OlufemiWhit:
Good read....i enjoyed it.

Glad you did. Thank you.

Ayoslimzy:
Nice short story

Thank you.

PraisesPblaze:
Nice bro. At a point there, i thought he would take the red bus.
Thanks again.

Do me well by mentioning me in the next story.

Thanks bro for sticking by. I appreciate. I'd be sure to mention you in the next one.

Finally, Mr. Shija came with good news that his family had agreed and that it was time they start moving. Sulaimon was beyond elated. He continuously thanked Mr. Shija and his family for their kindness.

They took an hour off before sunrise, walking between destroyed homes and sometimes hiding inside when they heard gunfire. They walked about 5kilometers before they finally reached a safe area.

“We are now at the SDF controlled area." Mr. Shija said. "But watch where you step on as we move. There are landmines, so follow my lead.”

Sulaimon did as he was told and followed Mr. Shija in the zig-zag path he walked. They were two streets away from the safe zone when militant snipers started targeting them. They didn’t know where the shots were coming from but the bullets flew by them, sometimes mere inches away from their heads. And the SDF were also firing shots towards them. Sulaimon was terrified and almost peed his pants as they crouched down and ran for cover.

“Here! Here!! Here!!!” Mr. Shija shouted, pointing to the rubble of a destroyed building. They ran into it.

“What are we going to do now?” Sulaimon asked between shuddering breaths.

“Stay here, I am going to walk out slowly to signal the SDF that we are civilians so they won’t fire in our direction.” Mr. Shija said.

“Be careful sir.”

Mr. Shija walked out of the rubble taking cover behind a metal container and waved to the army. After exchanging some words with the SDF in Arabic, the SDF fired in the air to indicate to them to hurry towards them.

“Sulaimon let’s start running now.” Mr. Shija shouted.

Sulaimon looked the other way. “But there is a sniper."

“Do you want to stay here forever? Let's go!"

Summoning all the courage left in him, Sulaimon crawled out and they both started running towards the safe area.

The militant sniper kept firing towards them as they ran but luckily, the bullets kept missing thier targets. Sulaimon and Mr. Shija ran faster until they reached a house that the SDF fighters were occupying. They exited from the back and got to the controlled area where some fighters gave them food and water and asked if anybody was wounded.

“No we are fine. My friend here is just looking for a way to go back to Africa.” Mr. Shija replied.

“Then he's in luck. He should get prepared to board the bus leaving later for Jordan. From there he will get another ride or even a plane directly to Egypt.” One of the soldiers replied.

“Hope that will be ok for you.” Mr. Shija asked Sulaimon.

“Yes it is. Once I get to Egypt I can easily find my way to Nigeria.” Sulaimon replied.

*

Hours later, two buses arrived the camp, some people coming down while others rushed in. An SDF fighter approached Mr. Shija.

“Tell your friend to come board a bus. The red one leaves for Turkey for those heading to a refugee camp there, while the green one heads to Jordan for those being taken back to Africa.” He said and left.

Mr. Shija turned to Sulaimon. “My friend, you heard him. It is up to you now to truly make your decision. Do you want to board the one headed for Europe or the one going towards Africa?”

Sulaimon hugged Mr. Shija. “Thank you so much for all you’ve done for me. I will never forget your kindness. Send my regards to your family.” He said with a teary eye. Afterwards, he joined others and rushed into the green bus.

THE END.

*
*
*

Here's the synopsis for my next work 'THE CHADIAN BREACH'. I hope you'd keep tab and follow when I start posting it. You sure won't be disappointed!

When the Nigerian National Intelligence Agency is infiltrated with one of its safehouse in Chad breached and the agent in it brutally killed, the Agency's Director, in a frantic race against time, call back in one of its elite agents, Kabir Mantis, to go after his partner's killers and to stop some Weapons of Mass Destruction from being smuggled into the country by terrorists.

A cat and mouse chase soon follows, pitting the continent's most savvy government agency versus its most sophisticated terrorists. But as Kabir and the Agency peel back layer after layer, they soon realize that they are up against some very powerful forces within the very top of the Chadian and Nigerian government.

