‘It is a big favour. And I am afraid to start.’
‘Go on.’ He took her hand. He leaned over the hand and kissed it. He had wild moustaches that tickled her skin. ‘Where you come from? I mean your home?’
‘My hometown is Ogabu,’ Jagua smiled. ‘I be Ogabu lady.’
‘All the women in Ogabu fine like you? I must get my next wife from there.’
Jagua giggled. She shook her shoulders in the reckless laughter of a bad woman wanting to be seduced. Chief Ofubara took the hint and put his arm on her shoulder. She let it rest there but when the hand touched her breast she pushed it away and gave him a reproving look. ‘Excuse!’
‘You look like queen, Madam. Your husband is a lucky man.’
‘Why?’ Jagua giggled and spoke in a very small voice. ‘But suppose I got no husband. And I jus’ by myself?’
‘You’ll still be nice.’
Jagua swung to her feet, but the Chief held her back. ‘You’re too hot-tempered. Have I said anythin’ rude?’
‘You only jus’ know me today, and you tryin’ to sleep me. Suppose, if your wife come and meet we inside here now?’
He glanced at the door. ‘They never come to my bedroom unless I send for them. I’ve told you!’
Jagua spoke in her sweetest voice. ‘I no come for dat. I only come to Bagana on visit. Den de accident happen dis morning and your boys catch de gal from Bagana.’
‘Accident? Tell me about it. I hope you were not wounded?’
‘Das what I tryin’ to tell you all dis time.’ She gave him the full details of the adventure with Nancy Oll. She told him what she feared might have happened since then. ‘I want you to use all de power you have to release de poor gal. De fault is from me.’ She threw herself at his feet and began to cry. ‘De gal done nothin’ to you or David Namme. She’s not from dis area. Now de young men catch her and goin’ to kill her, like she done dem somethin’.’
‘No, no, no, my dear lady! Rise.’ He helped her to her feet and rested her on the settee. ‘I give you my word. No one has any right to punish the girl. They usually show me anyone they capture. I’ll go now and have her released. I’m sure they’re waiting till I come round and see her. Excuse me! I’ll not be long.’ He left her and she felt very excited.
He did not come back for about an hour. Jagua slackened the buttons on her blouse and skirt. She relaxed her legs across the settee, and with her head on the armrest, shut her eyes and feigned sleep. Through half-shut eyes she saw him come in and there was a triumphant smile on his face. He tiptoed to where she lay and leaning over, tickled her lips with his moustache. Then he went back and sh
ut the door.
‘You sleepin’?’ He was standing over her. She lay still, eyes shut. The Chief knelt beside her. She felt his hand on her skirt button, the central button. But it was too tight and his fingers were too clumsy to undo the catch. Slowly Jagua rose and yawned. She pretended not to know what had happened.
‘Sorry, sleep catch me. I too tire. You done return?’
‘Come to the bed!’ His eyes were blue and his manner urgent.
‘No, Your Highness. Dis place is all right. I don’ feel sleep any more. What about de gal?’
‘I’ve sent her back in a canoe to Bagana. You happy now?’
‘God bless you! I know dat you’re a good man. No matter what dem say ’bout you. Is only enemy talk.’
‘Lissen Jagua … I like you. I’m going to give you a wardrobe fit for a princess. Just something, so you can remember the day you met Chief Ofubara of Krinameh—’
‘Tenk you, Your Highness; but you only know me today!’
‘Today’s enough. Life is too short, Jagua.’
She could see that he had become infatuated with her. She saw through his loneliness for David and Uncle Namme, his need for someone with whom he could exchange ideas. He was looking at her with adoration in his eyes. She knew exactly the type of man she was dealing with: a Provincial, who was more readily infatuated with the idea of Lagos, of the Tropicana-type woman than with the woman herself. In her estimation he was becoming like a man in a daze. Confronted by the headlights of Jagua’s glamour before which all his wives and all the women he was likely to come across paled, he was becoming like putty in her hands.
He held her breast and she let him squeeze it. ‘You can stay in this palace with me – as my guest.’
‘No, Your Highness. You see, Uncle Namme he tol’ me to return back before de night come.’
‘I’ll send a messenger to tell him you’re well and happy.’ He stroked her cheek. ‘Jagwa, wha’s your reply?’ His eyes burnt into her cheeks.