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I was about to start wondering what could have brought these two people to the station but the CP's voice that came up immediately made sure i couldn't complete that task. "you two can go now......" the CP said with a hand gesture at the men that brought me in.

Therapist Sarah was the first to spot me and the moment she does, she sprung up immediately and locked me in a full embrace.
She hugged me so tight i couldn't breath but not like that of George Floyd.

"how are you feeling?" she asked searchingly into my weary face after withdrawing from the embrace.

I couldn't reply her but just managed a wry scoff.

She turned to the CP and said,
"what did you people do to my patient? Why cant he talk?" she stressed louder with genuine concern incubating every aspect of her tone.

The CP couldn't talk or wouldn't as he maintains a very calm composure from the other end.

"have you eaten?" she asked but i replied negative which must have brought out the anger in her.
"oh my God......." she laments. "one would think the #endSars protest that rocked the country would have restored some fraction of sanity into your minds and stop treating people like animals......but see what we got here.....eh....th."

"hey....calm down please....." my lawyer said to her. She sighed and bent over to pick something from her bag pack. She turned to me and hand over a chilled five-alive bottle and two expensive buiscuits. I smiled after collecting them.

"can we talk with him briefly?" my lawyer requested.

"sure..... You can make use of that room," the CP replied with a hand gesture.


****

We all got to the room one after the other, after settling down on the available chairs, my lawyer told me that i should tell him everything that happened the previous day while i continue eating my snacks.

I was hesitant at first but an encouraging look from my therapist chased all the protesting doubts in me, so i didnt waste time in telling them everything that transpired, right from the prison break, to the events that led to the death of Lovelyn and the threats from her husband (Jarter) up to everything that occured at my house in Ibadan. I didnt spare anything from them.

"so, if thats the case," my lawyer spoke after i'd finished talking. "then i think we need to seize this opportunity and make sure you get a fair judgement in the next hearing....."

"you think so?" Sarah inquired curiously.

"i can make it happen...." he said assuringly. "however, given that the case has been in court before those events took place, the argument for pleading not guilty appears a bit weak. But with laws, you never know where the biscuit will crack."

"hmmmmmm....." i released a deep breath after hearing that.

"but still, you have your own role to play..." Sarah said to me and i wondered what she meant.

"how?" i asked her.

"you need to start thinking positively....so that by the time you get out of that Godforsaken place and you look into the mirror, what you see will serve as a reminder of the person that got your back during this trying times.." She ended and i couldnt help but wonder what is the exact good thing i did to make this wonderful woman come into my life? Someone should tell me please. This Sara is a rare rose in a garden of weeds. Weeds like? I wont say.

And with that, we all head back to the CP's office where we met the CP engaging in a soft but tensed conversation with Lewis who appeared very frightened and jittery.

Dont let me delay you with the things that transpired therein particularly between Sarah, the CP and Lewis, but at the end of it all, we won. How we won? I wont say. Okay.


It was in the evening of that day that i was returned to prison, but not before spending some unforgettable quality moments with my child (as granted by the CP).

Everything was running smoothly for me in the prison until the day
i was sentenced to 36years(like i mentioned at the begining of this second part, i mean the epilogue).

I made peace with myself after my sentence. Atleast i was given a second chance to rehabilitate myself. I embraced the new situation i found myself because i believe i have wonderful people behind me.
And most importantly, the CP has promised my lawyer that my name will be included in the list of prisoners to be granted state pardon during the independence day celebration of the coming year. But the chances of that happening is very slim but at the same time, i have nothing to lose by puting some hope on that. Also, i'm always happy each time i remember the 2billion naira that i kept with Jide. I was hoping to make good use of that money once my sentence expires or i get lucky with the promise of the CP.

But, you know its funny how being in prison can give you all the time in the world to reflect on the mistakes you've made in life and possibly how to learn to never make them again but as you know, what is the essence of Darous if trouble cant make use of him?

DEDICATED TO THE BRIDE TO BE

IJEOMA JULIET.

H.M.LIFE.




20. THE DOG ATTENDANT by Darousmart Emmanuel.



The C.P stood up angrily and dashed towards the door with fury clearly
dictating each step he took towards the door.

Sergeant Audu have returned earlier from outside to report to him that Lewis has refused to follow him back to the room.


"That overpampered idiot really got some nerves!" The Chief warden added with a tone of distaste that ended with a hiss.

"He must be sick in the head!" That was the last thing I hear the CP say before exiting the room.


Four minutes passed before I glanced at the other side only to see the
chief warden is already dozing off after the long
silence of inactivity in the room.

My body was very weak and my butt was already sending a pain signal to my
brain. I sighed high and swallowed the saliva I had managed to work into my
mouth in my attempt to quench the burning thirst in my throat.

I finished swallowing and barely a second after that, I felt a soft little palm on my shoulder. It was a
tender touch from my child.

I turned around to face him and was met with a small pack of Ribena drink
in his extended hands.

"Take and quickly drink it before that police comes back..." He offered with a
genuine tone of haste that made my eyes dim and blink in quick succession.

I hesitated at that moment because it's been long since someone offered me
a genuine help like this one, but as I was busy trying to wrap my head
around the situation, Chris quickly cut open the Ribena with the straw that
came with it and before I can even think of something else, he leaned
forward and shoved the straw inside my half-opened lips.

He made sure I extracted the last liquid in the pack before he withdraw the
straw. He examined the pack for confirmation and when he saw that nothing was
left inside, he smiled and quickly stuffed the empty pack in his jean
pockets. He looked at the warder and smiled again when he saw that the man
was already sleeping on the couch.

"Chris, why did you gave me that drink? I mean which one will you drink now?" I asked him that before I could
even stop myself.

I was expecting him to answer me but the boy just gave me a wink and adjust
in his seat.

I waited for two more seconds before repeating myself and I was met with
the same response.

"Chris, talk to me, why did you help me?” I blurted out again.

"You don't like it?" That was the sharp question he said back to me.

"Erm...I ...I like it ..."

"Then you should say a THANK YOU..."

I scoffed after hearing that from him. I wasn't surprised at hearing that,
this is not my first time of encountering him. I was just asking that
question to know if he still remembers me from the previous day's event.

"Okay, I'm sorry for not saying thank you..." I paused. "Thank you Chris
for the kindness...thank you very...."

"One thank you is enough for one Ribena sir, if you say it again, I don't
know where I will get another one to give you because I don't know where
Aunty Nike has gone to..." He interrupted me and I had to cut short my
words.

"Are we friends now?” In almost whispers, I asked that.

"Since yesterday..." He replied in whispers too and I was kind of surprised
at that.

"So you remember me?" I asked curiously after taking a quick glance at the
dozing warder.

"Mmm-mmm" He nodded affirmatively.

"Oh....you still remember my name?”

"Yes..."

"Tell me then, what's my name?”

"No..."

"Why?"

"My mummy said I should never call you that name...."

"Oh! Your mum?" I asked myself that as I was a bit confused by that
statement but then I remember that he always call Joke his mom. "Chris, why
did she tell you that?"

"She said it's not good to be calling my daddy by his name...."

Gbam!


I hid my astonished mood behind the confines of a smirk. "Your dad? As in
you shouldn't be calling anyone old enough to give birth to you by their name?"

He rose to his feet and stood before me. "But you are...." He was still
saying when the door suddenly flew open again and one police man that locked
me up in the toilet earlier entered with another two men behind him.

Chris rushed back to his seat and the men stepped further inside.

They appeared somehow unsettled as evidently seen on their body language.

'something's up...' I thought to myself as they helped me to my feet.

They told Chris to stay calm that his sister is on the way to pick him up just before they escort me out.

Few minutes later, i found myself inside the office of the CP. Standing at the right side of the middle table was a sweat covered Lewis. He released a contempt filled hiss the moment he saw me enter the room.

I ignored him and settle my tired gaze on the other two people occupying the seat across the table in which the CP was resting his elbows on. They are my lawyer and therapist Sarah.

Vidamia:
This is not the first time he will post "I'm back and bla bla bla".......he won't update anything, you will see his post by Feb next year again

i've been expecting this...... But anyways, you have every right to say this, but i am very determined to prove u wrong....... Today or midnight.....

Abosede512:
This is BOSSY512. You are welcome back

i'm extremely glad to hear frm u my dear sister. It gladdens d heart to knw that u still got my bak. I promise nt to fvck up. I swear with my grandma's armpit.

genius43:
Welcome back Theblessedman, you have been missed.

i'm happy u still got my bak bro.... Thanks

Coolx:
make e be as you talk am so
I no get anything else to talk

i'm back bro..... I swear with my grandma's armpit, i'm back.....

HMMMMMMMM

ladies and gents, all my fans, i am here on my knees, begging and pleading that you forgive me....

I have no excuse for abandoning this story for this long... Nothing i say can justify that nonsense but all i'm asking for is a second chance.

If Buhari, with all his first term ills can be given another chance at redemption (even though he's presently squandering it), i mean if, Apostle Jose Mourinho can be given a second chance at Chelsea despite the way he left the first time, then i think you beautiful people can grant me this humble request.

This time, i'm not going to tell you I WILL BE BACK, but on the contrary, i'm going to borrow a phrase from the popular film titled TERMINATOR by Arnold Shwarzzzzzzzz-whatever, that says "I'M BACK".

Seriously i'm back and so is T.D.A.

Please tell everyone so that they can tell someone that THEBLESSEDMAN is back to finish what he started.


To those who called and texted me during my time in sabbatical, i say a very big thanks to you all. Cc: tiffanyfan, adeshinapopcorn, mr omotoyosi (i can never forget you and your messages) faithubah, kevin, obinoocoool (sorry if i didnt get that right) menwongo, adesmammy and a whole lot of others that i cant remember their names now, i say a very big thank you for not forgetting me. I love you all. AND dont forget that i will be needing your comments as usual, its the only thing that can keep me going on this journey. The absence or the low turn out of it can down my morale. Please i need you all....

