"Do you think he will have any qualms about an African marriage?"
"Federico has no qualms about anything I ask."
“Well, if that's the case I'll talk to Atieno for the women to organize the wedding. It must be a memorable event that must get engraved in the memory of the villagers. This is important for the day you take charge.” Chief Obonyo was leaving, suddenly he turned around looking at Zahra and added.
"Oh! One more important thing.”
“Yes father.”
"As soon as you marry, you must give me grandchildren, to secure the lineage. You should tell your husband to be ... active.”
"You can rest easy in that way. He is very active.”
Hours later Atieno, Nkwame's eldest wife and true household head approached Zahra and began planning the wedding ceremony.
"You only have western clothes, we must get a traditional outfit." With your silhouette you will look beautiful.”
The preparations were set in motion immediately because the chief, by his condition, required that the ritual should be followed to the letter, without the simplifications that are often introduced today.
The first step should be a formal visit of the bridegroom to the bride´s father in order to make him officially know his intentions. He was to be accompanied by several men of his confidence, including an old man. Duma left with the vehicle to look for Kitwana who had left two days before in his route. Fortunately the shaman's routines and his journeys were well known so that Duma soon managed to locate him. The old man willingly agreed to return to the village to take part in his protégé´s marriage.
"You finally got what you wanted for twenty years," Said Kitwana when he saw Zahra.
"What do you mean?" The girl's face reflected happiness, her eyes sparkling with emotion.
"To marry a white man."
"Not any white man, but this one in particular. I'm very selective.”
“I know it very well.
It was then that Federico entered the room of the old mission and Kitwana approached him.
"Come on, I'm going to be some kind of godfather to your wedding. For this I need to know you and inform you of the ritual that we are going to follow.”
On the appointed day Kitwana accompanied Federico to the house of his future father-in-law. With them were the "friends" who had to be present at the event. As Federico still had no real acquaintances in the village Duma and another of his brothers fulfilled the role, despite being members of the Obonyo family. Duma in particular had taken a liking to her sister's boyfriend and was in charge of guiding him in his relationship with the remaining members of the clan.
The five men were seated around mugs of coffee. At a Kitwana´s signal Federico began to speak.
“Chief Obonyo. I want to let you know that I intend to marry your daughter Zahra. I love her and I know she loves me.”
The ritual demanded that the future father-in-law should ask questions to get to know the person of his daughter's future husband and form an opinion about his morals.
"Where were you born?"
“In Argentina. In a village of the Province of Santa Fe called Firmat.”
“What are the activities in that town and what do your parents do?”
"It´s an agricultural and industrial town, and my parents have a small farm”.
Nkwame nodded pleased to learn of the young man's rural background. A long list of questions lasted almost an hour in which the chief acquired a lot of first hand information about his future son-in-law. Then he added.
“Zahra is the most beautiful flower that the African savannah has given. She is also a woman of many resources and talents who has succeeded abroad. You are fortunate that she has set her eyes on you.”
“I also think the same.”
"Have you had other wives or children?"
“Of course not.”
"Are you planning to have other women?"
“No.”
"You'd better keep the word you're giving now. Zahra loves you and she will not be willing to share you. I will be here to watch over her.”
“I understand.”
"Well," Said Obonyo, addressing the young man's companions. "Now we must discuss the dowry."
The theme of the dowry is a key commercial transaction prior to a wedding. In this case, unlike what had been agreed in Zahra's first frustrated marriage goods were not to be passed on to the parents' estate but to constitute the basis of the bride's personal fortune, which should increase during her married life, and put her under cover with contingencies of life.
Duma explained that the dowry would consist of two cows, forty goats and a small amount of cash, which did not have large circulation in the village. This was more than the usual dowry of ninety goats telling of the importance of the bride. In fact, as Federico had nothing these assets would be contributed by the Obonyo family so that it was a somewhat fictitious circular negotiation. Nevertheless they would to be part of the bride´s patrimony from her marriage on and thus separated from the rest of the property of the Obonyo family.
The negotiations ended before sunset, which was considered a good omen by all attendees. When the success of the meeting became known, Atieno was informed and gathered a group of women of the bride´s family who celebrated the pleasant event making vibrations with the tongues in their mouths in a sound characteristic of the African celebrations.
The wedding was fixed for the first day of the full moon what was considered of good fortune and therefore it would take place ten days later. During that period Federico moved to Duma's house and was not to see his girlfriend until the date of the marriage. Both youngsters, accustomed to sex on an almost daily basis, suffered this forced abstinence as an agony, but they were supposed to gather more energy for the key day.
