Must Read: The Claw, The Tail, And The Cross. - Season 1 - Episode 21

7 years ago

Must Read: The Claw, The Tail, And The Cross. - Season 1 - Episode 21

“Don’t beat yourself up about it dear,” Jenny said.
“I have to, Jenny!” I said angrily, “People are dying!”

It was 6pm and we were being driven back to my hotel. I was mentally banging my head against a brick wall, trying to figure out what I was missing, where I had gone wrong. Jenny trying to calm me down was the least thing I needed. I had tried not to be involved in this whole man-animal thing but now I was intricately woven into the whole drama and I needed it all to end. I needed to go and visit Nina, or at least have her come and spend some time with me, but I couldn’t do that knowing that there was a mysterious danger lurking about.

Why had the magnificent leopard appeared once again in the firm premises, just after Mr. Bells walked into the building? It seemed to appear and disappear at will. I was also worrying about Mr. John, Chioma’s immediate boss. Was his ‘calling in sick’ truly coincidental with the happenings of the day or was there a deeper, more sinister meaning to it? Could I really trust Kelvin and Obi? All the facts seemed to point to their telling the truth but one could never be a hundred per cent sure. We had decided not to mention anything about the missing money to Mr. Bells on the promise that Kelvin and Obi find a way to pay it all back. They were very grateful for the offer and Obi even shook Kelvin’s hand as a sign of friendship, despite being almost mistaken by him to be a love interest. I had gotten Chioma’s number from one of the staff and called her, she had arrived safely, and wanted to know if I would be very busy tomorrow. I said no and she thanked me once again and hung up.

Jenny, as usual had opted to escort me back to my hotel. We discussed freely in the vehicle, trying to backtrack our steps, find out where we went wrong. Jenny was of the opinion that if I stopped thinking about it, the answer would come naturally and spontaneously. I, however, had no such intentions. I was not too excited about the prospect of going through another nightmare and wanted the matter ended as soon as possible.

“Is there any way it could be Mr. Bells?” Jenny said, “We kind of waved him aside before. Just because he is a foreigner does not mean he cannot be the beast, you know.

And we have not really checked his background, maybe he was born and raised here in Nigeria before tracing back his roots, he is pretty savvy in the issues of our country.”
“I really don’t know what to think right now, “I said, shaking my head. “ I couldn’t see inside Obi’s secret box to confirm if he was telling the truth but his tone did not show he was lying either. And as for Kelvin being the beast…”

“Leave him out of it,” Jenny said, “None of our mermaid history books reflect a homosexual man-animal, and they were known for their huge Sekxual appetites and prowess.”

“This is what makes me wish sometimes that I couldn’t see into the spirit realm.” I said. “At least I would have been ignorant of this whole two tailed leopard matter!”
She stretched out a soothing hand that covered mine comfortingly.
“Don’t worry. We’ll figure this out sooner or later.”
“I hope so,” I said, “Apart from people getting killed, I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since I got here. It’s pretty tiring.”

We drove into the hotel premises and I came down. Jenny seemed to be thinking about something for a while; she opened the car door and then made up her mind and shut it again without getting down.
“I’ll be going home tonight, “she said, “Better we all get some good rest after today’s events.

“Good idea,” I said although a part of me was tugging at my ego, telling me to ask her to stay. “I need to get an early start at sleeping; I don’t know how this night is going to be like.”

She smiled and waved me goodbye and the car zoomed out of the hotel gates. I watched her go, and a part of me really regretted not asking her to stay.

“Ol’ boy, how far, you don land that babe?” the gateman asked.
“No.” I said. “I have a girlfrie-…fiancée”
The gateman looked at me as if I had just farted through my mouth.
“I almost screamed “What the hell is wrong with you people, doesn’t faithfulness to one’s partner count for anything again?!” but I refrained. I turned around and walked back to my hotel room, feeling very tired.

The manager was there to welcome me as usual and I quickly made a small order for dinner before struggling up the stairs to my room. He tried to say something but obviously thought better of it and kept quiet.
As soon as I got into the room I took off all my clothes and had a slow bath with the shower.

The cold water slid off my glistening skin and had a soothing effect on me. I stood there in the moderately sized bathroom, looking at the white porcelain floor as the water washed away the dirt of that day, turning from a dirty brown to clear water as it swept its way down the drain. I missed Nina so much. I wished again that I could call her and invite her over but now would not be the best time. I sighed as I wistfully remembered thinking I was going to have a relaxing time in Asaba.

I also missed Pachios, my guardian angel. Lord knew what he was up to these days. Had he been given another ward to look after? Was there even now, another child who had been born with the Sight? Usually I would talk to him when I was stumped like this but since the emergence of Chukwudi the stronger, he had completely disappeared. It was kind of disheartening, thinking Pachios viewed me as nothing more than an assignment. If he cared a little iota more, he would have at least had said goodbye.

