THE GATEKEEPERS.
1028 Words
CHAPTER 7: THE GATEKEEPERS.
The heat outside Uncle Ben’s gate was different from the cold inside.
Reuben wiped sweat from his forehead. His shirt was already sticking to his back.
He needed an excuse. Something to do. Because standing here doing nothing was making his heart beat faster.
He turned to the gateman. Small. Muscular. Name tag said _MUSA_. He was chewing kolanut and watching the road like nothing was wrong.
REUBEN
Please, where can I get a soft drink?
Musa stopped chewing. He looked at Reuben like he spoke French.
MUSA
Wetin be that?
Reuben remembered. Speak simple. Speak pidgin.
REUBEN
Sorry. Where I go fit buy mineral?
Musa pointed toward the house with his thumb. He frowned.
MUSA
Mineral I dey for freezer inside za house Mana. Where I wan buy am for minerals outside?
Right. There was a big double-door fridge in the kitchen. Reuben had seen it when he came for Christmas 3 years ago. Full of drinks. Stout. Malta. Everything.
So why send me out?
REUBEN
But na oga send me.
That made Musa pause. He stood up straighter.
MUSA
Wait make e call am for Akpan.
Akpan. The other gateman. Bigger. Louder. Calabar man. He usually sat in the small security post by the gate.
Musa picked up a small black phone from the table and dialed.
MUSA
Akpan, come. This oga brother e wan go outside buy minerals.
A few seconds later, Akpan walked out. Big stomach. Singlets. Face like he just woke up from a fight.
AKPAN
Why you dey call me?
MUSA
Tor, this oga brother e wan go outside buy minerals.
Akpan looked at Reuben. Then he laughed. One short, sharp laugh.
AKPAN
Mineral dey for fridge now. You just dey come Lagos? This one na jjc o
MUSA
I no talk am for here? Akpan you sef stop to dey laugh mana.
Reuben felt cornered. Two grown men looking at him like he was lying.
REUBEN
Why my uncle come send me go buy am now?
Akpan’s smile disappeared. He scratched his head.
AKPAN
Wait o! Na oga send you go buy mineral?
REUBEN
Yes.
Akpan looked at Musa. Then back at Reuben. He sighed like a man who had seen this kind of thing before.
AKPAN
Dey go buy. I no wan lose my job. For him to tell you to go buy am, e get why.
REUBEN
But why?
AKPAN
No be for my mouth you hear say we get bad government for Nigeria. If the president say country good, e mean say country good.
That was it. That was the only answer Reuben was going to get.
He nodded and pushed the gate open.
As soon as he stepped out, Akpan turned to Musa. His voice dropped.
AKPAN
But why oga go send him brother go buy mineral when we get enough minerals inside the fridge?
Musa shrugged. He picked up his kolanut again.
MUSA
As you ask am for me now, na who I go come ask am for? See, AKPAN, I get am for six wives and 34 children for Kano. Na them be my business, kuma oga business name him business no be my business, kaji Ko?
Akpan shook his head. Then he muttered something under his breath. It sounded like Calabar curses. Words Musa didn’t understand but knew were not prayers.
MUSA
He responded back in Hausa. Fast. Sharp.
“Wai me nake ce? Kai ne ka fara cin mutunci na!”
Akpan’s eyes went wide.
AKPAN
Why you dey abuse me now?
MUSA
Hana mana, na how you take know say I abuse am for you? Na you first abuse am for me mana!
Akpan put his hands on his waist.
AKPAN
No be you I dey talk to. I just dey greet my ancestors. Them just enter the compound now. See them, them be four.
He pointed to the empty air by the mango tree and bowed his head slightly.
Musa stared at him for two seconds. Then he dropped the kolanut.
MUSA
Walai this akpan don dey craze.
He ran inside the security post and slammed the door.
Akpan just stood there, still talking to the air. “Welcome my fathers. Make una drink water.”
Reuben had gone to get the soft drink. He didn't see the drama between Akpan and Musa.
He walked down the street.
He didn’t buy drinks. He couldn’t. His mind was on Julie. Alone inside with Uncle Ben. And that phone call.
He walked for 5 minutes. Went around the block. He passed the shop close to uncle Ben 's house and ran back when he realised because, he was lost in thought.
Then came back with two bottles of Coke and two bottles of Fanta from a shop a stone throw from Uncle Ben's house. His hands were shaking.
He got back to the gate.
CLANG.
The gate opened.
Reuben walked in fast. His heart was in his throat.
The sitting room was empty.
The AC was still on. The big leather chair where Uncle Ben sat was empty. The glass table had his glasses on it. The empty peak milk and glass cup half full milk are still on the table. But no Uncle Ben. No Julie.
REUBEN
Julie?
No answer.
REUBEN
Julie! I'm back. Uncle!
His voice echoed in the big house.
He checked the kitchen. Empty. The fridge was humming. Full of drinks as he opened the fridge. This is not making sense to him anymore. Variety of soft drinks stocked up here in the fridge including coke and Fanta.
He checked the guest room downstairs. Empty. Bed made.
He ran upstairs. Two steps at a time.
REUBEN
Julie! Uncle!
Nothing.
He stood in the hallway upstairs. Breathing hard. The Coke bottles were sweating in his hands.
Where did they go?
Did Julie leave with him?
Did something happen?
Downstairs, he heard the gate _clang_ again.
Reuben froze.
Footsteps. Coming up the stairs.
Slow. Heavy.
REUBEN
It better be a prank that Julie is pulling. Maybe uncle is taking her around the house or maybe not. Well, it has to be one of these.
DISSOLVE TO BLACK
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