The Game Changer Episode 6
I ran around the yard there was no sign of a human being. I rushed back to the front and something caught my attention from the corner of my eyes.
Something was burning some meters away from Ackims house.” Son of a bi*ch !” I yelled angrily realising my truck we noticed wasn’t in the yard where i left it parked had disappeared.
” Ackim! Come see man , those b******s have burnt my truck!” I called him when i saw him wall out his face calm i knew he found his wife and kids intact.
” oh this sucks man” he sighed shaking his head as we watched what had remained of my truck turning into ashes.
” they will will pay a high price for this truck man. I loved this car. It was one of the properties i valued the most cause it could touch down any sort of road. Now its gone. If he thinks sending his dogs to destroy my car will stop me from heading back to Lusaka then he’s way out of his mind. It will take more than this for me to give up” i spat furious.
” you know what? I am beginning to think these guys know more about you than you think they do. Jacob and his friends knew you were alive way before you returned and they have you set up. ” Ackim spoke and i believed his analysis.
” you could be right man. But if that was the case why hasn’t anyone tried to kill me before except now?” I asked myself in particular.
” thats a good question soldier and it should be the first mystery you have to sort out. You might end up getting in a trap.
” the snippers followed us all the way to the bushes, meaning they are watching your every move. ” he added.
” dammit, i hate feeling cornered Ackim. It’s a damn bad feeling. What do i do now?” I asked him as we walked back to the house.
” am glad my kids and wife are okey. I found them fast asleep meaning they didn’t hear anything at all. My wife will freak out knowing what am doing so lets do this, i will take my family out of this place. You find your way back to Lusaka then let me me how things will be in a couple of days.”
” sure man” i nodded getting inside the house.
I sat down trying to figure out what was going on after Ackim went to join his wife. Taking a quick glance at the wall watch, it was almost 03am .
I shut my eyes but was still awake. Since i couldn’t get myself to sleep i thought staying on the couch and having a moment of reflection would do me good.
Flash back…..
” Steve, hey man come on every one is having their moment man why are you so quiet?” Mberere had shouted above the loud music in the night club we had gone to. That day the guys had decided to take the funny out. It was a month after the Mozambique operation and so we were all loaded. they decided to spend on women and beer.
I have always been a drug person, never women or beer. The guys sometimes made funny of me but i gave no s*** about it.
They would call me junk but i had decided better a drug junky than drink beer and become a drunkard like my father.
” am cool man go on have fun!” I yelled back at Mberere.
” no no man come on you my brother is loaded and money is meant to be enjoyed. We just cracked the most dangerous men in the world and we deserve this little break. Just look at the guys there” he said pointing at Jacob and other guys shouting and drinking some night girls seated on their laps.
” that my friend is a good way for a soldier to take his mind off the bloody s*** we have gone through. ” he spoke his mouth spitting some saliva in my face as he was so jerked out.
” i said am cool man, you know am not a fun of all that. Am cool with this baby” i smiled showing off my white staff on my palm.
” suit yourself you junky!” He hit my head playfully but it irritated me so much that i raised up pushing him down the floor.
” what the hell Steve. Did you just push me?!” He stood up sizing up his fists at me.
” yeah i said leave me alone dammit. ” i yelled back and before i knew it he was right in my back punching me.
I turned back now feeling pissed and kicked him off to the floor sending left and fight blows before the others ran to his rescue to his face.
” what is this man? You are hitting your friend like an enemy. What the hell is wrong with you?” Jacob shouted holding me to the wall as i panted angrily.
” i told you man this guy is nuts. He was probably having one of those tantrums about his childhood like a woman. We cannot trust him with anything serious” Makasa added but with a tone of seriousness. What puzzled me most was not the words he said but how he said them. It was like they had been talking about me before.
A couple of days later, i found the three of them talking with a certain general. Upon seing me they all dispersed walking in different directions.
