The LONGEST WAIT

Chapter 13

Tim's Stories' THE LONGEST WAIT

CHAPTER 13

The water was getting in through the leak at an alarming rate. We did all we could to stem the flow but we were not successful. We didn't have enough containers with which we could use to scoop the water. We were also too hungry, thirsty and weak to do any effective work. That notwithstanding, we didn't give up. Giving up meant death and death meant a watery grave and becoming dinner for sharks and other sea creatures.

So, we struggled desperately until nightfall. Then, the worst happened. Our worst fears came to pass. There was a terrible storm that rocked the boat dangerously. Since it was dark, we didn't even know what to do. All we could do was use the little strength we had to hang on to the boat for dear life. Suddenly, we heard a loud bang. The boat had hit some rocks and then it happened. It was broken into three parts and we all fell into the sea.

Those who could not swim drowned immediately. Those who could manage to swim struggled with the storm. There were desperate cries from both men and women for several minutes. Then, it became calm. I stopped hearing any sound. That meant only one thing, all my comrades had drowned. I was the only one who had survived. I was close to the rocks which had rammed the boat. So, I was able to make it on the rocks and stayed there shivering with cold.

I spent the whole cold and dark night on the rocks in extreme fright. I was afraid I was going to be a victim of hypothermia. If that happened, I was going to die no doubt about it. Tired and exhausted, I laid on the bare rocks with nothing but by tattered wet clothes on my back. The rain beat me mercilessly. I was hopeless and because I didn't even know where I was, I feared the worst could happen at any time.

I don't know how it happened, but of course it could only be God. In spite of the cold, the hunger, the thirst, the fear, the desperation, I managed to fall asleep on the rock. My sleep was a dreamless one and I must have slept for very long. That is because when I woke up from my deep sleep, it was already morning and the sea was calm, very calm. I looked around me and all I saw was water. There was water for kilometers and kilometers away.

If you have ever been on the high seas, then you would know what I am talking about. Imagine, in Geography, we are told that water covers almost two thirds of the world. So, you can imagine how vast it can be.

I sat on the rock hungry and cold. Then, the sun started rising and I began to feel a bit warm. My hope was that, I would stay on that rock for as long as my stomach would permit. I was hoping that by some stroke of luck or by sheer divine intervention, a passing ship might see me and rescue me. I prayed fervently for that to happen. However, by afternoon, I still hadn't had any luck. Then the worst happened.

The sea was actually on low tide. That was why I was able to see and lie on those rocks. Now, the water had started rising. With shock and disbelief and fear, I watched the water rise until it covered the rocks. My place of refuge was gone. I was now in the sea, struggling to swim. It was at this point that I knew I would die. But once again, God provided a solution for me.

I looked around me and I saw a large board from the broken boat. I swam towards it and hung to it and tried to paddle it to no particular direction. I just wanted to stay afloat. I was already too tired. If I let go of the board, I was going to sink immediately and die. I didn't even have the energy to swim. I just hung on the board and let the waves carry me to wherever they wanted to carry me to.

But I won't lie to you. I was terribly scared. I thought of all the tales I had heard about sea creatures. I thought of stories I had heard about mermaids and sirens and how dangerous and wicked they could be. I shuddered at the thought of meeting any mystical sea creature. I thought of stories I had heard of underwater kingdoms. I imagined the demons in the underwater kingdoms watching me and ready to strike and kill me and a terrible fear gripped me. I prayed to God that if I was going to die, let it come swiftly because I was tired of suffering.

I stayed with the board, battling the waves all afternoon, all evening and right into the night. My hands had become very numb and stiff but I couldn't let go. When night came, fear almost killed me. There I was, in the middle of the ocean, alone. I heard terrible and frightful sounds, and once or twice, I could swear that I did sea something that looked like a ghost walking on the sea. But what could I do? There was no place to run.

The bible says trouble may tarry through the night but joy comes in the morning. When morning came, I couldn't believe what I saw. I was close to the beach, just about a hundred meters. I shouted with joy and thanked and praised God. With joy in my heart and my hope restored, I swam energetically until I reached the sandy shores I stepped on the sand, walked a few meters and then, out of exhaustion, I collapsed.

I couldn't tell for how long that I stayed there but I was woken by the sounds of people talking. I managed to open my eyes and looked at them. I was surrounded by about ten or eleven white men. Half of them were policemen. They had brought an ambulance and a stretcher. They carried me and put me on the stretcher. Then, they put me in the ambulance and covered me with warm blankets. They also gave me something warm to drink.

