by A. Achaka
“Shall we go?” she asked me “this place is very interesting for one to look at; I saw some places that kept my mouth wide open”
“Well, first my stomach is biting”
“Oh yes, you haven’t eaten for days, I thought someone was feeding you in your sleep?”
“Or maybe you did with your mouth” I let out a soft laugh, her face looked guilty and she shy away, perhaps she must have been kissing me in my sleep. She got up and left the room, I heard them talking in the compound, but i was not sure we should be getting too much aquinteed with them because eventually we are going to leave the place. ‘you just got up from three day comma, give yourself a break’ a voice came ringing in my head, “You are right” i said out loud.
Emmanuella came back after a while holding a wooden plate in her hand it was a food they call ‘GOTE’, porridge if you ask me to tell, very liquid, it was made from grinded corn and other leafs, it’s something I have never seen before but on the other hand people like me for who I am, can survive anywhere. I remembered where, I did my one year compulsory service to my nation, the people in the remote place were very surprise at my careless attitude to their food, I ate anything that came my way, just so to get along with them.
I sat down and consume it with an open mind, she was even surprise
“Have you eaten this food before?” she asked, with a load full in my mouth, I nodded in disagreement and continued to eat.
She watched me with interest, such a human being, she must be saying in her mind, when I finally raised my head, the bowl was almost empty
“Tell me what happen to you, during my traditional comma” I asked while scoping the bowl for the last of it, when I was done, I watch her eyes trail to the were I kept the plate then back to me, I could see that it was getting soften and tears started down but she quickly look away and wipe it out, then back to me and smiled.
I saw the pain in her eyes and knew, she would have a lot of things she would want to say, I felt pity for her and don’t even know when, I pulled her into my embrace, she clinch to me as well and burst in to crying
“Am tired, I miss my parent, I miss you” she cried out, I thought I wasn’t hearing what she was said, “I miss you” she repeated again
“Am here now, let’s just walk to get it off your chest ok?” I pulled her from the embrace and wipe her tears, she gave a little relief and smiles, then we got up and left the room, shutting the door behind us.
it should be about two thirty or three o’clock by then, because the sun was passed over head, it seems we have forgotten, we had phones or they were probable dead because I hadn’t look at it neither has she. We were seating in these amazing stone with a tree by its side as shade, it was beautiful on the sight, I loved it, if I were to be leaving in the village that would be my resting place after much work.
They were children were standing at a distance looking at us, well not only them, it started when we left the hut and the house entirely, through the village square there were few people at the time, compare to the time he brought me for the hand treatment, I guess most of the had gone for their farms too. The few that were there stared at us, as we even say our greeting to them, then we started down the road to where we sat, the children stood up and followed us down singing behind us.
The tree shade was something else very cool for romantic adventure, am sure both our minds were reading the same on this one.
“So tell me what went wrong?” I asked, she was resting her head on my thighs, her eyes came open looking at me; she bit her lips before talking
“I miss my parent and my sister” she paused and continued “in my life, I have never thought I would ever be in a terrible situation like these” she closed her eyes and open it “I felt like I was alone in an unknown place, I was just trying to be strong”
“You are strong” I rest my hand on her hair and stroke it, she stretched and rest well, she seem to be enjoying it “I was amazed, in just three days you were able to learn few things in their language and speak it out, you are doing just great” she opened her eyes and looked at me
“I don’t like these place, there was one boy, he was trying to hold me, the other day at the village square, I slapped him, he flare out in anger, I am so scared” I felt like I have failed to protect her, my fingers went hard in her hair, she reach and touched my hand “nothing happened” she further said and I smile
“Well am here now, I will do my best to protect you” she throw a big smile at me and reach and touch my face
“When are we leaving this place?” her eyes back at me again
“I guess, it’s about time too, since am better now, we just have to find a means to leave, have you look into that bag for once?” the curious face, i knew she hasn’t gone near there “alright when we get back, remind me I will show you”
We sat on the stone talking until the sunset, then we left and head back home, still the children were following behind us, singing and jumping, there is this thing about rural areas, once they like you, they are comfortable and that means so much freedom and happiness for every one. On our way back, we came across some people returning from the farm and helped them with their tools back to the village. They were happy and thanked us after they have gotten to their destination.
Jaan was back home and his parent, when we came back it was the first time I saw his parent, they were happy to see me too, We greeted them and the responded was more pleasant, they are gentle people, the aging father and mother, they lloked exhausted from the days job, soon they were lost into their rooms, i turned and shook hands with the Jaan, although there was nothing to say since i don’t understand the dialect. Emmanuella ran with the girls into the kitchen, while Jaan signalled me to follow him, he took me to the river, it was already getting late, but that was the fun time for the young boys of the village, they were all in the trail to going to have a their bath.
