The LONGEST WAIT

Chapter 4

Tim's Stories' THE LONGEST WAIT

CHAPTER 4

I was now in Cotonou and lodging in a low budget hotel in Cotonou called Residense MaryHouse. I had been there for two days and every day, I went to the city center and tried to find out anything I could know about the Europe by Road business. As of now, I still hadn't had any luck.

On the third day, I noticed that there was a new receptionist at the hotel. Unlike the very cold and reserved previous one I had met, this one was livelier and more outgoing and ready to engage in a conversation. So, I walked up to him and asked for a drink. The drink cost one thousand West African CFA Francs (1000 XOF), the official currency used in Benin. After I had finished gulping down my drink, I gave him 5,000 XOF. He wanted to give my change but I quickly declined and asked him to keep the change. He was very happy and kept thanking me in French.

Money has powers. There is nothing that money cannot do. There is no one that money cannot buy. Anything and anyone can be bought. It just depends on the price. Because I had asked him to keep the change, he became more friendly than normal. That was my chance, and I took it.

"Tu parle Anglaise?" I asked. I wasn't too good in French.

"Yes, Sir." He replied and I was glad that I had met someone who could speak English since Benin is a predominantly French-speaking country.

"Okay, thank you and I must say I am very happy."

"It's alright, Sir. Is there a problem? Is there anything you want?" He asked.

"Yes, I do. But first, would you be so kind as to tell me your name?"

"Marcel, Sir. Je m'apelle Marcel."

"Okay, Marcel. Can I trust you?"

"Ha!! Sir, trust no one oh. In this world you shouldn't trust anyone. However, I promise you that I will be committed to you as long as you have shown me how generous you can be."

"Okay, that's good. Now, let me ask you. What do you know about the Europe by road business?"

"Ha! Sir, you want to take that route? Please don't oh. It is a very dangerous route, Mon frere. Many people die in the desert and some drown off the coast of Libya. I will advise that you don't take that route. By the way, I thought it was girl that you wanted. I would have quickly arranged one for you."

"My name is not "Mon Frere". My name is Buchi.

"Buchi, that means you come from Nigeria?"

"Of course. By the way, I am not the one who wants to undertake the journey. It is someone I know, and that person has already gone. I need to find her. Do you know how I can be connected to the people who are involved in this business?" I asked.

"No, Sir. Je ne sais pas. I don't know."

I was vexed and disappointed. I had asked him to keep the change not because I had too much money or he meant anything to me. I was just trying to see if I could extract any information from Him. However, it seemed none was forthcoming. I had thought that as a hotel receptionist, he might have of course, met many people who had undertaken that journey. But it seemed his brain was empty. Feeling downcast, I decided to change strategy.

"Marcel."

"Monsieur."

"You talked about being able to arrange a girl for me. Didn't you?"

"I did, Sir."

"So, how can I have one? I have been lonely these past three days I have been in this hotel. I think I would need a girl that would help me spend the night."

"Monsieur, c'est facile. Very, very easy." He said and handed me a photo album as huge as an encyclopedia. "Make your choice."

I took the album, opened it and my eyes almost jumped out of their sockets at what I saw. There were thousands and thousands of pictures in the album. The pictures were of different girls. The girls came in different sizes, colours, heights, and level of beauty. Their ages ranged from between sixteen to thirty-five. Below each picture was a contact for the girl and her name. I doubted those names were real. I am sure they were just business names that the girls used.

I went through the album carefully until I found one that I thought I liked. I pointed that one to Marcel. Her name was Armelle, and she was very beautiful. However, it was not her beauty that attracted her to me. No one could be more beautiful than Chisom, my wife. I selected her because she looked rugged. She had numerous tattoos on her body and about three piercings on her face. She also looked like a veteran in the ashawo business. So, I decided that I would take her.

I ordered another drink and sat on the counter, drinking while Marcel contacted Armelle. They spoke mostly in French but from what I could understand, she was very ready to come to the hotel within the next hour or so. It was about an hour and thirty minutes that she showed up and her appearance wowed me immediately.

She was wearing a minute skirt that exposed part of her buttocks, revealing about three tattoos that were on her laps. Her top, well, her top might as well pass for a bra as far as I was concerned. I had never seen anything like that. She looked tall because of the stilettos she had on and her colour was very, very light. Her lipstick was so red that you would think she had dipped her lips in blood. Aside from the way she was dressed, she was overall very beautiful.

She walked up to the counter swinging her hips seductively, greeted Marcel with a peck on his jaw and Marcel motioned her to join me. She walked up to my table, greeted me in French and sat down, spreading her legs in a way that was unbecoming of a woman. She was chewing gum and rolling her eyes at the same time. The aroma of her perfume was very sweet.

"Do you speak English?" I asked.

"Yes, I can try."

"Good, do you care for a drink?"

