Episode 7
I dodged. He swiped it again. I twisted , grabbed his arm. A swift blow to his left jaw. We struggled. I slapped the knife off his fingers. Abdul lost focus. Good one. I thought stipidly to my own detriment. Should I be thinking?
Bunduglles!! He rammed a blow into my left arm. The spot where I had taken a gun shot. The pain stung my entire system. I fell instantly to the floor and kicked off Abdul. He had jumped upon me .
Everything Happened fast. I launched up like a wounded buffalo. I landed upon him . A blow to the left jaw. A bite to the right ear. Two more blows to his left jaw. An elbow punch and a bite again until blood swooshed unto my face.
” Arrrrrrghhh” He shouted in pain. He had lost energy.
I got up . He bled out but I didnt care even if his nose was broken . I jerked few paces away. He grabbed my leg.
A slap to Abdul’s left temple left him half conscious. I had rammed the bag of gold to his temple after I picked it up .
I spat out blood. Where did that come from.. I felt a sharp pain I my gums. In pain, I grabbed the knife from the floor of the tunnel.
” We can negotiate, we – can”
I smiled ” You don’t negotiate with people like me. Remember? You bloody terrorist!”
” And as dumb as you are ” I continued ” I gave your men the wrong direction ” I produced a map from my right sleeves.
” This is the original and correct one. A left turn down this tunnel, further up ahead and you get to the bunker. And this bag I collected the gold early yesterday. Not as long as the first days of the war. You were even dumber to believe that story.”
Abdul laughed. He nearly cried. ” I like you” he said. ” I swear . I do. But hey! We can still sort things…things out, something…we can still eh? ” He coughed out blood.
He tried to sit up inside the water.
” I won’t’ in fact I will leave you to the NRRF. They will handle you. ” I turned to leave.
A loud clap of metal cut , like a beef chopped off, caught me off balance. Spikes went down my spine. I touched my body, nothing but just pain on my left arm. It was something else, I turned to see Abdul kneeling down.
**************
” Bastard!!!”
” Thats for my uncle whom you murdered” Cara yelled.
She pulled out the matchet. Pain shot upwards to Abdul’s brain. He was still alive but he would have wished he were dead. Only if it came any sooner.
Unknown to Nino, Abdul had resorted to his last weapon. A pointed metal from his uniform. He had thrusted himself upwards with all his might and energy . But Cara had attacked first.
Blood pumped out of his artery. In his neck . it polished the matchet that Cara had planted in there.
She pulled out the weapon. The gush of blood was breath taking.
****************
Another scream came, accompained with another blow. Cara disconnected his head from his neck. Power. Strength. Agility. Anger.
I was awe struck. I was evil but not as evil as this Cara. I moved a step backwards.
She pointed her rifle at me. Our eyes locked in a gaze. I felt something. Fear and care. I could easily maneuver her but I stood brick silent and immobile.
She tossed me the weapon. I caught the gun in mid air. Not what I had expected . I smiled and turned to leave.
” I never got your name.” Cara asked in a loud voice.
I backtracked . I told her my name. I smiled.
*******
Cara asked about the troops that went for the gold.The ones sent by Abdul.
” I led them to a trap” Nino said ” they are probably toast in NRRF net by now”
She smiled and breathed in. Stood silently , her eyes blinked in the semi dark tunnel. The rays of light that trickled into the tunnel glowed crystal upon the blood-covered waters.
As Nino faded into the dark corners of the tunnel , Cara’s voice came for the last time.
” Take care. Chinonso Augustine. I hope we meet again”
********
I heard that . A smile grew on my face. I had told her my real name. Only immediate friends and family knew me by the name. The name that store keeper had called me, which makes me wonder till now. How did he ever know my name.?
Sure, Cara. We will meet again. I thought instead. You will come after me with your big guns by the time I loot this bunker.
The war could have been prevented . I thought . but I am happy it has ended. Or has it? The end is only the end of this episode. This struggle. This religious struggle. And man will always be man, lack of understanding will always make them draw swords against one another.
I shook my head. I stood upon the bunker . A wicked smile grew on my face as I tapped the metal entrance. I pulled the cover and a glow of glitter changed my facial complexion.
Adrenalin rushed into my veins. My mind, soul and body was ready for more adventures.
The End
