The Lost Generation

I hate to tell you this, Michael told his wife nervously, bringing the old station wagon to a halt, but I dare drive any further. There is trouble ahead? what kind of trouble? she gasped in alarm, peering anxiously through the windscreen. They were on a typical out of town road. All appeared to be well. I see nothing. 'look again'. Thy were a middle aged couple, Jennifer was a plump countryside motherly lady. she had visited him recently and now he was returning her to their home in the country. they had hardly got beyond the city limits. I still don't see anything frightening.....' she began. Then suddenly she became aware of the three figures. One of them was wearing ordinary clothes, but the other two were wearing khaki uniforms with white sleeves, motor cycle helmets, goggles and gloves. You don't mean you are scared of those traffic policemen, do you? she asked relaxing back in her seat. Yes, he admitted. I don't have enough money for petroleum let alone for fines and bribery. She regarded him with disgust. Don't tell me you haven't renewed the road license yet? I wish that was the only thing wrong with the vehicle, he said mournfully. It has more faults than maize flour beer. The tyres are worn out, and it's Horn, handbrake, wipers and signals are not working. It high time you got rid of this piece of jut. You t have let me travel by bus. What are we going to do now? I shall try an old trick, whereby you follow and hide under the tail of a heavy vehicle like a bus or lorry. When you reach the policemen, while they are busy stopping the vehicle the heavier vehicle, you accelerate and it is then too late for them to stop you.He grinned at her. looking back he sported an old bus amongst the oncoming traffic. Ah! We shall hide behind that bus. It will surely be stopped while we drive off. Closer and closer came the old bus, and the couple watched it carefully. But before it reached them, their attention was diverted to a yellow saloon car which was approaching with the speed and the noise of an aeroplane. It was in the Lane, and it was overtaking every vehicle on the road. Now there is a fellow who is eager to contribute to government revenue by over speeding, Michael commented. Faster and faster came the yellow car. It overtook the old bus and then went past the couple in the immobile station wagon. Michael watched with interest to see the policemen's reaction to the over speeding. He was surprised to see that they only watched the speeding car without stopping it. He was even more surprised when it braked sharply and stopped beside them. He must be a good citizen and has given himself up Michael joked. I hope they book him, said Jennifer. It would serve him right for such dangerous driving. The two traffic policemen and their plainclothes comrade hurried to the window of the yellow car and seemed to talk with the driver for about thirty seconds, then the car moved onward and accelerated to a high speed once more. Well, well, said a puzzled Michael scratching his head. Not only did they not book him, they actually urged him to drive faster. I wonder if they will be as generous to me? Thy might even lend me a couple of new tyres. The yellow car turned sharply into a side road, and then stopped. It was just visible where they waited. He made me let the old bus pass, Michael said, looking for another vehicle to hide behind. Unfortunately for him, there was no heavy vehicle amongst the oncoming traffic. There was only a grey land Rover with two men in it, three saloon cars and two pick ups. Michael raced the engine impatiently. The policemen will begin to take an unhealthy interest in us for stopping too long. Yes, they are looking in our direction, Jennifer said nervously. Hey! What are they doing? It looked as if the two uniformed officers were supporting their plainclothes comrade, who seemed to have fainted. strange, said Michael. They are motorcycle officers, he went on. I wonder where their machines are? It looked as if the policemen were not intending to use their motorcycles. They were more interested in the oncoming traffic. they let two saloon cars pass and then stopped the grey Land Rover. Leaving his companion to support the sick man, one of the policemen talked to the occupant of the Land Rover. It appeared that the people in the Land Rover were reluctant to help him, for they talked for over a minute. then the policeman seems to lose his patience, for he produced what looked like a pistol from his pocket, opening the driver's door of the Land Rover simultaneously. He leapt in and slammed the door shut. Meanwhile the sick man had recovered miraculously and leapt in the back of the Land Rover with the policeman who had been supporting him. Each of them produced a sword. The land Rover drove off at as violent a speed as the yellow car had done. When it reached the parked yellow car, The car followed e. Both vehicles sped towards the eastern outskirts of the city.It all happened so fast that few, if any members of the public had noticed anything unusual going on. The traffic