Shadow War

by Chuks Gerry

  So what happens now? Aliyu voice jolted him,’ the sun will be up in about two hours.

  He ignored him cradling the child some more before handing her over to Mariam.

  You’re coming with me, the rest of you are free to go.

  That can’t be, we are all leaving together,’ Nneka snapped.

  This is not up for talks, it is a command.

  But you can come with us, start a new life with your kid,’ Aliyu tried reasoning.

  And let the authorithies hunt and destroy us, no way. They don’t deal with traitors lightly especially when it is tagged along with travesty. No I won’t allow it, you’re coming with us, when they see you they will believe whatever plausible explanation I give on what transpired here tonight besides I need a ruse to bring my latent intention to actualisation,’ he said bringing out his gun, his two men follow suit. Say goodbye to your friends, hopefully if Allah permits we will all meet again.

  In short of words and ideas, Aliyu did as was told seeing they were better armed and meant business. He hugged Nneka, kissed her goodbye as she clinged to him crying. She begged Rabiu some more on his behalf hoping she would changed his mind, before retracting back to him in tears.

  Don’t leave me, please talk to him some more and get him to change his mind,’ she pleaded. Don’t leave me with this child alone in this world, I love you. His heart skipped several beats upon hearing those words.

  What was that you said?

  I said I love you,’ she reiterated,’ please stay with me.

  I wish I could but this is beyond me, nonetheless I promise to return and be there for both of you forever,’ he said kissing her lightly on the forehead, bading goodbye to the rest of them. When he got to Mariam he embraced her tightly, squeezing a neatly folded piece of paper into her palm in the process whispering into her ears. It was a rough sketch of the entire perimeter of the camp and its caveat. He instructed her to hand it over to the military, a pivotal piece of immense information. Rabiu gave instructions to his men to bind him firmly after he was through saying farewell.

  Sometimes a great plan requires bait to suceed and you’re my bait,’ he hushed to Aliyu as they trod the grasslands back to base.

  Mariam put her arms around Nneka as they all consoled themselves.Soon they continued on the path towards the tarred road whom Aliyu’d said isn’t that faroff. Hopefully upon reaching there they will be able to hitch a ride to the hospital then afterwards to a police station. Several meters ahead they saw numerous headlights, people and machineries everywhere. Mariam ducked, commanding everyone to follow suit observing the scenarios ahead of them, the massive military presence depicts a scene from a war movie. She told them to lay low until she give the signal to come forth while she went ahead herself. She thought it best for all of them not to surface together just in case they were impostors but gratefully solace was it atlast.

  There was a creaking sound with approaching footsteps; it was the first time anyone will come in contact with him in almost forty eight hours since his incanceration. He was bound hands and feet, eyes blindfolded, mouth gagged and tossed into one of those shanty den crawling with large rodents and other creaping creatures. Asides from the numerous insects’ bites, he was also denied food and water and left for dead that it was a miracle he was still alive in such caustic circumstance. He remained still with ears alert, listening to the voices discussing about him wondering if he was dead, with one of them placing a hand on him to feel his temple. Another splashed an unexpected bucket of water on him and as expected his reaction was spontaneous. He shrilled; rolling over as two pair of firm hands gripped and dragged him to his feet with one of them ordered to carry him. Though his eyes remained tied, he acknowledges they weren’t more than three people base on their voices.

  Where’re you guys taking me, please just kill me already,’ he said feebly.

  Offcourse we’ll, but only after your encounter with the authorithy. They will decide when,’Rabiu replied dryly, searching him thoroughly to make sure there weren’t any hidden weapons on him before proceeding to the administrative quarters. They dropped him on the floor untying him and removing his shirt, leaving only his trousers on and asked to stand on his feet to face the authorithies who were to pass judgement. The blistering rays of sunlight showed no mercy on his pupils immediately the clothing used to tie his eyes was ripped off. He closed his eyes tightly using both palm to shed off further interference while struggling to adjust his gaze. Gradually his sight got accustomed to illuimination again after almost forty eight hours of being blindfolded.

