Coup

Photo credits: https://owlcation.com/humanities/crow-art

We are walking and am having a conversation with Kairetu. That's what we refer to each other as best friends. We have known each other for quite some time now and are nigh inseparable. We are talking about boys, typical of two teenage girls. It is break time and we are heading to the dining hall to have our tea.

“I don't know why he behaves like he doesn't notice that my blood boils for him. The things that those hands of his can do to me…” Kairetu remarks sounding very confused and hurt at the same time.

“These things take time my friend, relax. Besides, who knows, maybe he isn't the one for you.” I console her sounding like Aunty Love from the daily newspapers. I love reading newspapers. It is the link between us and the outside world in a boarding school at the heart of nowhere. We daily get to watch news on the school TV, but for me, I find reading more engaging. There has been a crisis in the country for some time now. Lately, reports of massive looting of public funds has been making headlines and, sadly, no action has been taken to remedy the malady.

What makes the situation worse is the continued massive looting of public funds within short intervals. It is so terrible an issue that the populace is demanding answers and people are threatening to abscond payment of taxes. This then, they believe, will somehow force the government of the day to act accordingly. A revolution is brewing. I have a soft spot for politics hence my profound love for History, and for my Teacher, Mrs. Wema. In the History class, Mrs. Wema says that, “When a people are not happy with the government of the day and feel alienated economically, socially and politically, then the people will surely rise. They will be fed up, agitated and hungry for change.”

The local dailies and the International media has done such a great job of revealing just how bleak the situation is. Kenya is making headlines all over the world for her corruption. The government of the day seems to be oblivious of all these. On the other hand, the head of state is constantly on a rampage with threats and fits of anger directed at members of his administration for failing to curb the vice. The country is literally drowning in its own filth. There are more than ten corruption related scandals reported in less than six months. I feel unsettled because I sense something isn't right with the country. My thoughts are sifting through Mrs. Wema's observations of our country’s predicament.

“Kairetu, do you think this thing will end?” I probe my friend who's trying to balance the hot cup of tea and a banana in one of her tiny hands while clutching dearly onto a Chemistry book on her other equally tiny hand.

“No, because I will never forget him I swear.” She responds as her cheeks turn pink. I look at her momentarily puzzled.

“Not your crush stupid! Corruption. Jesus Christ lady, you need help.” I tease her.

“I don't know, Kairetu, maybe it will but by the look of things, the laxity by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, it is the same script, but this time with a different cast.” Kairetu bites into her banana before continuing with her mouth full, “Huh! Let's not concern ourselves with these adult problems. Tukunywe chai yetu sisi.” She says with finality and her words linger on my mind. Could she be right?

The bell rings as we wind up the tea break and make our way to the laboratory for the Chemistry class. We move steadily, chattering and giggling like typical teenage girls in a boarding school. Just as we settle into the laboratory, we hear very loud bangs. So loud they are that we, including Mr. Maru, the Chemistry teacher, freeze for what seems like an eternity. I glance at Kairetu who is seated beside me and I see a shimmer of panic in her eyes. Her mouth is wide open. I think, as she gasped somehow it had refused to close. She holds her mouth with both her tiny hands and covers it. Fear is scribbled all over her teenage face. My heart is pounding so fast and so hard that I can feel its out-of-rhythm thumping at the back of my throat.

Then, another loud bang, and then several more. We are all thrown in a disarray. We scamper all over, tripping and falling over round bottomed flasks, flat bottomed flasks and all other flasks in the laboratory. Mr. Maru is shouting incorrigibly, trying to get us to calm down, Kairetu and I are now under the table. I am scared stiff and she is crying and shaking terribly. I hold her in a tight embrace. Her shaking is infectious and soon both of us are trembling and sobbing.

The loud bangs draw nearer and nearer as war songs are chanted. Mr. Maru makes a bold step to peer through the window. All the thirty of us are on the floor, either lying down or sitting under the tables, frozen and crying our eyes dry. The rest of the school, by now, is in a confused state as classrooms are filled with screams, banging of lockers and then, as the loud bangs and chants draw nearer, the school falls into an intermittent quietness broken by bangs and chants and screams.

“Now listen up everybody, I can't tell you what exactly is going on, but I can see gun-wielding soldiers. I need everyone, I mean everyone to stay down, keep your head low and no matter what happens, don't!” here Mr. Maru pauses for emphasis, “I repeat, DON'T defy a gun-wielding soldier and avoid eye contact with all of them. Okay, hold onto your neighbour and try as much as possible to remain calm. Stay strong ladies. God is with us.” Mr. Maru says almost in a whisper amid the snorting and whimpering.

He retreats back to his position on the floor near the door. I know he is equally shaken but trying hard to brace himself for anything and everything. He tries so much to keep calm, and murmurs something, perhaps the Lord's Prayer. Then the chants grow louder and soon the laboratory door is kicked in. Five gun- wielding soldiers saunter into the room. The laboratory falls silent and all are immobile except for shivers, whimpers and a few sobs.

“Now listen up! There's been a coup d'état. That means the country is under the military's rule and the incumbent government overthrown for failing to curb corruption. This also means that school is indefinitely suspended. There are buses outside ready to transport you to your families. The procedure will be smooth, so I need you to stand up and walk out of this laboratory in pairs like Noah's animals boarding the ark.” A firm voice, calm and soft orders us.

I hold on to Kairetu and wait for Mr. Maru's signal and, as if on cue, he rises up and we are all up. We make pairs, I pair up with Kairetu who by now looks dazed. Two soldiers stand outside to ensure our smooth walk out of the laboratory and, as the last pair walks out of the laboratory, one of the soldiers shouts, “Clear!” Mr. Maru is then given a piece of paper and instructed to write down each of our names and residences.

As we walk in pairs towards the parked buses, I notice something strange. There is an eerie silence. The silence is engulfing the school like a mist. It is as if it is swallowing voices and bodies whole. I feel the silence, like an animal, prowling around me waiting to pounce on me. It is almost as if there's nobody else but Kairetu and me. A raven caws as it flaps its wings and flies right past my right ear. I shudder. I turn and watch it fly into the sky and as soon as it starts ascending, the light of day paves way and darkness creeps in.

I am scared stiff. My head hurts, Kairetu starts sobbing and I turn to look at her. I am holding her hand but I can feel her weakening grip. I can feel it start to loosen. I turn my gaze to our hands and, right before my unbelieving eyes, her hand starts to crumble and turn into a fine gravel. I am panicking. I want to scream but my fear stifles my voice. My whole being is shaking violently in an attempt to cry out for help. Then a thunderous laughter breaks out, a soldier is walking up to me, smiling – a sinister smile. Kairetu is fading, am trying so hard to hold on to her but her body is crumbling faster. The heavy engines of the bus won’t stop roaring, my classmates have stopped sobbing, there is only one sob - mine. Loud gun shots rent the air, my head is spinning. I hide my face in my hands, Kairetu is gone. The soldier with a sinister smile walks towards me. He licks his lips. Please, God! Let me vanish before he touches my body! The noise is too much, I can't breathe. I do not want to breathe. I hold my breath. I want to pass out before the soldier gets to where I am standing. But I cannot make myself pass out, I take in deep breaths, long ones, gasping for air. I am sweating profusely and the world is spinning, the raven caws into my ears.

I wake up.

Coup.

By Janet Kilel