UNTAMED

Part Thirty

He checked the time. It was almost 5:58PM. He had been so engraved with the files that he had not noticed time had gone far.  He got his weapons ready and as he searched through his bag, he discovered he had dropped the pack that had his wrist watch in the bag. He brought it out to throw it away but saw a black-hand band inside. He pulled out the band and studied it. It was larger than the normal circle own and where there was supposed to be a watch, was just round and flat. It must be a camouflage he thought as he pressed it. He was right, the circle path shifted inside and a tiny watch appeared. His wrist watch started vibrating making him look at it. The picture of the band appeared and immediately two dots. He wore the band on his wrist and checked the watch. He pressed the side of the tiny watch and it closed up. Without pulling it out, he picked the weapons he needed. He would ask Jason what it was meant for. He was out of the compound ten minutes later.
He did not drive fast. He had all the time he needed. He even got to Boundary Road too early. He switched on his pickup computer and saw the map to the place. The street he had to enter was before the back gate. There was a hostel with Newton written in capital letter. He continued straight and was soon at Winner’s street. The hostel was the first hostel by his left. There was a small kiosk opposite it. He drove past the hostel and further down to study his environment. After driving through streets that allowed cars to pass through, he drove back to the hostel but stopped his pickup close to the tiny street by the hostel. It was already 7:45PM. He came out of his pickup and put on his spectacle. He entered the tiny street which was very bushy and almost impossible for cars to drive through. Just as he passed the hostel down into the street, he saw him. He was wearing a red cap with red T-shirt and walking very confident towards the side of the hostel. The street was very dark and it was a good place to commit crime. Osama had been so excited that he did not notice him. Osama stood waiting for his prey without noticing a predator close by. He moved further inside the bush as he saw two girls going towards Osama. Osama ignored them as they fearfully walked past him. Another boy was coming. He was holding the hand of a girl. They got close to Osama and he blocked their path. That would be Prosper.
“Shey you nor dey fear me abi?” Osama asked bringing out his pistol and pointing it at Prosper.
“Please… please….” Prosper begged already on his knees.
The girl joined him but did not utter a word.
“Shebi I warn you make you leave this babe for me, but you nor dey fear face oh. My papa men dey even fear me but you this idiot won use me play” Osama said.
He was putting a lot of energy in his voice to make it sound deep and scary.
“Lie down flat. Your father left yansh” Osama said kicking Prosper.
“Please…please. I swear I will leave her.” The boy pleaded.
He hoped the girl was listening to the boy she was following.
“Too late” Osama said.
“I don’t think so” he said coming out.
Osama was already pointing his gun at the boy’s head but not yet cocked. Osama pointed the gun at him.
“Who are you?” Osama asked.
“Why do I always get same damned question” he said.
“Answer me before I blow your heard” Osama shouted.
“I’m giving you a lifeline Osama. You have a chance to live if you can shoot me” he said.
Osama cocked the gun and fired but he had moved out and almost immediately he had the hand with the gun.
“No second chance” he said as he broke his hand.
He pushed the pistol into Osama’s mouth to muffle his scream. Then he brought out his laser knife.
“Your father will understand when he sees my signature. But you should know you are not paying for your father’s sin but yours” he said as he opened Osama’s throat.
He pushed Osama to the ground and walked quickly back to his pickup and was driving out of Ekosodin.
    Something made him stop his pickup as he got closer to the end of Boundary Road. There was a fight going on by his left. It was not the fight that made him stop but who was fighting. They were two men and a girl who would not be more than eight.
“Pay your money.” The girl shouted as she used a block to propel her high enough to do a summersault kick.
Her legs hit one of the men on his forehead, knocking him to the ground. He pulled off his spectacle and wiped his eyes. He put back the spectacle but he still saw the girl, he was not hallucinating. She had bent down to search the fallen man’s pockets forgetting there was another man. He quickly came out of his pickup and was there in time to prevent the man from hitting the little girl with a stick. He stopped the stick midway and punched the man on his forehead knocking him out. The girl turned to look at what happened. He expected her to jerk or at least show signs of fear but she did not, instead she was trying to figure him out.
