This novel is written in loving memory of the king of pop music Michael Jackson, a legend of rare gem and grace of African race. 1959 – 2009
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
dontopianoworld: Chapter Four
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Chapter One
The characters in this novel as written by the author, are fictionally invented. Names are not the names of any known human being living or dead. If there happens to be any similarity with those of any person living or dead I offer heartfelt apology.
Life is our question and understanding it, our burden. It approaches us the way we approach it. It serves our existence. Its great to be alive but life is only a breath.
Guns came up around the enlightenment and immediately after the reformation, they kill people faster than swords. Yet we are cajoled to live in a civilized world!
Welcome to the speech.
CHAPTER ONE
THE GENESIS
“You’ve left us to ourselves in our season
of drought, we have come hands full and
have made our mouth taleful between drought
and new yams, but you have left your hold
and your seeds fall unripe”.
- Okogbule wonodi
2020 August 23rd: 14days to A.U summit.
The august rains had cooled the air all over Jos Metropolis. Comely land breeze blew across the metropolis from the hills tops. The hill stood out in sharp relief against the afternoon sky.
The alarm clock jerks off and Alade immediately picks up the clock and put off the alarm. “The damn alarm he muttered. I could have slept more he sighed; guess I had too much crystal champagne last night”.
He puts on a pair of sleepers and looked at his dolce and gabana watch. “Its just 24 minutes past 1 and Jummai wasn’t back yet, he whispered” he walks into the bathroom and took a lick. He slot in a music disc into his home theatre system and whistles quietly to lyrics from light house family tracks.
He sat on the bed, picked up a framed picture of himself dancing to music played by a steel band, which was snapped while he was at
Thought you’ll still be sleeping! Well, I just could not keep sleeping, he snorted out with some grin on his face. Hey, did you make the phone call? Oh yes I did she replied, and also I sent out a S.O.S to the D.M.I Chief he promised that the transfer would be done at 0800hrs on Friday. “That’s my girl he replied sheepishly” hey, Jummai, I’ll advice you change your cloths, get sporty; we’ll be off to the grillade for some lunch and beer. You should be ready while I take my bath!
He was in the shower and was out soon to pick his Siemens phone which rang unceasingly, by his pillow side. ; He answered the phone while he put on some Tommy Hilfinger jeans and Karl Kani tee shirt.
“Hello, Alade Marshall on the line, who is this please?
The voice on the other side was husky and deep.
“Oh! Mr. Melingo!
I never knew you’d return my call?
How are you coping with
I hope you still got the letter?
“Alright, what about the seal?
“It’s broken?
“Then we’ll need to carry out an autopsy; on the body, right?
“I’ll call you after breakfast tomorrow”
“Aurevoire monsieur Melingo”
He put off the phone, and walks into Jummai’s room, you set already?
She was shaping her nails with a nail file.
“Come on baby boy, I am not set for no outing, why don’t you come give it to me? Am in the mood at least, she said parting her lips slowly revealing a set of sparkling white dentition.
“Then am not just in the mood he snaps. He pick up the keys to his B.M.W 9 series tinted convertible, put on a blue Kangol on his head, tucked his Smith and Wesson 45 automatic into his Versace pants and slipped out of the door, “I’ll be back he yelled!
Astalabista baby! She muttered quietly to herself, as she almost mistakenly filled off her little fingernails, the cunning bastard she yelled!
Driving out of
As he drove past Zololo junction he observed the presence of a mob of Hausa boys. These youngsters have often been identified to sniff gums, smoke marijuana, drink Sukudai and spend time and money on cigarette.
I often wonder how able-bodied youths could just loafer about lacking some specific duty to attend to. This youths reminded him of some boys he had fell out with once during his tourist tour of the street of Tangier in
His residence was a hotel in the international zone of Fez but he spent some days touring the street of tangier. On one occasion, he lost his wallet to set of pick - pockets that acted as his tour guides. After a long tussle with them and with the help of local police, he recovered his wallet. The local police chief apologized to him and concluded his apologies remorsefully. “They were filled with majaun and kiff! Please when next you come from
As he drove into Dogon - Dutse close, a black Cadillac drove by with the side glasses all wind up and tinted. He immediately tried to look at the registration number of the Car, it read: PL 404 JK.
Then all of a sudden, the road develops a slow traffic. So many vehicles hooted and angry drivers popped out their heads cursing loudly. “Kai Kuyi Tafiya Da Sauri mana”!