And to those wishing me dead, anyways, i'm sorry if my reappearance is going to make you feel uncomfortable. I'm sorry if you guys cant withstand the revelation that i have survived all my tribulations, and all the thorns i escaped to get back here. I'm sorry i survived your curses and bad wishes, thats to tell you that there is a reason behind that statement from the bible which i like, WHOM GOD HAS BLESSED, NO MAN CAN CURSE.... hence the reason for that name..... THEBLESSEDMAN....

I'm back now, so DEAL WITH IT.

Please #ENDfansBRUTALITY just like i ended #AUTHOR'Sabbatical.


Lets do this again......
Thanks, may this our reunion last long and be fruitful.

Signed......by THEBLESSEDMAN T.B.M

doctorexcel:
long time bossman

yes sir. It wil be okay very soon. T.D.A wil be back. That i promise.

Dennison1:
Good evening I'll be happy if you can complete the story. Thanks

its a sure thing boss. I'll definitely finish what i started. I promise. Thanx 4 keeping faith.

Adesina12:
Dear Tiffanyfan
All the comments made in respect of short update made by you were mere jokes
But I am surprised you took them serious as it is
Meanwhile, let me apologize on behalf of association and fan of this beautiful story
Though, all the statements made were made out of love for you, the writer and the story
We indeed sorry and we hope this apology will make you come around and help TBM in future
Especially, when it is glaring that he is afraid to post short update himself but instead hide behind courageous lady like u
We love you sincerely and appreciate you for the job done for heir of shango olukoso
May the thunder of shango miss you any day
Sweet popcorn for you, the readers and TheBlessedMan
One love

Well, what else can I say, isn't this just too amazing? I'm just as speechless as the word speechless itself.

Boss, I doff my abeti-aja for you o. Thanks for this.

Mtbail:
TBM please treat Lewis fairly with ur pen. I don't blame him for his actions because you(Darous) gave him the space as a result of your naivety.

I'm happy everything is gradually turning out good for Darous. This is something I have been expecting since the end of the first story(COUNTLESS).
#happyending




Lastly I want Darous to seriously learn his lessons and turn a new leave. If after all these suffering and pain he still enjoy his former lifestyle then It will very clear that Shango has chosen him as his only begotten son. I rest my case....







take ur time TBM and update when u are less busy.


THANKS....

thanks boss

19. THE DOG ATTENDANT. [T.D.A] by Darousmart Emmanuel.


The rays of light (that my inmates gave me) and hope of getting out of the impending storm and whirlwind that was cutting through the gloomy weather is now suddenly facing a threat from my own son. My own child.

Someone once said "one of the truest test of integrity is it's blunt refusal to be compromised." Moreover, this statement can be Super-gluely, or Altheco-ly or Chemmer-ly attributed to the commissioner of Police - who has been rigidly adamant in his decision to make sure he doesn't let the pressure Lewis was giving him to have any sentimental influence on his position with the situation on ground.

Well, maybe the grammars in the above statement is uncorrelating with the explanation I'm trying to give you, so let me make it simple. What I'm trying to tell you in simpler words is that,, it's safe to say that the C.P have also tried his best to not succumb to the intimidating pressure being mounted upon him countlessly by my friend-turn nemesis in the name of Lewis. I think you can get me now.
It's quite unfortunate though, that when I was starting to feel like I'm getting free, this Lewis just can't stop being a pain in the arse, as his BBC just have to choose the wrongest of time to investigate a Sex_for_Marks scandal in my already scandalous life. It's a sorry case.
Well, let me just continue jare.

The Chief warden himself was already feeling uncomfortable in his chair at the very moment my son mumbled something to the C.P. The fear of getting caught in the crossfire and the threat it poses to his job is already getting some premature sweats out on his forehead. I could see his early-fifties face filled with horror the moment Lewis brought that idea of using my son as case settler up earlier.

Mind you, the Chief warden was merely acting on what his corrupt boys told him happened at the prison the other night. I'm sure he had no hand in my escape and recapturing. He was just counting on the words of his guys and thinking he's on the side of truth, but unfortunately for him, Lewis who appears to be the devil here is the only one on that side. The rest of us are just counting on that legendary man called LIE, to for once, in his immortality life, try and conquer his oldest adversary known as Mr Truth.

Lewis on the other hand was just beaming with smile and confidence like someone that just bought an immortality drug. He believed his plans and efforts was about to yield the necessary result to earn him the cutoff mark that will finally get him his long awaited admission into Joke's University.

Hmmm.. I'm rambling too much. Let's just continue.
Over to you Chris, just blow the trumpet so that rapture can take place and I will know my fate.

The boy mouthed some words incoherently as if he was afraid and that got the C.P to calm him down by placing his large arm on his young shoulder, thus bringing the boy closer to himself.

"Chris, don't be afraid okay? Just tell me what you know and I promise you that no one will hurt you okay? You know you can tell me anything in this place right?" He said to him with a reasurring look and that kind of made the boy calm down a bit. Chris's back was now backing Lewis, while his side was siding me too.

The tension in my body has escalated quickly the moment my son prepared himself to speak out. The only thing standing between me and eternity in jail is this boy called Chris. If he just confirm that he saw me yesterday at my house in Ibadan, then not even the Chief warden will be able to save me. Remember that the CP have warned me before, even before they brought in my inmates, remember that he have already pleaded with me to tell him the truth of which I refuted vehemently. So you can just imagine what the CP will do to me once he finds out that I've been lying all along.

I begin to think of ways to get myself out of this mess but couldn't even get my mind to settle talkless of thinking of something. I tried to make contact with my son's face but even if I tried that, there's every chance that either the CP or Lewis will catch me doing that.

"Talk to me boy.. don't be scared...." The CP's voice cut across the room again as my heartbeat continue to increase with rapid abandon.

I quickly turn my back towards where the boy was standing as my ears strained anxiously to hear the worst.

"I saw......" The boy was still saying when the Chief warden suddenly cuts in.

"Ermmm....I'm sorry sir..." He said with a pleading tone. And that got the attention of the C.P away from the boy. I turned around to see for myself.

"Yes...what is it?" He queried with a frank face, evidently trying to hide the frustration in him.

"I'm confused here sir,"

"How? The C.P rasped out.

"Sir, I don't know why we are still on this issue sir."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"What I mean sir is that, sir, With all the evidences gathered so far and the investigations from your office and mine sir, I don't think we should still be wasting our time on this issue. Furthermore...."

"Further what!" Lewis attacked outrightly. He was boiling with anger as he made that statement. "How can you say we should just go and sleep on what those criminals came here to do? Eh? To just let this criminal get away with everything he did to me? Don't be ridiculous Mr warder...." He moaned at the man that's just 5 or 6 year short of the reproductive wherewithal to produce someone of his own age.

Instead of the Chief warden to reply him, he only gave him a narrowed look and return his attention to the senior man in the room.

"Sir like I was saying...."

"No, like I WAS SAYING..."Lewis interrupted emphatically. "

"Mr Lewis, you need to calm down right now...." C.P said calmly.

"Calm down?" Lewis chuckled wickedly. "Calm down is all you can say? And you don't think I would have done that assuming you people know how to do your job?"

"Hmm-hmmm" C.P also chuckled at that. "We don't know how to do our jobs?"

"Yes!..." Lewis declared boldly. Not ready to back down at all. "If you do, this man here will not be talking like he doesn't know how valuable a witness as young as this boy means in a court of law.."

"And this is not a court na, is it?" Chief warden said out with a squeezed face.

"And so what? So fucking what?, What difference does that make? We are about to uncover the truth and you are doing your best to cover up your conspiracy..."

"Conspiracy? What conspiracy is that if I may ask sir...." Chief warden asked with a relatively cool tone.

"You can't possibly tell me you don't know that this bastard ran away from prison yesterday...you can't deny that....this bastard made....."

"Stop using that language in my office Mr man...." C.P bemoaned. "I pardoned it the first time doesn't mean you can repeat it again."

Lewis chuckled with a cold tone before he spoke again.
"For your information sir, I can repeat it as many times as I like"

"Then I will have no choice than to have you locked up..." The C.P fired at him as he got to his feet to face Lewis squarely.

Remember what I said earlier about Truth versus Lie? I think Lie is starting to show some real balls.

"You will lock me up? For what?" Lewis bemoan with a hand directed at his own chest.

"Yes, and if you still don't learn how to control yourself, worse might follow and I don't want that for you Mr man."

"Ah, na wá ooooo" Lewis lamented with a shocked expression.

"Whether you like it or not, this place is my office and I won't let you continue tainting it with your bad manners...!" He declared loudly.

There was silence for a brief moment before Lewis rubbed his jaw and yawned before talking again.

"Okay...okay sir.." Lewis said calmly as if he was feeling sorry. "Maybe the word was a bit too extreme and impulsive...."

"Hmmmm....." the C.P groaned.

"But...but tell me sir, with all due respect sir, please tell me what someone can call someone like this Darous here, ( he pointed at me) someone who's life is so full of lies, knows nothing other than bring pain to people. Someone who knows nothing other than hurt people all the time, someone so senseless and unrepentant.... if you say he's not a bastard sir? Then tell me, what do you call someone who has no brain, no sense, no mercy, not even an atom of honesty in him whatsoever? Tell me sir, what do you call such a man?"

"Uncle Lewis...." That was Chris's tiny voice. I didn't read any meaning to that at first cos I think he was trying to tell Lewis something, but when I saw the sharp fury in Lewis's face as he brought his face down to the boy, then, that was when I knew Chris was really telling him something.

"What did you just say?" Lewis slammed hard furiously. The boy motioned closer to the C.P's side for protection and that was when a scoff escaped from my lips. I couldn't hold it, the kind of look on Lewis's oblong face was so funny that even the Chief warden also smiled.

"Are you stupid? Are you mad?" Lewis continue in his attempt to beat the boy but Chris, using the advantage of his low center of gravity, continue to dodged behind the armour of the C.P.

"You think I'm here to play with you?" He lashed out furiously again. "C.P let me deal with that boy abeg, just give me a minute with him...."