  On the raised terrace of the administrative block of the quaint bungalow were Talib-Aziz and two other men who he suspected were highly placed clerics from the look of their appearance. They were closely sitted together engrossed in serious talks barely acknowledging his presence. Through out his time here, he could count the number of times he had been to this area which was very few and intersperse, but never granted the priviledge of stepping inside the building.

  Occasionally scuttling their long beards they pondered on the large pieces of papers spread out on the table in front of them through their tiny bespectacled. He soon spotted Kazeem coming out from behind one of the adjoining buildings with a retinue of his men, taking brisk steps toward him.

  So you’re the piece of trash that’d the guts to subvert our authorithy,’ Kazeem barked between clenched fist and grithed teeth. He wore only a black pant which was folded almost to his knees, shirtless revealing a sinewy dark muscular frame devoid of fat, glistening under the intense pressure of sunlight and heat. From the manner he dripped sweat; it was apparent he was in the middle of his daily workout when he was impromptu summoned to deal with his situation.

  An opportunity had never presented itself for him to be in proximity with such a man who obviously is one of the most wanted and deadliest men in the country and world at large. A man who’ve murder so many lives and caused untold pain and surfferings to multitudes, a man whom the country had placed a bounty upon his head, a man who was monumental in the destruction of his family and aspiration. He pondered within himself how gratified he’d be if this man met his death in his hands, how he would die the happiest men therafter he thought returning a blank to Kazeem who was still bellowing.

  ———-imagine such brazenness. You had the impetus to kill my men, steal from me and masterminded an escape plan from this facility, a feat I believe no sane person has ever attempted or try attempting since the inception of this brotherhood,’ he spoke walking round him, his eyes begetting fire though he maintained a calm demure outwardness.

  Your little foolhardy treasonable act almost ruined the occasion at hand, raised dissension within the confraternity, making a travesty of its existence one I won’t allow slide by quietly. You will be made a public scapegoat of as a deterent to others and to let everyone know how will deal with traitors. Do you have anything to say before I pass my judgement?

  Giving him a faint weary look for over a minute, he braced himself and spulttered his reply,

  Fucking assholes your end is nigh. Even if I die, I’ll die happy knowing my little effort contributed to your downfall ass———,’ he felt a rocky punch landing on his jaw blanking him out on the impact. For several minutes he’d thought he died but was dragged back to reality when several pairs of hand pulled him back on his feet. Blood oozes from his mouth and nose, he couldn’t bring himself to open his eyes properly.

  You blasphemous little creep, no one can conquer us, we are invincible,’ he yelled thunderously, his fiery eyes splurting out smoke and Aliyu knew he had hit a cord.

  It’s only a pity you won’t be alive to withness the viccisitude that is imminent because your sorry ass will be fried in hot oil and buried alive in the fields by four pm. Get this infidel out of my sight.

  As he was being dragged away back to his cell, he felt something turgid in his pocket. Sliding his hands inside it he came in contact with a sharp edge. He was puzzled as to how it came about or
be there and immediately felt incensed by it. With lightening speed that even amazed him, he twisted himself, wringling away from their grip, swerved around heading towards Kazeem who was backing him, dagger in fist. Then a gunshot was fired, Kazeem turned around swiftly feeling the impact of the blade just grazed his shoulder. He flinched, stepping away quickly, stunned. His face engulfed in fear then rage seeing as blood oozed from his injury. Looking ahead, he saw Sanni’s protégé Hassan holding a gun, he aknowledged him with a nod for saving his life before going off on Aliyu on the floor pummeling him with all his might until he was no longer responsive, only pausing when some of his men ran to him to inform him the valley was under attack.

  Rapid explosions were heard from afar, Kazeem jumped to his feet issuing out flurries of instructions to his men in quick succession. He went over to Talib-aziz and his associates who were now very curious to know what the ruckus was about. After relating the news to them much to their bewilderment, he issued further instructions to his men, directive from Talib-aziz himself to prepare the chopper for departure. Couples of minutes later, Talib-Aziz and his associates were hurriedly escorted into the waiting chopper, bringing up the rear was Kazeem who kept relaying orders to his men amidst deafening noise of the chopper blade. His final instruction to them was to chase out the infidels while he attends to a business meeting in the Far East, promising to be back in a couple of days. He stretched forth his hands and took his briefcase from Rabiu, flinching at the sheer weight of it before hopping onboard. He smirked bading them farewell and just as the chopper started to rise, his gaze settled on Rabiu one final time and for a split second he thought he saw something in his expressions he can’t place.

