CHAPTER 103
Ryan decided that he was going to send them to mambo cell.
" You better keep quiet because no matter what you do then you are going to go to mambo cell. I will not give you a chance to do anything against Ruth. Ruth is a humble lady who does everything for the good of others. I will not tolerate anybody who tries to harm her" shouted Ryan at Tere .
Tere was astonished to hear that. She stood aghast for a while then yelled a weird smile.
" What! Who gives you the right to do that? Has Nurse Peninah and I committed any offence? What do you......." Said Tere but Ryan immediately interrupted.
" Another word from you then I will slap you. You are going to the mambo cell and do not worry because mambo cell is not full of witches like that cell of hell of yours in the closer gates. Guards! Take this woman to the mambo cell" Ryan ordered his guards angrily.
The goons came and forcefully took Tere out of the house who kept resisting. Nurse Peninah on the other hand did not resist but her face was filled with lots of anger. Ruth followed them closely feeling guilty. They arrived at the mambo cell which was not far from the mansion. They were pushed inside as the gates were locked immediately.
" I hope that this will change you. I promise that I did not want this to happen. Do you understand me Tere?" Said Ruth as tears well down her eyes.
" Don't pretend to be worried about me Ruth. I promise you that I will get out of here soon. Haggai and Martin must be looking for me right now. And if they find the whole truth, that I am locked up in a cell in this town, a huge war will be formally initiated between the two towns" said Tere as tears welled down her eyes.
This made Ruth to change his mind about the whole situation. She knew that mambo town was not like Olam town where people had weapons to use to fight with. The mambo people bought their weapons on credit from Olam people only during wars and returned when wars were over. She immediately went back to the mansion to search for Ryan. She found Ryan in Faith's room building up moments with each other. The seemed to have become great friends in such a short while. Ruth held Ryan's arm and led him out of the room to the living room where she urged Ryan to sit down and listen to him. Ryan obidiently sat and held his ears using his arms claiming that he was listening.
" Why are you doing this Ryan? You might hurt your ears" said Ruth smiling.
" Only if I want to listen to you then I will have to hurt my ears" said Ryan in a joking manner.
" Why are you being such a nuisance Ryan? The matter I am talking about is a very important matter. It's about the fact that you have had Tere and Peninah imprisoned. I mean.......don't you care about the consequences. What if a war comes up between our two towns? Then most of us will be killed soon. Don't you think so? " Asked Ruth filled with lots of worries.
" I already thought about that before I sent them there. I am prepared for the war" said Ryan who left the parlor.
Ruth stood there in deep confusion. She felt that she needed to occupy herself and make herself busy instead of thinking about the whole issue. She took two carrier bags and left to the market with the little money that she had. She did not want Ryan to think that she depended on him entirely. She entered the market and was astonished to find out that every seller in the market were dressed in black as if they were going to a burial ceremony.
All the buyers were also dressed in white which made Ruth to be able to be distinguished from other cosumers and buyers. She saw groundnuts which was her favourite snack and wanted to buy them but the seller refused. She claimed that she was only selling to people who were dressed in white. This made Ruth to stand there for a while thinking about what to do. That was when she heard somebody touch her. She turned behind her and was surprised to find out that it was Purist.
" Purist! You are in this market dressed in white? How have you been?" Asked Ruth filled with lots of curiosity.
" I thought that you were somebody who needed some help. I am sorry but I have to leave. My love must be waiting for me back at home. I have no any others choice" said Purist in a pellucid voice .
Purist immediately left the market. Ruth pretended that she was checking on the price of some goods and decided to follow her behind. She felt useless trying to follow Purist who seemed to be fine where she was and happy as a lark.
She immediately stopped later on and looked at behind her and was astonished to find out that it was Ruth.
" Why are you following me? It's that easy to know when someone is following you and want something from you. What do you want from me?" Said Purist angrily.
" Purist! How can you talk to me like that? Don't you trust me anymore. I have taken this long journey in order to search for you and take you back home. I am begging you not to do this to me. Faith your aunt and I have gone through a lot in order to find you. Do you know that Faith is suffering from an ilness right now because of you? What is the problem with you?" Ruth shouted at Purist angrily.
" What are you talking about? Do you know why I left you in the market? I left you in the market because I saw that you are out foreigner and have no idea about the rules and traditions of our land. I do not even know you and how can you talk about forgetting my own family? I was born in this town and grew up here till I got married. Why am I even explaining myself to you? You have to let me go and do not follow me or else I will report you to the village elders" said Purist who left.
Ruth was astonished at how Purist talked to her. She kept wondering the main reason why Purist pretended not to know her. Could it be that someone had erased her past from her? Maybe it was Tere's plans so that Purist would never reunite with them.
Ruth decided to go back home. She was not able to purchase anything from the market. She found Ryan still seated at the living room waiting for her.
" I found two carrier bags missing and therefore knew that you had gone to the market. Why did you exactly leave without asking me? Did you not know that there are rules and customs that needs to be followed in this society? Have you been able to buy anything? You should have told me first then I would have told you what to do" said Ryan who could not stop teasing Ruth.
" Worse than that has happened. I met Purist and I tried to convince to go back with me but she said that she doesn't want anything to do with me and she does not know me. She said that she was born in this town and that is the main reason why she got married in this town. What could be happening Ryan? Maybe she is just assuming me and does not want anything to do with me" said Ruth.
" She must had been performed the unrealistic rituals" said Ryan in a serious tone.
" What do you mean by unrealistic rituals? We do not do rituals back in our own home" said Ruth.
" It's not really a witchcraft but it is a traditional that is performed to people who want their past. Most of those people might had gone through a painful past and that is why they decide to perform the unrealistic ritual" said Ryan.
" Can such kind of a rituals be reversed?"
" Yes ! That kind of ritual can be reversed but there are serious consequences such as death. Many people choose not to reverse it as they fear to die. It is possible that Purist might never be able to come out of the trap that she has been placed in"
" I hope that you are sure about it. I am Ruth , I never give up and I am sure that I will do everything to reverse that ritual and my own daughter will be back in my own arms" said Ruth smiling.
Ryan widened her eyes in disbelief since Ruth could not be able to understand that anybody who tries to reverse the ritual died a long with the ritual.
MARRIED AT SIXTEEN.