"Your phone is ringing..." Chief warden interrupted very fast. Lewis turned sharply to him and gave him a hard glare. "I think that's what the boy was trying to tell you, your phone is ringing." He repeated it and it was then that we all heard the sound of a ringing phone. It was coming from Lewis's pocket.

Lewis touched his pocket to feel his phone, he brought it out to check the caller and his face softened after seeing the caller.

The CP was just staring at him with an expression-less face as he placed the phone on his ears and begin to walk out.

"Hello Dad...." He said lastly before exiting the room.

"You can talk to me now Chris.." the CP said after the exit of Lewis.."

"Erm sir, do we still need to do that?" The Chief warden asked with a worried tone.

The CP was silent at first, he appeared to be deliberating on how best to reply the question being posed to him by the man in the opposite chair.

"You know, that man is somehow arrogant and you know, with all his irritating manners, you know, he's right on this. Let's just give it one last try. Whatever the boy says will be the final decider on this case. We have tried our best, but as law enforcement agencies, we have to make sure there's no stone left unturned during investigations like this." The CP explained with an explicit expression.

"I get you sir, but why this boy? Does he even know what we are doing here?" Chief warder countered again.

The CP smiled briefly and looked at my child again.

"How old are you?" He asked the boy.

"I'm six years old sir." Chris replied him quickly.

"What's your name?"

"Chris Emmanuel."

I was surprised to hear that from him because I never thought Joke will let him bear my name.

"Tell me Chris, what is this place?" The CP asked again.

Chris looked around the room before he answered.

"A big room..."

"Good of you... But what is this whole place called gangan?"

"A police station..." Chris answered sharply again and the CP smiled.

"What do you think they are doing in a police station?"

The silence lingered for more than thirty seconds before the boy spoke out again.

"My Mummy said it's where they deal with had people." He replied with a shaking voice.

"Wow... Your Mummy have spoken well..." The CP expressed with a feral smile and shifted his attention to the warder. "So you still think this little lad doesn't know what we are doing here?"

"Hmmm... Well, then sir I have no doubts again sir... you can go on with him sir..."


The CP smiled again to that and drew the boy closer to himself.
"Chris boy,"

"Yes sir?"

"Tell me Chris, was it this man that took you from your house yesterday?" He asked with a hand gesture towards me. That question was different from what he asked him earlier. What he asked him earlier was, did he saw me the previous day? But now instead of that, he's asking him about who took him out of the house yesterday.

Chris gave me a quick glance before talking.

"Not him..." Chris replied sharply and I could hear as a low sigh of relief escaped from the mouth of the chief warden.

"But someone took you from your house yesterday right?" With a skeptical look, the CP asked.

"Yes ...."

"Care to tell me who it was?"

The boy looked behind him, precisely towards the door before he talked.

The CP strained his ears forward with total attention to hear what the boy wanted to say.
In almost whisper, the boy said, "It was uncle Lewis sir...."

"Uncle what?" CP slammed hard with a confused tone. I myself was having a hard time deciding on how to deal with what I'm hearing.

"It was uncle Lewis that came to my room yesterday and gave me two drugs, he now said he want me to follow him to one place and when I did not answer him, he started beating me and beating me before he now use one rope to tie my legs. He now carry me to his car and put me inside the boot. He now open the boot and take me inside one house and use the rope to tie my hand and leg very well. See my hand, it's still paining me......" Chris extends his arms towards the CP and the man gave it a thorough check. I didn't know what the CP saw on his wrist but the kind of look that erupted on his face after seeing it was very bad.

"Chineke!" The Wader whistled out as the CP dropped to his seat.

The boy remained standing in the middle of the room as the CP appeared to be very disturbed with all what the boy just said.

"Are you sure of this Chris?" The warder said after a moment of silence.

"Sir?" Chris asked as if he doesn't understand what the man asked him.

"Are you sure all that happened to you yesterday?" The man questioned.

"Yes sir.." Chris replied.

"And you are sure it's not this man?" The warder asked with a hand pointed at me.

"No sir. He's not the one. It's that bad uncle Lewis that did it to me..." He ended with almost shaking tone. The memories of the ugly incident appeared to be making the boy feel bad.

"Hmmm.." the CP sighed. "Can you say everything you just said again?" He stated with an expectant look.

"Yes sir...."

"Please tell us again, who did you said took you out of your house yesterday?"

After that question, Chris narrated again, in details, without missing any word, all he said before, he said it again.

"Erm! Sir.... I think this boy really knows what he's saying o." The Chief warden said out after Chris have finished talking.

"You think so?"

"Yes sir,.or what reasons will he possibly have for saying all these against that man that he calls his uncle?"

"Hmmmm.." the CP said out with mixed expression.

"He's too young to lie o..." The warder continued. " Who could have believe that that man can do all these bad things? Ehehehe, na wá o. This is now a case of kidnapping, molestation, child assault, child abuse, vanacular kidnapping, corruption, money laundering, improper use of drugs, drug trafficking, impersonation of medical doctor, misuse of car boot, brutal usage of ropes, house vandalisation, ritual attempted murder, and wasting the time of the commissioner of Police and head Garrison, .. all these are crimes punishable by electrocution in....."

"Seargent Audu!" The CP suddenly roared as if he could no longer hold the temper in him.

"Yes sir!" That sharp reply came straight from outside the door.

"Get me that son of a b1tch!" The CP commanded with a furious tone as he remained seated on his chair.

"Who is that sir?" Feeling confused, the Seargent asked that as he got inside the room.

"Get me that man that just went out of this room now!" He commanded with a strict voice of authority.

"Yes sir!" Seargent Audu saluted and went out.

Hmmmm.... Let somebody shout hallelujah! The dribbler have just dribbled himself to a tight corner!


T.B.C.

CONTINUATION OF T.D.A 18. still Dedicated to MHIZ PEREZ. Happy birthday to you dear. You are such an amazing friend.






I fear for my life at that moment. Riddle is someone known for his readiness to do anything just to get out of the prison. He killed his wife when he caught her and his best friend on his own bed. He had a daughter outside this wall and he have always longed for the moment he will see her again.
So I won't be surprised if he decides to talk now. What I don't understand is why Principal is keeping mute and not doing anything to prevent him from talking when he knows the type of person Riddle is.

"Talk now!" Audu commanded again and that sent ripples of fear to my already apprehensive body as I listened on from the toilet.

"He who is guilty is the one who has much to say.... " Riddle suddenly said. "Me no get anything wey I wan talk for this matter, so if you wan flog us, abeg start now, he don tey wey I feel pain...."

"Are you saying you will not tell me what you know? Don't you know I can charge you for consipiracy and felony?"

"On top Wetin? Why you wan charge am? He be phone wey get charging point?" Formula said out.

"Silence there.... I'm warning you, don't tempt me... I told you not to talk unless I ask you something...." Audu said that to Formula.

"Oga police, abeg, dó not make the dress before the child is born .. I no go talk more than that...." Riddle said again.

"Then which one is the flogging you are talking about?" Audu asked Riddle.

"Oga, the chicken says she cries to let the public know of her painful condition, no be say for someone to come free her from the rope....." Riddle spoke out in another riddle.

"You people are really bold gan o... Don't you realize you are inside the police headquarters?" One police said that out. That was the first time I'm hearing his voice.

"A mouse that makes jest of a cat don see a hole nearby...." Riddle spoke again.

"And what's that one suppose to mean now?" Audu asked with fury in his voice.

"It means I already dey life sentence...the only thing wey dey stop me from joining my wife wey I mistakenly kill na this bondage, but if you vex now kill me, then na the hole wey I talk be that...." Riddle expressed confidently.

At that moment, someone came inside to tell Mr Audu that the C.P wants to see him.

After he had left the room, one guy named Fela among us spoke for the first time in his typical Fela voice.

"Make I yab them?" He asked loud and the others immediately replied him with full excitement.

"Yea!" They all chorused.

"Can we yab them?" Fela said again in a singing tone.

"Yes....yab them... Yab them!" They chorused in unison.

"By the time wey I dey for prison," He began to sing that popular Fela song from the BEAST OF A NATION album. "I call am inside world, by the time wey I dey outside prison, I call am outside world, na craze world..."

"No be outside world...."

"Craze world" Others replied him with full enthusiasm.

"No be outside da police dey ee..."

"Craze world,"

"No be outside da magistrate dey eh, ...."

"Craze world,...."

"No be outside da soldiers dey ee..."

"Craze world...."

"No be outside da magistrate dey ee"

"Craze world"

"Make you hear this one, war against indiscipline ee oo,
Na nigerian goverment ee oh,

Them they talk be that we oh,

My people are useless, my people are senseless, My people are indiscipline, I never hear that before ee oh, make government talk ee oh, my people are useless, my people are senseless, my people are indiscipline, which kine talk be that o, na craze talk be that o, na animal talk be that o...."

The groove was getting more exciting by the second and if not for the immediate intervention of the C.P and his guys, I bet my guys would have turned the whole room into a studio.

"Silence here.....!" The C.P, Mr Femzie Carlos roared to announce his presence in the room and my guys complied immediately.

"Welcome sir..." Principal said that out .


"What is this nonsense? Is it because I'm treating you with respect, that's why you want to turn my office into a studio? Eh?"

"We are sorry sir..." Principal apologize.

"Okay, you people have completed your part in this issue....so I will release you now.... Seargent Audu, you can take them back to the prison now..."

"Take them? Wonders shall never end....as if we be biscuits...." Formula said to express his anger.

"Will you just shut up your mouth?" Audu fired at Formula.

"Just ignore him and hurry up, I don't have all day here now." The C.P said again and immediately after that, the sounds of mobile footsteps dominated the place and gradually it died down and that means the full exit of my friends.
"Let the warder come in please..." The C.P said again and there was temporary silence. "Have a seat...."

"Thank you sir...." The Chief warden said.

"Now, after everything those guys did in here, I've reached one conclusion...they are hiding something...that's the only reason behind their stubbornness..."

