The LONGEST WAIT

ies' THE L

PTE

e. I was shocked but not afraid. As a militant,

ution is a dangerous business. You can never tell what type of c

N

be knocking the d

n't k

Go peep throug

that is a good ide

ry, I got

military uniforms. They looked like immigration officers. I told Armelle what I had seen, and she asked

is th

the

name f

of the immigration officers a

e your name, let's play the waiting game

ice. Now, would you please open the door b

three of them walked in. They looked around

name?" Their

hi E

some iden

s,

s carried and gave them. They peered at my pas

oman with you

irlfr

You are not the one we are looking for.

ok,

rest of t

k you

I thought they were bandits or that someone had set up me up. I turned to look at Armelle and realized that she had dressed up. I r

re going to tell me about someone who know

from this hotel. Go to him and he will tell you everything you need to know. But be care

shop. Do you know t

or you to find it. It is very close to the main road. It has

thank you

re wel

there, I met a receptionist at the entrance and I told her I was here to see Frank, her boss. She asked me if I had any previous appointment with him and I

s on to the second floor of the building. We went down a long corridor together and at the end of the corridor, he opened a

our name?"

you F

ot. What is

Buchi

hi. What would yo

f private and I would have

f you do business with me then you are doing busin

to the Europe by Road

so, then you have come to the right place

urney. I am here because my wife took that road, and it seems she has been trafficke

us to do?" He asked

o help me to

sorry,

uc

he wrong place, and you have just been wasting my time here. Now, if you wo

is nothing you c

, please

desperate. I need to fi

ife was here. Please, leave. I a

plate on the door. It read 'Frank'. So, I had indeed been talking to Frank. I was right inside Frank's office. But if that was frank, why did he refuse that it wasn't

ess in her eyes. She asked me to come closer and when I did, she told me to make sure I never come bac

lost in thought as I went back to the hotel. I was so l

le!!" H

" I shouted

were about five or six men walking behind me and they seemed to be going to nowhere in particular. I suspected they were following me. However, in order

autiful receptionist had warned me never to come to that building again. I also remembered Frank's hostile behaviour towards me after I to

eeded to catch me. So, I made up my mind that come rain or high water, I wasn't going to let that happen. I wasn't going to let them catch me. I increased my speed and

two in front. I was cornered. I was now between a rock and a hard place. I didn't know what to do. I

e ground and ra

I asked. "I don't ha

y and stop asking qu

t you are doing. I will

calm down and do as we

foreign citizen like this. I will notify the Nigeri

r when I said that. Then, one of them

er, and we can do with you as we deem fit. Now, lie on the groun

r the inevitable to happen. I knew that was the end of me. I thought of m

lways been afraid of dying in a foreign land. Now my fears had realized. I wished I was back home in Nigeria and still had my gun wit

hought of my old mother and a strange and sudden strength returned to my body. Mum, plea

ad their guns drawn. They all looked fierce an

his gun and pointed it at me. Three shots rang in the air

CONTIU