by A. Achaka
“I think you already know, these was for you, because your daughter warned you and you failed to listen, I don’t know why but you have your reasons, what I will do for you is I’ll make sure nothing happens to her and she will get back to your house in one piece”
The Honourable was just looking at him with no word, he looked dead already, just like a leaving corpse standing there, he looked at his daughter who was still cry, when their eyes met she jump up and came running into her daddy’s arm and then to her mom.
One of the mask man came to the boss,
“Why will you allow such a thing” he shouted
“get back to your position, its none of your business” they stood for a minute eyeing each other in the eye ball, until another came and break it off. His thought quickly went to the conversation he had with little Erica ‘One of your men will kill you’
He watched her say the goodbyes, he called her and lead her away, her parent were crying as they watch their daughter get into a car and zoomed off, they kept on looking at the tail end, trying to locate their other daughter but she was nowhere to be found.
Immediately the car went out of sight, the second in command chanted a song and the others joined. He was the first to shoot the fifth person on the line and the others gladly took charge in shooting too, they would play with some before shooting them, they made a man run naked up and down before they shot him too.
When it came to the honourable and his wife, they were given gun to shoot themselves but they refused so they were shot in each other’s arms. The masked man who was going up and down before, came up to the right hand side tonting the people before it will get to their turn but inturn he realised that two people were missing, because he was particular about the beautiful girl, hopping he would get a turn before doing the final job. Quickly he raised an alarm.
“They have escaped” he shouted
“Who have escaped?”
“A boy and the fine girl here, they were here, hay you, were are they?” He asked the last man there.
“I don’t know, I turned and didn’t see them” The fear could not let him speak, properly, in fact he pee in his body, they looked at him and started laughing. The second in command called three of his men and send them into the forest with a word “No one should be alive, understood?” they chanted and in no time disappeared into the forest.
****
The Military men at the check point, were still restless at the whole situation, the people are still in their groups talking about the laxity and incompetent of the countries security. They don’t even care, if the military men were listening to them, in fact they wanted them to hear.
The sergeant in charge was restless, he overheard them talking about their incompetence, he really can’t wait to prove them wrong. His hand was on the dispatch radio waiting to hear a news or siren from the coming back up.
It was in the mist of all this noises, that they heard a car screeching in speed coming towards their direction; it was coming from the robbery direction, which every one was anticipating to hear a feed back. The speeding gave every body a charge and in no time everybody fly into the bush, both the Military and the civilians.
The car saw a clear road and zoom passed, it was then everyone came out, they people burst out into laughter, they were actually laughing at the Military men, at their post, they never had any idea why they would join them and flee, the Sergeant quickly alarmed the stations about a speeding car, that zoom pass them now, he was a bit angry at his command to them, he was really short of words. Truly they have not enought ammunition, to engage in an open battle with the robberes, what if their rounds finished them what?.
In a short while, the backup were heard approaching, the people were still complaining, some went ahead saying that the arm robber have bribed them, that is why it took them so long to arrive. The backup came in two trucks full and a homm V. The trucks and the hum V came to a halt at the check point, the men, twenty five in number came down all prepared for the epic battle with the robbers.
A Lieutenant incharage of the troops, climb down of the hum v, he was heavily built, with a thick mustach and a husky voice to crown it all, without hesitation he approached the sergeant at the station and was saluted.
“What is the situation here sergent?” the Lieutenant asked
“We were asked to wait for back up, but here is a driver whop had escaped the incident” He went over to the man, he was sitting on a chair bearly looking up.
“Ok listen up” the Lieutenant spoke up “We have no clue who they are and what they have but i believe we are in ahead of them, you know why? They don’t know what we have as well” HE pause a minute looking at his boys “I want us to go in there and get ourselves some criminals” the Men cheered and got back into the truck and drove further towards the incident.
A mile away they came to a stop, and climb down, the Lieutnant was certain about his graphs and maps for the plan,. Through the snipers lence he watched the brutal incident happening in the robbers side, they had a man run around naked, danced and shoot him dead, incpite of that there was too many people on the raod and bollod spilled all over.
“Jesus” he shouted “these people are animal, get ready and move, you already know the drill, keep in contact, move it”
With that command, they move out in five groups, while the Lieutenant and two men were left behind. The first two groups went throught the right forest, the second two went through the left and spread out, the fifth group remain just by the first tress and move ahead been covered by the trees. The lieutenant kept in contact with the station, reporting what they saw at sight and assured it will be in control at the end of the day. The whole event got him thinking, ‘what do they want that required killing innocent lives’
CHAPTER SIX
Far into the forest I and the girl were exhausted running, we never knew how big the forest was, i kept at it and she followed with the sound of gunshot from a distance. I didn’t encourage a stop least, we were been followed because i was certainly sure, that by now they would have discovered that we are missing and probably send some men after us.
