6/21/2017 PrincessSailendraofMalindi,byKipropKimutai|mSafiri

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Princess Sailendra of Malindi, by Kiprop Kimutai

April1,2016 Features Tagged:byKipropKimutai,CainePrizeshortstory2015,PrincessSailendraofMalindi

Published in Lusaka
Punk and Other
Stories: The Caine
Prize for African
Writing 2015
Theseagivesmeahibiscus.

Theseaplacesitbeforemyfeet,onthesand
whereIlastsawmybrother,thenhastilyretreats.Iliftthehibiscusandplaceitonmychest.Thesoftpetals
havelosttheirscent.Still,Iclosemyeyesandpressitin.Ihearmybrothersdeepvoicecallingmeand
suddenlyIturnintoaprincess,PrincessSailendraofMalindi.Iseemyselfstandingontheedgeofarocky
promontory,dressedinabluechiffonveilthatfluttersinthewindasservantsshieldmyfacefromthesun
withaparasol.Ilookfarintotheocean,waitingforChinesejunkscarryingcasketsofmyperfumetoappear. ClicktoviewtheJan
AsIpressinthehibiscusIalsofeelmybreaststhosetoughlumps,likekaangumusoldbywomenin Feb'17edition
buibuiinthenarrowMalindistreetsIfeelthemswellwiththemagnificenceoftemplesburstingoutofa
junglecanopy.Irelaxmyshoulders.Mysunken,concaveshapereverses.

Butthisrudeboy,inboxershorts,carryingaballandrunningtohisfriends,knocksmeover.Ifallhardon
thesand,swallowingandbreathingitin.Icoughandgasp.ButonaSaturday,whenMalindibeachisfullof Archives
Archives SelectMonth
noisypeople,youmightaswellgetonallyourfoursandbarklikeadogasnoonewillturntolook.Everyone
isunkind.Unlikethesea,theyneversee.Theynevergiveouthibiscusflowers.Nevertomeatleast.

Butitdoesntmatter.OnedaytheywillallknowthatIamPrincessSailendraofMalindi.Theywillknowthat
thepalaceonthatrockyledgeatthecornerofthebeachismineandthatitismadeoutofcoralandred
marble.Theywillknowthatmybedroom,insidethepalace,isscentedwithjasmineandlitwithrosescented
candles,andthatthewindowfacestheeastsothatIcanbewokenupbythesun.Theywillknowthatinthe
morning,Ionlyhavetosnapmyfingersandallthesemaleservants,withripplingmusclesandwashboard
abs,willcarrymetomybathroomandlaymeinsudsywatertheywillfeedmegrapesastheyrubhoneyall
overmybody.OnedayIwilljustclosemyeyesandmarchHitlerstyleacrossthebeachandtheywillpart
thewayforme.Theywillsay,kwishaleo,Sailendraisamongus,andfaintontheshore.Afterwards,they
willscoopmyfootprints,pourthesandintoglassjarsanddisplayitintheirlivingrooms.Oneday.

Istandandshakesandoutofmytwoyearoldwig,stolen,fornooneallowsmeinboutiquesanymore.I
lookaround.Therearetoomanypeoplescurryingandscramblingallabout.Somewomenhaveforced
themselvesintobikinisthataretoosmallandarestrugglingtofindspacetolieonthebeach.Theythink
theylooksocool,likeHalleBerry.IfIhadagiantcanofDoom,Iwouldsprayallofthemdeadandshoveoff
theircorpsesintotheseatobeeatenbyfish.ButasIwalkonpassingchildreneagerforcamelrides
youngmen,whotalkindeephushedvoicesastheycheckoutagirlwomenwhowalkfreelythroughtheair,
asifitisnottheviscousgelthatalwaysholdsmebackIdecidetoextendthemmercy.Butonlyifoneof
themturnstolookatme.Ifjustoneturnsandsays:NgaiLydia,Ihaventseenyouinsomanydays.
Usipoteehivyo!Wehavetocatchup.Letushaveasoda.
READTRAVELAFRICAMAGAZINEHERE
ThenIseehimallalone,sittingonalogofwood,staringatthesea.Hisskinisgreyandpatchesofhairon
hismulletshapedheadseemtobefallingoff.Idragmyfeetthroughthesand,afraidtoliftthem.Iturnmy

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headthiswayandthatasIsmile.ThechildrenImeetstopplayingfootballandstareatmewithfrozen
faces.Iwalkfastertotheedgeofthelogandsitdownabruptly.Ilookatthesea.Shetoo,seemscurious.
Shehassloweddownhercrashingwaves.Ileanovertohimandbegin.

DoyouknowIamaprincess?Thatismypalaceatopthathill.Myfatherhasdhowsbearingmyname,that
sailallthewaytoIndia,tobringbackturmericandcinnamon.

