That night the Spirit came into the compound and, with a voice both beautiful and terrible, called out for the girl. But Old Billy, remembering his promise, responded with his own bashful voice:
Baa, great Spirit,
No one is home. Come back when the time is fit, For I am all alone. This angered the Spirit. He rose up and fell on the huddled mass of goats, eating up two of them with one bite. Then, with his stomach full, the Spirit turned and left the compound for the River.
But he was not appeased, and the following night, the Spirit returned to the compound. Again he called out for the girl, and again Old Billy responded with his own bashful voice:
Baa, great Spirit,
No one is home. Come back when the time is fit, For I am all alone. And so the Spirit ate up two more of the goats. Night after night, the demon came calling for the girl and left with a stomach full of goat meat, till eventually only Old Billy remained. As nightfall fell the following day, the brave Old Billy untied himself from the pen and walked to the center of the compound to wait for the vengeful Spirit.
“O mighty Spirit,” baa’ed the Billy when the Spirit arrived, “you have eaten all my brothers and sisters. You have condemned this compound to hunger and destitution. Please eat me and be satisfied. Don’t eat the...” But the Billy was swallowed up before he could even finish the sentence. Then the Spirit called out for the orphan once again, and this time the beautiful young Aisha responded. So the Spirit rose up and laughed his terrible laugh, then fell on the girl and swallowed her whole. No sooner had he done so than Aisha’s elder brother walked into the compound and saw the Spirit standing there. The demon just continued to laugh, though, and said: “You’re too late! I’ve already eaten your dear sister, and now I will eat you too!” The brave young man would not submit to death so easily, however, and, taking up a machete, rushed at the Spirit. Bitter was the battle between the two, but eventually the valiant brother put his blade to the beast’s neck and slew him. Then he took his cutlass and cut open the Sprit’s stomach, and out tumbled Old Billy and the beautiful Aisha. The brave young man helped them both to their feet and, after saying his farewell to his mother’s memory, led the two away from the village and their wicked stepmother. |