One time I felt only my footstep when i was running, i turned around but didn’t see her, i ran back a little and saw her struggling to get to her feet. ‘what have i don’t to myself, she would slow me down’ the thought came in my head, when i got there, I supported her up and held her hand and we continued.
She was still slowing me down, clearly she was this rich men children, whod don’t know the need to do anything at all. I thought of a thousand ways to ditch her but couldn’t come to a conclusion.
The next time she brused her feet and fell again, when i helped her up, she was limping and that would be the end for both of us, if i don’t do anything. I looked at her and myself we weren’t much of a difference in size, who would really carry the other, then came a distance shout and i lift her to my shoulder and started further moving, ‘God she is too heavy’ i said i my mind, but who am i to stop, already the mistake had been done.
I tried running with her but that would wear me out, and i would prefer one dead than the both of us, so i kept on the pace i have put on, but prying for a miracle to get away from the whole thing. Further ahead i saw a tent in the middle of the forest, i paused a bit and scan around but saw no soul, then i advance further and put her down on a box, to sit while i went about to get somethings, that would help us on our way out of the forest.
She was very frightened, i could taste her fear, and she had no idea that I was too, I have never been in any scout, or paramilitary or had any technique, of survival in the forest but I do know, I had to get somethings to survive in the jungle.
“Please come back, lets go” she couldn’t keep her mouth shut for a minute, but guess what me too, i was silently whispering a prayer, hoping it wasn’t a trap we just walked into.
I hurridly into the tent, the first thing i saw was ammunitions and money freely lying on the ground, I quickly saw the arm ro
bbers written all over the tent, this must be were they camped and make all the arrangement. I was confused at what to do, while outside i was been distrated by her voice. I quickly look around for something to help us, by one corner I saw a litter bottle of water, which I quickly rushed and took it, i took out of it and felt a little refresh, i further looked around and there i saw a bagpack too on the floor, I rushed and open it and in it was stash of money to the brim. I half emptied the bag to the floor, then inserted the water bottle and a loaf of bread too and head back to the girl.
Outside the girl was frightened that she could not seat any more, when she saw me, there is this joy i saw but she just sighed, to tell me of her annoyance, I gave her a drink of the water and soon we were up and going further into the forest.
Deep in our walk, I really feel irritated on her character, she was the children we call ‘Ajebotter’ the rich men children, who do nothing like chores or what have you. I in the other hand is no different but I know what it means to walk with my legs, she complains of her feet getting hurt
“But you know we can’t stop, these people will be looking for us right now, so we have to continue”
“I am tired” she said
“Really, maybe you should have stayed back, to die like the others”
“God for bide” she mentioned
“Oh! what do you think, we are doing here, if God did not forbade our dying, I don’t have any more strength to carry you”
“Who said, you should carry me” she said
“It is written all over your face, please walks like a human being, else we will be some ones meat and I don’t intend to be”
She was as angry as I was, because I was being pushy and she was being lazy. Defiantly I know that those men will be out there somewhere, looking for us. We got to place where the complaining was very much unbearable for me. “seat down here miss, am tired of your wineing” deep down my heart is battered, I wish I would have not taken her along but what do I expect when a sorry eyes, were looking down at mine, actually I thought I could handle it, but now I begin to regret the gesture I have given.
When we had rested a bit we set off again, barely talking to each other but at a time we both caught ourselves staring at each other, the walk seems unending, that I began to wander ‘what type of a forest is this, does it have an end or are we walking into another country.
The silent treatment was cut short, by a shout and jump to my body, she hugged me tight, almost sending me to the ground, i got steadied and noticed it was a big rat by the side eating its food, i couldn’t hide the laughter, “this is hilarious” i said, “so you are this scared”
“its not funny” she said
I held her head and showed her what she was afraid of, running the other way and continue laughing at that point, we almost forgot that we were escaping from some terrorist or hired assassins, when from a distance I heard echos and munching of grasses been stepped on. I think her shouting must have led them to our very direction.
“I think they are coming” I said, she clinched to me, while my eyes were searching an easy way because there is no way, we will out run those people. Just by the side, I saw a Mango tree which will be more easier to climb and its leafs are full to hide us from being spotted
“lets get on that tree” I told her, but when we got there, she could not climb.
I tried pushing her up but to no avail, my mind is growing from bad to worse, there is no way am leaving her down there, all effort could not work. I was still trying to locate a better view, even as the foot steps are fast gaining at us. Then she tapped me and showed me some grass, which had grow not far from the mango tree, actually I thought it was a miracle because it was not there when I first saw the tree or I over looked it. Funny enough she was the only one fit to hide in it, because the two of us will get their attention.
She hide fit in it, while I climbed on the tree, I was seriously praying she should not make any sound to get her self caught. Immediately I opened my eyes, I saw one of the masked man standing closer to the grass. My heart beat increased that my feet hit a little dry branch and it fell, the man turned toward my direction and came under the tree looked hard but couldn’t see anything, I was still looking at him, he cock his gun and fired into the tree, I felt my arm seriously viberating on its own and my eyes running like a tap, i almost let out the pain i felt but then a monkey fell to the ground, the man laughed took the monkey and went back the direction he came from.
