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Title: BELLA BENSON

[b]Chapter One
BELLA FAILED AGAIN

The atmosphere was tense for little Bella as she stepped forward to take her turn in the EBIAG SPELLING GENIUS COMPETITION. She turned her neck around and felt as though she was facing a million people. She tightened her face as though she would burst in tears. Her head fell as she tapped the tiled floor with her tattered shoe. Once, she was feeling like a celebrity, but now, she felt as though hell had been let loose. It was the school hall of Morning Bell College (MBC), Magodo, Ikeja. The preliminary stage of the yearly SPELLING GENIUS COMPETITION was not a new thing to MBC which had produced two winners so far in the competition over five years of its inception.

It would be a nationwide thing. Bella had dreamt of going as far as the National stage of the competition to represent her state, Lagos and to win the trophy. The dream came to her vividly like a vision and she believed it.

"Bella!" a voice broke up her wandering heart. "Your time is ticking, won't you spell the word?"

"The...w..word?" Bella stammered. "What?"

A loud overwhelming laughter broke through from the back of the hall. It was Blossom's voice. Soon, the hall had joined her in it. Everyone went frenzied.

"Em...I didn't here the word. Please, can you...em...at least repeat the word?"

"Okay, listen up Bella, your word is ALIGN," the teacher said.

"A line?" Bella replied with her eyes bulged out in fright. She didn't want to miss the spelling. If she missed it, then it would be her fourth failures in three weeks. She had earlier tried her hands on Volleyball, but she did badly and was dropped by the school volleyball coach. She opted for Table Tennis and lost out, just at the preliminary stage. She put in for the Chess Competition in her school. She was nothing near good in it. Now, she felt this would be her last chance; the Spelling Genius Competition organised by EBIAG.

"No, Bella, I didn't say 'a line' but ALIGN. Listen well please."

"Well..." Bella paused as she looked to her right. Almost all the contestants were still seated. It was just the first round of the competition, just as the placard ahead of her had pointed out. Bella looked straight ahead and saw the whispering mouth of her sister, BLOSSOM. She would just follow her whispers right away.

"Okay, ALIGN is spelt A-L-I-N-E," Bella braced up and tried putting up a smile on her mug. She expected a round of applause, but instead, it was a round of laughter she heard.

"Bella, you are wrong! You mixed it up. ALIGN is spelt A-L-I-G-N. That was too simple for you to..."

Bella was already out of earshot. She was having her head bowed as she shed tears. Bella was in J.S.S 3. She has passion for competition but she hasn't found anything she was good at. Naturally, she has done badly in all the things she had put her hands into previously, including the debate competitions she tried to take part in while she was in the Primary School.

The class was empty where Bella had gone to ensconce herself in. Her tears ran down her face, greased her hands and fell on the top of the desk on which her head laid. She was only two minutes into her tears when she felt an arm round her neck. She raised her head and discovered it was Blossom, her sister.

"Bella, what are you doing here alone? Weeping?"

"Bella hissed and placed her head back on the desk."

"Bella, brace up. That tears is uncalled for!"

"It was all your fault!" Bella burst out eventually.

"My fault?"

"Yes your fault Blossom. You whispered the wrong spelling."

"No Bella, you're wrong. I gave you the right spelling. You mixed it up!" Blossom denied.

"I read your lips so well; of course you know I can read lips well."

"Bella, I swear I spelt ALIGN correctly for you. I swear!" Blossom made a very serious face. "Is that how you'll blame your fault on people? I was even trying to help Bella. Oh! If I had known, I wouldn't have helped you at all Bella. Okay...then...bye cos I have no time for fussing over a spilt milk here. Got to do my music practice because of the competition ahead. Bye!" Blossom flaired up and was out of the class in a jiff.

Bella felt guilty for making Blossom angry. She began to doubt herself.

"Oh, maybe I didn't read her lips well after all," Bella thought aloud.

"Bella!" a startling voice broke into her ears. It was her class teacher, Miss Fiona.
"Bella, what are you hear alone doing? Ain't you going to watch the competition? It's getting more interesting!"

"I don't want to see any boring competition. I'm out of it, so I have no business with the damn thing anymore!"

Mrs Fiona sighed and stepped well into the empty classroom as she made for Bella's seat. She sat beside her and prodded her.

"Little Bella, you can always do something," said Mrs Fiona as she was won't doing.

"Thanks, I've heard that tons of time," Bella replied. "You needn't tell me that one more time. I know I can do things--irony I guess," she dakd and dropped her head again.

"Bella..." the teacher said. "Listen..." Miss Fiona stood and went on ttiptoed as though she would do a ballet dance. Then she made a display and broke into a song:

You can get it if you really want...
You can get it if you really want...
You've gotta try...try and try...try and try...
You'll succeed at last...

She shut her eyes and sang the song passionately, thinking that would make the song sink deep into Bella's brain. Her voice echoed in the empty room as she sang.

"Ooooouuuu!" she screamed in excitement and flashed her eyes opened. To her surprise, she was the only one left in the class. "Gush! Where is this Bella girl!" She screamed as she made for the door.[/b]]

[b][color=blue]Harrison was a totally bad-tempered fellow.
Seeing Henry not enthusiastic about such
fight, Harrison had made a plan to relocate. He
was going to give the fight of naturalization a
consideration. Having endured the stay beside
] Henry for seven months, Harrison felt it was
time to put his thought into action. He walked
clumsily on the aisle separating the Chinese
and the Japanese in Gyrus. The population of
the Chinese nativity in Gyrus was
approximately four times that of the Japanese.
Such claim might just have justified their
respective populations on the planet earth.
Since every Gyrus citizen had got some
freakishly large range of view, Harrison had no
problem scanning through all those seated in
the section of the large hall where the Chinese
had sat. Spotting Cheung few kilometers away,
Harrison made a swoop to him in less than a
second. Harrison touched Cheung’s shoulder
lightly, but inimically, and said, “Here’s the
person.”
Fear gripped Cheung, who had been hiding his
face away from Harrison ever since his eyes
were roaming the Chinese area for someone to
have a fight with. Cheung’s tears flowed like
rivers of water. Cheung was of the thought
that his end had come. Cheung pleaded for
mercy, but Harrison’s fiendish nature would
not allow him to pick another for a fight. He
needed to fight with Cheung badly, having
sensed fear in his eyes earlier.
“He’ll make a walkover,” muttered Harrison to
the hearing of himself alone.
Seated on the left of Cheung was a boy of
about the same age as Harrison. His name was
Kim Park. Kim had been awarded the coveted
post of a Mystery Maker, having fought and
overcome many fights. Kim had watched
Cheung’s reaction ever since the time Harrison
had challenged him. Seeing Cheung’s reaction,
Kim had instantly developed a strong
sympathy for Cheung at that instance.
The Chief magistrate’s voice suddenly came up
saying, “Li Cheung, you’ve been picked for a
fight, so hurry up to save our time.”
Cheung’s head ‘rang bell’ on hearing the
suicidal call. Shivering to get up, he suddenly
heard a voice beside him:
“You can pick up a fight with me either.” It
was Kim. Harrison was scared on hearing
Kim’s pronouncement. Harrison had never
fought since getting to Gyrus, but had seen
Kim fight several times, defeating his
antagonists. Though Harrison was very much
afraid of Kim, he would not reject the fight
because of pride. The magistrate’s voice came
up again.
“Hurry up Harrison. You may decide not to
have a fight with Kim and go for Cheung
instead—if you insist.” The advice did a great
harm to Cheung’s system, who had instantly
resumed his whines.
Suddenly Harrison said, “Dear Management of
Gyrus, I’m not a bit scared of Kim, but I’d
loved it if you can just grant us some times to
practice for the contest.” Harrison bowed his
head to the magistrate as a sign of respect
after his speech.
“You’ve asked a hard thing,” came up the
voice of the magistrate. Well, left to me I’ll
grant you the permission, but I’ve got to
consult my co-magistrates, generals and
lieutenants to hear their views too.” Instantly
the mentioned ones had crowded around the
chief magistrate; all heads lowered to begin
brainstorming. They had one voice at last.
The magistrate came up again to say,
“Permission granted, but you’ve got only two
days.” Kim’s annoyance arose. He screamed,
“No, it’s better to fight it out now.”
“Shut up boy, we have spoken,” scolded the
magistrate.
Cheung’s gladness knew no bound. His bitter
tears were transformed to tears of joy at once.
When the meeting was rounded off, Cheung
was the first to leave the planet.
The Power Guard, Kent Robins, walked up to
Kim.
“Hello little boy, I can assist you to defeat that
boy,”
“Who are you?” replied Kim with a tone of
hostility.
“So, you don’t know who I am? You don’t
know the magic Power Guard. One who
maintains balance between Magic and Minors.
I see you’re nervous, that’s why I’ve come to
your rescue.”
“Me? Nervous?” the boy replied insolently.
“Sorry to say, I don’t need your help. I can
always defeat him.”
Harrison was listening to their conversation.
He waited patiently for Kim’s departure, then
he rushed to the Power Guard.
“Sir,” Harrison called out.
“Little boy, what d’you want?”
“What Kim had just refused.”
The man ran his hand through Harrison’s hair
and said, “You’re a wise boy Harrison, like
your father. We shall see tonight in the
mirror.”
Ted heard the brief discussion between
Harrison and the Guard while he was passing
by, but he had only walked past them as if he
was not concerned, since he had no single
interest in Gyrus fights.
Ted found Henry still glued to his seat.
“Henry, ain’t you leaving?”
“I’ll see Professor Wilson first.”
“About what?”
“To get the seventh question, or have you
remembered it?”
“No!” exclaimed Ted. “I don’t think I can ever
remember such question for the rest of my
life. Why can’t you pretend as if you’ve
forgotten there was any seventh question, so it
won’t bother you anymore?” Henry ignored his
suggestion, quickly changing the topic.
“Ted, what d’you think about the fight in the
next two days? Who’ll win?”
“I don’t like watching such fights. Whoever is
more powerful should win.”
“I don’t enjoy watching too, but this time I’d
prefer the Chinese boy.”
“Why d’you want him to win?”
“It’s obvious he’ll win.”
“I can bet it with you, Harrison will win,” Ted
said. Henry laughed a great deal.
“Let’s watch and see who wins this argument.”
Ted was about to leave the planet, but Henry
said, “Ted, are you not going to wait for me to
see the dean?”
“No, Henry, I’m perceiving that my uncle’s at
my bathroom door. He’s always watching my
moves these days. It’s already six minutes
since I’ve entered the bathroom.”
“Okay Ted, give me a minute more. We shall
be through.” Ted agreed and remained.
Henry said, “Why d’you think Harrison will
win? I don’t want to take chances. If he wins
I’ll sure drop my magic.”
“Why d’you say so?” Ted asked, full of
surprises.
“I don’t like him.”
“Why? He’s the son of Sergius. His father was
a good man.”
“For all I care Harrison’s nothing like his
father,” rebuffed Henry sharply.
“Why?”
“Because he hates me. Ted, remember I told
you I don’t like anyone who does not like me
and I like anyone who likes me.”
“What about Cynthia?” Ted reminded. “She
doesn’t like you but you love her.”
Henry said funnily, “Sorry, I’ve got to modify
what I’ve just said: it was a slip of tongue.”
Ted looked on to hear what Henry would come
out with.
Henry said, “I don’t like any boy who doesn’t
like me.” They laughed.
Ted said, “What has he done for you—I mean
Harrison?”
“He’s always wanting violence. He almost
made me lose my life one day while I was
racing to my seat to escape the death-bell. He
placed his leg on my path and I stumbled over
it. I wobbled to my seat just two microseconds
before the death-bell rang.”
“Huh!” sounded Ted in awe.
“And when I got to my seat he gave me a
thunderous slap; then I was still very new in
Gyrus.”
“So such a thing happened and you never told
me!” Ted said expressing shock. If you had
told me then I’d have picked a fight with him;
I’m his senior—got here before him,” boasted
Ted as if Gyrus position had been awarded
according to arrival time.
“Why should I tell you?” Henry said. “I
thought you said you don’t enjoying watching
two citizens fight.” Henry evinced his victory
in the argument by a grin, but Ted had
something to say.
“But I never said I don’t like participating
myself. What I don’t like is standing back while
the fight’s going on.”
The two burst into long-lasting giggles. Henry
howled, “Again!” and added, “Ted, on a more
serious note, did you use the magic to know
that Harrison will win?”
“No,” he replied. “You’re wasting my time,”
Ted expressed his uneasiness.
“Oh, I promise I’ll not exceed one minute.”
Henry remembered as he glared at his
wristwatch and screamed, “Wow! It’s one-hour
already! I wonder what it will be on earth!”
Ted hurriedly poked a hand into his pocket
and took out an object. It was a Gyrus
converter. Ted was intending to convert the
time mentioned to its earth equivalence.
“It’s not necessary Ted, I’ll use—”
“What else can be faster?”
“Einstein’s magic,” said Henry. “It’s the
human brain,” admonished Henry and added
excitedly, “Forty-five seconds approximately,
fifteen seconds left.”
“I don’t believe you. I’ll confirm that with
this,” said Ted as he hurriedly pushed a button
on the converter. The answer came clearly.
Henry was right.
“C’mon boy, you’re damn right,” ululated Ted.
“Yeah, won you this time.” Henry put his arms
up to celebrate his victory, but Ted was not
ready to give up the debate.
“No, you didn’t win me. You–said,” Ted was
thinking of what to say.
“Talk! Talk!” Henry said laughing heartily.
“I said I don’t believe your conversion, but—”
“But what?”
“I believe in Einstein’s Magic which you used.”
The two guffawed.
“You know something Henry?”
“No,” he replied.
“You’re a genius, like Einstein.” To poke fun
the more Henry said, “But Einstein’s a pure
genius, but I’m backing mine up with magic.”
“That’s why you are unique,” said Ted, then
he added, “Who can tell if he had also patched
it up with the big letter ‘em’?”
Henry was still on it.
“Do you agree I won the argument?”
“Sure, I quite agree.”
“Then it’s infinity-one—” declared Henry, “our
arguments score line so far.” Another laugh
followed. “Ted, tell me why you want Harrison
to win, or why you think Harrison will win.”
Ted then explained what he had heard the
Power Guard tell Harrison.
Henry yelled, “No, we mustn’t allow it. We’ve
got to report to the magistrates.”
“Let’s tell Kim to be careful instead,”
suggested Ted.
“Yes, in a mirror conference communication
tonight,” Henry said with unwonted zeal. It
seemed he was now, for the first time,
interested in using the mirror.
“That’ll be cool,” Ted uttered softly.
The two saw the dean at that instance. He’d
just ended his protracted discourse with the
head-magistrate.
“Hey, Ted, here’s the dean; let’s hurry to him,”
Henry suggested, but Ted contradicted. But
raised an apparent better, “Let’s shout his
name instead. Can’t you see he’s already set to
take off. Let’s shout now.”
The twosome hollered, “Professor Wils—”
They had to pause, since the dean had
vanished already. It irked Ted that his stay in
Gyrus since the close of the meeting was only
a wasted endeavor. Before Henry could say
“I’m Sorry for the delay” Ted had gone too.
It was Henry’s first experience to be left alone
in a whole planet.
“Awesome!” he screamed, but was not
preparing to leave yet.[/colo