"But sir, I already told you that nothing of such happened yesterday sir."

"Then how do you explain the scampered footsteps and marks found in the bush and the dead body of one of your men that was found outside your premises?" The C.P threw that in.

"Truly, there was a gun battle last night sir and unfortunately we lost one of our guys, I don't deny that, but I'm telling you that, some guys from a dreaded confraternity tried breaking in to get one person out but they were unsuccessful because of the resistance they met..."

"So they were successful?"

"No...not at all... My guys were very effective as they quickly radioed for reinforcement...there was fun battle and we lost a man. But that's it, they were not successful in what they came for..." The Chief warden explained unequivocally.

"Who were they trying to break out,? You know the person?"

"We are still investigating that sir. I've got my guys on the look out...it's only a matter of time before we man the person, but that person is definitely not erm, Mr Darous or what's his name again."

"Were you there? I mean we're you present when all these happened?lp As a chief warden, your office doesn't work at night, in actual fact, you were supposed to be absent yesterday night, so mind telling me how you came about this piece of information...?"

"I wasn't at work yesterday night sir, that's true but my boys, those I trusted more than anything in the whole place told me all that happened..."

"And you believed them?"

"Yes sir, the investigations I carried out myself made me believe it to be true sir...and that's the truth sir as evidently confirmed again by those prisoners....."

"Hmmmm those ones might be lying for all I can tell..." I heard that from the C.P.

"And with all due respect sir, what reasons would they have for teaming up to protect him? That will even make them turn down the freedom offer sir?"

The warder spoke out convincingly.

"Ok... Corporal Johnson, please tell Mr Lewis to come in please..." He said and sighed high.

The door opened and that sigbaled the entry of Lewis.

"Well, Mr Lewis, as you can see now, I think you are highly mistaken in this issue. You see everyone is saying this Darous was at the prison throughout yesterday, so...."

"You can't seriously expect me to believe that... " Lewis cuts in abruptly.

"What ever you choose to believe is none of my concern Mr Lewis. I think you should try and find whoever did that bandage to your head and settle your quarell with them. You have wasted enough of our time on this wild goose chase....I'm sorry it has to end here...." He ended conclusively and there was a brief moment of silence afterwards before I hear Lewis say something.

"But C.P, can I make a final suggestion?"


"Hmmmm, you still don't accept the outcome of this investigation?"

"You call this bull-sh1t investigation? Well, just hear me out now...."

"Hmmmm.... Okay.... Let's make this clear, this thing you are about to suggest will be the last thing I'm ever going to entertain on this matter okay, so if you have something you want to say, you can do that now...."

"Alright....fair enough...." Lewis said with a strong tone. "I'm a neurosurgeon, I know much about some psychological stuffs and I'm sure if we apply that now, we will get our answer...."

"What are you suggesting Mr Lewis...?" C.P asked curiously.

"Let's use the boy...."

"What boy?"

"His child..."

"You mean the little boy?"

"Yes Chris, they saw each other yesterday, so if we bring the boy in now, am sure his reaction towards his Dad will make you believe me that this guy really was in ibadan yesterday...."

"Hmmm, but, what kind of reaction will we be looking out for?"

"You will see.... just let him see him first and you yourself will see what I'm talking about..."


"Do I need to remind you that the boy is his child, and he can react in whatever way he likes to his own Dad, so I don't know how this will help this situation unless you have an hidden agenda I don't know about..."

"Can I tell you something privately?" Lewis said that and my heart nearly stopped beating at the sound of that.

"Ok...ay...." C.P said hesitantly and there was instant silence.

That gave me the chance to process things on my own at that moment.
(What if Chris identifies me? What if he childishly says something that will indicate me? Hmmm, this will be fatal for me.)

The door to the toilet opened and one police man that I don't know stepped in.
"Come outside now" He commanded.

"I think I would have done that already if I wasn't chained to this buglary." I said with a gesture towards the cuffs in my hand.

He got the message and quickly got busy with untying me.

He led me out of the toilet and we both entered the big room where the C.P, Lewis, Chief Warden and two other police were sitting adjacent to each other.

I stood before them in the middle as they all stared at me with different eyes.

"Sit on the floor and turn your back against that door. " The C.P said with a hand pointed towards the entrance.

"Okay sir..." I complied and sat down on the floor while my back was facing the doorway.

"Good... Please, bring the boy please...." The C.P ordered.

After that order, the door opened and I could hear the footsteps of people making entry to the room.

"How are you Chris?" The C.P asked.

"I'm fine..." The tiny child-ly voice of Chris cuts across the room as it sends cold shivers down my spine.

My brain was blank at that moment. I know the boy will recognize me, that one is certain. Even though I'm not putting on the white garment again, but that boy is too smart and he will know It's me. Remember he's already having doubts about the Angelic role I played on him the other day, if he's smart enough to figure that out, then nothing can stop him from identifying me now.

"Lewis will win. That one is certain." I lamented under my breath as that realisation settled into my mind finally.

"Darous, turn around please...." The C.P commanded but my apprehensive state stopped me from complying immediately.

"I told you, he won't dare look at the boy, ... " Lewis said confidently.

"Mr Darous, will you please turn around please?" The C.P commanded softly.

Nothing I want to do now can save me from this impending disaster. My inmates have did their part. The Chief warden has done his part also. Even the C.P have tried his best in this case but now it's going to be me versus CHRIS. My own child.

I muster up the courage to turn around slowly and when I did, the eyes of Chris met mine and it sent ripples of anxiety and trepidation to my body.

The boy's eyes was fully locked on mine, he didn't blink at all as our eyes remained in that locking position. He was just staring at me with a confused expression. Maybe he was feeling confused about seeing me in that place or wondering why they were calling me Darous instead of Zeus is what I can't say.

"Chris did you saw this man yesterday?" Lewis asked out with full burning urge to end this once and for all.

'Please don't answer him please...' I stated mentally with a pleading eyes at my child.

I can't say maybe the boy heard that statement of Lewis or not, because he showed no reaction to it whatsoever. He was just staring at me without moving at all.

"Chris, please, tell me" The C.P spoke out to end the silence., "did you saw this man yesterday? Please talk your mind. No harm can come to you okay?, Be rest assured no one will hurt you if you tell me the truth...did you saw him yesterday?"

I don't know how the C.P did that, but immediately after his words, I watched with horrific eyes as Chris got prepared to talk.

Finally, my Tacha is about to get evicted... And my child is now the BIGGIE.... oh dear Lord have MERCY...


T.B.C

Whatsapp@+2348162128141.
Fb page@ Darousmart library.

Instagram@ Darousmart.

Twitter@ Darous Theblessedman

Dedicated to MHIZ PEREZ , HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR. What an amazing friend you are. Age with abundance grace.





18. THE DOG ATTENDANT [T.D.A] by Darousmart Emmanuel.



The memories of all the event that happened the other day overwhelmed my mind. From seeing Joke again and all about the pregnancy issue, up to what transpired between me and Audley Samson, all about the plight of his poor girl, all those feelings made me have a funny feeling of myself. Seriously, I was kind of proud of myself for what I did. And I'm sure Therapist Sarah would be very very happy to hear it when next we see. She will be very proud of the man I'd become. If not because they don't allow us to have visitors on weekends like this one, I'm sure she would have paid me another visit. She hardly go three days without seeing me to the extent some of my inmates thought she's my wife. But truth be told, she is more than a wife to me.

Before we continue, let me quickly remind you guys of my present situation.

First thing you should remember is that, I'm still inside the toilet of the police station. Yes where the C.P asked Seargent Audu to put me before he went out.

The C.P has gone out of the interrogation room to go and attend to some people that came to see him from the governor's office.

The day is still a SUNDAY. The C.P is not suppose to be at work on this day but because of Lewis's involvement in the matter, he decided to handle it personally.

Lewis and Nike are within the premises. Chris (who was sleeping the last time I saw him inside the C.P's office) also came with them.

My fellow inmates and the Chief warden has been brought to the station for further investigation on the issue.

Are we back on the same page now? Ok then, let's continue.

***


It's been more than thirty minutes now and Seargent Audu and his comrades were still having a hard time getting my fellow inmates to cooperate with them. Each question they asked was being turned to whyning by my guys.

Audley Samson have already told me that the success of the plan solely depends on how far my guys can frustrate the efforts of the police. He said once they cooperate together, the C.P will have no choice than to throw the matter into a dustbin. And with what is going on outside that door now? I think they are doing a perfect job at that.....


I strained my ears attentively to hear what is going on outside the door.

"hey, Mr police, you no fit dey talk to my own Principal like that na,. See as we gather here, make I tell you, from 1 to 10, na 5 get yansh pass... Principal na our boss... Give my Principal respect abeg....." That's the unmistakable voice of Formula. After Principal, he's someone I really respect for his ruggedity. This guy no fear anything.

"You people don't want to get me angry.... I dey try my best to be gentle to you but if you push me too much I go make sure you regret it....."

"Regret Wetin? Wetin we wan regret for here? I dey try yarn you on how to talk to my oga and you dey form shoulder pads? You dey craze in Roman numeral?..." Formula added again.

"Hey, hey... hey! You people should better cut that nonsense now...you realize you are talking to the representative of the C.P here?" A voice I couldn't recognize said that. But he must be a police man.

"Representative? Persin go dey fear cow still dey fear hin sh!t join? Tua!" That came straight from one guy known as Africa. He was nicknamed that because of his usual ways of talking in African proverbs.

"And who is the Cow, who is the sh!t?" With a tone that's trying to hide anger, Seargent Audu asked that.

"Me I no know o, Oga police, Wetin me I know be say, if the head too big, it can nor fit dodge stupidity from getting inside....." Africa said again.

"Are you mad? How dare you talk to a whole Seargent like that?" That was Lewis voice. The idiot must have let the C.P enter his office before coming back here.

" Mr Lewis please stay outside please..." Seargent Audu said to him.

"No....no way... Don't tell me sh!t... I don't like the way you people are handling this criminals at all..."