” hey Mberere wait up” i called him as he walked towards the entrance door at the military offices.
” whats up man?. I see you and the guys talking to the General. Whats going on it looked serious and tense there” i shrugged standing in his way as he seemed eager to leave my side.
” it was nothing. He was just giving us a briefing and don’t worry it doesnt concern you man” he faked a smile.
” well well, since when do the three of you do what doesn’t concern me man?, we are a squad man. ” i looked at his face trying to get him to say something.
” well since you decided to act like a child and jerk out hitting me in front of everyone in that bar.” He frowned
” what ? You fooling me? oh no, we were both knocked out then man, i was dopped and you drunk so whats the big deal? Okey fine, am sorry man. ” i told him seeing him looking so serious.
” so we good right?” I asked patting his shoulder.
” yeah we good man, just prepare we going out again in a couple of days. Am sure we will be briefed soon. Something to do with the previous operation” he said as he walked away but i couldn’t help feel he was hiding something from me.
A couple of days later we were joined by Ackim and were dropped via a chopper in the woods. Surprisingly they had put another colonel to accompany us.
I woke up in the midle of the night again finding the guys talking outside whilst they drunk some beers.
” what’s going on here?” I asked feeling the chills of the night as i stepped out of the cabin to join them.
” oh man, we thought you were asleep. Nothing we just talking. Its a cool night right?” Jacob responded shifting the gun that hanged on his shoulders.
” yeah it is” i sighed looking at them from one to another.
” well i thought of checking around. I bet i will leave you guys to it. We have a long day tommorow” i shrugged waving at them
” yeah sure man, rest easy we on guard” Makasa spoke this tine and they all giggled.
The next time i woke up the whole cabin was in flames i choked as i awake.
I looked around me and everything was burning the roof almost falling down.
I wondered how i could sleep so deeply and not to hear anything else before i woke up. I was never a deep sleeper and for a second i cursed myself for taking some dope before sleeping. It must have messed my head a little bit.
I tried to crawl out the fire but it was so fierce. With a lot of effort i struggled to get myself out pouring a container of water i chanced im the corner on my thin blanket and covering my back. I dodged the falling roof and got myself out but that was after the fire had gotten to my skin already.
I recall, screaming and coughing in agony before passing out.
I woke up hours later in a grass thatched house with the face of an old man looking at me.
I startled sitting up,
” who are you and where am i?” I asked him looking around the small room.
” calm down son, you are safe here. Am kholopa and you are in my house” he smiled exposing his numbered teeth and empty gums.
I looked at his white head and beards shaking me head.
” old man, how the hell did i get here? Where are the other soldiers ?” I asked confused
” oh i said it. I told my grand daughter you are a soldier but she didnt listen. She told me it was old age catching up with me.
I didnt see your combat but i could tell you were no ordinary man, otherwise you couldnt have survived that fire” he smiled certainly appealed by his right revelation.
” okey okey. So you saying… oh s***!” I shouted recalling the fire and the smoke.
” yeah son, your cabin was burnt down and you are lucky i got in the woods early this morning and found you battling for life. Lucky my father taught me how to use herbs and i saved your life.” He smiled which i noticed he did a lot, pointing at my naked body which was smeared in some green staff i realised had a very strong stench.
” who else was there… am um…” i stammered trying to figure out his name again as i stood moarning in pain feeling my whole body like i was still on fire.
” you better sit down young man. You will need a few days before you could do anything like that” he pulled me back to the small bed.
” no one was there. Yeah i remember now..” he paused looking at me.
” there was one man, but he was dead already, in fact burnt to ashes” he added coughing as he walked to some small can and deeping a cup and walking back to me.
“Here, have some water” he sighed calmly.
” Thank you.” I said taking all the water in one gulp he went back for more.
” so i was right?” He asked almost like a statement.
” about what?” I placed the cup down.
“You are a soldier?” He smiled nodding his head.