With twists following twists, almost no one to trust, the country and even his own fiance in danger, and an army of obstacles pushing even the limits of what he can handle, the stakes for Agent Kabir could not be higher. Will he be able to stop those threatening to take down the entire system?

PraisesPblaze:
Simple, straight forward story. Earlier on i thought you were speeding things up a little, but now i know it's a short story.
Nice one bro, good plots, though i wanted one war scene at least.

Waiting for the last chapter.

Thanks for this bro. Didn't really want to drag the plots so no war scene. Last chapter up soon.

For more thrilling scenes though, I'd be posting my latest work titled 'The Chadian Breach' after this one. It's a novel-length work and revolves around espionage and many action scenes.

As I said earlier this is a short story and the final chapter is coming up soon. I'd also like to see you guys' review on it. What do you think of the storyline?
Thanks for the support guys. I appreciate it.

PraisesPblaze:
Wow.
Thanks again bro.

Uwc.

CHAPTER 8

“Hello, anybody there?” Sulaimon asked as he woke up confused with a pounding headache and pains all over his body.

He looked around. The room was small with a window about the size of a biscuit tin lid. The bed he laid on sat low to the ground, the frame baring the signs of rust. He got up and sat on the edge. When he felt a sharp pain in his right hand, he raised it and noticed that it was dressed with a sterile bandage. Looking at a mirror hanged on a wall opposite him he noticed that his head was also wrapped. He must have got injured badly during the explosion, he thought. Wincing in pain, he stood up and walked towards the mirror. He noticed his busted lips and cuts on his face and arms.

Just then a man walked into the room. He would have been white if it weren’t for all the freckles. There were so many that his face was brown with small pale spaces here and there, like the tips of grass struggling to show through the golden-brown leaves of fall. Sulaimon recognized him. He was the father of a young girl Sulaimon had saved days earlier from being crushed by a falling debris from a damaged building when she and her friends were playing under it.

“You wake up finally. You are very lucky you know.” The man said with a beaming smile.

“What happened? Who attacked us yesterday?” Sulaimon asked.

“No not yesterday. You have been sleeping for two days now. The Syrian army attacked. All the people in the building were killed. You are the only survivor. You are very lucky I had to remove shrapnel from your hand and body.”

Sulaimon didn't know how to feel about the news. A sigh left his lips. “Thank you sir.”

“My name is Shija. Just call me Shija. And no problem, you save my little girl remember? How about you? You are?”

“Sulaimon. My name is Sulaimon.”

“Very good name. Come, come join us for dinner in the other room.” Mr. Shija said, pointing towards another room where murmurs were coming from.

Sulaimon followed him. They emerged into another room a bit bigger than the one Sulaimon had woken up in. This one was also in a bad shape with its wall painting completely peeled off with little patches left. He sat on one of the makeshift chairs made of wood and a plastic rubber tied together. There were two other men, two women and four children sitting on a wide mat eating. They stared at Sulaimon.

“You must be hungry. Here take this and eat.” Mr. Shija said, handing a plateful of rice with no stew and a cup of water to Sulaimon.

“Thank you.” Sulaimon collected them and gulped down the water

“This is my wife Raya and her sister Ashna. Those are my brothers Musfa and Rahim. These are my children Mara, khalifa, Yara and Sheila.” Mr. Shija said, pointing at them one after the other before sitting down himself.

Sulaimon wiped his mouth. He was half-way through the plate of rice already. “Hello everyone.” He waved at them.

“They don’t understand English. Just eat.” Mr. Shija urged.

Sulaimon nodded and took another handful of rice then stepped it down with a gulp of water. “But Mr. Shija, how come you understand English?” He asked.

“I worked in the university before the war, so I understand even though it is not too fluent." Mr. Shija answered. "So, where are you from and how did you come here?”

