THE EXETA

CHAPTER TEN

 Theresa had been working as a one shift doctor at his Unit at the Korle Bu hospital. Initially she had been doing well combining the duty of as a medical practioner, a house wife and a mother. But, she was called one time the hospital management that a senior doctor had to go on leave and she was the auspicious person to replace the outgoing doctor was her. That meant more she was going to spend more time at works and less time at home. But one thing she was glad that she was still going to do was continue to teach the medical students. She had come home one day and discussed it with Clarence. And after all their proposition and evaluations that had settle on Theresa getting help as in a maid. Clarence did not like the ide initially, but gave in since he understood her wife had to go through a lot at work. Theresa handed that by informing her church friends to find someone for her. And that was how Margaret was found by a friend who owed a bar Margaret worked in two years ago. After six months of working with Margaret, Clarence and Theresa has liked her and maintained her.

Saturday morning in the Frimpong Manso house was somewhat a special day from the other days. If not a general cleaning which Margaret will be doing, it either an excursion. But this Saturday was an exception. The whole family was home and breakfast was underway at the dining room already. The Saturday breakfast was Tom Brown and whatever you liked to eat with it. Lily had finished her own and had gone to Margaret’s for more…Simon had also rushed for more Theresa looked on amazed at her children.

            “What did Margaret put in the food for them today?” Theresa inquired from her husband. Clarence shrugged giving an ignoramus sigh.

            “I guess, variety is the spice of life…” Clarence replied. With that, Simon and Lily bolted out of the kitchen with the bowls filled with another dose of Tom Brown. Simon and her sister were both in a happy mood today. Definitely not because of the food. They got to the dining table still giggling and skirting, holding their bowls,

            “Careful…careful so you do not poor the food on the floor Lily.” Theresa cautioned.

            “Yes mom…” Lily managed to take her seat and adjusted her food on the table and begun to eat. Simon who was behind also joined her sister. Clarence sand Theresa were done with their breakfast and were now waiting for their kids also to be done with theirs since then have taken extras.

            “Wow!…I love Tom Brown…” Lily said making ecstatic sounds with her mouth as she eat.

            “Not like you can eat all the Tom Brown in the world, your stomach will burst, or maybe we should start call you Lily Brown…. Lily who loves Tom Brown so much.” Simon laughed so did his parents. Lily was not really perturbed by that. She was into the food and was really enjoying it.

            “So sit down I will finish mine and take yours Simon…” Lily teased as she continues to eat her food hurriedly.

            “Lily Abena Frimpong Manso…. slow…where are you running to….” Theresa cautioned again with her full name. Simon was the cool guy always cool and calm. Clarence then chipped in,

            “So, Simon, have you decided what you are doing this vacation?”

            Simon was bemused but kept on eating, “I am still thinking Dad, vacation classes is not really my thing. People just go to show off their nice dresses and to get the chance to meet girls and talk to one if you are lucky.” Simon replied.

            “And when you do not get lucky…what happens? “Theresa interjected.

            “I do not know mom.” Simon replied more gingerly. Lily who was almost done with her food was now taking slow.

            “This brings to mind, the last time with Mr. Morrison’s daughter, I want to say, I know you will never do anything to hurt someone. Maybe she did not really see it that you were trying to save her work.” Clarence said.

            “Don’t worry Dad…mom gave me an advice of apologizing and I have done that. So do not think about what happened any longer.” Simon replied, more confident, He then gave his mother a quizzical look. She also returned it. Something that they were good at.

            “She will forgive you Simon, I promise.” Theresa assured.

            “I really like to see what this girl looks like.” Lily shouted out of the blue. Every one turned to her.

            “What!... mom am on Simon’s side…whatever happened Simon, am with you.” Lily added. Simon was surprised to hear that and nodded his head to her sister’s affirmation.

            “Okay…so tell me Lily how is the vacation classes going and thing you dislike about the classes.” Theresa asked.

            Lily the paced her head to the skies to remember what ought not to be remembered.       “Not really, everything is good except this three girls from Almond Montessori School who always want to answers all the question in class. I hate that, even including the once they do not know.”

            Simon and Clarence laughed to that. Theresa was also stack whether to laugh or remain quiet.

            “I see, so what do you plan to do about that?” Theresa inquired. Lily shrugged not certain what to do.

            “I guess I have to show them who Queen Lily truly is on Monday.” Lily said sarcastically.

