by Amos Tutuola
It was like that the king, his subjects and his strong bearers mistook me for the devil who came to ruin them. When they were satisfied that I was the devil, then they walked to another part of the palace. They sat down on beautiful chairs and then they started to decide with one another what they could do to save themselves from me. Some of the subjects suggested that they kill me, but some reminded the other that the devil could not be killed for he was a strong spirit. And I was still in this affliction when one of the subjects told the king to stab me at heart, perhaps I might die. He reminded him further with emphasis that if they did not find one way or another to destroy me or render me useless, it was certain then that I would ruin them and their town.
But I was still in this great affliction when I heard that the king and the others agreed loudly to the suggestion. Of course that was before the king sent one of his strong bearers for his long dagger. I heard when he remarked, with fear and a trembling hoarse voice, to his subjects that since he was born, he had not heard or seen that the devil was murdered by a human being. Of course, his remarks were not accepted by his subjects. Instead, they insisted that he must try their suggestion first. Then he sent one of his bearers for his double-edged dagger.
But as soon as I heard what they were going to do to me, I began to think in my “memory” with fear of what to do to save myself from them. But alas, my first “mind” and second “mind” had already deserted me for fear at this time, so my “memory” had not yet told me what to do when that bearer returned with the dagger. Then he bowed low and gave it to the king. So as soon as the king took it from him, he held its handle of shining silver, and then as he stretched the dagger a little bit forward, he stood up. But as he was coming to me, his subjects and the bearers were following him at his back, slowly with fear as well. Luckily, as I had nearly died for fear of the dagger at this moment, my second “mind” which was entirely paralysed with fear all the while, became active now. And then it hastily reminded me: “Now, shake your body heavily to left and right and the chain which is tied to your arms will slacken. Then take one of the thunderbolts which your mother gave to you before you left your town and throw it on the floor of the palace!” Then without hesitation, when my second “mind” reminded me of this thing, I hastily shook my body heavily to left and right and indeed, the chain was slack at the same time. Then I took one of the thunderbolts from my juju-bag. So I hastily flattered the god of thunder loudly: “Oh, the god of thunder of my town! I pray thee and flatter thee! Please help me now to come out of this trouble! Please, help now!”
But I had hardly shouted to the god of thunder for help when the king and his subjects and strong bearers walked to the pillar to which I was tied. As they stood in front of me and were still wondering how the chain had loosened away from my arms, I threw the thunderbolt onto the floor of the palace unexpectedly. To my fear, the thunderbolt had hardly struck the floor when the echo roared so greatly on the sky at this moment that the roof of the palace was flung completely far away. Both walls and floor shook so heavily that the king, his subjects and bearers were flung to different parts of the palace and the dagger was also flung unexpectedly far away from the king.
All of them were trembling with great fear and were unable to stand up but were still unconscious, when several lightnings began to flash continuously into the whole of the palace. After a while, when these terrible happenings did not stop, all of the mighty pillars of the palace began to fall down and break into pieces at the same moment. But as the one to which I was tied fell down and broke into several pieces as well, I found my way out of the chain with which I was tied to it. As soon as I was free from the chain, and as the thunder continued to roar greatly and strong flashes were coming into the palace continuously and also to everywhere in the town, I ran to the king who was still lying flatly and confusedly together with his subjects and strong bearers. I told him to allow me to pass through his town to the road of the Remote Town.
So willing or not, and in this tumultuous moment, he permitted me to pass through his town to the road of the Remote Town against his wish. But to my surprise and fear again, as the lightnings were still flashing in from the sky and the echo was still roaring on the sky like cannons and thousands of dogs were still barking at the outside of the palace, the lightnings which were flashing into the palace ignited it suddenly, and within a few twinklings, the whole palace began to burn. So these lightnings, echo and thunder were so strong that the whole of the buildings, people, domestic animals, etc. were shaking and falling down as soon as the palace was blown down. And everything was disordered and in great confusion as soon as the big fire began to spread to all parts of the town.
But when it came to my “memory” that if I kept too long there, I would burn into ashes, I turned my back to the king and I started to find the way to go out of the palace which had already caught fire. But as I was still finding the way to go out, these stubborn bearers rushed to me unnoticed. They held me, but as they were preparing to beat me, I began to fight them fiercely, although there were big flames and thick smoke all over the palace. After a while, and when I saw that they were delaying me too long and that the fire was spreading rapidly, I began to beat them with my heavy matchet until they were tired. And then they began to find the way to go out because they were about to suffocate now from the thick smoke.
As soon as they had run away for their lives, I found my way and I ran to the outside of the ruined palace. And I had hardly come out when I started to leave this Roadside Town. It was like that I was saved from the wicked king, his merciless subjects, and his tyrannical bearers by the god of thunder. Then I thanked my second “mind” for advising me to use one of the thunderbolts which my mother gave me the day I left my town. My intention before I reached this Roadside Town was to stay with the king and rest for some days before continuing my journey, because I was too tired from the fights which I had had with the cruel gateman and his comrade, the devil-worshipper. But I was happy that at last the king permitted me by force to pass through his town to the Remote Town which belonged to the Witch-Herbalist. And I thanked also my “Supreme Second” as he was with me whenever I was in difficulties.
