GUARD OF HONOUR CHAPTER 11:
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CRAIG’S POV#
Ugly images of how he would not hesitate to blow my head off like a helpless chicken flashed my mind as I slowly turned round to check who it was… I could not help but pray for the opposite!
‘What have you just done? ‘
Asked, a calm sergeant Siyanga…
I could not believe my lack that I had just escaped the wrath of the ruthless Commander, only heavens had the best ideas on what the beast could have done to me had he caught me temper with his radio message…
‘ooops’
I breathed heavily starring at Sergeant Siyanga, still in disbelief,short of words on my fortune…
‘I have informed base on our whereabouts’
I finally spoke out upon br@ving my nervousness…
‘They will send troops to our rescue within fourth eight hours,’
I narrated to an attentive siyanga, whose facial expression turned jovial at the break of the news… Being rescued off that death chamber of a camp was the sweetest melody everyone that had witnessed the ruthlessness of Commander Barrow could wish to set their ears to..
‘How did you find yourself here?
I asked In an inquisitive tone, lowering my voice even more…
‘I have been as-signed to clean up the commander’s closet’
Replied sergeant Siyanga, making me feel even more comfortable with the idea… Perhaps we could utilise this opportunity to dig out more information that could lead to our escape.. I had a perfect plan on how to execute it!
‘Stand on the door and lookout for any movements’
I instructed him, quickly ran to commander Barrow’s desk and opened the drawer… Wow, there lay thousands of live ammunition of as-sorted types…
I quickly pulled out over a hundred of them designed for a thirty millimetre pistol, pulled out a twin pistol,reached out for an old, rugged cloth from the floor and quickly wrapped everything there before throwing the rug in my pocket…
I quickly studied the map on the table, I could not believe that following the banks of the Banjul river down on the south could eventually land us to Camp Alfa,one of our own located twenty four kilometres south East of our current location… This information was wow!
CLARE’S POV#
life seemed so meaningless way throu-ghthat day, I never had a meal but rather opted to engage into prayer and fasting…tough moments nee-d spiritual engagement!
No sooner had the clocked ticked to 6 PM in the evening than I quickly whisked to the kitchen to prepare a quick meal,I could feel the dizziness more especially that I had br£-$tfed little Craig all day without having a meal myself..
I was busy preparing my favourite potato salads before I heard a loud bang followed by wails from the baby… I quickly rushed off the kitchen and went straight into the bedroom where I found him wail uncontrollably with blood oozing off his ne-ck… He had rolled off the bed and hit himself on the small silver tray I used to keep my jewellery…I quickly picked him without hesitation and quickly rushed him to Hospital…
I could ha-rdly believe my ears to learn that General Banda had refused to authorise an ambulance to Division Hospital where we had been referred to upon arrival at the local camp Hospital… I could not help but stare at a helplessly crying innocent baby whose condition seemed even worse…all I wished was for death to strike the heartless General right away…
I strolled off the local clinic, holding the baby in my hands…it was already getting dark and I had to find transport to ferry my little Craig and I into town or else risk his life….
Tears rolled down much chick as I walked slowly, wondering what to do next… I had no money on me, the last money I remained with had to be sent to help out Craig’s ailing Father in his village… God, where are? Why do I have to suffer like this at the hands of a cruel man in General Banda? I cried out in my spirit before a car suddenly stopped..
‘Where are you heading to madam? ‘
Asked the driver in a calm tone… I tried ha-rd to recognise him but could ha-rdly see as it was now dark..
‘Iam going into town,’
I spoke, bitterly….
‘My son is very sick’
I continued, this time bursting into tears….
He quickly opened the door, let me in and quickly sped off to town… It was Lieutenant General Lubasi, the regional Commander for Ndola town… I was glad to have been treated with the highest level of respect considering that I was un-der the care of the brigadier…
Little Craig’s condition was declared stable and was discharged few minutes later before him and I got driven back home as per instructed by Brigadier Lubasi…. I was glad to be back home yet again, thanks to the kind gesture!
