I am Jaxu Gaye, and this is my daughter Ndumbee,
And we are creatures of the pond. If we had our way, we would swim and eat turtles all day, And never leave that of which we are so fond. And as Jaxu sang her song, the beautiful brown skin slipped from her body and she took her true form—equal parts human and beast, she was both beautiful and terrible. Her legs were like the roots of the fig that drank from the pool, and her arms, the twisting tentacles of the creatures that lingered in its depths. Once free of her disguise, Jaxu helped her daughter do the same, and the two waded into the pond and were content.
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Wrapping herself up in rags, she grabbed her baby and walked toward the gate. Her husband followed, but he dare not reach out and grab her. He was helpless. But then suddenly she stopped and turned to look at him. The two stood with their gazes locked for some seconds, then Jaxu's face softened and she took a step toward him. Then she took another and came face-to-face with her husband. There she hesitated for a second, then leaned in and kissed him on the lips.
“I will always love you,” she whispered into his ear, “but please don’t try to follow me. I don’t want to destroy that which I love.” Then she walked out, closed the gate behind her, and was never seen again. |