Separated - Episode 9

 

The lorry taking Mr, Tony and Obi stopped and Obi was dragged out by two men immediately. He could barely stand on his two feet. This was because of the tight corner he was at the back of the lorry during the journey.

He began to access the strange environment he was immediately.

The town barely had bush paths like that of Amantu Village. They had tarred road and different kind of vehicles everywhere . There were cars, lorries, trucks, motorcycles and even bicycles.

The description of the town is quite the opposite of the people living the town.

Beggars were visibly seen almost everywhere beside the road with bowls in their hands to beg for alms from nice persons. The streets were littered everywhere with junks, nylons, papers and garbage.

The bad economy of the town was written very clearly on the faces of everyone lurking around.

Many of the people in the streets were wearing tattered clothes, patched clothes or even rags. The kind of environment Sylvester brought Obi to describe the kind of trouble Obi was in.

“Come over here and stop staring about”, one of Sylvester’s boys yelled as he dragged Obi.

A very tall gate opened in front of them. It took four people to open the giant gate.

“Welcome boss”, everyone standing around greeted Sylvester as they walked in

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. Some of them carried heavy gun and horsewhips.

The compound had a very tall fence which had barb wires at the top describing the kind of tight security they had.

They all entered a very big and long three storey building right in the middle of the big compound. Loud noise could be heard coming from different angle in the building. There was a long corridor running through the middle of the building. There are rooms which seem like cells in either sides of the corridor. The rooms do not have a door but strong iron burglaries were used. One could see everything going on in each room as you walk through the corridor.

“Escort him to his room Borag”, Sylvester said to one the young men.

“Come on, let’s go to your new room”, Borag said to Obi as he carried a big box from one of the other men.

“What’s this place?” Obi asked in confusion as they both walked through the long corridor.

“Don’t worry your roommate will give you enough details about this place… just be patient”, he said smiling.

Borag escorted Obi to the end of the corridor and they both started climbing the steps on the almost wrecked staircase to the last floor.

They stopped in Room 358 and Borag dropped the box and started looking for the key that has the corresponding number on it.

A boy of almost Obi’s height jumped up from bed as the iron burglary opened.

“This is your new room and that is your new roommate”, he said as he pointed to the young boy.

Borag then told Obi to change his cloth to another one which was the cloth everybody in the building were all wearing. It was a green gown with brown sandals.

Borag went out of the room and locked the door.

“Hey, what’s your name”, Obi asked.

“I’m Stephen but you can call me Steve”, he answered as he rubbed his eyes.

“My name is Obi”, Obi replied.

“Do you want the lower part of the bunk or the top”, Steve asked.

“Anyone is good”, Obi replied.

“Okay then”, Steve answered as he lay back on the bed to continue his sleep.

Obi climbed the thin ladder of the bunk and reached for the bed.

He lay on the bed and slept off almost immediately.

The loud sound of a horn woke everyone up.

“What’s that sound meant for”? Obi asked with great fear.

“It’s time for breakfast”, Steve answered.

“What’s block breakfast”? Obi asked again.

“The building have a very large dining room where everyone gather to eat anything they provide for us”, Steve answered again.

Obi was inquisitive to know more about the place and wanted to ask another question when Steve said, “We are going to be late and the struggle for food will soon start… We have to get there early”.

“Is the door opened”?  Obi asked immediately.

“Yes, it’s always opened twenty minutes to breakfast.

They both walked very fast to the hall and they joined the long queue of hungry faces.

They were served beans were almost countable. Obi was frustrated and wanted to ask for more when Steve told him not to disturb himself.

“Be very fast with your food and proceed to the field”, Sylvester announced immediately with the megaphone.

“What are we going to be doing on the field”, Obi asked immediately.

“We are working on Sylvester’s farm”, Steve answered.

“Which crop is he growing”? Obi continued.

“There are different kinds of crops on different parts of the farm”, Steve continued. “Come on, let’s start moving”.

They all marched out of the hall. And they started climbing down the staircase when…

“We haven’t gotten anything”, some people yelled but only received horse whip on their backs.

“So many people won’t get food from today due to the rise in population in this place”.

“This is very bad”, Obi complained.

“You haven’t seen anything bro”, Steve answered.

They all came out of the large building and they shielded their eyes with their hands; blocking the rays of the sun.

“That is the new assistant task master”, Sylvester said using the megaphone and pointed to the direction of an aggressive looking man…. My former assistant wanted to ruin my business by helping some of you to escape… I’m sure Brandy won’t fail me”, he added.

Brandy was tall and well built with very broad chest. He had a very bald head but his beards were full. He was looking very aggressive.

He collected the megaphone from Sylvester, and cleared his throat.

“You are going to be working according to your blocks today; Block A will be working on the rice farm, Block B will be working on the cassava farm while Block C will go to the maize farm… The crops have all yielded and it’s time for harvest”, Brandy stated.

“Anyone of you caught trying to steal from any of the crops will be restricted from eating for three days”, he added.

Sylvester collected the megaphone and continued from where Brandy stopped; “Anybody caught trying to escape from this our large coven will be beheaded immediately like always”. Sylvester threatened.

They all got their tools and marched towards their designated places and started working immediately.

They work continuously for six hours without stopping. Anyone who complained is being whipped by the supervisors.

Obi who was pampered by his parents worked as if he was already used to the work. He worked tirelessly because he doesn’t want to be whipped.

“When are we stopping? ... We’ve been here since nine. Obi asked Steve as he was breathing hard. “By two o’clock noon and from the look of things, this is just twelve”, Steve answered.

They harvested the maize and gathered them in the store house.

“For how long are we going to continue with this”? Obi asked.

“My dear brother, nobody knows”. Steve answered him shaking his head sorrowfully.

Tears gathered in Obi’s face as they headed back for the general bathroom.