The Test

Addy alighted the Limousine, three men dressed in black suits stood behind him. He loved this, and was glad Lori was with him. This was to remind her that he was still very important. The zeal to make it through proliferated but the sight of the big building reduced his confidence.                 

“I am sorry, she cannot not go inside with you.” An official said.                 

“Why?” Addy asked.                 

“Protocols and you should know better, sir.”                 

“What? I am his wife?” Lori said.                 

His wife! Addy wanted her to repeat that.                 

“We are aware of that but like I said, protocols.”                

 Addy turned at her, tried to hold her but she gave him a cold look.                 

“I will be in the hotel.” She said. “Do not forget.”                 

He nodded. He would be back for her, as the bonafide TCO (the chosen one), with his powers and money fully back and increased. He was going to make sure he did that.                 

“I will not forget.“  He said.              

She went back into the car and was driven away without giving him a second look. He began to walk towards the entrance. Somewhere was Petra sitting in front of three monitors, a key board in front of her while the monitors displayed. Not too far from her was Justin, a computer in front of him, connected to a customized WC brain box. He was set. 

Petra noticed the change in him. He was so official, his jovial mood gone and she realized she was going to watch him in action for the first time. She was eager to see what the test was like and he was going to deal with it.                 

“Subject in motion.” Justin said and Petra became alert at once.                 

She tapped some keys, connected the Satellite tracking system, caught Addy’s transmitter and nodded.                 

“Good.” She said.                 

“Okay, He is three hundred yard away from the first WL detector.” He said, 

“I am using WFA to diffract, exactly 40 degrees to the west, and 30 to the east. Do you get his position”                 

“Yes. I can see the Tinged wave rays.”                 

“Good. Tell him to be at least a foot in between the waves. We got just twelve seconds to make him pass there.”                 

“Okay.” She said and studied Addy’s image. “Addy, take two steps to the right and maintain the lane. When you get to the spot, I will give you a green light. You got just twelve seconds to cross the detector zone.                  

Addy made an okay sign with his hands down. Petra wondered how Justin did that. He programmed Addy’s body outlines. The okay sign he just made was sent to her, magnified and translated to yes. They had spent the whole day yesterday practicing.                 

Addy had to admit that Justin was the real deal. Addy moved cautiously, aware that he was being watched, eyes, electronic detectors, but he was determined to cross in. Justin pressed a key, and there was a soft windy sound, and some waves were diffracted from the detecting machines. This was going to take just thirteen seconds before the operators guiding it took note of the defiance.                 

Addy was there, about to pass though, just twelve seconds, he was about to move in when he heard a feminine voice call his name, “Addy.”                 

He turned to see Lori alighting from the car. “Just a moment.”                 

What?

******************************

There was a knock at the door. Mercy got up lazily, being tired after packing and settling into her new room. She walked to the door and opened the door. She had been indoors, hearing the noises and excitement of the bride’s friends as they accompanied her to the house last night. Mercy had gone to welcome them, and then left when she felt uncomfortable with them. 

She had quietly returned to her room, locked the door and cried. What did she get herself into? How could Sule get married to another lady just four months after getting married to her? Why? She cried, and remembered what her mother told her.                 

“Be patient, Mercy.” Her mother had said. “It is not just about Sule, it is a test from Allah and also a test for him. If he knew the risk of having more than one wife, they would think twice. 

A man must be fair and just. Most men don’t think of it these days. They just get married blindly, and treat one better, or neglect the other. That is left for him but just do your duties as a wife, for the sake of Allah.”                

 Mercy saw Sa'ima standing before the door, dressed in skin tight and vest, with a heavy make-up. Mercy just saw her clearly and remembered the face. The girl they met at a shopping mall. What!                 

“Good morning.” Sa'ima greeted politely with a smile. “I am Sa'ima, the new woman of the house.”                 

Mercy tried to control herself.                 

“I am glad to meet you.”                 

Amina smirked.                 

“We don’t have options other than to be glad.” She said.” Can I come in? I just felt we should talk.”                 

Mercy hesitated.                  

“Come inside.” She said and made a way for her. Amina went in and sat on the edge of the bed. Mercy leaned on the wall and folded her hands across her chest.                 “I know I should not be the one to ask you to sit down in your room but I would have preferred you sit down.” Sa'ima said.                 

“I am comfortable like this.” Mercy replied. “I have been lying in bed for a while.”                 Sa'ima shrugged.                 

“I found it imperative to come and talk to you. I am a lady of peace and I would like to live with you in peace. I know you are the first wife, but I and Sule have come a long way. I don’t know if he told you about us.”                 

“I don’t think that is necessary. He does not owe me any explanation.”                 

“Okay. I was in JSS 2 when we started dating. He was in SS1. You know this first love of a thing. Something happened and we could not get married at that time. But we realized that we were made for each other. I pushed him to marrying you. If I knew, I would have not done it but Sule can’t get me off his mind. 

Now that he is married to me, I urge you to understand the true state of affairs. Please, I want him to be staying in my room permanently. I am not saying he can’t come to you. He will come and by 10:00 pm, he would return to me and sleep. I don’t think I can stand him passing the night with someone else. You don’t know what we share. I know how I felt all those days he would be with me and say he had to go home. And he would leave and I will be left alone. 

I am just asking for a favour. I told him to tell you this but he could not. So, he asked me to come and tell you myself. He suggested that we should not tell you, he would just put it into action but I refused. I am also a woman and that won’t be fair. I should tell you….”                 

“But you know I can’t oblige to that…” Mercy said.                

“I just came to tell you and not seek for permission. We don’t need your consent. I am just telling you what is on ground. Mercy, that is your name, right? I think it's important you know that Sule is mine. 

I don’t know if I can share him for long. But for now, he is mine. And I told him to build a kitchen at the back yard for you. I need this kitchen. I can’t share kitchen. For the time being, I won’t be cooking until he gets you a kitchen. I also advised him to get a cook. It will be better if we use a cook. You can eat what you cook but I assure you that he won’t eat your food again. She continued.                

I know that is a great favour I am doing you. No more stress. I hate cooking myself. But I will have to be cooking for him at least thrice a week. That’s for love..” She chuckled. 

“Sule, enhh! He makes me do things I don’t want to do. He will come to my place and make me cook noodles, or chips and eat. I had no option other than to do it for him. And he will come back home and tell you that he is filled……”                 

“Please enough of this. I have heard enough. You don’t have to tell me what you plan to do. Just go and do it. I only say Allah is a witness to everything. Let him do as he wishes, and I leave everything to Allah. If you don’t mind, I need to do some packing. You are welcome to the family.” Mercy said.                

“I am the one to welcome you because I was with him before you….and you do not have the right to ask me to leave any part of this house. He is still alive and you have not inherited any part.”                 

“You were with him before me? As what? A concubine or mistress?” Mercy asked with anger beginning to boil in her.                 

“How dare you refer to me as that?”                 

“Figure it out yourself. If you won’t leave my room, then I will leave for you. I thought you really came for peace but I was wrong.”                 

“Wait! I will leave.” She said. “It is not the room you should leave for me, it is the house.”                 

“Now you have confessed.” Mercy said. “If Allah says I will leave, definitely I will but if he says no, then there is nothing you can do about it.”                 

Sa’ima smirked.                 

“I don’t think I have more time for this. He is waiting for me. He is so hungry for me.” She said and walked out, flaunting her body.                 

Mercy went and closed the door, before she dropped on the bed to cry.