kept flowing as before. Only the middle aged couple seemed to be interested in the incident, since they had witnessed it from the start. They looked at each other uneasily. What do you make of it, Michael? Jennifer asked. I don't know. All I am sure of is that I didn't like it at all. We should report the matter to the police. ' We cannot do that! Perhaps those policemen were arresting gangsters. It was a funny way for policemen to act. What about the yellow car?Why did the men in it stop to talk to the policemen and drive on to wait for them farther on? What did they tell the policemen? What is the connection between them? What if you are wrong? Think of all the questions we'll have to answer an all the time we'll waste if we report such a matter to the police station. We can make an anonymous call. They were saved the trouble of driving to a call box, for a dark patrol car with two khaki -clad officers in it pulled up beside them. A hard, lean face was thrust out of the window. You're are obstructing traffic, old man, the officer snapped. Move on. The startled Michael collected his wits and said, I am glad to see you officers, for I wish to report a possible h****k! ' A h****k?' ' Yes. Three men with a gun hijacked a Land Rover over there. The policemen looked at each other. A Horn blared from the obstructed traffic behind them. The second policeman drove the patrol car to the side of the road. They got out of it while the traffic resume it's flow. The policeman who had been talking was the young, tall and lean, he had sharp eyes in his narrow hard face. There was something disconcerting about his expression and holstered gun. The other officer was older and did not look so formidable. They were both impatient, as if they did not take Michael's claim seriously. Now Mzee, the young one began, would you mind explaining yourself? Hastily, Michael explained everything which had occurred, and the circumstances which had made him suspicious.as he did so the air of impatient left the police officers and they listened attentively. When did this happen, the young officer asked. ' About ten minutes ago'. What did the policemen looked like?' the officer went on to ask, pulling out a notebook. They were too far away to tell, besides, they were wearing helmets and goggles. They were about your size. Their companion was short. He was wearing blue jeans and a dark jacket. What about the two men in the yellow car. I only caught a glimpse of them since they were traveling very fast. All I remember about them is that they were wearing caps and sunglasses. I cannot say what the men in the Land Rover looked like either, but I get the impression that one of them was a prosperous man and the other a professional driver. Did you get the registration number of either of the two vehicles?. No , but the land Rover was a grey one with a white roof. It was not the type with a tarpaulin at the rear. The yellow car was a good a ford Escort. 'Where you say they went?' ' Along that road over there, towards the airport. The older policeman moved towards Michael's station wagon, in which Jennifer sat listening nervously. Did you see all this, Ma'am. She hesitated, then said Yes. Have you got anything to add which might be to us? She shook her head. Thanking the couple, The policemen got back into their car sent it shooting forward while the young one picked up a microphone. 'What do you think, Jason? asked the latter. They could be imaginative, James, the other replied. But we dare not take any chances. This could be link with the the Pangani arson case. I was thinking the same. I will alert the headquarters. They slowed down at the scene of incident. Seeing nothing to interest them, they accelerated again and entered the side of the road the other vehicles had taken. With it siren screeching and it's light flashing the dark patrol car sped across the eastern outskirts of the sprawling city. It was a flat country with grass and shrubs on one side, While the car sped along, James radioed the Headquarters, keeping a sharp look out for the two vehicles at the same time. Car number seven thirteen calling the headquarters. Car number seven thirteen calling the headquarters, he said into the microphone. 'Recieving you. Go ahead, a voice from the speaker responded. Trader named Michael Sanchez has reported a possible h****k by bogus traffic policemen along the Thika road . Investigation along the road to the airport. over. There was a pause before the speaker came to life again. Go ahead. If they were genuine, then they were arresting two men in a grey Land Rover. Call all controls and check if any such arrest has been made along Thika Road within the last fifteen minutes. Inform me as soon as possible. ' Roger', said the speaker. The was another pause, as if other man was making notes. If there has been no such arrest, then we're bogus. Have reinforcements stand by. over. James put the microphone down and removed his automatic pistol from its holster. He checked it action, keeping a sharp watch on the road. There was a wide variety of