THE EXETA

CHAPTER TWO

Clarence Kofi Frimpong Manso born to a High School teacher and a Nurse was the first of three children. As the first-born son, his parents had been keen on his education as they did well to give him all he needed to excel. Clarence grew up to be a handsome and tenacious lad who wanted more in life. He hoped to go higher with his education than his own father. With arduous work and perseverance, Clarence had been able to complete his first-degree studies in Mathematics major and physics minor. With his excellent score – a first class honours, he had gotten admission to University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan where he had pursued his masters and Phd in particle physics. After obtaining his Phd, he did love to stay in Ann Arbor and work a little. But that dream was cut short when he received news that his dad, Kwabena Frimpong Manso who hailed from Awukugwa - Akuapim in the Eastern region had passed away. Instinctively, he returned to Ghana, as tradition demanded, he was man of the house. He presided over his father’s funeral after he had the chance to travel to the Ashanti region to stay with his mother for some time.

            Akosua Frimpong Manso the mother of Clarence was Ashanti from the royal house of the Manhyia Palace. She was old in years and she was certain that death will be coming for her soon. She was glad her son had returned for she had something to show his son that was going to change his life for the better. In the Ashanti region, Clarence meet these men who called themselves the ‘HARBINGERS OF TRUTH.’ They were so found of Clarence, something he did not understand till later in his life. They took the chance to teach Clarence a lot about the tradition, culture and history of the Ashanti’s and of Ghana. Saying Clarence was destined for a great purpose. It was all an eye opener to most of the things that the men shared with him. After staying with his mother for three weeks, Akosua passed away but before she did she gave word to the ‘HARBINGERS OF TRUTH’ to inform Clarence that she was their leader and that he should find a man called Dennis Ato Aikens when he returned to Accra, for everything will be clear when he met the man. So, Clarence returned to Accra with a lot of queries in his head after her mom was buried. One of the positive aftermath of his encounter with Dennis was becoming a lecturer at the University.  Clarence now fifty-two, dark and a bit heavy laden, was still the promising son his mom had loved so much. He was a family man who did well do take care of his younger brother and sister.

The University of Ghana -- the Nation’s hope and glory, was founded in 1948 as the University College of the Gold Coast on the recommendation of the Asquith Commission, on Higher Education in the then British colony led by the scholar and politician, the late Dr. J. B. Danquah, who urged the Gold Coast Government to inform the British Government that the Gold Coast could support a University College. The University College of the Gold Coast was founded by Ordinance on August 11, 1948 for providing for and promoting university education, learning and research. Its first principal was the late Mr. David Mowbray Balme. Mr. Balme was farsighted, courageous and dedicated to the promotion of scholarship. By his vision, industry and singlemindedness of purpose, he built a college and laid the foundations for a sound University which is now a source of pride.

The campus of the University lied about 13 kilometres north-east of Accra, the capital of Ghana, at an altitude of between 90 and 100 metres. From the Main University Gate on the Dodowa Road, the University Avenue extended to Commonwealth Hall on Legon Hill. Due to its long name, the University is porpular given a short phrase “Legon.” Legon a local Ghanaian word was the coupling of two words, Le and gon. Where Le meant “Knowledge” and gon meant “A hill”. So Legon, putting the two words together was the word ‘A hill of knowledge.’ And no doubt Legon had over the years been the haven that have birthed great men and woman – alumni, who are accomplishing great feats in all of Ghana, Africa and the world.

The Physics department was one of the oldest departments of the university. It was one of the pioneer departments set up in the University College of the Gold Coast in October 1948. The Department incubated the Department of Computer Science, which is now a full-fledged department of the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences (CBAS). The Radio-Isotope Unit of the Department was subsequently moved to Kwabenya as the first laboratory of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission.

The Department was made up of two undergraduate lecture rooms and one postgraduate lecture room. It was also made up of the different laboratories and the individual lecture office, an XRD – An X-ray diffractometer room, a general office and small library. In one of the lecture rooms a lecture was on going. Now at the University, Senior Lecturer Dr. Clarence Frimpong Manso was having a particle physics lecture. After scribbling a lot of mathematical formulas on the white board, he turned his head to face his students, whose face showed it all – physics was always surprising.