"We be criminals now ba? You nko? Wetin you be?" That's the voice of Principal.

"See as hin face resemble prison latrine....." Pastor said.

Everyone burst into laughter at the sound of that.

"You hear that? You hear that?" Lewis cried out his pain. He appeared to be very hurt by that statement they used in describing his oblong face. "I will so deal with you people today. All it takes for me to add more misery to your already miserable lives is just a phone call to my daddy...."

"Ah, eeeeyah.... The son of God is talking..." Spanner mocked in his typical Ibo accent and there was another round of laughter.

"Mr Lewis please stay outside please, let's handle this ourselves...." Seargent Audu said again after the laughter has stopped.

"Are you serious at all? Obviously you are not. If you are, you won't be standing there and let this people be talking down on someone like me?

"And who be you? Na your blood them sacrifice on the cross of Calvary for our sins?" Pastor chipped in again amongst the growing murmurs.

"Abi na your hand the key to heaven dey kwa?" Mallam, the only Hausa man among us also puts in his voice.

"Hmmm....." Lewis was humming that out as the guys continue to take turns to make his stay in the room something he will never forget in a lifetime.

After a lot of pestering and talks, Mr Audu eventually succeeded in getting Lewis out of the room.

He then resumed to what he was saying before after the exit of Lewis.

"Guys listen, don't make this hard for us please.... All I need here is your cooperation to settle this matter once and for all... You know, we are having this conversation simply because...."

"You call this conversation?" Principal cuts in with a cool voice.

"Yes...." Audu grumbled in.

"You are one hell of a comedian and I'm not surprised at all...." Principal lashed out.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Audu attacked.

""God pricketh them of his great goodness still. And the grief of this great pang pincheth them at the heart, and of wickedness they wry away..." Pastor voiced in as Principal was about to talk.


"What's that supposed to mean Mr Man?" Another policeman queried angrily.

"Don't meddle in this, Corporal Johnson..." Audu said.

"No, boss, oga mi, we are done tolerating this sh1t from this assholes... We have entertained their insolence long enough and we need to make them realize that they are in the presence of the commissioner of Police..."

"Oooo....shooooo.... I even thought he wanted to say Presence of God... Mumu man..." Formula added that in his mocking tone again.

"I think I agree with Corporal Johnson...." That bast*rd Lewis said again but his voice sound very distant from the room. He must have said that from outside the room.

"Corporal Johnson, you can stay outside... " Audu said in a command tone.

"But sir...."

"That's an order!" Audu reiterated harshly.

The corporal grumbled some words before everything went mute again.

"Let me make one thing clear here Mr police...." Principal said.

"I'm all ears...." Audu said.

"What you are asking us to tell you is something we know nothing about. Apart from the fact that this interrogation is unlawful and not making any sense, you people have no right to be treating us this way because we are still serving our sentence...."

"And where does the law says someone serving terms cannot be brought forth for interrogation?"

There was silence after that question from Seargent Audu before Formula spoke again.

"Maybe it skipped the mind of the law to say that, but my boss is telling you now that this is nonsense...."

"You know what?" Audu said again.

"We don't know what, What,What, What.... I don't know anyone by that name..." Formula stressed angrily.

"If I don't ask you to talk, please try and keep your big lips shut! Ok? Or you will....." Mr Audu swallowed the remaining words.

"You go do wetin?...no stop na, continue....make we hear wetin you wan do to us wey dem never do before..." Formula snapped and I instantly knew that things will soon get more messy.

"Just kill us.!." One of the Albino's voice cuts in to end the tenure of the lingering tensive silence in the room.

"You better bring your gun out make you kill us now? We no fear anything o. We be family for here, we die we die together ni... The only thing wey fit pain me be say if you no kill all of us at the same time...I no want make anybody first me enter heaven....laelae (never)....no body go first Apostle enter heaven..." That was Apostle's voice. He's a very slim guy with excess pimples on his face.

"Are you people crazy or what? You have a death wish?" Another police that I don't know his name fired out. "You wan die? Where you think say you dey wey you dey behave anyhow? You have a death wish?"

"No, me get 46years left on my sentence....my lawyer talk say if I get money to appeal, they fit gimme like life parol but I no want that one. I dey enjoy my life for prison steadily... I like as government dey use tax payers money to dey feed us everyday......" Formula said again.

"We like the kine life wey we dey live now!....oyeyeoyeyeeeeeeee...." Apostle sang out in the voice of 9ice and the others wasted no time in joining him.

I can't begin to tell you how I was feeling at that moment. I can't believe it myself. This kind of loyalty is out of this world. I understand that Principal likes me but I couldn't imagine it to this extent. First he threatened the warders to have me returned to the prison, and now he his making these guys do all these inside a police headquarters? Oh my! The thing dey sweet me for body. But I later know the reason why the warders and their boss were so afraid of Principal. That thing strong gan o. Let's leave that for another day Sha.

"Wetin we dey call am?" That voice suddenly cuts into my thoughts. I must have missed the conversation that led to that question above but the reply given to it gave me an hint of what must have transpired during my moment of thoughts.

"Government work, we dey chop...." They all chorused out to the chagrin of Mr Audu and his comrades.

"Silence!" Mr Audu roared and the noise reduced instantly to just murmurs.

"We nor fear you o, worst wey you fit do na to torture us, them never born you na well make you kill us....." Formula said again.

"I have no intention of doing that when there are other ways to make you people talk... I just need one of you to tell me where this guy was throughout yesterday and the C.P has promised to compensate whoever talks, make I repeat am, anybody wey talk truth, the C.P wan dash am something wey all of you na want...."

"Hmmmmm....." I know that tone. That tone belongs to a guy known as Riddle.

"You have something to say?" Audu asked out.

There was silence in the room after that question as my heart started beating heavily in my chest. I fear of what will happen to me if any one backed out of the plan. Not even the Principal can save me if one single person out of 16 people decide to snitch on me.

"Talk now...this might be your last chance to gain freedom..." Audu said with an intimidating tone.

Mtbail:
Thanks for this episode. This Darous is really immune to death even when it keeps knocking. All thanks to Shango for always coming to his aid.

There is something I have learned that keeps him going, my ability to pathway even when it's not convenient.



How wish this stingy im shapter for don close





TBM U TOO MUCH OO....

thanks for this sir...

obicoolnino:
Thanks for d update

you welcome sir. Thanks for keeping Faith too

CONTINUATION OF T.D.A 17.





I had barely walked a few meters from the mud house when a red colored Datsun Sunny car parked beside me on the road. I was on my way back to where the car I intend on using for escape was parked and it remained just one corner for me to get there when this Datsun car suddenly pulled beside me.

I stopped instantly and got ready for fight. I clenched my fist as the car door opened and a face I couldn't instantly recollect poked out of the top.

"Hey Mr Darous, get in!...." He commanded and pointed a pistol at me.

"You better shoot me now because I'm not going anywhere with you..." I replied standardly and continued on my tracks.

"Are you deaf?! I said you should get in!..." He shouted again but I didn't let that stop me.
I had a feeling he wants me alive, because if not, he would have shot me straight the moment he saw me. So I was hoping I'm right. I want to provoke him to come out and face me and then I will be ready for him.

"I said get in the car now!" He declared authoritatively again but I didn't flinch a bit.
I only paused to reply him.

"Whoever sent you here wants me alive, if not you would have shot me now." I said and I continued in my tracks while the man remained on the same spot. I was just two meters away from the corner that will lead me to where I planned on using the car with the hope of not meeting any trouble again, when the Datsun Sunny stopped beside me again and the man quickly got out .


"Please Mr Darous, let me help you out of here.... Please..." He spoke softly and it was then that his cool voice made me remember where I met him. He was the same guy that drove Capable, (Jarter's guy) and I away from the prison premises in the morning of that day. His name if I remember very well now is...erm...erm... I think Audley Samson or thereabout. He was a policeman and he played a part in how I escaped from prison.

"Please hurry, let me get you to a safe place...." He said hurriedly with a hand gesture as his other body remained hidden behind the height of the car.

"Why....why.... Should I follow you? You must be mad for thinking I don't know what your people wants to do to me once I set foot in that car."

He frowned his face at that as if in a confused mode. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb...you surely know what I'm talking about...." I declared frankly and tried walking away but Audley Samson quickly rounded the front of the car and prevented me from walking away. He was a few feets away from me. I waited at a very alert level just in case. This man is lanky and tall but he's not someone my boxing abilities cannot handle.

"Please try to understand this situation here, my life and career are on the line here... If I don't return you to prison now, my boss will find out about my hand in your escape and I will lose my career and even my family.... Please, I need to do this... Please...." He sounded with a sincere voice but I wasn't ready to buy that.

I blinked twice and shook my head. "What are you saying ganself? You think I will follow you willingly back to prison when there is another way for me? You are very stupid." I hissed after saying that.

He used his right hand to fold his lips while his eyes focused intently on me and I know he could see my clenched fist.

"Just get out of my way before I crush you down with one blow...." I waved my fist at his face. He seemed unfazed by that as he did something that shocked me to the bone marrow. He got down on his knees in that moment. He knelt in the cold ground in the middle of that lonely and dark place before me while his gun remained in his left hand.

"What!" I screamed in my mind.

"Please, Mr Darous, I know I have no right to ask for your help, but please, you are my...la..st...hope." His voice was already breaking by the time he finished saying that and that kind of unbalanced my emotions.

"What is all these pranks you are trying here? Eh, look here, you can't fool me you hear, I'm...."

"Please hear me out...there's no time, those people that are after you might be here any moment...please...." He pleaded with a pleading hand gesture and I could see traces of tears on his face and that finally made me to cool down a bit.
"I'm not this type of person, but I wouldn't have ventured into this kind of stuff if my daughter's life was not involved."

"What happened to your daughter?" My curiosity asked that.

"Almost a year now, she has been battling with leukemia....."

"Leuke what?" Stunned, I asked.

"Leukemia, a cancer of blood-forming tissues.... It stops the body from fighting any form of infection... My 19years old daughter is down with it now sir..."