            “Queen Lily!… Queen Lily!!… Queen Lily!!!” Simon teased amid laughter from the family.

            “And that’s my girl…. give me a high five.” Theresa complemented, as she stretched her hands and touched that of Lily.

            With that, the family rose from the dining table and went about whatever they had to do the day.

Theresa had moved to the kitchen. Margaret was busy doing some cleaning when Theresa entered.

            “Won’t you like to take a break today…you do it all the time. Taking a break, this Saturday will not be bad.” Theresa bellowed to Margaret who had turned to see her Madam come in. She was not expecting that. Simon, Lily and Clarence where on the compound playing volley ball.

            “Oh! Madam am almost done….” Margaret’s replied still working. Theresa then moved closer to the kitchen. It was a long time she came in as he had been busy with work.

            “Today is an exception…come on, I want to show you something.” Theresa commanded. Margaret then stopped the cleaning and followed her Madame, her heart racing faster than a hurricane. She knew what she had done some few days ago invading their privacy and if she is calling her was the aftermath of what she had done, then she was in for a massive drill. She ruminated on her fate as they moved passed the dining hall to the inner alcove, passing the front gate of Simon’s room, then Lily’s room, the study or library, then finally into the Masters bedroom. The fears that had already gripped Margaret begun to deepen as they entered the master bed room. That was the same room she had secretly sneaked into some few days ago.  And now she stood in the same room with her Madame awaiting her unknown fate. Unlike any other normal master bedroom, the Master bed room of the Frimpong had seats that were on the other side that one could relax on. Theresa beckoned Margaret to sit.  Theresa then moved to a top cupboard and took a nicely adorned packed object and two traditional cloths and moved to sit beside Margaret. Margaret was not still very comfortable until her Madame spoke.

            “This is for you Margaret.” Theresa said and stretched her hand to give Margaret the gift. Margaret was spell bound, not knowing how to react to the offer. She looked on released from the frightened state and looked at the gift and took it. Full of remorse and gratitude Margaret thanked,

            “Thank you very much Madame…am very grateful.”

            “You deserve it…you have been a good friend if I can you that. You have taken good care of my children all those while and this is the little that I can do to say I appreciate all that you have done and are doing.” Theresa remarked.

            Margaret’s looked on helpless and still stunned by the altruistic gesture of Mrs. Frimpong Manso.

            “I do not know what to say Madame…” Margaret muttered. Theresa looked at her bewildered face and moved closer to her.

            “Don’t worry Margaret, we are always here for you. But there is one thing I like to inquire from you. As I was thinking at this stage in your life you should be having plan towards marriage. Anything you want to tell me on that? Are you making plans toward marriage?” Theresa inquired. Margaret looked on not expecting that question. She shrugged a little and replied.

            “I have not given much thought to marriage Madame. That is something I relay hate myself for.”

            “So you mean there is no man or any person in your life you have dream of spending your life with?”

            “Not that I can think of…. I used to love someone, but he died three years ago and as it stand I have not have the emotional flare to open up myself to love gain.”

            “I see. But is that the kind of life you have always dreamed of – to be a bachelorette (spinster) forever?”

            Margaret have not given much thought to that. So she stopped a little and took that in. It hurts, and it cuts. All she had wanted was to be with Anoi. But after the incident last three years Anoi was dead for him. The feelings she had for him all had died with him when he sprung in to the sea. She had promised never to love again until she was fully convinced that she could leave a new life – move on without any trace of Anoi holding her back. She had been doing well when everything changed - when she received the call from the resurrected Anoi who called himself Zade and she finally met with him. Unveiling himself to be Anio, all the latent emotions had crawled back someway somehow. She thought this was going to be her salvation, her restitution. Fro her she thought cupid had given her the second chance to love again. Not a different person, not an alien not a Martian but a human. Anoi. The man she had loved in flesh and blood. He was the same person she was willing to love gain. She thought he coming back from the dead meant that, they were going to be together immediately. But that had was not so. Anoi was now entangled in something only she Margarete finding an ancient relic can guaranteed his emancipation. That was what she had to live with. If indeed all that Anoi had told her was true, she pray she found this relic quickly and presented it to Anoi who of course will present it to his Boss the – The Factor so he can finally be free. This is all she had wanted, and this is all she had been praying for. Now that Mrs. Frimpong Manso had showed her such kindness it was going to be more difficult for her to betray them. She had only one thing to do, to fight for love and freedom. And that meant, she had to be a traitor to the family that had loved her as one of their own.

