Chapter Seventeen

'Please don't tell me you have thanatophobia', Damien whispered to Mustapha as he saw him looking as scared as hell. 'No talk!', the man behind Damien said as he nudged his rifle into his back. Damien grunted and continued walking.

They were both walking with their hands tied in front of them with four Taliban terrorists walking behind them, pointing their guns at them.

Some hours earlier, they had been in their tents lying down on their cots relaxing after preparing for the mission when they heard the call for all the men to gear up and assemble.

Damien got up from his cot and realized that Mustapha was still asleep. He poked his side and Mustapha jumped up.

"Dude!! What's the matter?", Mustapha asked.

"It's show time", Damien replied.

"Already?? Damn!"

Mustapha stumbled off the cot and began dressing and gearing up. They both quickened their pace as a second call went out for all the men to assemble.

As Damien and Mustapha got into the tent, they saw the General on a podium, flanked by two of his lieutenants. He looked at them as they walked in, but his face was expressionless.

The General cleared his throat and began speaking as the last of the soldiers walked in. He praised the soldiers for their gallant strides in the past and enjoined them to put in more effort in order to obliterate the Taliban group from the face of the earth.

"This guys are not aliens", the General boomed, "they are not well trained like us. We have to end this menace. It's becoming embarrassing to us and to the country at large that these guys are winning. Do we let them continue??"

"No sir!", the soldiers chanted.

The General continued speaking, motivating the soldiers to bring out their best. Damien was awed. 'If only battles were won through word of mouth...', he thought.

After several minutes, the soldiers we dismissed. They all geared up and loaded themselves into trucks.

Damien and Mustapha were in the first truck, with Mustapha giving directions to the soldier in command, who in turn gave directions to the soldier driving.

"You sure you are ready for this?", Mustapha asked as he looked at Damien.

"No... You?"

Mustapha shook his head. Damien smiled.

"Take a left here", Mustapha said to the commander. After more than an hour, they were at the end of the road.

"What now?", the Commander asked Mustapha.

"We walk from here", he replied.

The trucks were parked behind each other - Four trucks in all. The soldiers quickly disembarked from the trucks, taking defensive positions.

Mustapha looked around, studying the geography of the area, trying to remember the path he was to lead them through. Seconds later, it all came back to him.

"We take this path", he said to the commander. The commander relayed the progress of the mission via radio communication to the General back at the base. Their mission was a Go.

They began walking through the bush path, with Mustapha and Damien at the head of the pile, weapons at the ready. They walked as quietly as possible, but for the sound of twigs and shrubs they stepped on.

After walking for several minutes, they heard a shrilly sound. The commander held up his palm in a fist and the soldiers halted. They all looked around, trying to decipher where the sound came from, but it was all quiet once again.

"What the hell was that?", Damien whispered at Mustapha.

"I have no idea, maybe monkeys", he replied.

The commander gave the signal that they continue. Some seconds later, they all heard a sound shattering through the silence.

"Guns!!", the commander screamed. The soldiers immediately took defensive positions. Damien looked beside him and saw that Mustapha was down. The first shot took him down.

Damien quickly dragged him away as the sound of gunshots and screams of dying men ripped through the silence of the forest.

Damien was now very tensed up. He set Mustapha down beside a tree and quickly ripped open his shirt and found a bullet neatly lodged in the bullet-proof vest he wore.

"Son of a biitch", Damien muttered. He poked Mustapha in the face and he opened his eyes.

"I thought I was dead", Mustapha said slowly.

"You are not that easy to kill my friend", Damien replied.

"Where are the others?", he asked.

Damien turned and looked into the distance. Some of the soldiers were dead on the ground. The others were fleeing. The sounds of gunshots was receding.

The entire encounter lasted less than fifteen minutes, like they were ambushed. Damien wondered how that might have been.

"How the hell did they know we were coming?", Damien asked Mustapha who already sat up, resting his back on the bark of the tree, with Damien squatting beside him.

"I have no idea", Mustapha replied, "maybe they found the path and expected us to use it. We just fell right into their trap. Damn!"

"Don't beat yourself up over it, we still have to complete the mission", Damien said.

Mustapha shook his head. "Don't you see", Mustapha said, "we can't anymore. If we go any further we would die. And for what? In fact, we have to leave now, if not we'll get stuck here."

Mustapha tried getting up, but he contorted his face as he felt some sharp pain on his chest.

"Are you ok?", Damien asked him.

"I'll live", he replied. "So what do you say, we retreat, or we forge ahead", he asked Damien.

"I say we rescue Funmi and get out of this god forsaken forest for good", Damien replied.

Mustapha nodded, and massaged his chest. The pain subsided a little. He was about picking up his gun when they both heard a voice.