CHAPTER TEN HARRISON BURTON Henry had discovered the name of the boy, whose seat Henry’s own was abutting in Gyrus. His name was Harrison. Ted had explained to Henry that Harrison was the son of the predecessor of the current Gyrus head of magistrates. His name was Sergius Burton. He was the most respected of all the past rulers of Gyrus. “Harrison’s father was Sergius Burton. He was the most influential in the history of Gyrus. He ruled Gyrus for quite a long year, died at seventy-five. His death occurred just a week before you were initiated, then his assistant, Patrick Rutherford, the current head of magistrates, was sworn in immediately to succeed his boss.” Ted took time to talk about Sergius. “Sergius was the only person initiated at birth in the history of Gyrus. He made immense contribution to Gyrus’ civilization too. He upgraded the mirror so that it became mobile of its own accord. No one knew the man had a son until he brought him to Gyrus recently to initiate him. Sergius died only three days after his son’s initiation.” “How?” asked Henry. “It’s a mystery. Harrison alone was the witness, since his father’s death took place in a large study in his home. Harrison told us that the man was murdered by some people he had called thieves, explaining that his father was stabbed by the thugs.” “Serious!”Henry expressed shock. “Didn’t you say he was powerful?” “Of course yes, Henry, but I perceive the man was on amnesia then.” “Amnesia—loss of memory?” “Yes, but that definition of yours is only valid on earth,” said Ted. “In Gyrus ‘amnesia’ means deliberate or unintentional loss of magical power, which could be as a result of the owner’s feeling that he needs to be without the magical power for sometimes, or had been stripped off it against one’s will by another magician. The second is often performed during fights between two or more magician. “It’s crazy,” said Henry. “What’s the advantage of the first—I mean the deliberate one?” “It’s just to make you temporarily become an ordinary person, you know, in feeling, thinking and everything—you’ll be without power.” “poo!” said Henry, expressing hatred towards the concept. “I can be with my magic and never make use of it, just as I’ve been doing ever since I became a citizen of Gyrus.” “Liar,” Ted said. “You can’t give me that poo— you used it against Jeff, didn’t you?” Ted revealed to Henry’s confusion. “I didn’t. It was Cheung that used it—not me.” “You used it to help Cheung, so you’ve used it.” Henry kept shut, feeling that Ted had won him once more. “You this guy, were you not the person that coerced me into it?” “Not at all. You can’t push blames on others if you want to make it in life. Henry, you can’t do without using your power as a magician.” “Hmm,” sighed Henry, “What about Cheung you told me of? He has never used the poo!” “Cheung always put himself on amnesia, always occupying himself with the thought of how to break lose from witchcraft.” Henry did not tell Ted how Harrison had proved to be an adversary to him without reason. It then occurred to Henry the reason Dolly and Harrison had never spoken to one another since Henry’s arrival. However, Henry had considered Harrison’s failure to socialize as an oversight, trying on each ‘Gyrus-day’ to make friendship with him. Henry soon discovered that Harrison’s hobby was to sit down watching Gyrus bloody fights, something Henry loathed with all his soul. In Gyrus, there had always been two kinds of contests between two or more citizens—fight of naturalization and fight of position. The first was a kind of fight between two people from different nations of the world, whereby one is seeking to naturalize to the country of the other. Such fight must always end up in the death of one of the fighters, meaning that if the one seeking to naturalize won the fight, he would take up the seat of the other among the nation he had wished to naturalize to. But if it was the other way round, the winner would maintain his seat, but would earn some points. The fight of position was a fight in which one is seeking the position of the other. The position-seeker must need win the fight to earn some points (though such may not be given the position immediately). If it was the other way round, then the original position- owner will earn more points. This may not involve death. Harrison had always harbored strong indignation toward a winner who had deliberately let alive his antagonist in the fight of naturalization. During the fights, Harrison had often looked to his side to discover that Henry was bowing his head, disinterested in the ongoing fights, not watching it.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Toyosi asked me something in sign language. I was surprised she was able to do the sign better than I left her. "Your mother would be here in few minutes," she assured me. "Really?" I was excited. "Yes," she said. My father came to sit beside me and held me close to his chest. He cleaved my hair and kissed the middle of it. This is a miracle, I thought. Bode was lying down ill. He needed care. Toyosi took all his clothing material to wash. I asked her if I could help, but she insisted that she would do them on her own. When I remembered that my poem collections would soon be published, I intensified my effort on it, writing more and more. This time around, they were poems of happy reunions and happy endings. I couldn't find it hard coming about a poem anymore, because they were just a replica of events unfolding. It was a week already and my mother wasn't back yet. Toyosi had assured me that she would soon be here with us, so why should I keep worrying? I began to develop a poem. It was titled THE STRATEGY OF GOD: It all began with a solid tragedy Until I thought there was no remedy Never knowing it was a strategy To bring about a wonderful comedy I thought it would end in an elegy But in the end it becomes an eulogy All glory to God who made me a prodigy Beyond all human analogy I thought I had no ability But I discovered them with agility When challenges came with intensity But now I can display my audacity... Toyosi saw me writing it. She tapped me and smiled. She had been reading it all the while, unknown to me. If my ears could hear I would have noticed when she opened the door and entered my room. I quickly flipped the book closed. "Come with me," she said in sign language. "I have a..." she couldn't sign out what she meant. "I have a something for you," she said at last. She must have thought of saying she had a surprise for me, but she didn't know how to do that in sign language. I followed her. To my shock, it was my mother I saw sitting right inside the parlour. I rushed to her and gave her the tightest hug I have ever done to anyone. Mother and I rolled on the floor, thanking our God for a happy ending. My father met us in the euphoria. He was happy too. My father and my mother hugged each other for the first time since I got to know them. Toyosi said that she had become a born-again Christian now. She said God told her to bring my mother back from the prison. She even confessed to the fact that she was the person calling me up in my dream. "I knew I cannot kill whom God hasn't killed because I tried it with voice language the first time but Rose didn't hear me, let alone give a reply. The second time I tried it, it was my own son who appeared and not Rose," Toyosi said. "Assuming Bode understood the sign language, he would have been dead by now because that is Apepa! " Toyosi wept and asked for our forgiveness. Willingly we forgave her. A week later, aunty Rachael came to tell us that she had found a fiancé--a very rich one for that matter; Honorable Daniel, the man she met during my graduation ceremony. "Daniel is a God-fearing man," Rachael said. I could spot a tint of gladness in her dimples. Her lips expanded and contracted as she did the sign language. She was telling my mother with her mouth and doing the sign language at the same time. "That's great!" my mother was happy. "Daniel would be travelling to the US with me permanently. He would be settling down there." "Thank you Jesus!" I exclaimed in sign language. But I would miss my aunty so much. Our school had resumed but my father insisted that I wasn't going to continue in a public school of the handicapped. They said I would do my school in a private secondary school for the deaf and dumb. I would be travelling to Abuja for that purpose. It was a special school where the special people from rich families attended. My father and her concubine, Toyosi, took my mother and I to Abuja to see the school I would be attending. It was like heaven. The buildings were as tall as the clouds. I saw rich children over there; the deaf, the dumb, the lame, the blind. They had no cause to be burdened in their hearts. Why should they worry when they had all things at their reach? If there is money, the disabled people wouldn't have any reason to worry, I thought. My father and I returned home after the one- week holiday in Abuja. My mum and Toyosi said they were going to do a little shopping. When we returned home, I found a letter hung in our letterbox. I read it: My aunt was notifying us that she had just travelled out of the country with her fiancé, Honorable Daniel. They wouldn't be returning soon. It was a mixture of joy and sadness for me when I read the news. Oh! My aunty! There can never be any two aunties in the world for me. The picture of my school-to-be set on my face: Springtime International Special School. I was glad I would be there someday, soonest. Toyosi returned to the house late. I was shocked when she returned all alone. "Where is my mother?" I asked her. She made her fingers into a bundle and flipped it over her mouth to signal to me that I should speak with my mouth. "Where is my mother?" I asked with a frown on my face. She touched her ears to signal to me that she couldn't hear my voice. I was flabbergasted as I saw her laughing out loud. John joined her in it."

