MY TREASURED DESIRE

Chapter FORTY: The Night of Long Knives!

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

New Beijing – Lagos Expressway, Over New Beijing River, Achaia.

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

John Doe’s Notes.

Following the successful spinal cord surgery at A.R.S.H., and the brave intervention of the engaged-to-be-married couple of neurosurgeons - Dr. Alex George-Orji and Dr. Reese Chang - whose partnership foiled the underworld kingpins’ onslaught on the life of an important diplomat, the underworld kingpins went after the princess of Achaia and her fiancée’s lives.

The A.S.S.S. arrived at the scene of the huge clash to see the cadaver and relics of the c*****e, take records, and give the necessary order for the bridge to be cleaned up for public use. The Press had reported a bloodletting, mentioning the truism that the corpses were either too defaced or disfigured by the fire that engulfed the bridge. The burnt firearms and bullet shells on the bridge lent credence to the fact that there were shootouts involved.

Colonel Adewale shook his head and spoke to his boss, quietly:

“In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, where Brutus talks to Cassius, a guiding word 

Could be highlighted…”

“Make your quote, Wally,” General Raymond Chang replied.

He told him that he might mangle the quote a bit, but he would make his point. He said,

“There is a tide in the affairs of men,

Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.

All the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries.

On such a full sea are we now afloat.

And we must take the current when it serves, Or lose our ventures.”

When I asked my Boss what it meant to him, he replied: “Brutus means to tell Cassius that the key to success in life lies in knowing that a tide - simply the divine guidance, motivation of men or a reversal of fortune - exists, and it is up to a man to recognise and seize the opportunity to use discretion with precision. This is a metaphorical expression, John Doe… But what is your point, Wally?”

Both of us have always been impressed with my boss’ power of expression, so I expressed my mind this way:

“The Interpol, KGB, and a few of our partners have been on the trail of this Contractor, Ghost, or Don… The only progress we made was that he is not Asian, though he is fluent in Mandarin and 5 other major Asian languages. We need to narrow our search to who, amongst the kingpins, is that versatile… I can’t put my fingers to why the Ghost’s Underworld Clients committed a huge resource to decimating the African Prince and an Achaian Princess… There is a Middleville connection to it!”

Adewale King added, “What had just happened is a case of two sides that have taken their destinies in their hands, not caring for self – But the evil side seemed to have the upper hand. Their mission is to eliminate the neurosurgeons, and they have lost all the soldiers drafted into that cause to achieve that. Now, the law has the duty to find the cabal, not just their instrument of terror!”

My boss does not seem to take Wally’s words for it. He expectedly replied, “Unfortunately, we are no judges, but we are Security Operatives who dwell on intelligent judgment… Let us start from the known clues, and discover the unknown… Alright? The remains of the cars show the skeletal metals of mostly jeeps… None of the corpses could be identified, being mangled, maimed by the explosives, or disfigured by the fire. However, the Police vehicle was partially burnt, but had bullet holes… It is your job to discover the embedded truths through astuteness – good sense, not an adjudication or semantic prose… I trust your power of intelligent reasoning – both of you - but we all fool around a while when we discuss with our confidants… I appreciate you, It is okay!”

I cannot agree less with the General. But I thought aloud: “But why?”

And Wally also said, “Why should we lose Princess Reese and her fiancée under our keen watch?”

“Only you can fix your emotional instability, Wally,” the General responded, running his hand through Wally’s Afro hair. Then, he made a statement that expresses his nature, “Could the Neurosurgeons Couple be dead, just like that?! I do not doubt that they are alive, but I am impressed that the Don of Middleville has got a wrong conclusion, now… He should feed that to his paymasters. It would help us. A lot!”

“How can you…?” Wally seemed upset by the kind of judgment coming from an Intelligence Chief of a Nation’s Military Force. But the boss decisively cut off our small discourse on the bridge with a bigger assignment…

“I give you and John Doe only two weeks to get the identity of the Don of Middleville.” I shrank because sleepless nights have come: When the General talks like that, it is final, or we risk being redeployed and each of us replaced with a Supercop out there!

***

Thursday. 7:00 pm Local Time (11.00 am, GMT or UTC.)

The Crown Prince’s Residence, Imperial Palace, Achaia.

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

General Raymond Chang’s Standpoint.

Seated uncomfortably in the posh private lounge were my uncle - King ReyRey, Reynold, Alice – Alexa’s elder Sister that remains based in the UK, and Alexa. The main discourse for which I was summoned was the whereabouts of Reese and Dr. Alex Junior. We had brainstormed for an hour and a few minutes, almost dragging me to my wits’ end. Then, my rescuer of all time offered a word:

“Beloved dad, sister-in-law, and my indispensable allure,” Reynold had begun, “Believe Raymond as he gives us hope. For we are – indeed what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is never an act, but a habit. Raymond has this.”

King ReyRey Chang added, “We had always been trained in the Royal Family to get to the roots of all matters, get facts of the matters, and face our fears headlong… But what are we fretting about today? Our very own has just been affected! Selfishness is not an attribute of the regal… Has any of us seen any corpse or proof that something untoward has happened to my children, Alex, and Reese? My second son brought a list of forensic tests results on each of the bodies that lay on that bridge. We have linked only one to Achaia, Chu Young – Reese’s Chauffeur, and two of our Police Officers. The others were not found in Achaian records as they are not our citizens… We have the medical records of Alex and Reese, but the bad news did not reach them. Let us be who we are – Representatives of God in the affairs of our Nations. Fret not!”