Some we greeted on the road, didn’t even care to look at us, I had some sense to imagine, i might have been the cause. We went ahead and down to the river I watched them bath, it was fun to them 'sha' but to me it was just children playing, they were singing and jumping into the water, Jaan had finished I could barely see the foot path but we were handful on a straight line heading back to the village and all that period I had no idea what they were discussing or singing, i just kept at it, soon we got almost into the village and the boys started on their own path, while Jaan and i maintained the road that leads us home home.
In the compound the girls wer seated, singing and listening, Emmanuella included, they were seat in an open fire which lights up the whole compound, they all became enlightened when they saw us emerged. All the while I was wandering were had Jaan been sleeping, since we took over his room, He said a word and went into a hut close to the very one he left for us, i went and sat down on a bench with Emmanuella. One of the girls in particular set her eyes on me that even Emmanuella noticed
“Looks like you got yourself a lover”
“What?” I raised my head and the girl quickly turns her away
“What, now?” I asked her
“We either eat first or we go into the village centre, were everybody convey to gist or talk, sometimes they even show a movie, at least I have seen it once, but thank God I have someone to talk to, the other days, have been like hell to me, we were all waiting for you guys to come back, so we can head out”
I now noticed the girl, she would steal and look at us, I wander what must be going through her mind, well I guess she wasn’t the only one the others were as well. May be they would envy the way we talk or I don’t really know at all, the light gave a very good artistic image on the wall, I was keen looking at it when I heard “lets go” with my head up I saw Jaan fully prepared for the night, we got up and left the house.
They were talking and laughing, i felt left out, i don’t understand a word they were saying and i don’t intend to learn because sooner or later we are heading out of the village, at least she can
incase something happens.
Emmanuella and i walked close to each other, our hands intertwine together, i really did enjoy such a walk with every one. The breeze was starting to blow hard; i was a bit curious when Jaan came out with a sweater, but now i could feel it in my skin.
The village square was getting crowded, both men, women and children are talking, it was very loud you have to shout to convey your massage to the person next to you, beside a music was coming out from a building, that has the only light in.
“There will be a film show today” she told me
“Where” Just as i asked a man came through holding a twelve inch black and white television. The children and some people went nuts on the sight of the television, it was taken into another building, it was the building having windows and door. The closer we get the quiet it becomes when they saw us, i thought we have done wrong
“Why are the people getting quiet, when we come through” she just laughed
“We are strangers, we should give them time”
“How do they watched the movie? Because he had taken it into the room?” i asked
“Oh yes, they pay to watch, about twenty naira each” Twenty naira, wow thats something else but still many would not be able to afford that, i thought about that.
The time came and every one was heading towards the door, the man had his hands up front for those that could pay to get in, still few people were peeping through a tiny hole to view. Such a pity if it were me i would feel very rough, i touched my back pocket and felt some notes, i pull it out and relaise it was the money i had on me during the travels, about four thousand neatly folded in there with the butten hooked.
I showed her the money, she was excited, i guess she had the same thought as i, how can some be deprived of such moment that comes twice in a week.
“Is it allowed, i mean there won’t be harm right?”
“i don’t think so, let me ask Jaan” she left me and went to Jaan by the corner, he came to me smiling and i gave one thousand Naira to him, and watched him went over to the man at the door and pointed down to me. The man closed the door and made an announcement, the people cheerd and turn back to me, she were shaking my hand as well, ‘i guess good deed makes good friends’
Once inside, the room was now crowded and very quiet, as the movie commensed, they offered us a seat but we turned it down and sat on a balanced rock together just like the others. The room went from warm to hot and stuffy, we just maintained through the whole process with the heavy smell in there, i guess everything have concequences, in our mood to be generous, we were been sufucated.
I watched them go crazy at every event that come up, I would steal a time to look at Emmanuella, who would also do the same and smile
“Can we take a walk?” I asked her
“Absolutely, these movie have no interest” when we got up everybody turn and looked at us, before turning back to their movie again. Once outside it felt like paradice the breeze was like the saving grace, we walk down holding hands untill we were lost from the reflection of the light, then sat down on a rock
“How do we get out of here?” she asked me
“Well, I don’t know yet, have you seen any vehicle coming into these village, while I was in my traditional comma” she laugh and lean on me
“Not really” now her hand was playing into mine
“I want to leave this place as bad as you think, but I don’t see any way than to walk and we don’t know which direction to the next one” she look up to me her eyes were white and shining, I held the gaze for a while “let’s see, I want to follow them to the farm tomorrow, so that we will not be unappreciative ok, after which we tell them we are leaving, is that ok?” she said
“yes” I stood up and pull her up too and I lean on a tree and pull her closer to me, and wrapped my hand round her waist and hers about my neck. I could feel her anxiety and her aura so strong, she was like a goddess in a mortal form, her shiny eyes pierce to me, then I realise how much, we have not said to each other, I pull her much closer feeling the hardness of her nipples on my chest, I get closer he lips apart with my tongue, and her body trembles in excitement.