[b]CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

"She is crazy!" I said vindictively. "She must be mad!"

My aunty and my classteacher had just finished telling me that Toyosi came for the purpose of taking me back to my father.

"For what reason? So that she can kill me?" I signed.

"Just put your mind at rest, Rose, you are not going anywhere," my teacher assured me.

I wished Toyosi nothing other than evil. Why can't she just slump one day, never to rise again? I would think. I tried all ways to cease thinking evil about her, but no way.

"Why can't she be hit by a vehicle once and for all?" I said in the presence of my aunty two days after Toyosi visited our home.

"Hey, don't say so!" she said. "Have you forgotten what the bible says? Pray for your enemy."

"But the bible didn't specify the type of prayer, aunty. So maybe I would just be doing the right thing by praying for the death of my enemy!" I said stubbornly. For the first time my aunty was speechless over my mindboggling opinion.

Mrs Oyin would soon be joining her husband abroad. Her husband had instructed her to get a buyer for that house we were occupying with her. She wasn't happy about the turnout of things.

"I am not selling this house," she replied her husband through a letter. "Don't you understand, I have a family staying there with me."

Her husband insisted on her selling it. It was an arrangement they had had between themselves while her husband was departing few years back. He didn't have the intention of returning to Nigeria and his wife was going to join him there permanently too.

My classteacher told us the story in details. There was a loan they obtained four years back, through which they had been able to acquire much of the wealth they had. The loan would be due for repayment in six months. The house and few other property were used as collateral security back then, that was the reason why the house would be sold and the cash so obtained would be paid to the bank. Mrs Oyin would use part of the money from the sales of the property to acquire a visa.

"Mrs Oyin, if your husband asked you to sell this house then you have no option than to sell it," Rachael said.

"I can't!" she responded. "If I do so where should I push you and Rose to?"

"God will take control and be a refuge to us," my aunty replied with those smiles bequeathed with dimples as she was wont doing.

Two people barged into the door, Toyosi and John my father. I developed goose pimples when I saw John. I felt like shooting at him, but unfortunately I had no gun.

They began to open their mouths. They had veins on their necks as they spoke. I could perceive that they were speaking harshly to us.

My aunty took me aside after a hot brawl with my father. She began to speak slowly with her hands so that I could grab the whole detail:

"Rose, they are here to take you back," she said.

"Why? They imprisoned my mother and caused me much pain. I can't go back into that house! Over my dead body!"

"You will go, Rose," she said. "John your father has much say over you. He is your father."

"A disowned father!" I shouted. "He doesn't want me and I have disowned him already!"

"Rose, at the moment things isn't going to be the way you are thinking. They have a lawyer already; your father has threatened to charge us to court for child abuse."

"How?" I was baffled and confused.

"They said that you were being maltreated and left without care here. They said they would win the case easily because he is your father and you are not supposed to stay outside his house without his permission."

What gave me much concern was that confession that I was being maltreated and left without care. That was a blatant lie. How could they say such thing? Mrs Oyin had really shown much care for me, far more than any care I had ever received.

"What evidence would they provide in the court of law that I was maltreated here?" I asked my aunty.

"Toyosi said she saw you running helter-skelter in the rain with a boy. She said she wanted to know why we left you at the mercy of a boy. She said we would have to supply an answer to that question by the time they get us arrested."

I was shocked! How did Toyosi spot us in the rain that day--myself and Moses, the boy who was running about with me in the rain that day? Yes! I remembered I saw Toyosi on a motorcycle that day but thought it was just her lookalike.

This Toyosi must be a monitoring spirit, I thought.

My father and Toyosi insisted on taking me along with them immediately, but my guardians disagreed. They promised to bring me to them by themselves.

I wondered why Toyosi had all the time going about with my father when she was supposed to be in her matrimonial home taking care of her husband. She had only been a thorn in the flesh of my family.

Why on earth did my father want me in the house? I thought I was a burden to him, so what would he have me do after imprisoning my mother? I was scared of what my future with him would hold. Without my mother in that house with me I would be dead in few weeks in that house.

I fluttered out of the room and charged at my father in the parlour. My father looked at me and shook his head as though he was having pity for me.

"Rose, forgive me," he said and wept. When I saw the sign made by my teacher to interprete what he said, I couldn't believe my eyes--my father asking for my forgiveness after all his evil acts towards me? It was incredible!

I took advantage of the situation to ask something from him.

"I shall only forgive you on one condition," I said. "Release my mother."

"We shall do so," they replied with smiles, herself and her concubine. They lowered themselves at me and cuddled me up in a warm hug.

The day after, my aunty took me to them. They had prepared a special dish for my aunty and I. I was reluctant to eat the food but my aunty asked me to eat.

"Now I have come to realise that everybody is useful in the society. Rose is my daughter but I have always been cruel to her. Now I have promised to take good care of her like a princess. I will bring her mother back into this house. I have gone to see the Chief Warder yesterday and he has assured me that everything is under control."

When my aunty was departing, Toyosi asked me to lead them in prayers to my amazement. I concurred, my aunty being the one doing the interpretation for them.

Is this an answer to our prayers? I pondered.[/b]




Note: This STORY and other EBIAG STORIES are available in PDF and EPUB format which you can purchase through attachment to your e-mail address or by coming down to our office, EBIAG NIGERIA, 5/9 MOHAMMED STREET, SANTOS LAYOUT, AKOWONJO, LAGOS.

Other stories you can get written by the same author are:

1. Hope And The Island of Greatness
2. We Are Able
3. As E Dey Happen
4. Honeymoon In Prison
5. I wanna Win
6. The Changed Criminal
7. Political Crinkum Crankum
8. Laisser Moi Tranquille (French Story)
9. Bella Benson (Nigerian High School Musicals)
10. Devil's Prey
11. Goats In Uniform
12. Suicide Note, etc.

You can also have award-winning stories written for you in your own name by Sammy O. Contact Sammy O. on FACEBOOK: Sammy Oh; Twitter: SammyEbiag and Whatsapp/Call: 08138410839.
Website: www.ebiag.com is under reconstruction to fit our needs.

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EBIAG= Every Body Is A Genius

YES YOU ARE IF YOU BELIEVE SO!!!

January 1
9pm-11:30pm

Olagoke Adeyemo turn say make hin run, but me don sharply grab am for trouser-that kine area wey police go grab you wey you no go fit free yourself. Olagoke Adeyemo wan run drive one punch enter my stomach but I sharply grab hin hand. Fight begin immediately.

I carry am throway for ground kon sit on top am dey give am thorough beating. I punch hin face left and right so tey the guy just dey restless. People wey dey around just dey look us like say e no concern them.

Goke suddenly sink hin teeth enter my shoulder. I shout kon leave am immediately. Chai! That bite too pain person abeg.

Goke stand up begin run. I chase am. Hin phone fall down but hin no know. The guy don escape. At least me don pay am back with hin own coin. The uppercut wey he give me that day, I don use many blow replace am today. Hin eyes don swell up every angle.

Emeka don drink to stupor. The guy don even vomit for one corner sef. Na 10:30pm we dey already o. Me wan begin dey waka now, but me no go fit leave Emeka alone o. The guy don drink himself to unconsciousness kon go hibernate for mosquito corner.

"Emeka! Emeka! Me wan dey go joor!" I tok.

"No disturb me," Emeka tok. "Go bring truck make e carry me for here because me don dey heavy," Emeka begin tear laugh.

All hin mouth just dey smell alcohol.

