The Queens Vengance

Chapter 6 (b)

" What is this one thinking about?" Mariam asks me nudging me with her elbow Zara turned to look at me as well both waiting for an answer I sighed " oh its nothing just thinking about life" I answered trying to seem as normal as possible Mariam didn't seem to buy it but didn't say anything else. Zara, on the other hand, had this look in her eyes that I couldn't fathom and It didn't quite sit well with me I dislike being unable to read people. We had just finished washing our clothes and decided to gist under the umbrella tree while we waited for lunch to be ready. Zara had talked about leaving camp which spurred Mariam to lecture us about how hard life outside the camp as she had read about it in a newspaper recently. While she explained what the newspaper had said using hand gestures to illustrate her point I couldn't help but think about last night.

I was walking towards the office to ask the chairman if he could give me some of his newspapers to read like I always do. When a woman bumped into me. " sorry" she said in Hausa looking up at me, from her facial expression I could tell it was not intentional in fact she looked troubled. Her eyes, were the most beautiful pair I had ever seen they were blue sky blue but they had a hint of another colour grey perhaps? I was mesmerized by her eyes but what drew my attention was the tears in her eyes it made her pretty blue eyes look heavy- a heavy blue. It troubled me before I could ask her what was wrong she hurriedly walked away from me. Towards a small tent fit for just one person. Still thinking about what had just happened a group of 4 women walked up to me. The first woman spoke to me who I am guessing was the leader of whatever group this was. " my dear, how are you?' she asked smiling touching my hand as though she was really concerned I was stunned and a quick glance at all the women's face showed their concern or lack thereof. I smiled trying to be polite and hide my confusion. " ehm my dear what did that witch have to say to you?" another one who looked older than them all asked shifting closer for an explanation they all closed in interested in the conversation. " what witch ?" I asked confused.

They went on to explain that she was a witch describing what I perceived as exaggerated stories. " I mean have you seen her eyes?" one of them said the shorter one." I heard that if you looked in her eyes you will be visited with bad luck" the older one added I had to raise my brows at that." I even heard her husband left her he said he saw terrors anytime he looked in her eyes" another added I felt enraged by that. Of course, it had to be because she had blue eyes. They couldn't fathom why a black woman would have blue eyes. and of course, since they couldn't explain it they would rather go on and fear her than appreciate her beauty. When the older one was about to speak again I interrupted her  " please excuse me I don't have time for this nonsense" I say and walk past them I was tired of hearing their nonsense. One of them hissed and I could hear them insulting me. If I was in a better mood I would have chuckled at them. The Irony was that they called her the witch and yet they are the ones who spread the malice and hate.