One Virgin, Many Deaths

A Stageplay

By Geoff Adeleye (Nigeria)

Act 2, Scene 4

          

 Scene IV
                                    The same
                             Enter BELARU and SOBADE
BELARU: Don’t you still live in this world?
SOBADE: Yes, I do.
BELARU: Then where have you been all this while?
SOBADE: Having my hands full about the affairs of the kingdom as
   a whole.
BELARU: As for the current issues, what did you come up with?
SOBADE: Of what issue?
BELARU: I wouldn’t know, Mr. Police!
SOBADE: What would you know who made dud things greatly count?
   As for the matter of your daughter, known by your tacit proposition
   had been ultimately decided.
BELARU: How did it go?
SOBADE: No going back on the beforehand decision; besides, all
   those who vie with Prince should, without a delay, have their
   souls wrenched from their  bodies before today expires.
BELARU [infuriated, cold with fear]: No! I kick against it! It can’t
   have thump print.
SOBADE: No man born of woman can utter it.
BELARU: To lose this conflict to decimation will be too brutish.
SOBADE: We can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs. It’s
   necessary they be cleared off for the Prince. My allegiance to
   my fatherland leads my precedence.
BELARU: But it’s ominous doing so. Don’t set the cat among the pigeons.
SOBADE: Let that goes to pit. And be warned: it was done out
    of eavesdroppers; and no one must have it or else you curse your birth.
BELARU: Please, let Sadalo jump it.
SOBADE: No, he can’t.
BELARU [sorrowful]: What a pricking scourge you’re, injuring my
   heart, forcing me to be dolorous. It rankles with me making friendship
   of you: a chain of sadnesses, a heap of obstacles.
SOBADE: Have I committed a crime defending the interest of the land
   for peace? Do you feed me? What if we’re drifted apart?  [Exit SOBADE
BELARU [weeps silently]: Allurement of fame made me
   indiscreet, extirpated my nous, and reduced me to weeping spree. Oh,
   how I wish I’d dropped their strings of beads, and I would’ve been free
   from this trauma, a piece by a piece, biting off my soul – and at least, I’d
   have been able to save this young man’s life, with all his endeavours
   so joyfully rendered; but now to have his soul snuffed out! Oh,
   I ‘m blind weak! My tongue is tied to my feet!
                         Enter SADALO
   Here he comes! Innocent, robust soul marked for death! [kneels down,
    places his  head on the floor, his fingers interwoven on the back of
   his head] Guilt of blood shakes my soul and I feel painful vibration
   in my heart! Oh, I’m dying! [groans
SADALO [runs to BELARU]: What, sir? [with force, lifts him] Sir,
   please, speak. What’s the problem? [BELARU wipes off his tears]
   Once you see me, provision is assured.
BELARU [hangs his head on SADALO’S shoulder, weeps
   uncontrollably]: Damned the soul on which you do trust!
SADALO: Please, it’s me, ever ready to be at your service.
BELARU: Oh, my head! [breaks down
SADALO: Sir, I’m just returning from farm. I need dense repose. We
   shall see tomorrow to iron out whatever might’ve transpired. I have
   a grasshopper for you. [opens his bag, brings out the grasshopper
   and drop it  the floor.
BELARU [his face flushed]: This for me?
SADALO: Yes!
BELARU: If I should’ve heart to eat it, believe me, it won’t digest.
SADALO [worried]: The issue must be horrendous. What’s it?
BELARU: In my heart a secret is lodged, my mouth appointed a guard;
   if peradventure it should slip out the guard shall die. Son, you see, oath
   is bondage.
SADALO: Sir, you make fear. Please, open up.
SADALO: Within my soul, a war ravages between allegiance
   and promise; and so I stagger upon thoughts like a mountaineer
   upon scree. [sobs
SADALO: This’s rubbish I can’t make head or tail of it. And if
   it’s because Renate is given you a headache, I withdraw suit.
   Good fortune!
BELARU: Too late! Too late! [SADALO turns to go, he grasps him]
   I love you and heaven knows. They want…you see…oh, I can’t say it!
SADALO: Please, leave me go!
BELARU: I say…I say…my mouth please open and speak!
SADALO: You’re just wasting my time.               [Exit SADALO
BELARU [falls down, rolls on the floor]: I regret being a chief. Ah,
   I should’ve forgone their chieftaincy. I’ve got to die since I can’t tell
   him that they want to kill him. [weeps
                        Enter RENATE
RENATE: Why in tears, father?
BELARU: For your joy, rebellious daughter.
RENATE [suddenly sees the grasshopper, runs to it, lifts it aloof]: What
   a beautiful offering again!
BELARU [shocked]: Ah!
RENATE: I must go and prepare it.     
BELARU: Drop it!
RENATE: Why?
BELARU: No one knew what killed it so it’s for the gods.
RENATE: Sir, I’m very much older than that taboo! [dragging it out
BELARU: Are you deaf? I say drop it.
RENATE: No!                       [Exit RENATE, BELARU running after her]