Plague

Plague

Akintomide Ifedayo Adigwe

Copyright 2016 – Smashwords Edition

Copyright © Akintomide Ifedayo Adigwe 2016

The right of Akintomide Ifedayo Adigwe to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted with the Copyright right Patents and Designs Act

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author and the publishers

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not be by way of trade or otherwise be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that which it is published

ISBN: 9781370985678

Chapter One

He stood, looking across a smooth barren landscape. There were a cluster of buildings on the horizon to his right, deserted looking as most things around here were. He sighed looking straight down.

He was perched on an outcrop of rock which jutted out of a hill sixty feet high. Behind was a cave, its entrance nearly impossible to see because of the shadow of the hill falling over it. To the keenest eyes it was nothing more than a slit in the rock.

The inside of the hill was riddled with caves and tunnels. A miasmic maze that most would get completely lost in, but not him. He was used to it. It was his home now after all and would continue to be for the foreseeable future.

His hard somewhat sad gaze drifted back to the building cluster. It was hard to believe he'd been living in that city not too long ago. A sliver of fear raced through him at that thought. It wasn't safe there anymore. Not since the infestation. Goose bumps popped out on his arm and he rubbed them distractedly.

There was much about the infestation he did not understand. Where did it come from? The news reports had been sketchy; people kept saying a hundred and one million things none of which seemed to answer the probing questions in every mind.

One report remained etched in memory. A police officer interviewed by a popular news network. He said he'd seen and survived this infestation before. In a small town no one heard about and a state no one even cared existed.

The town was Oraromi, and it was in Ondo State. His story was too fantastic and everyone including him had a hard time believing at the time, until the madness started. That was almost seven months ago if he remembered correctly. Every day seemed the same in these trying times. He was even beginning to forget ever not living like this. On the run and watching out for them ___ he swallowed, his hand unconsciously sliding to the gun strapped to his waist.

Everyone called the disease the infestation. But the policeman called it another name. He called it the Evonso virus.

Chapter Two

Six months ago.

Jire

He raised his right palm wiping the sweat pooling on his forehead. Reaching forward, he adjusted the controls of the air conditioning trying to get it cooler. It wasn't working; the worst part was, it was on the highest setting. He snorted in annoyance. It had been taking longer and longer for the damn thing to get cool recently. Something told him if it didn't have a fault yet it soon would.

'What do you expect? You are driving a 1997 Toyota Camry. If you want everything to work as it should go buy a new one.'

He shook his head blocking out the sardonic voice. 'Easy for you to say, he didn't see himself able to buy a tokunbo (used car) on his present salary let alone a new one. With his bills being what they were, he was barely surviving.

His eyes drifted to the fuel gauge. The needle inched below a quarter. Great! That meant another two thousand one hundred and seventy five naira for fifteen litres. Money he did not have.

His angry thoughts drifted to the government. The president just had the bright idea of increasing the pump price of petrol from eighty seven naira per litre to a hundred and forty five naira.

A series of curses raced through his head at a frenetic pace but he was able to curb the urge to utter them. What good would cursing do? It wouldn't change the situation. The leaders of this country didn't seem the least bit concerned with the well being of those they governed. They hadn't cared for ages, so it was stupid to think they would now.

Hissing in frustration he switched off the air conditioning and wound down the window. Heat hit him like a punch in the face. It was scorching. The weather report put the temperature in the mid thirty degrees centigrade, he didn't buy it. It had to be at least forty.

The noise of traffic greeted him. The honking of horns, yelling of drivers and let's not forget, the cursing, the joys of the daily commute from work in the bustling city of Lagos.

Out of the corner of one eye he saw a sparkling grey Honda graze a aquamarine Toyota corolla. The drivers stopped their engines and were out of their cars in a flash waving fists and yelling insults at each other. He watched them as his car slowly inched past. The way they were yelling the situation was slowly escalating and could eventually result in a free for all.

Yeah! That happened more often than you'd like to think. In Lagos, almost anything was possible. He made the turn, leaving the wide express road, turning on a narrower one leading to Ipaja.

His eyes grew weary when he saw the long line of vehicles in front. This part of the commute was the most frustrating. Hours could be wasted here. He reached a decision to go by public transport tomorrow. Taking his car was no longer sustainable. Not from an economic stand point.

His thoughts grew even more grim as he prepared to wait out what he knew would be a long stint. Reaching to his right he opened the glove compartment and retrieved a small stack of folded papers. He folded them even more firmly and started fanning himself with it. His hand grew tired after a while but he forced himself to continue. The little solace the papers provided was worth the aching wrist.

Chapter Three

Modupe

She hurried down a narrow corridor wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead as she did so. The heat was killing. Her eyes rolled around in her head as she adjusted her white ward coat which was threatening to slip off her shoulder. At five foot six, voluptuous, her cheek bones too clearly defined to be called beautiful, she was striking. She couldn't walk down a hall and men wouldn't turn to take a second look at her.

She felt light in the head, she wondered about that for a bit until she remembered she hadn't had anything to eat for almost twelve hours. Her stomach gave a loud rumble as if in affirmation. She shook her head slowly; today was one of her busiest days, coupled with the fact that she had to fill in for a colleague who was out of town for a while. He hadn't given specifics, some sort of family emergency.

She shrugged. Who cared anyway? Doing this would open up some free time for her this weekend. She couldn't wait. She'd just lie around her apartment and laze. With this backbreaking job she had, lazing around once in a while was welcome.

The corridor ended at an interlocking brick wall. To the right of this wall was a door with twin glass doors. They were closed but slid open as soon as she stepped in front of them.

She walked in wrinkling her nose at the strong scent of disinfectant permeating every corner. The room in front was a long ward filled with sixteen beds, eight on either side. Her eyes drifted across in a slow measured sweep. The patient she sought was at the back. It was the only bed which had a drip stand with a pint of blood on it.

She crossed the ward looking neither left nor right; the moans of pain and suffering so familiar she barely heard them.

A pale faced woman sat beside her patient. She looked smart and chic in a grey skirt suit with comfortable suede pumps. If it wasn't for her teary gaze and worried look, you'd think she was merely sitting in on a board meeting at a respectable fortune five hundred company.

"Hello ma." Modupe greeted picking the patient's chart from the bed post.

"Doctor __" her voice broke. She swallowed taking a few deep breaths to calm herself.

"Take your time __" Modupe said gently. Usually she'd say a few words of encouragement, assuring the family member their ward would be alright, but not this time.

Her teenage son was battling leukaemia and it was already too far gone for any viable treatment. This was unfortunate. News reached them months ago that a scientist in America had stumbled on a cure for cancer. She didn't remember the specifics but it set the medical community abuzz. Sadly, it probably wouldn't do the patients in Nigeria any good. A cure as sensitive as that would no doubt be too pricey for the average Nigerian. She gave the woman a long look as she examined her son's chart. This woman could probably afford it.

A sigh burst from her lips as she focused, continuing with her examinations. What they were doing was managing the boy's condition, easing his transition into death. But she couldn't tell his mother that obviously.

Graduating from medical school and eventually becoming a haematologist was one of her greatest triumphs. It made the many years of med school and the accompanying strike actions that slowed her graduation process worth it.

It being a subspecialty of internal medicine focusing on disorders of the blood, lymphatic system and blood vessel walls had been part of the attraction. The body's inner workings had always held an appeal since her secondary schools days.

But days like this, looking at this woman and her teenage son, she felt sorry knowing the boys prognosis. He was presently on five pints of blood a day. But it could grow to ten as his condition deteriorated. She could see from the chart her boss added imatinib (Gleevec) to the boy's protocol. It was a good move; it took advantages of vulnerabilities in cancer cells. But be that as it may she didn't see it doing much good in this case.

"How is he doctor?" The woman whimpered clutching the boy's hand so tight it was as if she was trying to snap it in her grip on his arm but stopped when her hand slackened a few seconds later.

"As good as we can make him ma."

"What are his chances?"

"I won't lie to you, they aren't good."

A long pause stretched out between them. Several shudders went through the woman's body before she spoke.

"I still believe in miracles. The good Lord I serve will not let me lose my son."

Modupe's eyes widened as she gave the woman an 'Are you kidding me look?'

A boiling wave of irritation flooded her insides. So she was one of those religious fanatics. Nigeria was full of them. The poverty and suffering in the country made most people lose their common sense, they chose to rely on a God she wasn't sure existed.

She'd had a Christian upbringing. Who didn't? She even went to church every Sunday, not because she believed the lies the pastor's spewed, but because it was ingrained into her. Old habits they say die pretty hard.

She'd put away her intense belief in the spiritual when she realized most people especially her mum used it as an excuse not to take responsibility for their lives. She should have left that foul demon she called a husband years ago, before he had the chance to do the things he did to her ___

She replaced the chart with some difficulty as the memories came rushing back. She thought she'd buried them. Obviously she was wrong.

"Well for your son's sake I pray God is kinder to you than he is to most people __ the nurses will be along soon to give him another dose of drugs, have a good day ma." She turned and walked out of the ward ignoring the woman's shocked look.

The shaking didn't stop until she reached the ward's parking lot. Casualty was two buildings away, her eyes drifted towards it as an ambulance screeched into its parking lot. Two paramedics rushed out wheeling a bloodied man on a gurney.

They were too far for her to give the man a closer examination. A couple of doctors came out, running alongside them as they wheeled the man into the building.

A long calm followed before the doors opened and a short stocky looking doctor walked out. The ward coat he had on was torn and stained with blood. She recognized him. Smiling wanly, she hurried to his side.

"You are a sight for sore eyes __"

He looked up chuckling. "Dupe*! I knew the ugly day I was having had to turn beautiful at some point." *Shortened form of the name Modupe.

"You will never change Chris. Silly of me to think you would."

"Don't mind me jare*! *Yoruba slang. "Sup with you? You don't look that good yourself, rough day?"

"Rough day and night ___ e no easy Chris."

He smiled at her switch to Pidgin English. "What happened? Doing double shifts again?"

"How did you know?"

"Hey! Gal you insult me! Aren't we both doctors in this cake fest we call a hospital?"

She laughed while he continued smiling tiredly.

