MULATTO (Iyila) (Editing)

chapter twenty eight.

The next day, Dede and some others were given out to another plantation owner who needed strong Negroes to cultivate his sugar cane plantation. The news had come so suddenly that none of them had the opportunity say a word to their loved ones before leaving. Dede had been frustrated. Since Iyila started working in the house, they had been offered little or no time to see each other, not even at night time when they could go to the stream. Iyila couldn't sneak out with ease; she was sharing a room with Sarah, Collete's Negro, and other Negroes. Even as they walked to the wagon, Dede kept looking back, with high hopes that he would see her lovely face for the last time, but he never saw her until the wagon rode off.

But nobody told Iyila about it. Not even Deila when she sneaked out to see her that morning. Though Deila's disposition had been suspicious, Iyila never bothered about it as Deila had said she had woken up with a headache. Even Mama Brown had kept it a secret when she managed to see her that evening. They had also warned Tari not to tell her until the next morning. Iyila was on her way to Gabriel's chamber when she heared two Negroes discussing it. That her Dede was gone.

She couldn't believe it. She had not believed it. She hurriedly finished her chores without answering any of Gabriel's questions and rushed to see Deila. The instant she saw Deila's face she knew that all was not well. Dede, Burns, and some other Negroes had been sold.

The man of her dreams and the father of her unborn six children was gone without saying a word to her. Without a kiss or even a goodbye. She had almost fainted when Deila confirmed it, but there was nothing she could do but cry it all out

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"You should smile more often, that is an advice Liya," Gabriel said to Iyila as he continued to write. But as always, she gave him nothing but cold silence and continued to scrub the floor. But he continued as though she was holding up the conversation. She had not said anything to him except a dull "good morning sir", but today he was determined to hear her talk. He had been convinced of this when she came in with her eyes swollen like someone who had cried all the night.

"Are you well?" he asked again. "Yes sir," she said and continue with her chore.

He got up from the armchair and stared at her. He noticed the manner she scrubbed the floor, with so much hate and vengeance. Her mood was equally rotten, although she refused to talk to him he was sure all was not well.

"Liya?" he called. "Sir?" she answered not looking at his face. "Look at me" he demanded. Iyila refused.

"Liya I said look at me," he demamded again, this time he sounded sterner. She angrily threw the rag into the bucket and sighed. Reluctantly she rose her head and then he saw they had turned glassy.

"You are crying, what is the problem?"

"I am fine sir, I think I have caught a dust in my eye," she lied, wiping it off with her hand. He wasn't convinced, but she wouldn't let him in. Gabriel moved close to her and squatted beside her. She looked away as he continued to anaylize her face.

"Did you lose a loved one?" Iyila shooke her head. "Was your brother also sold?" she quickly starred at him and that instant looked away. He knew that could be it, but she shook her head again. He tried to reach for her hand but she immmediately withdrew it and gave him a cold stare. He knew she was a stubborn woman, but she was also afraid. He marvelled that she did not yet trust him after all he'd shown her.

"Ok then, it is obvious you do not wish to share your problems with me, and I cannot blame you for it. You are scared because I am a White. However I wish you understand that I am not your enemy. If I was, I doubt you will be here," he calmly said. "But in any case, you need a person to talk to. I want you to know that I am always here," he said and walked out.

She let out the tears she was holding back. That evening she retired early because Gabriel had asked her to rest. The room was empty when she arrived; the other Negroes were still on their duties. Iyila located her own bed and laid on it. Curling herself like a snake she closed her eyes and tried not to cry. She wished Deila was here to console her, to tell her that Dede would return for her even though it was a lie. She just wanted to hear someone say it to her. Everything had happened too fast for her body to accept. She had been so occupied that she couldn't see him again and staying in the house served as a barrier.

She wondered if he was sad to leave her. If he even searched for her before he left. If he made the slighest move to say goodbye before leaving. Iyila began to cry. All these thoughts were killing her, there was no one to answer them. She wondered if nature was paying her for trying to run away without him. She wondered if he would miss her, or of he would find another Negro, more beautiful than her to start up their family. She cried when this scene appeared in her mind. She regretted not giving herself to him when he had insisted. She could have been with his child, at least that would have served as a reminder of a man she loved. But she had been a coward, always fretting about tomorrow when she was yet to live today.

Iyila sighed. She thought of what the master had said in his bedchamber. She wondered if he could have helped her bring back Dede but she wasn't sure he could.

Why would he? she thought. He was her master, a White . He might laugh at her or even shun her. She sighed again and closed her eyes. Sleep came knocking moments later.

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