CRAIG’S POV#
Sergeant Siyanga and I quickly ran back to our duties upon seeing Commander Barrow walk towards his closet… I had pushed the last spring into the gun I had dismantled moment before he left when he walked in,starred at us suspiciously, avoiding sight contact I kept myself busy checking the gun thorou-ghly before finally lifting it up ready to hand it to him…
I had not even handed the weapon over before Commander Barrow walked over and reached into the pocket of the combat where I had put the concealed weapon and ammunition…
GUARD OF HONOUR CHAPTER 12:
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CRAIG’S POV CONTINUES
I could feel my face heat up as Commander barrow slowly reached out for my pocket…for once, I grasped for my breath, desperately an inch away from facing the cruel man’s wrath…
He was just an inch from delving into my pocket before his radio message device rang, prompting him to rush quickly to pick up.. I could see the sense of panic written all over his face, making him get destructed from everything around him as he decided the message and jolted it down rou-ghly on a sheet of paper… Perhaps it was time for me to look for a way to whisk off the guy and conceal the gun somewhere else…
I was just plotting my plan before he suddenly concluded his conversation, took a quick suspicious look at me the sergeant Silavwe who was busy cleaning around…
‘Did any of you touch the phone? ‘
He asked angrily, his voice nearly blowing off the roof of his closet…
‘Nnnooo, Commander’
I replied, a cold breeze of fear sweeping throu-ghmy inner soul….turning to sergeant Silavwe, who equally brushed his shoulders in denial, confirming our innocence…
‘Iam going to confirm with the signals department, let me find you here.. ‘
Ordered a rather confused Barrow as he blus-hed around, obviously questioning himself over questions he had been bombarded with over a stray radio message I had sent few minutes ago…
‘Should I find you wanting, you are dead! ‘
He threatened, switching sight between between us, prompting even more fear to breed de-ep inside…I took a quick look at Sergeant Silawve, who held a broom in his hands,his eyes fixed on barrow as he headed for the exit door… I only had one option in mind, eliminate the beast before he could find us wanting! Luckily, he had left his loaded pistol on the table…
CLARE’S POV#
the next few days proved so unpredictable for me… My heart grew fonder missing Craig each day that pas-sed by,I kept seeing him in my dreams telling me we would reunite soon, it was so disheartening to learn that I was in dreamland whenever I woke up to the boredom of a single mother, sleeping next to my baby.. I at least felt comforted whenever I set my eyes on him…
I never relented in prayer, day and night I prayed for Craig… Though I knew he was in the death chamber, I believed for God’s strength and protection… I believed my prayers never went in vain!
I woke up feeling more energised one Friday morning,conducted my morning devotion,ki-ssed little Craig on the forehead and left him sleep so peacefully…being a devoted Adventist,I usually dedicated Fridays to washing so that I could not conflict with the Sabbath..
I had just winded up washing before my distant neighbour and Church mate Mrs. mbewe walked in, well dressed in a colourful navy blue suit of chitenge material making me delve in surprise as to why she was all dressed so neatly early in the morning…
A thousand thoughts flocked my mind upon hearing that the regional Commander Brigadier General Lubasi had requested to meet all spouses to the soldiers that had gone for peace keeping…
I quickly rushed into the bathroom, took a quick shower, bathed the baby and quickly set out for the meeting… I was glad to have arrived thirty minutes before commencement,securing myself a front seat…
In no time, the hall was full and buzzing in noise..before I could realise it,all seats were occu-pied prompting late comers to listen throu-ghthe windows… I could read the anxiety on everyone’s face suggesting how eager they were to be addressed by the brigadier… I only prayed it was nothing close to any devastating news…
No sooner had we were all seated than the group of Senior officers, all dressed in the famous Ceremonial uniforms make way…Flanked by the Brigadier, was the beast himself, General Banda who starred at me in his usual seductive way throu-ghthe meeting,making me feel even more uncomfortable… Only heavens knew what kind of demon possessed this man!
The address by the Brigadier went on well, disputing as-sumptions that he had come to deliver some bad news about our husbands, he urged us to remain calm as everyone was alive…But his main reason of travel was to receive submissions from suitably qualified spouses who wished to pursue careers in nursing on a fully sponsored bursary, that was sweet melody to my ears… Perhaps my long awaited dream of becoming a nurse could finally come true… But I had one major hindrance, General Banda who was as-signed to receive and recommend our applications… I had to do something to quench the evil fire in him!
Soon after the meeting, I queued up awaiting to have an handshake with the Brigadier and other Senior officers…I could ha-rdly believe the scoldy face General Banda flashed me with upon skipping my turn for a handshake with him… I was busy wondering how to exp-ose him before Brigadier Lubasi walked up to me, grabbed little Craig off my hands and cuddled with him as he smiled along, I was glad he had recalled us from that evening he aided us with a lift into town…
Everyone watched on as the Brigadier and I walked to the offices,General Banda had little time to exercise his authority as I finally broke the silence to his superior who could equally not believe the whole ordeal….
‘Are you sure about what you have just told me? ‘
Asked Brigadier Lubasi, in a doubtful tone as he turned to me,holding little Craig in his hands…
‘Iam more than Sure Sir’
I replied, tears slowly building in my eyes…
‘How do I believe you? ‘
He asked, still appearing surprised…
I lifted my face and looked directly into his eyes….
I had a plan was hundred percent sure the General could not escape! I was glad the Brigadier had my backing on my trap!
Tbc