ON THE RUN (EPISODE 21)

The bullet pierced deep into his thigh. He was immediately cover in sweat and the heat that burned inside of him could be compared to that of a furnace. Sanmi groaned in pain and tried getting up to his feet, but the bullet had done its work effectively, making that wish difficult to achieve. The General looked sore, this would definitely slow their pace to escape. The rebel squeezed the trigger again, now at the General, as he tried helping Sanmi to his feet. Stunned, the General was quite lucky that the bullet hit a wrong target.

“Born bastard!” The General picked up the rifle that slept on the ground, beside Sanmi, then dashed towards the rebel that shot, and then swung the iron butt of the gun to his face. “Fool! We’re trying our best to make peace, but you chose the part of war. That’s the reward for rebellion!” The General roared at the lifeless rebel, then cleaned the blood-stained butt on the rebel’s cream caftan.

“Sir, let’s get out of here fast. We never could tell if the other rebels heard the gunshots.” Sanmi struggled to stand to his feet. The General picked up the rebel’s pistol and scurried to Sanmi. And to give him support, he placed his arm around his neck and they both shuffled out of the hut.

Freedom wouldn't stroll around like a missing chicken, it’s either gotten by force or withheld for as long as the meaning remained unchanged. These two were ready, looking tough and rugged, to face any coming opposition. Even while he limped, Sanmi still got his mind aright, erasing the self-pity that rambled its way into his head. The General had proved his mettle, expunging every notion that, ‘all military officers that wore the red gorget were perpetually lazy and own a doctorate degree in swindling funds.’ They both were strong at heart to challenge anything that pose as a threat to their escape, this time around. They move briskly towards the open field, along the old clustered buildings in the suburb, which lead to the bush path to the camp.

“Hey!”

Sanmi fell to the ground as the General let go the support he gave, cocking and getting the gun on guard. Almost scared that they were caught, they threw their gazes at the direction where the alarm came from, far east against their direction. And there she was, a woman sitting by the well situated by an abandoned building.

Delilah was the sole reason Samson lost his eyes and eventually died in pain, so ignoring this Delilah by the well would do a whole lot of good, Sanmi thought wryly as the General inched to her. Nobody could have believed that this suburb could house beautiful women, like this woman by the well. Though only her face was evident to their sight, as the fluffy raven scarf covered her head plus her neck, still her beauty radiated.

“Come closer. I won’t hurt you.” She said in an American ascent.

Her intonation alone could ground the General’s rifle without any physical effort, so soft and mild. The General got closer. “So you speak English...good one at that.” He said, with a puckered brow.

“Yes I do.” She smiled. “I’m American.”

He raised an eyebrow in question, then signaled Sanmi to come closer.

“I’d love to narrate the whole story to you, but that would be another day. That’s if that day happens to come.” She looked around if nobody was watching or eavesdropping. “I want to help you out of here cos I saw when they brought you two.”

Sanmi nodded, happy, standing on his weak legs.

She fixed her eyes on him and caught a glimpse of his blood-soaked camouflage trouser. “Oh! You’re seriously bleeding.” She reached for his thigh. “You have to get this treated quickly, else you might lose this leg.”

“We have no time to do that now. We need to get out of this place immediately.” The impatient General yelled, alerting the women who sat, talking, by the other-side of the building.

“Dinah?” One of the women called, then decided to check her up.

Staying to face a nosy woman was a bad idea.

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

Cars had speed limits. And on the Saint Andrew street, where Ireti lived, cars moved with great caution because of its business; children crossing the road after school, hawkers gliding left and right the busy lane trying to sell their goods and also pedestrians who continuously walked on this path. None of these could stop Ireti from stepping on the gas as she did this day, not after been hinted that her house was under attack.

Home at last. She squinted through the black shades she wore, as she parked in front of her house. She turned off the ignition, removed and flung her shades to the back seat, then she rushed out of the car and slammed the door. Ireti was a tough woman. She had showed this trait since she was a little girl. One day, twenty two years ago, she exchanged words with the thieves that banged their door to gain entrance. The window of her room was close enough to see who was at the door. Little Ireti saw and challenged this two armed men with wit and boldness.

“Your wives and children are at home sleeping, so also are the Sobowales.” Little Ireti said, calling the attention of the men by their door.

One of the men smiled and walked to Ireti, by her window. “Hey Princess, come and open the door. We have a message for daddy.”

“I don’t have a long hair, so am not Rapunzel, nor am I looking for prince charming...so am not Princess Fiona.” She grinned. “And my father is not a King or are you looking for the palace?”

“Don’t get me angry. Come and open this door now!” He pointed his gun at her.

She giggled. “My brother has the exact type, but his own is red.”

That minute, Ireti’s mom barged into her room, when she heard her voice after the banging at the door stopped. The thieves saw her mum and fled.

Ireti was brave and feared nobody.

The bag was loaded with cash and intact as he earlier saw. Dede already had his hand on it as he headed towards the sitting room, when he heard the car-door shut. He scuttled back to the bedroom and dropped back the bag in the wardrobe.

“I’m with the police!” Ireti shouted, entering into her house. “Who is inside?!”

Dede knew he was in trouble if truly the police was involved. He couldn't turn himself in for something he knew nothing whatsoever about. He had to do something now, and fast.