Her memory returned to Kayode's voice: "And she will still thank me."
Her memory returned to Kayode's voice: "Chief, watch this well."
Her memory returned to Kayode's voice: "There! Now you look like a real party girl..."
Her memory returned to Lara's voice: "Kayode, what have you done?"
Her memory returned to Kayode's voice: "Girl, and clean it!"
Her memory returned to Kayode's voice: "Shining and wet from head to toe!"
The remembered voices receded, leaving the low hum of the ship beneath her bunk. Outside, the Golden Crest continued its planned route, indifferent to the private anger gathering in one cabin. Folake rose and sought out Captain Segun, who had promised her father that his daughter would always find a hearing aboard the vessel. She did not disguise the bitterness behind her request. When he listened, his expression showed the gravity of a choice that the others had almost begun to treat as inevitable.
Folake said, "Laugh on in your golden room, Kayode. Laugh well, because your nights are already numbered."
Folake murmured, "Thank you, Captain. Please keep this between us. Nobody else on this ship must hear our quiet plan."
Folake said, "My tears are finished from tonight, Tayo. Now only the plan remains inside my heart and my head."
Tayo replied, "We will watch him every day and wait for the right night. Patience will do the heavy work for us."
Morning brought the familiar ritual of towels, breakfast trays, deck chairs, and endless demands. Folake returned to her uniform because the crew still had work to do, and because Kayode had not earned the satisfaction of seeing her disappear. In a way, the repetition was harder than the public spectacle. His cruelty had become ordinary, delivered with the casual certainty of a man who expected to be obeyed before he finished speaking. She wondered whether the guests from the party had already forgotten her face.
Kayode sneered, "Girl, these towels are damp! Take them away and bring me fresh ones at once!"
Folake said, "Yes, sir. I will bring the fresh towels right away. Please forgive the mistake."
Kayode said, "This soup is cold and tasteless. Take it back and tell the kitchen to start again."
Folake said, "I am very sorry, sir. Your fresh soup will be here in a few minutes."
Kayode said, "Move my chair into the shade, and wipe this table again—it is still dusty."
Tayo said, "Take your time, Folake. I will carry the heavy tray for you this time."
Folake replied, "This man has ruined my whole life. Let that day come quickly when I leave him on that island and he never returns."
Kayode sneered, "This table shines like a dirty mirror. Polish it properly before you serve my dinner!"
Folake murmured, "Yes, sir. I will polish it now until it shines the way you want."
Folake said, "Three more days of this shame, then the island will do the rest for us."
Tayo replied, "Hold on, Folake. Just hold on a little longer and keep your head down."