vehicles to be seen, but no grey Land Rover or yellow Ford Escort. Constable Jason, James said to the driver, if you were a hijacker, where would you take your victim around here? I'd try the Mombasa road, Corporal. Then let us check along it. The Mombasa road was busy since it linked the Capital city with the coast, but it went across vast, uninhabited plains.After speeding along it for several kilometers, the two officers were about to turn back when they spotted a yellow Ford Escort coming from a side road. Instantly the patrol car pulled into the side road to intercept it . The yellow car had five mean in it. The two at the front were wearing caps, which were pulled down their foreheads, and dark glasses. At the rear were the two in police uniforms, complete with helmets and large goggles. Between them sat a man in civilian clothes. They were traveling at high speed but, When the driver saw the patrol car, he braked as if he intended to turn back. Then he saw that the police car would be upon them before they turned back, and he accelerated again. He obviously intended to avoid the patrol car and go past it at high speed. James guess his intention and thought swiftly. Block the road! he yelled, c*****g his gun. We could be rammed, but it is the only way, Jason agreed, slamming on the brakes, making them squeal. He stopped the car across the narrow, earthen road in seconds. Be careful now; They are armed ! he cautioned James. the two officers jomp out of their car, guns in hand, and took cover behind it, just as the yellow Ford braked sharply to avoid a collision. Halt! James yelled. Come out with your hands up or we'll shoot! An ear-splitting explosion rang out as one of the bogus policemen fired at him. James had expected the shoot and kept his head down. The shot shattered a window and knocked his cap off his head . He kept his head lower. Four more shots rang out. The policemen kept their head down while the yellow Ford's engine raced violently. The car was swerving round the blocking patrol car, over the rough, over the rough, grassy verge of the road. The policemen fired a couple of shots each but only managed to shatter the windows of the car because the five men in it had kept their heads down also. An unexpected answering shot sent the two policemen scrambling for cover on the other side of their car. As the yellow Ford swerved back on the road, Jason aimed at one of its rear tyres, fired twice and missed. James aim at hijacker in civilian clothes who had raised his head too soon.The bullet shatter the rear screen of the car and hit the man in the shoulder, making him jump and yell. He slumped forward as the yellow car sped out of range. The policemen into their car to pursue, Jason started the engine, engaged gear and stepped hard on the accelerator. The car jerked along for a few metres in a clumsy, trotting motion. Curse it! he said in frustration. He was clever enough to shoot a tyre.Now they will get away . 'Atleast I got one of the bastards. said James. Send out the alarm! They could be intercepted before can go into hiding if the headquarters act fast enough. You're right. There is not a moment to be lost. swiftly James began to transmit. He reported their encounter with the hijackers and describe them and their car. He also suggested the route they were mostly likely to take. After sending the message James turned to his colleague. We dare not change the wheel and join the chase before the Chief has seen the damage. But there will be plenty of people looking for the hijackers. Our more immediate duty is to locate the Land Rover.Jason nodded, it can't be far from here, since the hijackers can't have had time to take it far. They got out of the car and surveyed the plain around them through their field glasses. There was no sign of the Land Rover. It must be farther away then I thought, said Jason.We will have to wait for the others. If they take too long we'll have to change the wheel and go look for it. Fifteen minutes passed, they spent discussing their encounter with the hijackers and listening to the messages being picked up by the VHF radio. James became impatient, and he was about to start changing the wheel, When they heard the sound of distance sirens which came closer. soon two cars and a van appeared. The leading car was big and sleek, and it looked more like a diplomatic car than a police car. ' Oh oh!' it's the chief! said Jason.I wonder if he will be satisfied with the way we handled the situation? The vehicles entered the side road and came to a halt near the damaged patrol car. A dozen policemen alighted. Half of them were plainclothes detectives. One of the plainclothes men was of herculean stature, and there was the no mistaking he was the leader. He was wearing an over - coat and a Muslim cap. He was Chief Inspector Mohammed . James saluted him and asked anxiously.Did you get them, sir?. No. The big man's voice was hoarse . They outsmarted us. They had another gateway car. They abandoned the yellow one midway between the airport and Eastlands. We spent some time on it. You wounded one of them badly, for there was much blood on the rear seat. The police uniforms were on the floor. There are five cars still looking them, and the city has been sealed off. The big man's sharp, narrow, eyes ran over the patrol car with it's burst tyre and smashed window, what exactly happened here, Corporal? James gave the details of what happened since he and Jason had received Michael's report up to the time they had met the hijackers. The Chief heard him in silence. 