"So__" He began when she stopped laughing. "What's new?"

"Nothing besides the ordinary; what about you? What was that all about?"

"What was what about?"

"The ambulance __ the bloodied patient they just brought in."

"Yeah that __ not sure about that." He murmured, his eyes grew troubled as he averted his gaze. Her eyes narrowed at that.

"Chris what gives? Talk to me __"

"We aren't really supposed to talk about it __"

"Talk about what? What's there to talk about? Isn't it some sort of accident?"

He locked gazes with her as a troubled smile broke out on his face. "Yeah just an accident__ that's what it is __ no biggie. Gotta go dupe! See you around."

He was gone before she could respond. She shook her head as she turned to walk off. That was weird. Her curiosity was piqued. Well that was a consideration for another time. She had more important things to do, like put food in her stomach. She rounded the bend heading to the parking lot and her car.

Chapter Four

Idowu

The Okada (Motorcycle) screeched to a halt beside an abandoned two story building. He got off brushing the dust off his sky blue jeans. The Okada rider looked around warily, uneasy with his surroundings.

"How much?" Idowu barked giving him a hard look. The man swallowed his eyes travelling up Idowu's heavily muscled torso. The white tee-shirt he wore seemed on the verge of ripping apart. And the hard look in his blood shot eyes didn't help the situation much.

The man started the motorcycle without so much as a pause yelling out the words "No worry Oga! I dash you the ride for free."

And he was gone, vanishing in a thick cloud of smoke and dust. Idowu watched him go in shock, eventually smiling as he turned to enter the building. This was an old part of the city and was basically abandoned. Rumour had it that some rich mogul had bought the whole chunk over intending to pull it down and build some sort of housing and business utopia. There was no length the rich farts of this city wouldn't go to own everything.

The sitting room area was the first place he came to. It smelt dank and rotten as if something died there. He held his breath heading to the staircase, taking them two at a time he soon reached the upper story.

Six men waited for him. Four were as big and bulky as he was. Two were bigger and more frightening.

"Took you long enough!" The biggest growled. The sickly scent of marijuana hung heavy in the air. He walked in sucking in the smell, sweet!!!

"Sorry about that __ mum had a relapse, had to go take care of things."

Six pairs of hard eyes softened at his words. His eyes grew hard. He didn't need their pity.

"Wish her speedy recovery __"

"Yeah whatever___ can we talk about the job now?" He said gruffly.

They nodded in understanding as the biggest stepped forward. "Well it's a bank job __ sort of anyway."

"What do you mean sort of?"

He smiled taking a long drag on his weed. They waited ___ impatiently. But being who he was he didn't answer immediately. He drew it out, as was his way.

Idowu's thoughts drifted, and as they did a hard frown roughened his brow. He had to get back to the hospital. He had to get back to her. The anger in his eyes was quickly replaced by sadness. It hadn't always been like this. One thing he knew about life was how quickly everything changed.

The dolt was speaking again. He forced his riotous thoughts under control with great difficulty as he struggled to listen to what their leader was saying.

"We will be hitting a bullion van this time. Word is they're taking ten million in one thousand naira bills to one of the branches around Berger."

Two of the men gave low whistles. Idowu's eyes widened in shock; that was over one million apiece for each of them. A hit like that would provide the much needed resources for his mother's care. But being the cautious one he had to ask.

"Who gave you this information?"

The guy's eyes hardened. "Are you questioning my integrity or the integrity of my source?"

"Relax Diran! E no need make you vex!* (Get angry.) But we have to ask these questions. Remember what happened the time before the last?"

Diran snorted giving a dismissive gesture. "That was an abnormally. I have taken precautions. Such a thing will not occur again."

A troubled silence greeted his words. Idowu's eyes drifted through the ranks of those gathered. He could see uncertainty and distrust in several eyes. A feeling of satisfaction filled him. At least he wasn't the only one with reservations about Diran's sources.

The trouble with Diran was he viewed any opposing view as a challenge to his leadership. That's why if you wanted to offer an opinion you had to do it cautiously. He could be a dangerous adversary when antagonized. Their band had been eight strong at a time. He whittled them to six. Why? The others didn't have his vision. At least that was how he put it.

He silenced his thoughts as Diran laid out their attack strategy. Despite his misgivings he had to admit it was well thought out. Barring any eventualities, it might just work.

Twenty minutes later

He strode down the narrow deserted road leading away from the building. Since he joined the gang, they'd agreed never to leave a meeting at the same time. It kept things safe. That way no one could be tied to the other in case the police came close. His eyes absently drifted over the decrepit buildings on either side.

They were small shanty like structures built of soggy looking wood. Being close to the water, flooding was rife and it had a damp dank scent about it.

This wide stretch of land was more or less abandoned and it harboured thieves, beggars, the homeless and other unsavoury characters who would stab you in the ribs just to look at you. No one with an ounce of sense came here casually or willingly. You came either because you belonged here or you had no choice but to be here.

His eyes hardened, he'd walked further than he usually did to get an Okada. It was irritating but not surprising. The Okada riders were always reluctant to come this way. He couldn't say he blamed them. Many had been disposed of their Okadas and money when they brought a fare here. Some unlucky ones even lost their lives in the process.

His thoughts went back to his mother and he broke into a run. He didn't like leaving her alone for too long. He'd already been gone almost three hours now. That realization made him sprint.

The cab dropped him outside the Destiny Helpers Psychiatric Hospital. His eyes glinted with amusement when he read the name on the signboard. It was impossible to avoid seeing it because it was over eight feet tall and ten feet wide.

Nigerians sure knew how to give their business places names. There was a charismatic Christian movement sweeping across the nation at the moment. He'd humorously told the few friends he had that this intense hunger for God wasn't because they loved him or even wished to follow his dictates, it was more of a selfish pursuit; this gimme this, gimme that sort of Christianity. Something told him the good Lord was wise to their schemes and wouldn't be deceived.

Which was why he didn't bother going to church at all; he knew what he was and accepted the fact that God could strike him down any time. If that was to be his fate, he had no right to complain. After all what he was doing wasn't exactly right was it? So when the punishment came he had to accept it in good faith. He didn't kid himself that the punishment wouldn't come. What was that verse of scripture pastors loved quoting? His brow narrowed and straightened as he remembered. 'Be not deceived, God is not mocked, whatever a man soweth that also will he reap.'

His eyes drifted to the signboard again as he walked through the gates. The strong scent of disinfectant and medicine hit him as soon as he entered. Sadness flitted in his eyes. He hated coming here.

People liked to kid themselves about how much in control they were. Laughable; humans had no control ___ he couldn't fathom why only few could see that.

The fact that the earth was floating in the biggest shooting range should have made it clear that no one on this planet had control. Our very survival as a species hinged on the whims of the cosmic forces floating around in deep space. Yeah__ he loved the nature channel.

He loved being in control. He'd given up when he realized the futility of it. No one had control __ this building was a stark testament to that fact. If we had control as we all liked to think why were there sicknesses that defied medical solutions? Sicknesses like insanity, schizophrenia and a whole host of mental illnesses.

The long tile covered corridor dragged his thoughts back to earth. There was only one nurse on duty. He couldn't help wondering where the others were.

She was seated behind a large ceramic covered counter with files, papers, telephones and other odds and ends scattered on top of its smooth surface.

She looked up as he approached and smiled. He couldn't resist smiling back, even though his was just a wan one. She was a buxom beauty with sparkling white nurse uniform which had a wicked VEE in the front. She seemed taken with him for some reason. He had been told his tall bulky looks inspired fear. So what she saw in him defied understanding.

In lighter circumstances, he would have thought nothing of asking her out on a date, so he could bed her. It had been a while since he dallied with a woman. And something told him she would make a very satisfactory lay.

"How is she?"

Her eyes grew serious. "Worse today am afraid ___ you can go in. Don't think she'll know you're there but __" She let the words hang.

He sighed hanging his head. His shoulders drooped as he headed down the left corridor. There was a staircase a few feet ahead. He took them two at a time. A sad smile lifted his lips ever so slightly. Surprising how quickly his amorous feelings for the sexy nurse had disappeared. There were things more important than sex it appeared.

He turned right when he reached the top of the staircase, stopping two doors down; he paused for a bit before reaching down and opening the door.

The room was white washed with a window at the opposite end. The bed and a white plastic chair were the only pieces of furniture it had. A woman sat on the chair looking out the window.

He took a deep breath and walked forward. He wasn't surprised to see she didn't turn or acknowledge his presence. This close he caught the foul stench of human excrement. The sadness in his eyes grew greater. She'd soiled herself.

Her eyes were wide and vacant and she had a lost look about her. She'd been beautiful once, that knowledge came from his memories, no physical attribute she possessed at the moment lent credence to that.

She was small and mousy. He remembered her being bright, always cheerful.

Her deterioration started when his father ran off with her best friend. That thought reminded him of something The Joker said in the movie The Dark Knight. 'Madness you know is like gravity. All it requires is a little push.'

His father's betrayal was the push that sent his mother over the brink. He had been just six at the time. Thinking of that made his insides boil with rage. His dad was lucky he didn't know where he was. If he did he'd kill him. God knows he deserved it.

"Hello mummy __"

She didn't answer.

"How was your day?"

No answer. He shook his head fighting back tears. The doctor of this establishment said there was better treatment available in South Africa. But he needed at least four million to fund the trip. He had about a million now. The one point something mil this next job provided would go a long way. He reached forward squeezing her shoulder.

"I love you mami*!" (Mother)

He turned and walked back to the door. He was gone in seconds with the door closing quietly after him. What he didn't see were the tears sliding down his mother's cheeks.

Chapter Five

Chizoma

She raced to catch the BRT bus. The scorching heat drove rivers of sweat down her back. Many guys gave her lustful, appreciative looks, she ignored them. She was used to male scrutiny; and why the hell not, she was a beauty after all.

She was five foot four inches tall with clean chocolate coloured skin, made all the more evident by the tight blue dress she wore which reached only halfway down her thighs. Her breasts were full, like oversized mangoes. She had full lips, slightly puckered, as if she was constantly poking them out for a kiss.

