THE ROOT OF A CYNOSURE

Chapter fifteen

Damon

It was my first time in Africa just like my Alicia. Leaving the States and coming down here was not a doddle.

When the cops came to Yar'adua villa in search of us, Fahad told them they had no right to search his villa without a warrant.

Of course they got a warrant but we were long gone. We had to hide in a local, cheap hotel somewhere in Downtown. I was a suspect for the murder of Margarita.

The police described me as a dangerous psychopath and a suspected spy.

It was then I confessed to Alicia how I followed up with the saga. She was angry, reproaching me for jeopardising my life and getting myself in trouble. Nothing was mentioned about the Bath carnage.

Bug and his gang must have set me up. What I could not understand was the ineptitude of the police in handling it.

" You could have gotten yourself killed you naughty boy." She said snd held my face with her palms, looking as if she was going to burst.

" Why did you have to go to her? There are people who want the secret buried."

" I was losing you then and ....I didn't care."

" No, my love. I can't believe you faced that killer."

" And I kicked his ass." I boasted,
" then ran away with honor before he got back on his feet."
She laughed and relaxed.
" You always have a way of ameliorating situations with humour."

" So....my parents may just be alive. I really don't care but ..."
" Curiousity, yes. You feel like seeing or knowing the people who brought you to earth even if it means despising them."
She was now sobbing.
" It's painful, Damon. I was abandoned."

" You were not. It was an escape. Let's not go back on that."

Then Fahad broght the much awaited information. The couples that were killed to impersonate the Cliffs were Identified. The man was called Ardo Salman and the lady was Kwaine Salman. They took off from Lagos international Airport but were residents of Mambila in a state he called Taraba in North eastern part of Nigeria. Fahad went further to inquire about them, called somebody in Nigeria to go and see if he could get any information .

It was discovered that they lived there,they were married and nobody knew where they were ,since they left with a white man.

White man! Instinct, intuition got into play. I said we should come over to Nigeria. Alicia quickly agreed as US was getting too dangerous for us. I had an encounter with mafias, now the law which was supposed to rescue me was also on me. Besides, she wanted to see what Africa looked like. Maybe it could be a form of honeymoon.

We spent three days in Abuja where Fahad resided with his family. He told Alicia not to raveal her identity because being a billionaire was like joining a fraternity and they knew each other.

Fahad's father lived in USA for many years. Abuja was the capital of Nigeria. I had heard so much about this country. It was the giant of Africa and the most populous black nation .

The weather was fine with me and it looked as if I was going to get sun tan with ease.

On the pretext of going for toursm ,we headed straight to Taraba State . Fahad had sent a chauffeur with a Toyota Land cruiser ahead of us while we went by air, Our destination was Mambila.

I always admired Fahad for his organisation skills. He had nade arrangements before we got there.
Mambila was a plateau in the state.The plateau was the Nigeria's northern continuation of the Bamenda Highlands of Cameroon.

We lodged in a beautiful hotel situated in a serene environment surrounded by tree, shrubs and mountains. Our visit to the resort was fun but Alicia nearly lost it when we saw one of the most dangerous roads in the world.

It was the long tortoua, and extremely steep acsent into Mambila plateau from a place called Gashaka.

Fahad was advised to leave the wheel and hire a local driver who was familiar with the terrain because once any vehicle fell into the bottomless gorges, the dead bodies would never be retrieved. This place happened to be the highest point above sea level in Nigeria.

We took this trip as our honey moon and we had a lot of fun. Just a month into marriage, I was very sure my life was meaningless without Alicia.
On the fourth day, we went to a village called Garde. It was a small village located on a hill with various hamlets widely spaced. The natives were normadic Fulani tribe.Our guide, a young man called Hande said it was market day. That meant, it was a day when people gathered at a market square for buying and selling.

It was there I witnessed something strange. There was a crowd of men ,women and children. They formed a circle, creating a big stage in the middle. Then a Fulani man came
on stage, said something in his local dialect. It sounded like a challenge. Then someone came out, said something and I felt he accepted the challenge.
The second man was given a whip and he faced the man who had dared him. He started flogging him.It was savage. The people cheered. Alicia screamed. Why? What offence did the man commit? It seemed the natives were used to foreigner's amusement. They only laughed.
" It is a game." Fahad said.
" Game? He is bleeding!" Alicia argued.
" Yes. He will revenge on the next market day. It is called Shadi. I have never witnessed it but I have heard a lot about it. I was told a tale of a guy who accepted a challenge, whipped a guy then ran away when it was his turn to receive lashes. His girl friend felt it was an insult, she stepped forward and received the lashes on his behalf. And when they lash, it is bloody. The Fulanis are strong hearted. "
" I can't watch this any longer. Let's leave please."
I saw Fahad standing shocked, starring at something or someone. Alicia had to repeat her self before he came back to his senses.

We left and started our enquiry about Ardo but I noticed that Fahad was not himself. What did he see ? I was still pondering over it when Alicia cringed, grabbed me and pulled me to a corner.
" What is wrong?"

She pointed at a white man,dressed in white shirt and khaki shorts. He hung a bag over his shoulder. He was holding a lady who looked African.They appeared to be tourists.
" I know that man."She said. " What is he doing here?"
"Who is he?"
She looked worried.
" He was our family doctor when I was child. I was told he was dead.How come he is here?"

Mambila, here we are, I thought as we watched them disappear into the crowd. Why did I have the feelings that a lot unveiled secretes were stashed here?

" I will go after him." I said. " There is something about him..."
Fahad touched my shoulder.
" You guys should go home. It is danderous." He said. " I saw you guys hide from him and I asked a native about him. He lives here and works as a medical doctor."
Fahad followed him.