Chapter Twelve

 There is nothing without what someone longs for, because the only thing considered sacrosanct is the thing that comes from the wish. And the most abundant and scarce in life, without doubt, is a choice. It is steering, it is a mirror, it can protect, and it can kill. Nevertheless, everyone on his or her own choice. Ifunanya was living with Chikeliuba, not physical but mentally. However, in practice since she received the letter, her life has became an epitome to some young girls, and not only young girls but everyone who gives up in a blink of an eyes. She believed that she has trial herself and won the trial for having one of the most extraordinary choice over what she really believed in.Of course, anyone who really understood her history, together with Chikeliuba must term both as people with great passion, well prepared, and full of courage. Every morning, she would bring out the letter she received and read it over and over again. Reading it is seeing Chikeliuba, is like dealing with real life to her. She is not after treasure, because she believed that in the moral diverse, it is our souls that's all we have. And the roof over our heads are our choices. "I am quite glad that I can only suffer from the choice I made". She reiterated inwardly. She is living her life rest assured that God will protect him, so that he could fulfilled the promise in the letter he sent to her. She intended to write another letter to receive another warm letter but she later thought it is asking too much. There, she resolved to deal with the letter at hand, which worth millions unwritten. "What more can I do?" She asked. "Let me keep on waiting as he really recited in his letter". She answered. She is waiting as she was asked in the letter but in far away something that was very mysterious happened but the good thing is that she has her soul. 

Consequently, they must suffer from the choice they made, no doubt about it."I am here to help everyone including them, when they are about to give up I intervened, with palpable guidelines to their struggle, and go on to encourage their efforts. When they come, I don't think consulting fees has any impact but to make them succeed. Every choice comes with a consequence. Once you make a choice, you must accept the responsibility, you cannot escape the consequences of your choices, whether you like them or not". Site Manager emphasized. The emphasis came immediately some policemen came to him for investigation over the death of the agent who took over the gold to the buyers. Though, first arrest has taken place, and it fell over Mazi Chetechi and his team."I could have given them a better agent who is genius and careful in dealing with people's treasure. The said man, I could have introduced to them, must have shared common personality with Daddy Celebrant. But, since they entrusted their success to unsuccessful fellow, who didn't know what it takes to be successful, there is a logic that they can become a culprit or accuser, in the midway. But that is the choice they made, maybe they didn't know it wouldn't work out the way they thought. Behind that beauty lies the true colours that will destroy in the near future", Site Manager stressed. But that is the choice they made. "I hope someday they would be happy again, but not now. No! Not now!" He cried passionately, since, he held them at high esteem. 

Nevertheless, none of them had ever being to jail or committed a crime that led to police custody but look at them now. Someone like Mazi Chetechi was said that, he got sick each time he passes police station. Not that he discredit their outrageous service to keep people and their properties safe but naturally, he felt that police station itself stinks. Because, sometimes, there would be a glaring truth but the truth could still lay idle without making it to be functional. Today, he is a victim of his previous notion over the police. "The people who killed the agent were his rivals, in the gold merchant but police must do its investigation, in order to ascertain the truth. The question is, when are they going to separate black from the white? Since it is not now, when?" He asked inwardly.I have searched for the meaning of life, in the Bible, in every book, across the bridge, under the sea, in the forest and everywhere, but still it is only choice that appears. That means the meaning of life depends on the choice we make". Mazi Chetechi said . "Oh, what happened in "The Pearl" has happened to me, now I am another Kino, whom his treasure has put him in outrageous whirlwind of trouble. I am in trouble, I am in real trouble, it is this kind of choice my mother used to warn me over, and over, I am in trouble". He continued shouting, while Dona Udoba, a brave fellow among them consoled everyone, including Mazi Chetechi, whom his anguish and crying couldn't be contained anymore, because he red it in the book and lives it out. Unarguably, naturally he tried to avoid the same mistake but finally failed to natural mystic. 

"It is hard, but what next, what can we do?" Kaodilichukwu asked. He also sparked a great stir in the station with his munching, which led a police officer to question his choice over munching. The police officer was eagerly looking at him, trying to figure out what exactly was he doing. He felt he was little bit insane, and healthy as well. When the police officer tried a lot to stop him, from munching, and the action wasn't cordial with him. He said to him, "officer, don't try to bend me till I break, because of choice I made, indeed nobody is perfect".Again, Dona Udoba intervened, and reduced the rancour of the officer, together with acrimony in him to mere personal emotions. 

There are people who go to prison, but their mind isn't imprisoned, though, such people are mostly innocence, but suffering, because of inadequate information and mistake at night. Chikeliuba is one of the example, he was in jail but his mind wasn't in jail, his mind was with Ifunanya. He acted deeply funny at the last moment they were thrown inside jail, he said something very funny too.After the judge has read his judgment, which reiterated that they would be remanded in jail until further information and investigation that would proofs them innocence. He raised his hand up, and objected to say something. The judge allowed him to say whatever he wishes, and maybe he wanted to make a reasonable confession.He said, "we have made a wrong decision to entrust our treasure to a ghost, there are people who are walking but they are ghost. I didn't conspired to kill, I am innocent. As it is, it will take time before our innocence can be proved. Alas, we have little privilege to speak now before law would finally gap us. But judge, I want to ask for help, I received a letter from my girlfriend, which I often recite each time I am in difficulty, can you allow me to go to jail with the letter, it will help me to endure till our innocence could be proved. It is my choice too, since the choice we made over the ghost agent is stinking grave". The judge look at him pitifully and asked the guard to allow him to go with the letter. 

The judge also allowed Dona Udoba to speak as he copied from Chikeliuba. The judge asked him, what do you want to add. He said, I will be spending time in jail, suffering, because of two choice which have different background. But I am happy that I will be in jail thinking, remembering that I didn't commit murder. I am only suffering, because of a ghost in human body we entrusted our treasure. I am glad that in the jail, when people are given name according to their crimes, I cannot bear the name murderer even if it will cost my life. Forever I am an innocent!" He shouted. As he wanted to stop shouting, used the last opportunity to utter another sorrowful words, hear him; what did I do to deserve this? I have my trust in God, worked everyday for my life, thought I have some guarantees, that's what I thought, at least that's what I thought. Alas, I still price honour more than life. And out of vast and diverse of every heart responsibility, the mouth speaks. What my mouth speaks is that I am an innocent". 

Pocket your sorrows, said the judge. That is the last time they appeared in a public view.