The dress also had a very long VEE exposing her ample cleavage. Her hazel eyes were hidden behind large designer specs which gave her face a fuller look. Her golden brown tresses reached her shoulders framing her face even more. The resulting effect was breathtaking.

She leaped on the bus heading straight for the back where she could be alone and draw the least attention. Once seated, she removed her phone from her handbag; it was a gleaming Samsung Galaxy S7, not bought by her of course.

Her eyes hardened when she saw the pending Whatsapp messages. Damn! She hadn't even heard the pings. She opened the app and read the first message.

"Babe where are you?"

It was sent about sixteen times. He was getting impatient. He always got impatient.

"I am on my way. Traffic on Ikeja Along was murder. In a bus heading to the Island now___"

She said a quick prayer as she typed the message and waited for his response. The moments ticked by and it remained unread. He hadn't seen it. The only difference in this case was, she wouldn't give him a hard time about it.

She switched to her other contacts and scrolled through the messages. There was no one of importance. She answered the ones she cared to and ignored the rest.

As she prepared to send him another message, a call came in. She sighed when she saw who it was swiping the answer icon.

"Yes!"

"Chizoma! Is that you?"

"Yeah Nonso! How are you?"

"Fine."

"How is Mama?"

"Mama dey. But we don't have food. Nkechi's school fees are due in a week and she said they are disturbing her about it."

She sighed.

"But what about the last money I sent? You people will not kill me o! It's barely been two weeks."

"Papa was sick __ his chest congestion came back and the rent money was due. We had to pay some before the landlord would leave us alone."

It never seemed to end. Money, money, money; did they think she grew money on trees?

Her phone gave a loud ping. She raised it. Good! It was probably him. She could only hope he wouldn't be mad.

It wasn't him. It was Cynthia. One of her course mates in school.

"Where are you?"

"On the way to the Island." She typed back.

"He sent for you?"

"Yes __"

"Say hi to him for me."

"Ok __"

As if she cared. She didn't want to admit to anyone even herself that she was upset she had hit it big with someone like him. Well it was her funeral. Let her stew in her jealousy until it killed her.

"We have another due to pay in the department."

"What due is that?"

"Something about department maintenance, remember we smashed some windows in the department during last semester's protest."

She hissed in annoyance. She'd already forgotten about that.

"How much is the due?"

"Six thousand naira __"

A low whistle burst from her lips. The noose was slowly tightening. She only prayed it wouldn't strangle her.

"Ok thanks for the info __ we'll see later then."

"You coming back today?"

"I should ___ hopefully."

"Alright then __ will see you maybe tomorrow."

"No p! Thanks."

"You welcome."

She sighed leaning back and closing her eyes. The bus chugged along, the discussions and weary sighs around her faded into the distance.

The bus driver shouted, they had reached the next bus stop. Her eyes fluttered open. Looking out of the window she was annoyed to see there was heavy traffic in front. That meant more delay. He would kill her. She should have taken a cab. That thought made her angrier.

She opened her handbag and pulled out her purse removing the few bills she had there, less than five thousand naira. Who was she kidding? With the fuel price hike chances were this wouldn't get her to the island. Curse President Mahmud Abdusalam.

He promised change when he'd been campaigning. Well his version of change seemed more of suffering. She blamed the imbeciles that voted him in.

Raising her phone again she checked her Whatsapp messages. There was still no response. Either he hadn't read them or he was ignoring her. Whichever it was, it didn't bode well for her. She couldn't afford to lose him ___ not now __ not with all she had on her plate.

The bus stopped again and she reached a decision. She leaped off her chair stepping on an elderly man's toe in the process.

"Kilo man se e na? O n sere ni?*" *What's wrong with you? Are you crazy or something?

She understood some of the things he said, but not all of them. Something told her it was just as well she didn't.

"I am sorry __ please forgive me." She spluttered as she hurried off. The man continued to shake his fists at her until she got off the bus.

Wiping her head with a blue handkerchief she strode away from the bus stop ignoring the looks following her. A yellow cab slowly drifted her way. She sighed with relief.

"Where?" The driver asked leaning out of the window.

"The Island; Four Square Hotel and Towers__"

He shook his head making a tsking sound. "That place far o! Sisi* bring six thousand naira." *Babe, chick....

"Six thousand too much na! I go give you two five."

"You no fit get anybody wey go carry you go the Island for two thousand five. Make am five five make I take you."

She shook her slowly and walked off. A niggling voice in her head reminded her that she was in a hurry and should probably take the deal. The only problem was, it was almost one thousand five hundred naira more than she had.

"Sisi wetin you talk na?" He asked as he drove the car beside her.

"I no get Five thousand Five hundred give you." She shot back.

"Ok how much you get?"

She ignored him.

"Sister talk na. Fine gal like you suppose no dey walk for this hot sun. I wan carry you ___"

"Na only four thousand naira I get __" She said as she stopped.

He paused, debating her words.

"Ok __ enter make I carry you."

Wow! Lucky her! She got in without another word and they sped off heading to the Island.

One hour thirty minutes later

She raced through the hotel gate waving greetings at the security men who were looking at her lustfully. Smoothening the creases in her dress, she forced her feet to slow. People were already beginning to stare. She wasn't sure if it was because of her beauty or they were wondering where she was racing to.

She reached the front desk and smiled. Finally! A familiar face. He raised his hand silencing her as she started to speak.

"It's not necessary ma'am. He is expecting you, room 3012. Go right up!"

Smiling her thanks she ran to the elevator. She pressed the button and the door opened soundlessly. Her eyes drifted to the button inside and she frowned.

The clerk at the front desk looked up catching her eye. She gave him a pointed look.

"Oh! Sorry about that__" He hurried over to the elevator with a key card in his hand. He swiped it once and pushed the button for the fifteenth floor.

She smiled her thanks as the doors closed. There was a dip and the elevator raced up.

The doors opened to a long corridor with gleaming Italian tiles and high crystal covered ceilings with long chandeliers lighting it up at varying points.

3012 was twelve doors down. She reached it and knocked. There was no response. She knocked again__ harder this time.

"Yes?" his voice sounded bleary and sleepy. Not necessarily in that order.

"It's me!"

There was a pause, his heavy footfalls moved towards the door, slowly, as if he was stumbling. It opened with a faint click. He was shirtless. His hairy chest and potbellied stomach repulsed her. But he would never know that.

She crossed the threshold locking her lips with his. He didn't pull back, neither did he respond. He simply held his lips stiffly. She pulled away realizing she wasn't getting any response. He was angry. That much was certain.

"Am sorry I am late __" She said putting on her best am sorry look. He didn't bite.

"Can I come in?"

His only response was to step aside. She sighed walking in. The room was wide, its floor covered with a thick plush carpet. It was quite cold, thanks to the air conditioning running full blast. She slipped off her dress when she heard the door close. She wore nothing underneath.

His eyes blazed when he saw her nakedness but he didn't come to her. She lay on the bed opening her legs wide. She heard the loud rustle of his trousers coming off and then he was on top rutting as if his life depended on it.

Men! They were so predictable. A little pussy and they took leave of their senses. The silly sod had a wife and child at home, and here he was banging a whore like her.

She shivered at the word. He moaned thinking she was enjoying his thrusts. If only he knew. Yeah she was honest enough to admit to herself what she was. A woman that banged a man who wasn't her husband for money was a whore. Nigerians had a better term for it. And that term was Aristo. Go figure!

Three hours later saw her at an ATM four blocks from the hotel depositing a hundred and fifty thousand naira in her bank account. The ATM was one of the newer ones which could accept money as well as dispense. The country was finally coming out of the Stone Age it appeared.

She received a text immediately alerting her of the payment. Once that was done, she inserted her card and transferred eighty thousand of that money to her father's account.

When the transaction was completed she hurried to the cab parked a few feet away.

"You don finish?" The driver asked.

She nodded entering the back. He drove off, heading back to the mainland.

Her phone started ringing almost immediately. A weary look came on her face when she saw who it was. Swiping the call icon she raised the phone to her ear.

"Sister__"

"Hello Nonso __"

"Papa said to thank you. He received the alert moments ago."

"No problem __ might send more money later. Depends on how well things turn out."

"May God bless you sister for everything you are doing for us. He in his infinite mercies will reward you."

She made a sound, it was a cross between a grunt and a sigh. Nonso was sweet. He did mean well. What he didn't realize was God didn't like people like her. If she didn't die from a sexually transmitted disease in the near future he might just strike her down for the heck of it.

He frightened her. That was why she tried so hard most times not to think about it. Even when she went to church, she kept expecting to drop dead. That alone should have kept her away, but nooo__ church going was second nature to her. Some habits they say died hard. She hadn't told anyone her fears. There was no need to. It was between her and God. So she said the only thing she could say, which was___

"Amen Nonso __. Amen __ greet papa for me."

"He will hear."

And the connection was cut. Tears filled her eyes and she blinked them away furiously.

She glanced out the window looking at the long stretch of water beyond the third mainland bridge. It was beautiful; the sad thing was its beauty was lost on her.

Her phone rang at that instant snapping her out of her reverie. She checked the caller ID. Her eyebrows raised in surprise. Him?!!! Wasn't he supposed to be in Tokyo?

"Mike__" She cried swiping the call button.

"Babe___ how you been gal?"

"Good dear __ wetin make you remember me today?"

"Err that's the thing. I am in Nigeria."

"Really?!! Where?"

"The Hilton brow, can you come over? Been dreaming of our reunion for months__"

She laughed. "Mike you are the limit. I was just on the Island some minutes ago, heading back to the mainland now."

"Are you in a cab?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Then it's simple. Tell the driver to turn around and bring you here."

"Mike mike___ are you that desperate to see me?"

"You have no idea. Haven't had a decent fuck in ages."

"You rude boy ___ you mean those Japanese chicks don't give you as good as you want it?"

"My dear there is nothing like Nigerian pussy."

She burst out laughing. "You are insane Mike."

"Whatever! Are you coming?"

"What's in it for me?" She asked her voice becoming serious.

"A big fat payday __ and a cock lest I forget."

She laughed again. He said the words she wanted to hear. She would go. If he said he was going to pay he would pay. Not to mention sex with him was always super enjoyable. She didn't have to fake it the way she did with her other clients.

