Taduno's Song (16 page)

*

He attempted to sing with his half-baked voice as he went
round the city, but the sound that came out caused his listeners to cringe.

The Channel 4 newscaster told the country: ‘Something isn't right about Taduno's voice. It lacks the passion that used to inspire joy in us. What is happening to him? What is happening to us?' She left the questions hanging, and then she added: ‘We still love him dearly. We still want his voice to lead us. The whole nation is waiting.'

In his office the President smiled to himself, pleased with how things were going. A week had passed. Three more to go.

*

Every night, when the gentle breeze lifted at TBS, the homeless men gathered to listen to Taduno's music. Even though they knew something had changed about it, they were still enthralled. They were joyful that they now remembered him, like the rest of the world, and they wondered why they had forgotten him in the first place. The more they wondered, the more confused they became. And so they stopped wondering.

His music always paid tribute to their woes, and this endeared him to them. Sometimes he slept with them in the square, and his music made the cold nights more tolerable.

He loved to listen to their snoring in the quiet night. He loved the way they snored without worries. And when they slapped angrily at the mosquitoes, their snoring took a lull before picking up again in second gear.

*

The homeless man who gave him information about TK on his first night at the square was named Thaddeus. Before he became homeless, Thaddeus worked as an automobile engineer. He was doing well at his profession. And then he dreamed of building a made-in-Nigeria car, and made the mistake of going to the government with his dream. They were appalled and killed it because they wanted to continue to patronise car makers from Japan, the US, France and Germany. After they returned his dream to him in tatters, he woke up one day and found himself homeless. And so he began to live at the square.

He told Taduno his story on a quiet starlit night, while the others were snoring. They watched the stars together. Taduno marvelled at how beautiful they were. Thaddeus attempted to count them – in the same hopeful, futile way he had attempted to build a made-in-Nigeria car.

*

Thaddeus told him that he had not seen TK in many weeks. ‘But I'm sure he will come back,' he reassured him.

‘I hope he comes back soon,' said Taduno, sounding desperate.

‘Why do you want him back so bad?'

‘Because I need him to help me make good music again,' Taduno replied.

‘I see,' Thaddeus said.

The square became quiet.

‘It's a matter of life and death,' Taduno continued. ‘Please tell the others to keep their eyes and ears open. If they see TK or hear anything about him they should let me know immediately.'

Thaddeus nodded. ‘I will tell them. But if I may ask, why would making good music be a life-and-death thing? I don't know much about music-making, but I believe it should be a beautiful experience. Please excuse me if I'm wrong.'

‘You are absolutely correct. Yes, you are. But making music has become a burden for me. It is not something I can explain.'

‘Nothing is too complex to be explained.'

He digested Thaddeus' words for a moment, and he failed to understand how such an intelligent man could end up at the square. He wondered if he would end up like Thaddeus one day. The thought sent a chill up his spine.

‘Yes,' he agreed, ‘nothing is too complex to be explained. Maybe I should say it is not something I want to explain.'

‘That sounds better. It is not everything that must be explained,' Thaddeus said and sighed.

‘Did you ever make any attempt to revive your dream?' he asked, looking away from Thaddeus.

‘I tried. It didn't work.'

The cold night bonded them. When they became silent, the snores in the square invaded their respective thoughts.

Taduno wondered at his new friend Thaddeus. And he wondered, especially, at himself. He picked up his guitar, and he strummed a tune that was barely audible in the silent night.

TWENTY-ONE

Finding it increasingly difficult to rehearse in his own house now, Taduno began to spend his nights at TBS. He would sit among the homeless men and play his guitar for many hours without singing. As they listened, his music stirred old memories.

He played patiently; they listened attentively. When he stopped, the snoring began. He would then retire to the far end of the square, away from everyone, and play his guitar with a softness that teased the night breeze. And he would sing quietly along.

Sometimes Thaddeus came to listen to him while the others slept.

‘Your voice used to be much better than it is now,' Thaddeus commented on one occasion, during an interlude. ‘What happened?'