Hedoesnotturn.Ifeelweird.Iturnawayandlowermyhead.Itrytodrawacircleonthesandwithmyfoot
butonlymanageazigzagline.Foramoment,allisquietasifweareallalone,shieldedfromtherestofthe
peoplebyaninvisiblewallthatsnuffsoutsound.Ilookathimagain,turningmyheadsoslowlyforI
suddenlyfeelshy.Hebecomesstiffasifturningintowood.Istretchmyhandandpokehisshoulder.The
skinsinksinandstays,likearottenmango.Igetangryandshovehimhard.Thatiswhenheturns,slowly
likeasettlingturnstile.Hestrugglestoopenhiseyes.Abluesyringedanglesfromaveininhisupperarm.I
dropthehibiscustheseagavemeandreachoutwithmyhands.

Hegraspsmyneck.Hisfingersarestrongandlizardrough.Theysinkintomyneckfleshandfindtender
bonesnotmeanttobetouched.Iturnmyheadtotheside,mytongueout.Ifeellikeadecapitatedchicken
headthatcooksatthepalacewouldthrowatthegrasstobedevouredbyants.Thenhiseyesturnsoft.He
partshislowerlip,revealingteethdissolvingintobrownmush.Hetrembles.Theshiverrunsdownhis
shoulderstohishandsandhisfingerstapdanceonmyneck.Hefinallyletsgoofmyneckandsitsthere
lookingsorry.Onlyforamomentthough,forheraisesuphisheadandpurseshislips.Itturnshimimperial
Clickheretoviewthisspecialissue
giveshimthelookofapharaohssonwhosestatuehasbeencommissionedforatemple.

Sawa,doyouwantmetogiveittoyou?Ishoutathim.

Itstheusualexchange.Weonlyhavetohideinthesea.Ionlyhavetoclosemyeyeswhenheentersme
andurgehimtogofastersoastofinishquickly,prayingallthetimethatthetallmeninblueshortsandhigh
bootswhopatrolthebeachwillnotgivechase.SoIspringupandruntothesea.Thesandtriestoholdme
backbysuckinginmylegs.Ipushthroughintothewater.Iliftupmyskirtandcallouttohim.

Siyoucomeforitau!

Iclosemyeyesandwaitforhisfootfalls.Iwaitfortheairtocloywiththescentofhisillicitdesires.Iwait
forhisribstosquashmyhardbreasts.Iwaitfortheseatogrowllikeadogandforthatjellyfishsensationof
himinsideme.AllIwillthinkof,ashethrustsintome,isthecrownIusedtowear.Iwillwonderifthe
servantsstillremembertowipeitssetsofemeraldandamethyststoneswithvinegar.ButwhenIopenan
eyetolook,thereheis,stillsittingonalogofwood.

Shogawewe,Ishout.Youcannotdoitwithawoman.Canyouevengetitup?

HisimpassivenessdisturbsmeandIrunbacktohim.Sasayouwillgivemethisdawaforfree.AkiIreally
wantit.

Likepebblesthrowntoapond,hischeeksdimple.

MynameisLoneVoiceintheDesert,hesays,inavoicethatsendsafeelingofcoldscalesupmyback.
Hesneers.HaveyoufoundJesus?
Search
IwonderwhoJesusisandwhyheislostinthefirstplace.ThenIrememberJesus,themaninadress,who
whippedbankersatBarclaysforchangingcurrenciesonaSunday.AsIremember,LoneVoiceintheDesert
Newsletter
liftsawiltedfingerandplacesitonthesideofmyhead.Heraisestheotherhandandflipshisfingers
throughtheair,openingpagesofabookonlyhecansee.Hespeaks. FirstName:

Come,allofyouwhoarethirsty,cometothewatersandyouwhohavenomoney,come,buyandeat! Yourfirstname
Come,buywineandmilkwithoutmoneyandwithoutcost.Whyspendmoneyonthatwhichisnotbreadand
yourlabouronwhatdoesnotsatisfy?Listen,listentomeandeatwhatisgood,andyouwilldelightinthe Emailaddress:
richestoffare.
Youremailaddress
Myintestinesmeltthen.Theydrip,hotascandlewax,intomygroin.Ibendandsupportmyselfonmy
knees.Hetakesdownhishandsandholdsthembeforeme,palmsupandblows.
Signmeup!

Receive,heshouts.

Ifallonthesandandthrash.Later,hetellsme,ademonintheshapeofabarkingseal,forceditselfoutof
mymouthandwaddledintothesea.Thenaddsthatmysins,whichwereasredasblood,werenowaswhite
assnow.

