It was just a lake of its own, round like the sun, elliptical like the moon, surrounded by long, spicy grass, its uniqueness quite sinister. A couple made their tentative approach towards it, the woman carrying a white spotless female hen with her, the man with a calabash of dog milk and coconut water. “You shouldn’t have brought that hen,” he whispered. “This was what I could afford,” she whispered back.

She stepped forward and got to the edge of the lake. She lowered her countenance and sobbed, “O river lord, my husband and I ask for the fruit of the womb. I give this to you as a gift.” She tossed the hen unto the lake. “Take, and grant my request, O river lord.” She came back to her husband.

After a moment, he came to the edge of the lake as well and went down on his knees. He placed the calabash in front of him and said, after another moment, “River lord, I am your servant. I have come to make this plea to you. Bless my woman. Uproot her barrenness. I ask this of you, almighty river lord, I your humble servant. Place your divine hands on us. Give us a share of your prosperity and reign. Continue to bless us always and we shall grant unto you our undying services.” He discovered a broken glass and gorged out his left eye with it.

His wife couldn’t stop him. The dresses the couple wore depicted penury, utter beggary. He dropped the gorged eye into the calabash and gently placed the calabash on the lake. He kissed the ground and got up. He licked the blood surrounding his lips and confronted his wife. For a whole minute, they stared at each other. She watched the martyrdom in her husband’s face. He saw her forlornness but said, “It is not heard of that impotency is in the Ojo family. I will do anything to get us a bundle of joy.” Impulsively, she wrapped her arms around him and wetted his rags with tears. The couple left the lake and headed towards a herbalist healing home along a bushy footpath.

* * * * * *

TWENTY

The next day walked up uneventfully. Nick went to work as normal and had no disturbances from the mansion. That day, the Suther Empire men in Iceland were successful in the bid to make sure one hundred billion naira issued to Byleez was not spent. Mr. Mkomzy was eager to celebrate this but Nick politely refrained from doing so.

So, the following day came. Aurenia was by the pool in her usual red bikini, basking. Her long permed hair was wet and glittering. Her mind went to the nine o’clock party. She wondered how it would be like. The phone was by her. Slowly, she closed her eyes and slept off. After five minutes, the phone rang. She picked it up fast.

“Aurenia Dapo here” … “Oh, mother!! How’s London?” … “Oh, you’re in Switzerland?” … “Oh. Well, how is your friend in London?” … “No, not since two days after one golf tournament like that in Victoria Island that he took me to.” … “I’m quite fine, mother. Just a bit bored being cooped up in the house.” … “Don’t worry. Samson Byleez has invited me again to one party at Maryland. It starts at 9. You know I couldn’t refuse.” … “You, too, mother. See you soon. Bye Bye.”

She hung up and sighed. After a brief thought of the caller, she slept off again.

*

Evening showed up. By eight-thirty, Aurenia was exquisitely dressed in another white gleaming cocktail dress that left her knees free. She tied her hair to a ponytail with a white bow and she wore a pair of white heelless shoes to match. She checked herself on a mirror somewhere in the parlour. She wore light makeup.

She stopped in mid-air as she was about to put her wallet into a white glittering armless handbag. She later on did, after a brief thought, and dropped it on the sofa. She picked up the phone and requested for Nick’s chauffeur. In five minutes, he arrived and bowed in greeting. She grinned to that. “Please take me to Nick’s residence,” she said.

*

Meanwhile, Nick was on the floor in front of the telly eating homemade popcorn and dressed in light grey slacks and a white unbuttoned shirt. He was laughing at a particular comedy shown on TV. His popcorn was much though.

The comedy was long and the popcorn almost finished when the doorbell rang. Thinking that it was one of his male neighbours, he care freely went to answer it. He froze to the spot when he saw Aurenia.

She was utterly exquisite tonight. But where was she going to? he wondered. Her eyes involuntarily danced when they sighted his hairless bare chest. After a whole minute, she spoke first. “Em, Samson invited me to a party. Eh, would you be my date?”

Nick looked down at himself after a moment. “I’m not really prepared,” he said. He then looked up at her. “Why?” “It’s only fair, isn’t it,” was her reply. “You took me out. I wanna take you out.” Nick laughed and allowed her in. She entered and looked round the bungalow. Nick noticed a sapphire Maltese cross worn round her neck, which glittered in all its glory. With a dry mouth, Nick looked at it and squeezed his right fist. “You did not tell me about this party, Miss Dapo,” he said, snapping out of his reverie and buttoning up his shirt.

She fidgeted a little in her looking survey. “I apologise,” she said without looking at him. “I – I – didn’t think of it until now.” She paused. “You have a very nice home.” Nick nodded and looked around himself. “Yes, a home for me, myself and I,” he said. She looked at him with a twinkle in her eyes. “You’re going to stay here alone, all by himself?” she whispered. “Sounds pretty lonely, don’t you think?”