The whole journey started replaying itself in Sulaimon's mind. His eyes were starting to sting from the gathering tears. He shook it off. “I'm from Nigeria. I was headed to Italy through the Libyan waters when I unfortunately found myself here.” He said.

“You were going to visit someone?” Mr. Shija asked.

“No. I have nobody there. I was going to search for a new life." Sulaimon sniffed and wiped the tears from his eyes. "But that wasn't going to be, and I lost it all. Including my best friend. Here I am, in war ravaged Syria instead.”

“How come a very strong young man like you leave his country to risk his life in sea? I hear of many people dying to cross why you join them? I don't hear Nigeria at war.”

Sulaimon chuckled sadly. “Nigeria might not be at a full-scale military war, but there is an on-going socioeconomic war. One that has lasted many decades and doesn't seem to have an end date in sight. The poverty and corruption there is immeasurable.”

“That is no excuse to run from your country and risk your life like this Suleiman. If all of you run who is going to make the country better? You think all those countries you running to are built in one day? If you want change in your country you have to work for it. With blood and sweat. You don't abandon it and expect others to do it for you.”

“It’s not as easy as you think Mr. Shija. The politicians have total control over everything in the country and the citizens have been successfully divided along ethnic and religious lines. It is easier said than done.”

“You think building something you will be proud of tomorrow is easy? You see how bad my country is now, but me and my family don’t run away because we believe that things would get better even though it looks very slim at this moment. At least in your country you have democracy. You can join hands together and elect good leaders. Even if it not work, you can always work hard personally to make life better for you. Is not good for you to run away from your country just because things are not going your way. Strive to make your country like the ones you are running to or even better.”

“We try to, but things just aren’t working.”

“You all have to try harder Suleiman. You all have to stand up and make your country work. Nobody, no country would do it for you. The countries you think would help won’t. They don’t like cutting ties to governments who open doors for their business, or help their geo political agendas. Pressure needs to come from you the citizens who care enough about your country's development to force politicians to overcome easy temptation of short-run political expediency.”

Sulaimon was staring at the floor now, the tears flowed down his cheek.

“Why you crying now Suleiman?” Mr. Shija asked.

“You are right. I risked my life and that of my best friend senselessly. I could have worked harder back home and achieve what I wanted or as my mother said, make clean papers and travel where I wanted to, but for my shortsightedness." His lips quivered and his chest heaved with the crying. "I just want to leave this place.”

Mr. Shija shook his head in pity as he and his family looked on at the crying boy in front of them. He finally spoke again. "OK Suleiman. I know of some smuggle routes that can take you up to turkey and then Italy. We could…”

“No! I am not talking about going to Europe anymore… After everything I’ve gone through I just want to go back home to my family.” Sulaimon interrupted.

“OK, ok no problem. We see what we can do.” Mr. Shija said.

“But why are you being this kind to me Mr. Shija?”

Mr. Shija looked at his daughter and smiled. “You saved my daughter remember? That meant a lot to me.”

Sulaimon nodded. “Thank you so much. But could we start going now?”

“No, not now. You are still weak and it is night and impossible to see anything ahead of us. We might get shot at once we reach area control by the Syrian defense force if they mistake us for the militants. We have to wait until a little before sunrise then we move. And besides I have to tell my family first.” Mr. Shija said.

“Ok, thank you so much sir. I will let you talk to your family now.” Sulaimon said. He stood up with the plate of food and drink and went to the other room he had come out from.

Moments later Sulaimon could hear Mr. Shija and his family arguing. He waited, praying fervently to God to help him out of this place. He couldn’t sleep all night as he thought of everyone back home and all he had gone through.

PraisesPblaze:
Thanks but too short bro...
We waited for long na..
Another chapter today abeg

Yea, I know. It's a short story though so the next two updates would round it up. Uploading one now.

CHAPTER 7

Sulaimon and the other men passed through harrowing experience during their training. Their days began with early morning prayers and then military training exercises, followed by going round what was left of the town collecting money from the few shop owners still around. They learned to shoot Kalashnikovs and pistols. Training also included sliding on their bellies through barricades of burning tires, jumping over obstacles and off roofs, how to use rocket launchers and throw a grenade.