"I am on my way ___ you best get that cock ready."

"It's locked and loaded babe. Hurry up!"

The connection cut with a click. She leaned forward yelling to make herself heard over the screeching wind.

"You go take me back to the Island!"

"What? Why? You forget something?"

Her eyes narrowed. What was with cab drivers and Pidgin English?

"No! I wan go see someone."

"E go cost you extra OOO!"

"No problem. Just take me back."

He nodded and increased speed. He had to get off the third mainland bridge first before he started the journey back. He wasn't looking forward to the drive. But since she was paying what the hell? He'd do it. He had kids to feed.

The car sped off quickly becoming a dot in the distance.

Chapter Six

The following Sunday (Christ Vessels Assembly)

It was a huge dome shaped building with spiralling pillars in front. Hundreds of worshippers thronged through the entrance. Jire pushed his way through two very fat women who had no other place to engage in idle chatter but the church entrance. His frown of annoyance lifted once he entered the serene environment. The altar was dead ahead. It had white and purple fixtures with a huge cross hanging on the wall behind it.

Jire loved the peace he felt when he entered. This was one of the reasons he kept coming here. He remembered when he stumbled into this church about a year ago. He'd been a different man then. Troubled, frustrated and above all hopeless; but as time went by God showed himself faithful. The knotty issues on his insides were slowly being fixed. He wasn't there yet but___ work in progress and all that.

He found a seat quickly and bent his head saying a quiet prayer to prepare for the service. He felt rather than saw movement on the left. Ignoring it, he finished, looking up at the cross hanging on the wall.

"He'll answer our prayers today I guarantee it."

He turned startled to see the striking woman seated beside him.

"Amen to that __" His smile was wan. She smiled back looking a little sheepish.

"What's your name?" the question popped out. It wasn't like he planned it.

"Modupe."

"Nice to meet you Modupe, do you come here often?"

"Most Sundays yeah."

"Really? That's strange; I've never seen you before."

"The church is big. I would be easy to miss."

"I am probably the one not paying attention. You are most definitely not that easy to miss."

She smiled coyly lowering her head as she did so. That adorable action made him like her even more.

"What do you do?"

"I am a doctor__"

"Doctor? Wow! You must be smart."

" Dunno about that. Not all doctors are smart."

"And what makes you think you aren't one of the smart ones?"

"Nothing really __ a hunch perhaps."

He shook his head, slowly.

"Don't put yourself down. I'm sure you're smarter than you give yourself credit for."

She smiled not saying more. The organist strummed out a slow melody and everyone rose to their feet. The head pastor and his subordinates were walking to their seats behind the altar. The service had begun.

Chizoma shivered a few feet away, her nervous gaze alternating between the altar and the roof of the church. The fear was back, as usual. Why did she keep tormenting herself? It would be easier to stave the fear by staying home. But of course she wouldn't do that. Some powerful force kept dragging her here every Sunday.

Maybe it was God giving her several chances to repent. Who knew? Her thoughts drifted to Mike. She'd spent three days with him and it was everything she hoped for and more. And more importantly, she came out five hundred thousand naira richer. When he told her to expect a big fat payday he sure wasn't joking.

She'd come straight from his hotel to church, stopping in a mall to buy the dress and shoes she was wearing. She decided to spoil herself. She rarely did these days.

Her inner radar kicked in, someone was watching. She glanced around casually. A tall, brawny looking guy had his eyes fixed on her. Many guys did but there was something disturbing about the way this one looked. It wasn't sexual, far from it. She couldn't put it into words. She thought nothing more as the pastor climbed the altar to begin his sermon.

Idowu watched the beautiful girl. There were many words to describe her but the only one that came to mind was exquisite. He couldn't say his attraction to her was overly sexual. Only the hospital nurse could lay claim to that part of him. He smiled as he thought this.

"God is a good god! He is the Alpha and Omega. The beginning and the end, our redeemer and our good heavenly father ___"

He forgot about the girl and faced the altar. He couldn't say what brought him to church today. He'd fought the urge all night. The mysterious part was he even woke up early today which was a first.

The man continued to preach and as expected guilt and unworthiness flooded his insides. He couldn't fathom why he put himself in this uncomfortable position?

He thought nothing more as he focused on what the man was saying.

Forty five minutes later

A sweeping surge of bodies flowed out of the church entrance. More gathered in front; the new arrivals were here for the second service. Jire walked with Modupe, their long strides leading them to the car park. She stopped beside a nifty looking Hyundai Elantra, bright red.

"Is this your car?" He asked nodding in approval.

"Yeah __ do you like it?" She felt like kicking herself. It sounded as if she was seeking his approval. And that was absolute nonsense.

"Very much ___ it suits you."

She smiled averting her eyes. His intense scrutiny was___ unsettling.

"Where is your car?"

"Didn't bring it, fuel concerns and all that__"

"Can I give you a ride somewhere?"

"That would be fine, at least to the next bus stop."

She nodded and got in beckoning him to follow. He walked round to the passenger side and got in too.

The radio came on as soon as she started the engine with the newscaster's words flooding the cabin.

"President Mahmud seeks new ways to deal with the Fulani herdsmen crisis__

A disgusted snort burst from his lips as soon as he heard that. She turned with a quizzical look on her face.

"Why did you snort? The headline irritates you?"

"Am afraid so __"

She laughed. "I am guessing you aren't thrilled with the government?"

"You aren't psychic are you?"

She laughed again, so hard that he became fearful. It wouldn't do for them to end up in the opposite lane. And the way she was laughing it could just happen.

"Make una leave our president o!"

"I hold am? If he had come true on all his promises would we be having this discussion?"

She shook her head slowly. "I guess we wouldn't."

There was a pause.

"I am tired of this country Dupe!"

Her eyes drifted his way. The frustration in his voice troubled her. This caused her mouth to open slightly. She closed it again. She didn't know what to say.

"If I had a way out I'd leave and not look back."

"You and ninety percent of the Nigerian population I imagine__"

"__ but consider this__ if we all leave who would remain to change things?"

He gave her a long probing look.

"So you are one of those huh?"

"One of what?"

"Optimists, who believe all will be well in Nigeria."

"And you don't?"

He shook his head slowly.

"So you've lost your hope. But if I may ask, what does a man or woman have besides hope?"

"I am beginning to think that a foolish and naive concept."

"Hope?"

He nodded.

"That's sad. How can you bear living without hope? I would be suicidal. Life would be unbearable without something to hope for."

He didn't answer. A long silence drew out.

"What do you do?"

His eyes focused and he turned facing her. "I work in a bank."

"Really? Which one?"

"Star-trust Exchange."

"Hmnn __ people say it's one of our strongest banks."

"Yeah I guess __"

"Do you enjoy your job?"

"I do __ the work's backbreaking but __"

"But what?"

"Too much pressure __ our jobs aren't secure. I am just glad I am no longer in marketing."

She nodded in understanding. More silence followed.

"What about you? What do you do?"

"I am a doctor __ specialized in Haematology."

"Wow! You must be pretty smart."

She smiled. "Deja vu!"

"Why did you say that?"

"You already asked me what I do for a living."

"I did?!! When?"

"When we spoke in church, you also said I must be very smart, when I told you I was a doctor."

"Wow! Sorry ___ I have no excuse except to say I have a lot on my mind."

"I understand __ you don't have to explain anything to me."

He fell silent feeling embarrassed for some reason. He suddenly wanted out of the car.

"That's my stop __" He said pointing at a junction about a kilometre from where they were.

"You sure? I could take you further___"

"No thank you. It's fine. I will take the bus to my end."

She nodded deciding not to press the issue. The car ground to a halt. He hopped out turning to give her a wan smile.

"Twas nice meeting you Dupe."

"Same here __ dunno why I have the strange feeling you are running away."

He laughed. "Nah am not. Just __ embarrassed."

"Why should you be?"

He shook his head. "It doesn't matter."

Their gazes locked. He considered asking her for her number but decided not to. Women could be funny. It wouldn't do to seem too eager.

"Well, see you on Sunday."

Something fluttered in her eyes. He couldn't decide whether it was sadness or disappointment, maybe a mixture of both. Seeing it made him regret not asking her for her digits but it was already too late.

"Ok then __" She murmured putting the car into drive. He shut the door and watched her drive until he could no longer see the car. Sighing he raced for the bus.

Chapter Seven

Idowu followed her not understanding why he was doing so. He was drawn to her for some reason. He considered striking a conversation outside church but many guys were vying for her attention. Now she was alone hurrying towards the bus stop. He knew whatever he wanted to do had to be done now.

"Hi!" He croaked. His voice didn't even carry. No way could she have heard that, or could she?

"Hello!" He called again louder this time.

She turned giving him a not too friendly look. "Yes?"

He swallowed taking a step forward. She took two back and he frowned. She was probably afraid of him.

"I saw you in church__"

"Yeah what of it?"

"You seem a bit wary __ you don't have to be. I just want to talk."

"Talk about what?"

"Well anything __ wouldn't mind getting to know you."

She rolled her eyes.

"I am afraid I can't right now. I am kind of in a hurry."

He stiffened as if he'd been slapped and turned heading back the way he'd come. His reaction made her feel kind of guilty. She couldn't fathom why.

"Will you be in church next week?"

He stopped turning slowly.

"Yeah__"

"I guess we can see then__"

He nodded smiling. She smiled back and ran for the bus. He watched her until she hopped on, before he flagged down a kekenapep* (Motorized rickshaw kind of vehicle used for transporting passengers.)

He had to get to the hospital to check on his mum. He could only hope she'd be better today.

Elsewhere

Taiwo Betiku rode shotgun in a black Hilux truck. Two armoured Lorries followed carrying two dozen soldiers. He shivered, which was strange because it was almost forty degrees centigrade. He was frightened, as he should be. It had been six months. Six months since __ he swallowed. He couldn't believe he was going back. He couldn't believe he was still doing this rubbish after what he'd seen in Oraromi. He barely escaped with his life.

A normal man would probably have retired from the police force, but not him. After the Oraromi incident he sought transfer to one of the Lagos State commands and luckily he'd been given a post, not as a DPO unfortunately. A bit lower than his previous posting but contrary to popular opinion he didn't mind the demotion.

