Chapter 29 Losing
Agu heard a noise. He spoke to Azuaka with his frown. They had agreed not to say a word. He heard the noise again. He had to whisper, “Did you hear that noise?”
“No, what noise, son of man?” Azuaka put his ears down. He waved him on and they tiptoed forward.
But it was only Agu that heard it again. The noise was a creaking; the noise that was made when a door opened. “I can hear it again,” whispered Agu, staring towards the front door and pausing. He had never been so scared.
“Are you saying someone is in there or what? I know certainly they are there.”
“How are we sure they are the ones,” whispered Agu. “It is not safe for us to advance. I prefer we hide and look out for them.”
“What are you saying, son of man?” he was getting angry. He spoke noisily now. “Have you realized we don’t have time?” He pulled out his pistol and pointed towards the door. He took a step at a time while Agu remained on his spot. He was not going to make any move because he could hear the noise again; some group of people was passing through the door. Agu could argue that on his life. Azuaka was farther now but not too close to the door. He had given way for Agu who was opposite the window. Azuaka heard the noise and cocked his pistol nervously. It was late.
Bang!
There was a spray of gunshots. It came quickly through the window. Dust covered the space suddenly and more spray came again. Agu screamed, “Police!” He fell down and Azuaka pulled him up and shot back at them. They made head way into the bush.
Auntie Uju, the lad and four police men stood on the veranda while two other police men ran after them. “We will round them up,” the superior police officer said and pulled out his walkie-talkie to report, “We need back up over. Suspects are head way out of sight. Every territory must be restricted, over.”Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
Auntie Uju said, “Now you’ve confirmed it. Can I have my ten million dollars?”
“Do we have the culprits yet. Take your ass off my face?” The officer cursed, eyed her and walked away…
Nathan had a huge smile while he dialed some numbers into the phone. When the receiver came on, he said, “Good morning, officer. This is Nathan speaking. I am a Chief Sailor controlling the cruise ship number 098 en route Paris and Sydney. About the four wanted criminals, I think I have them. One of them phoned me to secure traveling documents to Sydney for two. Yes I know what I am saying. I think they want to escape to Sydney by late today so if your boys can make it down here before that time it will be a done deal. I am sure of what I am saying, officer. Ok, I’ll do everything possible to make sure they don’t escape.” He hung up the call and smiled. “Ten million dollars is no joke. I can do a lot with that money. I have a house mortgage to settle. I am sorry Ferguson,” he said to himself and leaned forward to pour a beer.
Agu screamed and it echoed in distance.
“Shush,” said Azuaka. “If you keep screaming they will locate us. I feel they are bent on getting us.”
He was sweating profusely. His eyes reddened with fire as he panted and opened his mouth in pain. One of the bullets hit him in his ribs; that wasn’t the moment he fell down, it was the moment Azuaka shot back and the police shot series of bullets. The stray bullet from the series of shots hit him at that spot. He felt it when a bullet sped by his hand. He knew he had been hit. Saliva piled in his mouth. “No!” he screamed, pushing Azuaka away. “Enough let me die. This bush is safer for my corpse,” he panted out.
Azuaka stared around, touching his pistol whenever he heard a noise. “Listen up, listen up, son of man,” he held Agu’s face. “I can’t let you die here. I can see the bullet, so you’re going to let me pull it ok?”
“No, no,” he growled, staring pitifully at his bleeding ribs. “I have not had this pain in my life. This is the pain of death. I can’t take it any longer.” He breathed hard, blinking more than a thousand times, his nose heavy with fluid.
“I can pull it out. Listen to me,” he said and it seemed he was not getting his attention he shook his face, “Listen, if I pull it I can tear my woolen shirt to stop the bleeding while I get bitter leaf to stop it permanently and you will be fine.”
“No, no, please,” he begged madly.
Azuaka tore his shirt and pulled out his finger to bury into his ribs. “No, I have never been hit by a bullet before. How did I get into this, oh my God?” He bit his lips, shut his eyes and pulled his head backward. “No!” he screamed.
Accompanied with an ocean of blood, the metal was out. Azuaka held it in his hand and dropped it on the ground. He tied his ribs with the woolen shirt and helped him to stretch across the ground. Slowly the woolen shirt turned red and dripped of blood.
“I am dying, son of man,” he whispered, rolling his eyes and shaking his head tiresomely. If I don’t make it forget about the software and save your life. Run to my hometown. You will be safer there.”
“Keep shut you’re not dying. We will go to your hometown together. We will get the software.”
Agu shut his eyes and stopped talking and Azuaka Jnr. brought his ears to his chest. “Son of man, son of man,” he called fearfully. He looked at his ribs and he was bleeding more profusely from his ribs. He shook him and slapped him gently. Agu opened his eyes and whispered, “I am dying. Fasten up my death by shooting a bullet into my skull. Kill me. Go ahead and shoot me. I want to die,” he said with the last breath he had.
Azuaka pulled his pistol at his skull, shut his eyes, and grinned hugely; almost pulling the trigger he declined and brought down his pistol. “I can’t kill you, I can’t kill you,” he cried.
As a vegetable Agu lay on the ground in his blood, breathed hard and feeling like breathing his last.
“You are not going to die; you will leave for me, for us for the software,” Azuaka assured him hugging him in tears as they sobbed.
The worst happened…