Chapter 32

I was in Punjab Corporation at 7.30 dot because the officer had warned me not to come late. Even without this warning, I couldn't envisage myself going late for work on my first day.

I reported in his office. He took me to an office and told me to sit down and wait for him. He left me almost immediately.

He was to return few minutes later with a Tuareg who he introduced as Mallam Daoud. Mallam Daoud will give you introduction lectures on your work. This room would be your office, he said and left me and the Tuareg together. 'I understand,'

said the Tuareg 'that you have first class in Economics.' I nodded with undisguised pride. This would mean' said the Tuareg, 'that you wouldn't need induction lectures'. I told him that this

wouldn't mean so. I said this because I knew that even a professor of Economics would need induction lectures before he can begin to work. 'If I should be allowed to speak,' said the Tuareg in a

politences full of omens 'I would say that a first class material in Economics knows practically everything in Economics and does not need induction lectures in any work connected with Economics.' I protested to him that even a Professor of Economics cannot know everything in the subject. The Tuareg ignored me as if he didn't hear. Instead he continued as he was doing before 'working on the theory that you can read and understand fast as a first class material' he said 'I will give you the files which I believe you will read and understand. The files will talk to you

on how to start your new job.' I protested to him that he needed to tell me what to do before I could use the file. 'In that case,' sajd he 'can you allow me a minute's absence?" He asked this question and left. The manner in which he showed politn- ess portended some danger. Mallam Daoud the Tuareg spoke to me in excess show of politeness which was alien to, the character of the majority of our people. Our people often become polite when they want to prove dangerous.

He returned shortly afterwards with the officer, who began to apologise immediately 'sorry. I made an initial mistake. Follow me' I followed them into the office of the officer. He sat down in

his usual seat. "We need to interview you in Economics in the first place and see how grounded you are in the subject.' I told them I

had no objection, knowing that the officer could hardly know as much Economics as I did.

The officer signalled the Tuareg who began thus: Punjab Corporation is an indigenous company with international trade links. We trade with the USSR, U.S.A., Latin American countries, the Caribbean Islands, South Africa and the Middle East. We want you to tell us the political, Economic, religious and cultural implications of these trades links in one sentence. The sentence should not be more than five words.' I considered both the Tuareg and the officer as mad people. I

don't see why I should be asked about political, religion or cultural implication of your business. I said. 'I am not a politician or a priest or an imam. Even if I should answer the question, it cannot be in one sentence. And even if it is in one sentence, five words which you limit me to cannot express it."

'I see what you mean,' said the Tuareg. We should have asked you only about economic implications The officer smiled for a reason I didn't know. Even the economic implications cannot be rende- ed in five words. It's a million dollar question' I said with a rising anger that I managed to supress

The officer smiled. Yet. you claim to have first class in Economics?" he asked. I suddenly

discovered that these people were not ready in the first place to employ anybody in their corporation. The Tuareg said suddenly 'let us see your certificate in Economics.' I knew this was going to lead to many things so I said with an edge If you are no longer going to recruit me tell me so that I can go!' The officer told me the matter wasn't like that, and that I should go to the office heshowed me and wait. I will give you your job in minute and you'd start working' he said. I left them and went to the office.

* I waited in the office patiently for two hours without any sign of either the Tuareg or the officer. After another thirty minutes there, making it two and half hours that I spent waiting for them,

I left the office. I took a taxi to Palma motors. My intention was to look for work there since I didn't know what Punjab Corporation was up to. In Palma Motors, I went to the recruiting officer in Room 40.

He was a pleasant looking bulky man with a child-like appearance. You are sure you can get through our screening?' he asked "We recruit only people of proven integrity. Although this shook me into hopelessness, I told him I could go through their screening exercise. The hudge man said if you have just graduated, we will find out everything about you from the first day you entered school. If you were a worker - and I guess you had worked before by merely looking at you we would find out everything about your working history. In short, your life history would be found out by our researchers.' I lost hope completely. I told him I admired them for their thoroughness. I

said this out of idleness because their way thoroughness would be my undoing. The huge man smiled and told me conspiratorially. 'I will tell you a secret. A big secret. We recruit people of integrity because of the policy of the compa- ny's proprietor. The proprietor owns many companies. He is a man of integrity and wants his employees to be so. He owns many compan- ies in anonymity. The proprietor is a wealthy man called Mohammed Ali.' I was taken by surprise. So I have entered another of Mohammed Ali's company without knowing.

Since this company researched into the background of its employees it would be unsafe for me to apply for a job in it because the management would come to know about my past and this may pass into the hands of its owner, Mohammed Ali. For all I know Mohammed Ali has not been aware of my true past because the

Institutes Director had fooled him by filling forms which claimed I had been a diligent worker in one of the institute outer before Mohammed Ali I should avoid asking for a job in Palma stations for seven years.

If I want to maintain my good image Motors so that my secrets wouldn't come to the open. And I

know that this Company's thorough researchers would find me out if I insist on working there. I would have to avoid Palma Motors without ever showing my face there again in order to succeed in getting employment in Ali Group of Companies.

Who is Mohammed Ali?" I asked for the sake of asking. "Subannlahi! Screamed the huge man you are a stranger!' I told him that I was indeed a stranger. 'Mohammed Ali is the richest billionaire

in this town.' he said 'He is a Kanuri with a wife of Persian blood.' The huge man produced a lengthy form and told me to fill in all the details before the company's researchers could begin

to investigate my claims in the form. 'Since you are obviously a man of integrity there is nothing to fear' he said. I received the forms from him, knowing very well that I wasn't going to fill them.

Thanking him for giving me the form I left his office and told him that I would return the forms, completely filled, as soon as possible. This was a stark lie.

I picked a taxi and asked him to take me to Punjab corporation. I guessed by now that the officer and the Tuareg could have arranged the things with which I would start work in the corporation. When I reached the Corporation I headed for the office which I was told would be my office. Entering the office, I saw a note with my name on it. I picked it and opened it. The

short information ran thus:

Dear Mr Iyortyer,

I am directed to inform you that, for showing yourself to be an absentee from office even though you were just recruited,

- your appointment with Punjab Corporation is hereby terminated.

The termination takes immediate effect.

Jibrin Farouk

For: Secretary.