They had gathered one day as usual in one of the houses for dinner. The flame of the candles flickered with the breeze that came in through a hole created by shell damage to the house. There wasn’t enough food for everyone owing to the sudden late arrival of some fighters who had fled the battlefield to come for reinforcements as the Syrian government forces drew nearer. Sulaimon was selected to be among those to join the fighters to the battlefield the next day. He excused himself and went outside to urinate.

“I just want to go home.” He whispered to himself sobbing as he urinated beside a burnt car outside the building. “God please help me.”

He suddenly heard something. He looked up to the dark sky as the unusual sound got closer. Soon, there was an enormous explosion. It was as though a fist of orange flame had decided to punch its way through the building he had just come out from. Windows shattered. Smoke and fire rushed out as thousands of pieces of glass and stones, a deadly rainfall, showered down. Sulaimon could feel the dull thud of stones hitting his body as the force of the bomb flung him to a wall. He heard the hoarse howl of people and saw that a huge bite had been taken out the side and roof of the building. He passed out.

CHAPTER 6

Sulaimon woke up with a banging headache. Lying on the floor opposite him next to tires and kit was a human form, unmoving. He crawled closer and laid his hands on its neck. The body was warm enough not to be dead. Sulaimon craned his neck for a window, there was none. For all he knew he could be deep underground, in some random room in an isolated prison or in someone’s personal cell. Above, the only source of light apart from the sun rays coming in from the unusually wide keyhole of the grey door was an old-fashioned bulb on a bare white wire and its switch was nowhere to be seen. He could hear some voice outside the door as he moved closer and peeped through the key hole. There was a man sitting in front of a pickup truck mounted with a huge gun. Sulaimon carefully turned the handle to open the door but it was locked. The man noticed the door handle moving, he got up and ran toward the door as he shouted in a language Sulaimon guessed instantly was Arabic. Other men came out from another room running towards the door with guns as they inserted the key and opened the door. Sulaimon stepped back, his heart pounding in his chest. The men rushed in and blindfolded him and dragged him out of the room. Sulaimon could hear voices laughing and shouting in excitement as he was being led. Few minutes later, he was pushed to the ground and the blindfold taken off. The sudden flush of light temporarily blinded him. After his pupils readjusted, he looked around and saw that he was lined up with other men in a town square. Old men, women and some children were standing there and staring at them with expressions on their face that showed that they were scared. Most of the buildings were either completely destroyed or damaged. The cars were all burnt to ashes except the ones mounted with guns and masked men standing on them. A man with a long unkempt beard walked towards them and spoke in Arabic. Four men replied him and were ordered to form another line. The bearded man pointed to one of his gunmen who came forward as he spoke to him.

“Who among you understand English?” the gunman asked.

Sulaimon hesitated as three men responded and were ordered to join the first men.

“I understand English too.” Sulaimon finally said with a jitter.

“Then get your ass up and join them there!” The gunman shouted and used the nozzle of his rifle to hit Sulaimon on the face.

Pain, this is called pain. Sulaimon's mind told him as the lad held his face and tears flowed. Who send me bayi?

Sulaimon staggered to the other line as the six men left in the first line were ordered and pushed to a wall behind a building. Sensing the danger, they started crying and pleading in the if different native tongues but it all fell on deaf ears. Soon, bullets rained on them. Sulaimon could feel sweat drench his skin and the taste of blood in his mouth. Fear tortured his guts, churning his stomach in tense cramps as his eyes widened in shock. The bearded man walked to the line Sulaimon and the others were standing and started speaking in Arabic occasionally pointing at them. After speaking, he pushed forward the gunman.