“As we discussed the last time, the big bang theory is the scientific accepted and mathematically proven origin of the universes for many scientist, physicist. It was proposed by a Roman Catholic Monk called Georges Lemaitre in 1927. Two years later, the theory was again confirmed by American physicist and astronomer Edwin Hubble who at that time had been able to gather the hard evidence that proved the Big Bang was scientifically probable.  From that age onwards, a lot of work had been done on that. The Big Bang theory is an effort to explain what happened at the very beginning of our universe. Discoveries in astronomy and physics have shown beyond a reasonable doubt that our universe did in fact have a beginning. Prior to that moment there was nothing; during and after that moment there was something: our universe. The big bang theory is an effort to explain what happened during and after that moment.” Clarence explained. The class was quiet. Clarence then continued,

“Our universe is thought to have begun as an infinitesimally small, infinitely hot, infinitely dense, something – a singularity. A singularity is a region in space where all laws of physics do not really have a hard underpinning or apply. Or we can say that it is a point in time or a region in space where all the principles of physics do not apply. Where did it come from? We don’t know. Why did it appear? We don’t know. But interestingly, after its initial appearance, it apparently inflated causing what now call the “Big Bang”, expanded and cooled, going from very, very small and very, very hot, to the size and temperature of our current universe. It continued to expand and cool to this day and we are inside of it: incredible creatures living on a unique planet, circling a beautiful star clustered together with several hundred billion other stars in a galaxy soaring through the cosmos, all of which is inside of an expanding universe that began as an infinitesimal singularity which appeared out of nowhere for reasons unknown. This is the Big Bang theory. And all that I have said can be summed up in an equation that is currently on the board”

That was a lot to take in for the students. Apparently, they had not anticipated the days lecture was going to be so profound and daunting. From the faces of the students, it seemed they had a lot of questions to ask.

“I can see you all have questions to ask, so why don’t we start with you Isaac.” Isaac Asante, the savvy student rose up to speak. “So, if the earth came from some explosion you call the singularity then how did humans also come about?” The question from Isaac sent the class into a state of hooting and murmuring as Isaac sat down.

“Great question Isaac, one thing I like you all to know is that science has done a lot for humanity, but there are certain things that transcend science.  Thus, there are some questions that science is still trying to answer and I am sure that there are some questions that science cannot answer. But evolutionary biology will try to answer your question based on the evolutionary theory of the origin of life that, man evolved from apes. Which is biologically true if you study evolution” Clarence said. The class booed again to that. How can man come from a monkey? Most asked each other. Clarence paused a little then continued.

“But we physicist are not going with the biology theory. So, all we know now is that, man also come out from the big bang. And hopefully I will try to get more answers for you the next time we meet.” Clarence ended. The class was still numbed by all that. Another girl then raised up her hands.

“Yes Linda.” Clarence gave her the go ahead to speak. Linda Asamoah then stood to her feet and spoke,

“Okay Sir I get all that you have said. But I like to also ask. What about what the Bible says about creation. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. At least that is what we know and believe. So, my question is Sir, If God created the universe as the Bible says, then why is this Bing Bang theory or the evolution theory any true?” Linda said. The class was thrown into another laughter. Clarence was a bit eased with that as he was expecting such a question.

“Silence…. please.” Clarence shouted. As the noise came down.

“Great question Linda. I was expecting this question. I like you all to know that in the future if you still want to be a physicist and be remembered when you die, then you should hold on to God strongly. Because a lot will happen that will test whether you are for God or you are for physics – science. From time immemorial, religion and science have been telling the same story of creation and the existence of man differently. A friend once told me that, religion or spirituality starts where science ends. I am a physicist, but I believe in God. Physics is facts. Religion is faith. So, when it some to the creation story, a physicist is expected to herald the Bing Bang theory. So, we can say the Big Bang is the physical evidence of creation. So, to answer your question Linda. The Bing bang is true, so is the believe that God created the Universe. All that matters are where you are required to say what you believe in. Okay time is up we shall meet next time.” Clarence said and dismissed the class.

The class then rose with that, as the signal of the end of their afternoon lecture. Clarence moved swiftly back to his office.