” no sir, am just an ordinary man.” I nodded back at him.
” mmmmhmhm.. sure you are son, otherwise you wouldn’t have hidden it” he laughed coughing again.
” but what are you doing here alone, and you speak Chikunda meanwhile i am meant to believe this is Mozambique territory” i asked him.
” you are wrong soldier, we are 500 kilomters away from that country. Believe me i have lived here for over fifteen years. I like living alone. But my grand daughter decided to ran here and hide from the world too.” He laughed softly.
” your grand daughter?” I asked and before he could answer my question i saw a girl of about 20 or so walk in carrying a can of water.
” oh he’s awake finally” she sighed placing down the can and walking towards us.
” yeah sure he is, i told you my herbs can work wonders” the old man smiled at his grand child.
” she looked at me and smiled.”
” am Queen” she extended her hand to greet me…
…………….
” Steve ! Come on man its time to move” i heard Ackim’s voice pulling me out of my memory.
” what? Its morning already?” I asked looking at my watch.
” yeah. Its 20 minutes passed 4 am. We need to start going. I used a friend to book a plane and he arranged something for me. We need to be in Ndola by 7am. ” he explained.
” yeah sure, i just figured something Ackim” i held his shoulder before he could leave.
” what’s that?” He asked turning back to look at me.
” the name of a general am suspecting was involved. I stayed up thinking and i have just remembered i saw him talk to the guys before the operation. Something seemed off back then and now it makes a bit of sense. This s*** goes deeper you were right” i sighed.
” yeah it is Steve, we have to stay focused for now. Take it easy and plan your moves smart and objectively” he patted my shoulder and went to pull out a large bag as his wife and their three kids walked out.
” am sorry to put you through this Paula” i started looking at her.
” kim take your siblings to the car.” She told the kids instead and stood right before me.
” he was okey. He had left that kind of life and he was doing fine. Just hours after you show up we start running like criminals” she spoke almost spilling tears from her eyes.
” am so sorry. I just wanted him to give me some information i had no idea it will end this way.” I told her honestly.
” well, i hope this was worthy it” she said walking away.
I looked up as Ackim walked in. ” am sorry for that man i…”
” yeah, she’s pissed. I promised her i won’t be doing this anymore and now ” he shrugged
” but i thought you going with them?” I asked surprised he didn’t seem prepared to leave.
” nope i will go after them later. I have to…” he almost said but i raised my hand.
” no way, you were right. I have no family to worry about man, but look at this” i said pointing around.
” this is beautiful Ackim and i won’t let you destroy it. Besides you won’t be as active having to worry about them. No man, i know you mean well but no, this is my story like you said last night. Go on with them i will keep in touch. You have done more than enough man”
” are you sure? ” he asked looking at me.
” 100%” i smiled.
” i got this man, go on and make that woman smile again” i let a laugh and he smiled at me.
” right then let me grab my small bag. We will drop you in Ndola” he smiled walking away.
” great!” I raised my hand at him taking one last look around the house and walking out to the car.
The Game Changer Episode 7 by Tisa Phiri
The drive back to Lusaka went as planned.
I sat silently in the back seat with the kids and only answered to some questions the twins were asking. The girl who i had placed on my laps was fast alseep.
My mind went back to the jungle thinking about the two people that saved my life.
…………
” its been a week staying with you here and you have not told us anything about yourself” Queen asked me as she sat opposite the stool i sat on. Her long skirt covering her legs.
“What do you want to know?” I asked her mending the fishing net that i got from her grand father to help him out.
” you must have a family or friends, you can say something about your work, just anything you can tell about yourself” she smiled.
” i have cousins and and their parents but rearly talk about them. There’s is nothing exciting about them anyway. About my Job, well its over i guess, by now whoever planned to kill me thinks am dead.” I shrugged
” why do you insist someone wanted you dead. It was probably an accident and your friends left thinking you died inside the cabin” she argued innocently.