I felt her nervousness, it might be a while since she kissed or her first but who knows and cares, I was no longer seeing the bulge eyes anymore, she must have closed them, I pressed in and felt the tongue I can’t lie, she was a very good kisser, we kissed for a while then parted for a moment, her smiles was great I could see her shiny white teeth, then came people screaming and laughing
“What is that” I asked her
“May be, they kissed”
“Really, that’s why they are shouting? Wow, but you do know how to kiss” she smiled
“This was my first kiss”i couldn’t believe it, the word ring to my head, well I guessed so earlier but through it, I started doubting and now again
“Are you serious?” She nods her head in agreement
“What have guys been doing, you tell me you don’t have a boyfriend?” she looks down and nods again, I was speechless at that moment, just looking at her
“What about you?” I smiled
“As of now I don’t, you know once you venture into these music the thing, it’s hard to be single, although I had nothing serious going on but they are girls around”
“So you used to?” I nod in agreement, i saw a little disappointment in her face but i pulled her closer and kissed her again and then start towards the light.
We got into the stuffy room, it was more than stuffy, it was smelling like refuse dump, we move in and met our seat unoccupied and we took the position at once.
It was almost getting to the end of the movie, and something happened, a guy came into the hall, without arguement, the way was made for him towards the back, not knowing he was heading for us, he was short thick with enough beard to cover a child face, he came and stood right in front of us. I raised my head to look at him, he was staring at her with much vigour, he reach and grabbed her hand and was pulling her up, she was struggling, it was like a movie to me, no one got up to challenged him or soething. I got up and pushed him away, he stood back for a while and then advance again, he reach for her hand and I hit his hand and he let her go now, she was standing behind me, the guy started chanting, the people shifted a bit and watched him do the thing.
He then charged, in trying to push Emmanuella away he ran into me and straight we went on the floor, he was on top of me but I got him closed, my arm has closed his head under my armpit, he was struggling to get himself out but i wouldn’t let him, he struggled much harder and i let go but he was now under me, with his pressed together, i set the first blow to his face and about the next one when Emmanuella held my hand.
“Please No, get up” I pushed his hand and got up, he also got up and charge again aiming at my legs but i jumped and he crashed in the ground, he got up and his face was full with blood. He shouted and then left.
Everybody was startled it seems no body have ever beaten him in a fight or have ever engage him in one, Jaan and his sister came pulling me and Emmanuella away, we ran home immediately, Jaan went inside the room and came back with my bag and handed it to me and said something and pulled us to start going, he was up front leading us away, one of his sister held a portion of the food too, as they escort us out of the village.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
It’s been two days and still no word from Mr. Seth, every military in that case was worried but the commander has never any felt better in his life like that moment and for the first time he didn’t think of coffee, it must be a miracle to him that he couldn’t keep it to himself but share it with his children.
Earlier the commissioner of police called him telling him how the press are making matters worse, sometimes he wished the country would go back to a military regime, not a single word from the press, he didn’t care how it might look like but they should be scrap out of the country system, but on a second thought, everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, the fac
t that they made so much noise doesn’t mean any good can come out of it.
He was late to the office on that day and didn’t even bother to check the prison for the others, since he have sent Mr. Seth on an errand to apprehend the others. He completely neglects the others, ‘i don’t think we have use for them anymore, just let them rot in there for all i care’ he was telling the Captain, he also thought it wise not to hand them over to the commissioner either until they have a lead. That BIG MOUTHED MAN as he would say about the commissioner.
The news about the case have circulate the entire barracks, most of the cadets felt it was too bad for a commander to act as such, he on the other hand was relaxed and laughed anytime a report of such get to his ears.
It wasn’t a surprising issue that the whole matter got to the generals council at the headquarters, actually a man of his profile should also be at the Headquaters with an office there but he prefer the cold state and its affair, though most at times his attention is needed at the federal for some delicate matters.
Despiet all odds he hardly spent a night outside especially when the engagement is for a day, no matter where he goes, he finds his way back home. At one time he had a meeting at the federal capital, it came to conclusion at about nine pm but he told the drive to hit the road, and was back home before mid night to sleep on his own bed. His driver always considers him a strange person, his lifestyle worth a story; he would tell his friend when ever he is off duty.
The commander was sitting in the office when a call came to his cell phone, looking at the caller ID, everything came flooding into his memory, it was his son he remembered he had asked him for some financial help, he answered and started with apologise but his son stopped him half way and was happy he didn’t because the business he was about to venture was a scam, telling him the people were also apprehended.
For a reason he smiled to himself after the call, he seem to get everything connect for him or highly favoured, he never forgets but in these case may be its just to save his son from the scam, he asked if his son could visit him one of the weekends, he misses them all and any time he thinks of their resilient character, he feels proud and sad at the same time.