In his office, he opened a window on his computer and begun to play a video of Professor P.L.O Lumumba's giving a Memorial Lecture at the University of Limpopo, South Africa. He watched with dazzling attentiveness, as he continued to do some work. Some few minute later, a good friend of his Professor Denis A. Aikens entered his office. Clarence was glad to see his good friend. Prof Aikens - a Professor of History and African studies at the Institute of African Studies University of Ghana. The kind of bond they shared was sacred and valuable. Clarence quickly closed the video and gave his full attention to his comrade.

“Good to see you again Dennis,” Clarence complimented. Prof Aikens was not the jocular person though he had an affable personality. “I guess fate had dawned on our side to continue to be live to fight for Africa.” Prof Aikens responded. He then continued that, “Our fellow brothers have already arrived in the country and are eager to see what ‘THE EXETA’ is all about and is capable of.”

“I see, and they shall not be disappointed. What about Mathias, he is also supposed to be arriving to the country soon?” Clarence inquired.

“Yes…he will be soon, he had a delayed flight, but he is up to speed on everything.” Prof. Aikens assured.

“Edgar is also rounding up with the new recruits, they will be matriculated into ‘The Guild’ this weekend.” Clarence stated. Clarence then moved his hands on his table and took a picture of an artefact that looked like a golden lantern with a simmering and glowing emerald light in the center. Prof Aikin on seeing it was enveloped with euphoria. Something so unique about the painting just make him gay.

“I thank the gods and ancestors for allowing me to be a partaker of THE DAY OF THE SOLIDATE – Africa will never be the same after this day.” Prof Aikens took the pictures from Clarence and relish it.

“The world should be getting ready for season of restitution, they will never know what hit them.” Clarence said as Prof. Aikens nodded to his comrade’s statement.

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The man who called himself Zade moved steadily into his hotel apartment. At least that was where he had been living for the past three months doing his own profound search about a secret brotherhood who call them self ‘THE BLACK GUILD.’ He was the assassin of death – the ally of death. He had been working in conjunction with death to make sure humans who were not needed on earth or were resistance to his course exited the earth via his ally death. He had been in the assassin business not for long, but he could say for a fact that he had never had any fiascos in any mission he was given. Unlike other assassins, Zade had a superior. One he answered to and one whose greater course he was fighting for. He called himself THE FACTOR. Zade had dark past which almost claimed his soul to his own ally - death, if not for the intervention of THE FACTOR. To him The Factor was his god. He had given him a second life. So, what other better way of living, than to live and fulfill his superiors will.

Zade, was busy on his computer browsing through all that he could find on the ancient brotherhood – The Black Guild. Then as like we all knew, a shiny object just popped from the screen. It was the same artefact that Clarence had given to Prof Aikens to looks at. It was like a lantern in golden shape and a green simmering light radiated from within. His eyed then bulged in as if he had seen a mysterious scene – an epiphany. This is what he had been looking for and he was ever ready to go the lengths and breaths of time to obtain it for his superior – The Factor. He then went on opening new files and reading the dossiers of the members of the secret brotherhood. Fascinatingly, Zade seemed to have been educated. He had a sheet of paper and a pencil with which he recorded his own clandestine notes about his mission. He marked, circled and ticked the names and pictures of the members of the guild, presumably those where his next target.

After he was satiated with the people of interest, he then made a call. The call went through for some time. It was then picked by the person the call was intended for.

 “Naki…” Zade said. Naki was on the other line still fumbling to talk. Everything about Zade was arcane, and she would rather not talk than, to have him keep calling her. She was almost getting ready to go to bed and the last thing on her mind was not to have a bizarre conversation with somebody she did not know so much about, who also remained her a lot about her past.

“How may I help you, the last time we talk you refused to answer any of my questions, so why do you think I should continue speaking to you?” Naki commanded.

Zade was quiet for some time, he then broke the silence and spoke.

            “Can we meet tomorrow late evening to talk, I promise I will have all the answers you require.” Zade stated. With that the line went dead. Naki was not given the chance to ask further details about the meeting. That made things stranger for her. Who is this man and why does he really want to meet her? Margaret or Naki still ambivalent about her caller went to bed with all this the strange uncertainties still hovering over her mind.