            “I do not know Madame…I hope I do not remain this way forever.” Margaret replied rather calm.

            “You will not remain this way foe ver. I believe you will find some on soon at church. Who knows.” Theresa assured Margaret.

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It was late afternoon, and Marlon was in the living room with a lot of paper around her. She was busy having opened a lot of books and even her father’s laptop doing rigorous studies. She was working on a new science project. Her father was not around and as usual Cassie was the only one there to keep her company. Cassie was in the Kitchen preparing the afternoon launch for Marlon. Marlon had been studying all morning and was not getting exhausted at all. Cassie moved with a tray carrying food item to the dining table. It was apparent that the lunch was ready. As she passed by the living room she bellowed,

            “Marlon, lunch is ready.” Marlon did nor even blink even to talk about answering her. She was busy into whatever she was doing. Cassie after placing and setting the table for lunch she then moved to Marlon.

            “Books do not satisfy your belly Marlon, they just make you smart.” Cassie remarked as she got to the seat of Marlon. Marlon then retreated. She was apparently tired, but she was someone who always persevered.

            “Very true Cassie, I am famished. So what do we have for lunch,” Marlon replied and lifted herself from the initial position to the refrigerator to take a bottle of water.

            “Something nice…something you will like…Jollof rice, with spin ached spaghetti with Chicken.” Cassie said mellifluously. Marlon as not familiar with all the she had said, her face then altered as she moved towards Cassie. Marlon grinned again and replied,

            “And what is spinached spaghetti?” Marlon started parking her book to safety. Cassie helped her gather them.

            “A Ghanaian kind of Spaghetti very tasty…trust me.” Cassie replied as he hands pounced on a white A4 sheet. The then remembered something.

            “Ah…that brings to mind, did you find what the riddle was about?” Cassie inquired. Marlon became more apprehensive on hearing that. She placed the books down and made her face like she had an issue with that question.

            “Surprisingly I am still trying to find what the riddle is. I have not been able to even find one clue to it.”

            “Really! I was thinking it was going to be easy for you.”

            “I thought so. This Simon boys seems not to amaze me; his riddle was not like any normal riddle I have encountered from grade three. But I will still solve it. I do not give up, I always win.” Marlon expressed her effrontery there. Cassie looked on not surprised.

            “I see so shall we…the food is getting cold.” Cassie remarked with that she moved together with Marlon to the dining table for lunch.

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It was dusk in the Frimpong Manso house. It was story time. Story time in the Frimpong Manso House was facilitated by both Theresa and Clarence. But this time Theresa was the one facilitating it, as Clarence was busy in the study room. Theresa had called her children including Margaret to the living room and holding her was the book called The Visual History of Ghana by C. M. O. Mate. The book explored topics like the coming of the Europeans to Ghana, the rise and fall Ashante kingdom, the history of Ghana, how the slave trade worked in the then Gold Coast, the Fante Confederacy, the Aborigine Right and Protection Society and others. It also talked about the life of great personalities like Osei Tutu I, Okonfo Anokye, Sir Charles MacCarthy, Yaa Asantewaa, Sir Fredrick Gordon Gurgisbberg, George Maclean, Jacob Wilson Sey, John Mensah Sarbah, Thomas Birch Freeman and others. It was a profound historical book that the parent of Theresa had passed on from generation to generation so it could be used to teach the current progenies.

            Simon and Lily listened carefully as their Mother read to them. It was an exciting story as it contained a lot of pictures and Theresa was also good at acting the action for her children. Theresa would pause intermittently and ask her children what she had read so far -  a way of ascertaining whether they were following the story or not. And they would reply accordingly. Story time periods was always fun and Theresa spiced it up with chocolate from works. After the reading of every chapter, questions and answers followed. Simon and Lily were allowed to ask questions after Theresa would also asked hers. Every correctly asked question attracted a pan of chocolate. But in the end, Simon and Lily get to learn and appreciate their history and origin as Ghanaians.