As he was still pondering about the movement of the Cadillac, someone tapped his passenger glass; Alaye Mi Eje Wanle O!, you need dope? eh?
The intruder was trying to force his head into his car. He had serious bad smelling breath and an unkempt hair.
Alade gazed intently, into the intruder’s eyeballs and ferociously barked at him, I don’t use marijuana, okay? I think you’ve sold enough halitosis, back off!, or else, he was suddenly loosing his cool, he tucked his hands into his leather pants and brought out his Smith Wesson 45. Am a cop do you want to see your friends in Jail, I swear I’ll nail you, if you don’t leave.
The peddler seemed to have lost comprehension of English language conversation as she didn’t move an inch.
Alade quickly thought he perceived being tailed, before he could turn his face to look out of his window side, he saw within a flash, a thick black fist sinking into his face before he could defend himself.
Alade, tried looking at his assaulter but he could not clearly. He felt dizzy and immediately passed out on the steering wheel.
Chapter Four
BON VOYAGE
I have thrust my three fingers into the
sand which had grown cool. Mother said:
Go through the world, go in life.
Go through the world. Go in life they will
follow thy traces. Since then I go,
I go by the tracks,
By the tracks and on the roads,
Beyond the sea and further, further still,
beyond the sea and beyond the place beyond
-Birago Diop.
Alade felt some water splash on his face. It was so cold that he woke up are at once. He felt a lot of sea breeze all around him. He opened his eyes slowly and starred at the bright clouds in the sky. He could hear sounds made by seagulls. He tried to visualize his environment and from the look of things he obviously knew he was sailing out of
He glanced around turning his head with much difficulty. He noticed that the ship was a sea going vessel of the some Considerable size. He looked Astern from the ship, all he saw was water.
He breathed deeply and looked ahead he could see everybody busy on deck.
There were about seven lifeboats on the ship. A thought of escaping on one of them flashed through his mind. He was still gazing calculatedly at the yellow lifeboats when he heard a deep baritone African voice giving orders to the crewmen.
The man looked towards Alade and motioned him to come up deck.
Alade observed that the man who poured water on his face looked ebony black. The man let out a smile at Alade revealing a set of incomplete dentition.
“I’ve always admired you Mr. Alade”
He extended his hands towards Alade; my name is Tunga.. “Tunga Mpande”. Am from Kenya. I’ve heard a lot about the Nigerian foremost N.I.S agent.
“Where exactly are we sailing to? Alade asked him starring into his eyes with a grin” that’s highly classified Mr. Alade the captain’s some speak with you soon.
Alade inhaled some oxygen and adjusted his watch. I hope we see again Mr. Mpande.
Alade walked to the staircase leading to the deck of the ship. He noticed paintings of a panther on diverse parts of the deck. The huge man with the baritone voice walked towards Alade with arms open wide, as if making a gesture for a hug.
Alade nursed a thought of throwing the approaching bulk of flesh over board. He knew better than that. Since there was no sight of land around, he knew causing a fight or resistance would need him jumping overboard.
He preferred to play cool and then leave in one of those lifeboats he had seen earlier.
Welcome on board my ship. It’s called “Black claws” am Captain Terentius Vierra.
The captain brought out a fresh stick of Cuban Cigar. Alade watched as he lit it, it was the same hand made Cigar like the one sent to him by Fidel Castro. The captain blew out smoke making circles in the air.
“You care for one Mr. Alade? He asked.
No, Alade replied I’ve been offered enough hospitality already.
Why am I here captain?
Is all this part of the G442?
Is my home government and my agency aware about my abduction, you and the authorities you represent?
Mr. Alade, you seem to be eager to get answers about what’s exactly happening to you.
Alade noticed a huge shark swim past the black claws.
“These great creatures could be up to fifteen to seventeen feet long” captain Terentius Vieira spoke chirpily.
You see, Mr. Alade, we are about to re-write the history of the black race.
We…
How do you mean? By kidnapping me, what do you intend to change? Alade yelled, hitting the air as mad as a hatter. He stared at the rope network hanging on the ship. He thought of hanging this captain with the hammock on his own ship.
Well, captain Terentius Vierra continued, its your story and my story, the story of every Soul on this ship. It story of all black who were stolen from
He placed his right hand on Alade’s shoulders, “we host you as a great guest and as a brother on this ship. We depend on your professionalism. You’ll be paid the sum of S300, 000 for your services.
S300, 000? To do what Alade asked, kill some one? The opposite
No, no, the opposite the captain whispered quietly, you are to protect someone.