I managed to take a look at the uniforms the policemen were wearing and read the word 'policia' written on the back of their uniforms. 'Policia', that meant I was in mainland Italy. I thanked God immensely. I was finally in Italy. That meant I had almost come to the end of my journey. All I needed now was to see Chisom and my joy would be complete.

I was taken to a large institution that looked like a detention center for migrants. That was because I saw hundreds of hundreds of migrants there. As I was being carried to the health center of the clinic, I looked desperately around to see if I could catch a glimpse of Chisom. But I was not successful.

It had been three days now since I was taken to the detention center. I had been examined, given some treatment and today was the day for my interrogation. I had to be asked some questions, identified, get registered and then returned to my cell. My interview was done by two men. Both of them, by a rough estimate could be in their early fifties.

"What is your name?" The one who seemed to be their boss asked.

"Buchi Emeka."

"Country, please."

"Nigeria."

"What brought you to this country. Are you an economic migrant or a political migrant?"

"None of them, Sir."

"What do you mean?"

"I am here on a quest to find my wife. She was trafficked through Libya into Europe. I heard she was in Italy. I tried to get here by a migrant boat but we had a shipwreck. My friends all died. I was the lone survivor. You know the rest of the story."

They both looked at each other for about a minute. They were lost for words. It was obvious they had never encountered a case like mine before.

"Okay, Mr. Buchi. We are sorry about your predicament. Your journey was one big Odyssey. Ever heard of The Odyssey before?" The man asked.

"Yes, Sir. During my secondary school days, I read a poem about King Odysseus of Ithaca who went to war and didn't come back for twenty years. His wife, Penelope remained faithful to him for all those years until he returned."

"Wow, then you must be educated and smart."

"Yes, Sir. I have a university degree."

"That is good, Mr. Buchi. Now, you will return to your cell. We will get back to you later. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Sir."

I left the interrogation room and returned to my cell. The conditions at the detention center were far much better than the prison back in Misrata, Libya. We had the freedom to move around the compound. We were given new clothes and good food by humanitarian organizations who catered for the needs of migrants. Some migrants were even allowed to go out and work and return in the evening to sleep in their cells. We had to stay in the center until our fates would be decided. That meant we could either be repatriated to our countries or granted a refugee status and allowed to stay in the country.

That didn't matter to me. I hadn't come to Italy to stay and work. I wasn't here for japa purposes. I came to look for my wife. Once I found her, everything being equal, we would begin preparing for our return journey to Nigeria. I couldn't wait to go back to Nigeria. I had missed my children, Chidinma and Chioma. I had also missed my brothers and sisters and my mum. I missed my home and I also missed my good friend, Chima and his beautiful and devoted wife, Obiageli.

The next day, I borrowed the phone of a migrant friend from Liberia that I had befriended. I wanted to make a call back home. The only person whose number I had in my head was my friend, Chima. I dialed his number and with great anticipation, he picked.

"Hello! Hello!!" That was Chima.

"Chima, na your guy"

"Which guy na? Na who dey talk?"

"Chima, na your guy oh. Na me Buchi."

"Chimo!! Buchi, na you dey call me with Oyinbo number like that?"

"Nna, na me oh. How na? How body? How everybody? How is my mum and children?"

"Buchi, my brother. Everyone is good. Your children miss you so much. What happened, bro? You left for almost six months now and you didn't even bother to call your guy."

"My brother, it has not been easy oh. If I tell you what I have been through eh. It is only by the grace of God that I am alive. Don't worry, we will talk about that later. Are you anywhere close to my children? I would love to talk to them."

"No, I am at my shop. That can only be possible when I go back home in the evening or when Obiageli comes to relieve me."

"Okay, Bro. You can save this number. Flash me when you are with them. Let me leave you now. Na person phone I dey use."

"Buchi, my guy. No wahala nah. We go yang again for evening. I go call you sharp, sharp when I get home."

That was my first call back home and it gave me great relief to learn that my children and family were fine. I missed them terribly. I couldn't wait for evening to come so that I could talk with them. I handed the phone back to its owner. As soon as I did that I moved to the main courtyard of the compound and froze. About fifty meters in front of me, around the area where the female cells were located, I saw someone that looked like Chisom. I moved forward, my heart beating fast, I could hardly breathe. I looked again and of course, except my eyes were cheated by some spell, that was Chisom.

"Chisom!!!" I called. "Chichi!!"

She turned around and saw me. She almost collapsed.

"Buchi! Buchi, my husband!" She cried and with surprise and delight on her face, ran towards me.

TO BE CONTINUED...