Wetin I go do now? Me no wan pass my night for club house joor o. I check my time again, 10:35pm don knack. Bus fit no dey to take go house again o. E be like say me go leave Emeka for there dey go my house o.

I pull Emeka comot for ground but the guy just slip comot my hand like banana peel kon put another gear for hin sleeping mode like fat pig. I don try jare. Time to waka.

Goke phone begin ring for inside my pocket. I bring am come outside my pocket. Na Titi dey call am.

"Hmm," I smile. Now me go fit control Titi small if I fit alter my voice small make e be like Goke own. I pick the call.

"Hello, Darling," I tok dey wait for her response.

"Baby, where are you?" Titi ask.

"Em..." I pause. I just remember say my English no good at all. If I tok, Titi fit kana say no be Goke dey tok to ram. I no Wetin I go do jare. I cut the call. Quick, I whatsapp am.

"Hi," I tok. Quick, I don begin dey study the pattern wey Olagoke dey take respond am for whasapp before. Na the same pattern I go follow jare. I load previous messages for the whatsapp see how Goke dey flow.

"Why did you end the call?" Titi whatsapped me.

"I, er...I just feel that doing whatsapp is preferable at the moment, darling. How are you?"

"Cool, and you?"

" Doing fine. Ain't you going to sleep darling?" I chat.

" I don't feel like sleeping. I'm just thinking about you..." Titi reply me.

All my posts na copy and paste of the chat wey the two of them do for December 25, Christmas day. Me don kuku take control of the chat. Na me dey speak, na she dey respond.

"Titibabe, I'm fine here and I can't stop thinking about you too."

"Hmm...I know that's what you will say. Awwww!"
Titi respond.

"Sincerely I am missing you like aargh! I just want you by my side today, Christmas, but it's a pity we didn't get to see each other till now. I hope we can meet on new year day," I say. I begin wait for Titi response. I no sabi say I don do big mistake.

"Goke, what are you saying? We are in new year day for Christ sake!"

I no kuku dey read her post again, so I no sabi say she dey ask me question. Me just continue with the next post:

"Sincerely babe, when can we meet each other? I can't imagine that I haven't met you face to face since June 12 when we met online."

"Goke! But we have met on December 29 nah!"

"Okay when and where should we meet?" I copy kon paste as usual. "Are you for real, babe?"

"Goke! Goke! Goke!"

"Will you marry me?" I paste am. Even me sef no dey read Wetin I dey post since. I just dey copy and paste chronologically. Now I check Wetin I dey post and Wetin she dey response. Chai! Kasala don burst o. All the chat wey den don do since last week na hin me dey repost.

"Are you crazy Goke? Have I not told you yes last week on Christmas day?" Titi reply. I see the response. Shock grip me. Chekwe!

I raise my face comot for the phone. Guess Wetin I see. Olagoke Adeyemo! The guy don arrange five big guys follow am.

"Wey that guy?" they begin rake. I see pistol for one of them hand. I don enter ram today.
[/b]




Note: This STORY and other EBIAG STORIES are available in PDF and EPUB format which you can purchase through attachment to your e-mail address or by coming down to our office, EBIAG NIGERIA, 5/9 MOHAMMED STREET, SANTOS LAYOUT, AKOWONJO, LAGOS.

Other stories you can get written by the same author are:

1. Hope And The Island of Greatness
2. We Are Able
3. Everybody Is A Genius
4. Honeymoon In Prison
5. I wanna Win
6. The Changed Criminal
7. Political Crinkum Crankum
8. Laisser Moi Tranquille (French Story)
9. Bella Benson (Nigerian High School Musicals)
10. Devil's Prey
11. Goats In Uniform
12. Suicide Note, etc.

You can also have award-winning stories written for you in your own name by Sammy O. Contact Sammy O. on FACEBOOK: Sammy Oh; Twitter: SammyEbiag and Whatsapp/Call: 08138410839.
Website: www.ebiag.com is under reconstruction to fit our needs.

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Call: 08138410839

EBIAG= Every Body Is A Genius

YES YOU ARE IF YOU BELIEVE SO!!!

Note: This STORY and other EBIAG STORIES are available in PDF and EPUB format which you can purchase through attachment to your e-mail address or by coming down to our office, EBIAG NIGERIA, 5/9 MOHAMMED STREET, SANTOS LAYOUT, AKOWONJO, LAGOS.

Other stories you can get written by the same author are:

1. Hope And The Island of Greatness
2. We Are Able
3. Everybody Is A Genius
4. Honeymoon In Prison
5. I wanna Win
6. The Changed Criminal
7. Political Crinkum Crankum
8. Laisser Moi Tranquille (French Story)
9. Bella Benson (Nigerian High School Musicals)
10. Devil's Prey
11. Goats In Uniform
12. Suicide Note, etc.

You can also have award-winning stories written for you in your own name by Sammy O. Contact Sammy O. on FACEBOOK: Sammy Oh; Twitter: SammyEbiag and Whatsapp/Call: 08138410839.
Website: www.ebiag.com is under reconstruction to fit our needs.

Note that the WE ARE ABLE story is now in prints and currently selling at promo price. Note, you can win up to #250,000 annually or #10,000 weekly by buying the hard copies or subscribing to the PDF and E-PUB version of any of our stories.

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Call: 08138410839

EBIAG= Every Body Is A Genius

YES YOU ARE IF YOU BELIEVE SO!!!

[b]“Ted,” Henry whispered on seeing him.
“Henry, What’s wrong?”
“I have a fever.”
“Sorry,” Ted said. Not minding the condition Henry was, Ted said instantly, “Cheung will have a fight with Jeff tomorrow, 5pm. I’ll need you to help him.”
“I don’t fight,” said Henry with an unusual lean voice.
“I’m not asking you to fight. I only need you to combine your ‘em’ with mine, Joyce’s and Ken’s. We’ll blow up that fool, Jeff.” Ted had said ‘em’ in order to avoid using the word ‘magic’, justifying his thought with the fact that those in the ward could pick it up.
Henry replied, “I’ve got no ‘em’ to combine… What d’you mean? Ted bent his back, lowered his face close to Henry’s head and whispered it to him. He got it. Henry raised his head too, to speak to Ted, “I’ve told you I’m not going to make use of it.”
“Cheung’s using it, not you,” said Ted worryingly. “Or you want Cheung beaten up?”
“Why should I? But I’m quite sure you guys’ own are enough to deal with Jeff, so leave me out of this. I’m sick over here for God’s sake!”
“Jeff’s powerful, one more effort will do—yours. Henry it’s tomorrow, 5p.m, venue, my room, bye,” Ted had said, taking some quick strides to leave the ward.
‘I’m not coming.”
Ted’s commanding tone was the most offensive to Henry. Though Henry would want Jeff beaten up, yet he made a resolution not to be involved in it, reason, the manner of approach Ted had utilized to disseminate the information.
“ It’s going to be fun all the same, either Cheung loses or win,” Henry had thought.
The following day was the fight. Funny enough, almost all the spectators were with placards, which were bearing the statement, “US versus China, who wins?”
Seemed Cheung was the only Asian present. He was not a bit willing to take up the challenge, but Ted kept reassuring him of victory. Ted handed a camera to someone he knew among the throng, who had come to watch the fight. Amazingly, a commentator was available to narrate the fight.
“Who’ll be the referee?” said a boy. “You do it,” he added, pointing to Ted.
“Me? Never…have I got to go now,” replied Ted as he took some steps away from the scene. He soon came to his door to find out that Joyce was waiting.
“You kept me waiting,” she said.
“I’m sorry,” said Ted as he opened his door with a key.
“Go in, Joyce,” Ted said, but Joyce replied in earnest, “I’m sorry I’ve only come to tell you that I can’t participate any longer.”
“I’m having fever,” she announced with a countenance underscoring her point, but Ted did not countenance her excuse.
“What’re you saying Joyce? Poor Cheung’s going to get killed. He’s too young to face Jeff all alone. He needs us now?” Ted barked at her.
“I’m sorry I’ve got to go—now,’ she said as she made to depart. Ted obstructed her and said, “You ain’t going nowhere. Listen to me, half cake’s better than none—”
“But I’m not better than none. I’m a girl, weak, sick and without strength,” she yelled. Ted yelled back, “You’re a giant, witch, skillful and with sorcery,” Joyce calmed down as if touched by Ted’s words. She began to weep, speaking vaguely, to expressing the pain in her heart. Ted drew closer to her and patted her back to console her. Already lost in the reverie of a future blissful marriage, Ted was jolted by the howls he was hearing, which was diffusing from the outside.
“US! US! US!” came the never-ending chants from Jeff’s supporters. Cheung had been beaten to a decubitus position. The two Gyrus-citizens indoor could no more wait to perform the magic. They held each other’s arm tightly and power flowed. The door was suddenly pushed inward and Ken emerged. Ken had earlier gone to witness the fight with the thought that the other three, Henry inclusive, would carry on with the energy transfer at his absence. He did not want to miss the imaginary scene of a small man dealing with a big and muscular one.
“What happened!” he screamed and Ted explained:
“Henry’s sick, Joyce’s sick too. Our effort’s not enough here.” Ken hasted with great impulse to contribute his effort to form a strong magic bond. Just then Henry emerged too.
“Enough!” Cheung suddenly cried out as if instantly invigorated by something. Jeff did not hearken to him, since the boy had been making same noises ever since the fight had begun. Cheung rose up swiftly and gave Jeff a heavy-duty punch on the face. Swollen face!
Jeff held his face and fell headlong. He wobbled to his feet again, but Cheung doled out slaps to his cheek, coupled with a head-butt and a kick. He fell again, this time with a heavy thud.
“Here’s the Bruce Lee stuff,” Cheung poked fun childishly to the horrified spectators, as he landed powerfully on the loser, whose body was already motionless.
“Who’s next?” Cheung had said, after dealing ruthlessly with the unconscious Jeff, but no one was ready to pick up the challenge.
“I said who’s next?” Cheung yelled even more, but himself began to hurry away before someone would say, “I’m next” having felt the withdrawal of a great deal of energy from his system at that instance.
Henry, who was just convalescing before the energy transfer, had managed to walk away, unlike Joyce, who fell helplessly to the floor, having contributed the little strength she had got at that moment. Henry felt light and powerless after the dismantling of the bond. He staggered for balance as he trudged back to the clinic where he had earlier sneaked out. On getting to his ward, Henry met a surprise:
A MONSTER ON THE BED!!!
It was Jeff wrapped up in bandages.
“Surprised!” said a nurse to Henry. “Your space was the only vacant one. Since you decided to sneak out earlier, you’re a-u-t-o-m-a-t-i-c-a-l-l-y discharged.”
[/b]


Note: This STORY and other EBIAG STORIES are available in PDF and EPUB format which you can purchase through attachment to your e-mail address or by coming down to our office, EBIAG NIGERIA, 5/9 MOHAMMED STREET, SANTOS LAYOUT, AKOWONJO, LAGOS.