Sadness filled his eyes. Yeah he could kid everyone but himself. The demotion hadn't been because of the transfer. It had been because of something else. Something he couldn't let go of, even after several explicit warnings to.

Foolish of him to think those radio programs and internet posts would make a difference. Everyone thought he was loco when he poured out his heart telling all who cared to listen what happened in Oraromi. For a while he thought he was getting through to a few people until he realized he was just comic relief. No one cared really, no one but his superiors. The demotion came hard and fast.

The way he figured, he was lucky not to have been fired. The truck ran over rock shaking everyone inside quite badly. He snapped out of his glum thoughts and focused on the terrain ahead.

The road was rough, riddled with potholes. He shivered. This was the major road leading into Oraromi. He hadn't expected to be part of the team sent on this assignment. The more he thought about it, the more he suspected his bosses did it for a laugh. Or maybe he was sent because he knew Oraromi better than most having lived here for years. Whatever the reason was, he was heading back to Oraromi.

His thoughts drifted back to the marching orders they'd been given before leaving Lagos. There had been complaints that people were disappearing, from the surrounding settlements mostly. Bodies had been discovered, some missing hands, heads and in some extreme cases; genitals.

He shuddered. It was happening again. He prayed the Evonso spirit hadn't awoken. He had to make sure. His superiors sent him here cos he knew the terrain. He came because he wanted to make sure the spells and runes holding the deadly spirit were still in place. If they weren't___ he swallowed. It couldn't bear thinking about.

The main road stretched into the distance. You couldn't see that far ahead, everywhere was shrouded in a strange mist. The drivers turned on the headlights. It made little difference.

"How far ahead?" The grumpy looking officer beside him growled. He turned, looking at his rumpled and stale smelling clothes in distaste.

If he hadn't been demoted he would have given the man a query. How dare he appear for duty looking so rough? A sigh left his lips as soon as he thought this. What could they do? What could anyone do? The electricity situation in the country was nothing short of criminal. There'd been a time that most places had electricity for a minimum of ten hours a day. Now you were lucky to get for two hours a day.

Businesses and homes operated mostly on generators. Anyone who didn't have a generator in this country had doomed himself and his family to an eternity of darkness.

A screech to their far right made many police officers cock their weapons. Taiwo's eyes narrowed in suspicion. He hated screeches. They rarely meant anything good.

A few more minutes of driving saw them in the town's centre. Houses stood abandoned, with grass and weeds growing on the walls and roofs. Everywhere was deathly quiet. There was something eerie about the sound and feel of everything.

The driver pulled the truck to a halt with a squeal of brakes. Taiwo swallowed and took a deep breath before he was able to summon the courage to step out of the car.

The other trucks stopped behind, inches from their bumper. A tall, very bulky man stepped out from the passenger seat of the third truck. He had a Benson and Hedges cigarette in his mouth and he kept chewing on it as if he was eating candy. A thin thread of smoke spiralled upwards from the glowing end.

Taiwo's eyes hardened when he saw him. The man's eyes drifted in a half circle taking in their gloomy surroundings with great interest. Taiwo waited impatiently. He knew he'd draw it out, if only to spite him. Unable to bear the delay any longer he coughed loudly. His eyes narrowed, levelling on him.

"Yes Betiku?" His voice was hard and unfriendly.

"What's the next move sir?"

His gaze didn't soften. If anything it became harder. Taiwo took a deep calming breath gritting his teeth as he did so. The imbecile was eyeballing him when they both knew he was the REAL senior officer. If it hadn't been for his altercation with his superiors this bastard wouldn't have the guts to look him in the eye let alone eyeball him.

Rumour had it the call for his demotion came all the way from the Inspector General's office. If that was true he was lucky to still be in the service at all.

"Spread out __ search the area. Let's see if there is any truth to these rumours."

A small smile lifted the corners of Betiku's lips slightly. Yes___ that's what he had been waiting for. He headed north, where the shrine of the Evonso spirit was.

"Wait Betiku!"

He gritted his teeth turning.

"Where are you going?"

"To search the area __ like you said__"

"Well I have a different job for you __ where is the hospital?"

A vein throbbed in his jaw. He turned and pointed in the opposite direction, far from where he needed to be.

"I want you to take a team there. Search it from top to bottom__"

His heart skipped a couple of beats when he heard that. The bastard couldn't be serious. No way was he going back to that hospital.

"I was thinking we search the surrounding houses first before we__"

"Are you disobeying my orders?"

A deathly silence followed his question. The tension grew so thick you could cut it with a knife. The vein in his jaw twitched like it had a life of its own. He wanted nothing more than to punch the oloshi* in the face. *Maniac

"Ok sir __" He began evenly. "__ let's move out." his last words directed at the six men behind.

They gripped their weapons tighter and raced towards the hospital four miles away.

The rust and mould covered gates rose out of the gloom almost an hour later. The four story building behind the gates looked abandoned and terrifying. He remembered the walls were blue and white once. There was little to indicate now that had been the colour. It looked a grimy grey with streaks of green running across it.

A rusted chain was wrapped around both handles with an even rustier padlock securing it in place. A shiver ran down his spine as memories came rushing back.

He and a few of his officers scaled these very gates to escape from ___ he swallowed, sweat streamed down his face.

"What do we do sir?"

The question came so suddenly that he jumped almost squeezing a burst from his gun.

"Would you mind not doing that again? You wan kill person ni?"

The man apologized lowering his gaze. A pause followed.

���I think we should climb over."

"Wouldn't it be better to just shoot the padlock off?"

"NOOO!" Taiwo yelled turning on them so fiercely they almost screamed.

"We climb __"

He swung his gun over his back and reached for the cold metal. His men exchanged worried glances before reaching for the gate too.

They were over in seconds, landing in the leaf covered compound. Twin glass doors loomed ahead. One was empty of the glass that should have filled it. They approached slowly, their weapons held at the ready.

Thick darkness yawned out of the opening. The man behind Taiwo produced a torch and they entered the foyer. Glass crunched beneath their feet. Some gasped when they saw bloody streaks staining the floor. From the width of the splatter, they knew a lot of blood had been spilt here.

Taiwo frowned turning around. Where were the bodies? The bodies of the infected they had slain. It had only been a few months _ at least a few skeletons should have remained, unless something moved them.

"What is it sir?"

He gave a grim "Nothing." as he headed down the long corridor leading deeper into the hospital. The corridor ended at a tee junction. One leading left, the other right.

"You men go left ___ I will go right."

"You sure that's wise sir? Shouldn't one of us accompany you?"

"Touching to see you are worried about me __ but it's unnecessary. We'll cover more ground this way."

The man looked like he might argue but he nodded leading the rest down the left corridor. Taiwo waited till they disappeared before he made his way back to the entrance.

No way was he dying in this dump. He'd escaped it once and he fully intended to keep it that way. Besides, this wasn't the real mission. The real mission was ensuring the Evonso spirit was still in stasis.

A grim look came on his face when he saw the chain wrapped around the handles of the glass doors. He and his men put it there, to prevent them from coming in. He remembered it as if it was yesterday.

Shaking his head to clear it of the memories, he raced for the gate scaling it in moments and landing hard outside. He took off, heading towards the outskirts at a brisk trot. He'd find out whether the damn thing was still asleep. The crypt was in that cave ___ he couldn't rest until he knew.

Chapter Eight

Jire frowned as he navigated through traffic. His bosses insisted he come in on Sunday to go over a few books with the assistant manager. A long line of cars streamed ahead. He'd considered taking public transport but they'd insisted he come as quickly as possible. Idiots!

The whine of sirens made him look into the review mirror. Two Toyota Trucks escorted a bullion van. He shifted his car to one side so as to allow them pass. At these speeds they could smash into anything on their path. And knowing the Nigerian police they'd open fire and tell everyone the innocents they killed had been trying to rob them.

The trucks and the van zoomed by in seconds. Most of the cars ahead moved aside to let them pass. No one wanted police wahala* *Trouble.

He pressed down his accelerator and the Camry jumped forward eating up the miles to the island.

Elsewhere (Berger)

Three black ford trucks, two in front and one behind escorted a bullion van, not unlike the one Jire saw on his way to the island. Traffic was less heavy here so the four vehicles were doing close to eighty miles per hour.

Heavily armed mobile police officers sat in the back of these trucks with their weapons held at the ready. Most had bored looks on their faces. They hated these escort jobs. Not only was it dangerous but their superiors added precious little overtime money for it.

But they were all at alert, their eyes sweeping all directions. Seeing nothing remotely threatening they relaxed going bored again.

A few miles behind three power bikes appeared seemingly out of nowhere and started closing in. The police men noticed but thought nothing of it. Power bikes zipping around Lagos was nothing new. It seemed to be the fad these days. Those big boys of the island bought a few of them and raced them around the city.

The riders wore helmets with black visors which made it impossible to put a face to each person. But they knew they were all men from their builds.

Three more power bikes approached six miles in front. The strange thing was, instead of approaching from the opposite lane, they were on the same lane driving against traffic.

Three Ingrams were removed almost at the same time. Before the truck drivers knew what was happening they opened fire turning the windscreen and the interior cabins of the leading ford trucks into a crimson haze.

The trucks swerved out of control smashing into a couple of cars and turning several somersaults. Bodies were flung from the vehicles like skittles coating the road with red film.

The men in the truck behind the bullion van rose opening fire on the riders in front. Idowu smirked as he raised his own weapon. They hadn't connected the three at the back with the ones in front yet. He squeezed the trigger spraying bullets in a wide arc.

One of the policemen's head exploded like a ripe watermelon. The policemen now had their attention fixed on them. The three in front were now firing at the wheels of the bullion van which exploded under a hail of bullets.

The mobile policemen in the last truck seemed to get their act together and returned fire. They split themselves into two groups. One group fired on the bikes in front while the others turned their attention on Idowu and his crew.

He heard the tires of one of the power bikes behind him give a loud zinging sound. Next thing he knew something black whizzed past his right cheek cracking the glass on his helmet. An inch closer and he would have taken a mouthful of the road.

