Opana the coffin maker episode 83
Opana – Episode 83
© Akoto Alexander
Back at Palace:
Nana Odotobri: Okyeame Amoah, please tell us what you observed or saw when you got to the river bank.
Okyeame Amoah: Nana when we got to the river, the place was calm and des**ted as everyone is afraid to go and fetch water from the river. I didn’t see any fish floating in the water or at the banks and neither did I see any animal lying down on the floor dead after drinking from the river. I believe that will be the same thing the guards I went with have to say. (the guards nod their heads to confirm what okyeame Amoah said)
Nana Odotobri: Okay so did you fetch the water I instructed you to do from the river?
Chief Guard: Your majesty I did as you instructed, in my hand is the bottle that contains the river water.
Nana Odotobri: Good, Opanyin Ansah you were asked by one of my elders to swear to the oracle of this village but you declined saying you are a Christian and it’s against you believe to swear to any man-made god and I respect that. Now we are left with two options but the second option will come in when you refuse to comply with the first option. To prove your innocence you will have to drink the water that was fetched from the river, after that I and my wise elders will be convinced that what the youngmen said are mere allegations towards you and they will pay dearly for tarnishing you image.
Opana: (sweating as he knows what is at stake) Nana, this one too is a herculean request. The reason why I connected a pipe into my house is that anytime I drink from the river directly, I encounter some stomach problems so drinking this water on an empty stomach will be a problem to me. (his family walks in and the villagers start to murmur amongst themselves)
Okyeame Amoah: (shouts to bring order back into the palace) Silence over here everyone, have you people forgotten where you are? Silence before I use someone as a scapegoat.
Obaapanyin Animwah: Ah didn’t I say this man is up to something mischievous? Nana I believe it’s time to exercise your vito powers because this man can’t outsmart us with his cheap excuses.
Opanyin Tuffour: Agya Ansah, this one dierrr I won’t agree with you on that even though am not obliged to openly show my support for you. I know before you connected the pipe into your house, you used to drink from the river because I met you countless times at the river during you hay days. Do as you have been instructed and even if you get complications in your stomach, your innocence will be proven.
Michael Ansah: (approaches his dad and whispers to him) Papa are you innocent of the allegation you have been labelled with? As your only son you can confide in me so I come up with something.
Opana: (looks at his son sternly) Sorry son but somethings are for men only, tell your mom that I love her and will always do. Your majesty I am ready to drink the water.
Opanyin Danso: I said it and I maintain the fact that the man standing there is innocent of the allegation he has been tagged with.
Obaapanyin Animwah: Whether he is innocent or not, the end will justify the means. All we are here for is to witness the truth, I personally don’t have any problem with Agya Ansah, its only the truth we want.
Okyeame Amoah: (hands over a calabash of water to Opana) Opanyin Ansah, in my hand is the water we fetched from the river a while ago. Since you don’t want to swear to the oracle on the allegation this men have labelled you with, it’s prudent for you to drink the water so we will be convinced that indeed and truly you are innocent. Please drink the water now so we can be sure of ourselves.
Opana: (takes the calabash with his hands shaking whiles he sweats profusely) Nana I have already told you that if I drink this water, I get complications but am been forced to drink it. Hmmmm if anything happens to me, please bear in mind that my blood will be on your head and my ghost will hunt some of you for leading me to my early grave.
Obaapanyin Animwah: Some of us have been drinking from the river since birth, even when some greedy galamsey miners polluted the water we were still drinking from the river and nothing happened to anyone. The president stopped those people about a year ago so be rest assured the water is safe for consumption only if you have done nothing wrong to it.
Opana: (summons courage and gulps all the content of the calabash into his mouth and swallows it) You two criminals, you think you can bring me down huh? Nana this fools came to me for help sometime ago and I turned them down so they want to tarnish my image. They were the people who burnt my shop and the threatened to kill me should I report the matter to anyone, as they saw I was still on my feet they have decided to blackmail me in addition. Your majesty this thieves are behind the missing of your cattles and Obaapanyin your daughter who got raped was through the hands of this ugly entity standing here. Opanyin Danso and Okyeame Amoah, whiles you are busy in your farms, this idiot standing next to that ugly guy has been servicing your young wives. For you Opanyin Tuffour if I say yours, you might pass out and die so I will keep my mouth shut and take leave from here since I have drunk your water, my pretty wife and entire family just returned from a long journey to see me. Your highness, elders and villagers gathered here, with permission am taking leave from here. (goes to his family and signals them to leave)
Skido: Your majesty I swear all he said are lies, we know nothing about the things he just said, he only wants to implicate us as we revealed his evil plans.
Obaapanyin Animwah: One more word from you and I will smash your head with the walking stick am holding in my hands, you successfully deflowered my daughter whom I was grooming for Nana’s first son. The gods of this village will punish you and your entire generation. “Aboa bi ba”
Opanyin Danso: So you idiot is the reason why my young wife has refused to be sleeping with me for the past 3months. She will leave my house to her stupid parent the very moment I get home, what nonsense.
Okyeame Amoah: Herh so I bought graphic and you have been the one reading it all this while, Nana can you believe ever since I married that ashawo 5months ago, she has only given me the opportunity to visit her golden palace twice and even with that I had to use force, she always gives an excuse anytime I visit her in her hut and it’s only last week that she gave it to me for the second time and just this morning she told me her menses hasn’t come.
Eno Bruwaa: (whispers to those standing close to her) It also serves you two right, looking at your old ages you went in for girls who are the same age with your daughters. What were you expecting?
Nana Odotobri: So you criminals were responsible for the theft of my cattles I intended to use for my 25th anniversary of ascending this throne. In the court of law we interpret the law but in the palace we display authoity and power, if not for the sake of human rights and the constitution of this country, I would have ordered for you to be beheaded but nonetheless I hereby ostracize you from this village. Guards seize them and lock them up, tonight after the chief priest finishes a purification rites, they will be shown the exit of this peaceful village, now take them out of my sight.
In the Car:
Opana: Kwaku Mike, please direct the driver to the hospital in the next village before something happens to me in this car.
Michael Ansah: Papa please tell me the truth, did you poison the river?
Opana: My friend will you do as I say before I shift part of my rage unto you.
Back in the City:
Regional Commander’s Office:
Commander Barnor: Julia with the investigations my boys conducted, it came up that, you personally you are not clean but because your life was threatened that is why I have asked them to burn your file. I will advice you stay out from trouble and if possible travel outside the country. On the court day let your cousin and lawyer come and represent you, what your lawyer will say to defend you is that you no longer feel secured in this country and that your life is not safe over here.
Julia: Thank you very much sir, I will do as you have said.
Commander Barnor: Very well then but do well to keep our small conversation a secret between us. I don’t know why am doing that favour to you but should a third party hear this, I will bluntly deny ever having this conversation with you. Now let’s go and meet the others in the CID office.
Quincy: Sir please how soon can I move back to my apartment? Your man here said my place is now a crime scene and investigations are still been conducted over there.
Commander Barnor: The officer was very right my boy, I can’t give you a specific time but it won’t take long. Have you been to the hospital for your neck to be examined?
Quincy: Yes please, am just coming from that place. I was given some ointment and medicine to take and I went to shoot an X-ray which will be ready on Monday.
Commander Barnor: Good and you guys shouldn’t forget that those criminals will be arranged before court on Monday. So all of you should get in touch with your lawyers, I will see you on Monday. (walks away)
Julia: Quincy since your place is a crime scene now, you can move in with us especially now that we a living in fear in,side that house.
Maame Dufie: Yes she is very right, I feel scared living in the house as we are women and vulnerable.
To be continued