Rings & Knots

Ije

The clatter on the roof of the car kept Nkemjika awake as they journeyed back to the village. Hailing was a very rare phenomenon in the east but it had persisted for hours as they drove. She watched keenly as the little and round ice stones danced on top of the windscreen and the ones that had not fallen off voluntarily were swept away by the wiper. Others bounced on the bonnet of her father's black V-boot Mercedes car and met the tarred roads very quickly.

She tore her eyes away from the happenings in front and focused on what happened around her. Nkem sighed softly whilst watching Jude snore beside her and her mother who had been fraught with worry much earlier had even dozed off on the passenger's seat.

Her father's Nokia phone lay on her thighs vibrating from the endless calls that came in. The glass of the window seemed misty but she could make out bright lights that appeared like a mirage as they sped by. They were lights from cars on a journey just like they were and with time, she rarely saw any drive-by. Their lives had changed all of a sudden and it made her anxious.

There had been little explanations as to the cause of their predicament and no time for goodbyes to friends. Her father had even warned sternly for them to keep away from revealing information about their whereabouts to anyone.

Nkem watched as her father drove without as much as a word from him. He had occasionally looked up to the internal rearview mirror and their eyes met momentarily but he still didn't say a thing. She placed her head back on the window and watched the dark figures they drove past wondering if they were humans, houses or trees. It kept her distracted but also extremely curious about the tales about demons patrolling at night. If they were indeed true, then they were bound to run into some on the way.

Everything had been fine till she was woken up that night to the hushed voices of her parents and instruction from her elder brother Jude, to pack some of her belongings into her new black box.

She felt there was trouble brewing but no one had bothered to tell her exactly what was going on. Jude seemed disconcerted and her parents, worse.

"Tell Friday to lock the gates and go home" Her father had instructed Jude as he came in to pick up the remainder of her items. Jude had already put his items together and rushed outside to pass the information across to their gatekeeper.

He walked into Nkemjika's room looking distraught, the burden he bore reflected all around him but she had been too terrified to ask. Ndubuisi sat on his daughter's bed as he stared intently at the pictures of his daughter as a child. They had been so busy putting their credentials and other important documents together that they forgot about the pictures.

He chuckled as his eyes scanned the oversized black cultural attire he wore and how big his wife's head tie seemed. He still loved the shirt which had imprints of lion heads all around it. His Isiagu would look much better on him now that he wasn't still a struggling lawyer. Nkemjika was barely a month old and her mother had insisted on a picture that they would keep from her naming ceremony.

Her hair was knotted carefully in colourful bands but she wouldn't stop crying. This showed in most of her pictures being taken teary.

Now, that crying baby was almost twelve years old and she was in grave danger.

"Daddy... Is something wrong?" Nkem spoke gently as she sat beside her father on her bed.

"No. we just have to go to the village for now. Once everything is settled we will come back"

He was lying, she could tell from the way his eyes stayed on her pictures and not her. Ndubuisi wondered if she already sensed the trouble brewing but how could she tell his daughter that they were at the risk of being murdered by a bloodthirsty politician over a court case.

Ndubuisi was a brilliant lawyer but his one weakness was his family and those who knew would never fail to use it. And when his guts had told him to make plans with regards to relocation to keep his family safe until everything blows over he did. Now what he feared the most had happened. His colleague who was working on the case with him had been murdered in cold blood. He had received pictures of the young man who was butchered with a warning that he would be next.

Friday had helped move most of their things through their neighbour's house and when his son came back into the room with his wife, he knew it was time to go.

Ndubuisi picked up his daughter's box and family pictures as well as a picture of his wailing daughter and led his family away. His car had already been kept in their neighbour's compound because he feared being watched.

Their neighbour Mr Adebayo was a retired soldier and had his kind always flocking around. It was the kind of protection he knew he needed but even soldiers were liable to fail considering how orders that came from the top officers had to be obeyed. All that was needed was probably a call for a favour from the murderous foe he had, to a general and his loved ones would be gone. But he had a plan and he trusted it was going to work.

They left their abode that night and headed back to the only safe place he could only think of.

Nkemjika's eyes began to flutter as the morning sun drew the clouds apart. She had stayed up the whole night as her father drove them to safety. She finally rested her head on her brother's shoulder and slept off.

Nkemjika was built different and Ndubuisi knew that. She had a mind of her own and always seemed to act older than her age.

She was strong just like him, her father's daughter and truly her name in every sense of the word.

Ndubuisi smiled at her defeat to nature but admired in silence her bravery and perseverance. They were his world and he hoped for the best in the new home they would find.

*************

Hey Everyone!

How are we doing? I know it has been a long while but rest assured we have something delicious cooking. I know it is a short intro, one that I might revisit in the near future but I hope you enjoy it.

Do bless me with your comments and votes but also remember to share.