A Walk into Death

          ''The day I met him was the genesis of my woes,'' the note begun. ''I didn't sleep that night. Something kept gnawing at my patience. I couldn't wait to meet him. He said he's from Los Angeles, US. But he lives like a nomad as he's constantly travelling for business. He has been in Kenya for a couple of times, the last being to attend the Global Summit in July. An event that saw Kenya attain a major historical milestone when a sitting US president-- Barrack Obama, for the first time visited. So every day saw me waiting, eager, for his next coming. Three months were centuries away. Anxiety and desperation added weight to the longing eating me inside...''. There was much said in the note which were hard to bear. According to police reports, the note was found beside the body of Ade in her room. With the note were: Ksh 4000, a Samsung Galaxy mobile phone and a photo of some plumb bloke with a chubby face who would later be identified as Macurious Takataka. The devil that had driven the poor damsel into the grave.

           Ade was a second year undergraduate student, barely 20. A model and an ideal candidate who could win the Miss Kenya title any time of the day. No one could say that she wasn't beautiful for thousands of men lost teeth in brawls over her. Her voice, whenever she talked, compelled everyone to switch off phones and radios to listen to her. And wherever she passed, man stopped to gaze at her in awe-- marveling at one of God's few masterpieces. But despite of these, Ade hardly gave attention to them. She walked with eyes glued to the skies as though her types of men are found there. '' I've no use for a poor black nigga,'' she said. '' Love transcends internationally. If many a woman have married abroad and are damn rich, why not me? I must go out.''

***

          Somewhere on the Venice Beach, a man sits quietly to enjoy a glass wine. He whistles G.I's classic: Private Beach Party' as he stares into the open sea. With him is a True Love magazine and a laptop. He is online, writing and replying to couples of texts streaming in from all over the globe. But of all the conversations, none interests him like that with this woman from Kenya. She seems full of enthusiasm. He ignores the rest and concentrates on her most.
          Macurious had met Ade a fortnight ago on Facebook. She had sent him a friend request. So after chatting constantly and knowing the basics about each other, they hooked up. On his part, Macurious saw it as another chance to eat an African woman. He had had many already, but a man doesn't leave his stomach home after a meal so as not to eat again.

          He was handsome and well-built, with crystal-clear eyes. Ade saw this in the photo he had sent her. They called each other once in a while. And the mere fact that she was now dating a mzungu ignited a disturbing fire of pride in her. She turned away stalkers disgustingly.
           There was nothing substantial that could bring Macurious to Kenya too soon. Not after somebitches had helped themselves to his money on his last visit. Not after the media was awash with news of how grenades are thrown anyhow like potatoes and people die due to the Al Shabaab terror menace. But his new catch made him think otherwise. He would risk. They agreed to meet in three-month time.

                                                                      ***

Ade woke up at dawn to catch the first flight to Mombasa. She had booked a ticket the previous day with part of the £100 that Macurious had sent her. The plane was scheduled to take off at 8 am. It was going to be her first time ever to travel by air. She could not get over with her excitement. It was history in the making.
           The whole night had seen her prepare for the flight. ''Preparing to meet a stranger is mind-boggling,'' she thought. '' You can't tell how someone will react, or how to please them.'' Ade had talked with her friends about Macurious and the flight. But although a few envied and wished her well, many advised her against it. ''... but si una chali hapa campo? Ama ushamboot?'' They wondered. But Ade couldn't hear any bit of their nonsense. She had become an ear that is doomed to die; it doesn't respond to drugs. To her, such friends are the kind who gets irritated when they see you blessed and prosper. She ignored them as a politician does to their electorate after being sworn into office. But what nearly spoiled her day was her sister's call. She had been updated by Ade's friend a day before. ''What makes you trust a man you know nothing about?''

       ''But at least I know his nationality. I'll get to know him better when
we meet...''
       ‘‘No. I don't approve of that. Just forget about him. There are thousands of handsome men around. Why go that far?''
       ''But nothing bad gonna happen siz.... I'm a grown up.''
       ''Ade please, don't go...''
         They nearly quarreled. Ade hanged up. It was spoiling her moods. And it is no good fly for the first time with mood swings.

         Macurious had jetted in two days before. He had booked a room in his favourite hotel. It would be confirmed later when the police are in dire need of him that he was a regular customer. Ade was picked by a taxi from the airport immediately she landed. She ceased not be amazed
by this kind of treatment; every moment made her feel like a queen of an unknown kingdom. ''These men are really romantic geniuses,'' she whispered to herself. Then the taxi stopped outside a five-star hotel and heart pounded. A little fear gripped her, but she brushed it off. What is there to fear when one meets face to face with their fortune?
        The long awaited moment had come. She was meeting the man of her life now now.