“Cause that’s not how we work Queen, soldiers never back out on their friends like that. They would have stayed to make sure i was dead for real. Their rushing out makes me feel they were in a hurry to get rid of me” i explained to her and she continuously shook her head.
” is it in your nature to distrust people around you?” She laughed ” its not everyone that isn’t trust worthy. You have to learn to look at the better side of people steve. Sometimes it helps to have positive thoughts” she smiled lifting herself up the rid mat and walking to get some wood from a heap under a small tree and placing them on the fire.
” the bottom line is that its not easy trusting people especially after what i have seen some man treat a fellow.” I chuckled.
She looked at me and back at the pot without saying a word. Her rough hair all over her head she didn’t seem to mind her looks.
” tell me why you are here in this deserted place?. How come you decided to stay far away from every one. I mean i can understand the old man has some attachment to this place and really he has nothing to look forward to in the cities. But for you, i don’t get it, you seem to be knowledgeable enough to make me think you have gone to school before. So why herè?” I asked and she looked down her fingers turning silent..
” Qeen? ” i called her looking at her face.
” well lets just say i tried to see the good in people and i paid a high price for it” she shrugged sadly and went on cooking.
…………….
” we are here man” Ackim spoke pulling me off my thoughts.
” okey. Am taking a bus from here. Thank you again man” i told him stepping out of his car.
” yeah like we agreed keep in touch. I will hit your line when i get to our destination. ” he added shaking my hand.
” have any cash on you? ” he asked
” yeah i had my wallet in the pocket thankfully. ” i smiled.
” right, watch out man and be careful ” he patted my hand and got back to the car.
“I waved at paula and the kids as they drove off.
I boarded a the bus after 10 minutes of waiting. In 5 hours we landed in the capital city.
I walked around getting a few staff i needed for the house and got home just before it got dark. I searched around the house immediately i got there and satisfied all seemed in order, i changed my clothes and walked out leaving it locked.
Instead of spending the night home, i decided to lodge a room. Taking caution someone might have been watching my place.
Immediately i sat down my phone rung.
” helo!” I responded not recognising the caller ID. ” Its Chama. ” i heard a voice on the other end.
” yes man, what do you have? ” i asked stranding up and walking to the window opening it.
” i have accessed the details of the those guys, as per data in the system, there’s nothing suspicious except one thing” he paused.
” go on” i encouraged him.
” the accounts of the three guys shows large transfers of cash between 2015 and 2016. ” he added.
” well that is the same period we were out, it could be the allowances.” I told him still peeping outside the window.
” yeah thats what i thought initially but the money is almost 4 times what you guys were entitled to”
” is it what am thinking?” I asked him now paying attention to a strange vehicle i saw drive in the car park outside. Two strange looking men walked out and as one one them pulled up his trousers my eyes touched the gun that was tucked in his belt. I saw them look about as i kept Chama briefing me on his findings.
” someone paid them off” he was saying.
” good work man, just do as you said. Let me try find their current cell numbers and will give them to you to keep track of them” i told him now pulling off my own gun seeing the guys heading to the reception.
” how did they find me again?” I asked myself sliding the window aside. I climbed out and squat down at the back of the room waiting for them knowing they would come for me.
It was silent for a while and then i heard a large bang on the door. The hinges to the door clicked as it hit the wall.
I gave them a few seconds and one of them saw the open window, he slowly pushed the curtain aside his gun pointed.
I needed a silencer not to attract attention so i removed the shirt i had on top of the vest luckily i had unbuttoned it when i reached the room.
Placing my shirt in front of the pistol after folding it, i silently moved. Am sure he thought i was not there cause i saw him peep his head out and i took the chance quickly pulling the trigger and blowing of his brains blood sprashed on the window and some of it touched my face.
The other guy ran to the corner and fired one shot which went direct in the wall fence outside. We both went silent and i knew he wasnt going to move until i did, so i crawled slowly crossing the window.