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Listen:Ihadabrother.Hefedwellonbutterandsweetenedsesame,swellingtillheblubberedlikeawalrus
onthefloor.Mumhadhimtakechargeofoursteedtoturnhimlean.Intime,strongmusclesforcedoutof
hisshoulders.Wewouldhearhishandsrippleintheairashemarchedoutside,aneagerman.Hisname
wasSamadra.ThatisallIhavenow.Justthatname.Ifyouhearmemutteritinthemorning,when
fishermenaredrawingintheirnetsafteranightspentatsea,orshoutingitwhenitrains,justunderstand.

Samadraptooh!Thatboyisthedevil,saidmum,whenshewasnolongeraqueeninflowingrobesanda
highneck,butawomanonacreakingbed,unabletositupandwipehernose,awomanwhoseeyesIhad
towipewithawarm,wetclotheachmorning.

Why?Iasked,pressingmybarefeetontheearthenfloor.Isatontheedgeofthebednexttothedoor,for
thecoldwindtoreachmefirstandturnwarm.

Itishimwhothrewusintothispitofdesperation,shesaid.Aboywithtoomuchgreed!Greedalltheway
uptohisneck.Mtotomtundusanahuyo.Canyouimagineasonofmine,meetingwithItaliansatnight?
Givingmylandaway!AndhaveIseenasinglecoinforthattransaction,Lydia?HaveI?

StillIsawSamadraasabenevolentgodwhoperformedmiracles,whopassedthroughimpenetrablewallsto
offergrace.Whenmumneededtheredpills,foundfarawayinMombasa,atthatpharmacynexttothe
policestation,withgridsonthewindowthatsealedthepharmacistlikeacagedbird,mybrotherwentand
gotthemwithoutpayingasinglecoin.Andhegotthembeforesix,formumhadtotakethepillsbeforesix.
Whenmumturnedherheadonthepillow,eyesopenbutnotseeing,lettingoutagroanlikeanechofroma
cave,Samadralookedupontheworldhecreatedandorderedittobringforthpineapplesandorangeseven
theprecioussultanaswhichIwouldholdtomumsmouthforhertosuckonandpacifythedemonsthat
torturedher.

Ioncefollowedmybrotheroutsideonenight,whenstarssprinkledgoldendustontheoceanandthegrass.
ItwashardfollowingSamadra,though.Hemovedtooquicklyanddisappearedinacoconutgroveahead.
Foramomentallthatwasleftwashisvoice,loudandforcefullikeacrashingwave,thenthattooquietened.
Iwalkedon,though,upadirtpathwindinglikeathinribbon.Atthetopwasmypalace,surroundedbya
concretefencewhichwasspikedatthetopwithbrokenglass.Therewerenoisesinsidelaughter,clicking
glasses,somesoftmusic.Isatonmyhaunchesandstared.Amancameoutside,anoldwhitemanwitha
greyingbeardandabellythatsettledgourdlikearoundhiswaist.Hehadacigaretteinhishand.Iwondered
whetherhewastheItalian.

Princess,hesaid,eversosoftly,speakingonlytome.Youaresobeautiful.

Ismiledandtrailedmyeyestohisshorts.Theyhungawkwardlyunderhisbelly,asifhewaswearingan
immenseblockofwood.HemovedcloserandInoticedhowtallhewas.Hewasslouching.Iimaginedhim
talkingtoSamadra,handsinhispockets,noddingatintervals.Iimaginedpapersbeingsigned.The
exchangeofnotes.Fresh,clean,unfoldednotes.StraightfromBarclays.

Hetotteredcloser.

Whyareyoubarefoot,Princess?heasked.Hepuffedindeeplyfromhiscigarette.Whenheblewout,the
smokefilledmylungswithapang.Icangiveyoualltheshoesyouwant.

Hetappedhisswollenpocket,thentappedhisfly.Heleanthisheadtothesideandwinked.Isleptwithhim
thatnight.Atbreakfast,hefedmecroissantsandhotchocolate,thenhandedmeathousandshillingsand
toldmetobeonmywayforhisfriendswerecoming.IkeptthenotefoldedinmyhandforImeanttothrowit
away.Laterathome,though,Islippeditintothefoldsofmydress.FromthenIwouldwalkwithoutliftingmy
legs,afraidthatguiltwouldleakfromthesolesofmyfeetandstaintheearthenfloor,afraidthatmumwould
lookatmewithcold,sterneyes.

Whenshediedwelostthatsingleroomtoo.ImovedtothebeachwithSamadraandhisfriends.Onthe
sand,Samadraturnedevenmorehandsome,withthatsturdy,thicksetphysiquethatwhitewomenloved.
Theywavedathimastheysunbathedandhewouldwalkandkneelbesidethem.Latertheywouldwalk
togetherbacktohotelsthatsecurityguardsforbademetoenter.Hewouldbringmefoodafterwards.One
day,awholewafflesmearedwithblueberrysyrup.HewouldliftmychinwithafingerandtellmethatIwas
theonlyprincesshehadleftintheworld.

