The hoarse voice over me dragged me back to consciousness. It was loud and gritty, like the voice of an auctioneer who knew he would be going home with a handsome commission. I opened my eyes and found the face with the hoarse voice close to mine. The smell of gin strong and fresh rose from his breath. I heard other voices at the background, and they sounded far and incoherent—surreal. My back felt cold, and I realized was lying on the ground.
I shut my eyes and held my breath.
'This one is almost dead,' the voice thundered over me and the smell of gin got stronger. He shoved my legs apart with the thick shoe he wore, and then he went through my pockets, shoving his hand into and out fast, like a pickpocket working in a hurry. 'There is nothing on him apart from this old phone. Selling it could buy five packs of B and H.'
He stood up from me, taking away the alcoholic breath with him, and I took a deep breath. The sound of his shoes grew faint, and I opened my eyes slowly. It was a mistake. A surge of pain sped from my forehead to the rest of my head with the speed of fireworks spreading over the sky.
I closed my eyes again, hoping the headache would go away. But I felt the stabs of pain again and opened my eyes in a hurry. I groaned and raised my head slightly up and stared into the headlights of a car parked opposite my position. The voices got louder and more coherent and they came in the direction of the car. I touched my nose and felt the caked blood in my nostrils. I whimpered from the wave of another pain and brought my head back to its original place on the floor.
Where is Eric? I thought. Where is Tolu? Are they dead?
I heard the steps coming back. The thought of his breath forced me to turn on my side. He grabbed my head and turned me on my back again and his huge face appeared in my view. The smell of the gin coming from his mouth punched my nostrils again and again.
'He is breathing at last,' he said and rose up, thankfully. 'The lucky bastard is alive.'
He turned and walked away, and I took another deep breath.
'So...so...where...where...are you taking the…the…the white guy to?' An unrecognized voice close to the car said.
'It's a cocoa factory in Iledel,' Eric said. 'We will keep him there until the ransom is paid.'
I sat bold upright.
Eric is alive, I thought. Where is Tolu? Where is Maria?
Then the thought of Mr. Potter also came to mind. Where is he? Is he alive?
'How much are you asking for?' the gritty voice that spoke over me said. 'How many millions?'
'We haven't decided yet,' Eric returned. His voice was calmed but unfriendly.
I heard the corking of a gun.
'You are lying,' Mr. Brute said. 'You lie because you don't want us to be part of the game. Tell me how much you are asking for or I will shoot your leg.'
There was a pause and whole area became quiet except for the crickets' chirpings.
'Are you telling me, or do you want me to drill holes in your legs?' Mr. gritty, coarse voice, AKA the Brute threatened. I could see him clearly now and his gun was pointing at Eric's legs. 'I mean it, cockroach. Tell or I shot.'
'One hundred thousand pounds,' Eric said.
'What's the equivalent in naira?' Mr. Brute demanded.
'I don't know,' Eric retorted. 'Do the math yourself.'
'Don't mess with me,' Mr. Brute said. 'I will shoot your kneecap open.'
'It's...it's....al...alright, Joseph,' the stammering voice I heard before said. 'That's...that's....about...about twenty-five million naira. Right...right, Mr. Eric?'
'Twenty-five million!' Joseph the Brute said and whistled. 'Twenty-five million. Wow! Boss, here we are risking our lives for peanuts on this godforsaken road while these losers make all the big money.' He waved the gun to left and to the right. 'We need a change of business, boss. Armed robbery is riskier and what do we get? Dead phones, old ipads and chicken change.'
'Don't call us losers,' Maria's voice stroke through the midnight air. Maria is also alive! I thought But where is Tolu? 'This is our show,' Maria added. 'You have collected our phones and money, now leave us alone. You are armed robbers, not kidnappers.'
'I will call you whatever I want!' Joseph roared. 'Who needs your cheap, dead phones when there is twenty-five million to be picked? Take your stupid phone.' I heard the sound of the metal hitting the ground. 'We are taking over this racket from you.' He took a step forward and stood close to Maria. 'And don't talk dirty to me; I might get interested in you and you won't like it.'