Assuming i was still on the same position, he too moved i could hear his steps. I saw the corned of his hand. I fired one but it missed him as he flinched back.
Before i could act further i felt a sharp scratch on my shoulder i stood up instantly and pushed him down the floor inside as i quickly jumped back inside before he could get to where his gun was. I got to him and we engaged into a hand fight.
He pushed me down hitting my face a couple of times before i could managed to pull myself up.
“I pounced on his head, repeatedly hitting him but he was as strong as i was as he gave me his own too. He skilfully banged my shoulder which was bleeding due to the deep scratch from the gun shot and i screamed in pain.
Holding my shoulder panting as he held the gun to my head standing upright.
” who are you?” I asked trying to figure out a way of distracting him so as to come up with a way of defending myself.
He smiled spitting the blood from his mouth.
” you messed with the wrong gang, soldier. You should have stayed dead” he teased me shaking his head whilst smiling like an idiot.
” well since am going to die anyway, do me a favour man” i sighed faking desperation.
” you want me to call a priest for you to confess your sins before dying?” He laughed loudly.
” yeah i would love that too but no, i want to know why me? Why did they choose me? ” I asked my hand sliding from my shoulders
” i don’t ask questions man, i get paid and i do the job, end of the deal. ” he smiled and pointed the gun firmly at me i was sure he was going to release the trigger any second.
In an instant i jumped up kicking his hand and the shot went into the ceiling followed by the gun.
I kicked him again to the wall this time and before he could stand again, i rushed to his gun and fired a straight one right through his skull sending him back to the wall his head hiting it and staining the wall with his blood.
I panted sighing with relief as i sat looking at the two dead bodies before me.
A few seconds later i was searching their pockets for anything but they had nothing on them. I pusshed them one after the other and pulled off their shirts.
” same idiots” i whsipered seeing the same tattoo around their arms as that which the other two shooters had in Chingola.
The only thing apart from the guns was the car keys. ” well i could use this huh!” I spoke to myself and looked out side for any sign of a person but the place was quiet i knew whoever was near had taken off or was hiding after hearing what was going on in my room.
I ran to their black SUV parked in the car park, hearing the police sirens from a distance. Driving out at a greet speed i took off going the opposite direction as the cops.
I placed the gun on the passager seat and concentrated on taking myself far away from the lodge heading to the outskirts of the city.
I parked after driving for almost an hour west of Lusaka.
” lets see what we have here” i sighed opening any small closures in the car. I found one ID indicating a name and rank. ” okey, a common officer huh? How low guys” i smiled sheepishly.
” there was nothing else relevant in the car. I sat back trying to think. ” how did they find me again?” I asked myself the tenth time.
I recalled patting ways with Ackim, as far as i was concerned i didnt tell anyone where i would be lodging. Something was out of line and i hated how i was failing to connect the pieces.
” hey man sorry am calling this late but something came up. Am being followed and i want to know how” i asked the tech guy.
” you might have told someone of your whereabouts” he responded.
” i didn’t, am just from having a head on with two killers. ” i sighed holding my hand and letting a small scream as i touched the sore spot.
” are you okey? ” he asked.
” just a scratch and the threat has been eliminated. So tell me how possible is it that they are on my tail”
” well, am thinking they have you tracked, maybe your phone or something you have on” he suggested.
” what, bulls***! How did they get my phone man i have been with it the whole time. ” i told him.
” they could have tapped into it or maybe your clothes?”
” i got the ones i had on from Ackim and changed into something else when i got home…. oh wait!” I whispered realising it.
” son of a b****!” I screamed
” what ?” Chama asked me.
” that b******, it has been him all the time” i spoke more to myself.
” okey man let me get back to you.” I cut the line turning on the ignition keys.
” i got a son of bit*h to pay a visit!” I cursed feeling so angry i ignored the pain in my shoulder.
…to be continued
