Murder At Midnight

Tonye.
I didnot know why he said that. He sounded as if he knew somethingunpleasant about Nagoth. But the others seemed to find it funny,except John of course, and they all laughed.
“I must putthat down in my diary,” said Willie, still cackling. “Itsounds profound.”
“I am stokedthat I look my age,” said Philip, who clearly had no idea how ridiculous he looked,wearing dark glasses indoors. “You wouldn’t ask a happening guylike me with street credibility to carry your bags, would you Mr.Simpson?” he asked laughing
“No, mostcertainly not,” I replied. If I dared try such a thing, it was verylikely the bag would never be seen again.
“Amina,” began Willie, as he setdown his cutlery. “Tomorrow is Saturday. You know what thatmeans?”
“Yes, Willie,” replied Amina.There was a smile on her cherubic face. “I must avoid any wastageof food by not including your share.”
“That is it,”said Willie looking pleased. “The good Lord himself showed that wemust avoid wastage after he fed the five thousand, when he asked them to gather theleft-over of the bread and fishes that then filled twelvebaskets.”
“But the samegood Lord said we should not make public the fact that we arefasting like the Pharisees do, in order to receive the praises ofmen,” said Mrs. Marshall. “You always make a show of yours. Iwonder why you don’t just go to all the media houses in Nigeria and do a Public ServiceAnnouncement.”
Therewas a sudden silence. I found myself poised with my fork in the airand some fried egg dangling on it.
“How well do you know the Bible,Mrs. Marshall?” asked Willie calmly, as they both stared coldly ateach other.
“I may not have gone to TheologySchool, but I believe what I have just said is there in the Bible,”replied Mrs. Marshall.
“I can’t go into any argumentwith you, Mrs. Marshall. It will be unnecessary. You see, thespiritual depth of the things I may say will be beyond the realm ofyour spiritual understanding. I don't think there is anything newthat you can tell me or can have a better understanding of,” hesaid patronisingly.
“You are hiding behind shadows,Willie. I have said that you make a public show of your fasting onSaturdays. Am I right or wrong?” retorted Mrs. Marshall.
“If you don’t mind, I willretire to my room,” Willie smiled and got to his feet.
“You were formerly with theFaith Revival Ministries,” said Mrs. Marshall. “Why did you leavethem?”
“Purely for personal reasons,”replied Willie.
“Indeed!” exclaimed Mrs.Marshall. “Actually, I heard that you were ex-communicated, afteryou were caught in an ungodly act with one of the teenage choirgirls!”
Willielaughed. “I’ll not condescend to give an answer to that. Let idleminds keep peddling their rumours! It is now time for my Biblestudy,” he said, glancing at his watch. Then, he left.
“I believethis weather suits my complexion,” said Tonye, probably in anattempt to defuse the tension.
As hewas wearing short sleeves, he turned his hands this way and that,admiring himself. When he was satisfied, he continued eating. But Icould see that Mrs. Marshall had her eyes on him.
“I’m really interested in thiscomplexion of yours,” she said, pouring herself a glass ofwater.
“Mother, please,” said Maria ina low tone, as if she sensed trouble.
“My dear girl, what’s the matterwith you? Mr. Briggs seems happy enough to talk about hiscomplexion. I don’t know about you, but it is the only thing that Ihear him talk about,” said Mrs. Marshall, as she raised the glassto her lips.
“I’m notbragging about my complexion or anything of the sort,” said Tonye,suddenly sounding uncomfortable and unable to meet Mrs. Marshall'sgaze. She reminded me of a snake whose stare was capable of paralysing itsprey.
“I never saidyou were … not that there is anything to brag about,” she replied,surprised. “I hear your father is Japanese?”
“Well,em …yes,” replied Tonyewho now looked like he was sitting on hot coals. His small eyesdarted from one corner of the room to the other; he reminded me ofa trapped rat looking for an escape route.
“Is it true that your mother methim at a hotel in Tokyo where she ‘worked’ briefly, before she wasdeported for entering the country with false papers? And that youare a product of their love affair, hence your skincolour?”
Ishuddered, as I imagined getting on Mrs. Marshall's wrong side; thewoman did not pull punches. With the way she said ‘worked’, it wasobvious to anyone what profession Tonye’s mother had been engagedin. The deafening silence seemed to drag on forever, as we waitedfor Tonye to respond. He actually opened his mouth, but quicklythought better of it and closed it.
“It has been an interestingmeal,” said Mrs. Marshall, picking up her crutches and getting toher feet. “I think I’ll go to my room, now.”
“Please pass me the jug ofwater,” said John, as soon as Mrs. Marshall left. He seemedoblivious to what had just transpired. There were times I evenforgot that he could speak.
After that, Tonye spoke a lotless about his complexion. He became gloomier and from time totime, I saw him shoot vengeful looks at Mrs. Marshall.
Nagoth didn't speak to me afterthat first day. He was not particularly hostile, but wasindifferent to my presence. I tried to make it up to him some daysafter I arrived, by offering him my stapler; I had heard him askingfor one. He was reading a book in the lounge when I approachedhim. Heoften sat alone by himself. He cut the miserable picture of alonely, little man.
“Here youare,” I said offering the stapler to him. “I heard you askingaround for one.” I could see the hesitation in his eyes, before hestretched out his left hand to accept it. Now, in the part of thecountry where I come from, it is considered very rudetotake orgivesomething with yourleft hand. I immediately glanced at his right hand, in which heheld the white handkerchief he always carried around. He followedthe movement of my eyes, but made no attempt to switchhands.
“Thank you,”he said, rather brusquely, placing the stapler on the table. I gavehim a stiff smile. I walked away, concluding that he was without manners. Laterthat day, he gave the stapler to Ayuba to