Road to the Remote Town
Now as I had left the Roadside Town behind me still ablaze, I travelled to the north-east with the two-headed spear of the devil, on top of which the two “removable heads” were pierced, with my juju-bag, my food-bag and also my bow and poisoned arrows on my left shoulder, while I held my heavy matchet with the right hand. The cruse was still in my juju-bag without breaking or cracking. It was in this cruse that the juju-soup which would make my barren wife pregnant would be put by the Witch-Herbalist who was the omnipotent of the Remote Town. Further, I thanked my “Supreme Second” greatly for guiding me in the Roadside Town.
And to my great joy, I had not travelled more than six kilometres from the Roadside Town when I came to the road which went direct to the Remote Town. But when I came to this road, I noticed that it was an unusual or a real marked road, because everything that I saw which went along on both roadsides were strange more than those which I had seen in my life. However, I stopped at the roadside, and after I had put my loads down, I bowed, I flattered the god of thunder and my “Supreme Second” for some twinklings for helping to free me from the troubles which I had encountered from the day that I had left my town. I praised my first “mind”, second “mind” and my “memory” as well for their help.
After that, I fixed the spear on the ground and I put the rest of my loads at the foot of it. Then I sat down before all. But after some sixtieths of a twinkling, I began to think of what I could eat, and it was so that I was looking with great wonder at the strange things which were on this road. I noticed as well that this road was very wide, clean with its fine white sand, and it was as straight as a ramrod. Different kinds of images, idols, etc. which resembled all kinds of living creatures all stood upright and went along on both banks of the road towards the Remote Town. The
sacrifices which belonged to each of these images, idols, etc. were put before it. Some kinds of broad-leafed trees were also lined up along the banks of the road. Each shed a very cool shadow on the images, idols, etc. Although I did not know the name of these strange trees, their leaves and flowers were very lovely and attractive though the land seemed barren.
Several villages which were not far from one another went along the road but a little distance from there. This road was the main road for the inhabitants of the villages. So people were always seen going and coming on it. Their dresses and behaviour were quite different from those of my town. But what I noticed there as well was that I did not see any one of the people sit down or wait on either of the roadsides or banks. Again, I saw plainly that several people were coming continuously from the villages with the various kinds of sacrifices in their hands. When they had stood before the images, idols, etc. and prayed for some twinklings, then they put the sacrifices down before them and after that they went back to their respective villages. It was like that the people were rushing out from their villages to these idols, images, etc. to give them the sacrifices from morning till the late hour in the night.
I had fixed on the ground the two-headed spear which I took from the hideous devil-worshipper with whom I fought on the shrine-field before I reached the Roadside Town. And also I had put my juju-bag, food-bag, bow and arrows and my heavy matchet at the foot of the spear before I sat in front of all. As I was terribly eager to eat, but without seeing any edible thing to eat, I continued to look at the people who were going to and fro on this clean wide road.
But as soon as the people who were rushing from their villages to this road to give sacrifices to their idols, images, etc. saw the spear of the devil on top of which the two “removable heads” were pierced and also my bags, bow and poisoned arrows and matchet, all of which were at the foot of the spear, they ran to that spot with wonder and fear.
But when they saw all of these things clearly, and they saw me sitting down on the roadside in, front of all without talking, they thought that I was the devil, especially when they saw the long spear of the devil in front of me. They were also shocked when they raised their heads up and saw the two “removable heads” on top of it. So without hesitation, all of them bowed with fear before me. And after a few sixtieths of a twinkling, they began to pray. Having done that for some twinklings, they stood up upright and then they began to dance the dance of the devil round me as they were singing the song of the devil. Having done so for a while or till they were tired, they ran back to their respective villages. Sixty twinklings later, they came back with the sacrifices which belonged to the devil. They put all down before me. After that, they danced, sang and then flattered me as if I were the devil. They did this for about twenty twinklings and then they returned to their respective villages shouting loudly and joyfully, which showed that they were lucky that the devil had come to live on their land near their villages.
After they had gone away, and as I was terribly hungry for food, my second “mind” advised me to eat from the sacrifices. Having learnt this from my second “mind” I ate from it to my entire satisfaction without fear, although I was not the devil, as these people supposed me to be. Of course, I had hardly satisfied my hunger with the sacrifices when my second “mind” advised me again to stand up, to remove all my belongings and then to continue my journey at the same time. So without any argument, I obeyed my second “mind”. I hastily packed my belongings and then I kept going at the same time because I always followed its advice except that of the first “mind” which was too misleading.
But I wondered that the farther I went on this road the more I came to other kinds of images, idols, etc. which were even more strange. Having travelled till sunset, I stopped and slept at the roadside. At daybreak, I woke and continued my journey. But when I had travelled till noon without eating anything, hunger forced me to break my journey. So I sat on the roadside after I had arranged my terrible belongings as usual. Then with hunger in my stomach, I began to look at the strange gods, images, idols, etc. and also at the people of this area with wonder.
