The whole group was wowed at seeing the interior of the ancient city. Every street and inch was littered with carcasses and skeleton of both beast and man. The city was the very definition of a quickly abandoned cemetery. The skeletons and carcasses was evidence of the city ancietness. An ancient horror forgotten in the canals of time or maybe simply ignored because of its horror.
Akpan couldn't hide his ecstasy after arriving at the city. To him this was a treasure mine of information worth bringing out to the world. This was the heritage of the African man. His blood boiledl because of the achievement of his ancestors. He was one of those Pan Africans who viewed the black blood as being supreme. What white supremacist….f**k to him black was supreme.Being Black was the only thing to be proud of. After all the cradle of civilisation was Africa the black man land.
The group walked silently in the city listening attentively.
"What the heck could have happened here to cause all this horror.." Oy asked puzzled. Everyone was silent . Heck who knew! After all we all came in the same time. Akpan ignored the group and took his equipment to find a nice place and study.
The remaining members of the group fanned out and began a crazy search in hopes of finding a clue to what they where looking for. Seconds passed,then minuites and eventually hours but nothing waa found.
"Have you had any headway…" Saviour asked Akpan. He was clearly irritated in his failure to find what he was looking for. Akpan took a huge breath and looked up at Saviour and then slowly shook his head before saying
" No … nothing usefull yet . I've checked round. Tell your guys to bring the detectors it's time we check underground…" . Saviour noded his head in acknowledgement of what he was told and left to go make preparations.
"Pshew, pshew…" Akpan turned to look at who was calling him . Oy and Ebele where nestled together in bondage. He looked at his two distrssed feiend and silently inquired under his breath
"What?"
" Listen Akpan, you must not help them in finding what they want.This is a case of Class 1 National Emergency.It is a disaster to the peace of the nation"
"...So what should I do now.. Should I let them kill my fiancee..f**k the peace . There is nothing particularly good about the nation anyway.. besides how the f**k are we supposed to get out from this encirclement from a group of armed trigger happy men?.."
" ..Just listen.. I do not in any way desire for your fiancee to be killed. I just want to tell you that you should stall for time. We are going to escape from here unharmed and safe . All of us, no one will be left behind understood?"
Akpan noded to the affirmative as a form of consent indicating his acknowledgement of the only God knows what plan.
"..so what or how are we going to get out of their encirclement?..."
Oy Smilled and continued " For starters we are armed . I was able to discreetly unhoist a Russian Mm5 pistol from one of those moronistic mercenaries. Plus I have a perfect distraction for them. " OY Smilled wickedly. Akpan felt chills at seeing the smile he prayed for the mercenaries because of what storm wa being brewed for them.
He then began studying the map again. Soon, Saviour returned with the detectors and a group of mercenaries.
" So where do they start ? " Saviour asked clearly fed up about the lack of results.
"Anywhere" Akpan responded passively
" What the heck! Anywhere! Then thay could take us days to find what we are looking for" Spat out Saviour his eyes red with anger
"F**k me! How the heck I'm I supposed to know. The only shit you gave me here was an aerial view of Plutino which has been very useful"... Akpan replied the sarcasm so obvious in his voice. He angrily tossed the map at Saviour. And then continued ".. if you can do any better than this .. please I'm ready to leave the seat for you"...
Saviour was incensed. What the heck.He was the leader here and should be respected. He smilled wickedly and took some steps to where Oy and Ebele sat bundled together. He forcefully grapped Ebele up which was met with stiff resistance.
"...what do you want to do?" Akpan inquired concern evident in his voice. Saviour smilled and replied
" Well it appears that your brains has been clogged so i want to help unclog it.." Saviour smilingly said aiming a Berreta Model 92 semi automatic service pistol at Ebele.
"Don't do it.. I'll try something anything...."
Saviour smilled wickedly at Akpan and went ahead to press the trigger. Akpan closed his eyes expecting the whirling and then boom sound of a pistol being shot but Nothing happened. No whirling soun nor brain spluttering sound, every where was just eerie silent then as if all were on cue a wild caphony of laughter followed. Akpan opened his eyes slowly wondering what miracle hapened to make the surrounding so friendly but was greeted by the stoic voice of Saviour which to him was a demon voice now.
"...Oops! Sorry i forgot to load the pistol"
Akpan cursed Saviour in his mind for heaven's sake why would you use someone's life for comic relief. He thought in anger. Saviour smilingly said to Akpan
" Well i guess this time I forgot to load the pistol. Maybe next time will be Kate and who knows...I might unknowingly load the pistol….." Saviour smilingly said his voice trailing behind him as he left Akpan ro concentrate on his work.
Akpan hurriedly left and began to check around looking for clues. Fuck Oy and Ebele who cares about their plan..Next time it could be Kate used for the comic relief…. He thought and began looking for clues vigorously. He searched high and low street to street.
Plutino
5:00 Pm
"I've found it " Akpan tired excited voice rang out in the middle of the street.
"I've finally found it." He said his voice chocked with tears of excitement, exhaustion and relief.. Soon a group of heavy footsteps where heard quickly running to where he was
Saviour arrived in high hopes and excitement While running he bellowed "Akpan where is it. Hope you are not trying to kid around with me.." He looked round at the surrounding but was only greeted by a large tome like structure in the front of a building that apparently was the Chief priest shrine .
"Read the inscription on the tome " Akpan replied smiling