Chapter 34

Kabwegyre had been out on business far away in the north but came back very late in the evening.

It was already dusk when he drove his white Jaguar into the compound. Chuza wasted no time and informed her husband about their daughter's pregnancy. The person responsible was Jacob, he was told.

Kabwegyre could not believe his ears. But the die was cast. He roared as he said furiously, "What? Call that bastard here!"

A few minutes later, Jacob was in the lounge before the Kabwegyres. As he looked at the man who had treated him almost like his son, Jacob saw his face was mad with rage.

From a quiet and kind man, Kabwegyre had suddenly been transformed into a beast ready to devour him. Jacob had never seen him like that before. He knew trouble was brewing.

"Dad, did you ask me to come?" Jacob was scared to death.

"You ungrateful and disloyal fool. You've made my daughter pregnant, and now you call me dad?" Kabwegyre was now shouting hysterically.

"Dad, I always warned Lisa and even..."

"Shut up! And don't call me your dad." Kabwegyre's temper rose to its peak as he shouted, "Get out! Get out of my home. And I don't want to see you ever again in my life."

"Dad, I want to..."

"I said get the hell out of here before I call the police. Get lost!" Kabwegyre's face was now a mask of fury as he threatened.

From inside her bedroom, Lisa listened as Jacob was being ordered out of their home. She knew her father's hot temper could not be cooled down. When provoked, he could sometimes be as angry as a volcano ready to erupt.

In such moments, Kabwegyre could not listen to anyone. She knew she had lost the love of her life. Such realisation made her bury her face on the pillow, and she began to sob.

Meanwhile, in the lounge, Jacob realised he was risking being arrested if he continued pleading. The man had become as angry as a storm, uncontrollably overwhelming.

He slid out of the lounge and disappeared into the darkness. He thought of going to his room to pick his bag, but then became even more scared when it occurred to him Kabwegyre might change his mind and have him arrested.

He broke into a run and went past the gate. He was relieved when he saw the huge Alsatians never made any attempt to stop him. The powerful dogs were accustomed to his scent and did not consider him an enemy but a friend.

He slowed down his pace and looked behind him. No one was following him. He thought he was safe. But it was at night and did not know of any place he could seek shelter.

He walked slowly down the road, his head bowed down in submission. Jacob knew he was now in what appeared to be one of the most tough moments in his life since the day he escaped arrest as a shoplifter and pickpocket.

As he went down the road, he became very thoughtful and reflected on the way forward.

"Hey you, stop!" A voice roared out of the darkness a few yards from where he was, shattering the thoughts that were going on in his head.

Jacob stopped and listened. He knew he could recognise that voice anywhere in the world. It sounded like the voice of someone he had known during his childhood at Mubende.

Jacob turned his head and looked back. And then he saw them as they came rushing to him with torches flashing in the darkness.

He could not believe his eyes at what he saw. Facing him were two drunken soldiers who were fully armed and dressed in combat gear.

"Nice glittering object you've got on your neck. What is it, gold or diamonds?" One of the soldiers asked.

Jacob immediately recognised the voice and the man. Then he looked at the other soldier and recognised him too.

The two soldiers were his stepbrothers, Mukama and Nsubuga, whom he had run away from several years back. They had come back into his life to haunt him.

Jacob started feeling blood rushing in his veins, and his hair stood on edge as he stared helplessly at the barrel of the AK 47s, which pointed directly at him.