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Zade or Arnold or more indigenously Anoi sat in his hotel surveying the box – the Kodex A he and just been able to obtain from recruit 34. The man was dead now and he did not even bother about that. As an assassin he was not supposed to be perturbed. The first rule of being an assassin was that, one did not have to compromise with emotions. Weakness begat strength, betrayal begets blood. These words where the very pillars the had transformed him into Zade – the ally of death. Emotions where the weakness of man and anger and tenacity were the strength of man, because they were the virtues that got things done. Anoi surveyed what he had been able to obtain and it looked very attractive. The Kodex was a rectangular shaped violet - like in nature. Like a normal box it could be opened and the material of interest obtained from it. The kodex was already opened, as recruit 34 was now on the agenda of deciphering the encrypted message of the Kodex.

            But to think of it. All had been easy due to the sensor that The Factor had made available to Zade. The Kodex Sensor was a great device that made the work very easy Zade thought. The sensor was more like a normal remote control but this time shaped like that of a computer mouse. It worked in the manner such that, it was designed specifically to detect the material that external casing of the Kodex was made of. The external encasing of the Kodex was made of titanium which gave it violet colouration. The sensor worked in the manner that, when switched on it had two erect antennas similitude to re more like the sensor probes. The sensor probes generated an electromagnetic radiation to a circumferentor of about a 40 meters radius. Now when the radiation generated came into contact with the cations - the electrons of the titanium encasing, it gave out a loud beep of sound to corroborate that indeed that particular location was were the Kodex could be located. That was what had happened with the Kodex A and Zade was more curious to know how his boss The Factor obtained such a highly tech device. All Zade was required to do was obtain the Kodex for his boss -- The Factor. The next step was to call in The Factor for what he will say. Anoi then placed a call to his boss. The Factor and waited for some time.

            As usual, The Factor called back with another thundering voice.

            “Anorld…what have you got for me.” The Factor inquired. Arnold placed the cell phone aptly to his ears and spoke,

            “I have been able to obtain Kodex A and I also have a clear-cut recording of the man’s death.”

            “Very good. As I said earlier, time is not on our side and we still need to act fast. I am sending you details of your next assignment, a and you send me the paper containing the encrypted message from the Kodex.” The Factor muttered.

            “I will Boss…and If I may ask, the Kodex Sensor you gave me came in handy. It really made the work easy and fast. If I may ask how and where did you obtain such a tech from?” Arnold inquired.

            There was a little pause on the other line for something then it was broken.

            “Are you asking questions now. After I saved you and gave you another chance of life all I ever asked was that you do what you are told and never to ask any questions. The time for you to have answers will come. All I can say about the Kodex Sensor is that it a very expensive tech and handle it with great care.” The Factor reprimanded.

            “I will Sir…”

            “And also, about your intruder in the Frimpong Manso House. Has she found anything yet?” The Factor inquired again.

            “No... boss not that I know of.”

            “I want you to know that for every 25 years that the Black Guild had existed the Exeta have had a unique way it was hidden. It was not always that it was with the Grandmaster as we think it may be. There is a possibility that is can be with any current member of the Black Guild.” The Factor expanded.

            Arnold was lost he did not really get what his boss had said.

            “I do not get it Boss…” Anorld said confused.

            “All am saying is that, the Kodex is the best and authentic way of finding the were about of the Exeta. The four Kodex – A, B, C and D contain messages that point to the current and exact location of the Exeta. And that is the more reason we need to find all the Kodex and find all of them now. The kodex are also called quadrants. Every circle had four quadrants when divided into four and each Kodex was a quadrant of the where about of the Exeta. To find the full message of the location of the Exeta, we need to find all four Kodexes.” The Factor explained.

            Arnold had gotten it now. And a glare of excitement had started to deluge his face.

            “Boss per what you have just said, it meant that my intruder in the Frimpong Manso house can even stop spying privately for the Exeta.” Arnold asked again.

            “No!” The Factor bellowed as the negative responses echoed in the ears of Arnold.

            “She still needs to continue searching. We are not revoking that option. We are open to every possibility of where the Exeta may be. But after we have secured all the Kodexes and the message of the location of the Exeta is now clear then she can be freed. But not the kind of freedom you are thinking. You will have to kill her because she knows a lot about our operation and she will be a liability if she is apprehended.” The Factor said so cold.

            The heart of Arnold sunk upon hearing that. He prayed in his heard that, it would not come to that. How could he kill her? Arnold mused little and replied,

            “Yes Boss, as you wish, we will do whatever is necessary to secure the Exeta.”

            “Now send me the message from the Kodex and get to work. Remember, time is not on our side.” The Factor said and ended the call.