"Drop it!", the voice said.

Damien and Mustapha froze. Damien slowly looked behind him and saw about four Taliban terrorists, pointing their guns at them. There was no point making any move, he would definitely get shot at least by one of them. Except of course if it was a movie. But this wasn't. They were caught for real, with no possible means of escape.

Damien slowly bent down and dropped his rifle. He got back up and raised his hands. Mustapha followed suit. One of the terrorists came around them and placed rubber cuffs on their wrists. Another shoved his rifle into their backs, pushing them forward.

"Move it!", the voice said.

T.B.C...

Happy weekend guys, ladies... Wishing y'all a fun filled week ahead of you...

...

Contd.

They both looked at themselves with quizzed expressions on their faces. Mustapha shrugged and got up. Damien got up after him and they both went out of the tent with soldiers.

"Have your seats gentlemen", the General said as Damien and Mustapha walked into the makeshift office. 'And please give me a moment', the General said again as he continued clacking the keys on his laptop.

Damien and Mustapha looked at each other wondering why the General wanted to see them. They began communicating with each other with facial signals. Mustapha slightly shook his head, indicating that do not divulge their plans to the General and Damien nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.

Damien looked around the office and saw many military paraphernalia on the wooden wall behind the General. He stared at the satellite generated maps of the area and wondered if Funmi's exact location was there on the map. That was his priority. Nothing else matter to him anymore. He hoped that she was fine wherever she was.

Damien was brought back to his senses as he heard the General speak.

'Sorry gentlemen for keeping you waiting', the General said, 'I actually sent for you because I need your help.'

"We are not soldiers", Mustapha blurted out.

The General nodded to his assistant, indicating that he leave the office. The assistant complied immediately.

The General was now alone in his office with Damien and Mustapha.

"Hmmm... Please correct me where I'm wrong", the General began, looking directly at Mustapha. "You are Mustapha Danladi, a Crack detective in the Nigerian Police Force, so brute and efficient in your methods that you and your partner successfully incarcerated many notorious criminals in your state, till your partner was killed in a botch shootout with some terrorists. You blamed yourself because you guys weren't supposed to be there, you insisted both of you went for the operation and he got killed. You blamed yourself for months and thought of ways to avenge his death till you had an opportunity and you successfully infiltrated the Taliban group."

"And you are Damien Abbah", the General continued, turning towards Damien, "a graduate of Delta State University, a former student of the Nigerian Defense Academy, trained in Reconnaissance and Tactical operations, one of the best in your class till you had to be expelled after your Training Officer died in the most disturbing circumstances. You got kidnapped by the Talibans, and you later escaped from them... Yes, I know you guys are not soldiers, but I pretty much know a lot about you."

Damien was frozen in his seat. Even though they happened a long time ago, the events of the past came reeling before his eyes. He tried blocking out the flashes of images in his head, but it just wouldn't go away. He wished he could go back in time to correct his wrongs, but that was all it was - wishes. He knew he didn't killed his Training officer on purpose, he was sick. But that didn't change the fact that he had killed his Training officer. It was unheard of.

Mustapha was lost in thoughts. He remembered his best friend and partner of 5years. They both were the envy of all other police officers in their division. That fateful day, his friend had insisted that they were on break when they heard the distress call, but due to his over zealousness, Mustapha insisted that they respond to the call, and that was the last distress call both of them responded to. His friend died in the attack. He had not forgiven himself for it. He engulfed himself with work hoping to gain atonement, but he realized that he would never forgive himself till he avenged his friend's death. That was when he devised a means to infiltrate the Taliban camp. And here the General was, opening old wounds. Mustapha was angry. He didn't like to be reminded of that ugly past.

"Do you guys understand what I'm saying here?", the General asked louder again, banging the table as he noticed both of them didn't respond to the question he asked.

"What do you want from us?", Damien asked.

"Both of you were in the Taliban camp. You know their routes, you know their MO's. We got intel that the Talibans are most likely expecting us, and are well prepared. We are planning on using an alternate route, one they wouldn't anticipate we would use. Is there a route you have in mind?"

Mustapha looked at Damien and he nodded slowly, then he spoke up.

"Like you know, the major routes into the Taliban camp would be heavily manned, and it would be next to impossible, even foolish to drop in men with a chopper. You've already lost a chopper and some men, you wouldn't want to lose more. But there's a route through the forest. It's not an established path, and it's just about 2clicks away from the main road, leading directly into the Taliban camp. That would be your best bet."

"Would you be able to trace it on the map", the General asked, spreading out a map on the table.

Mustapha smiled and said, "General, like I said earlier, the route does not exist, at least not on any map."

"So, how are we supposed to be able to locate it?", the General asked again.

"We have to be on site", Mustapha replied.

