'The Ladder' is the story of a young graduate of a College of Education or Higher Teachers Training College. Kiffoi, in his twenties, is posted to a far-flung rural Grammar School in Forkeh, a border town he has never heard about.
Written by Baye Alexander Bongfen, a professional teacher of French and head of the Bamenda branch of the Bilingual Pilot Training Centre, the short story portrays an undecided Kiffoi musing if to take up the posting or not. He finally arrives in his station to a hectic reception by the traditional chief and his officials. Kiffoi begins his job with all seriousness, much to the admiration of his boss, the principal.
After three months, he is made Assistant Discipline Master, much to the chagrin of the Senior Discipline Master, Mr. Kibir, and other colleagues. All kinds of unbelievable insinuations are made by colleagues as to how he got the position soon after beginning work. The atmosphere in the school is characterised by intrigues and allegations of witchcraft - all in the quest for power and influence.
In the face of growing pressure and allegations, Kiffoi resigns his position but is later persuaded to take it up after Mr. Kibir's mysterious death. Discovering the sweetness of power and influence, the young teacher resorts to the help of soothsayers and witchdoctors to seek and maintain greater power. His meteoric career rise takes him to Senior Discipline Master, Vice Principal, Principal, Regional Delegate of Secondary Education and eventually a cabinet minister! He tries to consolidate all this by dabbling into politics, occultism, philanthropy and even taking up a church position!
The father, in disagreeing with his methods, disowns Kiffoi and bars him from attending his funeral. Still against his late father's wish and in order to make up for the embarrassment, Kiffoi organises a lavish 'second burial' at which he accidentally kills his own wife and two other guests during traditional gun firing. In a bid to avenge the guests' death, their kinsmen attack Kiffoi's village, killing 23 people - including the village chief. A depressed Kiffoi commits suicide in detention after being arrested on charges of murder. He is buried in the evil forest.
Told in vivid sensual descriptions that are full of suspense, the 176-page story portrays a former moralist now determined to acquire and retain power and influence for as long as possible - at all cost. "Kiffoi's ambition is of stern stuff, but when prancing growth spirals to the skies, a nosedive is inexorable... Here is a novel for aspiring youth and a primer for every rising or risen star," says Ntangnyui Patrick Tata, a literary critic in a back cover review excerpt.