Risking a glance sideways, he saw a large truck carrying bottles of soft drink not too far behind. He squeezed the brakes narrowly missing getting craned by an oncoming Mazda. Bullets shattered the Mazda's windscreen hitting the driver in the arm. Her scream was so loud it was as if she screamed right beside his ear.

The car swerved from left to right. She couldn't keep it under control with one arm and it tumbled turning half a dozen somersaults. He raised his Ingram firing two quick bursts before the truck zoomed past shielding him from returning fire.

He could hear the screech of rims grinding into the road as the driver struggled to retain control of the bullion van. From the little he could see the policemen in the last truck were keeping the remaining bikes away from it with their blanketing fire.

His eyes hardened behind his helmet and he increased speed pulling out from beside the truck. Two more bursts brought another policeman to his knees.

They were on the outskirts of Lagos now. He didn't know this area at all. There was a steep drop to the right into thick bushes and the bullion van was heading straight for it.

That couldn't be allowed to happen. The payday was too important to be lost. He increased speed firing at the screws holding the doors at the back in place. His aim struck true and one of the doors came away. Money billowed out of the opening like rain. He heard the shouts and screams of excitement as commuters spotted the money. 'Better not think about it___'

He couldn't decide which he heard first, the shot or the chain around the wheel of the bike snapping. His mouth opened in a soundless scream as he watched the bullion van fall over the edge with him following as the bike somersaulted flinging him off it and after the van. Everything went black afterwards.

Taiwo crouched low looking at the familiar shape of the hut like structure which was cut out of the hill about a mile in front. His heart was racing faster than an express train and sweat poured down his face in streaks. Why was he punishing himself? If he had any sense he'd turn back right now and head back to town as fast as he could. But no__ he couldn't do that. He had to make sure.

He swallowed, summoning up courage gripping his machine gun as if it was his last link to life. He trod on the orange rock carefully. It was rough and uneven, exactly as he remembered it. Five open graves lay in a semi circle in front of the hut's opening. Sweat trickled into his eye stinging him. He wiped it blinking furiously with the other eye as he did so before continuing.

Reaching the graves he was relieved to see they were empty and devoid of the neon red light they'd had the last two times he saw them. Darkness yawned out of the hut's opening. He cocked his gun and strode to it.

It was only when he stepped in that he realized he didn't have a torch. It didn't matter anyway cos a red ambience lit the inside as soon as his feet touched the orange rock covered floor.

The inside was the same as he remembered, bigger than it appeared on the outside. The walls were covered with strange inscriptions which seemed more like some form of calculus. He turned in a half circle. The crypt was cut out of the wall to his right.

He walked to it, slowly. It was opened like it always was, he paused, gripping the handle of the gun tight and jumped forward with his finger curled round the trigger.

The creature was lying there, bound like they left it months ago. It was man shaped, with a severely deformed head. The head was bashed in several places and its jaw was long, too long, poking out like the beak of a bird with waxen papery skin stretched tightly over it.

The relief that surged through him was so great that his limbs lost all their strength. He sank down beside the crypt taking several deep breaths willing his heart to stop racing.

So the creature hadn't awakened. Baba Adora was right about one thing, the disease was still spreading. The sad thing was no one was taking things seriously. Knowing the creature still slept levelled the playing field a bit. It would be terrible dealing with a horde of undead creatures as well as a ten foot tall marauding spirit intent on global destruction.

He rose, giving the crypt one last sweeping glance. He best get back. There was nothing here to see. He heard the gunshots as soon as he stepped out of the shrine. "Oh no!" He gasped. He took off running silently cursing his superiors in his head. This was their fault. He could have warned them that coming here half prepared would have disastrous consequences. He'd run almost a mile when he began to hear the screams.

Chapter Nine

Idowu's eyes fluttered open. The sun's blaze hit them like a punch to the face. He snapped his eyes closed wondering how the sun could be hitting him that hard through the dark visor of the helmet. Blinking several times he tried to open his eyes again. Only then did he realize the visor was broken. Smashed was the better term for it, there was not a single shard of glass left in it.

He groaned looking around. The bullion van lay smashed about thirty feet away. Scores of heavily armed policemen surrounded the remains. His eyes narrowed and he ducked low, he wasn't in handcuffs, neither was any police officer standing over him. That meant he hadn't been seen, yet. The next question was why?

He looked around once more. He was in a cluster of trees hidden in very thick clumps of grass. A body lay ten feet from the van. He recognized it. It was Rashid, one of his partners in crime. So the police got him too.

Something in the bushes a few feet beyond where he was presently holed up caught his eye. It was a bag, a big back travelling bag. Not unlike the one he had strapped to his belt. They had all carried one to use to carry the loot. Rashid must have loaded his with money before the police got him. How could he get that bag and escape without being seen?

Before he came up with an answer he heard screams and gunshots. Two dozen guns swept up at that looking down the narrow path he just realized was there.

A big bulky police officer surged to the front giving the men looking at him several terse nods. Seven took off heading towards the shots.

"Make una concentrate. E fit be they still wan try take this money. We no fit let them__ DPO talk say he dey send more men. So make we wait__"

The men nodded, not surprised he was speaking in Pidgin English. An uneasy silence followed his words. And then the gunshots began. This time the sounds of exploding guns were mingled with loud terrified screams.

Fear raced through Idowu's heart. He looked around checking to see if he could spot his Ingram. It was nowhere in sight. He reached down pulling out the gun he had strapped to his ankle. Something told him trouble was afoot.

The thick tree cluster to the left started to shake. The policemen guarding the bullion van raised their weapons in preparation to fire. Several men exploded out of the brush. Two were mobile police officers. They had terrified looks on their faces. Only then did he hear the sounds, loud growling and slurring sounds. It was the most terrifying thing he had ever heard.

The men opened fire, showering the trees with bullets. A man close to the trees screamed and vanished. As if something pulled him in. The remaining backed away still firing; Idowu blinked as two others disappeared, this time from the opposite end. He saw dark shapes that looked like arms reach out and grab them.

The men in front of the bullion van surged forward firing into the bushes on both sides of the path. Idowu's eyes gleamed when he saw them walk past the travelling bag. He rose grimacing at the pain in his thigh. When he was on his feet he examined his body. He didn't think anything was broken. The policemen were still firing. He ducked out of the bush diving into the bushes on the opposite end and waited.

No one shouted, neither was there any indication that he'd been seen. He walked forward crouched in the bushes till he reached the travelling bag. It was filled with money, just as he expected. The way he figured it, Rashid had followed the bullion van down here and loaded the bag. Being the greedy git he was, he'd probably dropped this here and gone back to get more money when reinforcements arrived and shot him. 'Omale!* *Son of a thief.

He picked the bag lifting the handle over his shoulder when he heard a strange gurgling sound. As if someone was being strangled. It was coming from the front. He stretched his arm parting the blades of elephant grass.

There was something crouched twelve paces away. It looked like a man but it was too gloomy for him to make much out. It was eating something. He leaned forward to get a better look. Another shape lay in front of the crouched one. The crouched one was tearing into the one lying down. The wind blew at that instant shifting the tall grass aside slightly. A shaft of light came through and he saw exposed bowels and the greenish grey leather of combat trousers worn by mobile policemen.

The light started to fade but not before the thing turned. He didn't see the face; all he saw were red glowing eyes and a hard unyielding jaw which was dripping with what could only be blood.

A silent scream burst from his mouth and he took off racing in the opposite direction as fast as his feet could carry him. The gunshots and screams quietened until they disappeared all together. A deathly silence now lay in its wake.

Modupe walked down a long corridor leading to the Haematology department. She looked smart and chic in a grey skirt suit; she wore a white blouse beneath the blazer and beads of perspiration dotted her forehead.

Her footsteps were long and hurried and she kept glancing at the swatch watch strapped to her wrist. It was barely two pm, she shouldn't be in today. That wasn't the plan. According to her superiors however, there was some big emergency that required her attention.

She'd been here almost six hours already and the way things looked she could easily be here another six. She had been working like a horse for the last six hours trying to ignore what was bothering her. But like everything that really bothered her it refused to go away.

He just walked away. They always just walked away. Was there something wrong with her? Or perhaps what her father did left an invisible stain that drove men away.

She'd consulted many prophets and herbalists as regards this issue and the response was always the same. It would happen in its own time. At least the opposite lines of the fence seemed to agree on one thing__ she wasn't cursed.

A feeling of disgust filled her. Not at anything but at herself. She claimed not to believe in God and the supernatural and here she was looking to the one thing she claimed to not believe in to solve men's strange aversion to her.

"Hello Dupe__" a loud cheery voice called.

She looked up, sighing when she saw the sunny faced woman with shoulder length braids heading her way.

"Clara how is it going?" She asked wearily.

"Fine, fine __"

She grimaced. Many found Clara's sunny disposition endearing but she found it rather tiresome. It was just her luck she happened to run into her today of all days.

"You don't look fine __ In fact I'd say you looked rather sick."

She shrugged trying to force a smile. "I am fine Clara __ just have a lot on my mind is all__"

She could see from her disbelieving expression that Clara didn't buy what she was saying for a minute. Clara's face relaxed slowly and she switched topics.

"Didn't know you were going to be on call today_"

"I wasn't__ was called in__ Haematology is kind of short staffed at the moment."

"Really? Thought I heard somewhere that management was recruiting into various positions__"

Modupe frowned locking gazes with her. "This is the first I've heard of it."

"Not surprised __ it was kept very hush hush. The only reason I heard was I overheard one of the consultant's talking about it during surgery the other day. I even got my younger brother to apply."

A pause drew out between them.

"You sure you're alright?" Clara asked again giving her a deep probing look.

"I am fine __ just a bit tired. Got to run Clara __ see you some other time." And she took off at a trot.

Clara watched her until she disappeared from view before she turned and went on her way.

Modupe's phone started to ring as soon as she rounded the corner. She pulled it out of her ward coat frowning when she saw who was calling. She pushed the answer button and raised the phone to her ear.

"Yes __" Her voice was hard and unwelcoming.

"Modupe how long will you continue to ignore me? I am so sorry for what happened. How many times do you want me to apologize?"

"As many times as it takes for you to BE really sorry."

There was silence on the other end. She was on the verge of hanging up when she spoke again.