Finally, the chosen date arrived. The women figuratively representing the groom's family arrived at the house of the bride's father singing and carrying gifts of groceries that would be consumed at the party, such as fruits, sugar and flour as well as processed products. Their songs were answered from the interior of the house by the women of the bride's family, and soon both families joined together surrounded by songs and laughter. The groom, dressed in African garments according to the Masai tradition, approached surrounded by his friends commanded by Kitwana and settled in a zone free of huts destined for them. After a long wait of more than an hour the bride surrounded by her maidens finally appeared. She was riding on a camel that was forced to kneel so the girl could descend. As she did so her beautiful tribal outfit became fully apparent, made with yellow fabric with geometric prints; she was also wearing gold bracelets, a band of the same color around her head and sandals covered with stones. Her forehead, arms and ankles were painted with a blue vegetable pigment forming abstract figures imitating non-permanent tattoos. Nkwame approached his daughter, took her by the hand and led her to the area where the groom was already waiting, who nevertheless had to look in another direction until he was allowed to observe the bride. In doing so Federico was ecstatic. The beauty of Zahra's face was enhanced by the brilliant dress that contrasted with her blue black skin, false tattoos and the ritual makeup around her eyes. The young man was speechless until Duma hit him in the arm so as to get him out of his stupor. Then Kitwana approached with a goat tied with a rope and ignorant of its destiny. On the other side Duma brought Federico a large sharp blade that the boy had to plunge into the beast's neck and plunged his hands into the gushing blood. That animal would be consumed at the party that would follow.
Next came great libations from all the adult assistants who lasted all night. At a set time Atieno made the bride and groom a signal indicating that they could retire to their house, still placed at the mission, to consummate the marriage, which in this case was purely symbolic.
Zahra and Federico lay exhausted on the bed in all their outfits. After a while the woman opened the yellow gown leaving her shiny skin exposed.
"Come, peasant." She said in a hoarse, sugg
estive voice. "Your task is not over. Really it has just started. Come and worship the body of your queen.”
While Federico buried his face between her breasts, belly, mount of Venus and genital area Zahra took his head pressing it against her flesh. Once finished the initial phase would come the ritual pairing, which according to Atieno's calculations would produce the fertilization that Nkwame had claimed his daughter. The ability of Federico's seed had already been tested on the body of Shantaya and Zahra hoped that her own contribution would be fruitful. The desire to be a mother had grown imperceptibly within her and had become her first priority.
Chapter 18
The times had been fulfilled and Shantaya had given birth her daughter. After an initial bewilderment several months before upon learning of the sex of the child, the woman had rejoiced. She already had a son with whom she had very little in common. This daughter of her and Federico would be raised and trained by Shantaya as the continuator of her business and her procedures. As soon as she left the maternity hospital the woman went home where Mira was waiting for her. The secretary also had a very advanced pregnancy, in this case a male.
Shantaya was in bed when Mira appeared in the doorway of the bedroom.
"Saraphina has arrived.”
Indeed, Shantaya had called the psychic to know what fate was prepared for her daughter. Despite her high status in a certain sector of the New York society- at least from the financial and contacts points of view- she was still a girl from rural Louisiana.
Saraphina had already assured her that the child, who was to be baptized Isadora, was born with good auspices and would be successful in everything she attempted. Shantaya, however, wanted more concrete data. The clairvoyant soon realized the situation and directed her research in the direction that interested her client. After making a concentration effort she narrowed her eyes and expressed.
“You will be successful in guiding the girl in your own way in life. You can teach her how to exercise power over other people because she is made with the kind of wood that is needed for it ... I see a child in the landscape ... your daughter will exercise her power over him.” The psychic spoke in a whisper .” The child will be her slave and toy, as you always have had." Saraphina glanced at Mira, who was half-asleep at the other end of the room and asked," Is your secretary carrying a boy? "
“Yes.”
“Take good care of him, he's your daughter's future slave. Make an investment in him.”
Shantaya smiled. In her twisted mind, the idea of raising both children together had appeared, so as to secure her daughter company by the time she was old enough to need it. The relationship of his daughter with the other child would reflect and prolong the domination that Shantaya exerted on Mira. The idea fascinated her.
"There's something else," She said, suddenly changing the subject. The woman then took a couple of
pictures placed on a small table. One showed Federico's face taken when he was with her; the boy had a gesture of ecstasy. The other was of the woman named Zahra and had been stolen by Narcisse on his foray in the girl's apartment when he determined that she had disappeared from her house and her flower shop.
“Are these the people you are looking for?”- Asked Saraphina.
“Yes.”
"Is the young man your daughter´s father ?"
“Yes.”
"They are together now." Saraphina assured without hesitation. "They are far away, but I do not know where.”
"I know where they are."
"Then what do you want to know?"
"Is the woman pregnant?"
“No.”
Shantaya smiled once more.
Zahra looked worried and Federico, who knew the slightest signs in the woman's state of mind, perceived it quickly. Although she tried to hide her reasons so as not to distress the young man, she finally had to confess him.
"I'm trying to get pregnant and so far I did not get any results.”
