The Rain in April

Fear

Chapter 21

DAY 11

Eric stood still puzzled as the telephone rang for the second time, he raised his left hand up and looked at the watch on his wrist, it was five past six in the morning. Nobody had called him by this time for the past four days and standing there, watching the phone ring, Eric knew he was in for a gamble. Reluctantly he walked over to the telephone which was on top of a small stool and picked up the receiver, he slowly raised it to his ear.

“Eric,” came; the rushing voice of the Lieutenant Colonel. Eric felt a rush of calmness flow through him as he slowly sat in an arm chair close to the telephone.

“Eric, there is a problem; I don’t think I will be able to cover for you anymore. I am in a deep mess and I think it’s my turn,” the Lieutenant Colonel said; his voice very tiny.

“What do you mean, Sir?” Eric asked, confused.

“I filed in a letter of resignation only for it to be rejected. My men are hungry for blood and I am the only one standing in their way. I think they are planning a revolt.”

Eric pressed the telephone harder to his ear as sweat broke on his face.

“Eric, I am going underground, I feel like I’m been watched,” the other end continued.

Eric was stunned by what he now heard, he wanted to talk, to ask questions but he was too shocked to say a word.

“Nobody knows you are still in Kabuga, so I suggest you lay low.”

Eric nodded as though he was speaking with the man directly. The Lieutenant Colonel hanged up but Eric still sat there, with the receiver pressed tightly to his ear.

The past four days had not been a pleasant one for Eric and his family, after the incident in his house which led to the death of Andrew, he and his wife had parked up their bags and prepared to run when the telephone rang. It was the Lieutenant Colonel who informed him that a file was just submitted to his office indicating that he, Eric had committed a capital offence. The report was claimed to have been submitted by one sergeant, Joseph. The report implicated him and labeled him a traitor and disgrace to the army and the country at large. It accused him of murdering two of his men after they discovered he was associated with the escape of some suspects during their raid at Butamwa four days ago.

“I didn’t do it, Sir, it didn’t happen that way,” Eric had tried to convince the Lieutenant Colonel. The man believed Eric, maybe due to his past relationship with him but he ordered Eric to stay indoors and out of sight till the matter was buried. How wrong they had been as the perpetuators of this act were not ready to let the matter rest.

Eric stayed indoors as ordered and had been visited by the Lieutenant Colonel on few occasions, once with his wife, a robust light woman who spoke poor English. Each time the Lieutenant Colonel came, he drove himself and always brought food along with him. He also related to Eric the latest news in the country.

“I informed the army that you took permission long ago from me to travel to Bukavu, I know that it would be hard for anyone to find you there as they can easily believe you fled into Congo,” he had informed Eric the last time he came. He also promised Eric that the case would be arrested soon enough and the troublemakers dismissed from the army. Things had gone smoothly until now, seated on a chair with the receiver pressed tightly against his ear, Eric wondered, he was now alone, he could have escaped four days ago when the news wasn’t on the rise but he trusted the Lieutenant Colonel so much that now he felt helpless. The Lieutenant Colonel was on the run, his only hope and cover was on the run. He had to think of something, he needed help and there was nobody to call. But just as he dropped the receiver, an idea jumped into his head, he definitely had someone to call, someone who could be trusted…someone who could help him.

Fear are the monsters we create