Dr Fixit (201 - 210)

 201

We were in a circle, sitting and leaning 

on each other's frame as Moonit did her thing.

'Ehkong nkay,' she said. 'Nkay ehkong ahbasee!'

we responded. 'Once upon a time, not at sea

but on this hard surface we called land,

there lived a man,' the tale she began,

'his appellation was Mr Tortoise.'

This man again! We'd heard of how in a race,

he outpaced the hare. We'd heard of how 

he did a tug of war with giants - wow! -

202

and made the two - hippopotamus and elephant -

to bow. With lion and him, under the plants 

they battled hard to be crowned the king.

We'd heard the full narrative as he did sing

and develop wings and was the guest of honour

in a festival up in the sky and sheer horror, 

the birds abandoned him and one to his wife 

brought back a message that seared his life.

(The sage had repackaged his tales with his own pen

and we'd follow his adventures like on a TV pane).

203

After the folktale, we returned to our beds 

wishing the moon wouldn't ever be late,

the weekends were quite long as none

would say we need to sleep on time so in the morn

we wouldn't be fagged out for school and the break

between the terms was a long one that'd take

the new term a long time to return 

and the tale spinners would hang on

with us for long for soon they turned maidens 

and were taken as wives into men's dens.

204

Well, the civil war the army ants fought 

not too long ago seemed to render nought

former values of the entire clans -

in a new direction now families would dance.

Instead of marriage, girls were in schools 

far beyond elementary. They broke the rules 

where the highest aspiration for a female child 

by her family (which most persons saw as a dream quite wild)

as they wouldn't rush her to settle down 

and have her own kids, was let her wear a gown 

205

as a nurse or hold the chalk as a teacher.

Other noble professions were meant for the character 

called male. When the war ended, the number 

of male professionals had dwindled. Many a chamber 

needed the services of barristers and dons

were badly needed in tertiary institutions 

and the hospitals needed doctors as most men

in these fields were at the war fronts where they maimed

or got maimed by their enemies. And what turned the fangs

of one against the other though all were army ants?

206

Big Mama till date couldn't say exactly 

what was the rotten meat the vultures furiously 

were dragging around. And the only moment 

I'd seen sheer panic ripple her body and garment 

had been whenever there was this rumour

another war could brew as there was a clamour 

by another army ants' enclave to seize 

a piece of land filled with goodies like lace,

fish and black gold which was oiling 

our economy, domestic and foreign. The brawling 

207

and the resultant effect on grandma's frame 

had made me realize quite early war was insane.

My Pa was in Blue Pond when the civil war 

in Antburg started. The eruption was spurred 

by the action of a half dozen young cadets 

who'd read so much and believed all facets

of a society would run smoothly by biting 

with the fangs than kissing with the lips. Smacking 

every level of society with the rules and herding 

everyone along, they thought, would help usher in

208

an egalitarian society. They believed it was a waste 

of time to dialogue with intent to carry everyone along. In a haste 

the junta seized the seat of power 

and announced on the national broadcaster 

that the government which Antburg experienced

since the moment they got independence 

from the colonial masters had been truncated 

due to the corruption and ineptitude exhibited 

by those in the corridors of power.

The suspension of the constitution did spur 

209

but not so much as the slaughter 

(which looked selected) of the rulers

which seemed to come from one section 

of Antburg and ethnic cleansing was the caption 

that tailed the coupists. In days, the reaction 

was dire. Not only the coupists but relations 

and clans were accosted and murdered 

by the counter coupists who were members 

of the clans their leaders were killed.

One reaction after the other spilled 

210

to the civil war. The seed of discord 

was first sown by the colonial lords.

Now, don't forget that just like humans 

so also the ways of the army ants.

A long time ago the clans were under 

colonial rule. The colonialists came over 

the vast seas and had orange skin -

some were good and some were quite mean.

The good ones helped reshape some traditions

which were quite heinous in many locations