'this is another trick na, you should be familiar with it now....' I told myself or maybe Shango did, I don't know.

"Please, trust me, I accepted this deal because I need money to get her on the next flight to India where she will get the treatment..." He was in tears at that moment and I was starting to feel sorry for him before the Anti-betrayal app that I installed in my brain kicked in again.

"No, don't fool me... No, I know this type of trick well well."

"What?"

"But you dey craze o. How dare you using an innocent girl as a trick to fool me? Ah, you dey mad."

"I'm not lying please, believe me." He said and he brought out his phone from his breast pocket. I was alert just in case he wants to do something harmful while he pressed the phone's screen. Then after a brief seconds, he turned the phone to me and truly on the screen was the picture of a very sick girl lying on hospital bed. The man kneeling in front of me was standing by her side in the picture too. The girl's appearance was so terrible that I felt a sharp pinch in my heart by merely seeing her sight. Her face was pale and white.

"Hmmmmm..." That was all I could say after seeing that.

"You see, she's all I have. Her mother died twelve years ago. She has been my wife and mother since then and losing her will mean the end of my own life too. She's all I got in this world...and... And that's why I need that money... That's why I did this....that's why I helped in your escape. They promised me 15million naira out of the 2bn you have....please believe me Mr Darous.."

(What is all these na? Just when I was about to escape this place , this situation popped up again? Ah, Wetin I wan do now?)

"Hmmm, but wait, if I go back to prison, how will you get the money you are looking for when in actual reality and according to what you just told me now, my escape is the only....."

"I know... But right now, you know that guy in your cell? Principal or what do you call him? "

"Principal? What has Principal got to do with this?"

"He has a lot. He's already threatening to expose the warders if anything happens to you. I don't know how powerful that guy is until now. I don't know what he has on those warders that's making them sweat like that."

"So it was principal that wants me returned to prison?" I asked after a brief thought.

"Yes.... And the man that led your operation wants me to return you before day break.. or else I can kiss my job a good bye and I also risk a life behind bars because they plan on making me take the fall and that will mean the end of my daughter....."

I had a brief thought on that. This man has got me. I must confess. I have a thing for the less privileged.

" Okay, I have heard you and I really feel sorry about your daughter's plight.. but why don't we do it in a way that everyone will benefit? Hun?"

"How?" He asked with a confused frown.

"Okay, here's the thing. How about I give you 30million naira and you let me escape.. how about that? Every one wins. With 30million, you can treat your daughter and still have plenty enough to start a new life?"


He pondered on my words for some few moments and then he raised his face up to look at me.

"But I will be a fugitive? My daughter too will never know true freedom... I will be giving her a life she will rather die than have.... Please I appreciate your kindness but I don't want that life for my daughter... Please...." He pleaded again and that forced me to reason with him.

This one single day I spent on the run is enough to make me have an insight of the kind of life I'm proposing to this man and his daughter.

"So now I have to follow you back to prison?"

"Sadly yes..."

"Back to those straw-carrying mosquitoes?"

"Sadly yes sir..."

"Back to short rations of food?"

"Hmmm...."


"Back to......" I swallowed the remaining as those thoughts of what I'm going to face in prison erupted inside my mind. I bowed my head and begin to weigh the options again. At the end of it all, I choose to save a life.

"I will follow you...."


"Thank you... Thank you... I will forever remain....."


"Wait, but how will that help your girl?"


"Hmmmm.... about that, I'm erm... I'm hoping..... hoping you will help me on that too..... He stammered in a shy way.

"Hmmmmm...."


"I know I have no right to ask for your help but I promise to repay your kindness one day....I promise..."

"Hmmmm....you think?"

"I promise with my life that I will repay your favour one day...I swear on my daughter's life..." He said vehemently with a sincere look that made it hard for me not to believe him.

"Okay, but the true meaning of the N.P.F on your badge is not Nigeria Police Force o, you know the meaning?"


"That's the only meaning I know Me Darous....."

"Well here's my own meaning to it.... It means No Permanent Friend... So that's to say even if I do this for you, I'm not really counting on your words... I'm just doing it out of plain humanity. You know I was once in your shoes, when my son was in need of blood, and instead of doing everything possible to stay beside him, I choose to run away. That's why I feel for you. You willing to do whatever it takes to help your daughter even if it goes against your morals, oh, I give that to you...."

"Thank you so much..soooo much.... I will never forget this Mr Darous...." He was already weeping when he finished saying that. I had to pacify him and bring him back to his feet. We both got inside the Jeep and it was there that he told me of the plan that the warders have incase Lewis or Jarter decided to probe the matter.

Before we left the scene that night, I used his phone to call Jide and after talking on the phone, I asked him to transfer 25million naira to Audley Samson's account. Jide asked me if I'm still coming to his house but the phone went off before I could answer that.

And that was how I got back to prison o. Story of my life. The distance between me and total escape from prison was just a corner away, but the test of humanity showed up at that moment to deny me that opportunity.

You know, I learn to give, not because I have the money or because I'm rich, but because I know how exactly it feels to have nothing...., So you can judge me all you want but I hope you younger ones learn a thing or two from my act of kindness.

>>>>>>BACK TO PRESENT (inside the toilet of the police station)<<<<<<



T.B.C.

Whatsapp on +2348162128141.
Facebook page.@Darousmart library.

17. THE DOG ATTENDANT.[T.D.A] by Darous Emmanuel.


The sick man's eyes was filled with nothing but total rage as he exercise all his insanity strength on my neck. I was gagging for breath and my eyes were starting to roll in their house, popularly known as Sockets or in simpler unrelated electrical terms, you can call it Extension.

His hold on my neck was so strong and if not for the little resistant he was getting from my own weak hands, he would have easily break my neck with just a little tweak.

"Werey ni everybody...." The sick man resumed in his musical jam and he suddenly started playing his fingers on my neck in form of guitar strings.

"Please...ple....Mr Man....ple...."

"Keep quiet....O ti ya were...Flank say o ti ya were ( Flank says you are mad). Ole ni e, you be thief... are we mad? We dey craze ni ba?" He voiced out angrily in the Yoruba accent but I will be telling you his words in the subtitled version.

"I'm not a thief....please...." Those are the things I struggled to say to him but he just won't let my neck go.

"Ah, you don forget Wetin Flank use to say? Eh,....?," The sick man still in 90percent possession of my neck continue ranting. "God, Send incurable disease to me, send danger to my life, send disaster to my family, send hire killer to my wife, send killer herdsmen to my in-laws, send fire to my petrol station, send death to my parents , send bomb to destroy me ah...but...." His tone was low on this part. "dear God, never ever in your life and power send a thief my way. God! Don't send a thief my way!.... I hate thief.. I will kill you.. you are a thief!.....I will kill you!!!!" He released that uproar as pain gradually envelope my whole being.

"Arrxch...arrrrrrrxch....." That was me gagging for breath. I wanted to do something so bad to free myself from him but there was no strength to fight him off. But still I need to do something quickly or else I might as well start preparing my last speech.

"Ah, hmmmmmmmm" I continued whimpering and shaking.

"Pythagoras theorem is the root of all corruptional theorem ahaha Educational theorem, square root.... square branch....psychology, ahaha, weedcology, alcohology, codinehology, ahahhah, tramadology you don mad. O ti ya were.(you are mad)."

The painful and agonizing moment I was passing through did not really give me the chance to listen well to the abnormal rants of the mad man. I was just whimpering in silence.

"I will kill you..." He tightened his grip the more. "Die now...die!.. o ye ko ti ku...(you suppose to have die) All work and no play makes Flank a mad man... Ah, ! " He let out another uproar that is loud enough to draw attention to us.

"É....hhhh....eeeehhhhhhh....plleeeeaaaaaaaeeeesssseeeeeeeeess.....I'm not....ah. Am not a ....thi....ef ..." Another desperate attempt to make the sick man withdraw his grip from my neck but that seem to make him re-tighten his firm grip on my neck.

"Ole ni é.... O le ni é (you are a thief...) Ole ni e.... Ole ni e.... O maaa ku (you will die...)"

(I can't believe I survived this long only to come and end my life here.... Having survive more deadly people like, Nike, Lewis, Chioma, the robbers that invaded my house on the day Chioma came to sleep in my house when I was still living in that self-contain apartment, having survive all of Jide's revenge attempt too, not to mention all of Beatrice plan to make me pay for how I treated her at the Richton Hotel, ah, my ordeal in the hands of Beauty and Pretty, those two fat ugly applications from the devil's play store? I survived all that just to come and end it here? In the hand of this mad man?)
I was getting weaker by the minute. I remembered that the sick man had a bread in his hand when he came inside, how I wish I can just eat that bread so that I will have a little strength to fight him off.

As I was thinking that thought, another idea crept into my mind in that daring moment.
It was my boxing instinct that kicked in. I remembered one of my trainer's usual quote . "You can deliver the most damaging punch in your weakest moment. All it takes is just to find that very weak spot of your enemy."

Without wasting any more time on deliberation, I held the sick man's arm tightly with one of my weak hands and used the other to deliver a very weak punch to his stomach.

"Ahahahaha......" He rasped out with a loud laughter that can draw the attention of anyone that's within the area to us.

That must have felt like a pinprick to him as he payed no attention to what I just did and continue calling me a thief.

"Maybe he has no weak point after all... Chai I don die."

He fum hard at me, I could feel his hot raging breath on the surface of my face, he blew some foul air to my face and suddenly withdraw his grip from my neck and I couldn't help but let my body fall freely to the floor.

"Shey you will not do something now abi?" Shango said again but I paid him no attention as I was still battling with my strength.

The sick man began to pace the room frantically as if he's looking for something. I dropped to the floor at that moment as I struggle for breath.

I was so weak and tired. My stomach still aches like mad and I couldn't help but to grab it firmly to subdue the pain.
My eyes caught the sight of the bread I was talking about lying on the floor, it was just few inches away from me, but this man will just chop my head off if I try taking it.