Other stories you can get written by the same author are:

1. Hope And The Island of Greatness
2. We Are Able
3. As E Dey Happen
4. Honeymoon In Prison
5. I wanna Win
6. The Changed Criminal
7. Political Crinkum Crankum
8. Laisser Moi Tranquille (French Story)
9. Bella Benson (Nigerian High School Musicals)
10. Devil's Prey
11. Goats In Uniform
12. Suicide Note, etc.

You can also have award-winning stories written for you in your own name by Sammy O. Contact Sammy O. on FACEBOOK: Sammy Oh; Twitter: SammyEbiag and Whatsapp/Call: 08138410839.
Website: www.ebiag.com is under reconstruction to fit our needs.

Note that the WE ARE ABLE story is now in prints and currently selling at promo price. Note, you can win up to #250,000 annually or #10,000 weekly by buying the hard copies or subscribing to the PDF and E-PUB version of any of our stories.

We Also Offer Home Coaching Services in all SUBJECTS, seeking to explore the talents in you or your children/Ward.

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Call: 08138410839

EBIAG= Every Body Is A Genius

YES YOU ARE IF YOU BELIEVE SO!!!

[b]CHAPTER NINE
JEFF VERSUS CHEUNG

Li Cheung appeared too immature to be in the university. He was only thirteen and was in his third year. Cheung was gentle, just as Henry had said. Seeing Cheung no one would believe he could belong to a magic cult. His face looked innocent. Indeed Cheung did not like the condition he had found himself. Cheung had not asked to be initiated into cultism. He had only got there by accident.
What led into his initiation was his timid nature. Since becoming a freshman, at a tender age of ten and half, Cheung had begun to experience incessant troubles from Jeff, who had utilized the opportunity that Cheung was too little to fight back to ride roughshod on him. Jeff had asked Cheung to always share his pocket money with him; the bully would always part with the lion share. Cheung’s timidity had made him keep silent, not telling anybody about it.
One day, while Jeff was cruelly dealing with Cheung, Professor Brown witnessed it per chance. Jeff took to his heels as he sighted the man. The man took Cheung to his office to have a rapport with him. He told Cheung to meet him by Six pm the next day, promising to take him to a place where his timidity would be taken from him permanently. Cheung had accepted innocently, not knowing where the man was taking him. Getting to the man’s office, he was asked seven questions, as usual with the magic world where the man had belonged. Cheung could not answer any. In that state, they left for Gyrus. Cheung was extremely scared. He wept sore in Gyrus that day.
Professor Brown never lived to tell Cheung the answers to the seven questions, because he died that day in Gyrus in a fight of position with Professor Kent Robins, who was the ‘Power Guard’ in Gyrus. Cheung, who had remained weeping after the meeting, had to be brought back to earth by Professor Wilson’s touch on the head.
Two years since becoming a magician, Cheung never used his magical power. He never even knew that he had any such thing. Jeff continued to oppress him. Ted saw the poor boy one day when Jeff was beaten him up.
“Ain’t you from China? You must show me the Bruce Lee stuff,” Jeff said to Cheung as he threw his fist at his chest.
Ted was unable to bear it. He approached Jeff and said, “Hey, leave the poor boy alone, bully. Don’t you have little ones at home you can use as a punching bag?”
Jeff was surprised beyond measure. No one had ever challenged him in such manner. He came closer to Ted as if to beat him up, but Ted had backward fast to avoid him.
“You want to fight for him, isn’t it? I’ll handle you both—with my smallest finger.”
“You’re stupid,” Ted said, not regarding the presence of Jeff’s followers. Jeff beckoned on his accessories to take hold of Ted and they did. After punching Ted on the stomach, they shoved them off and they fell. As the bullies were departing, Ted screamed.
“Wait there!” His shout brought them to a halt. Jeff said, “D’you want to fight back?” Unexpectedly, Ted said, “Cheung will fight you back, not me.”
They laughed.
“No! No!” Cheung gave a frightful yell in disagreement.
“You see, he doesn’t want it,” said Jeff, who was ready for the fight. Then Ted said, “Not today. He’ll surely fight you tomorrow, 5pm. Save your power till then—uh.”
“It’s a deal,” said Jeff, walking away.
Ted, who was on his feet already, helped Cheung to get up too. It was the first time they would be coming together, though Ted had seen him in Gyrus aforetime.
“Thanks mister,” said Cheung. “He’d always been treating me that way.”
“Since when,” asked Ted.
“First day at school.”
“What the hell!” Ted screamed. “Ain’t you with power?”
“Power!” Cheung had said in abject ignorance. “I can’t comprehend you.” Ted reduced his tone and said, “You are a magician, isn’t it?” Cheung expressed shock and said, “How d’you know?”
“I’ve seen you in Gyrus many times with this same kind of lugubrious face.”
“You’re right,” admitted Cheung. “But it was against my wish that I became a magician. I want to quit, but it seems no way,” said Cheung, shedding tears.
“Hey, stop that man. You’re a big guy.”
“I’m not!” shouted Cheung. “I’m only thirteen.”
“You’ve got much power Cheung. You should have stopped Jeff long ago—with your power.”
“How? I’ve never used any such power. I don’t know if I’m in possession of such. I’ve got no one to put me through since joining the magic, so how would I know?”
“The person that took you there, why didn’t he put you through?” asked Ted in a surprised state and Cheung said, “He died before returning from Gyrus that day.”
“How?” Ted asked. “In a fight—with the Power Guard,” Cheung replied.
“Who?”
“Professor Brown.”
Ted nodded and smiled having just discovered what the real death of the late Professor Brown was. Ted had earlier thought that some armed robbers, according to the news that was aired on TV, killed the man. Professor Brown’s age was only forty-one when he gave up the ghost. It was just two weeks after Cheung’s initiation that Ted was brought to Gyrus too, by Professor Wilson.
To intimate Cheung with the possibility of achieving things with the magic, Ted revealed the mystery of Julius’ missing teeth. Cheung was intrigued.
“So, boy, you’ll surely fight Jeff tomorrow.”
“No, I can’t,” Cheung said, still timid.
“Don’t panic. Listen to the plan. I’ll inform the Student-Gyrusers I know, Ken, Joyce and Henry. We’ll combine our effort together and you’ll deal with that fool, I can assure you.” Doubting, Cheung said, “How?”
“Magically.”
“Will they co-operate?”
“Just leave that to me—uh,” said Ted and Cheung nodded childishly in the affirmative.
“So—may I know you?” said Cheung giving him a hand.
“Ted—Ted Manuel,” responded Ted. The boy smiled a reply, “Li Cheung my name,” he said.
“As if I don’t know,” Ted had replied amicably.
“Thanks a lot.”
Leaving Cheung, Ted went straight to inform Ken and Joyce about the fight. The two had agreed willingly to give out their energies. Ted had sought after Henry, but he could not find him. Ted was told later that Henry was sick, and he was in the clinic.[/b]

Note: This STORY and other EBIAG STORIES are available in PDF and EPUB format which you can purchase through attachment to your e-mail address or by coming down to our office, EBIAG NIGERIA, 5/9 MOHAMMED STREET, SANTOS LAYOUT, AKOWONJO, LAGOS.

Other stories you can get written by the same author are:

1. Hope And The Island of Greatness
2. We Are Able
3. As E Dey Happen
4. Honeymoon In Prison
5. I wanna Win
6. The Changed Criminal
7. Political Crinkum Crankum
8. Laisser Moi Tranquille (French Story)
9. Bella Benson (Nigerian High School Musicals)
10. Devil's Prey
11. Goats In Uniform
12. Suicide Note, etc.

You can also have award-winning stories written for you in your own name by Sammy O. Contact Sammy O. on FACEBOOK: Sammy Oh; Twitter: SammyEbiag and Whatsapp/Call: 08138410839.
Website: www.ebiag.com is under reconstruction to fit our needs.

Note that the WE ARE ABLE story is now in prints and currently selling at promo price. Note, you can win up to #250,000 annually or #10,000 weekly by buying the hard copies or subscribing to the PDF and E-PUB version of any of our stories.

We Also Offer Home Coaching Services in all SUBJECTS, seeking to explore the talents in you or your children/Ward.

Visit us today at EBIAG NIGERIA, 5/9 MOHAMMED STREET, SANTOS LAYOUT, AKOWONJO LAGOS or Lekki-Ajah Office, Addo-Badore Road.

Call: 08138410839

EBIAG= Every Body Is A Genius

YES YOU ARE IF YOU BELIEVE SO!!!

[b]Yemi paced about around Deinde's cell. When his eyes caught Deinde's eyes once, it was as if the criminal was smiling at him. Yemi grimaced and left the spot, not wishing to return soon.

Yemi beamed at his wrist-watch for the umpteenth time, it was only a quarter to 10pm.

"A quarter to doom," Yemi whispered to himself. "A quarter to destruction and damnation."

If only they could kill me and spare my family, I won't go into this," Yemi thought. His thought soon appeared like selfish interest to him--if he died and his family remained, they would bear the loss forever. No matter how, the scar would be somehow etched on their hearts while himself would be enjoying in the great beyond the blue, forgetting everything terrestrial.

"It's better we all live together," he opined eventually.

Yemi went straight to a room, a semi-lit room. Although there was no power failure at the moment, yet the room was dark. Seemed the bulbs in there were damaged.

Yemi scrambled for the key in the poorly-lit stuffy room. He got it and began to take his leave. It was only eight minutes left for the job to be executed, else his own family at home shall be 'executed'.

Yemi tossed the bunch of keys at the floor in anger. He would resign. As he fastened his eyes together, it was Bimbo he saw in agony. She was yelling, "Father! Father! Save us!"