“Who are you?” she asked.
He was tired of hearing that question.
He bent down towards the girl but she stood up and positioned herself for a fight with one hand folded forward. Her legs were positioned correctly. Where on earth did she learn that?
“I can see you are not afraid of me” he said.
“Are you owing my mother too?” she asked getting ready to strike.
She had dropped a wallet on the ground which must belong to the man who was already standing up. He pushed the girl to the left and pulled the man down as he was about to run.
“What did he do that a little girl like you have to fight him?” he asked.
“They did not pay my mum and she is sick. She needs money” she said.
“Your Ashawo mama when…”
He punched the man’s mouth. The man held his mouth trying to absolve the pain.
“How old are you?” he asked.
“Seven” she answered.
Unbelievable! He was not even like that when he was nine.
“Where is your mum? Are you not afraid? What seven year old fight men in the night?” he asked
“I said she is sick. There is no money and she said she might die. I need to collect money from those who bought drink from her but did not pay”
And she was speaking English and not pidgin.
“And your mum allowed you to move in the night?”
“She does not know” she answered bending down to pick the wallet.
She brought out all the money inside.
“Get out of here” he said to the man.
The man immediately fled towards Ekosodin.
“Who thought you how to fight?” he asked.
“Nobody. I watch films and practice by myself” she answered putting the money in her pocket.
“I have never seen your kind in my life. It’s good you can fight but you must not do that. If I did not come over you would have been badly injured. Do you understand?” he asked putting enough force in his voice but the girl was not shaken instead he was the one shaken.
“No. I know all those that used to visit her, my mum said they did not pay her everything. I am going to collect it” she answered.
He brought out his wallet and packed all the money inside and gave it to her.
“Take. Don’t come out in the night again to fight anybody. It’s dangerous” he said.
“I am not afraid” she answered taking the money.
“I know that already, but fear is for the brave, you need to have fear to survive. What is your name?” he asked.
“Pearl”
She started walking away without thanking him.
“Hey” he called.
She turned back. He pulled off the band in his hand.
“Bring your hand” he said.
He had to triple it before it could be firm in her hand. He turned the round part to the front.
“If you ever find yourself in trouble and you need help. Press this round place very tight and I will come for you” he said.
“Thanks” she said running away.
He did not even ask about her dad. He walked back to his pickup and was on his way back to Jason’s house. Just when he had entered Oluku, he reversed and drove back to Boundary Road. He came down and looked around for the girl but did not see her. Close to the road were fruit and bread sellers. He walked up to them and inquired about the little girl but none saw her or knew her. He went back to his pickup feeling a pang in his chest. He should have followed her home. He should have done more.
He drove back feeling sad. As he came out from his pickup after parking it, Cindy came out from the house with two flasks.
“Welcome. I have food for two” she said giving him the flasks.
Jason was standing by the door hands in his pocket. He nodded towards Jason.
“Thanks Cindy” he said taking the flasks.
“And this is her drugs” she said handing over a small white nylon.
He took it and nodded in appreciation. He went straight to his duplex and without opening it to see what was inside, he took a spoon from the kitchen. Then brought out the drugs she needed for the night. He placed everything in a tray with a plastic bottled water. He carried them to her room.
She was still by the wardrobe. He ignored her fear and placed the food before her. She had changed to another gown.
“Take these drugs after eating” he said.
She nodded. He left the room and opened his flask. It was beans and fried plantain. He finished everything and went straight to his room. He took a shower and continued studying Ghost’s mission. By 11: PM, he went to check on Halima. She had eaten her food and taken the drugs but she was not sleeping. She was still in her position. It was as if she was expecting him. She jerked up immediately. This had to stop. If she continued like that she would not recover on time. He had to stop her from fearing him. He moved very close to her and held her hand. He took her to the bed, raised her and placed her on top of the bed, then he joined her.