From The Domino Masters of Demerara by Khalil Rahman Ali

Vishnu eased back in his chair at the game after landing the Double Six. He avoided the stares of Afzal sitting to his left, and Peter, sitting on his right. The next play, moving in a clockwise direction, was to be made by Afzal, then Peter, and back to Vishnu.

Afzal flexed his bulky chest and arms, as if preparing to control the mules belonging to the Leonora Sugar Estate. His job of minding the six mules was unique, and began when they were retired and replaced by tractors to pull the punts with the cut sugarcane from the fields, along the canals, to the weighing site of the factory.

Every year, when there was the local sports day at the Leonora Park Cricket Ground, a special race track was cut out at the unused land beyond the northern end of the cricket field. The mule race was a special treat for the spectators, and Afzal’s mastery in controlling the six large animals was a spectacle in its own right. The mules responded to every command by their keeper, and were soon ready for the race. This began with the official starter firing his pistol raised high above his head. The starter then made a frantic dash to get well out of the way of the galloping giants, much to the delight of the spectators.

Other events on the day were the “Greasy Pole” climb and the “Catch the Greasy Pig” race.

The greasy pole was a metal pipe of about twenty feet long and four inches in diameter. It was covered in black grease and placed over the trench that flowed on the right-hand side of the cricket ground. The competitors had to climb along the pole and grab a prize firmly tied at the end, dangling high above the slow-moving, murky water of the trench. The crowd was well entertained as each competitor tried their utmost to crawl along the pole; they quickly lost their tenuous grip and plunged into the trench. Eventually, as further attempts were made and the grease slid off the pole, one determined climber would succeed in reaching the end. The winner would grab the prize and, much to the delight of hundreds of spectators, dive into the trench whilst holding the prize aloft.

The greasy pig race consisted of a continuously squealing specimen, covered liberally with black grease. The pig would be given a fifty-yard start to run for its freedom. The chasers made their mad dash to catch the pig with their bare hands, failing time and again. The pig would scamper amongst the spectators in its frenzied effort to escape the chasers, causing much mayhem as people tried to avoid being soiled by the animal. The eventual winner would successfully catch and hold aloft the screaming pig as the prize.

Peter glanced at Afzal, then fixed a gaze at Vishnu, who bowed his head and avoided eye contact with his rivals. The players were not allowed to speak, and the spectators were encouraged by the referee to remain as silent as possible.

Michael turned to Arthur, standing next to him, and whispered, “The Double Six is the best domino to draw in the game, simply because it has to be played before any other, and also, this means that Vishnu has already gotten rid of one of his seven dominoes. Besides, the number sixty-six is very significant in our history. On the 26th of May 1966, we became an Independent Nation. It was the birth of Guyana. We were not British Guiana anymore. We were free!”

Some of the spectators overheard Michael’s whispering and stared at him, urging him to be quiet. He ignored them and continued his historical commentary.

He said, “You see, our President was then the Premier, and then he became the Prime Minister on that fateful day.”

Arthur brushed Michael aside and said, “I know all about this. What has this got to do with the game of Dominoes? Please keep quiet and watch our own leader and master of Dominoes at work.”

The referee turned around momentarily and felt pleased that Arthur had helped him retain silence amongst the spectators. He quickly refocused on the game and awaited Afzal’s play.

Carlos winked at Michael and whispered, “So, we became independent from our British masters, only to go on fighting amongst ourselves?”

Michael smiled and said, “This battlefield is full of brothers, close relations, and friends from our three villages. Sometimes I agonise about why we must do such battles against each other. What benefit can we gain from humbling others?”

Nazir said, “Yes, let us prepare to watch our leader do battle, and not spare his opponents. I only wish to celebrate an ACES victory. I do not care about the losers.”\

***

Ramesh Prashad, the nineteen-year-old only son and child of Vishnu and Parvati, glanced at his wristwatch, scanned the room briefly, and after staring at his father, quietly slipped out onto the roadside. He mounted his 250cc Kawasaki motorcycle and roared off eastwards in the direction of Cornelia Ida.

Michael looked at Vishnu and caught him smiling with some pride. He said, “My friends, there goes our ACES captain’s dashing chip off the old block! Young Ramesh was born in May 1966, and is a greater gift to Vishnu and Parvati than our country’s Independence!”

Nazir smiled and said, “That young man must have many more important things to do than to stand around here to witness this game.”

Carlos nodded and said, “Hmm, I wonder what he is up to now.”

Continued next week…