Yemi's eyes opened up immediately, then he bent and reached for the keys again. He gritted his teeth and walked out of the room in confusion.

He walked to a little garden at the back of the prison yard. He was not going to do it. Doing it wouldn't save him from the claws of the law as well as his families from the claws of the lawless. He had better remain that way and do nothing so his problem wouldn't get compounded.

Yemi had clambered on the low-lying branch of a tree. He was going to view life from the top elevation, just the way God views it. Yemi felt the gentle breeze blowing on his head from the tree. The birds had begun to chirp hope into his ears.

"I won't do it!" he screamed.
________________________________________


It was fifteen minutes past 10pm already. Momoh had smoked a pack of cigarette as he waited for the arrival of the two--Yemi and Deinde.

"Are these people trying to double-cross us?" Momoh said. "Not possible! Not when they have their families around!" Momoh laughed.

Momoh believed that fifteen minutes was a very big time to plan out a surprise attack at him. He wasn't going to take the risk, so he brought out his phone and dialled a number:

"Yes...yes this is Momoh...now, kill them both, it's like Yemi is trying to play a trick on us...yes...finish them off...both mother and daughter..." Momoh said in a cruel manner.

Just then, he saw two approaching silhouettes.

"Hey, don't do it again, it's like they're here already," Momoh said. He cut the call and waited for the two figures to come close enough for him to gun them down both, but then he wasn't seeing anyone again.

"What?!" he screamed in shock. Then in rage, he began to dial the number again, but the service provider was asking him to dial again later because the number he had dialled was not reachable at the moment. "poo! The number I just finished calling now?"
________________________________________


Yemi almost fell off the tree. A loud scream from Bimbo and his wife had just woken him up. He had seen the trigger being pulled, just for bullets to come out of them when he woke up into reality again.

Yemi didn't need to be told before jumping down the tree. Now his heart was fixed. He must do it for the sake of his family's life.

As Yemi walked towards Deinde's cell, his brain began to generate some thoughts again--the acumenity of force and power:

They use force to get power--and when they assume power, they make their subjects subject to their power. Evil people get fame but good people get tamed. Moral decadence has been the order of the day for decades in the land of the black races due to their race after money--yet money, the love of it, is the root of all evil--and if you hate it you still suffer for that

Yemi burned within him as he gave his thought to the fact that he didn't know who he was actually working for. He didn't know whether Momoh and his colleagues were working for Mr. Aluko or not. Perhaps they were working for another person, maybe the Governor's party, to set Mr Aluko up. Yemi had to jettison the second thought.

How would a party be working against itself? Yemi thought. If indeed they were working for the Friendship Party, they wouldn't have killed Mr.Smith who won their primary election. This must be Mr Aluko Peter's handwork," he concluded eventually.

Yemi suspended all reasonable thoughts and hurried towards the cell. The passageway was dim, poorly lit, so it would fare well for him in the mission.
When he came close to the cell, he heard Deinde speak, "You are here."

Yemi was stunned. The way Deinde was smiling at him now was surprising to him.

Did he know he would be set free tonight? Yemi thought. How come? Is there any informant among the police? Or the warders are biased and perverted? How would he know?

"Man, you're wasting time. Free me on time!" Deinde said with a slight frown on his face.

Yemi's face turned into a grotesque.

"Who are you working for?" Yemi asked in a low tone. "I mean who sent you to kill Mr.Smith?"

Deinde kept silent.

"I won't let you go if you won't tell me," Yemi said as if he had any say now. Deinde burst into laughter.

"I'm not in much danger as you are," Deinde replied and began to get well into the cell again. "Whenever you're ready just open this iron gate, okay?"

Yemi's mouth was wide agape. His hands were gradually going up to his head to hold it in shock, but then, Deinde had returned to the gate to say something more:

"Mr Warder, if you don't do this, another person will do it, but then you, as well as your daughter and your wife would have no life in you to witness my release by then."

Yemi's heart melted like a polythene burning in the flame. However, he tried hard to maintain a stolid character;

"Go to hell!" Yemi screamed angrily at him and began to leave him alone. He began to traipse back to the tree trunk again to think. His heart drummed as his Adam apple danced in resonance. His mind went blank like a tabula raza.

Yemi didn't stay long at the tree trunk this time around. He had returned to the cell, now he would do it, at least Momoh had promised to get him and his family away from the country.

He checked the time and found out he was already thirty minutes behind schedule.

Speechlessly, Yemi inserted the key into the lock and turned it with all his strength. The prison door was made to pave way.

Deinde didn't hesitate a bit. He just trotted out of the cell as if a little delay would cost him losing his desired freedom.

Now the task they had to face was the one of escape. How would they go through all the security guards on duty without being noticed? Yemi pondered. The palpitation of his heart now was even more than the initial times.

Deinde walked furtively. The sound of the sole of his feet must not be heard by a soul, else it would draw up suspicion. He was on tiptoes, looking everywhere like an intruder fond of plucking mango secretly in another person's compound.

When Deinde peeped from a corner, he found men on duty, parading the large compound with their guns. Majority of them had just pistols on them.

Deinde made a swift move to another direction. He needed to get the weak point of the prison, through which he would channel his escape.

Deinde thought he had found one eventually. It was a large passageway, poorly lit. Deinde began to walk in it, believing it would culminate in somewhere near the exit.

Deinde hadn't walked twenty metres in the large passageway when a large beam of light came upon his eyes. He went blind.

"Who are you?" the torch flasher bleated...



Deinde rushed to the initial spot and found Yemi in a corner, frozen with fear. The amazing thing to Yemi was the sudden transformation in Deinde's dressing; he, now being in a police uniform. Yemi shuddered with shock.

"Surprised?" Deinde said as if he had no iota of fear. "That fool has nothing with him other than a bludgeon and a torchlight. I beat him to pulp."

"You--beat a...policeman?" Yemi whispered. His mouth was shaking.

"Any big deal?" Deinde said in a care-free manner. Mr Warder, lead the way, you have the gun."

"The gun?" Yemi said. "What gun?"

"Don't joke," Deinde said in whispers. "I know Momoh gave you a gun."

Yemi was affrighted. How did Deinde know all these things? Perhaps there is an informant feeding him with information. How did he know that he would be set free in the first place?" Yemi was stunned.

"Give me the gun," Deinde said.

Yemi released it with collapsing lips. Deinde grinned when he had it. Then he went the opposite way, skulking.

Yemi was indecisive. He knew he was in for trouble already. If he remained, he would be caught and imprisoned; if he fled, they would comb everywhere for him as well.

Yemi had had much experience of happenings involving escape of criminals from prison in the past. In most cases, the warders in charge had always been made to suffer for it, and that would be done out of court.

Now, there was power outage and everywhere was completely dark. Yemi began to make a move. He would creep out of the prison yard, anyhow, without being noticed.

Yemi hadn't walked out of the corridor when he heard a gunshot. He was scared.

If anyone had been killed, then the case would surely be worsened. Now the bulbs were blinking--the dull flourescents too. The power supply was epileptic.

Yemi began to hear sounds of heavy footsteps coming towards his direction. His heart palpitated. How would he escape this? What would he tell the world when he got caught. if he told them he was acting under duress, they would ask him who put him under the duress? They would be expecting to hear names of bigwigs, but he would have no name to mention--Momoh? Gogo? Who know those ones? Yemi thought, sweating profusely. Perhaps he would turn the whole thing upon Mr Aluko Peter, but how would that help to turn his own situation around thereafer? he pondered.

There was nothing left for him to do now, but to feign ignorance and put up a bold face. The light had been restored now after much instability, but it had come in low voltage, such that the red glow of a burning wood would do better to give illumination than the light coming from the bulbs above them.

Yemi composed himself and began to tramp towards the approaching figures.

"What's happening?" Yemi said when they crossed path. "Please can someone tell me what's wrong?"

They were two armed men. When they saw Yemi, they said, "Did you hear the gunshot?"

"Yes I heard it! What's the matter?"

"A prisoner has escaped," they announced. The two men hurried past him, flashing their torches into every cell to see if anyone had escaped.

The prisoners were just chanting happily as they flashed the torchlight at them.

"*Ki lo bo sonu lara awon olopa yi t'on wa a?" a large voice issued out of the most notorious cell in there.
________________________________________
*What organ got missing in these policemen's body that they are looking for?
________________________________________


It was the voice of a criminal who was serving a life imprisonment. They hailed him:

"Presido International!"

The two policemen just walked past the cell, ignoring the prisoners who were as much as ten in number in that single cell, breathing harmful air into one another's nostrils.

Now Yemi had begun to hurry away. Just then, a voice came up from nowhere, screaming, "I saw them! I saw them!" It was the voice of the prison officer whose clothes Deinde wore. He had trailed Deinde behind earlier and had seen him come to Yemi.

"A warder gave him a gun! You walked past him just now!"

"What?!" the two men were surprised. "Let's get him!"

Yemi ran. He knew the judgement time had come. He didn't need to be told that he had to fight with the last drop of his blood to get out of the prison yard, but how when he wasn't even with a gun.

The chase was hot. Yemi knew he wouldn't make it running since warders and police were everywhere and they would join in the chase as soon as he got to an open space.

Now Yemi had to hide in a dark corner. He lay flat against a wall in a confined corner, holding his breath. His chest was denying him a suitable rest as it thumped up and down like a gorrilla fighting hard to control its hiccups.
Yemi heard footsteps coming close. He peeped and saw three armed men walk past the corner where he was hiding. Yemi would let them go far before coming out of the corner.

[b]Yemi paced about around Deinde's cell. When his eyes caught Deinde's eyes once, it was as if the criminal was smiling at him. Yemi grimaced and left the spot, not wishing to return soon.

Yemi beamed at his wrist-watch for the umpteenth time, it was only a quarter to 10pm.

"A quarter to doom," Yemi whispered to himself. "A quarter to destruction and damnation."

If only they could kill me and spare my family, I won't go into this," Yemi thought. His thought soon appeared like selfish interest to him--if he died and his family remained, they would bear the loss forever. No matter how, the scar would be somehow etched on their hearts while himself would be enjoying in the great beyond the blue, forgetting everything terrestrial.

"It's better we all live together," he opined eventually.

