MY TREASURED DESIRE

Chapter FORTY-ONE: Appearance of Don Leslie Adams!

Saturday. 4:00 pm Local Time (8.00 am, GMT or UTC.)

General Raymond Chang’s Office, the A.S.S.S. Situation Room, Achaia.

21 Days Before the Proposed Traditional Marriage Between Alexa and Reynold.

Adewale King’s Perspective.

The A.S.S.S. team got a detailed briefing about the visit of one of their former senior colleagues, who would be teaming up with A.S.S.S. to unravel the neurosurgeons’ disappearance puzzle. Hence, this meeting. Colonel Adewale King, standing for the Commanding Officer, asked, “Who amongst us, here, do not know the former Colonel, Leslie Adams of Achaia Royal Guard?”

Colonel Michelle Guan, speaking for the combatants, said: “All the present-day combat team of A.S.S.S., today, once served under Colonel Leslie Adams (now retired) at the Royal Guard, before the political soldiers roped him up in a court-martial that almost ended his life!”

Colonel John Doe spoke, “The Criminologists here have God to thank for the efforts of this large-hearted, united team and our leadership that ensured that the evil plot failed. However, the enemies would have got him killed by other means, Hence, he was sponsored to establish his Security Organisation in the U.S.A. The duo of the crown prince and the General Officer Commanding the A.S.S.S. bankrolled his travels, recruitments, registration, and operations. The Organisation is now bankrolled by the neurosurgeons' couple.”

I guided the team, saying, “It is, therefore, time for the former Colonel of Achaia Royal Guard, and beneficiary of the graces of the Crown Prince Reynold and General Raymond Chang, to pay back what they can from the numerous favours, and show his undying loyalty.”

Colonel Johnson Allen curiously asked, “When will the boss and our guest arrive from the presence of the crown prince?”

Following the arrival of Leslie Adams in Achaia, with his entourage, he went straight to the crown prince’s residence, and he was welcomed with pomp and pageantry. General Raymond was there with his crown prince. After the banquet, the General took their guests along to the A.S.S.S. Situation room, in the quest for them to assist in resolving the mystery behind the disappearance of their own financiers.

“General, Sir, and dear colleagues, we are the loyal beneficiaries of the princes, with my six subordinates who are Super Masters of the Martial Arts. We pay tribute to the A.S.S.S. and pledge our loyalty to this nation. We are willing to assist in removing the cloud surrounding the state of the neurosurgeons, who also remain our benefactors along with the crown prince and the General…” The visitors extended a warm hand of partnership to their hosts, through their spokesman - their Don – while each of the martial arts masters introduced themselves as the host acknowledged the team. Don Leslie Adams continued: “I am so grateful for this grace and warm welcome. I hope you will forgive me, my Mentor, and fellow colleagues, for I shall be starting on a disappointing note?”

But our boss was full of smiles. So, the Retired Colonel continued, “I must reveal some clues to you, for our consumption only: I can give you details about whom you seek. They are of two camps. One is the enemy who is the sponsor of terror, and the other is a mere Contractor! As a security consultant, I will advise that we should not go on a wild goose chase.”

“Could you please differentiate between the sponsor and the contractor? If you ask me, the law goes after the criminal and the accessories to the crime. What does the team feel?” I asked, for clarification’s sake. But my boss smiled and said:

“We must be wary of misplaced zeal that precedes failure in fighting crimes! Semantically you are correct, Wally. But in practice, one might be misguided to chase shadows and become a description of the failure. That is why I expect our guest to make his thoughts clearer to us.”

“Precisely, my mentor. Thanks for your experience that has been brought to bear here, Sir,” said the Retired Colonel Leslie Adams. “In the global war against the GHOST, people seek to get the real man… He would remain elusive as he only uses connections. He never fires a shot, and the fundamental human rights protect him. This is a distraction!”

Michelle offered a word, “Rather, we should chase the sponsor of the crime and get evidence that exposes the criminals – right?”

“O Yes!” Don Leslie said, nodding.

“In this case, what clues do we have?” I asked, seriously.

“The Contractor is the Ghost; the Shadow; the don of Middleville… He is a naturalised citizen of Middleville who hires the best men for the execution of his clients’ crimes. But his hired assassins do not see him, recognise him, nor can they trace his calls. He gives all the briefs the pawn would need and pays up-front! What a style that exudes confidence, you would say... He monitors his assassins, and they cannot shake off his tail, or betray him. He is not connected to mere kingpins; he is connected to national leaders only. That is why his capture will sink most national leadership! They will protect him internationally”

Then, John Doe wondered aloud, “Then, how do we nab the sponsors?

“Wrong Question,” Retired Colonel Leslie Adams retorted, with a grin.

The General smiled and offered guidance, “Do not ask about how you will nab who you have not identified, partners! Ask how we detect the sponsor… But the question should be in context, not a random one!”