"Ah! What do I do now?" I asked myself but before I could find an answer to that, I heard the loud sound of something like an iron being smashed against another iron. So I looked up.
Speaking of chopping a head off, I think my head is about to get chopped off. The sick man was holding a Cutlass in his right hand, he raised the Cutlass up and smiled wickedly. He began to approach me slowly.

He got to my front and dragged me up by the excess part of my rumpled garment.

I had no strength in me to do anything at that moment so all I did was just surrender myself to whatever happens next.

I had no more regrets in my life at that very moment. I have already settled with Joke and she has evidently forgave me for everything I did to her. And the ones she didn't forgive, I've paid for them already. So, I'm on a clean slate with her.

The only thing that could have made me have any regret in that short moment that the sick man was spending on arranging me to the wall like elements of the periodic table is if I had not met my child again. I'm happy I get a chance to be with him too. So, let this man just finish me off, and help me end this my life of mysery so I can eventually find peace.)

I looked at the mad man as I reached that final conclusion, he had on his face a wide grin that shows his readiness to slash my head into two with that Cutlass.

"Oh earth, I will miss you..." I said finally as I surrendered myself totally.

I closed my eyes shut for fear of seeing my own brains on the floor, the anxious expectation and trepidation of the Cutlass on my head or wherever his pilot choose to land his dangerous aeroplane on my body's airport.

"Ah, o ti ku! (You don die!)" He shouted and I could feel the breeze of the Cutlass blew past my face as he raised it up.

I was expecting it to land on my body so I subconsciously stiffened my body but just in that moment, we begin to hear voices from outside. The mad man's earlier uproar must have caused this.

"Eeeehhh?" The sick man rasped out his shock.

I opened my ears while my eyes remain shut after hearing that.
I strained my ears to ear and I was able to confirm well.

Those voices were that of those that were pursuing me earlier. Lewis crews to be precise. They were discussing on the possibility of me being inside the mud house.

I quickly got more alert and my whole being became instantly attentive to the danger and repercussions of Lewis getting me.
That would be too bad, I think.

I'd rather die in the hands of this man than give Lewis a life time satisfactory of personally getting rid of me. Tuafikwa!

Their voices were getting increasingly more louder and that meant they were fast approaching us.

"He's here!" I hear one of them shout and before I could even contemplate on what to do after opening my eyes, the sick man turned swiftly towards the entrance and strained his ears out. I watch him attentively as he gripped the Cutlass more firmer and hide himself behind the wall of the entrance.

The dark rag clothes he was putting on will make it kind of hard for anyone to notice his presence behind the wall.

Seeing the opportunity that just presents itself to me, I dropped to the floor slowly in order not to do anything that will divert the sick man's attention away from the impending Suya meats waiting outside.

I crawled discreetly to where the bread I saw earlier on the floor was lying and quickly grab it while my eyes remain focused on the mad man as he appeared to be in full concentration.


Sooner than expected, one of the Intruders poked his head in by just a two or three inches to probably check the danger inside but unfortunately for him, the mad man made sure those inches that entered felt the wrath of his Cutlass.


"Ooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!"
The other guy screamed out in total agony and there was scuffle and pandemonium. The mad man with no intention of sparing anyone, dashed out immediately and the next thing I heard were screams of retreat and surrender.

It appeared as if the mad man is chasing prepared to chase them to the last bustop.

Fear of what just happened before my own sight got hold of me momentarily but I knew the mad man just bought me a little time. So as the guy was wailing on the floor at the entrance, I crawled back to the other corner and began to devour the bread very fast not minding the foul smell emanating from it. I no get choice, man must survive first.

I was eating very fast as if my life depends on it, but literally, it does.

The Bible says man cannot survive through bread alone, but by the words of God, but I must tell you, this bread appears to be the combination of both as every bite I took gradually return a few strength to me. I finished the whole of a 150naira bread within the space of two minutes. I gave the room a cursory search to look for water to drink and lucky for me, I saw a half filled pure water satchet lying beside one of the T.V's.

The mad man must have drank the other half but I no send. I picked it up and cut another edge before gulping it all down.

I relaxed for two minutes. Then when I sensed that I can walk again, I got to my feet, I felt a little dizzy but still managed to hold on to the little strenght I had in me. I proceed to the entrance, the guy that was wailing before had somehow managed to get himself up and I could see him deep inside the bush trying to find his way out.

I shrugged and quickly get rid of my white garment, I threw it on the floor so I was now clad in my green prison vest and knickers.

It was dark and quiet outside but there was cool breeze everywhere so I set out of the mud house through another path.

Whether I like it or not, the mud house has served it's purpose in my life. It provided me shelter, food and water and even it's landlord helped me chase away my enemies. Everything we pass through in life has a purpose. A well built house and a sane landlord might not be able to provide me with everything that that mud house and its owner just did. A lesson well learnt.


****

dawno2008:
Weldone sir baba TBM
I throw salute!! Owo meji loke !!

Twale baba!!!!!

But TBM you be real agbaya ooo
So tey you still mention say some people want make you quick end the tory,make u summarize am
That part got me rolling on the floor,Kai you too sabi book
Thanks for this lovely update,may shango continue to oil your brain oh sorry your elbows or how dem dey talk am sef?
Weldone bro,beautiful work,Interesting all through,I truly appreciate your efforts.
E pain me say I don't get tag,if not na you for do alaga iduro on that day,but my son is planning to settle down soon,I hope you go show when he don make up him mind.
Mind you he's just 11yrs now

lol. You funny o. Eleven years old? Chai.... You are hmmm unbelievable

SmartestPopQUEEN:
we don't appreciate what we have until we lose it. I know that a time is coming when this Nairaland operators will look back on this space that this Story is occupying and they will desperately wish for someone to give them even half of what this wonderful man is doing here. but sadly, their wish will never come true because they have failed to recognize this gem in the name of Darous Emmanuel.

I doubt if there has ever been a story that makes readers glued to their phone as this one. like play like play, from COUNTLESS to this one, this young man has been killing it. in saner climes like where I spent my early years, this man will be swimming in fame and millions by now. But , quite unlucky to be a Nigerian with this type of exceptional talent.

T.BM there's nothing more I can say about yhu that others haven't said yet. so, I want to seize this medium to tell yhu how lucky I am to have known yhu in this world. Yhu are a blessing my dear. yhu will never lack any good thing in life.

oh my... On a night when things were somehow not rozy...., this comment just elevated my mood... Thanks ma'am. Your HERO inspired part of this work ma. So I should be the one to feel lucky, not the other way round. How is our little girl? She suppose don reach 3years now na? Lol...

cenaman:
Nigerians why are we like this? do good complain. if there was no update now u will be shouting TheBlessedMan come and update, now u see update u are still complaining.

thank you sir

Slyvesterjosh:
Bro, try update like two more na. �

ok sir..... I'll try

kaysmart4real:
This one u drop update just few days to each other. I hope its not that you are going ön strike till 2023 General Election sha?

not cool bro... Not cool

CONTINUATION of T.D.A 16.


The wind was blowing high to signal for us that it will soon rain heavily.

Joke made sure I exhausted my curiosity before she decided to talk.
"This pregnancy belongs to you..."

I scoffed. "Me? That's the funniest joke I ever heard all my life...."

"You don't have to believe me, but I Sha know that you can't forget all our sexual romps,...."

"Hmmmm..." That was all I could say to that.

"Now that I have cleared that part" She squeezed her lips and waited a few seconds to continue. "you have two options now..."

"It has come to that now eh? You giving me ...."

"You give me no choice, I can't believe you can be this heartless to me even after telling you that I'm carrying your child..."

"I'm not heartless, Joke," I cut in abruptly but with a less harsh tone. "I'm just tired of letting my happiness depend on someone else... That's it..."

"You know one thing Darous....?"

"What?" I asked frankly.

"I think this is your true colors...that type of you that made me think you are worth loving did not really exist...and this realization now is hurting me. I have done a lot of stupid things in my life, things like living a fake crippled life for some years, and all sorts. But this last one I did was enough to earn me a noble price in stupidity...." She released a sigh as I listened on. "I fell for someone who never truly existed."

I scoffed out the pain of hearing that. I tried to conceal my feelings with another smile but she saw through it.

"I..." I stammered out my attempt to reply her.

"Just let me finish!" She shouted and it was my turn to listen. " Say whatever you like, but listen carefully Darous, listen to me well, If you take another step away from me by refusing to let me follow you, just know that you've lost me forever....." She paused to sniff again as my brain began a faster processing of her words. "I will let Lewis be the father of this child (she pointed to her stomach) and I will make sure every traces of your existence is erased from Chris's memory too. You will never hear him call you a father just like he never get the chance to know his real mother too...."

"You won't dare do that..." I threaten her with a pained tone.

She first of all balanced her stand before she talked back. " Then I dare you take another step away from me... Darous, call my bluff and take another step.....when you start a fire, be ready to deal with the flames...."

I bit my lips hard as tension started to develop in my body. I wanted to regret pushing her to the edge. I wanted to wish I had not push her to this particular edge.

"Just another step away Darous, I'm waiting..."

"You can't do that... The Joke I know won't do that....."

She scoffed too. "Not only you has changed. Not only you is affected by the calamity that befell us..., You have the choice now, walk away now and forget about me, or let me go with you so we can enter this storm together like a couple that we are destined to be... it's as simple as that..." She emphasized on the last words.

Her words hit me hard. I quickly begin to process her words in my brain to see if she might be saying the truth after all. I've been betrayed too much and my mind is having a hard time differentiating between lies and truth.

"Darous, walk away now, this b1tch is giving you the chance to be happy without her... take it...' I'm sure you already know where that voice came from. I don't even know where that voice has been coming from. It's very unfamiliar. Maybe Shango is the one trying to get me back to his side by calling me with a private number. No time to deliberate on that now, some people are already very eager for this my story to end quickly. They don't care if I even have to summarize it, but remember what Doris use to say? "patience they say is a great virtue".