Yemi went straight to a room, a semi-lit room. Although there was no power failure at the moment, yet the room was dark. Seemed the bulbs in there were damaged.

Yemi scrambled for the key in the poorly-lit stuffy room. He got it and began to take his leave. It was only eight minutes left for the job to be executed, else his own family at home shall be 'executed'.

Yemi tossed the bunch of keys at the floor in anger. He would resign. As he fastened his eyes together, it was Bimbo he saw in agony. She was yelling, "Father! Father! Save us!"

Yemi's eyes opened up immediately, then he bent and reached for the keys again. He gritted his teeth and walked out of the room in confusion.

He walked to a little garden at the back of the prison yard. He was not going to do it. Doing it wouldn't save him from the claws of the law as well as his families from the claws of the lawless. He had better remain that way and do nothing so his problem wouldn't get compounded.

Yemi had clambered on the low-lying branch of a tree. He was going to view life from the top elevation, just the way God views it. Yemi felt the gentle breeze blowing on his head from the tree. The birds had begun to chirp hope into his ears.

"I won't do it!" he screamed.
________________________________________


It was fifteen minutes past 10pm already. Momoh had smoked a pack of cigarette as he waited for the arrival of the two--Yemi and Deinde.

"Are these people trying to double-cross us?" Momoh said. "Not possible! Not when they have their families around!" Momoh laughed.

Momoh believed that fifteen minutes was a very big time to plan out a surprise attack at him. He wasn't going to take the risk, so he brought out his phone and dialled a number:

"Yes...yes this is Momoh...now, kill them both, it's like Yemi is trying to play a trick on us...yes...finish them off...both mother and daughter..." Momoh said in a cruel manner.

Just then, he saw two approaching silhouettes.

"Hey, don't do it again, it's like they're here already," Momoh said. He cut the call and waited for the two figures to come close enough for him to gun them down both, but then he wasn't seeing anyone again.

"What?!" he screamed in shock. Then in rage, he began to dial the number again, but the service provider was asking him to dial again later because the number he had dialled was not reachable at the moment. "poo! The number I just finished calling now?"
________________________________________


Yemi almost fell off the tree. A loud scream from Bimbo and his wife had just woken him up. He had seen the trigger being pulled, just for bullets to come out of them when he woke up into reality again.

Yemi didn't need to be told before jumping down the tree. Now his heart was fixed. He must do it for the sake of his family's life.

As Yemi walked towards Deinde's cell, his brain began to generate some thoughts again--the acumenity of force and power:

They use force to get power--and when they assume power, they make their subjects subject to their power. Evil people get fame but good people get tamed. Moral decadence has been the order of the day for decades in the land of the black races due to their race after money--yet money, the love of it, is the root of all evil--and if you hate it you still suffer for that

Yemi burned within him as he gave his thought to the fact that he didn't know who he was actually working for. He didn't know whether Momoh and his colleagues were working for Mr. Aluko or not. Perhaps they were working for another person, maybe the Governor's party, to set Mr Aluko up. Yemi had to jettison the second thought.

How would a party be working against itself? Yemi thought. If indeed they were working for the Friendship Party, they wouldn't have killed Mr.Smith who won their primary election. This must be Mr Aluko Peter's handwork," he concluded eventually.

Yemi suspended all reasonable thoughts and hurried towards the cell. The passageway was dim, poorly lit, so it would fare well for him in the mission.
When he came close to the cell, he heard Deinde speak, "You are here."

Yemi was stunned. The way Deinde was smiling at him now was surprising to him.

Did he know he would be set free tonight? Yemi thought. How come? Is there any informant among the police? Or the warders are biased and perverted? How would he know?

"Man, you're wasting time. Free me on time!" Deinde said with a slight frown on his face.

Yemi's face turned into a grotesque.

"Who are you working for?" Yemi asked in a low tone. "I mean who sent you to kill Mr.Smith?"

Deinde kept silent.

"I won't let you go if you won't tell me," Yemi said as if he had any say now. Deinde burst into laughter.

"I'm not in much danger as you are," Deinde replied and began to get well into the cell again. "Whenever you're ready just open this iron gate, okay?"

Yemi's mouth was wide agape. His hands were gradually going up to his head to hold it in shock, but then, Deinde had returned to the gate to say something more:

"Mr Warder, if you don't do this, another person will do it, but then you, as well as your daughter and your wife would have no life in you to witness my release by then."

Yemi's heart melted like a polythene burning in the flame. However, he tried hard to maintain a stolid character;

"Go to hell!" Yemi screamed angrily at him and began to leave him alone. He began to traipse back to the tree trunk again to think. His heart drummed as his Adam apple danced in resonance. His mind went blank like a tabula raza.

Yemi didn't stay long at the tree trunk this time around. He had returned to the cell, now he would do it, at least Momoh had promised to get him and his family away from the country.

He checked the time and found out he was already thirty minutes behind schedule.

Speechlessly, Yemi inserted the key into the lock and turned it with all his strength. The prison door was made to pave way.

Deinde didn't hesitate a bit. He just trotted out of the cell as if a little delay would cost him losing his desired freedom.

Now the task they had to face was the one of escape. How would they go through all the security guards on duty without being noticed? Yemi pondered. The palpitation of his heart now was even more than the initial times.

Deinde walked furtively. The sound of the sole of his feet must not be heard by a soul, else it would draw up suspicion. He was on tiptoes, looking everywhere like an intruder fond of plucking mango secretly in another person's compound.

When Deinde peeped from a corner, he found men on duty, parading the large compound with their guns. Majority of them had just pistols on them.

Deinde made a swift move to another direction. He needed to get the weak point of the prison, through which he would channel his escape.

Deinde thought he had found one eventually. It was a large passageway, poorly lit. Deinde began to walk in it, believing it would culminate in somewhere near the exit.

Deinde hadn't walked twenty metres in the large passageway when a large beam of light came upon his eyes. He went blind.

"Who are you?" the torch flasher bleated...



Deinde rushed to the initial spot and found Yemi in a corner, frozen with fear. The amazing thing to Yemi was the sudden transformation in Deinde's dressing; he, now being in a police uniform. Yemi shuddered with shock.

"Surprised?" Deinde said as if he had no iota of fear. "That fool has nothing with him other than a bludgeon and a torchlight. I beat him to pulp."

"You--beat a...policeman?" Yemi whispered. His mouth was shaking.

"Any big deal?" Deinde said in a care-free manner. Mr Warder, lead the way, you have the gun."

"The gun?" Yemi said. "What gun?"

"Don't joke," Deinde said in whispers. "I know Momoh gave you a gun."

Yemi was affrighted. How did Deinde know all these things? Perhaps there is an informant feeding him with information. How did he know that he would be set free in the first place?" Yemi was stunned.

"Give me the gun," Deinde said.

Yemi released it with collapsing lips. Deinde grinned when he had it. Then he went the opposite way, skulking.

Yemi was indecisive. He knew he was in for trouble already. If he remained, he would be caught and imprisoned; if he fled, they would comb everywhere for him as well.

Yemi had had much experience of happenings involving escape of criminals from prison in the past. In most cases, the warders in charge had always been made to suffer for it, and that would be done out of court.

Now, there was power outage and everywhere was completely dark. Yemi began to make a move. He would creep out of the prison yard, anyhow, without being noticed.

Yemi hadn't walked out of the corridor when he heard a gunshot. He was scared.

If anyone had been killed, then the case would surely be worsened. Now the bulbs were blinking--the dull flourescents too. The power supply was epileptic.

Yemi began to hear sounds of heavy footsteps coming towards his direction. His heart palpitated. How would he escape this? What would he tell the world when he got caught. if he told them he was acting under duress, they would ask him who put him under the duress? They would be expecting to hear names of bigwigs, but he would have no name to mention--Momoh? Gogo? Who know those ones? Yemi thought, sweating profusely. Perhaps he would turn the whole thing upon Mr Aluko Peter, but how would that help to turn his own situation around thereafer? he pondered.

There was nothing left for him to do now, but to feign ignorance and put up a bold face. The light had been restored now after much instability, but it had come in low voltage, such that the red glow of a burning wood would do better to give illumination than the light coming from the bulbs above them.

Yemi composed himself and began to tramp towards the approaching figures.

"What's happening?" Yemi said when they crossed path. "Please can someone tell me what's wrong?"

They were two armed men. When they saw Yemi, they said, "Did you hear the gunshot?"

"Yes I heard it! What's the matter?"

"A prisoner has escaped," they announced. The two men hurried past him, flashing their torches into every cell to see if anyone had escaped.

The prisoners were just chanting happily as they flashed the torchlight at them.

"*Ki lo bo sonu lara awon olopa yi t'on wa a?" a large voice issued out of the most notorious cell in there.
________________________________________
*What organ got missing in these policemen's body that they are looking for?
________________________________________


It was the voice of a criminal who was serving a life imprisonment. They hailed him:

"Presido International!"

The two policemen just walked past the cell, ignoring the prisoners who were as much as ten in number in that single cell, breathing harmful air into one another's nostrils.

Now Yemi had begun to hurry away. Just then, a voice came up from nowhere, screaming, "I saw them! I saw them!" It was the voice of the prison officer whose clothes Deinde wore. He had trailed Deinde behind earlier and had seen him come to Yemi.

"A warder gave him a gun! You walked past him just now!"

"What?!" the two men were surprised. "Let's get him!"

Yemi ran. He knew the judgement time had come. He didn't need to be told that he had to fight with the last drop of his blood to get out of the prison yard, but how when he wasn't even with a gun.

The chase was hot. Yemi knew he wouldn't make it running since warders and police were everywhere and they would join in the chase as soon as he got to an open space.

Now Yemi had to hide in a dark corner. He lay flat against a wall in a confined corner, holding his breath. His chest was denying him a suitable rest as it thumped up and down like a gorrilla fighting hard to control its hiccups.
Yemi heard footsteps coming close. He peeped and saw three armed men walk past the corner where he was hiding. Yemi would let them go far before coming out of the corner.

Yemi paced about around Deinde's cell. When his eyes caught Deinde's eyes once, it was as if the criminal was smiling at him. Yemi grimaced and left the spot, not wishing to return soon.

Yemi beamed at his wrist-watch for the umpteenth time, it was only a quarter to 10pm.

"A quarter to doom," Yemi whispered to himself. "A quarter to destruction and damnation."

