Bamboo Grove by the Brook

Part 7 - What is That Mysterious Plant?

Derrick was turning the Khamsa* between his thumb and forefinger absentmindedly. This little silver amulet was given to him by a Moroccan man when he was working in an excavation there. He believed in these things, much more strongly than his friends and family knew. Growing up on a ranch in Zimbabwe and later working as an archaeologist in different parts of Africa he had developed a strong faith in the paranormal. He believes not because he heard stories, but because he had experienced things that defied explanation and that is the reason he never doubted Nikki for a moment.

He picked up the mug of coffee and put it down again. It had gone cold. He was sitting on the porch. The pictures he had taken the day before were scattered on the table in front of him. The last vestiges of twilight were wiped out. The silhouette of Mount Kenya in the distant horizon disappeared behind the velvety darkness that enveloped the sky. The dusty purple horizon was scattered with the glitter of faraway stars.

He had gotten the photos printed in the morning and went straight to his botanist friend Dr. Odiambo. If what Logan had said was to be believed then those plants were definitely bizarre and Derrick knew for certain that Logan never made up stories.

'Do you recognize these plants?' He had asked his friend.

Dr. Odiambo took out a magnifying glass from his desk and studied the pictures for a long time. He finally nodded his head slowly. 'Where did you see these plants? I have been in the field of research for the past twenty-seven years and I can't say I had ever seen this.'

'It was found growing inside the bamboo grove on the way to Chiromo Campus. I accidentally came across it.' Derrick lighted a cigar and continued. 'Look carefully. Does it not resemble Jubokko?'

'What! Jubokko! Are you serious Derrick? It's a mythical plant and that too from Japanese folklore. Derrick, get serious. It must be some new species that weren't discovered so far.'

'Which new species grow that big in just ten days?' Derrick challenged his friend.

'No point arguing with you Derrick. Can you take me there once? I want to see this thing with my own eyes.'

'Ok. That can be done but this thing is not what it looks.' Derrick did not stay very long after that. He could not expect a botanist to share his belief in supernaturals. However, his conviction had been proven right - this was a no ordinary plant. He spent the entire afternoon in the university library trying to find some clues to what was happening. Nothing he went through could satisfy him.

'Uncle D.' Robin's voice startled Derrick. 'Why are you sitting all alone in the dark?' He came and sat next to his uncle. 'I had been to Nikki's this afternoon. She had been sleeping.'

'I know. I had been there on my way back. Dr. Van Niekirk gave her medications to relax her nerves a bit.'

'So, did you find anything out?' Robin asked expectantly.

'Not much; only that my friend with twenty-seven years of experience in the field of botany had not known the existence of this plant.'

'Do you believe in what Nikki had seen, Uncle D?'

'I am going to tell you something, Rob. But don't yet share it with your parents, or with your friends either.'

'Ok. Right. It will be our secret, I swear.' Robin crossed his heart.

'When we were coming back from that grove, everyone was walking ahead of me. I felt a kind of sinister presence, though I couldn't see anything. Suddenly I heard the noise - the kind Nikki described, but much fainter. It's like it tried but couldn't grow louder than that.' Derrick again looked at the amulet on his palm.

'Why didn't you tell anyone?' A dumbfounded Robin asked.

'People are already so confused. I didn't want to add to that confusion.'

'What's that in your hand, Uncle D?'

'It's Khamsa. A Moroccan friend gave it to me years ago when an incident occurred near the digging site. I keep it with me all the time since then. Egyptians and Moroccans believe this thing wards off evil spirit.'

'Really! So that is the reason the noise did not get louder!' Robin exclaimed.

'I don't know. How can we conclude anything until we know what we are dealing with?' Derrick sighed. 'It's getting cold out here. You go inside. I will be joining you soon.'

After Robin was gone Derrick remained seated. While he was talking to his nephew, he noticed something translucent, and wispy gliding along the top branches of the Eucalyptus just outside the fence and that was when he urged Robin to get inside. He looked again; there was nothing there. Derrick stood up and put the khamsa back in his pocket.

So, what's the sequence? He pondered. Nikki hears the noise, then she sees something smoky and wispy outside the window and the next night her soul is taken underground while asleep. Mama Njeri, on the other hand, only sees the wispy thing, and then nothing else happened. I too am following the same pattern as Nikki's.

The frowns on his forehead only became deeper. He would need to go back to the grove in the proper daylight to see those plants again and this time he would take Dr. Odiambo with him.

Note: *Khamsa is commonly used in Northern Africa. This hand-shaped charm is thought to represent the hand of Fatima. It is believed to ward off evil power.

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