EPISODE 2

QUA IBOE ( THE LAND OF PROMISE)

 

( AT THE FRONT OF AN OLD HUT AT THE MIDDLE OF A COMPOUND, ETIM IS SHARPENING HIS CUTLASS; HIS YOUNGER BROTHER EKAM AND SISTER ETIDO COMES OUT FROM THE HUT)

 

ETIM;

where are both of you going to?

 

ETIDO;

we are going to the stream

 

ETIM;

what!

(drops his cutlass)

how many times will I tell both of you that I will be the only one to leave this compound to do anything outside this compound?

 

EKAM;

but brother, is just to go to the stream

 

ETIM;

I said I will go to the stream myself, look, I don't want to repeat myself, go back into that hut and drop that pot, when am ready I will go and fetch the water

 

ETIDO:

okay brother only this once, I promise we will not go again

 

ETIM:

Etido you are the last child, I don't want to stress you, leave Ekam to go alone

 

ETIDO:

don't worry I will not stress myself

 

ETIM:

stubborn children, go

(Ekam and Etido exit. Itoro and Bisong comes in)

 

BISONG:

Etim my man, the only Idung man

 

ETIM;

both of you will not kill me; welcome, please sit

 

ITORO;

Etim where is Etido?

 

BISONG:

(coughing) Etim, Itoro don't want me to hear anything again; in the morning Etido, afternoon Etido, night Eti.....do

 

ITORO:

is it my fault that I so musch love Etido? I will marry Etido. I swear to our gods, Etido must be the mother of my children

 

ETIM;

Itoro take it easy, this is my only sister, did you hear me?

 

ITORO;

forget that thing, I must marry Etido, whether you like it or not

 

ETIM;

let me go inside and get something for us to eat

(he goes into the hut)

 

ITORO:

Bisong, Etido is the love of my life

 

BISONG;

okay, we that don't have love, let us die

 

(Ekam runs in carrying Etido and crying)

 

EKAM:

(drops her on the ground) the white witch have taken the life of my sister

 

ITORO:

(in tears) gods of our land, why my own, why my own love Etido?

 

BISONG;

white witch

(Etim runs out of the hut)

 

ETIM:

Ekam don't tell me is what am thinking?

 

EKAM:

the white witch killed our sister; I could only rescue her dead body

 

ETIM;

(carrying Etido up) Etido you cannot do this to me. I promised mother and father in their death that I will take care of you and Ekam, so now you mean am not man enough to take care of a home?

(drops her and picks up his cutlass)

white witch, tell me why I should not cut off your head, I don't care who you are but I promise you, I will see to your end, even if is with the last drop of my blood

 

BISONG:

I will join you too

 

ITORO;

oh my love

 

ETIM:

lets go to Abong's palace

(they exit)

 

TO BE CONTINUED