My adopted dad – I dare not use the word “adopted” or “uncle” in describing him before others – is my mentor in wisdom. His calm words have a way of soothing hearts! So, I was able to reveal another information, “I got a report from the Marine Guards of Achaia, who have instruments to video the underwater terrains – Their divers and naval associates have searched the Sea under that bridge within 50 kilometres’ radius, and the two bodies found were brought through the currents. The carcasses were testes by the forensics, and the families have since collected the mutilated remains... Definitely, my sister and my brother-in-law cannot sink in any water body! They were also trained for marine emergencies… Let us keep our fingers crossed, as the authorities are working round the clock to get us the reliable information we seek!”

“I had always refused to rule out accidents in these kinds of matters. There was a matter I told His Royal Highness about, 5 years ago. We got involved in a scuffle and Alexa was hit with an iron rod and she fell into River Thames. I got a fit of panic, but I was helped to keep our opponents in a coma before help arrived… I got the Marines to comb the Thames… We found Alexa – with her head bandaged with a strip she tore out of her frock - helping to care for some local people who were stranded around a part of the bank of River Thames!” Alexa concluded the matter before the king took his leave.

***

Friday. 7:00 am Local Time (11.00 pm, GMT or UTC.)

The Monarch’s Palace, Bandar, Middleville.

10 Days Before Prince Liu Cheng Yu’s International Birthday Bash.

The Monarch’s Viewpoint.

It was unusual. I had a restful sleep overnight and did not feel obliged to get to the Oval Office that I could link from my bedroom, here. Having freshened up and feeling cool, I just pressed my bell. Three royal maidens made their entry as if they had been waiting at my door: It is possible. One carried a well-diced, assorted fruits dressed on the porcelain tray; another a chinaware filled with distilled water, fruity perfumed liquid soap, and white napkins; and the third was waiting for my order – carrying nothing. I moved to the dining area, had my seat as the royal maiden curtsied, and noiselessly placed the water in the porcelain tray before me. I soaked my hands in the fruity-scented soap and washed them with the distilled water so that she could put the napkin down. The fruits lady came and, before I started eating with the cutleries provided, I told the third maiden what I would prefer to eat, and she curtsied and left. My phone rang!

“Oh, the Patriot. My father did a great deed giving you the naturalised citizenship that you deserve,” he smiled as he recognised the voice on the receiver. “Any challenges?”

“Their insurance will be put to their families’ use, unfortunately. We paid heavily for that!” was the reply from the caller.

“Loss of loyal hands at war,” the monarch muttered, shook his head, and shrugged. “Mission accomplished. You need to travel out, sow your royal oats, lay low for a few months. Will you attend my Birthday in ten days? We have worked together since my dad left the throne for me. Can we see again, after such a long time?”

The caller responded, calmly…. “Your Highness! Thank you for the honour… It is not my style. Your dad introduced me to you because his time was up. As appropriate, we shall meet at an auspicious moment. The Grim Reaper does not celebrate… I make dark minds to celebrate!”

“The coast is clear, Patriot… I will wait till your National Awards’ Day!”

I disconnected the call with the strong man and resumed by breakfast with a huge smile!

After breakfast, I decided to call Colonel Michelle Guan: not for anything special… Only to listen to her voice. After the pleasantries, I decided to tell her a coded story.

I started, “I am so free today. What about you?”

“It is a Friday morning. But I have a day off work today, Your Highness,” Colonel Michelle replied, pleasantly.

“I had met a girl like you in my university days. So endearing and pleasant to the heart,” I noticed that the Colonel was eager to hear what I would say. “Let me give you an introduction to that botched relationship. I was a 17-year-old second lieutenant when I met Alistair, an adorable American beauty. She was the most precious being I had ever seen. We were studying Classics at Harvard. She was the best in my class. She was from a poor background, but I do not care about status or class in those days. She came to Harvard through a strict scholarship… She never knew how wealthy I was, but something that is bringing me closer to you, brought me to prefer her above all. The passion of her love for me was also like fire. I wanted to marry her right away, but my parents were tough disciplinarians… The youthful passion in me could not let me wait, so I got her pregnant as our graduation got nearer, and I used my influence to ensure that her education was completed even with the breach I caused. We graduated from Harvard in flying colours, but I lost her to death at our daughter’s birth… That daughter that my love left behind is married to one of my Property Business colleagues. But I thought I could never love anyone again until I met the African Princess, Alexa, at Lagos-Achaia, during the emperor’s 86th Birthday… I could hardly sleep afterward! But she rejected me… That explained my madness... I want only the best as my empress… You qualify… And I will honour your care if you choose not to reject me. If you are in love with someone now, can you let us begin just as friends? No lovemaking, but hearty and intimate friendship!”

“Very well, Your majesty… I will come one day before the Birthday Programme. I have a relationship that we would do well to ignore, for now, as I am not seeking marriage just yet. I just like to be of help – emotionally – to my Head of State. Being a friend that you seek is more than enough,” said the Colonel, making my heart to be at rest.