“For those of you who foolishly wanted to end your life on the sea, you have been giving the opportunity to end it fighting for a greater course. You left your families in great pain to chase after your selfish goals. Instead of thinking about what you had, you focused on what you didn’t have. Now you have the opportunity to redeem yourselves. All of you here have been chosen to fight for the great caliphate. You will be trained thoroughly to make you strong soldiers of the caliphate after which you will be deployed to go and join other forces in fighting against the enemies of the caliphate. Anyone of you who tries anything stupid will not have himself to blame as he would be killed instantly. Am I clear?” The gunman shouted.

“Yes!” Sulaimon and the others replied.

“Very good. Now you will all be taken to…” The man noticed someone raising his hand. “Yes?”

Sulaimon swallowed a gulp. “Excuse me sir. Please, where are we and what are we fighting for?” He asked.

The man approached him. “You're young, but it looks like you won’t last long here. I would take this as the action of a novice and won't take any disciplinary action. But the next time I or any other leader is speaking and you interrupt, your head would hang on a spike. Do I make myself clear?"

“Yes sir! Sorry sir!” Sulaimon replied.

The gunman continued. "For those of you who do not already know, you are now in Syria and we are fighting the enemies of the…”

Sulaimon was already drowning in his thoughts the moment he heard Syria. He no longer cared what the gunman was saying as he wondered how he got to Syria all the way from Libya heading to Italy. It's over. He thought.

PraisesPblaze:
Damn...!? Tayo.
Next update bro

Soon.

CHAPTER 5

They got to Sabha in southern Libya the next day and spent another day on the road to Tripoli. After several days in a camp and paying thousands of dinars, they finally boarded a wide boat heading to Lampedusa, Italy. As usual, hundreds of migrants fleeing Africa and the middle east were in their numbers on the boat.

“Finally. Italy here I come. New life here I come.” Sulaimon said with joy as the boat started its journey on the Mediterranean Sea.

“Just pray that the sea is calm and we get there safely.” Tayo said calmly.

“It would be calm, don't worry." Sulaimon replied.

“Are you a weather man? Or can you now control the weather?”

"Calm down guy. I don’t know why you have been acting so moody lately Tayo. What is wrong? You don’t seem as excited as you should be about this journey.”

Tayo simply let out a sigh. “I am fine bro. I'm just tired and looking forward to a new life over there.”

Sulaimon tapped his back. “Don't worry bro. We got each other. I believe everything would be fine. I have that feeling.” Sulaimon said.

“Hopefully.” Tayo nodded in agreement.

Everything was calm as they set sail. With Europe on their minds, everyone was confident of the good life that lay ahead. Everyone began growing in confidence. Then some minutes into the journey, every prediction crumbled like a pack of cards. The boat developed a fault. Then a big crack materialized right at a very important part of the boat. It began to let in water, first in small quantities and then in very massive proportions. Before anyone could realize what was amiss, sea water had penetrated and overpowered the hapless craft. Then it began to sink. Fear gripped everyone. Danger and death stared everyone in the face as the end drew near. At that point, everyone burst out into prayers in various tongues.

“Tayo! Water!!” Sulaimon screamed out as the water overshadowed the boat and it sank, leaving everybody at the mercy of the deep, blue sea.

“I am here.” Tayo said tapping behind Sulaimon.

“What are we going to do now? I can’t swim o.” Sulaimon cried out.

“I too cannot swim. Quick! Grab on to this.” Tayo said handing an empty jerry-can to Sulaimon as he held firmly onto another.

After a while, the whole place was calm and quiet. There was just a few of them left as many of the passengers had drowned. Sulaimon and Tayo firmly held on to the jerry-cans until Tayo’s own started to leak and let in water.

“Oh God! Water is coming into my keg Sulaimon.” Tayo said, deep fear in his eyes. He started to go down.

“Leave that one. Come towards mine, let’s hold on to it together.” Sulaimon said stretching his hands out to Tayo.

Tayo let go off his keg and tried swimming towards Sulaimon. But the harder he struggled to remain on sea, the faster he sank.

“Tayo! Tayo!! Hold on!” Sulaimon cried out as Tayo drowned. Soon, his friend was nowhere to be found. “Tayo!! Tayo!!! Tayoo!!!!” Sulaimon kept shouting for his friend till he lost his voice.