'Joseph, we...we...are not here for that,' the boss said. He turned to Eric. 'Pick...pick...pick your...your... phones and go back. We won't harm you. All...all... I want... is the white man, and...and... you are…you are… scot free. I assure...assure.... you of—.'
'But this is our snatch!' Eric protested. 'You guys are armed robbers, not kidnappers. Stick to your business and allow us to stick to ours.'
'Didn't you hear what I said?' Joseph shouted and turned the gun on Eric. 'We just changed our business model. Dracula, the boss, has spoken and his word is the last command.' He waved the gun again, pointing the nozzle between Eric and Maria. 'Now get out of here or your bodies will rot under these trees.'
I tried to get up then, but the pain in my head came back and forced me back to the sitting position. I could see more clearly now. I saw a short guy standing between Joseph and Eric and I guessed he was Dracula. From the confident way he stood, I figured he was the one Joseph referred to as the boss. He held a short gun in his hand. Another man stood beside the group of four, closer to the car. He also held a gun pointing at Maria and Eric.
Where is Mr. Potter? Where is Tolu? Are they dead?
The sneeze came from my left, and it startled me. I turned slowly and saw the unmistakable blue T-shirt Tolu had worn before we left the house. Tolu sat on the road, about ten paces away, his head bended. I got up slowly—the way old men got up when they have sat for too long—and took the first step toward him. Pain screamed from every part of my head, and I gave up on taking the next. I clutched my head with both hands and waited. I stood this way awhile, allowing the blackness that clouded my vision and the pain to go away.
'Boss,' another voice called behind me. 'This one is up.'
'Bring...bring... him here,' Dracula barked. 'Let him join the...the...party.'
I turned slowly to the man standing behind me, opening my eyes in the process. He stood tall, about six foot and he came nearer, with the gun pointing at my midsection. He was the one I saw standing by the car.
He reached me and stopped. 'Walk, kidnapper, walk,' he said.
'I can't walk,' I whispered. 'My head…'
'Move!' he ordered and shoved me forward. 'Move or I will stamp my boot on your buttocks.'
I staggered forward and would have fallen if he hadn't grabbed my hand and steadied me. 'Walk straight,' he warned. 'If you fall, I will shoot you dead.'
I walked unsteadily and threw a glance at Tolu. He had gotten up on his hands and knees with his face looking downward. He lifted one hand to stand up, but collapsed forward and ploughed the ground with his face.
'Urrghhh,' he groaned.
Eric rushed and kneeled beside him. 'Let me help you up.'
'Leave him,' Joseph the brute shouted, and turned the gun on Eric's back. 'Get back to your position or I will shoot.' He corked the gun. 'Get back!'
Eric lifted Tolu. I could see Tolu's face now, and even in the scarce light, I could see the blood on his face. He staggered again, but Eric held him until he stood upright.
'Eric!' I cried, but it was too late.
Joseph's gun connected with Eric's head before he could turn around. The impact shot Eric through the air to sprawl on the ground, his face downward. Tolu staggered a couple of steps and collapsed to the ground too, groaning.
Maria ran to Eric and fell over him like a hen over her chick. She turned to Joseph. 'Leave him alone. What has he done to you?'
Joseph turned the gun on Maria's head. 'Move away or I will cut your head from your body. Move!'
'Leave him alone,' Maria snarled back. 'Leave him alone.'
Eric got up from ground. 'I wish you will keep the gun aside and let's see how strong you are.'
Joseph laughed. 'Don't kid yourself. I will strangle you with my bare hands and cut your parts into tiny bits fit for birds.' He took another step forward. 'Now move back to your positions.'
Maria walked back to the jeep and Eric bent down and heaved Tolu upward. Tolu struggled up and stood gingerly.
Joseph leveled the gun at them. 'I said leave him alone.'
Eric and Tolu stood like two war ravaged soldiers faced with an armed enemy.
