Securing The Bag (The Lagos Hustle)

First Violence

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KANAKU

I had never been as angry as I felt that minute. How dare Barakat refuse to let me speak to my daughter? She accused me of bailing out on my family impromptu yesterday and that if I really wanted to talk to my girl I had to come home to do that. I was livid. And to prove she meant  business she didn't pick when I called with my phone, which was what made me use Fuoyo's phone. Ruki was the only person who lifted my spirits on low days and just talking to her would hve been a much needed boost for the stressful and risky operation ahead. But Barakat refused to let me talk to my love who could remind me the real reason I was embarking on a treasure hunt. For her and her unborn sibling.

The gin helped a bit and after a while I softened. "Fuoyo, before this passengers kill me why don't you play the song you were playing that night?"

"what ni-night?"

"should I remind you, the night I caught you sleepi-"

"okay okay I recall...its a Kendrick and jcole mix"

"Thank God!" The corper explained from the back with relief

The second half of the journey was uneventful, I managed to put a reign on my feelings and was extremly focused on the plan ahead. This was my last chance of a possible mastermind and fulfilling my dreams. If I failed then it was a job as a school security for the rest of my life, for my family's sake.

:::;
By 1pm we arrived at the Town and in accordance with our plans, we asked around and were finally directed to a hotel which was more like a motel. But it was good enough and would have to do. We checked into 2 rooms, although we all cramped into one of the rooms.

"Okay you guys, since we have a little more time, just give me an hour to make a run to the market."

"okay...please don't buy anything too drab" Jessy told me

I raised an eyebrow at her, "I'm a hoodlum I don't know what that means"

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The market place was bigger than expected, Almost everything I could think of was sold there. Everything looked fresh from the farm. I moved around the Market for what felt like 2 hours until finally I found the perfect clothes; A jumpy faded trousers that looked like a whole clan had taken turns to wear it yearly. I bought this for Fuoyo although I knew he would hate it and I couldn't help chuckling. Then I pitied him a bit and purchased A high round neck black t shirt, but once outside the store, I stretched the material with my hands, till I had slackened the neck line terribly, then I looked around and rolled it on the dusty floor until the black material was a dusty shade of brown.

The weather was so hot, it felt like the Devil was running routine maintenance in hell so I added a straw hat.

Jessy's selection was easier; just a wrapper and a kind of oversized shirt and also a staw hat. I remembered the classy footwears I had seen while rummaging through her bag that morning and smiled, these girls...always used to slaying. I chuckled. I finally bought a pair of second hand rubber sandals, which was quite masculine but would have to do.

I bought a Danshiki armless shirt for myself and a straw heart, I was satisfied with the joggers Fuoyo had bought for me in Nassarawa, the many dust in the market already gave it the perfect shade. Still I felt something was missing.

I saw it and the moment I saw it, I knew. A young lad leading a small heard of cows, goats and rams.

I approached him and spoke in fluent hausa, "nagode, how much for the smallest cow?"

"i no sell," he raised the stick threateningly to my face and I gasped in surprise.

"See this small boy o, not even more than 15...." still I kept my cool. "Okay which one for sale"

"I say none.... dangoroba shege!" He actually spread his palm close to my face. Telling me [i]waka[/i]

I almost grabbed his hand and broke his wrist, but the market was busy and I knew I could be mobbed by people.

From the 50k Fuoyo had given me for the shopping, I still had 35k in cash, so I strolled after the boy in a distance while he led his herd down a bushy path to no doubt go graze a little. I followed him, carrying the sack of clothes on my shouler until we were deep into  a path and far from prying eyes.

"Hey, oya I have 20, no 30k in cash....not for your cow, i know you guys love cows...but that ram...it's even the smallest of the lot, that's a scoop, I have the money alre-"

The bastard suddenly dropped his stick and pulled out a 3 foot sharp dagger. "I no get sense walai...I go treat am por my fuckup since I no dey hear word..." (then he rambled of in a native tongue I couldn't understand but knew he had just probably insulted my generation)

"I don't think it's wise to threaten me with a knife, we're only talking-"

To my utmost surprise, the lad lunged at me and swished the dagger dangerously close to my neck.

I was extremely shocked and staggered a couple of steps back. Then he lunged again, narrowly missing my eye as I ducked to the side then I became mad. This bastard wants to kill me before the journey even starts, one little bastard about to make my daughter fatherless because of livestock.

A street guy 9 times out of 10 would never depend solely on his fists, think about it...you're in a bar and suddenly two rugged guys start fighting, the first sound you hear is a bottle smashing.

I wished there was a solid plank around to scatter his head with, but as he lunged at me again I employed the rule of the street fight, which was; there were no rules, especially when your opponent had a dagger as long as a fucking sword aimed at your chest. I employed the closest external factor to give me an advantage.
Thankfully we were on a sandy path, and I dug my shoe into the earth and kicked up lots of sand and dust, blinding the murderous bastard temporarily.
He loosened his grip on the dagger as his right hand fell to his side and he tried fervently to dust out his eyes with his left.

In a flash I had grabbed the blade from his grip and when he looked up, still half blinded, I saw terror in his eyes as he caught the glint of the blade in my hand. 

"You coward, because of this stupid weapon you feel you have the right and strength to take a life?" I threw the dagger to the ground and clenched my fist.

He seemed relieved and also took a fighting stance.

"ehen! if you had done this the first time like a man, I would have put the money for the ram in your pocket after knocking you out and even make sure your remaining cows are safe, but you tried to kill a whole Kanaku..."

He screamed obscenities and lunged at me.

45 seconds later, I checked his pulse while he lay unconscious on the floor. I took his guiding stick and directed a ram and a sheep, leaving the dozen cows hovering around their leader's body, a few of them began to wonder far off...literally chasing greener grass without their master's direction...free to roam.
About 3 loyal bulls remained with him, waiting patiently for their master to stand up from the floor.

"Perfect, with half a dozen lifestock missing it'll be harder to pinpoint me..." I wore my straw hat and directed my two latest acquisition. Still the unexpected incident made a change of plans. We couldn't remain in the town any second longer. News would spread like fire about the stranger who had beat up a young herder and stole cattle.

I walked my new livestock property a short distance until I got to the main road then I flagged down a ride. I chartered a pick up Lorry and gave directions to the hotel.

On the way, I called Fuoyo and instructed him and Jessy to pack up and be ready to move. We couldn't stay in the town so we were moving straight to the village. It was 3pm, we would make it before nightfall and see how it goes.