About an hour later, Sulaimon and a few others who could swim and were able to suspend and sustain themselves on the water, saw a boat. They started calling out for the boat to come help them. Luck seemed to smile on them as the boat approached. But as Sulaimon and the few others were helped aboard the boat, he was hit with a hard object and blacked-out.

PraisesPblaze:
Welcome bro.
Any update today?

Tomorrow God willing.

sulorog:
Op, make sure you finish this story, don't run away oooo!!!!!

Lol, I won't as long as I'm not banned from posting like what happened in my previous story. I'll finish this one. Thanks and invite others.

Tonyspecial:
Is good to take risk but very foolish to take an uninformed risk

ride on OP

So true. Thanks

PraisesPblaze:
Wow...
Lovely storyline bro.
Continue.

kindly join this train to the western world.
@Dodoatirice
@Therock55555
@frank25

Thank you.

CHAPTER 4

Two days into the ride as the truck passed through a valley, armed masked men ran out from a cave and stood on the way. Some were holding Ak-47 rifles while others were holding sticks and machetes. They started shouting and waving for the truck to stop.

Sighting them from afar and knowing the danger they posed, the driver started shouting for everyone to take cover.

“Everybody bend down now!” The driver shouted. He stepped his foot on the gas further and sped towards the armed men.

“Duck now!” Tayo shouted as he pulled Sulaimon down.

Noticing that the truck was not slowing down, the bandits wielding AK-47 rifles opened fire and rained bullets unto the coming truck. Sulaimon found himself screaming as the windshield was shattered by bullets. Few seconds later he could hear the bandits shouting and the gunshots a distance behind them as the car sped on with the horn now blowing non-stop.

“Tayo are you alright?”

“Yes, i'm fine.”

Why is this man still blowing the horn? Won't this even draw attention if there are other bandits ahead? Sulaimon wondered. He raised his head and saw the driver resting against the steering wheel unmoving. Sulaimon nudged him and to his shock, saw the blood gushing out from the driver's chest. The driver had been shot and the truck was moving uncontrolled.

“Tayo the driver is dead.” Sulaimon shouted just as he looked ahead to see a huge stone in front of them.

He grabbed the wheel and swerved the truck the other way to avoid hitting the stone. The truck swerved but quickly rolled over and came to a crashing halt.

After regaining consciousness, Sulaimon and Tayo crawled out. Some of the passengers had fallen off some meters behind while others were trapped under the truck.

“Are you alright?” Tayo asked Sulaimon.

“My head hurts. I must have hit it on something. Some people are trapped, let’s go help them.”

“No! Run, now!” Tayo shouted.

“What?” Sulaimon was confused further.

Tayo pointed behind them and Sulaimon saw it. The bandits were running towards the truck.

“Our backpacks. They are still in the truck. Sulaimon said.

“Leave them! They're coming.” Tayo shouted.

They both ran, as fast as their legs could take them until they could no longer see the truck or bandits behind them.

“Stop. Stop, please. I'm tired, let’s rest here a little.” Tayo said panting and fell to the ground.

“What if those men are still following us? Come on let’s keep moving.” Sulaimon urged.

“I am tired Sulaimon. Where are we even running to?”

Sulaimon looked around and saw nothing but the vast desert at all ends. “Oh my God. What are we going to do now Tayo?”

“I have no idea. I really don’t know what to do right now.”

After a while, Sulaimon sat beside Tayo. “Let’s go back.” He said.

“What are you saying, go back where?”

“Let’s run back to the bandits. I think that’s our only chance of survival.”

“Sulaimon do you know what you are saying? Those people are wielding AK-47 rifles. They tried to kill us.”

“I know but, how are you even sure they tried to kill us? They only opened fire when they realized that our driver wasn’t stopping.”

“So you are saying that they had those guns and machetes just for fun eh?”