Okay what’s the deal? Alade asked.
Not in a hurry Monsieur, not in a hurry, lets get some launch; you’ve been out for 4 hours. I can feel your hungry and a need for a shower. The captain descended down a staircase on the deck leading to the housing quarters of the ship.
The staircase of the ship led into a lobby. The lobby was heavily rugged from wall to wall. It led into adjoining rooms. There were armed men in suits and naval uniforms moving to and fro on duty.
The ship looks smaller outside but truly bigger inside monsieur, captain Terentius said with a smile. He walked with a swagger. I bought the ship with all my savings while I was with her majesty royal navy. It was made in
What? Alade asked.
I hired the best man to pimp the
What his name?
“Ice cube”, “Ice Cube from N.W.A.!
He stepped in front of room 48, here’s your room monsieur. Alade entered quietly turned around and looked at the captain, “don’t mess with me, am getting to trust you.
Alade took his shower, shaved his beards and applied some cologne. He brought out the cigar sent to him by Fidel Castro. As he puffed in mouthful, he thought about Jummai, what exactly could she be thinking right now?
Most definitely she would be with the chief at the agency. He thought about the S300, 00 involved. He looked round the room for the [phone, reached for it and dialed Jummai’s number it ranged twice. He heard a recognizable voice. It was Jummai’s.
“Hello baby, it’s me. Am in a G44 2, destination still undisclosed. Looking at his watch compass position should be… shit! The phone went abruptly dead. Someone pulled the plug on me. Damn am being watched or the phone is bugged. As he thought of the next point of action, a radio came alive from the roof of his room. “Monsieur this mission is a subject of top secret. Your access to phone and communication gadgets would commence after you’ve been totally briefed on the mission, accept your position. Here’s some room service meal ordered by me for you. You’ve got thirty minutes to finish your meal and meet me at the panther lobby. We are forty-eight hours behind schedule due to your unending resistance” the radio went dead again.
Alade took a fast glance through the room he noticed porcelain objects having Black Panther on them. He fondled with the marble structures, which gave the room its beauty.
“Room service” came a voice after a knock on his door, Alade unlock the door.
The servant was a berber. He pushed the food tray into the room, prepared the table and opened a bottle of Barcardi.
Sir, do you need anything else? He asked with African – Arab ascent?
No thanks Alade replied, dismissing him. Alade noticed a sense of great emotional delight on the butler’s face. Alade stepped to the window and let them slide open. He could feel the breeze around him changing. He felt the same sort of calm breeze he had experienced once when he was aboard a ship from Tangier in
As he seeped some Barcadi, he began to feel the
Alade checked his watch; he had 3 minutes to finish his meal. The meal to him was unimaginable. It was totally not his taste. He was served plate of chicken, spinach and mushroom. He felt like puking.
There was a tapping on the door. The butler that served him stepped into the room smiling with greater enthusiasm, “sir, the captain needs you at the lobby and am here to clear the dishes, he said trying to shut his suck but finding much difficulty in doing so.
I’ll join him right away, Alade replied but I want you to know that the meal you brought, I mean the mushroom and spinach; it was totally unsat. I think you need to feed me with pounded yam and Egusi soup.
The seemingly uncontrollable smile on the waiters face suddenly vanished into thin air as he shut the door after Alade, I’ll make something better he muttered.
There might never be a next time Alade replied, letting out a cold smile on his face.
As Alade walked from his room to the lobby he noticed the ship had an inscription of the African continent painted with thick black and underneath the inscripted map he saw words written in black. He stopped to read it and it read. “Gongwanalan, rex homos sapiens”. He couldn’t really understand exactly what the inscription meant. He concluded there was something queer and enigmatic, about the ship, he really couldn’t wait to unravel the mystery behind the ship and its crew.
Hello monsieur Alade, the captain welcomed him into the lobby. I guess had a splendid meal? Did you enjoy the wine?
Alade gave the captain a cold look and shook his head, it was quite unsat, but as you know captain am a guest on your ship. He that pays the piper dictates the tune.
The captain’s eyes lit with a glow, at least you now see yourself as a guest and not as a prisoner brought here under dures anymore.
Suit yourself, if I might ask captain what’s the meaning of Gwongwanalan, rex homos sapiens? It’s inscribed all over the ship!
