‘Look here my sister, it should not be said but they say they opened her up.’

‘They opened her up?’

‘Yes, opened her up.’

‘And the baby removed?’

‘Yes, the baby removed.’

‘Yes, the baby removed.’

‘I say . . .’

‘They do not say, my sister.’

‘Have you heard it?’

‘What?’

‘This and this and that . . .’

‘A-a-ah! that is it . . .’

‘Meewuo!’

‘They don’t say meewuo . . .’

‘And how is she?’

‘Am I not here with you? Do I know the highway which leads to Cape Coast?’

‘Hmmm . . .’

‘And anyway how can she live? What is it like even giving birth with a stomach which is whole . . . eh? . . . I am asking you. And if you are always standing on the brink of death who go to war with a stomach that is whole, then how would she do whose stomach is open to the winds?’

‘Oh, poo, pity . . .’

‘I say . . .’

My little bundle, come. You and I are going to Cape Coast today.

I am taking one of her own cloths with me, just in case. These people on the coast do not know how to do a thing and I am not going to have anybody mishandling my child’s body. I hope they give it to me. Horrible things I have heard done to people’s bodies. Cutting them up and using them for instructions. Whereas even murderers still have decent burials.

I see Mensima coming. . . . And there is Nkama too . . . and Adwoa Meenu. . . . Now they are coming to . . . ‘poo pity’ me. Witches, witches, witches . . . they have picked mine up while theirs prosper around them, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren – theirs shoot up like mushrooms.

‘Esi, we have heard of your misfortune . . .’

‘That our little lady’s womb has been opened up . . .’

‘And her baby removed . . .’

Thank you very much.

‘Has she lived through it?’

I do not know.

‘Esi, bring her here, back home whatever happens.’

Yoo, thank you. If the government’s people allow it, I shall bring her home.

‘And have you got ready your things?’

Yes. . . . No.

I cannot even think well.

It feels so noisy in my head. . . . Oh my little child. . . . I am wasting time. . . . And so I am going . . .

Yes, to Cape Coast.

No, I do not know anyone there now but do you think no one would show me the way to this big hospital . . . if I asked around?

Hmmm . . . it’s me has ended up like this. I was thinking that everything was alright now. . . . Yoo. And thank you too. Shut the door for me when you are leaving. You may stay too long outside if you wait for me, so go home and be about your business. I will let you know when I bring her in.

‘Maami Amfoa, where are you going?’

My daughter, I am going to Cape Coast.

‘And what is our old mother going to do with such swift steps? Is it serious?’

My daughter, it is very serious.

‘Mother, may God go with you.’

Yoo, my daughter.