OnenightheshooktoomuchandIgavehimtheonethousandshillingnote.Iknewheneededdawa.He
unfoldedthenoteandstretcheditonhispalmandfromit,Kenyatta,thefirstpresidentandafreedom
fighter,staredatmesternly.Samadrawalkedawaythen,trailinghisfeetonthewetsand.Ikeptlookingat
himtillhefadedwiththedarkness.Iwantedtocallouttohimsothathecouldturnandshoutback,Take
carePrincess,butallthewhilethepitofmystomachfeltheavyasifIhadswallowedastoneandIcould

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nottalk.Ineversawhimagain.Inthemorning,Itriedfollowinghisfootstepsonthesand,buttheseahad
washedthemaway.

IamsittingwithLoneVoiceintheDesertinsidehischurchmadeoutoftwigs.Iaskwhyhischurchbuilding
issosmallthatonlytwopeoplecansqueezeinatatimeandhetellsmewhatJesussaid,thatwhentwoor
threearegatheredinHisname,thereHewillbe,amongthem.

IbegintellinghimthatIamPrincessSailendraofMalindi.Itellhimabouttherarehistorybookswith
Parisianbindingatthepalacelibrary,howIwouldlieonmybackonthePersiancarpet,readingaboutthe
StraitsofMalacca.ButIcannotfinishthisstorywithhim.Heisahardmanwhoturnshisgazefarfromyou
tosomethingmorefascinating.Istopandwrinklemyforeheadinstead.Isinkmykneesdeeperintothesand
tillthesharpgrainsgrazemyskin.

LoneVoiceintheDesertlooksdownabruptly,lickinghislips.

YouareMaryMagdalene.YouwashedJesussfeetwithyourhair.

Igraspmystolenwigandholditfirmlyonmyhead,afraiditwillfalloffandrevealthatmyhairisshort,andI
sodesperatelywanttobeMaryMagdalene.LoneVoiceintheDesertsmilesandleanshishandsonthe
sand.Hehasaniceface,ashapelynoselikethestatuesofNubiankingsintheSudandesertIwouldseein
books,thosewhobuiltkingdomsinKushandMeroe.Butthenhisfaceturnsunclear,asifsuddenlyhiding
behindaveiloffog.

Iknowwhereyourbrotheris,hesays.

Thatslapsmyface.Itremble.Heliftshishandandpointsouttothesea.

Heisfaroutthere.InanislandcalledEden.Helivesinagardenofappleswithaslysnake.Heisnotafraid
ofhisnakednessandwalksonstreetsofgold.HisnameiswrittenintheBookofLife.

Doyouseehimnow?Iask.

Heleansbackonthesandandcloseshiseyes.

VerilyIsayuntoyou,Lydia.Ifyouhadfaithevenassmallasamustardseed,youcouldsaytothis
coconuttree,Mayyoubeuprootedandthrownintothesea,anditwouldobeyyou!

Iliebesidehim.Itrailmyfingersdownhisshoulder.Idrawthesaltroadonthelandscapeofhisarmwith
myfingernail.IturnhimintoaBerbertrader,trudgingonacamelacrossasanddune,brewinghotcoffeeat
nightinawindyoasis.

Later,afterwehaveslept,wemeltdawaonafoilandholdourstrawsready.IcelebrateasIsuckin.Narrow
isthedoortoheaven.Peaceshallcomeuponmeoncethecowardly,theunbelieving,thevile,thosewhodo
notseeme,havebeenshutoutfromthebanquet.Peaceshallcomeoncetheyhaveallbeenconsignedto
thefierylakeofburningsulphur.LoneVoiceintheDesertandIshallremain,tofreelydrinkfromtheWater
ofLife.Iholdmybreathasthehotfumesburnmythroat.

WhenIfinallybreatheout,Ilookattheseaandsheisnowatall,regalwomandrapedinawhiterobe.Sheis
carryingSamadraonherarm.Mybrotherissuckingonhernipple.

Youareoftheworld,saysthesea.Nosalvationcomeswithoutthesheddingofblood.

Iamgoingtosacrificeyou,IturntotellLoneVoiceintheDesert.ButIseeonlyhiseyes.Hiseyesare
hugeandfaraway,asifhehassuddenlysunkdeepinsideawell.

Helaughsandhisfacereveals.

Youaregoingtosacrificeme,Lydia.

Webothlaugh.AsIstabhim,welaughoutevenmore.Ourlaughterturnsintosheepthatskitterandrun.He
fallsandIlieontopofhim.Ashisbloodflowsout,itsingsmymothersfavouriteTaarabsong,UtalijuaJiji
byAfuaSulemani.ItrytosingalongbutIturntobloodandlosemythroat.Idripaway.Ijointhesea.We
areonenow.Iwanttoseemum.

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