MULATTO (Iyila) (Editing)

chapter thirty eight

In the quiteness of the empty room, Iyila sat on her mattress with the bible Gabriel had given her, pressed to her chest while her mind wandered in the dessert of her thoughts. Everything was perfect, they had discussed very well that morning. They had argued about something Gabriel referred as ridiculous. His temper was intact. In fact she had never seen him in such a jolly mood as he was the previous morning. His mood was light and she didn't see any sign of anger so she couldn't comprehend what had happened.

Perhaps it was the necklace, she reasoned. She could not tell why the sight of the necklace in her possession rattled him. She could not tell why he abruptly left and returned so late. Neither could she conprehend why he had an argument with Miss Anne. Their voices were loud and it had amazed her to see Miss Anne rushing down the stairs, sobbing like a whipped negro when she was returning from the kitchen. And most of all, she couldn't understand why Gabriel was seen outside, lying on the ground, wounded and his arm broken. A negro had seen him that morning and ran inside to call on the mistress. Iyila had recognised the immense love the mistress had for him. She immediately scooped him into her arms and continued to yell commands. There had been screams and crying and for a minute Iyila had thought that he was dead. That Gabriel had given up and she wouldn't see him nor would she argue with him again. But not too long ago, Collete's negro had told her that he was fine. Sarah had heard it from Miss Susan. Suprisingly, Iyila felt relieved, seeing him lying there on the ground, she had frozen. However the house had resumed its quietness. There was nobody to play the pianoforte since Gabriel did so in his leisure time. She sighed and randomly opened to a page of the bible. It was Hebrews chapter 11.

*****

Gabriel's unconciousness continued the third day and panic was in the air. Even John, couldn't eat.

The doctors said he was getting better yet his fever increased by the second. Later that evening the doctor returned with some medicine that stinked so bad that Collete ran out to throw up the breakfast she had managed to eat since she too had lost her appetite. But Susan stayed and watched him rub something on Gabriel's body and before he left he asked that the same be repeated until he his fever came down. The doctor also asked for someone to sleep with him so his temperature could be checked and his towel changed at all times. So when the doctor left, the instruction was passed on to Iyila. Susan also threw up when she entered her room. She had not experienced anything as horrid as what the doctor brought, but it was indeed working because Gabriel's temperature drastically reduced the following morning.

Gabriel finally gained sanity on the fifth day. When he opened his eyes, he felt like a thousand needles were piercing his body. He felt heavier and his head continued to ache as though someone was deliberately pounding it. He could not remember much. The last thing he could remember was his argument with Anne when he left his mother because he had tried to run away from her reprimand. That was all he could remeber at that moment then he immediately fell into a deep sleep again.

When he woke up again, it was evening and he recalled all that had happened. The stupid cursed horse. He had returned home quite drunk from the pub that he had visited. He remembered going into his room and walking back to the horse. He remembered he needed more money and that had made him come back to the mansion. Then he tried to mount the horse and the next thing he saw was himself on the ground. Trying to scream as the horse stepped on him, but he couldn't until he lost conciousness.

He groaned as the pain ran through his body, his hand was in a cast and his head bandaged. He would kill that wretched beast once he got on his feet. He quickly scanned the dim room but none was in. It didn't take long before he fell into another deep sleep again.

When he opened his eyes again, it was midnight and someone was approaching his room. Some seconds passed and the door opened to reveal Iyila carrying a tray. She quietly closed the door and walked to the table and dropped it. He noticed she was wearing a new dress and her hair was braided in a different fashion. He watched her light the candles and later closed the curtains. Then she turned to him and gasped when she saw his open eyes.

"Master?" she whispered in disbelief. He managed a smile and the next minute she quickly secured a place beside him. She stared at him in shock and fear, "You are awake, I cannot believe you are awake," she sharply told him.

She was sobbing and wiping her face at the same time.

"God saved you for me, I prayed to him so he could spare your life and he did, this is a miracle," she excitedly said and chuckled again. She couldn't believe it. "Your mother will be glad to hear this, I must tell her at once," she said, got up and dissapeared before Gabriel could gather enough strength to object.

He wanted quietness and he knew his mother wouldn't permit it. But Iyila's words amazed him. He wouldn't have believed it if a fortune teller had foretold this day. He remembered she told him that she didn't believe in God, yet she prayed for him and most shocking, she was crying because of a White!

He was still pondering Iyila's words when the door flung open for Collete and Susan to enter with Iyila at their rear. Susan was hesitant for a while as if she didn't believe that he was alive. It made him wonder how long he had been asleep to warrant such drama.

"Gabriel!" she called. "Mother," he croaked.

"Gabriel," she called as she rushed to his side sobbing. She could not embrace him but she made sure to plant kisses on his face. All three women were crying and Collete took the hand that was not in a cast.

"You are awake," Collete said in sobs. "We all have been worried about you, even your father has been unable to eat," Susan reported. Gabriel could not believe his father was concerned. He had never bee, and he knew it would cause him more good to see him dead. After all a useless son is a dead son, yet Susan's facial appearance told him otherwise.

Perhaps he cared but only a little, he inwardly told himself. "How are you feeling, are you hungry? Would you like to eat something - perhaps I could make you soup."

"Or even eggs," Collete excitedly added, he laughed.

"Just water," he replied. "Lilah please get water" Susan instructed, Iyila nodded and rushed out.

After he drank the water he sighed. But he didn't stay up for long. He dove into a sleep again, leaving his spectators with so many questions unanswered.