Saturday, 15 August 2015

THE AMATEUR by Dosumu Deborah Opeyemi

“I don’t want a convoy, dad.”
The king of Wester stared at his only daughter, Sheila in disbelief. The monarchical kingdom was almost in a state of emergency due to some deadly works by a terrorist group.
“Sheila dear, I’m sure you don’t need me to remind you that the kingdom is facing a serious threat to the security of lives and properties at this time. I don’t need you to add to the list of my worries. One of my men will escort you and your chauffeur.”
”Thanks dad.”

                                                ***********************

Sheila jogged out of the palace unguarded for her normal weekend sprinting in a valley not too far from the palace. She jogged faster as she moved farther from the palace. Suddenly, a vehicle which was blaring a very high music, swerved to her side and almost ran her off the sidewalk into a little ditch. The door of the vehicle flew open and she was dragged in. She screamed but no one heard. It was still very early. Sheila kept struggling even as she was being held down by two men.

“Who are you?” she questioned. The men laughed sarcastically and mimicked her. The man who seemed the leader of the trio and also doubles as the driver picked up his phone and called the palace. As the phone connected, he placed it on the dashboard and on loudspeaker so everyone could hear.
At the palace, the King was shouting at everyone in sight. He could not believe that his daughter had left the palace without anyone noticing. Angry was an understatement for the king’s state of mind. The palace phone rang and the palace secretary sprang up to get the phone.

“The Wester palace, please.” A voice spoke on the other side of the phone.
“I need to speak with the King.” The man said.
“Leave a message please. The king is very busy presently.”
“Fool!” the man uttered under his breath. “Get me the king or I’ll make sure you’re personally responsible for the death of Princess Sheila.”

The palace secretary grabbed the phone and ran to the King. He told the king the call was from someone who claimed he knows the where about of his daughter. The King spoke into the phone as the King’s chief security office connected to the call on another phone. They immediately placed a trace on the call. The man did not bother to change his voice. He was a close aide to the King. The King’s face widened in surprise as he recognized the voice on the other side. It was the king’s nephew.

“Why did you kidnap your own cousin?” he asked.
“I think it’s obvious, I want to be the King after you and not Sheila as Queen.” He replied with contempt in his voice. “If I kill her,” he continued “I’ll go away for some time and come back when you’re dead and I’ll be king.”

It suddenly dawned on Sheila that she had just been kidnapped by her uncle. The men holding her down were grumbling that the call was too long. The King requested to speak with his daughter all in a bid make the call longer so the security men could put a trail on the vehicle. The King told his daughter to stay calm. He told her his nephew was an amateur. A van was on its way to get her he said.
And the savior arrived…

The King’s nephew was so dazed and almost lost control of the vehicle as the palace’s rescue van pulled to a stop in front of their car. He slammed the brake of the vehicle as the occupants were tossed forward. The rescue team got out of the vehicle and shot into the air. The only gun in the kidnappers’ vehicle was lying at Sheila’s feet. The King’s nephew reached for it and shot at the team only to discover there was nothing in it. Armless and caught dead, they came out and surrendered.

The King ran out of the vehicle and hugged his twenty five year old like a five year old. His insensitive daughter he thought. But what could a man do? A man’s got to protect his only hope. He guided her into the vehicle as the kidnappers were being handcuffed. Sheila told her dad how she unloaded the only gun in the vehicle as the men were shouting at one another after the long call.


Sheila was safe. The King muttered as he shed a few tears in the confines of his room.

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