Chapter 21: CHAPTER 23
"So, What do you want me to do?" Mikel stood up now to give her his full attention.
"Fix things, let's get back at track like before. Let's get the best for ourselves out of this business! We are risking our lives to get rich; to build better lives for ourselves and families. Not host a charity"
"Very well then....would you like to take over and be the leader?" He asked.
She only glared at him but said nothing.
"Thought as much" Mike said.
"I just want you to accord me enough respect and stop getting my way when ever i want to exert my authority. You have totally belittled me before everyone"
"You literally mean that i should let you torture and oppress the captives simply because they are at our mercy?"
"Why do you care so much about them anyway? You don't know much about this people!"
"Because they are humans"
"Just people? Is that why you have been looking at that Dorathy girl the way you do? You only showed someone much care towards her because she's human?"
"On, what if i like her?" He flatly said.
Sandra's brows drew together in surprise then she scoffed. "Tell me you're kidding ?"
"No, am not"
"You really like her?!" She nervous asked in dread, her voice a bit shaky.
"Maybe" He gave a subtle shrug.
"You can't like her" She suddenly burst.
"Why not?"
Sandra started to stutter. "Be.....cause...be..cau....se...i...i....i" She finally gave up and huffed. "YOU CAN'T LIKE HER! NO WAY!!!!"
Mikel gave a sly smile now. "You're not the boss of me, Remember?"
Sandra was about to reply when the heaven suddenly released the rain and it came pouring down so heavily and loudly. She glared at Mikel as she battled within herself from reaching her hand and slapping him hard on the face, she turned and angrily walked into the rain. Disappearing out sight. She knew just what to do! There are a lot of things to put back in order in this camp and she was going to do it whether Mike approve it or not.
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A week later...
"Where did you go?" The fat man, Nnamdi, asked his wife. He has been anxious about her absence since she was the only one missing amongst them all. "The other women returned from taking their bath since but you were no where to be found" He complained.
"I went to ease myself" His young wife, Adanna, reluctantly replied as she sat down close to him.
"Ease yourself for almost one hour?" The man asked in disbelief. "What kind of urine is that? How Can you be gone for that long?"
"I also took shit" she quickly added.
"Adanne..." He started to say when Bosco approached the enclosure, interrupting them.
"Hey! All the men come out, its time to go gather some fire wood for tonight dinner".
The fat man gut up with grunt, shut his wife suspicious and displeased look then walked away.
When he was gone, Adanna let out a long disrespectful hiss. "Every time monitoring me like monitoring spirit" She complained within her self. "Someone one can not go anywhere without him asking stupid questions" She said to no one in particular but was pretty sure that everyone around years her.
"How about you stop cheating on your husband and focus on your marriage?" Onome said.
Adanna glared at her. "What do you mean by that nonsense?"
"Cut the pretence" Said Onome. "Almost everyone of us knows that you have not been faithful. You and that Shawty guy had been having sex nonstop".
Adanne gave her a hard look. "And how is that your business?" She fired. "How is that any of you people's business?" She rudely asked the others. "You people should look away and pretend you see nothing! Everyone of you should mind their business! Abeg".
"If you are not going to stay faithful, why then did you marry him?" An older woman in her middle fifties asked then clapped her hands in wonder and disgusting. "All this women of this generation. Back in our days, we were so afraid to look at another man, let alone open our legs for him. But some women of this generation, you just do stupid things without batting eye".
"Thank you very much. Your generation was full of dumb and docile women and am more than glad that am not part of it. " Adanne retorted. " How about you focus on your getting out of here instead of you playing righteous. I will not be surprised if that daughter in-law of yours whom you are going to visit for Omugwo is also a cheat. Who knows? The baby might not even be your grandchild!"
"God forbid" The elder woman quickly said, clicking her fingers sharply at Adanne. "Am very sure that my son did not take a woman like you down to the alter!"
"Wait until he dies in a heart attack after DNA test!"
"You are a very vile woman with a foul mouth" The woman spat.
"Mama, you should have stayed out of my business" Adanna said,clicking her tongue.
"I pray that your husband catches you red handed one day and very soon" Said the woman.
"Wish all you want, even if he does, he needs me" Adanne gloated.
Tired of the argument, Dorathy who had been quite finally spoke. "Please, can we all stop fighting each other? Ever since we came here, we are now like a family. In fact, we know each other stories to an extent. How about we act as one, cooperate with this people and get our freedom. Who knows, we might never even cross path again. But while we are still all together, lets make the best of it while we can".
"Yes, it's easy for you to say. Who else is bold enough to preach unity if not the one who gets all the privileges from the boss himself". Adanne said snidely.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Dorathy asked.
"Exactly what it is" Stated Adanna. "I get the fingers pointed at me when you are really not different from me! What makes you special? Is it because you are a foreigner? Only you keeps getting the privileges all the time!".
"Why do you hear grudges with me when i have done nothing wrong? Is it my fault that i have been chosen to be favoured?" Adanna asked. "I didn't ask for any of this".
"Why would you, when you are obviously sleeping with the boss!" Adanna said in obvious jealousy.
Dorathy's eyes narrowed in a shock frown. "Am not sleeping with the boss!" She refuted.
"Tell that to fools! Who else here pretends they had not noticed the way he looks at or talks to you? And he only does that to you! You!"
"And how is that your business?" Onome quickly interceded on Dorothy's behalf. "So, Shawty's own is not enough for you, now you want to get a taste of Mikel, about ?"
"Who called you into this matter?" Adanne fired back.
"I thought you said we should all mind our business?! Why are you not following your own advice?! Its just a pity that a man as good as your husband ended up wife-ing a hoe like you".
"Yet, I'm not the one who has a child out of wedlock!" Adanne said, throwing a cold glance at innocent Janet.
Just then, Ahmad approached the tent and they all went quiet. He was holding a packet of varieties of goodies ranging from chocolate, lollipops to cookies.
"Jane" Ahmad called.
"Yes" The little girl who was leaning against her mother, sat up.
Ahmad stretched the package down towards her. "This is for you, from the boss".
The little girl got up and she took the package and stared into it, a smile spread on her face. "Thank you" Onome could not help but grin, and others stare in surprise with smile on their beside Adanne who was still Scowling.
"Don't mention" Ahmad said to the little girl then shifted his gaze at the mother. "Onome, the boss said i should inform you that you and your daughter will be living in three days time".
Onome's slowly grew round in surprise but she was puzzled. "Leaving? How? Why? But my family cannot afford the ransom" Her voice laced in fear. Where they going to lead those who couldn't pay into the bush and shoot them death so that they would stop being a liability? Was this just a ploy to end her life and her daughter?.
"Yes, we know, but someone who had chosen to be anonymous has already paid the ransom for you". Ahmad replied, shooting a glance at Dorathy but no one noticed.
As One began to sporadically than him in a fervent manner, Ahmad simply smiled and walked away while Dorathy quickly hugged Onome in joy and relief. She was glad that Mikel had finally agreed to her proposal to accept a ransom from her and set mother and daughter free.
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