When he left, I let out a little sigh with the pain in my arm. I look at it, it was bleeding, the bullet had brushed my arm, ‘so this how, it feels’ i think to myself while the hand dance the more, the baddest was i couldn’t cry least i want to taste the real shot inside of me. Trying to get adjusted on the tree, I saw another mask man close to the bush again, I wander what always get their attention there, may be it was her perfume.
I saw him reach into the grass and brought out the girl, who was now in fear, he looked around and told her to keep quiet or else he would kill her, he then pushed her to the ground and start to unhook his belt, my arm still hurt but I had to do something, I waited for his pants down his knees, where he wouldn’t get the chance to move fast, then I slowly drop down from the tree. I reach for a strong log of wood lying on the ground, when he finally laid on her trying to rip her cloths; I waste the log on his head.
Without much sound, he wasn’t moving but I didn’t stop until I saw blood coming out of his head. I rolled him over and got her to her feet, she was crying but when she realise it was me, she throw a hug to me tightly
“quickly lets go” I told her “if they didn’t see him in a bit, they will come looking for him” about to move, i turn and pick up his gun. It was an AK 47 rifle, I knew it very well, because I watch a lot of movies, without further description i held her hand and we run further into the forest.
in lest than thirty running steps, we heard the sound of gunshot, “I think they have found him” i said, It then downed on me, that i have just killed a man even though it was to save another, but I would still be classified as a killer, that moment my pace was slowing a bit at the thought of that, I think she knew what I was feeling.
“Its not your fault, you did it to protect me” I only smiled at her words, but my mind knows that it will be my personal nightmare from that day onward, because my mind is very light, taking into record mostly things that are bad, which I have seen or done, but to escape it, it will really take a very long time to get over it, i could remember in high school, my whole set went for excursion in another state, and during the swimming time, i pushed a boy into the water, i thought he knew how to swim but he was drowning when they saved him. I had to dream about that incident for months before it gets off, now this oh God, i will need a good deliverance before it gets off.
“What happened to your arm?” when she saw the blood there, “wait it could be infected” she reach into her pocket and brought out handkerchief and tied it, it was really painful but I had to hide the pain, for the purpose of our escape since I could not shout when the bullet brushed my arm.
Now I felt like a hero in a movie, rescuing a girl which is not my relation, so we always feel, when we watch the damn story.
At that time the sun had risen over head, and we were highly dehydrated, and totally forgotten i had bottle of water in the bag, I reach for it and we both had a sip of it and continue on our journey.
We completely lost track of time as we move deeper into it, no sign of anything, not even a farm land, it was just pure forest trees and other trees around. I was ahead and she was behind me, I totally forgot she was a girl and was moving like a soldier, I guess the gun I held brought me a lot of courage. I pushed harder and soon felt, i was the only one walking, I turned and saw her seating on an anthill, that position got me weak and I agree to give it a rest also.
When I was about siting down, I noticed saw a snake crawling closer to her leg, I knew she would shout or even get bitten by it if I eventually let he
r know about, then I went to the other side with the gun, I smashed its head to the ground and watch it stretched to dead. It was then her mind went to where I was, she almost jump on a tree, when she saw the snake on the ground, her eyes were widely looking at me.
“Thank you” she finally uttered
“You welcome, I prefer we sit over there” I pointed to a tree, it had good shade and a log under it that we could seat. She was still looking at me when we finally settle down
“Are you hungry?” I asked trying to unzip the bag I put down.
“I am starving” she said I brought out the bread and the water, she looked surprised “where did you get these?” I just laughed and gave a piece. I watched her eat like a princess, as slowly as she could while I have already swallowed the one I took for my self.
“ I would rather not want the night to get us in this forest, because we don’t know what is out here and certainly don’t have a flash light to move in the dark” that she agreed with me, she was the first to get up, showing she was ready to continue, I joined her and we continue walking deeper,
“Don’t you think, I deserve to know something?” I brought her attention, with this question of mine. She was walking ahead of me, I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she was from behind, when she turned my eyes were looking at her behind but quickly raised my head up.
“What do you deserve to know?” she said staring into my eyes, we both smiled at each other and took our eyes off, and continued walking side by side
“Tell me, what do you want to know?” I think she yarn for conversation now
“well nothing that serious but about you, starting with the name” I said, the smile she gave was welcoming and maybe she was expecting a talk like that or I don’t know but it was one of those smile, we call a green light
“Emmanuella” she finally said looking at me as we walk, something quickly caught my attention on the ground as the sun shine through, there was black ants in their thousands along the path, I quickly put my hand to stop her not knowing it was on her breast, but when she noticed what I saved her from the anger she got quickly fade away “thank you” she finally mentioned after she had swallowed the rage she had, we jumped and pass them before they could create a mess into some one’s body.