'He can't stand,' Eric said and I heard the anger in his voice. 'He can't stand. He needs help.'
Joseph moved another step closer and raised the gun over Eric's head. 'Let him go…'
'St...St...Stop!' Dracula barked. He raised his left hand upward. 'St...Stop.'
Joseph's hands stopped midair, as if casted in dried cements. His gaze remained on Eric and Tolu, but he brought down his hand slowly.
'Don't ...touch...him,' Dracula said. 'Let him...let him help.'
Joseph took a step backward and brought the gun down to his side. He stood as straight as a robot, and when a breeze charged over us, his unbuttoned shirt rose up behind him like a Batman's cloak. I looked up and saw the clouds whispering to each other to come together.
Eric lifted Tolu and they walked toward the left side of the road where the car we came in was parked. It stood in front of the small tree we had hit—now cut into two parts. Eric opened the back door and lowered Tolu unto the seat; I could hear his pants from where I stood.
My assailant—still standing behind me—notched me forward and I lurched, almost falling to the ground.
'Get to your car,' he said and shoved me again. I wobbled toward the Peugeot, one ginger step after the other, while the hammering in my head kept rising and falling. We got to the car at last and my assailant opened the back door.
'Get in,' he shouted.
I lowered my head into the car. I felt the shape of his shoes on my bottoms and then I sprawled into the car. My head rammed into Tolu's chest, and he winced.
'Sorry,' I said and held my head. I saw white dots moving around in circles in my vision before disappearing into the thin air. 'Take it easy.'
Tolu groaned.
'Where is Mr. Potter?' I asked.
Tolu groaned. 'In their car.'
'In that jeep?'
I looked through the open door and saw Joseph the Brute ushering Maria toward us. Maria walked and turned, turned and walked, keeping a safe distance from them. Joseph followed her with the gun at the ready, as if wishing her to give him a reason to use it.
Maria jumped into the car and closed the door. Joseph laughed and turned back towards the jeep. The jeep started as the sky rumbled. The jeep reversed and headed back toward the expressway, its rear light bright and red.
'So long, losers,' Joseph said as the jeep tore away, taking Mr. Potter away. I felt like a farmer who had lost his family and village at the end of a war; there was nowhere else to turn to.
The jeep's sound died away, and the echoes of crickets, owls and bats returned. We sat in the car, starring after the jeep's tail until it disappeared, and darkness swallowed us. No one spoke a word and we remained in the darkness, each to his or her thoughts. Eric faced the front, looking through the partly smashed windscreen of the car.
'I will get him if the devil himself is his father,' he said. 'I will get my twenty-five million back no matter what it takes.'
No one backed or rejected what he said. But the question on everybody's mind, I guessed, was how he would do it. They had automatic weapons; we had one toy gun.
'We have to go,' I said. 'We can't sleep in this place. Let's get back to Lagos and think of what to do next.'
Eric turned the ignition. The car stuttered and died. He tried it again; this time it wined, crackled and stopped.
'This car is busted,' Eric said. 'It can't get us out of here.'
Tolu moaned. 'My uncle will roast me alive if he finds out. What am I going to do?'
I thought about Talatu and cared less about Tolu and his uncle. There was no way to fight for her now since Mr. Potter had been taken away. It was clear—clear as the stars looking down on us—that the doctor had won.
Pain reined and twisted my heart, turning it into a big sore in my chest. Talatu was gone, I was sure of that now. I would have nothing to woo her back with; nothing to assure her that a future with me would be better than with the doctor. The doctor would give her comfort and other overseas' opportunities. I would have none of that to give—
The cry tugged me out of my thoughts. It came from the front seat, and at first, I thought it was Maria. It took me several seconds before I realized it came from Eric. The cry wasn't a shriek; it was a sob, and it carried the sound of despair and hopelessness. Its sadness crawled into my soul with the pain of a spear passing through a woman's chest and coming out at the back.
We allowed Eric to cry on. We allowed him because we knew his pain and we knew his hopelessness. We knew he was crying for all of us.