‘I had an accident and lost my voice,' he replied. ‘I'm trying to discover it.'

‘I'm so sorry to hear that,' Thaddeus said.

‘Thank you.' He hesitated. ‘Any word about TK?'

‘Not yet. But I'm sure he will turn up eventually.'

‘I hope so. I'm running out of time.'

‘What's the hurry? Do you have a deadline to meet?'

Taduno hesitated. ‘No, I haven't any deadline. It's just that I'm eager to make music again,' he replied and cringed at the half-truth of his words.

‘Take it easy,' Thaddeus advised patiently. ‘Nothing done in a hurry is ever done well. Take it easy.'

Taduno nodded. ‘I agree with you, and I wish I could take your advice. Unfortunately, I cannot.'

Thaddeus rose to leave. ‘Time to go to bed,' he said with a chuckle. ‘Have a good rehearsal.'

‘Thanks and good night.'

‘Goodnight, my friend.'

Thaddeus raised his collar against the cold and left Taduno to join the competing snorers at the other end of the square.

*

While he played among the homeless men the following night, a string broke on his guitar for the first time in his career, forcing his music to end. For a few moments, a nervous silence descended upon the square. And then someone cleared his throat noisily, causing everyone to throw fearful looks around. The noisy throat clearer repeated his act a second time, a warning that he wanted to speak now that the sound of music was dead. Everyone waited for what he had to say. When he spoke, his words
were simple and clear. ‘When music is silent you hear the laughter of the tyrant,' he said.

Taduno digested the words slowly. He replayed the voice in his mind. Then, realising that it was the voice of Aroli, he shook his head in amazement.

‘Aroli?' he called out.

‘Yes, Taduno,' Aroli replied, standing up in the midst of the ragged men and making his way through them.

‘What brings you here?'

‘To see what progress you are making.'

Taduno managed a painful laugh. ‘A string is broken on my guitar,' he said.

‘So sorry about that,' Aroli said as he stopped before Taduno on the bench where he was seated.

‘It is the first time.' He laughed uncertainly.

‘There's always a first time.'

The other men remained silent. They had nothing to say. So they simply listened to the conversation between Taduno and Aroli.

‘Welcome to the square,' Taduno said.

‘It is beautiful out here.'

‘Yes, it is,' Taduno said, rising to his feet.

‘I just had to come. I wanted to see how you are getting on.'

‘It's nice of you to come. Meet my new neighbours,' Taduno said with a laugh. Raising his voice, he said: ‘Everyone, meet my dear friend, Aroli.'

‘Hi!' the men said in unison.

‘Hi!' Aroli said, raising his hand in greeting.

Taduno felt warmth he hadn't experienced in a long
time. He introduced Aroli to Thaddeus and the three of them chatted while the others retired to their various sleeping positions.

‘Since my guitar is broken and I cannot rehearse tonight, I guess I'll have to go home,' Taduno said.

A chill descended on the square when he and Aroli left to catch the last bus home.

He spent all night mending the broken string of his guitar.

*

Vulcaniser paid him a visit in the morning wearing a very worried look.

‘We've searched the city and there's no sign of TK,' he said. ‘I believe he must have left the city.'

‘He couldn't have left the city,' Taduno shook his head. ‘He has nowhere else to go. His life is here. He must be somewhere out there. Look, I appreciate your effort. Leave it to me, I'll find him somehow.'

‘I hope we have not disappointed you?' Vulcaniser said, lowering his head.

‘Not at all! You have done very well. I appreciate all your efforts.'

Vulcaniser's face brightened. ‘We will not stop looking. We will continue to keep our eyes and ears open. If TK is still in the city, somebody will see him or hear something about him eventually.'

Taduno nodded and thanked him once again.

They shook hands warmly.

After Vulcaniser had left, Taduno picked up his guitar, which he had successfully mended. For a while, he simply paced the living room holding the guitar in one hand. Then he played one of his old songs. Although the guitar was as good as it was before, the music refused to come together. He tried for several hours without success. And then, realising that his house was no longer a place where beautiful music could be made, his heart began to beat with fear.