  In the heat of the intense battle that ensued, a pair of hands yanked Aliyu semi lifeless body on the floor taking it to safety away from running feets, stray bullets and explosives. Two hours later Histar valley stronghold and administrative force of Al-sahad sect crumbled to the ambushing might of the federal forces. Military choppers hovers the airspace, ground troops tranverse the terrains searching and making arrest. It was a sweet victory.

  Swiftly and surely information flies, it was the breaking news on almost all channels, radio station and media outlet that the deadly terrorist sect Al-sahad had suffered a major defeat thanks to relevant information provided in timely fashion to the military. The president personally gave a heartfelt congratulatory message for a job welldone to the military as they continue in their mission to flush out insurgency. It was indeed a great day for the entire nation and for one special family a day to be thankful.

  Nneka thanked the nurse graciously as she puts on her blouse; the nurse arranged her stethoscope and other apparatus in place before leaving the ward siliently shutting the door. No sooner had she place her head back on the pillow she heard a creaking sound, her mother’s head ducked inside making sure all was decent before sauntering inside beaming from ear to ear with a smile she always had on anytime she was up to mischief.

  Goodmorning ma,’ she said wearily sitting back up. Tomorrow I’ll be good to go by God’s grace.

  Amen o,’ her mother replied elatedly raising both hand in praise to God.

  Tell me what’s the surprise you’ve got planned?

  Surprise, which surprise? She retorted feigning ignorance.

  Mom I know you, anytime you’ve got that look something is up. So please cut to the chase,’ she said feebly.

  You and your smartass,’ Mrs Nwankwo sigh clapping her hands together. The door flunged open and Amara waltz in holding a bundle of balloons and roses. Behind her was Amina bearing a beautiful buttery pink cake followed by Val and Eugene holding bottles of grape wine and can drinks.

  What’s all this? She asked puzzled

  Today is your birthday, remember? Or do you think I would forget? Her mother replied with a wink.

  Oh I’d actually forgot, thanks mom.

  Sit upright and cut your cake,’ her mom gestured helping her position properly. The cake was set infront of her afterwhich they went on to sing a birthday song in her honour.

  Make a wish quickly before the candles burn out,’ quipped Amara excitedly.

  Now hold it everyone, do you guys imagine I’d miss this for anything in the world,’ a familiar voice uttered from outside.

  Mariam emerged into the room looking smart in her full army regalia in the company of some of her colleagues. Nneka screamed excitedly so happy to see her. They hugged tightly, tears gushed into her eyes as they embrace.

  Someone else wishes to say happy birthday to you too,’ Mariam said stepping back to carry a plumpy beautiful bright eyed Aseba.

  Oh she’s so beautiful,’ Nneka exclaimed stretching forth her hands to behold her.

  Yes she’s,’ Mariam concurred.

  And she has added some weight too or is it just my imagination,’ she said as she struggled to steady the boisterious child in her arms.

  Mariam nodded.

  Have you heard anything concerning her dad and Aliyu since after the fall of Histar valley?

  You know I’m not mandated to speak on issues as such but what the heck? Both men are fine and under the custody of the military that is all you need to know, classified information. I’ve dropped my statement with my commanding officer who has assured me repeatedly they are safe.

  Her comments made a joyful impact to all listening. Today is indeed a happy day and she gladly closed her eyes to make her wish. A wish is when you desire something you don’t have but what happens when all your heart desires have been met? You give thanks and so she did with the others following suit.

  Whilst they sang and made merriment, a radio at a receptionist office closeby reported of the remains of a helicopter discovered in a small town located outskirt the Chadian basin. The remains of its occupants are yet unknown as investigation is currently ongoing.