Night had crept on earth's ground. The thick darkness held a vague terror. The ominous rumble of thunder could be heard from a distance. The shrill of a portentous bird, the heavy silence, squeaking of little creatures and the sky which was in a mournful mood all emphasised the terrors of a world without light.
A hefty man emerged carrying a cutlass. His huge palms were like an face of a table tennis bat.
The severe look on his face, dark and unreadable, could make many men take to their heels at first sight. His calculating and dismissive look had driven my blood pressure even higher. His pupils seemed to dart around the whites of his eyes as he came closer to me.
I stood still, fearless and my clenched fist tightened the more. Then, the wind blew, and dust sailed into my mouth, into my eyes and nostrils. I starred incessantly at him. He was one of the security men that safeguard the street, the ones the people referred to as ndinche.
"Stop there! Who are you?" His voice was husky and deep.
I stood still and remained speechless. I kept thinking of my next move, because l knew how heartless those security men could be. They arrested people in the late hours of the night as suspects.
With jerky impatience, l pulled out my gun and pointed threateningly at him.
He lay quickly on the ground, with his head facing downwards.
l watched him closely till l was sure he could no longer see me and l made my way home. l reached home knocking heavily on the door.
After some seconds, Dad opened the door and l entered quickly without even looking at him.
"Come back here! Where are you coming from?"
Father shouted, drawing me backwards. He looked me straight in the eyes; his eyebrows furrowed.
"When did it become your damn business, old man?" l replied, walking out on him.
He drew me back again, this time angrily.
l turned and gave him a slap, a hot slap, which made him fall to the ground just immediately.
Mother came into the kitchen, staring at Father and me. "What?" She asked with a mean expression on her face. Father stood up, fear and apprehension rising in his eyes. l hissed and left for my room.
I was awoken that morning by Blessing's mischievous laughter. l looked at my wristwatch and it was already 10:30a.m. l was supposed to be in meeting with the gang by 11:00a.m. l rushed into the bathroom and took a quick shower. Few minutes later, l was dressed.
Surprisingly, Crystal entered my room and beamed her charming smile. The beads she wore looked more like shackles. The uneven make-up on her face make her lose her usual pretty look. Her tight skirt hung above her knees and her shirt was carelessly unbuttoned at the top, revealing her pink bra. "William!" she said in a low tone.
"How are you?" l asked casually. Since l had forcefully lured her into having sex with me, we hadn't been in a good terms. Her presence still astonished me. Time was running out and l needed to go.
"William, l need to see you," she said, rather kindly.
l smiled lightly and tilted my head backwards to look at her. "You need to see me? Hmm, that's strange. Well, meet me at Binez Hotel by 4:00p.m."
"Splendid!" l heard her say as l dashed out.
The room was quite. Only the rumble of thunder and rain which pattered against the window could be heard.
"Where the hell is Lady V?" Uncle Philip shouted to no one in particular. His face tightened into a grimace. He wore a short-sleeved shirt and his shorts were short, exposing his muscular thighs with dark hair.
Few minutes later, a lanky young man entered the room. He was as thin as yam tendrils and his ears were unusually big like those of a rabbit. "Sir, Lady V will be here in a while. She sincerely apologizes for her lateness," the man stated.
Uncle Philip nodded as he finished and he gesticulated to him that he could go. Seconds later, uncle Philip brought out a cigarette pack, drew a stick from it, and began to smoke. Sometimes, he had a severe look; it was hard to tell when he was happy or angrily. But he was different when he came to the house. He smiled more often and greeted Father and mother so courteously. He had, on one occasion, brought a lady to Dad for prayers. According to him, the lady, who was probably his fiancee, had written JAMB exam for nine years without any success. Uncle Philip, then, concluded that it wasn't ordinary, that some evil powers must had been responsible for her consistent failure.
Father had prayed for her casually at home, stating that she would come to his office the following day for private counselling. Later on the next day, l had overhead Uncle Philip's fiancee telling mother how she was sexually harassed by father in father's office, but l didn't believe her, because l couldn't imagine how father, as a man of God, could do such a thing.
"Don't mind my lateness; let's get down to business," a feminine voice, so low, but deep, voice was heard from the entrance.
"Oh Lady V, we have been waiting for you.
What took you so long?" Uncle Philip asked calmly.
"Never mind, let's talk business," she stated simply, grabbing a chair by her right. She was truly an epitome of black beauty, just as James had told me earlier. Her skin was spotlessly ebony and glittered like a new shoe from a reputable shoeshine stand. She, also had piercing academic eyes and humourless lips that wore no make-ups.
"And who is this handsome one?" she added, directing her gaze at me, her eyes blazing.
"Part of the crew; he is working with James.
Never mind, he is good; trust me," Uncle Philip replied.
"Well, l don't need a dirty job done because l' m going to do my part just fine. Has he got any experience at all?"