‘This is no time for that, Corporal. Protect her first, then judge her. It’s your duty!’
‘What did she do?’
‘Stole a cloth, they say!’
‘You think that if she had husband and family, she would go and steal? Is because she’s a street walker. The devil finds work for the idle.’
‘Please, now! They’re stoning and beating her.’
‘Softly, my friend. Why so hot? Or is she your girl, eh? Is she your girl? Tell me why you’re so hot!’ He waved his arm. The oncoming traffic stopped. He was working and talking at the same time. To Sango it appeared as if they had been talking for hours. The corporal went to a little post near by, opened a metal box, took out a phone.
He turned to Sango. ‘Why didn’t you ring 999?’
‘Because I saw you so near. I just wanted protection for her, that’s all.’
‘Hello . . . Corporal Daifu here . . . Molomo Street . . . Yes, proper street gal . . . They want to kill her with stones. Send patrol van to pick her up quick.’ He winked at Sango. ‘Over to you. Over.’ He hung up, closed the metal box.
‘Go now!’
‘Thank you.’ Even before Amusa Sango could turn round, the 999 van with the letters POLICE was wheeling into Molomo Street, and the young officers were leaping out while the vehicle was still in motion.
Amusa was pleased.
‘I tol’ you,’ smiled the corporal in triumph. ‘But lissen. Man to man, go and warn your gal. Yes, I know she’s your gal. You see, person who’s not careful, the city will eat him!’ He laughed.
The arrival of the van had created a definite sensation. Aina was still there. She was standing now and hugging the gay cloth which she had tied firmly under her armpits, covering her breasts from searching eyes. The young men sighed regretfully. A group of policemen were questioning her, and the crowd, all ears and eyes, pressed against them.
Amusa’s arrival created another stir. Elbows dug into ribs. Lips whispered into ears. ‘That’s the boy friend!’
They parted before him; away from the touch of a man who had loved a thief. Near the policeman, Amusa stopped. Aina looked up from her humiliation and their eyes met. The accusation in her eyes made Sango feel awkward. She seemed to say: ‘Didn’t you promise you would always love me?’ To which question Sango could find no answer in his mind. He heard the policemen questioning her.
‘What’s the matter? Can’t you answer the question?’
Aina was silent. Everyone was silent. The policeman barked out: ‘Can’t you talk? I said what’s the matter?’
An elderly corporal said: ‘You girls of nowadays, you’re too proud. You won’t learn something useful, you won’t marry; and you’re proud. I’ll teach you sense!’ He turned abruptly. ‘To the station!’
‘To the station! Yeh! They are taking her to the station!’ yelled the crowd.
Aina scowled as if to intimate that she was prepared to face the worst. They bundled her into the car. The crowd booed and sighed. ‘Ole! Ole!’
A woman said: ‘I’m sorry. Such a beautiful girl!’
‘Listen, the thief is saying something. She’s talking. Listen to her!’
‘Amusa, come and save me! Come and save me, I beg you. If you love me, come and save me! Don’t mind what they’re saying . . . Come and save me!’
‘No,’ Amusa said to himself. ‘I can’t go. I really can’t. I was impulsive. I liked you. We had an affair. Let’s forget it, Aina . . .’
He looked round and saw the woman standing near him. Tears were coursing down her face. Amusa looked away. To the left of him he heard sneers, whispers, giggles. It would be silly to listen to them or to take offence. They would only laugh all the more and make a fool of him. These were the men who would give anything to have her. Were they not satisfied with her misery as it was?
At the entrance to Twenty Molomo, a man in a gilt-edged cap with golden tassels was waiting. He seemed to be admiring his floral slippers. When Sango approached he looked up.
‘You see now?’
‘See what?’ Sango mumbled in his irritation.
Lajide’s cigarette bobbed up and down as he spoke, but the ash did not drop off.