotel apartment where he had his bath and ate his food. That was the first meal he had ever since he was sacked the previous day. He was given a change of clothes too.
“You are not eating?” Edmond asked.
“No! No! No! You need it more than I do,” Austin responded.
Throughout the meal, both of them kept exchanging glances without talks.
As soon as he was done eating, Edmond picked his phone to dial my number.
“Please let me call my friend to know what happened at the office today. He assured me of updates concerning every strings pulled by the MD. I will also inform him about you and if possible, invite him over here. He must have returned home by now.”
Austin was still staring at him but without a word.
“The way you are staring at me without a word is making me uncomfortable. I shouldn’t call anyone?”
“No! Go ahead. Take your time. Call anyone.”
That was when my phone rang.
“Ezek! How far? How was work? Were you able to get anything from that side? Any reason why madam sacked me? Did she say anything?”
“Bros I didn’t go to work today ooo. In fact, I stopped going to work as from this morning,” I responded.
“Why? What happened?”
“I resigned. I tendered my resignation letter last night. See, I have a wife and a 4 year old son to look after, and if my wife is pregnant – because I have been suspecting her – then I have to be alive to see my new baby. I can never set my foot on….”
“Last night? How?” Edmond interrupted. “So what did she say when you handed her your letter?”
“Handed her which letter? Have you forgotten she is a demon? I didn’t have to take the letter to her. I can’t go there again. I dropped the letter on my table. Demons fly everywhere looking for what does not concern them. I know she was here last night and she read it. That is why she has not called to ask why I was not at the office today. She must have read it. Demons are something else. You don’t know them.”
From the ambiance, I heard someone laughing scornfully.
“Who is that?” I asked.
“That’s one of the reasons I called. With me here is Austin. Things are becoming more complicated here. Austin claims that Rukiyat is his wife, his ex-wife and that her real name is Rukiat and not Rukiyat. He said he came to see her for one reason he is yet to tell me. Now, the most shocking part is that Austin seems to be my twin brother. Very identical. My mother used to tell me that I had a twin brother. He also has the same scar on…. I can’t say it all. Just come along let’s fix this. It’s becoming heavier than I thought….”
“Errmmmm! Edmond,” I interrupted. “The horn of a cow can never be heavier than the cow that carries it. Also, when a caterpillar gathers wood, it is on its head it must carry. When you embarked on investigating a demon whose mission was to destroy you completely, what were you expecting? I hear demons do weddings as we do. They have husbands, wives and children. Maybe that man there with you is her husband. Besides, have you eaten anything from that guy?”
“Yes! Why do you ask?”
“No wonder! You have just eaten a meal from a demon, which is why you are talking all this rubbish. ‘Her name is Rukiyat, her name is not Rukiyat, you have seen her husband, he is her ex-husband, your twin brother is with you and you are eating.’ Look bros, you will die and join them. First, they have rendered you insane, then gradually, you will begin to die.”
“What are you talking about? I am asking you to come over here so we can fix all these together and you are displaying your illiteracy. Please stop this joke and come over lets….”
I dropped the call and began to soliloquize. “You think you can drag me into your fight with spirits. No way. I cannot be manipulated. So even my resignation no do you. First, she was your wife, then she died and resurrected on the third day, abi third month. She later became a demon. Later, she changed to another person’s wife and all of a sudden, that person becomes your twin brother. I will switch off this phone and travel to my mother’s place.”
© Ezekiel Umoren
#ezekstory