The General contorted his face. "You know that wouldn't be possible. I can't possibly send you civilians into the field", the General said.

Damien spoke up. "Sir, I'm not sure you have much choices here. Your men can't identify the location you seek. We are the only ones here who can identify the route. I guess you'll just have to bend your rules here. Besides, you know us. You know our capabilities, and you know we are your best chance at getting this right."

The General took a deep breathe, rested back on the chair he sat and looked at both of them. "Hope you understand that the military would not be responsible if anything happens to any of you?", the General asked.

Both of them nodded, and the General looked pleased. "But we would need a few things", the General heard Damien say. "And what would they be?", he asked.

"Uniforms, complete combat gear, guns, ammunition, the lot", Damien replied.

The General nodded. "Anything else gentlemen?", he asked them.

"No sir", they both replied.

The General sat up and picked up the handle of the deskphone on his table. He pressed two buttons and spoke in hushed tones into the mouthpiece. Some seconds later, he dropped the phone.

"Gentlemen, I believe you have a mission to prepare for. Thank you very much for your co-operation. Your gear would sent to your tent", the General said as he rose up from the chair. Damien and Mustapha stood up after him. They shook hands, after which they left the General's office...

T.B.C...

Mekky05:
Welcome back Dioxidane, we thank God for you ooh. But why u come shift the story go for afritalk blog abi na site?

lumzybo:

Hmmmmn... Its a good thing to promote a friend's blog I am sure he Is gonna be very grateful 4 the traffic and all that. Buh where was he when the story started? NL gave birth to this story why refer us to another site? Me personally not cool abt that (my opinion).
If this continues, it my be the end of the story and the followership (my opinion)
Though u say u are back, I AM YET TO C U.

donkross1:
Seconded.

Afz9095:
Thirded

Noted...

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Hey guys! New development. I'm promoting a friend's site. www.afritalks.com

If you've heard of it, good for you! If you've not, you'll definitely want to check it out... Fresh gist, Fresh talks, Fresh look, Fresh ideas, Fresh effritin...

And the good thing is, you get to have your say like you do here, but the difference there is, you really matter.

Let's join hands together in building something new...

Contd.

There was a brief silence on the line. The General was still waiting for response from the soldier at the other end of the line. Suddenly he heard some sounds in the background.

'Enemy intrusion! Enemy intrusion!!', the General heard a voice say on the phone. Some seconds later, he heard a sound... BOOM!!! Then silence.....

The General was stunned. The tent went quiet. He looked around at the faces of the soldiers. They understood. The sentry post leading to the military camp had just been attacked. He had no idea the scope of the attack and if the terrorist had gained passage. If they had, there was no time. They had to be prepared.

He began barking out orders to the soldiers. He gave an order to one of his commanders to take some soldiers for an assessment of the blast site.

Everything happened so fast. The General was angry. The soldiers were angrier. He kept barking out orders at them, preparing them for an invasion of the Taliban camp.

Damien watched as the entire camp was thrown into a frenzy. He was confused. He had no idea what to do, but he knew he just had to be there during the invasion else Funmi might just be collateral damage. He couldn't allow that. She had suffered so much for her not to survive the ordeal.

Damien left where he stood with Mustapha and began walking towards the tent where the General was.

'And where do you think you are going to?', Mustapha asked him.

"I need to speak with the General."

"What for?"

"We need to be there with them when the attack occurs."

"Did you say 'we'?"

"Yes we. Meaning both of us."

"Dude, you are kidding, right?"

"I'm not. Think about it this way: When they attack, the tide might go either ways. Irrespective of which way it goes, Funmi's life would be in danger. We are practically the only persons in the world right now who care about her enough to want to protect her."

'Dude! You are in love with her already!', Mustapha said looking into his eyes, 'I can't freaking believe this!'

Damien looked away briefly, then he looked back at him. 'Are you in or out?', he asked Mustapha. Mustapha stared into the sky for several seconds, looked back at Damien and then sighed.

'You wouldn't rest till you get me killed, right?', Mustapha muttered.

'No one is going to die here, at least not us', Damien countered.

"You seem so sure."

"We've been there, and we survived. We would certainly survive one last and final stint', Damien said.

"That of course is if we are allowed to join the soldiers."

"That was what I was about going to talk to the General about."

"I really doubt if that would work."

"Why?"

"Apart from risking the General bombarding you with military gibberish about you being a bloody civilian and jeopardizing their attack, we just might get sent out of this camp. After all, we are not soldiers, and we have no previous affiliation with the man at the helm of affairs."

"But we were there. We know the routes and vulnerable points."

"Bullshiit. You and I know they would never consider information from a bloody civilian like you valid."

"That's ridiculous. They stand a better chance with us in their midst."