           A minute had not elapsed when a middle-aged man in a three-piece suit emerged with a bunch of roses. There were many white men around as the season of tourists was at its peak. Ade therefore recognized him when he called her name.
          ”Oh, babe it's you!' It was neither a question nor exclamation. But she stood still. Macurious embraced her, quickly kissed her and gave her the flowers. ''It’s nice meeting you at last babe,'' he said. Taking her by the hand. ''Thank you,'' she responded, almost in a whisper. The magnificent hotel swallowed them thence. It was 3 pm. The day was still young.
          That evening they went to Watamu to spent time on the beach. The weather was still and the beach quiet. Like any other private beach, Watamu Beach had very few people. Therefore there was little or no fear if one wanted to quench their conjugal thirst. An old couple was busy making love in sand when Ade and Macurious arrived. They passed them quietly as the woman moaned to glory.
         '’You like here?'’ Macurious asked, to cut the dense silence. ’’Yeah, so much dear. It's cool,'' she answered. Her face was brightened.
          They stripped naked and dived into the warm, salty water. To Ade, this was a lifetime experience. She could not help but to enjoy it. After swimming for a while, Macurious pulled her close. He could feel her nipples pricking his thorny chest. She had small, firm and ripe breast. They showed no sign of sagging even if she mothered six generations! Macurious held one and sucked it, whilst fondling the other. She let out a soft moan. He smiled. ''I want you inside please,'' she whispered. '' Relax darling... Here I come.''
          They retired back to the hotel whilst dead tired. Ade had never had such a harrowing experience. It had ceased to be blissful when she became dry and begged him to stop. He was deaf. She cried out of pain. It was 11pm and the whole night was before them. She could not imagine what they would do with it. In Mombasa, people don't sleep.

          Macurious always carried a camera wherever he went. He had taken a couple of pictures at the beach. Most of them in awkward positions. Such enchanting moments are too good to be lived once and forgotten. They need to be kept for remembrance.

          Ade did not eat that night. The pain that was eating her could not allow her to do so. She just gulped a glass of juice and went to rest. But Macurious could not let her.
'' Please leave me alone. I'm hurt and tired.''
''But I haven't had enough of you. You are the reason I came. You think I came to waste time watching you as if you were a monkey or elephant in Tsavo?''
 ''After screwing me for ages on the beach? You want to kill me? I'll scream, I swear! Go away you beast...''
‘‘Try that and you won't like the consequences. I'll put all your naked photos on social media for the world to see. I'll damage your image beyond repair.''
''Oh my God!'' Ade knew she is finished. She was now his sex prisoner, not a lover at all. She broke into tears.
          He ordered her to strip and face the camera as he took a video of her. Then, by show of hand, signaled her to fondle and suck his rod. The 12-inch shaft filled her mouth, nearly choking her. She had been watching this in porn movies. But imagining that she was the one doing
it, forcefully, alarmed her. Something told her to bite the thing, but she decided against. He could kill her. She sucked him dry. He moaned and smiled with satisfaction as he deposited a whole litre of semen into the poor girl's mouth. The camera in his hand was recording still. Then he forced her to stand on fours and rammed into her. Gently then hard. Fast and furious. She screamed. '' Shut up, you bitch'' he barked. Threatening to slit open her throat. The encounter was painful, traumatizing and horrible. Dawn seemed far away. She passed out.

It was close to midday when she finally regained consciousness. Someone was knocking on the door. It was the hotel attendant, asking if they were not interested in their meals that day. She was too tired to answer or even move. So she ignored. It was when she sat up that she realized  something was amiss. Macurious was not in the room. Not even his luggage. She attempted to call him in vain. She was alarmed. She felt sick.

That night she slept at her sister's place in Nairobi. The same sister who had warned her against meeting a stranger. But there was no time to hurl stones of blame to the ailing sister. She rushed her to the hospital that evening after listening to her story. It was confirmed that she had been sexually assaulted. The doctor wrote a medical report which would be given to the police the following day; to facilitate the hunting of the culprit.

However, Ade never saw the sun the next day. She could not stand the pain. She could not stand the shame and guilt of betraying her sister. She could not stand living with the ugly scars of that horrible experience. She was found dead the following morning. A bottle of poison was beside her body. She had also written a suicide note, accounting for her action. It was intriguing. The sister broke down.

The police sprang into action. They, for once, endeavored to prove that they are useful, not mere state pets and thieves. They issued orders to everyone to be on the watch-out for the White Beast—as they called Macurious. They had all the details about him from the note and from the US Security Intelligence-- it confirmed Macurious was a regular guest of the prison. All airports and departing planes as well as the country's boarders were checked. But all their futile efforts bore nothing. Nothing fruitful came out. Macurious Takataka had long gone, never to
be found.

 (c) waful p'khisa