But as I was still looking at these strange things and the people who were going to and fro on this clean wide road, there I heard suddenly that the door of a house was slammed gently behind me. So without hesitation and fear, I looked at my back as I was startled. But to my surprise and fear I saw one little girl and one little boy (as I call them) who came out from a small house, and both were coming to me. Both girl and boy were of the same age of about seven years, as I thought them to be. They were of the same height. Their height was very accurate. Both were light-coloured children. Both were dressed in the colours of the rainbow. The girl wore on her neck long ornamented pure gold beads which flowed towards her waist. Well-polished and ornamented gold beads were on both her wrists. The head-tie which was on her head was made from a very costly material. The material had multi-colours such as red lines which went across white, blue went across yellow, while green lines went across cream. Her hair was beautifully plaited in many attractive styles. She put very fine antimony on both eyelashes. Her multi-coloured wrapper nearly touched her ankles.
Her teeth where whiter than a white cloth, and her partner who was a young boy was well-dressed in male dresses. His dresses were of the same kind of material as that of the delicate damsel. The multi-coloured dresses fitted him so much that one who saw him this day would strongly believe that he and the damsel were indeed descended from heaven together with the dresses. The cap of his race which was on his head was beautifully ornamented with highly polished gold and silver. Every part of his delicate body which was exposed was very clean and fresh and attractive to the eyes. And the hair on his eye-lids was very glossy as if it was polished every moment. The appearance of the boy and his delicate damsel proved that they were wiser and more clever than their age. Yet, these two beautiful little persons were not proud of themselves at all. But of course, I could not yet confirm whether they were human beings. Nor could I confirm yet whether the delicate damsel was the wife of the delicate boy. I was greatly confused about this still.
As both of them walked out smartly from the small house this morning, and I saw them as they were walking abreast toward me, I could not believe my eyes at all and my first “mind” and second “mind” who were my partners, were also confused whether these two little fellows were angels or human beings. But to my surprise and fear, as I was still looking at them with wonder and fear, they walked to me and then they stood in front of me. They had hardly stood and clapped three times and then bowed for me and for the two “removable heads” which were on top of the two-headed spear of the devil, when the beautiful boy started to warn me in a poem, with a strange voice which was as sweet as honey. And the delicate girl had also various kinds of sweet or melodious voices which could force a person who listened to them to dance into the fire unnoticed.
So the delicate boy started to warn me, as the girl started to move here and there according to how the warning went in bass, tenor, treble, etc.: “What has forced you to lay your hands to do evil things? What is your gain in the evils you have in your mind? All of your thoughts in your mind have been exposed to our mother, the omniscient Witch-Herbalist. Of course, our omnipresent mother (the Witch-Herbalist) knows also all of creatures’ thoughts! You are thinking of the bad people. But our mother, the greatest Witch-Herbalist, is thinking of your own problems! All of the corners in your heart are already exposed to our omnipresent mother! Before you start to think, my friend, please, think of the omniscient mother first! Please, my wayfarer, let me ask from you first, who are you and how did you come about the two ‘removable heads’? Because I have already conceived important words and I want to deliver the important questions as when a pregnant woman delivers a baby! But when I ask the questions from you, please answer them in your mind! They are not questions you can answer aloud!
“I ask, whose son are you? Are you the son of the rich man of yesterday or of
the day before yesterday? Are you the son of a common father or of a wealthy father? Because I know myself and I know what I am! I know who is my father! For my mother showed me to my father immediately she had delivered me! I know the house where I was born and I know the verandah where I have become full-grown as you see me now! My mother is not split (that is, not rich) and my father is not rich either. But the omnipotent mother takes up all our and many others’ responsibilities. Both my great mother and father are not so poor that they have no dresses to wear.
“Nevertheless, I shall take one’s mother to be my mother simply because my own mother is not rich! My own mother is my own mother for ever! So as well, I shall never dash my own father to a beggar simply because he is not rich! For it is a bastard who throws his father away! My own mother is important to me and it is so I count my father to be important! I shall not behave like the son of another man! Thus I shall not bring troubles to my mother and father. For I know the breadth and width and length of my mother and father in our house! Nor shall I behave like a bastard and like a stubborn boy! When I am among the sons of the rich fathers, I always remember our house, that I come from a poor family!
“When I am among the sons of the common people, I never boast, I am never proud and I never insult them. But I behave always like the son of the poor father! And when I have money in hand, I am never proud or do like one who has uncountable bags of money in hand! When I am dressed in fine clothes, I never stand in front of those who wear rags. For I always remember how my father and mother are. I know whose son I am! For one who finds evil will get evil! And when a woman is fed up with being barren, she prays for a ‘born and die baby’ so that people may not call her barren. But what is the use when the baby is dead and then she becomes barren as before? But never say die!”