“That’s not what I'm saying but…do you have any better idea? There’s no way we can survive out here without food and water. I didn’t come all this way just to die. At least, maybe if we go back to them, the highest they could do is take us hostage. But they’ll still be feeding us until we can escape.”

“Just listen to yourself Sulaimon. What makes you think they’ll not shoot us if we go back?”

“And what better idea do you…”

“Shush…do you hear that?” Tayo interrupted.

Sulaimon fell silent and listened.

“That sounds like a moving vehicle. That’s a truck!” Sulaimon shouted.

“Hurry! You go that way, I’ll check this end.”

“Heyyy!!! Tayo this way! The truck is this way. Hurry!!!” Sulaimon shouted as he ran towards the direction of the truck.

“Stop!!!” They both shouted as they chased after the truck, waiving their hands relentlessly.

They gor closer to the moving truck but the vehicle wasn't stopping. Sulaimon noticed that the driver could not see them running after the truck as his side mirror was damaged.

“Heyy tell the driver to stop please.” Sulaimon shouted to the people who were sitting at the back of the truck.

Nobody answered as they watched on. Finally, a man stretched his hands. The truck was slowed passing through a bend. Sulaimon and Tayo grabbed that window of opportunity and ran alongside the truck. When he was running as fast as the truck, he reached up with one hand and gripped a rung of the truck and pulled himself off the ground. He seized the rung with his other hand to brace himself. He was then pulled into the truck by the man that had stretched out his hands.

“Quick grab my hands!” Sulaimon shouted as he stretched his hands towards Tayo who was running beside the truck now. Tayo increased his pace, grabbed Sulaimon's hand and lifted himself off the ground.

They were now both on the truck.

With a smile of appreciation, Sulaimon turned to the man that had just helped them. “You speak English?” He asked

“Small English I speak.”

“Ok. Thank you very much for your help. Where is this truck going please?”

“We going to Libya." The man said. "Take water” He handed a small bottle of water to Sulaimon and another to Tayo.

“Ohh thank you so much.” Sulaimon, said gulping down water as the truck rattled endlessly to Libya.

PraisesPblaze:
I have arrived.
OP, do the needful

Sure, dropping another chapter today. You're welcome.
Don't forget to invite others too.

Tonyspecial:
Did i come late?

Not at all, you're highly welcome.
Kindly invite others too

CHAPTER 3

Two days later, the bus pulled into a large compound in Agadez, Niger Republic. It was filled with people; some sitting round a fire, some peeping out from the window of a mud house that was standing at the other end of the compound, while others were hurriedly picking their belongings and running towards the bus that had just arrived. Those inside were quickly climbing down except for the confused Sulaimon and Tayo.

“What is going on Mr. Pam? Why are these people coming down from the bus and those ones rushing towards us?” Tayo asked.

“Both of you should come down quick.” Mr Pam said.

“They asked you a question and you are telling us to come down. Is this the Libya we are to stop?” Sulaimon was angry.

“Look, I am not the owner of this bus. If you want to shout go ahead and do that with the driver. He said this is his final bus stop. He doesn’t go to Libya.” Mr. Pam replied hotly.

Sulaimon dropped from the bus and went to the passenger side where Mr. Pam was sitting. “Then you should have told us earlier. Is this the agreement we had? We paid you money to take us to Libya not Niger republic. How can we pay you Eight Hundred Thousand Naira to bring us to Niger? There is no way…”

“See! Look!! Don’t get me angry o! I am not your mate that you will be shouting at me like this. You think I will be here doing this if not for the situation I find myse…”

“What is our concern with that? Did you tell us about your life when we were paying you the money? How can you tell us that the man is not going to Libya after that is what we paid you for?” Tayo interrupted as he also dropped from the bus.

“Hey!! I no want any trouble here. This is where I am stopping, I no dey go any Libya.” Oga Polo interjected.

“If you knew you would not reach Libya why collect our money? Let me tell you something. I don’t care if you are my great uncle from the eleventh century, there is just no way that I will pay you Eight Hundred Thousand naira and you will drop me here.” Sulaimon banged on the bonnet of the bus.

