SOLOMON'S BRIDGE {Part I}

CHAIN REACTION*27*

The Prayer

DR. JAY

He unpins the sheet of his map from the display board, rolls it up into a slim pipe, locking it in his desk drawer. Taking his car keys and his wallet, he quickly gets to the crime scene at Highway 17. Agent Yellow, bless her soul, brings him fresh coffee in a styrofoam cup, as soon as he gets out of his Jeep. It's black, hot, bitter but creamy, just as he likes it. Sometimes, he thinks she is rather sweet on him. He's been dropping her subtle hints that he is not available, but it doesn't deter her smooth moves. He finds himself deciding on a way to distract her, to put her barely evolved brain to good use. Yup. She's the back up double.

Two hours later, he gets in his car again and goes to old town, Watertown, to Edima McFoy's HRBC office, situated within a colonial style type of property undergoing some extensive renovation. He gets down from his Jeep after parking under the shade of a bougainvillea tree, to see a lot of construction workers, masons, engineers, going up and down the place. He can dimly recall her describing the project in a HRBC lecture last week. Its going to be her future mega games complex. He greets the workers as he passes them on his way in. Her office is the first door to the left from the entrance hall. Dressed in an emerald green gown that puffs up at the sleeves, she reminds him of a medieval character from Middle Earth. She scratches at her copious, titian hair in confusion when, after three sharp knocks on the door, he enters her office. Genuinely surprised to see him, she half rises from her chair but he gestures for her to remain seated, "Good afternoon, my dear professor!" He hails. She laughs in tinkling, ringing strings of sound; a cheerful sound, the carefree sound of a woman without grudges, a woman perhaps a bit too youthful at heart. In her presence, Dr. Jay feels like a proud big brother.

"Good afternoon Dr. Jay! Am I under arrest today?"

"Never! But, I am unofficially conscripting you, to help me with my case!"

She beams, "This sounds very interesting! Please do sit down! Care for a soft drink?"

He shakes his head, declining as he lowered himself into a chair opposite her. One chair for visitors. No picture frame or personal effects. Grateful for the cold temperature in here, he lightly mops at the sweat on his forehead, his keen eyes appreciating the interior decor. Woodsy tones. Olive green wall paint, dark and light brown furniture to add contrast, a smattering of colourful flowers by a corner and a really big window with bright yellow shutters drawn apart. Understated wealth is what seems to ooze out of her in a subtle, rosy scent.

"I'm having an epiphany; the villain I want to catch, is the victim I want to help. I need to connect all the dots, Miss McFoy, to avoid a possible miscarriage of justice. I need to connect with this city; that is, with Canaan."

"Okay. How may I assist?"

He clears his throat,"Can you explain, the basic structure of ancient tradition and old culture here, in Canaan city, particularly pertaining to the roles of the Nsidung, and the Ekpe?"

"The Ekpe is a sort of cult, in it, there are usually devotees of marine spirits, who help to inflict the will of the evil spirits upon the people, by sometimes captivating them, this is done with regular practices like, ceremonial dances often impossible to execute by most humans; very artistic, and ingenious to watch. The people are spellbound, and I mean that literally. The king relies on groups like this cult to maintain law and order, using them as a source of entertainment also; its quite different from the Nsidung; Nsidung in english, means 'tribe,' it is believed... that the king's champion, his best warrior, hailed from a tribe of 'teeth,' or Nsidung Edet; called Aka-nso-ko clan, who all vanished without a trace. It is further believed... that Nsidung Edet Hogan Bassey, killed them all off, in order to start his own tribe, a very unscrupulous band of highly skilled, well trained warriors that expanded to become a rival faction within the Efik polity; I think that they were more of a threat to the king in those days, yet... they... persisted, because, they were the only organized, Efik sect of tribal fighters who could intimidate the Ibibio settlers in the region. The Ibibio is, a sister tribe to the Efik, they are intertwined with the Efik in politics, since they were once all together, at a brief point in migration history... but till this day, an Ibibio is still discrminated against. Nsidung of old are believed to be a diabolical society. What they are today, proves that culture is dynamic. The Nsidung have... somehow... managed to assume the roles of other administrative peer groups which... mysteriously fazed out: like the famous fifteen shield maidens, and the tribe custodian, and the high priestess's office as the oracle, while it still retains it's essential character of one man's renegade army, and a very diabolical society it may yet be. They are currently in charge of Justice Hall, as you know, but this has... always been a sort of fill in, interim arrangement. Membership in the Nsidung is increasingly becoming a very secretive affair, I'm afraid I couldn't point out any of them to you if we walked down the street but, for those in official duty at the castle. Yes. This city keeps them on quite a robust payroll. They are no longer called Nsidung in public but are politely referred to as the historical society."