*

Aroli was not there to share his fear; he was busy chasing one property deal or the other all over the city. So, feeling somewhat desolate, Taduno left for TBS earlier than usual that day. The place was teeming when he arrived there. For several hours he jostled among the crowd, acknowledging greetings here and there. And then he bumped into Thaddeus, who was panting as if he had just completed a marathon.

‘Thank God you are here!' Thaddeus said, gasping for breath. He pulled Taduno away from the crowd.

‘What's the matter?' Taduno asked anxiously.

‘I saw TK. I called out to him but he disappeared into the crowd.'

‘When did you see him?' His mouth was dry.

‘About an hour ago. I have been searching through the crowd for him ever since, without luck.'

‘Are you sure he is the one you saw?'

‘Yes, I'm sure. Even though he has cut his Afro, I feel certain he is the one I saw.'

Taduno shook with excitement. He had not mentioned to Thaddeus that TK no longer wore his Afro.

‘What did he look like without his Afro?' he asked.

‘He looked forlorn. I cannot describe it – almost as if he was no longer of this world.'

‘Why didn't you stop him?'

‘I tried to get to him but my movement was hampered and he disappeared into the crowd. I believe he is running away from something.'

‘He is a free man now. He doesn't have to run!' There was utter dejection in Taduno's voice.

Thaddeus looked lost. He wondered what Taduno meant, but not wanting to ask any questions, he said: ‘Maybe he will sleep at the square tonight.'

‘I hope he does. But in the meantime let's continue to search for him, please.' Taduno's voice was urgent.

They agreed to comb the crowd in opposite directions. And they went about it as swiftly as they could.

*

They got back together on an old bench that creaked under their weight. Their search had been fruitless.

Soon the homeless men started to converge. And then it was time for him to regale them with music.

‘I don't feel like playing tonight,' he whispered to Thaddeus.

‘You cannot let us down!' Thaddeus whispered back. ‘We look forward to this every night. It is about the only thing we look forward to. It makes sleeping in this square bearable.'

He sighed. ‘Okay, I'll try.'

So he played his guitar.

Because his mind wasn't settled, he finished earlier than usual. Then he went round with Thaddeus, staring at the faces of his audience one after the other. TK was not among them. They went round a second time, still without any luck.

‘But I saw him,' Thaddeus said.

Taduno suppressed a sigh of frustration.

*

It was a strange night. Even though he rehearsed with the minimum volume, the sound of his music seemed to fill the square.

He was still playing way past midnight when a car pulled up in the darkness. He heard the screech of tyres. Soon, he could hear the sound of approaching footsteps, and he could tell that they were the footsteps of a very important man. He continued to play, unconcerned about who the approaching man could be. His music became louder, the sound of snoring dropped a notch – but they continued to combine well in the grand music that resonated in the square.

And then he heard a voice, and only then did he realise who was now standing before him.

‘I see you are working hard to discover your voice.'

Taduno stopped playing and looked up in surprise at the President. He rose slowly to his feet and looked fearfully around.

‘Don't worry, I came alone,' the President said.

‘Alone?' Taduno repeated incredulously. ‘You venture out at this time of night alone?'

‘Why not? After all, I'm a General. I have fought many wars and I have tasted countless victories. Why should I be afraid to explore my own territory?'

Taduno swallowed. ‘Do you want to sit down?' he asked politely.

‘No, thank you. I have not come to sit down. I have come to remind you, in case you have forgotten, that you have less than two weeks to go. See, I have kept my own part of the deal so far. I have withdrawn my men from the streets. I have allowed TK to be. But I have yet to see any commitment on your part. So I thought I should come to remind you, in case you have forgotten. It is so easy to forget, you know, so easy to break a promise.'

‘As you can see, I'm working hard to regain my voice. But my progress has been slow because I have not been able to find TK. He went into hiding after I was arrested, and no one has seen him since.'