09.1 First Infiltration

8^th November turned out to be a bright day and Mariam Mala was off duty. Footloose Habib biked up and down to make necessary arrangements. They took a water bucket to a location deep in the woods in Arre Klee where Habib already placed a couple of benches.

Three in the afternoon, Shakir drove fifteen kilometres to Feydu to pick Mala. He knew they were planning to do a sihr – black magic. All were very excited. Don Raha’s home prepared rice pudding.

Mala wore a blue jeans shirtdress with a deep square neck and many pockets. Seated on the fairing seat with her knees pulled up. When he rode up the long Link Road, her dress flapped in the rear to expose naked buttocks. They arrived at Fanas where all were called to gather. They had afternoon tea and then they cycled to Kibili Point. Hid the bicycles and the Moto Guzzi in the brush. Women who entered the woods to pick fronds and dry coconuts were leaving.

Four began to walk towards Arre Klee. Four forty-five when they reached the cleared spot that they prepared with fronds spread on dirt. There were two benches. Don Raha tied his scarf on his crown and began to recite a prayer in the name of God. He pulled out an orchid flower from his pouch. Mala sat cross-legged on the fronds and concentrated intensely facing the water. Habib lit a handful of mosquito candles and Shakir watched.

Raha touched the orchid on her hair a few times in his prayer and sat down on one of the benches. Mala undid the buttons and removed her dress. She wore nothing underneath except the silver girdle.

She dropped her flip-flops and sat on the bench before him. Don Raha put his palms on her knees and checked her toes, fingernails and armpits. “She is clean,” he said, “wet her body.”

Habib drew pints of water and poured down her body to wet her thoroughly.

Don Raha produced a bottle and said, “Put it on…”

Habib applied this red substance that looked like gel on her hair and combed down. Mala applied on her skin. He rubbed it on her back and she stood up, stepped to the clear and both engaged to wear it topically on her body. He rubbed it down her legs. His fingers dug deep inside her groins like putting butter on bread. Then she had to wait for a while to dry in air. According to the sorcerer; to attract a spirit that entered between the legs.

On the other side of the water, the sky turned to haze and a ruddiness over the trees in the setting sun.

“How do you feel?” asked Raha.

“I’m touched,” she replied.

Don Raha ordered, “Remove the girdle and wrap the fosha. Show me your feet!” Mala tossed a foot one by one – those soles where magic did not touch.

She wrapped a piece of white fosha and undid the girdle. She passed it to Shakir, “Keep it. Don’t lose it!”

Don Raha drew the tall woman into the dirt. She caught her flip-flops on her toes. “Do it here and not later. It will relieve you when you discharge water,” he told her, “Once you enter into effect, you must keep the girdle on for you cannot be seen without a wear, vaguely or precisely. This effect will wear off after the first Full Moon. And that’s after two weeks.”

Habib pulled a small bag and produced a Minox subminiature spy camera attached to a silver measuring chain and a tiny flashlight. He took out another wrapping from the pouch and unfurled; the Colt and a suppressor. He screwed it up and tucked under his belt.

“Listen, Shakir,” he said, “Don Raha will be back. You stay here with him. If you feel unsafe, you walk away. Don’t run. Don’t make too much movements or show a light that way, lighting a candle or for some other reason. If something is wrong, if you hear an alarm, walk away. DO NOT RUN!

“If something goes wrong, the English will come after us. We cannot escape. They set the dogs after us. They will order to ‘stop’ and ‘put your hands up’. You stop but don’t raise your hands. Smile and utter several words. We folk don’t know to put our hands up before a gun. Carry the bag. There’s nothing suspicious in it.”

“The gel?” he cried.

“For mosquitoes,” Habib stepped away.

Savari Shakir glanced at the silhouetted figures yards away. Mariam Mala stood facing the water.

It was almost six and darkness falling. The sun would have set already by 05:49 pm.

After a brief moment, they began to walk into the dusk towards south.

“Let’s see now,” said Don Raha, “Undo the wrap and remove your flip-flops.”

“Hold this,” Habib passed the Minox.

Mala undid the wrap and disappeared from their eyes absorbed into the background. She was holding the camera dangled in her left hand. Habib stood stunned as he witnessed this phenomenon for the first time.

At a closer observation, they could see her eyes, teeth and grooves in her hair.

“Hair is most intolerant,” said Raha.

“Can you see me?” asked Mala.

“Almost,” uttered Habib in shock.

“Show me your feet,” demanded Raha.

Mala tossed a foot one at a time and it seemed like they could see her soles. “Can you see the camera?” asked the invisible woman.

“We can see the camera and anything you carry bigger than your fist can be seen,” expounded the little man, “In twenty minutes, you are ready to go.”

“We go into the deep now,” said Habib.

“My final word,” said Don Raha, “Deeni, you must be careful. Do always sneak. Keep against a wall or a tree or some cover. If you see someone too close, just stand still, close your mouth and narrow your eyes. Do not lie down. Don’t move. Stand very still. Remember, you still cast a shadow.”

“What about the dogs?” queried Mala.

“Dogs will bark around but they cannot see. They won’t bite. Stand still and someone will call off the dogs. Don’t show the camera. Dogs will grab it.”

“Dogs are not in the rear,” Habib said.

“The smell?” asked Mala.

“Smells like metal,” said Raha, “Now, remember what I told you.”

“Always sneak.”

“Keep the camera in your fist,” Habib reminded, “That chain will reflect light.”

“Put on the wrap,” said Raha.

She fastened that piece of wrap around her hips and the posture of Mariam Mala reappeared instantly out of the dark.

“How did you feel?” asked Habib.

“I need a bang,” she cooed.

“Come!”

And they entered the woods.