The captain smiled and muttered silently
A bright comet flashed through the skies above the sea. It came crashing down as if it was falling directly between the bows and the stern of the ship but it never did. It vanished into thin air just as it came out of it. Both men remained motionless and silent as they gazed at the other. A voice coming from the mast of the ship broke the silence, “Captain abunde ka gani yanzu shi ake kira ikn allah. Saidai ka kalla, kuma ka ji mamaki. The captain nodded slowly and smiled “gaskiya na yarda!.
Alade was perplexed and stunned at the same time. He couldn’t believe what language had just penetrated his aural vent.
He looks at the man on the mast of the ship. He was busy smiling down looking intently amid ship as if intending to unravel the mystery behind the where about of the comet that fell from outta space.
“Did that man just speak Hausa language Alade asked?
The captain nodded his head “his name is Sani dan magaji” his from Kastina state of
Be rest assured monsieur you’re ever alone. Except if you refuse to identify the things that relate in harmony with your existence. You see if we really want to understand the philosophy and physic behind such flares and comet, then
No, Alade replied getting more interested in the conversation. The captain sighed heavily, its called Reuven Ramaty High energy solar spec tropic imager mission. The project was aimed at producing images and spectra of solar flares in hard X rays and gamma rays.
The captain passed a fresh Cuban cigar to Alade.
Is that possible? Alade cut in abruptly, I mean has NASA developed to that extent?
Monsieur indeed, indeed, the captain smiled his cigar and coffee coated teeth became elaborately revealed. You see after 19 month of delay, the RHESSI spacecraft was successfully launched on
You see, he continued, if we black people understand the need to indigenously mobilize and create philosophy, science and
This is a utopian dream Alade whispered. monsieur Alade, life experience for citizens of the G8 nations is not utopian.
It was built through colonialism and imperialism, mercantilism and military armament. Imagine a world if Hitler had won the war!
“That lunatic, Alade whispered again. Well, all what you call a utopian dream for the black race is here. It embedded in a single speech to be delivered; on the fourth of April in
The president of the African union has the script. All we need is the protection of his life until the conference is over, no one else can guarantee that except a man who’s [open heart to understand the need to protect this gigantic African initiative. It’s for the unborn children of the black race, its called code ATASHI UHURI.
The Speech Is To Be Delivered At Exactly 12 days from now, you’re the chosen agent. The future of the black race depends on you fulfilling this mission. The A.U leaders must remain alive to read the speech.
Alade inhaled some heavy quantity of air; he turned to face the captain, looking at him straight into his eyeball.
“Why do you think the A.U president’s life is under such colossal threat, or is it that you assume there will be an unannounced attack, I presume?
The captain’s face increased in its reflection of truth. “I want you to keep this utmostly secret. We received information that some of the agenda on the paper has been disclosed to our enemies in
How was it possible? Alade asked
“Espionage, monsieur, spies and traitors. The C.I.A have a brief on it and so does the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The K.G.B, we learnt from our Russian sleepers also have some form of information on this.
Wow, this mission is like
Captain Terentius Vierra raised a clenched fist into the air “we believe in the victory of good over evil” there was a traitor on board. She was the A.U president’s computer analyst. A member of this security outfit trusted to a fault. We leant she was bought over with about ₤40, 000 pounds paid through a bank in Davos
What happened to her? Alade asked, with a grin on his forehead.
Her tongue was cut off. She died few minutes later. Lost too much blood, traitor’s blood you know.
We can’t abort this mission you’re rather in or we fly you back to
A butler poured some barcadi into two glasses and served them.
“Besides the captain continued, the A.U president himself is on this ship with the Zimbabwean president, to thank and give you moral support. All you need is to name your account, we could pay in pounds, dollars, Naira or diamonds.
You see monsieur Alade; I once meet a great French man, a unique European breed. We met at a hotel called “the vampire of Tangier” he was quite queer. After we took slammers of Tequila, he said, “Posterity will not forgive African youths who are learned but refuse to fight for the freedom of their race. Are you in or out monsieur?
Alade looked at the black Hail Mary, there was a pilot standing by already. He slowly walked to the bow of the ship and paced back to the captain side,
“Captain Terentius Vierra, am a nobodies fool but I’ll do it for a prize, you see everything in life has a prize. My prize will be nothing much. I will lay down my life for the A.U president for this agenda and for
What’s your price monsieur? The captain eyes widened, all I need is that my girl Jummai at the agency in
The, captains face couldn’t hide his admiration for this Nigerian agent’s courage. He sidewalk Alade and led the way into the panther lounge. The captain kept muttering to himself, as he led the way, quitte untre portre ou, no? Monsieur, quitte untre .portre ou, no…