"Of course I know that. But do they?"

"How would they know if we don't tell them?"

"What if you tell them and we eventually get thrown out? What then happens to Funmi? Would you be comfortable committing her fate into the hands of these blood thirsty soldiers?"

"Shiiit!"

"Yeah, I know. It's a very effed up situation."

"So what do we do now?"

"If we are to be successful with this mission, we do must do this my way."

"That being?"

"We still have our weapons, right?"

"Yeah... So?"

"We don't need to inform anyone we are joining them. We just do, but we remain at the rear and then we sneak in and go for Funmi. That's strictly our mission. Let the soldiers worry about the Talibans."

"Just like that?"

"Yeah, just like that."

A smile broke on Damien's face. 'That's not a bad plan', he said, 'but there are a few loopholes to be covered.'

'And they are?', Mustapha asked.

"Firstly, we don't have uniforms. We would be easily identified in these fatigues we are putting on."

"Did you look around the tent we slept in?"

"I did."

"And what did you find?"

"I didn't find what I was looking out for. What was I supposed to find?"

"Uniforms. There are a couple of them on the hangers. If we are fortunate, they could be our sizes."

"And what if the owners come back?"

"From the dead, you mean?"

"Jeez!! How are you so sure they are dead?"

"Dude, look around you. Is there anyone without their uniforms on?"

Damien looked around him. All the soldiers he saw were in their uniforms. 'But the uniforms could belong to the soldiers who already left', he retorted.

"Dude, I don't see that as an issue. Your first loophole in the plan has been resolved. What's the next one?"

"What if we get separated during the chaos that's certain to happen?"

"Hmm. That's a point. We'll just make sure we don't. And even if we do, the mission takes priority. We locate Funmi and rescue her..."

Damien and Mustapha watched as the General and two other soldiers came outside the tent and walked passed them.

"You still think we shouldn't talk to him about our plans?", Damien asked.

"No!"

"Ok."

"Let's go. We've got to make preparations if we are to survive this."

Damien and Mustapha both went back to the hut and began making their own preparations. Damien tried on one of the uniforms he found in the rack, but the trousers were a little bit shorter than his legs. Mustapha laughed at him as his was perfectly his size, like it was made for him.

Damien sat on the cot contemplating what he could do about the uniform when two soldiers walked into the tent. Mustapha and Damien looked up at the soldiers.

"The General wants to see you right now", one of the soldiers said.

"Me?", Damien and Mustapha asked simultaneously. "Both of you", the second soldier respond.

They both looked at themselves with quizzed expressions on their faces. Mustapha shrugged and got up. Damien got up after him and they both went out of the tent with soldiers...

Continue reading here... www.afritalks.com/threads/accidental-victim.372/#post-1080

**Grabs microphone from Pastor and clears throat**

My name is Dioxidane and I'm here to make a testimony to
the glory of the Lord.

**Clears throat again**

Some weeks ago I was unfortunately unable to continue updating this thread due to circumstances beyond my control. Due to the prayers, calls, mails and love of my online friends, I'm back again! Praise the Lord!!

Hey guys, dem say make I come back. So here I am. Thanks for your love and understanding. And big thanks to ma sweetheart, Yetundegold. Walahi she too try for me. Thanks to her I'm still sane.

Erhmm, wetin again dem say make I talk sef...
I dey come make I type.

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lordmario:

Sorry to hear that bro. Was in similar situation last year. Got robbed on a friday and got sacked on monday (weird). Got sick 3days later and I lost interest in serving God for 3months. It wasn't easy but you will have to trust him to make things beta. Take heart bro

Thanks guys, you've been encouraging... All is well.

cc: horlabiyi, Mekky05

horlabiyi:
Dioxidane, there's something you need to understand : the more you delay this story the more it becomes uninteresting. Just imagine,your last update was on Sept 11 which is now 10days ago. We readers won't and can never understand whatever that's delaying you from updating, you have no excuse for not showing up because writing stories is what you derive pleasure from and no matter how nice a story is without them readers the story is useless. Peace be with you and every other person on this forum.

Bros, they say 'It's he who wear the shoes that knows where it pinches' (something like that sha). In as much as I'm using this opportunity to apologize again, I totally agree with what you said (@ 1st bolded) - you would never understand. What if I told you that in the last month, I lost my job (annoying job o, but it paid some bills), I got robbed of most of my cash, I've been ill (still am), angry with myself and everyone around me... You are getting the picture, right? So you see I'm not really in the right frame of mind to write. I've tried continuing it, trust me, I have, but it's not just coming through when I have so many things on my mind... I understand (@ 2nd bolded), and I appreciate you guys a lot, you have no idea how much. But please, try to put yourself in my shoes...