'A brave but reckless performance, Corporal, he commented. We'll have another talk later. Right now I want to know where you think these hijackers took their victims . They can't be very far West of her Chief. The hijackers hadn't had time to take them far. You come with us, Corporal. You, Constable Jason change the wheel and take the car to the station. Jason saluted. 'Yes sir '. All the rest got into three vehicles and drove along the narrow road deeper into the plain. scanning every foot away. Seven minutes later they saw the Land Rover. It had been abandoned in a clump of bushes near the road. There was something frightening about the silence surrounding it. The was two men in the front one of them was light skinned, middle aged and we'll groomed. He was slumped forward on his seat. there was an ugly stab wound in the middle of his back, and there was clotting blood on his mouth. The man was younger, bigger and dressed as a chauffeur. He was slumped back in his seat staring sightlessly at the roof the vehicles. The was an expression of startled horror on his round face, as if he has not expected to be stabbi in the back. Those who had stabbed them had done so from the rear of the vehicle, since the Land Rover was one of those without a partition. Both men were dead. Chief Inspector Mohammed felt a sickly crawling feeling in his stomach. though his face did not show it, he couldn't supress a tremor in his voice as he said, It appears we are too late, men. keep clear while I take a look inside. Putting on some gloves, the Chief searched the dead men. The prosperous looking one has nothing to interest him except a calling card and an ID card. He had no watch or Money. The calling card said he was George Ford, manager of a construction company called Bidii. The ID card revealed that he came from a district in the Rift Valley, and that he was forty - eight. The other man had an old watch and a little change in his pocket. He had an ID card and a driving license, which said he was called Eric Maloba. He was thirty -two and came from district on the Ghana - Togo border. The Chief studied the cards thoughtfully, then searched the interior of the vehicle. Nothing else caught his interest . There was no signs of a struggle. The Chief straightened his back and continued to study the scene thoughtfully, While his men looked on with grim silence. The silence was broken by the radio in the Chief car, which began to call. One of the officers went to it and answered it. He came back after a while. It's the others they say there is no sign of the culprits . Tell them to keep trying, the Chief snapped. Call Headquarters and say I want the road blocks to stay. I also want all hospitals to be alerted and to look out for a patient with a bullet wound. And don't forget to call the homicide squad for fingerprints and photographs. ' Yes, Chief, the officer said, returning to the radio. The Chief turned to a lean, dark young man with unkempt hair and rough clothes. One could not have guessed from his appearance that he was a Sergeant and was the most shrewd detective in the lot. Jacob, I want to know all about the activities of this two men these morning, the Chief told him gesturing to the dead men. I also want to know the owner of the Yellow Ford. And make inquiries around the place where the killers change cars. Someone must have seen tt other car. Appeal to the public on radio if necessary. Right, Chief, said Jacob, departing with three men. The Chief turned to James. They used traffic police uniforms as the most effective way of stopping these men. You know how they got the uniforms, don't you, Corporal? They set fire to a furniture shop near a police station, the Chief answer to his own question. While everyone in the station was busy fighting the fire, they stole the uniforms from the police quarters. I have been wondering for the past six weeks when they would use them, now they have. I won't forgive them for murdering these two men, and Three children who were burnt alive in the apartment above the furniture shop. Remember their death screams , Corporal? Remember how their mom fainted when they saw their charred remains? James shuddered at the memory. Yes sir. As if he could not control the sheer rage seething within him any longer , the big inspector erupted . With his huge fists raised and his powerful frame quivering, he bellowed : They can run and hide wherever I will find them . We'll launch a relentless search for them from which they will be no effort or cost until the swine are found...... and wiped from the face of earth!