"I am sorry Dupe __ I should have listened to you."

"Well you didn't, so I guess we are both sorry."

"Please Dupe __ let me at least try to make it right."

"You can't so don't bother." She started to lower the phone when she heard her mother's voice ring out. She raised it to her ear again.

"I didn't quite catch that mum__ what did you say?"

"I am sick Dupe. The doctors don't think I am going to last the year __"

She snorted. "If you are saying that to get me to see you then you've got another think coming mother dear."

"I am serious Dupe__ let's meet and I will show you the test results."

Her eyes narrowed. This was most likely a ruse. Her mother was very good at ruses. But she would see her this once __ if only for the last time.

"Ok mum you win __ I will swing by later and see you."

"Thank you Dupe __ you won't regret it."

"Too late mother, I already regret it." And she hung up striding down the corridor with a preoccupied look on her face.

The screams had stopped, so had the gun shots. Betiku approached cautiously with his rifle held high. The mist was as thick as ever. He could barely see the rifle in front of him. He was beginning to regret not bringing a torch.

The shadowy shapes of the trucks appeared ten paces ahead. He couldn't see anyone or anything. He slowed his approach sucking in his breath so he didn't call out. He was tempted to do so but didn't want to attract anything else that might be listening.

There was a low rumble in the sky. He sniffed; it smelt wet as if it might rain. Great! That was just what he needed__ a thunderstorm to make visibility poorer.

His eyes lowered and for the briefest of seconds he could have sworn he saw a pair of red eyes glowing at him out of the dark, a few steps away from the right side of the truck. The sound of the gunshot was what brought the realization that he'd squeezed the trigger.

He blinked. He must have imagined it, the eyes were gone.

"Something dey worry you for head? Why are you shooting at nothing?"

He swung around surprised to see his superior officer. His eyes widened when he saw how dishevelled he was.

"What happened to you?" He asked gaping at his torn and dusty uniform.

"We were attacked by something__" He paused swallowing. "__ somethings__ I have never seen things like that before."

Betiku swallowed. "You mean you saw them?"

"I am not sure what I saw __ let's get out of here."

"But __ what about the others? Some of the men might still be alive."

"Do you want to hang around here and wait for them?" His voice came out in a yell as he turned on him in fury.

He shivered, shaking his head. His heart raced just thinking about it. No way was he getting stuck in Oraromi.

"They are probably dead anyway __" He growled, striding for the truck, he paused as his hand curled around the door's handle.

"Do you have the key?"

"It's in the ignition. I don't allow the men to take the key from the car."

Betiku nodded getting into the driver's seat, leaning over; he opened the passenger door for his boss. The speed at which he jumped in made him wonder if he'd been bitten on the butt. He sighed when he saw the way his hands were shaking. He was scared witless. He had seen them.

"Am guessing you believe me now?" He asked in a cryptic tone. He saw the man's jaw harden as he clenched his teeth. A smile broke out on his lips.

"I take that as a yes __"

The engine started with a healthy growl. He put it into gear and orchestrated a perfect one hundred and eighty degree turn zooming back the way they had come several hours before.

He glanced right as the truck picked speed, startled to see two pairs of gleaming red eyes watching their departure. Fear filled him and he blinked. By the time his eyes opened again the eyes were gone.

He mashed his leg down on the accelerator and the truck leaped forward as if it had been stung. His boss gave him a worried look and opened his mouth. His mouth slowly closed seconds later. Betiku could practically picture the clogs moving in his head. He wondered why he was going so fast and had been on the verge of reprimanding him when he considered it might be better to get out of the town as quickly as possible. If he wasn't so frightened he might have been tempted to grin. The only snag was there was nothing remotely funny about what was happening right now.

He increased speed and soon the large sign post wishing them goodbye and safe trip whizzed past, he couldn't remember being so relieved to leave a place.

From the sigh bursting from his boss's lips he got the sense that the man was relieved to be leaving Oraromi too. What he did not see was the tiny trickle of blood dribbling from the man's neck to his chest. If his eyes had followed the blood trail he would have seen they seeped from two crescent shaped marks with a fang like hole at the end. He'd been bitten.

Chapter Ten

Idowu got off the bus biting down on his lip to keep his groan of pain in. It didn't work. His body ached all over. Something told him he should get himself checked out. But he couldn't do that ___ not yet anyway. He had to meet up with the others, those that still lived.

A shiver ran down his spine at the thought and his face hardened. Diran had gone and done it again. The van wasn't supposed to be that heavily guarded. There weren't supposed to be more than eight mobile police men.

Damn the man. Now many of them were dead, at least two that he knew of. Who knew how many more perished in his doomed heist? Maybe it was time he started thinking of going solo. His comrades were high risk.

He limped to one side and sighed when a yellow cab drifted by stopping in front of him.

"Where?"

"Obalende!"

The taxi driver paused seeming to consider his words. "Bring eight thousand___"

Idowu was tempted to curse him when he remembered he carried a bag filled with money on one shoulder. The way his body felt it might be better to get home as soon as possible. The thought of home brought him up short. His eyes drifted to the bag. Going home first might not be such a bad idea. No one knew he had the money, he could tell Diran and the others that he'd come up short. Call it payment for almost dying. His decision made he faced the taxi driver.

"On second thoughts, take me go ikeja, from there you go carry me go Obalende."

"In that case your money na fifteen thousand ___"

A small smile lifted the corners of Idowu's lips ever so slightly. In the state he was in even if he said thirty thousand he would have paid the money.

"Sha make we dey go __"

The driver nodded looking ecstatic. It had been a while he'd run into a big fare. He leaned over opening the back door. Idowu got in as carefully as he could grimacing with every movement. The cab driver noticed and seemed on the verge of asking him if he was alright when Idowu shot him a hard look. He shrugged thinking better of it and put the car in gear. They were speeding down the expressway moments later.

Idowu thoughts were riotous as the cab driver expertly navigated through traffic. What was that thing? And why was it eating___ he swallowed feeling faint.

He'd never believed in the strange or supernatural before. He remembered when his mother told him stories about monsters like the bush babies and emire spirits to get him to behave. They'd scared him witless then but as he grew older he realized they were just stories. Or were they? He swallowed shaking his head to clear it of the scary thoughts.

His thoughts drifted to Diran and he frowned again. After every score, the guy had this habit of making them go to Lagos Island to celebrate in a joint he frequented.

Idowu wasn't sure why he did it, perhaps it was an attempt to feel rich and powerful, like the men and women who lived and worked there. He'd refused to budge even after numerous complaints that they meet somewhere on the mainland. But since he was the boss they had no choice but to obey him.

The driver yelled out a curse at another driver who was trying to cut him off. Idowu sighed looking out of the window. The cool air wafted over him in waves. His eyes lit up, he felt grateful to be alive.

Chizoma looked at the muscled man she was riding her eyes blazing with pleasure. His body was doing wonders to hers. His face was blank and expressionless burning with a seriousness so unlike him.

To the casual observer what she was doing wasn't having much of an effect but she knew otherwise. He was close to bursting; she knew this because of the way his eyes rolled around in their sockets. The hard way he was going at her should have hurt, she should have screamed at him to cut it out but she didn't. She loved it.

With Mike there were no certainties, just wave after wave of guilty pleasure and fun. He had nothing else to offer and if you were a smart girl you'd keep that in mind when dallying with him. Luckily for her she was smart. She enjoyed the moments ___ like this one ___ while it lasted and switched off when he faded away as he invariably always did. And oh lest she forget, the money was good also.

Their climax came at the same time and she collapsed on top of him feeling his body quaking beneath her. It took almost five minutes before she was able to have a coherent thought. Mike was that good to the ladies. He'd always been.

She felt him shift and she rolled off him. His devilish grin brought a smile to her lips. The man was incorrigible.

"I see I don't need to ask if you enjoyed it." He said still grinning.

She shook her head slowly, stroking his chin. Something she couldn't define flitted through his eyes. Was it tenderness? It couldn't be. Mike was incapable of such feelings. He'd said so severally.

"You are the best babe __" his voice was a low growl in his throat. She shivered at the sound of it. She'd want another go if he kept that up.

"I'll soon have to be on my way __"

That brought him up short. "Must you leave? Why don't you stay here?"

"Mike I have been here almost a week, how much longer do you want me to stay? I still have school in case you've forgotten."

"I haven't forgotten babe. But I can't get enough of you __ you are like heroin to me."

She smiled, leaning forward to kiss him. He tried to deepen it but she pulled away. No way was he luring her into another bout of sex. She had to get back to school pronto.

To strengthen her weakening resolve she sat up and rose off the bed, striding to the window on her left. He gave a low whistle and she smiled. He was checking out her ass again.

The window overlooked a wide parking lot. She slid her fingers through her golden brown tresses wiping the sweat glistening on her brow in the process.

"I see you are determined to leave __" the bed gave a slight creak as he rose. She didn't turn round.

A dark shape walked out of the shadows in the parking lot. The quick movement drew her eyes to it. There was something off about the way he moved.

Another man stood some distance away. He was washing a sparkling grey E Class Mercedes Benz, a driver most likely.

The driver turned at something the slouching man said. His face looked wary, frightened even. She watched closely. Suddenly the once stumbling individual sprinted forward. The speed he moved shocked and frightened her.

The driver tried to run, but the other guy was too fast. He caught up with him as they rounded the corner. She saw them collapse, falling hard and disappearing with only the driver's feet remaining visible. They shook and jerked like someone in the throes of an epileptic fit. The feet disappeared seconds later moving in a motion that suggested the body was dragged away.

"Mike __" She gasped.

"Hmnnnn__" He said gently kissing her neck.

"I think someone is being attacked in the parking lot."

"Where?" He asked looking over her shoulder. "I don't see anything."

"The man dragged him off, round the corner."

He paused considering her words carefully as he looked down into the car park.

"Shouldn't we call someone?"

"You sure of what you saw?"

"Positive__"

He sighed reaching a decision. He walked away picking up the telephone.

"Hello room service __ I was beside my window when I saw someone being attacked in the parking lot. Could you send security to check it out?"

There was a pause. "I am positive. Please call security ___ I think someone might be hurt."

