“OK baba,” she said curiously.

“It’s Sara, what happened to her? I haven’t seen her,” he asked confused.

“I haven’t seen her,” Ruth said pretending.

She hid the fact that Sara came with her baby and she chased her away.

“I went to the house I built for her. It’s deserted,” he said, now looking at Ruth.

He stared at her as if she knew the answers. Ruth stood up and went inside the hut. The spell had vapoured. She needed to renew it or else she would lose her husband. That night was hard because Ruth did all the muti, humming and clap hands, but Henry was the man he was when Sara was around.
Ruth helped Samartha cook the dinner. She served her husband with dignity and respect. She saw Henry that was wearing a white belt of the Postori church.

This is why the muti is not working, she thought. I need to make him loose that belt.

They ate in silence and Henry left soon after washing his hands. Henry slept in the 4-roomed home which meant Samartha will use the other bedroom. At 8 p.m. Samartha sat with Ruth by the fire.

“We are going later,” Ruth whispered.

“Isn’t it late, Ma?” Samartha said recklessly.

“We have to go. Don’t worry, we will come back soon,” she whispered.

Ruth stood up and took Samartha by the hand. They walked and walked.

“Ma, where are we really going, there are no homes here?” she asked curiously.

Samartha was tired. The graveyards were far from their home, Ruth usually used brooms to fly.

“We will be there soon,” she said patting her shoulder.
Samartha saw the graveyards and trembled. The tombstones were everywhere and so silent. It was a spooky place. Ruth pulled her closer. Finally, they stood at one grave written ‘PETER SITHOLE’. Ruth took her stick and hit the grave twice. It opened and Samartha was dumbfounded and also scared.
“Come,” she said quietly.

Samartha heard a voice inside the grave. She looked around and saw a people eating flesh. She opened her mouth.

“Eat this child,” Ruth gave her a hand of the dead.

“I can’t eat that”, she said loudly.

No one stared at her. She had to leave. In a panic, she ran as fast as she could. She ran and ran for many kilometres. She arrived at the house, packed her stuff and left. It was after 2 a.m. She took a car to the city and found her husband sleeping. She slept beside him. It was only 3 hours to the village.

The next morning, she told her husband but he was shocked and bewildered. Since Dennis knew and put two and two together, she suspected all that had been happening in the village was true. He heard gossipers say his mother was a witch. Dennis told David, who hated their own mother and never went back to see her. Luckily Samartha didn’t leave Dennis. The wedding was at the church which they started to attend.

*****

Henry was up at midnight, he was feeling lonely because Samartha was gone. He walked to the lounge in the dark. Someone entered the lounge. He lit a match and saw Ruth naked. He didn’t know how she had entered. There was no knock or sound.

“What are you doing naked like this?” he asked and lit a candle.

Ruth stared at him, then at his briefs in her hands.

“What are you doing with my briefs?” he asked shocked. Ruth stared at him and knew he had caught her.

“Are you a witch?” he hissed loudly. Ruth went to the door. Henry pulled her closer. “Sit down, we need to talk,” he continued.

Ruth started to scratch her body.

“Yes, I am a witch, I kill and eat their flesh. Anna is a sick because of me. I killed a lot of people,” she shouted.

Ruth scratched herself and started to laugh. Henry was attacked and shocked. He nearly fainted, but he had to be strong. Henry went to the bedroom, packed and left.

Ruth lost her sons and husband. Henry found Sara and they got back together. No one visited Ruth anymore, she was lonely but still had joys in the graveyard. Samartha and her husband had a baby boy and carried on attending church. Only Ruth was possessed with the evil deed that she would bewitch her neighbours and family. Sara bore Henry 4 more children. Sara and Henry lived happily after, the same goes to Samartha and Dennis.

***

Tell us: Do you believe witches?