Djumara Doniah

Raymond, who had been equally startled by the sudden manifestation of Djuma's magical abilities, endeavored to diffuse the tension that had settled over the store. 

Rushing toward Djuma, he positioned himself to face the crowd. "He's a magician! Yippee!" he exclaimed in a futile attempt to downplay the significance of what they had just witnessed.

But Djuma seemed utterly indifferent to the commotion he had caused. With an aura of nonchalance, he began to walk slowly out of the store, leaving the stunned patrons to struggle with the implications of what they had just seen.

Raymond hastened to the attendant to settle the payment for the oxygen tank before swiftly turning to follow Djuma. As he emerged from the store, he confronted him, his frustration and lingering fear evident in his tone. "How could you do that in front of everyone?! What were you thinking?"

"I had to make myself clear when you kept asking me questions. Anything I lay my hands upon will appear before me whenever I need it. I just have to touch them beforehand," Djuma explained, his voice devoid of emotion as he walked toward the car.

"Does that mean...?" Raymond's voice trailed off, unable to articulate the dreadful thought that had crossed his mind. "Don't tell me I'm going to disappear like the tank, you touched me earlier."

Djuma turned to regard him for a moment. Then, without warning, his eyes began to glow. His body started to levitate, as though defying the laws of gravity. Raymond's eyes darted wildly, his fear spiking as he grasped his arm, pulling him back down to the ground, desperate to prevent him from floating away and drawing even more attention to himself.

The patrons, who had witnessed Djuma's earlier display of magical power, were now peering out at them through the transparent glass of the store.

Raymond knew that if Djuma continued to exhibit his abilities, they would soon attract a much larger crowd, and things would escalate rapidly. With a sense of urgency, he attempted to steer Djuma toward his car, hoping to get him out of the public eye before things spiraled out of control.

However, Djuma suddenly flipped his eyes open, his gaze boring into Raymond's with an unnerving intensity. "Your mother is in danger!" he declared. "Go and save her before it's too late."

Raymond's grip on Djuma's arm faltered, and he took a step back, his expression twisted in disdain. "That's not funny, man. Stop your nonsense joke," he retorted, attempting to brush off Djuma's ominous warning.

But Djuma's intense stare only grew more piercing. "You didn't turn off the gas cylinder before you left," he stated, his voice now loud and menacing. "She's going to get herself killed!"

Raymond's eyes widened in horror as the memory of his oversight came flooding back. He had indeed forgotten to turn off the gas cylinder in the kitchen, and now his elderly mother, who was managing the restaurant on her own, was at risk of succumbing to carbon monoxide poisoning or, worse still, a devastating explosion. 

The kitchen was a confined space, and the accumulation of gas could prove catastrophic. His mother, unaware of the danger lurking in the kitchen, might continue to work, oblivious to the ticking time bomb that threatened to unleash a disaster.

The thought sent a chill down Raymond's spine, and he felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins as he gasped, "Oh my God! How do you know?"

"Do you wish to comprehend the intricacies of my knowledge, or would you rather prioritize saving your mother from the impending danger?" Djuma inquired.

Raymond, galvanized by Djuma's words, sprang into action. "Come on, let's go!" he exclaimed, his voice raised in a frantic appeal as he hastily ignited the engine of his car.

Djuma, however, declined his invitation, shaking his head in a firm refusal as he waved his hand briskly in a gesture of dismissal.

"Christy is nearby, and I can sense her presence," he replied. "Go and save your mother; time is running out."

Raymond brought out his phone and dialled a number. As the receiver picked up, he muttered some words into his cellphone and hung up. As he prepared to depart, Djuma stepped closer to him, extending a courteous farewell.

"It was nice meeting you, Raymond Woods," he said, his tone gracious and polite for the first time since they met.

Raymond, still reeling from the extraordinary events that had transpired, managed to produce a smile. "Do you guys have names where you come from?" he asked.

Djuma smiled a bit larger. "I am Djumara Doniah," he replied enigmatically.

Raymond nodded as he chuckled lightly, expressing his gratitude and admiration for the mysterious stranger.

"Goodbye, Djumara. I'll never forget this," he said.

With that, he ignited his car and sped off into the distance, leaving Djuma standing alone on the pavement. 

Djuma turned to face the onlookers, who were still staring at him in awe and wonder. He winked amateurishly at them and, with a nonchalant demeanour, began to walk toward the nearby intersection, disappearing into the crowd as he went about his mysterious ways.

*****

"What in the world did you just say?" Dr. Idris exclaimed into his cellphone, his voice escalating as he held the device firmly to his ear. "You lost her a full hour ago, and you're only now deigning to inform me?"

"Alright, alright! Where exactly did you lose her?" Dr. Idris's queries were rapid-fire, his words tumbling forth in a frenzied attempt to glean more information.

"Pennsylvania Avenue? You must-"

His words were abruptly truncated as Lara burst into the office, her breathing labored and her expression tense. "Sir, we have a situation!" she announced urgently.

Dr. Idris's gaze snapped toward her. "What is it?" he demanded.

"The bat has arrived on our planet, sir," Lara said, her words spilling forth in a rapid, staccato rhythm. "Mr. John and the NPS personnel are already en route to capture him."

Dr. Idris quickly terminated his call, his attention now focused intently on Lara. "He's already arrived? Just how fast is this creature?" he wondered aloud, his astonishment and alarm mingling in a potent cocktail.

"He was last spotted in the vicinity of Pennsylvania Avenue," Lara replied succinctly. But her words precipitated a dramatic reaction from Dr. Idris.

He sprang to his feet, his movements betraying a deep-seated anxiety. As he drew closer to Lara, his countenance reflected the turmoil that was brewing within him. "Did you say Pennsylvania?" he asked, seeking to verify the information.

Lara nodded affirmatively, a look of confusion etched upon her face as she struggled to comprehend the reason behind Dr. Idris's sudden display of fear. "Is something amiss, sir?" she inquired.

"Damn it! Christina is also in Pennsylvania," he exclaimed as he made his way back to his desk. He glanced at Lara once more. "Prepare the necessary arrangements; we must depart immediately!" he ordered.

"Yes, sir!" Lara replied instantly, her words accompanied by a swift nod as she led the way out of the office with Dr. Idris following closely behind.

*****

"Djumara!?" The name echoed in Christina's mind. The bald man's eyes seemed to gleam knowingly, as if he could see the recognition dawning on her face.

"Why are you here, Djuma?" Christina quipped. "It hasn't been a full twenty-four hours since your departure, and yet, here you are, back already. Why do you come back here?"

"And what about Mike? Was he aware of your intention to come here?"

Djuma nodded vigorously, his movements almost emphatic. "Of course, he instructed me to come and fetch..." He paused momentarily, his eyes locking onto Christina's as he searched for confirmation. "Have you spoken with him today?"

Christina's head moved slowly from side to side, a gentle shake that conveyed her negative response. "I've attempted to reach him on several occasions, but he's been unresponsive," she replied. "He may still be asleep, but during our conversation last night, he didn't mention anything about sending you to retrieve me."

Djuma's eyes flickered behind his sunglasses, a fleeting moment of uncertainty that he quickly masked. "He must have wanted to surprise you," he said. "He was preparing to enter the memory pool when I departed, and he expressed a desire for you to be by his side."

The words flowed effortlessly from his lips, but the subtle tremble in his eyes betrayed the fact that he was deceiving Christina.