Afflicted. Episode 8

Afflicted
Episode 8
AKOTO
(voice trembling)
Don’t do this to me, Kes, my love! I can’t live without you! You’re the only woman I love! Can’t you see what is happening here? This hypocrite is interested in you! He wants you, and that’s why he’s attacking and afflicting me! Don’t allow yourself to be swayed by this devil worshipper!
Reverend Obuobi’s hand is in his pocket, and he has unwrapped a candy in his pocket.
He removes his hand and quickly puts the toffee in his mouth, and rolls it between his molars.
REV. OBUOBI
(savagely)
Don’t listen to him, Kesewaa! Yes, it is true that God wants you to be my partner in His Vineyard! I’ve seen the vision many times, but I have been quiet because it disturbs me! But look, this man has blasphemed against me, a true vessel of God, and because of that the spirit in me is going to strike him down this very second! Look, he’s going to be struck down like a cripple, and his hands shall be like that of a leprous man, and he will become an imbecile until he confesses to his devil worship and the ritual he wanted to use to kill Kesewaa!
Reverend Obuobii then chomps down hard on the strange candy in his mouth, breaking it to pieces.
And then, amazingly, incredibly, Akoto’s mouth begins to twist to the left!
The people looking at him gasp with absolute shock!
Akoto’s fingers suddenly bend inwards until they resemble those of a leprous person!
Thick saliva drools from his mouth, and his legs suddenly shrivels into malformed trunks, and he falls down hard on the platform!
He begins to make strange gurgling sounds like a retarded person, and he begins to lick the platform!
There is absolute shock everywhere!
The auditorium is stunned into silence!
Akoto Nyameboame, one of the handsomest, wealthiest, God-fearing bachelors in the world, has suddenly been reduced to a grovelling fool!
Bishop Osuanyi stares at the boy, and suddenly he moves forward, his face filled with sudden fear and compassion.
BISHOP OSUANYI
(trembling)
Reverend Obuobi! This man is a powerful man in society! The law will descend on us for this!
REV. OBUOBI
I never touched him! Did anybody see me touching him? I’ve done no wrong! He insulted me, and got his just punishment! All he needs to do is confess that he uses occult powers, and he’ll be free!
Kesewaa, shocked, moves away from the flailing hands of Akoto as he tries to hold her legs.
AKOTO
(weeping, grovelling)
Keshiwap…Keshiiiwaaap! Pleassh helpsh meesh! Ohhhh, my lovesh Keshiiiwaaap! I begsh yoush helpsh meesh pleeeaaashh!
KESEWAA
Oh, Akoto, Akoto! I warned you, but you wouldn’t listen! See what has happened to you because of your devil worship!
REV. OBUOBI
Let this be a lesson to all of you who think you can insult or challenge me, an anointed man! Ushers, come and pick up this sinner and take him to the Miracle Room. Put a chain on him and tie him to a post! Let’s hope he confesses, and I will make him whole again!
About five ushers approach the pathetic, broken body of Akoto and pick him up.
They carry him through a door.
Kesewaa looks after them and shakes her head slowly.
How can Akoto deceive her like this?
He is nothing but a wicked, selfish man who dabbles with occultic powers!
She feels so thankful to God!
She picks the microphone, and soon begins to sing powerfully!
More voices join in!
They have just witnessed another incredible miracle of how God protects the anointed Reverend Obuobi, and they are all in the spirit!
AFTER SERVICE…
Bishop Osuanyi opens the Miracle Room and enters.
The programme is over and people are leaving, but he has come straight to the room to look at Akoto Nyameboame.
The Ushers have put a chain around his neck and padlocked it to one of the concrete pillars in the room.
Akoto is sitting in one corner, crippled and leprous, his mouth twisted and drooling saliva, his fingers curled terribly inward, his legs terrible malformed stumps.
Bishop Osuanyi begins to tremble, and tears of compassion come to his eyes.
Behind him the door opens slowly, and he turns.
Reverend Ebow Obuobi is standing in the doorway, smiling a very dangerous smile as he looks at the Bishop.
The Bishop walks unsteadily towards him.
BISHOP OSUANYI
(shattered)
The boy is right, isn’t he? He said we should test the spirits, and it is true. I have been so blind, Ebow. You’re my dead sister’s son! We never knew your father! I raised you as my son and sent you to England to learn the Bible, to become a great man of God, and to lead this church one day. But you didn’t only learn Biblical Theology when you went to England, did you? You learnt the Dark Arts too, didn’t you? You sold your soul to the Devil! You’re not of God! You’ve been using demonic powers all along! Oh, how blind I’ve been!
Ebow Obuobi enters the room fully and closes the door behind him.
He smiles slyly.
REV. OBUOBI
I’ve been where you would never dare go, Uncle. Yes, I learnt something much, much more powerful! Something that will bring me money, power and get me anything I want! I travelled to the far reaches of the Earth and gathered the mightiest powers on earth! This is my time, old man, and you better not stand in my way!
The Bishop sits down wearily on a chair and looks at his nephew with horror.
BISHOP OSUANYI
Dear Lord, Ebow! You’ve become a devil! And you’re going to cause havoc in my church! Akoto is right! You only attacked him because of Kesewaa, didn’t you? You want Kesewaa for yourself!
Ebow clasps his hands together and smiles evilly.
REV. OBUOBI
Ah! Kesewaa! The fairest lady of them all! Nobody is as sweet as she is! Mmmm, have you seen that incredible figure of hers? Shapely like figure like a bass guitar, and those shaking buttocks…. Aaaahhhhh, so delicious-looking! And she is greedy too, for money and power, just like me! Oh, yes, I need her! We’re going to get married and become powerful together! I can’t wait to screw that delicious butt on her!! Yummy!! My third leg is even stiff already thinking about all the different ‘one corner’ styles I’m going to give Kesewaa, hehehehee!