Another pause and he nodded replacing the receiver in the cradle. "They said they'll send someone to take a look. Hope you are right babe __ we'd look darn right foolish if they find nothing."

She frowned. "I know what I saw Mike."

"Easy gal __ no need to get all upset and stuff __ just being careful is all __"

His words for some reason brought a smile to her face. "You? Careful? As if you know the meaning of the word."

"Aww am hurt babe __" he murmured gliding her way. The next thing she knew, she was in his arms and her lips were locked with his. The sensations his lips were creating was beyond description.

He pulled away his black eyes shining with desire. His erection was pressed against her thigh. Her insides seemed to melt. Damn he was good.

"What do you say babe? Wanna go one more round?"

She sighed __ he had her and they both knew it. But she wouldn't go down without a fight.

"I might be persuaded to go one more round if you give me the money you promised." She said smiling coyly.

His eyes flared and he released her striding back to the bed. Picking up his trousers he removed his phone unlocking the touch screen.

"You still using the same bank account?"

She nodded. He typed for a few seconds and she heard the shrill peal of a text message coming into her phone. She picked her handbag from the floor. Her phone came out in a flash and her eyes widened when she read the message informing her that her account had been credited with five hundred thousand naira.

An excited giggle burst from her lips, she dropped the bag and the phone and stretched out on the bed. His phone fell just as quickly and he was on the bed starting the pleasure all over again.

Chapter Eleven

7.30pm

Jire sped along the third mainland bridge easily overtaking the truck chugging in front. Sweat pooled on his forehead dripping down his neck in-spite of the windows being wound down and the air rushing on his face.

Curse the blasted air conditioning. His eyes drifted to the CD player. He'd just burnt a CD, filling it with some of his favourite RnB tunes. He debated whether to play it or not. Deciding not to, he opted for radio instead.

"___ The president returns to the country today after almost a month's absence. His office said the medical check up he went for was a breeze and he is in the best of health. This is a relief for Nigerians. It had been rumoured the president was battling some sort of deadly illness. Cancer has been thrown around, but his office always dismissed those rumours whenever they arose calling them flights of fancy.

"In other news the bodies of some Fulani herdsmen and almost two dozen mobile police officers were discovered just outside Lagos. According to our sources it appeared they were attacked by animals. Investigations are still underway to ascertain what really happened.

"Switching to international news, world celebrated scientist Gerald Summers* travels to Indonesia to deliver a paper on his research on crop science. His work in this area has contributed in no small degree to the reduction of world hunger. Rumour has it he will be preparing that same paper at the G8 summit later in the year or early next year. The date has yet to be fixed. This is Taiwo Obanikoro signing off from Mix magic FM Lagos." *Read Absolution (Book Three of the Event series)

"As if I give a shii__" Jire swore turning off the radio. What did he care what some dumb scientist was doing. It's not as if it impacted the life or well being of the average Nigerian in any way.

One thing he was indeed thankful for was the fact that traffic was light. He'd be home soon. Tomorrow however was another matter. He so wasn't looking forward to it. He couldn't wait for Friday. This time however maybe they'd let him stay the entire weekend without calling him in, so he could have the rest he so desperately needed. He sighed as the car slowly ate up the miles to the mainland.

On the opposite end of the bridge a cab carrying Idowu raced towards the Island. He looked and felt better. A long shower, some iodine and two tablets of paracetamol lessened his discomfort considerably.

He checked his phone looking over the call log. Five missed calls from Diran. He knew he ought to call back but instead opted for a text message. The calls had come in when he'd been having his bath.

His thoughts drifted to the money he had stashed in his wardrobe. He hadn't counted it yet but something told him it might be in the range of two or three million.

If his suspicions were correct that was almost what he needed for his mother's treatment. That was a relief. He'd see about making the travel arrangements in about a month or so. It wouldn't do to get Diran and the others suspicious. He didn't want them to realize he kept some money.

The colourful billboards and the flashing lights made him lift his head; he only just realized they were already on the island. The cab driver took him towards Suya Junction.

He seemed to drift, in a daze when the cab driver dropped him outside the joint. Diran was already standing in front. He couldn't see the others but something told him they weren't far away.

He alighted from the cab with a low groan. He saw Diran's eyes brighten as he spotted him.

"Where have you been?" He asked striding forward.

Idowu blinked trying to focus. Everything seemed to be one big blur. He hoped he didn't have a concussion.

"You don't look so good." Diran growled slipping an arm under his shoulder.

"Neither would you if your bike went over a cliff __"

He sighed helping him to the door. It was a wide two story structure. The lower floor served as a restaurant/Suya* spot, while the upper story housed a club. The throbbing music was already giving him a headache. *Roasted goat meat

The others were seated at the far right hand corner. There were plates of suya and almost two dozen bottles of beer on the table in front of them. His eyes grew sad when he saw only two.

"The others?"

Diran shook his head. Idowu eyed him curiously. This was the most subdued he'd ever seen him. They made their way to the table amidst at least a dozen curious stares. Idowu slid into one of the empty seats looking a little grey as sweat poured down his face.

"You look awful Idowu__"

"Thanks for the compliment Kola, now shut up!"

The man's eyes blazed dangerously for a few seconds before he slowly turned away. An amused look flitted across Diran's face as he sank into the last empty seat.

"You are very lucky to be alive. We saw you go over."

"And none of you thought to check if I wasn't dead?"

"We did, but you were nowhere to be found. We barely escaped with our loot."

"So you got some money?"

"Not as much as we would have liked but we did get some __"

"How much?"

"Like five mil_"

"At least that's something __"

"It would have been more if Rashid had managed to get away. I warned that goat not to go back for more cash but he wouldn't listen, the git was just too greedy. We could hear the sirens a mile away. So we split and left him. We heard the gunshots when___" He paused, lapsing into silence.

"Where did you get the bikes Diran?"

His eyes blazed with anger but Idowu held his gaze with a furious one of his own. He refused to back down this time.

"How dare you question me?"

"I have to question you Diran. This operation had wrong written all over it. There weren't supposed to be that many mobile police men guarding the van. They will be looking for us now __ Rashid's bike, mine and Victor's bikes are still out there. I need to know they can't be traced back to us."

"They can't."

"What makes you so sure?"

"Because the bikes were stolen."

"From who?"

"That is not important __ rest assured that those bikes cannot be traced to us."

Idowu was tempted to refute that but he knew it was best to be cautious. Diran was a dangerous individual and he'd already risked a lot by attacking him.

"What do we do now?"

"We lay low. No one has seen us together so I don't think the police will connect us to Rashid and Victor. Let's meet up in about a week's time to split the loot. That's still at least one point two mil for each of us. It's still a sizeable score whichever way you look at it. At least the two we lost served a purpose did it not __" He chuckled as he said this.

Idowu was tempted to punch him in the face. The idiot didn���t care about anyone but himself. Something told him he wouldn't bat an eye if they all lost their lives, everyone except him of course.

He looked down at the steaming plates of suya. He'd been quite hungry when he walked in earlier but now he seemed to have lost his appetite.

"If there is nothing else I think I'll be going home now."

Diran gave him a hard look. "You haven't even eaten or drank anything."

"I am not hungry __" He said rising stiffly. "I need to get home and rest __ lord knows I need it after the excitement of today."

"Let me help you to the door __" Diran said rising to his feet.

"It's really not necessary."

"No I insist __ you look like you are about to collapse. Let me put you in a cab at least."

Idowu nodded too tired to argue. They walked to the entrance. Yellow buses and cabs milled in a thick cluster some distance away.

They set off at a slow walk crossing the road with some difficulty. One of the cab drivers waltzed over as they approached. He was a tall, gruff looking fellow with two of his front teeth missing, a brawl most likely.

"Where una dey go?"

"You go take me go Ikeja."

"Bring six thousand __"

"Something dey do you for head?" Idowu yelled thoroughly incensed.

"Easy Idowu __ it's alright. I am paying. Oya carry am."

The man nodded and raced to his car. He had it beside them in seconds and Diran helped Idowu in. Faint screams rang out in the distance at that instant followed by what sounded eerily similar to gunshot fire.

"Wetin dey happen?" Idowu barked looking around warily.

"Na the riots jare sir."

"Which riots?"

"We no know o. We don dey hear story of fight and riot all over Lagos Island for the last two weeks. Mopol* don full everywhere now." *Mobile police

"Who dey riot?"

"We no know __ some people talk say na area boys."

Idowu shrugged settling down in the street as Diran paid him the money. Moments later they were headed off the Island and towards Ikeja.

Chapter Twelve

Dupe stormed out of the eatery her face black with rage. Another woman in her early sixties hurried after her. She wore a sky blue skirt and blouse sewn from a floral material and she was beautiful bearing a striking resemblance to the woman hurrying ahead of her.

"Please Dupe __ wait __" She gasped panting.

"Why the hell should I wait mum? I knew you were up to no good. I honestly don't know why I agreed to meet with you."

"I had no choice ___ would you have agreed to see me if I didn't lie?"

'She does have a point.' A voice in her head chided her. She shook it to clear it.

"Why mum? Why do you want to see me? What was so important that couldn't wait until you like ___ I don't know ___ died?"

Her mother flinched, cringing like she had been slapped. Dupe regretted saying the words as soon as they left her mouth. But it was too late to do anything about it now.

"How could you say that to me? Do you hate me that much?"

She sighed pausing beside her looking up at the moonlit sky. "I don't hate you mum __" her words were so low it was almost impossible to hear what she was saying.

"__ I don't particularly like you either."

Her mother sighed shivering at the same time. "I am so sorry Dupe __ God knows I didn't know what he was doing to you."

"Even if you did would you have done anything about it?" Dupe yelled turning on her savagely.

"How can you say that? Of course I would. Do you have such a low opinion of me?"

"Don't give me that holier than thou nonsense mum. You knew ___ at least you suspected what he was doing. You were just too much of a coward to face the truth.

"You disgust me mum __ don't look at me spewing that self righteous crap. Doing that God loves us more than we realize nonsense. That he never meant for a man and woman to part after they were married. You could have protected me, you could have saved me __ but you didn't. You didn't because you didn't want to see him for the monster he was.

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