I realized I was still under the shower, and quickly turned off the tap. I went out, changed into comfortable night clothes and turned on the air conditioning. In a few minutes, the food I had ordered; fried rice with freshly prepared chicken had been brought up by a waiter and I was wolfing it down like an animal. I guess all the excitement had given me an appetite.

After eating I called Nina. The phone rang and I waited patiently for her to pick it up.

The ring tone was one of those annoying ring tones one didn’t really ask for but somehow was already there. I made a mental note to tell her to change it to something better when she picked up.

“Hey baby,” she said, her cool voice having a far better effect than the water in the shower had done a few minutes ago.
“Hi sweetheart,” I said and I heard her sigh. “I’ve missed your voice,” she said.
“Was just going to say the same about you” I responded. “How’s your dad?”
“Feeling much better thank goodness.

The doctor said we can discharge tomorrow.”
“That’s wonderful news dear,” I said
“Babe? Honey what’s wrong?” Nina asked, concern coating her silky voice. I considered telling her about my adventures here but decided not to, no need getting her worried.
“Nothing dear, just really tired.”
“At 7.30 in the evening?” she asked.
“It was a very stressful day,” I replied and yawned. “In fact I was just about getting some sleep and decided to call you first before hitting the sack.”
“You are not doing strange stuff again, are you?” she said, the concern in her voice growing.
“Babe don’t worry about it, I’m fine.” I said.

She was silent for a while and then decided not to push the matter further. We talked about some other things, trivial issues, and finally said our goodnights as she hung up. I yawned again, adjusted the temperature on the air-conditioning, and went to sleep. No, it wasn’t peaceful.

At about 3am in the morning I was awakened by the sound of a dull thumping noise against my room door. For a moment I thought it was a rogue rat, trying to gain entry into the room, and I vaguely remembered that I hadn’t seen any rats around the hotel premises since I came. I would have gone back to sleep if I had not perceived the smell of something burning.

I jumped to my feet, fully awake and ran to the door even as I heard “Fire! Fire!!!” from down the corridor. I opened my door and looked out.

The entire corridor was dark; all the lights had been put out. The only source of light came from the room opposite mine, D16, a dull yellow light accompanied by thick grey smoke. I heard the pounding of heavy feet on the rugged corridor as the manager ran towards me.
“Wh-what happened?” he shouted, looking confused. I glanced back at the room he had come out of and saw the receptionist he had been talking to the other day sneaking away in nothing but her wrapper.
“Aren’t you the one that shouted “Fire” just now?” I asked him. He shook his head vigorously and then suddenly stared at the door to D16 as if he was seeing the billowing smoke for the first time“Fire? There’s a fire?! Fire! Everybody out!!!”

Some doors opened and the few guests in the hotel ran out, some of them screaming at the top of their lungs. I asked the manager if he had a fire extinguisher and he disappeared into the corridor which was now getting filled with smoke. Soon he was back with two extinguishers and he handed one to me.
“On three,” I said and he nodded. “One, two…” At ‘three’ I kicked the door open and the first thing that greeted us was a huge wall of fire as tongues of flames struggled to escape from the room. We attacked it with the extinguishers, spraying white stuff everywhere. As we proceeded into the room, everywhere was covered in black smoke and vision was near zero. The electricity had also gone off, thank goodness, and we quickly rushed to open the windows. As soon as we did this, billows of smoke escaped out and soon we could have a fairly good view of the room. The bed and surrounding furniture were still burning and we went at them with the fire extinguishers again.

Soon all the flames had been put off and what was left of the room was a smoldering, pungent smelling mess. The bed had been burnt to ashes.

“Sh1t!” the manager exclaimed. “Which kain wahala be this?”
“Sorry, man.” I said. He looked at me and shook his head. In his excitement he was mixing pidgin with normal English.

“No, thank you sir. Thanks for keeping a cool head. I for dey outside with the others, looking at my hotel burning down if it wasn’t for you.

“What happened?” I said, looking around and trying to see if I could trace the source of the fire.”

“I don’t know sir,” he said. “But thank God say I no transfer you come this room again o. We for dey talk another tori by now.”
“Excuse me?” I said. “You wanted to transfer me here? Why?”
“Ah, na order from your office na.” the manager replied. “Somebody call to ask for your room, said we should make sure you are staying in the room they booked for you. I for don change you but as I saw the way you entered, you looked very tired so I said I will leave you to sleep then change you to the other room tomorrow. Anyway, ‘all things work together for good’. Abi?”