If only they could kill me and spare my family, I won't go into this," Yemi thought. His thought soon appeared like selfish interest to him--if he died and his family remained, they would bear the loss forever. No matter how, the scar would be somehow etched on their hearts while himself would be enjoying in the great beyond the blue, forgetting everything terrestrial.

"It's better we all live together," he opined eventually.

Yemi went straight to a room, a semi-lit room. Although there was no power failure at the moment, yet the room was dark. Seemed the bulbs in there were damaged.

Yemi scrambled for the key in the poorly-lit stuffy room. He got it and began to take his leave. It was only eight minutes left for the job to be executed, else his own family at home shall be 'executed'.

Yemi tossed the bunch of keys at the floor in anger. He would resign. As he fastened his eyes together, it was Bimbo he saw in agony. She was yelling, "Father! Father! Save us!"

Yemi's eyes opened up immediately, then he bent and reached for the keys again. He gritted his teeth and walked out of the room in confusion.

He walked to a little garden at the back of the prison yard. He was not going to do it. Doing it wouldn't save him from the claws of the law as well as his families from the claws of the lawless. He had better remain that way and do nothing so his problem wouldn't get compounded.

Yemi had clambered on the low-lying branch of a tree. He was going to view life from the top elevation, just the way God views it. Yemi felt the gentle breeze blowing on his head from the tree. The birds had begun to chirp hope into his ears.

"I won't do it!" he screamed.
________________________________________


It was fifteen minutes past 10pm already. Momoh had smoked a pack of cigarette as he waited for the arrival of the two--Yemi and Deinde.

"Are these people trying to double-cross us?" Momoh said. "Not possible! Not when they have their families around!" Momoh laughed.

Momoh believed that fifteen minutes was a very big time to plan out a surprise attack at him. He wasn't going to take the risk, so he brought out his phone and dialled a number:

"Yes...yes this is Momoh...now, kill them both, it's like Yemi is trying to play a trick on us...yes...finish them off...both mother and daughter..." Momoh said in a cruel manner.

Just then, he saw two approaching silhouettes.

"Hey, don't do it again, it's like they're here already," Momoh said. He cut the call and waited for the two figures to come close enough for him to gun them down both, but then he wasn't seeing anyone again.

"What?!" he screamed in shock. Then in rage, he began to dial the number again, but the service provider was asking him to dial again later because the number he had dialled was not reachable at the moment. "poo! The number I just finished calling now?"
________________________________________


Yemi almost fell off the tree. A loud scream from Bimbo and his wife had just woken him up. He had seen the trigger being pulled, just for bullets to come out of them when he woke up into reality again.

Yemi didn't need to be told before jumping down the tree. Now his heart was fixed. He must do it for the sake of his family's life.

As Yemi walked towards Deinde's cell, his brain began to generate some thoughts again--the acumenity of force and power:

They use force to get power--and when they assume power, they make their subjects subject to their power. Evil people get fame but good people get tamed. Moral decadence has been the order of the day for decades in the land of the black races due to their race after money--yet money, the love of it, is the root of all evil--and if you hate it you still suffer for that

Yemi burned within him as he gave his thought to the fact that he didn't know who he was actually working for. He didn't know whether Momoh and his colleagues were working for Mr. Aluko or not. Perhaps they were working for another person, maybe the Governor's party, to set Mr Aluko up. Yemi had to jettison the second thought.

How would a party be working against itself? Yemi thought. If indeed they were working for the Friendship Party, they wouldn't have killed Mr.Smith who won their primary election. This must be Mr Aluko Peter's handwork," he concluded eventually.

Yemi suspended all reasonable thoughts and hurried towards the cell. The passageway was dim, poorly lit, so it would fare well for him in the mission.
When he came close to the cell, he heard Deinde speak, "You are here."

Yemi was stunned. The way Deinde was smiling at him now was surprising to him.

Did he know he would be set free tonight? Yemi thought. How come? Is there any informant among the police? Or the warders are biased and perverted? How would he know?

"Man, you're wasting time. Free me on time!" Deinde said with a slight frown on his face.

Yemi's face turned into a grotesque.

"Who are you working for?" Yemi asked in a low tone. "I mean who sent you to kill Mr.Smith?"

Deinde kept silent.

"I won't let you go if you won't tell me," Yemi said as if he had any say now. Deinde burst into laughter.

"I'm not in much danger as you are," Deinde replied and began to get well into the cell again. "Whenever you're ready just open this iron gate, okay?"

Yemi's mouth was wide agape. His hands were gradually going up to his head to hold it in shock, but then, Deinde had returned to the gate to say something more:

"Mr Warder, if you don't do this, another person will do it, but then you, as well as your daughter and your wife would have no life in you to witness my release by then."

Yemi's heart melted like a polythene burning in the flame. However, he tried hard to maintain a stolid character;

"Go to hell!" Yemi screamed angrily at him and began to leave him alone. He began to traipse back to the tree trunk again to think. His heart drummed as his Adam apple danced in resonance. His mind went blank like a tabula raza.

Yemi didn't stay long at the tree trunk this time around. He had returned to the cell, now he would do it, at least Momoh had promised to get him and his family away from the country.

He checked the time and found out he was already thirty minutes behind schedule.

Speechlessly, Yemi inserted the key into the lock and turned it with all his strength. The prison door was made to pave way.

Deinde didn't hesitate a bit. He just trotted out of the cell as if a little delay would cost him losing his desired freedom.

Now the task they had to face was the one of escape. How would they go through all the security guards on duty without being noticed? Yemi pondered. The palpitation of his heart now was even more than the initial times.

Deinde walked furtively. The sound of the sole of his feet must not be heard by a soul, else it would draw up suspicion. He was on tiptoes, looking everywhere like an intruder fond of plucking mango secretly in another person's compound.

When Deinde peeped from a corner, he found men on duty, parading the large compound with their guns. Majority of them had just pistols on them.

Deinde made a swift move to another direction. He needed to get the weak point of the prison, through which he would channel his escape.

Deinde thought he had found one eventually. It was a large passageway, poorly lit. Deinde began to walk in it, believing it would culminate in somewhere near the exit.

Deinde hadn't walked twenty metres in the large passageway when a large beam of light came upon his eyes. He went blind.

"Who are you?" the torch flasher bleated...



Deinde rushed to the initial spot and found Yemi in a corner, frozen with fear. The amazing thing to Yemi was the sudden transformation in Deinde's dressing; he, now being in a police uniform. Yemi shuddered with shock.

"Surprised?" Deinde said as if he had no iota of fear. "That fool has nothing with him other than a bludgeon and a torchlight. I beat him to pulp."

"You--beat a...policeman?" Yemi whispered. His mouth was shaking.

"Any big deal?" Deinde said in a care-free manner. Mr Warder, lead the way, you have the gun."

"The gun?" Yemi said. "What gun?"

"Don't joke," Deinde said in whispers. "I know Momoh gave you a gun."

Yemi was affrighted. How did Deinde know all these things? Perhaps there is an informant feeding him with information. How did he know that he would be set free in the first place?" Yemi was stunned.

"Give me the gun," Deinde said.

Yemi released it with collapsing lips. Deinde grinned when he had it. Then he went the opposite way, skulking.

Yemi was indecisive. He knew he was in for trouble already. If he remained, he would be caught and imprisoned; if he fled, they would comb everywhere for him as well.

Yemi had had much experience of happenings involving escape of criminals from prison in the past. In most cases, the warders in charge had always been made to suffer for it, and that would be done out of court.

Now, there was power outage and everywhere was completely dark. Yemi began to make a move. He would creep out of the prison yard, anyhow, without being noticed.

Yemi hadn't walked out of the corridor when he heard a gunshot. He was scared.

If anyone had been killed, then the case would surely be worsened. Now the bulbs were blinking--the dull flourescents too. The power supply was epileptic.

Yemi began to hear sounds of heavy footsteps coming towards his direction. His heart palpitated. How would he escape this? What would he tell the world when he got caught. if he told them he was acting under duress, they would ask him who put him under the duress? They would be expecting to hear names of bigwigs, but he would have no name to mention--Momoh? Gogo? Who know those ones? Yemi thought, sweating profusely. Perhaps he would turn the whole thing upon Mr Aluko Peter, but how would that help to turn his own situation around thereafer? he pondered.

There was nothing left for him to do now, but to feign ignorance and put up a bold face. The light had been restored now after much instability, but it had come in low voltage, such that the red glow of a burning wood would do better to give illumination than the light coming from the bulbs above them.

Yemi composed himself and began to tramp towards the approaching figures.

"What's happening?" Yemi said when they crossed path. "Please can someone tell me what's wrong?"

They were two armed men. When they saw Yemi, they said, "Did you hear the gunshot?"

"Yes I heard it! What's the matter?"

"A prisoner has escaped," they announced. The two men hurried past him, flashing their torches into every cell to see if anyone had escaped.

The prisoners were just chanting happily as they flashed the torchlight at them.

"*Ki lo bo sonu lara awon olopa yi t'on wa a?" a large voice issued out of the most notorious cell in there.
________________________________________
*What organ got missing in these policemen's body that they are looking for?
________________________________________


It was the voice of a criminal who was serving a life imprisonment. They hailed him:

"Presido International!"

The two policemen just walked past the cell, ignoring the prisoners who were as much as ten in number in that single cell, breathing harmful air into one another's nostrils.

Now Yemi had begun to hurry away. Just then, a voice came up from nowhere, screaming, "I saw them! I saw them!" It was the voice of the prison officer whose clothes Deinde wore. He had trailed Deinde behind earlier and had seen him come to Yemi.

"A warder gave him a gun! You walked past him just now!"

"What?!" the two men were surprised. "Let's get him!"

Yemi ran. He knew the judgement time had come. He didn't need to be told that he had to fight with the last drop of his blood to get out of the prison yard, but how when he wasn't even with a gun.

The chase was hot. Yemi knew he wouldn't make it running since warders and police were everywhere and they would join in the chase as soon as he got to an open space.

Now Yemi had to hide in a dark corner. He lay flat against a wall in a confined corner, holding his breath. His chest was denying him a suitable rest as it thumped up and down like a gorrilla fighting hard to control its hiccups.
Yemi heard footsteps coming close. He peeped and saw three armed men walk past the corner where he was hiding. Yemi would let them go far before coming out of the corner.



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