"Do not let yourself be pressured by your father's wishes. If you can get pregnant it will be all right, and if you don´t we'll see what to do.”
“"It is not only my father's wishes, but first of all my own desires. All African women want children in abundance, it's in their genes and their education." Zahra wrapped her arms around the man's neck." I want to have a child of yours. I know he will be beautiful. I want three, five children.”
Federico was both flattered and excited by the words of his wife and began with a routine that both knew very well.
Kitwana listened intently to her distressed protégé. He knew that Zahra confided to him her best hidden secrets although some of them made her blush. She had told him her concerns and the old man meditated. Finally he spoke.
"You must do what all the women who have your problem do."
“What are you talking about?”
"You must go to the fountain under the waterfall that I have shown you once, a long time ago. Do you remember it?”
“Vaguely. And once there what?
"You must dance the dance of fertility."
“I do not know anything about that dance.”
“Do not worry. You should only imitate what the other dancers do.”
"Other dancers? You are telling me to go with other unknown women to dance an unknown dance?”
"They're all women who have the same problem and they get together to perform a rogatory."
"And when do they meet?"
"The first day of the full moon. It is one week from today.”
"Everything here is ruled by the phases of the moon ... weddings, fertility....”
"The moon has a great influence on the lives of human beings, particularly on the cycles of women.”
Kitwana remained silent. Suddenly he added.
"Your husband must accompany you to the fountain."
“Never! It would be embarrassing for him but mostly for me.”
"He must see you dance ... you and the other girls. The other husbands will also be there.”
The shaman smiled and added cryptically.
"In that place you must take great care of your man."
The light was already falling in the wooded area and still reverberated among the drops of liquid projected by the waterfall in the humidity saturated air. The volume of liquid falling into the pond at the foot of the waterfall was considerable and thence it flowed to the lower level downstream areas. Around the pond there was an area where grass and shrubs grew in the middle of the sticky mud.
The women were arriving, dressed simply with bundles of herbs fastened to their hips and with their breasts in the air with an obvious provocative attitude. As they arrived they entered the pond where they splashed and laughed at each other. Several men watched the scene of obvious erotic content from the trees at the edge of the pool.
Zahra came to the pond in the same dress as the rest of the girls, which caused her embarrassment but forced herself to follow the ritual. When she entered the water the girl felt a small shiver that passed quickly with the movement. Once acclimated she joined the game of other women and the show given to the male audience. She soon noticed that the number of men was considerably lower than that of women.
Federico sat in the place reserved for men, among which his white skin stood out in spite of the little light reigning. He quickly realized that what he believed to be a religious ritual would conclude in a massive mating. This way of reasoning perhaps explained the expected fruitfulness of the event.
The girls frolicked in the water rubbing their bellies with it in a meaningful and provocative gesture. After a while, the sound of drums was heard farther back, so that Federico concluded that not everything that was happening was in sight and that the preparations for the event were more complex than imagined. The tam-tam of the percussion instruments became progressively stronger and the rhythm faster and the women began to contour in the pond to their compass. The men stood up and stirred, following the rhythm of the music themselves. Suddenly one of them made a
sign to Federico to join the dance, which suggested that they counted on him. The young man stood up and tried to copy the movements of the others, which cost him at first but turned out to be quite naturally afterwards. Yet he recognized that he would never be able to move with the grace of the Africans.
The girls went one by one out of the pond and formed a round by taking their waists and started spinning around in the dry part of the contour in a dance whose sensual content increased as the rhythm of the drums accelerated. The men approached the circle matching their movements with those of the women, and soon some of the girls began to leave the round and approach the men dancing with them. One of the women approached Federico and took him by the hand and then another approached from the other side. As the boy was thus solicited he had a strong erection that the women did not fail to perceive. Seeing that he was quite disoriented Zahra came running up with signs of anger and pushed the two women to the jostling causing one of them to stumble and fall.
"But who are you going with?" He shook her husband by shaking his arm. "What do you think I brought you here for?"
Always carrying him by the hand Zahra led him to the marshy area where most of the couples were already wallowing in the mud. They both hesitated for a moment before imitating them, but finally Zahra leaned over and sat down on the unsteady ground followed by her husband. The young man lunged at her and they both finally lay in the mud. Federico slid his hands over the skin of the woman covered with a viscous mud discovering an unexpected sensuality in the contact between the wet skins of both. The boy tore off the grass skirt that hid the genital area of his wife and mounted on her, penetrating deeply. The woman groaned in pain at first because of the size of the erection but then she adjusted her body and the fine clay acted as a natural lubricant. The first ejaculation followed soon but the young couple remained united in the mud scrubbing their bodies. Their degree of arousal was deep and enduring, and in the next climax they both reached orgasm in unison.
Shantaya was nursing her daughter when the doorbell rang. Mira hurriedly opened the door and entered the room with Saraphina, the Voodoo priestess.
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