I was still battling with those nagging thoughts of whether to leave her or take her with me when we suddenly hear someone calling her name from the other side of the bush.

"Joke!" We both heard that sound from a not too far distance away from us. I instantly recognize that voice. It belongs to Lewis. I was startled to hear that. Panick struck my heart again. Joke too wore a very disturbing look on her face as she turned around to strain her eyes in an attempt to see where the owner of the voice is calling from. She took a few steps away from me in a frantic attempt to discover the caller of her name but the arrival of the night wasn't helping matters at all.

"Joke!..."

Lewis voice roared again and multiple flashlights followed immediately. That's an evidence that he's not alone.

"Joke!" He continue to shout and I started looking for means to escape.

The night has finally arrived and the moon is kind of late. It will be hard to spot us in that bush but my white garment will create a mod version for who ever wants to play the game of finding us. In simpler un-gaming terms, the white garment I was putting on since morning will make it easy for Lewis and his cohorts to spot us.

'you see, I told you, she has been tricking you all along. She was delaying you for them and you fell for it idiot...ah, you will never learn.'

(I bit my lips very hard and tightened my fist as that strange voice finished talking to me. The feeling of being betrayed again overwhelmed my body and anger took over. No! I've had enough of all these unkind betrayals. Unlike last time when I took my frustration out on Chioma with that stray bullet, I now have the chance to take it out on Joke herself. If I'm going to go down, I'll make sure she doesn't live to tell the tale. It all ends tonight. ) Her Delilah should not have the chance to visit my Samson's grave. No! Her Judas has to die with my Jesus this night. The Titanic of our relationship has been hit with an iceberg of betrayal after that record breaking start off the shore and the story can only be counted as being worthy enough to embrace the walls of History if we both sink together with the Titanic.

I took a step out in an attempt to carry out my rage-sponsored thoughts and to catch Joke unawares but as I was attempting to take the final step that will get me to her, she turned around and what I saw in her face, plus the thing she said to me afterwards changed everything.

"You are still here? Please go now! You can't go back to prison Darous.... Please leave now!" She was almost shouting when she said that but her tone was appealing.

I didn't flinch in my stand as I keep looking into her eyes in that darkness. The moon has resumed to it's eternal duty and it came with a battery full. So I was now able to see into her eyes clearly. I saw nothing but total concern in it. I saw someone named Sincerity waving at me from the right corner of her right eye, while, Affection was smiling at me from the left corner of the same right eye. Another quick glance at her other eye, I could see Care gesturing at me to run away now and before I removed my eyes totally, I caught a fast glimpse of the image of the mother of everyone living in her body, (Madam Love) the mother of them all telling me to be safe as I decided to heed her children's warnings. 'I'll be safe Madam Love...' I replied mentally and instinctively gave Joke a quick kiss with a whisper, "I'm sorry I doubted you. I will find a way to contact you soon but if I don't , I will make sure that I go to your mother's grave yard on every occasion of your birthday... May we meet again...." I was already in tears by the time I finished saying that.

She didn't utter a single word as I gave her a final stare before turning around swiftly and begin to head in the direction of my fence.

***


The night was fully here, and if not for the moon that was doing promo on that night, my pixels wouldn't have been able to lead me out of that jungle unscathed.

I got to the other side of the street that aligned with my house and found it quiet and deserted like the jungle I just left.

Without wasting time again, I begin to head in the direction of the car I brought to the place in the morning. I was almost there when I remembered that call that Lewis had with Joke when he was still holding me and Chris inside the guest house. That part where the police told him that they found an abandoned car in the street I'm presently heading to.

Worry gripped my heart momentarily as I remembered that. There's no way I can get out of this place easily if I don't use that car.

With hope and wishful thoughts, I continue in my tracks and I got to the place where I previously parked the car only to found it there exactly the way I'd parked it.

I was extremely happy when my eyes collided with it.

Without wasting time again, I continued towards it but as I was just a few meters to it, I suddenly decide to be very cautious. Then I quickly think of something to do just incase a danger is lurking around.

Instead of approaching the car directly, I took another route,.

Just think of the road like, a 'c' road and the inside of the 'c' as the place where the tree I parked the car beside was located. So I embarked on the circumference of the 'c' and just as I was about to reach the end point, I noticed the sign of someone inside the car.

"That's it, something is going on. Thank the heavens I'm smart this time around. It will take a raining day in hell for Lewis and his guys to get me." I muffled to myself and decided to find another means to escape from ibadan and to get to my destination which is supposed to be Jide's house.

I picked up pace slowly in order not to attract attention to myself and begin to head in the other direction as every available topics on survivability dominated the front page of my troubled mind.

"Stop there!" I was jolted back to my situation by that thick voice that came from the car area.

"For where?" I didn't wait for another one of such commands to come before switching to my Usain Bolt mode and begin to run frantically like a mad man towards the only available route that made the 'c' route to form a small letter 'd'. You can relate I guess. Unfortunately for me, multiple flash lights followed my every step.

The effects of running for more than 6 minutes with nothing more than a Mango-filled stomach wasted no time in affecting my strength. I have already created some distance between myself and those that are after me. The new area I was in appeared to be a new site. I mean an underdeveloped area in the city of Ibadan. I'm not familiar with the area but when you are in a situation of life and death like the one I'm presently in, all you have to do is to be ready to do anything to survive and your brain will handle the rest for you.

I have ran past some few mud houses and I haven't seen another house yet.

I stopped abruptly when I felt a sharp Ulcer-lic pain in my stomach. The road was empty and silent. The only light in the area is the one coming from the moon and it's night crews known as Stars.

The distance I created between us is enough to earn me enough time to get out of the place uncaught but my present situation is not going to make me utilize that chance to the fullest.

"Darous, what do you do now?" I asked myself in a panick mode.

'Come on, find somewhere to hide first, and once your pursuers are gone, you can easily get out. You can't continue like this....' That strange voice with private number communed to me again. I sense a deep concern and worry in those words. Something I haven't noticed before.

"Shango, is that you?" I asked out loud as I begin to look for where to hide myself in that deserted street.

"Can't believe it took you this long to recognize my voice..." He replied.

I got to the Y-junction and was very relieved when I saw another mud house that was located behind a thick bush that span across the length of the area. I had to strain my eyes hard to the ground so I can find my way to the house.

"That way!" I heard that from those that are pursuing me. "Na that way he pass, check out those foot marks" That followed the first statement and soon after, I begin to hear their foot steps coming in my direction.

'Hurry up!' Shango's voice echoed again in my brain and that swung me into full action

Without wasting time, I plunged into the thick bush and begin to dash fast towards the mud house with the hope that I don't encounter any form of difficulty.

I got to the mud house and entered through the door space. I stopped at the entrance and poked my head out to see if I was being followed but all I could see from afar were the confused flashlights of the people looking for me. After some seconds, I heaved a deep sigh of relief when I saw those lights going in another direction.

I rested my head on the wall to catch my fainting breath and that gave me the opportunity to survey the room well.
The moon's light was shining into the room through the open doorway and that made it kind of easy to see my surroundings. It was a one room house. A lot of rag clothes were lying on the floor and the smell emanating from the room was very bad. I had to use my garment to cover my nose. Apart from the rags, there were arrays of rusted irons and mud pots in the dirty room. Lots of newspaper dominated the possession of the ground and there was a very old mat on one corner of the bare floor. Some loafs of bread were scattered on the floor too. Two TV's with broken screen were also sitting on the floor and a rope was connected to both TV. Still in a confused mode, I followed the rope back to its source and I couldn't help but smile when I saw it tied to a large empty tray hanged close to the door way. In some twisted sense of humor, that tray is supposed to serve as a DStv dish for those blind TV's.


surveyed the room again and everything I saw in there pointed to the fact that someone is living in that house and that begs for this question? Who in his or her right senses will be living in that type of horrible condition.?

"But that is not really your concern right now, you should be lucky the person is kind enough to live the entrance open for your prodigal arse..." Shango muttered to me again.

"Coming from a prodigal father, I take no offense in that...." I replied and Shango couldn't help but gasp at that.

Having surveyed the room carefully, I poked my head outside again to see if I'm still safe but as I was about to heave another sigh of relief, I suddenly noticed someone in a male structure coming towards the house from the right side of the bush.

He was humming something that sounds like a song as he approach the house.

Panick, again struck my heart like a lightening. The person was approaching very fast but there was no sign of flashlight from him.

I managed to look out again to see him clearly and that was when I got the answer to the question I asked earlier.

No one in his right senses will be living in that type of room.

As he gets nearer, his tone and voice became more clearer. This is what he was singing. "....Yahoo ni babalawo, werey ni everybody...(An herbalist is a Yahoo, everybody is a lunatic)" He was singing with full enthusiasm in that Nairamaley's soapy song. "Eni ile ba mo ba ni bugije....(anyone caught is a chronic mad man)." Etc.

I was kind of caught in trying to find the meanings of his lyrics and that ultimately hindered me from devising a proper plan on how to handle him until he entered the house and our eyes met.

"Shango, what should I do now?" I asked with a terrified voice when the sick man's dark and scary eyes collided with mine as I grabbed the wall tightly for my dear life.

"Just prepare yourself for a mad man's Xenophobia..." That was what Shango said to me before the sick man grabbed me by the neck. The same neck that Lewis had hit earlier with a pestle.

When will Trouble stop dancing Soapy with me?

T.B.C

Darousmart library on Fb. Darous_emmanuel on Twitter.
+2348162128141 on WhatsApp. And you can also call me for your building works( I mean bricklaying works). My charges are normal. A trial will convince you.

odyx:
Guy thanks for the update, i understand the input both in thinking and time to put up a story, instead of keeping ur readers waiting, you can reduce narrative part and go straight to the story, make it more brief , and conclude so that u can face ur other activities and ur readers also move on. Too much delay , short update , and so much unnecessary part make it hard for all. Well done and do the needful

you really want me to be blunt and straight forward? Wow.... I'm at your service sir. I will do that from next update. No one wants to get this done quicker than me. Summary it is then. Thanks for this