“Right, Sir,” Colonel Leslie Adams said, and frowned a bit… “I will have to leave that salient exposé till the urgent steps are concluded. Now, I need permission to search the venue of the road clash, with my men. Give me a code in case I need backup… The sponsor you need in this case is not the Shadow, Contractor, or the Don of Middleville… Yes, he is the brainbox. But he is not your culprit. If you get to arrest him - a feat that the KGB, MI6, Interpol, CIA, etc., have not found enough evidence to accomplish - you would have little or no evidence to prosecute. What a waste your effort would be!”

“Who is this sponsor on our present case…?” John Doe requested.

“The Commander-in-Chief of the nation that will benefit the most from the incarceration of the duo… The same people who need Ambassador Chiang – the diplomat - dead in that theatre also want those who caused the failure of their plot to die…” Don Leslie said as he slams an envelope filled with photographs on the Situation Room Table. “Aren’t they celebrating now?”

“What the…” The General, John Doe, and Johnson Allen who started perusing the photos as soon as they landed on the long and hefty marble table, chorused… and paused together without completing their phrase.

And the guest asked:

“Do I have your permission to comb the ‘Lagos – New Beijing Bridge’ and its environs. You will also give me what I need, that I will let you know about!”

The Commandant replied, “You will have your way, Colonel… But one of my combatants will follow your team… Adewale will appoint our choice!”

Before he completed his statement I had chosen and announced, “Pastor John Doe!”

Everyone – except the General and the don’s men in the Conference Room - gave out a hearty laughter. John Doe was an ordained pastor of the Holy Trinity Church Worldwide. But whenever he is called to officially join a mission, the whole team feels that he was chosen because the mission is a dead-end, and prayers are enjoined if the mission must succeed! Don Leslie Adams followed up with a statement that “quenched” our laughter:

“Keep this mission sealed and let no one know that I ever came here: Keep the rescue mission secret until the couple appears at the traditional wedding of the crown prince!”

I frowned and told my boss: “Leslie is counting his chicks before they are hatched! Has he suddenly considered himself a deity?”

The General must be so happy with how upset I was as he answered: “I share his optimism!”

***

Saturday. 8:00 pm Local Time (12.00 noon, GMT or UTC.)

Riverine Community beneath the Lagos – New Beijing Bridge, Achaia.

21 Days Before the Proposed Traditional Marriage Between Alexa and Reynold.

Colonel John Doe’s Report.

We spent three hours checking every relic and texture of sand from the bridge, up till the time the crane lowered each of us down into a ferry waiting for us on the river under the bridge… I even wondered if the trained Bodyguard and Combatant Colonel had gone for criminology training. I grew some mock dislike for Don Leslie as I felt he was mimicking the detectives to annoy me. Noticing that I was observing him, he smiled.

“Before the male neurosurgeon leaped, he sensed some danger beneath… But seeing that it is safer to jump, he acted!”

“WOW…” I squinted my eyes a bit and thought a bit. “With my small knowledge of Sand, I know that you cannot guess the history of occurrences just by feeling the sand textures – Are you being serious, right now, Colonel?”

“Colonel John Doe,” Don Leslie called me to look at him. “The study of sand is called arenology. The study of individual grains can reveal quite a bit of historical information about the origin, type of transport, and other information about the grain. Quartz sand that is recently weathered from granite or gneiss quartz crystals will be angular… But traditional sciences: Sand divination studies from Africa can open your eyes. That is where I met Celestine Gbàjà – The Ghost!”

“Why are you trying to confuse me, Colonel?” I chided and continued “What is Gbàjà? Sand divination, et al?”

“I am sorry. I just want us to have an understanding,” the retired Colonel explained… “Gbàjà is a Yoruba man who lived in Mali and practiced Mande Sand Divination. He was an expert in decoding times and tides… I studied a bit under him and saw that knowledge should never end in the classrooms. We need the esoteric understanding of life! Today, he uses that vast knowledge to make money through contractual violence!”

I replied with caution, saying “This guy of yours has skills as an expert diviner and he is capable of establishing and maintaining the frame of his performance.”

Colonel Leslie Adams must be saying something as a researcher. I heard him say, “In the case of the Mande expert, Celestine Gbàjà, it is demonstrated that this frame encompasses a unique and dynamic network of social relations and comprises a complex set of economic and geographical factors. The historical backdrop to the expert's activities is the ‘occult economy,’ which means the deployment, real or imagined, of magical means for material ends. It is argued in “Framing Divination: A Mande Divination Expert and The Occult Economy” (Published online at Cambridge Core, by Cambridge University Press:  19 May 2011) that acquiring the skills needed for managing a frame – and a team of people to support the frame – in the conditions described is a major accomplishment. Study of these skills and processes may provide valuable insight into processes of social change at the micro-level.”

“So, you are telling me that you used the African sand divination techniques to know what happened to Dr. Alex George-Orji senior, right?”

“Now, I will blow your mind…” the retired Colonel warned me as he jumped out of the vehicle. “Show Off,” I thought, as I did the same. All the crew members did the same. Now, the ferry berthed at a locally-made jetty, and the Naval personnel anchored it to safety. We moved to the villagers as Leslie directed, greeting them and the hosts treating him like a star until we were led to a big old, thatch-roofed house…