Free Taduno's Song by Odafe Atogun Page B

we are not going to praise-sing. You cannot makebeautiful music by praise-singing. You cannot use beautiful music to praise-sing.’
    â€˜The life of the woman I love is at stake,’ Taduno said with dismay.
    â€˜The government wants you to support it with your music. But I tell you, if you do that you are as good as dead. They will use you then they will silence you.’
    â€˜If I don’t they will kill Lela.’
    â€˜No, they will not,’ TK said confidently.
    â€˜The Sergeant said they will kill her if I refuse to praise the government with my music.’
    â€˜They have to find you first. I mean, they have to remember you first. Whatever!’ He placed a palm on his temple. ‘From what you told me, nobody remembers you; nobody but me. They are holding Lela as a bargaining chip. They will not hurt her until they find you. They need you to praise the government with your song. I assure you Lela is very safe as we speak. In the meantime, let’s focus on making beautiful music again. And then we can take on the government on our own terms.’
    Taduno looked uncertain, but somehow felt comforted by TK’s assurance that nothing bad would happen to Lela – until they found him.
    *
    Having wandered around the city most of that day trying to find a buyer for a multi-storey property, Aroli showed up while TK was sleeping in the guest room upstairs. Strangely, he knocked on the door quietly; so quietlyTaduno almost missed the sound of the knock. And when he opened the door and saw that it was Aroli, his heart skipped a beat. He wondered if he had come to give him away quietly to the authorities, without fuss, without any drama. Or was it possible that he knew that TK was in his house?
    He had brought TK home under the cover of darkness, using the back door. And he felt certain that no one saw them come in. So why did Aroli come knocking so quietly, so unusually? Did he sense TK’s larger-than-life presence?
    They could both feel the tension in the air. Taduno did not know what to say; he felt uncomfortable knowing that TK was upstairs, and he wondered how Aroli would react when he found out.
    â€˜I came to see how you are doing,’ Aroli said as he took a seat.
    Taduno ignored his words. He made up his mind to tell him there and then. ‘He’s upstairs, sleeping,’ he said, nodding towards the staircase.
    â€˜Who is upstairs?’ Aroli asked with a frown.
    â€˜TK. I found him last night and brought him home sometime after midnight. He’s upstairs sleeping.’
    A groan emanated from Aroli’s throat. ‘Did anyone see you?’ he asked.
    â€˜I don’t think so, we came in through the back door. The entire neighbourhood appeared to be asleep then.’
    â€˜But they will know about his presence sooner or later. And when the man from the secret service turns up again they will tell him TK is here. And you know what that means.’
    Taduno looked away. ‘I couldn’t leave him on the street. I had to bring him here.’
    â€˜You could have taken him elsewhere, not here.’ There was fear in Aroli’s voice. ‘If the government gets to know that he is here it will bring everybody a lot of trouble. I can imagine what they will do to us. They will send in soldiers to kick all our arses. They will lock many of us up. They will destroy our properties, and rape our women. They will do a lot of nasty things to us, but I can’t imagine what they will do to you and him. Have you thought about all that? Have you?’
    â€˜Nobody has to know that he is here,’ Taduno said defensively. ‘He’ll remain indoors until we are able to work out a safer arrangement for him.’ He began to walk round the living room in a widening circle, like a man in a trance.
    â€˜How long are you going to keep him indoors? How long? I’m sure you are going to be rehearsing together, trying to discover your voice again.