Oga Polo and Mr. Pam dropped from the bus. “See if you spoil my bus…”

“Oga keep quiet! You think we are fools, right? See! Pam or whatever your name is, both of you had better warn yourselves and take us to Libya or refund our money now!” Tayo cut in, now flexing his muscles like a street boy.

“Na me this boy dey disrespect like this.” Mr. Pam said hitting Tayo in the chest.

Tayo in turn, punched him.

The place was soon rowdy as people gathered to separate them.

“Stop! Stop!! Stop!!! Come down, come down your mind all of you. No fight here. What e happen?” A man asked. He had a big brown turban wrapped around his head.

“It is this big for nothing men that would not respect their selves. They collected money to take us to Libya instead they brought us here and expect us not to ask questions.” Sulaimon said picking his backpack from the ground.

“See this boy o. Na me you dey call big for nothing.”  Mr. Pam struggled to reach Sulaimon to land a slap but was prevented.

“Hey stop fight now I say. Is it true what boy say? This no Libya, this Niger. Why collect money to go Libya and bring them here?” The turban man asked.

“Look no be me do talk with the children, na Pam. Na with Pam dem get problem no be me.” Oga Polo replied.

“Which kin talk be dat na Oga Polo, no be me and you do the business? You con dey run your mouth like this.” Mr. Pam looked hurt by that.

The man in turban interrupted as Mr. Pam and Oga Polo started arguing. “Kai! The two of you give money back to this children now before I seize your bus and carry you go prison. You know prison? Bad prison I take you.”

“Oya Oga Polo give them their money. I don’t want any trouble again.”

“After all the talk wey this children talk. Why we go just…”

“You wan go prison Oga Polo? You know wetin this people dey call prison for here? Give the children their money I take God beg you. I no want wahala.” Mr. Pam pleaded.

Oga Polo hissed and dragged his feet to the bus. After shifting his weight countless times within the bus as though looking for something missing, he reluctantly brought out the money and hand it to Sulaimon. “Oya take. Two Hundred Thousand Naira.”

"Fair enough." Sulaimon said.

“Is complete?” The man in turban asked.

Sulaimon counted the money.

“Yes, it is complete. Thank you.”

With a death stare, Mr. Pam and Oga Polo climbed back unto the bus.

“As if I tell you say I want your thank you." Oga Polo said.

“He wasn’t thanking you. He was thanking this man here.” Tayo cut in.

“Okay. Now, you go with your bus and no come back. I warn you.” The man in turban said to Mr Pam and Oga Polo. The duo nodded. The man then waved his hands for everyone that had gathered to disperse. Afterwards, he turned to Sulaimon. “Where the money?” He asked.

“It is safe with me.” Sulaimon answered.

“Okay bring it. I tell children to bring food and water for you. After you rest, in the night you go to Libya with that motor.” The man pointed towards a black Hilux truck packed beside the mud house.

After making an imperceptible eye communication with Tayo, Sulaimon nodded his head with a smile. “Okay, thank you very much sir for your help.” He then gave the man the money.

“Very good. Go and sit down. Children bring food quick.” The man said and disappeared into the mud house.

Tayo sighed as he and Sulaimon sat under a tree in the compound. “I hope this man is not another 419, because we would be so stranded and helpless if he is.”

“Let's just pray he isn’t.” Sulaimon said.

As night fell, a smuggler gave a signal and everybody ran towards the Hilux. Sulaimon and Tayo rushed into the passenger side of the truck, while others scrambled onto the back jostling for a place on the 1,200-km journey to Libya. Twenty-one people were packed into the truck for the three-day ride. Those on the edge sat astride a long wooden stick, to prevent them from falling off during the night into the desert.

Minutes later the Hilux rolled out of the metal gates of the compound and snaked through the sandy backstreets of Agadez. It drove unhindered past a police checkpoint on the outskirts of the town and into the blackness of the vast desert.

Nostradamus:
Ayam in.

This seem interesting

Thank you and welcome. Kindly invite others too.