EIGHT: THE TRICKSTER

Akin unfortunately could not be as calm as the man. He was only trying to appear calm and ease his racing heart while he was literally shaking in his boots– or flops. The man before him is the legendary ‘Skull!’.

Outfitted in a dark blue long-sleeve shirt with the chest button undone, revealing the smooth fair skin and heavy-looking gold pendant hanging from a thick gold chain lying beneath. His lips are pale almost pink, and his eyes, a piercing honey brown with a curly mop of hair crowning his head, and a dark short beard on his chin. His lean muscles granted a graceful bulge to the tight shirt outlining his powerful arms. Before Akin could formulate a reply the sound of hurried footsteps approaching came from behind him and he turned around heart in mouth to see the dreaded Street Lord– the last person he wanted to see in this situation coming up the stairs.

Before he even stepped foot in the hallway, the Street Lord's eyes met with Akin's and he opened his mouth, but whatever he was going to say got stuck in his throat as he caught sight of the shadow of another person behind the boy, someone who is now trying to tilt his head around the boy to get a better look at the intruder. Na Skull! The Street Lord's heart jumped in fear and he instinctively bowed his head shouting out his apologies with fear palpable in his voice. What if the boy is Skull's errand boy and he learns that he had planned to traffic the kid? Why else would the kid keep climbing up the building instead of exiting it and fleeing when he had escaped from the room he locked him in? Doom has no other definition, he must make himself scarce! Hence bowing one more time, this time to Akin and signaling him not to mention their brief encounter with more apologies, ‘Young boss, abeg pardon my ignorance and any inconveniences I don cause una ehn! Abeg...’ he turned and fled down the stairs.

While Skull was puzzled about this short episode and wondered why one of his men was bowing to the kid before him and what the said kid's identity was, Akin understood what was going on and figured out how to use this to his advantage. Turning to Skull, he cleared his throat, more calm and clear-headed, and straightened his shoulders with renewed confidence. ‘Na me be the new Overlord for Jeff' so. All dem small time “Street rats and Senior Street boys and Pimps” dey for ma control. Una Falcons and Lords wey dey follow you work sef get my fear for dem body. Aje! dem no fit do their paro– their business– for downtown if dem no get my go ahead. As a fellow Overlord wey get power dey control dem big Lords and Street Falcons, I say make I come halla you my levels. You don grab? ehn ehn’.

Skull was confused, if he understood the boy before him correctly he had the unorganized street rats and thugs called senior street rats under control and they did his bidding? That's impossible, no one can control the thugs' activities especially not the small-time street rats that loiter in the alleyways and pickpockets. Or perhaps because he came from amongst them he was able to achieve such a thing? Intrigued, Skull decided to humor the boy, and even if nothing came from his claims he'd be amused. ‘So wetin you dey try yarn be say you don become an overlord for downtown and you come to pay your respects to me Jefferson's big boss and get my permission to join my party?’

‘Una don change some things to butter yourself up, but you get am’ Akin replied with increasing confidence.

‘But how you wan take proof am nah.’

‘Why I go wan waste my time dey show you proof say I be boss for my area’

‘You no go follow us do “THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY?” Na my party nah, and you gats to show say you get mouth, you get level, to show your face make your shoe shine! Make dem sabi say you fit turn up.’ Skull argued already finding amusement in the back and forth.

Akin was stumped, but not for long he remembered the Street Lord's attitude when he caught a glimpse of Skull behind him, Skull is feared all over Jefferson's, and his reputation precedes him, even if people try to cheat him and boycott his goods and money, it's a different scenario when he's before them in person. If he can somehow recreate what happened with the Street Lord then he just might get a free ticket to a feast tonight– Jackpot!

Asking Skull to follow him close enough to observe but not too closely, he left the building and the grounds of the ‘tower’ this time more freely and easily as the surrounding Street Lords paid their respects to Skull from a respectable distance and eye him with curiosity.

Crossing the road with Skull stalking him closely behind, he saw the Street Falcons who had kidnapped him on this very road looking around the nearby buildings for him. A glance at their hideout told him they'd successfully put out the fire he started. ‘Bones!’ he called out loud enough for them to hear him but not loud enough for Skull who's yet to cross the road behind him to hear. ‘I don bring retribution jam you and una guys.’