"Depends."

"On?"

"On your tariff option."

"Tariff option? Please enlighten me. I seemed to be lost here."

"I mean how long you want me. If it's just for a few hours, then I can't take a drink because that would be a waste of my time. Time is money, you know. But if it's for the whole night that you want me, I will take the drink. That would mean there is no reason to hurry."

"I want you for the whole night."

"That is good. Now, let me give you my various price options for one night. Normal love making is 10,000XOF. If you are going to touch or suck my breasts in the process, then it is 12,000. If kissing is involved, it's 13,000. If you want me on top, that will be fifteen thousand. If you want intimate s*x, it's 25,000."

"Intimate s*x? Which one is that?"

"I mean s*x without condoms."

"Oh, that is what you mean? Alright, I will pay you full options. I want no restrictions. I will give you 25,000XOF and let us have it intimately." I spoke.

"Humm! That sounds sweet. You are a good customer. I wish I met someone like you every day." She was in a very joyous mood.

"Now, will you get your drink?"

"Of course. Barman!!!"

It was around 10:00 PM now. So, we left the drinking section of the hotel and went upstairs to my room. While we were mounting the stairs that led to the second floor of the hotel, she was in front while I brought up the rear. She was already horny and suddenly turned around and wanted us to start making love right there on the stairs. I halted her and told her to be patient as we would soon get to the bedroom.

When we got into the room she came towards me again and tried to kiss me but I told her that we had both had a long day and s*x was sweetest when both couples are clean. I told her that we should get into the bath and freshen up. She was very excited by that idea. She said she hadn't made love in the shower in quite a while, and it was going to be an awesome experience to do it once again.

We both took off our clothes and I went into the bath and locked the door behind me. She tried to open the door but realized that it had been locked from inside.

"What is the matter? Why is the door locked?" She asked.

"Don't worry, I will be done in a minute."

"But can't we bathe together?"

"No."

"No?"

"No."

"But why?"

"Because you are not my wife. That is a special privilege reserved exclusively for my wife, Chisom."

"How about sleeping with me? Shouldn't that be at the top of all the special privileges you have reserved for your wife?"

"I am paying you, remember? So, shut up."

Men don't take too long to bathe. About five minutes later, I was done. I opened the door of the bath and stepped into the room. With a frown on her face, Armelle got into the bath and slammed the door behind her. I smiled and continued drying myself. Some twenty minutes later, she came out of the bath and walked towards me, naked like the day she was born. But she was surprised that I rebuffed her.

"What is wrong with you?" She asked. "Why are you behaving like this? Let's get down to the main business of the day. Let the match begin."

"I am sorry, Armelle, I don't want to sleep with you?" I finally revealed the reason for all my hesitations.

"What? Then why did you bring me here when you know I am a call girl." She was both vexed and amazed.

"For something different entirely."

"Now, I know. What's your name?" She asked in fear.

"Buchi."

"That means you are a Nigerian. It is very clear now. The whole thing makes sense. You want to use me for money rituals. You brought me here for rituals. Help! Heellppp!! Somebody, aide moi s'il vous plait." She was screaming at the top of her voice, running towards where she kept her handbag.

"Hey!! Calm down. I am not a ritualist, and neither am I involved in money rituals."

"Then who are you? What are you?" She was still highly apprehensive and frantic."

"I came to Cotonou to look for my wife. I want you to help me."

"What? What are you saying? What happened to her?" She had calmed down a little.

"She has been trafficked to Europe. Last time I saw her, she was in Libya."

"In Libya? How did you see her?" She was now seated on the bed still naked.

"On the news, on CNN?"

"CNN?"

"Yeah."

"Then, that is serious."

"Yes, it is serious. It is very, very serious and that is why I embarked on this dangerous and uncertain journey."

"I can see you love her very much."

"She is my world."

"Alright, now I understand the whole reason for your small boy attitude all this evening. You have just wasted my time, though. I was already anticipating a good night loving with you. But as it stands, it is very obvious that that is no longer going to be possible. You are a good man, Buchi. I pray I find a man like you someday, settle down and stop putting my life at risk every night."

"I will be praying for you." She smiled when I said that.

"Because of your unique nature, I am going to help you. I will show you someone who knows a lot about the whole Europe by road business. But you will have to add an extra 5,000 to my payment. You now owe me 30,000. Are you willing to pay?"

"Yes, I am willing. I am very, very willing." I was so excited.

"Okay...."

We were interrupted by a sudden harsh knock on the door. I wasn't expecting anyone at that time. I wondered what room service, if at all it was indeed room service, wanted at that time of the night. It was a few minutes past midnight. I tried to go towards the door but stopped in my tracks. Then, I looked towards, Armelle's direction and stepped back in shock. She had a loaded gun in her hand.

TO BE CONTINUED...