Dawn came rather slowly. Fortunately it didn't catch her wide eyed for she had given in to sleep a few minutes after she had said good night.
She must have been really exhausted as when she awoke, there was no one in the room or in the compound for that matter. She walked to the kitchen but Okon was not there. Her heart skipped a bit. Where was everyone? She felt something in her stomach. Whatever it was fear or joy she wasn't quite sure. Was this her ticket out of here? Had the master out of the small kindness left in his heart decided to let her go after all? Then something felt creepy about the whole thing. Had everyone died somehow? Or maybe they had run away and left her to die. Perhaps those snakes had escaped and heading this way?
Oh don't wreck you nerves girl, they'll be back soon and if they are not back after a few minutes, you can run and never look back.
With a satisfied grin, she went to her room to freshen up and wait. Half an hour later and there was no sound in the house except hers. She really started to get worried. She went into every nook and cranny of the house looking for something that could give her a clue. She stepped out to the front yard, then a little farther into the outer yard. Her boldness was getting the better of her and she wanted to venture out some more so she made her way farther into the woods.
''And where do you think you are going little girl?''
She jumped, breathing raucously and swallowing hard.
''I just wondered where everyone went'' she said so calmly she surprised herself.
''Where is the master?'' she asked Bullama.
''He is out.'' He answered peering into her face. She averted his glare and started walking back to the house.
The house was a little cottage made of wood but surprisingly warm for a hideout. She had noted the master's room when they first brought her here.
Outside, it was lonely and deserted and was in need of some handsome grooming. There were two tent-like structures on the outside, one was the kitchen and the other the resting facility as it was called in the camp.
The camp was organized and the master had made sure of asserting his authority even though she wasn't sure the exact kind of hold he had on them that kept them loyal to him.
One thing was clear to her now. She could not attempt to get anyone on her side.
Bullama was not alone she later learned. They had all gone to their respective responsibilities and Okon had gone with Garba to get some of their kitchen supplies.
How Okon kept staying here she would always ask in her mind.
I am sure he has made countless trips to the town by now he should know the road to town with a blindfold. Why has he not escaped? Does he even try?
That evening there was such calm in the house that even she found disturbing. The master and some of the men had not returned and from what she gathered, they have not reached anyone in the camp about their whereabouts. Fear began to gnaw at her heart. For some reasons, she felt 'safe' only with the master. She was vaguely aware of what could become of her if the master disappeared or died. She went into her room and locked the door. She was not going to open it until the master got back.
Two nights in a row and there still was no words from the master. Okon had brought some food to her the first day but on the second day, Bullama insisted she had to get her own food. She wasn't sure if that was just a way to lure her out of her room so she went without food. At about one in the morning, there was a knock on her door. She thought she was dreaming for the knock was very silent. Then she heard the knock again and ran to the door but didn't open it. ''Who is it?'' she whispered. ''Maram na me, Okon'' was his soft reply. She turned the knob gently and welcomed the tray of fruits and vegetable soup Okon had prepared.
''Make you quickly chop am before Oga Bullama go come see am'' he said and scurried off.
He does care about me, doesn't he? Hmmm, I wonder what I can make of that.
She was too hungry to wallow in that thought so she dug into her soup bowl.
He snores like a pig, that's for sure. Bullama was on sentry duty every night since the rest of the gang had not showed up. The sentry post is away from the house about 200 meters. She was still by the post when she heard a blasting sound. It sounded like a clap of hands in a quick succession then ended with a spurt. Ugh! Disgusting, I need to get out of here fast before I get constipated. So off she scurried.
This is going to be good. Bullama is here making a fool of himself, Okon and the others, well, should be devouring whatever else Okon had prepared that evening while I am on my way to freedom. At last I don't have to hide from my shadow.
~Crack!
What was that? It sounded like a twig had snapped. She could hear sounds that seemed to come from afar off. Almost instinctively, she veered off and started running. Although she knew this route she was going to have her making another turn further ahead to return to her old route. She had to steer clear of the snake route. Even as she thought of it in a hurry, goose bumps rose all over her body.
Ok calm down and whatever you do, don't scream. She was well on her way to doing that anyway.
''You should be more careful with your choice of extracurricular activities.'' She was silent but this time more apprehensive than the first. ''Someone needs to teach this girl a lesson. What if master had been here, do you think he would have thought twice about shooting you? Or maybe you think he will pat you on the back and say weldone, right? It only means that you cannot hold forte in our absence. Does she make you nervous or are you just plain stupid?.'' Shadow was yelling at the top of his voice. Bullama who at this time was more sober than a child caught with his hand in the soup pot, stood looking wide eyed at Shadow, hands together like he was getting ready to say a prayer.
''Have you been drinking Bullama? Tell me exactly what has been going on else I will make sure this is the last time you see the moon let alone sunlight.'' He demanded.
''Nothing has been happening. She said she was not hungry and went to bed early. I was on duty, Okon, Pedro and Ibro went to bed early that's all.''
''So now that she's outside in the woods it is magic abi? And how come no one knew? How did she pass the sentry post and beyond without detection when you were on duty? Do you realize that you have failed and put all of us in danger by your lax attitude towards duty? Why do you think you are the one that was put in charge of this place? I shall make sure master hears of this when he returns.''
Even before he said his last word, Bullama was on his knees. ''Please Shadow, dan Allah, because of God give me whatever kind of punishment you want but don't tell the master. He'll kill me. I still have my family to think about and master will just kill me. Please and please I beg you.'' He cried.
''Get out of here. I will think of what I am going to do to you later. Where the hell is that little brat anyway?'' He yelled in the direction of her room. ''So four of you at the house and none of you can give a detailed account of her movement?'' He demanded to the men. There was silence. ''I don't know what we were thinking when we left you guys at the house.'' He muttered to himself.
Altine made a conscious effort not to be scared, but somehow, she was disarmed by the sound of his voice. It was impatient and had a ring of what was to come in it.
As soon as she stood in front of him, she knew she should not have come that close to him for he grabbed hold of her hand and began to shake her.
''Do you want to get us killed? Do you know what the master would do to us if he as much as finds out that you left the house at that hour? I am not sure you understand your position in this place so I am going to make it a little clearer to you. You are a slave. Your job is to give the master satisfaction till he wearies of you and finds the next slave. You have no will or say of your own as far as you live in this house. You will be punished accordingly for the offence you commit and if you try to run again, I will personally see to it that you never do again.'' At which point he threw her backward and she stumbled on a stool, lost balance and fell quite hard on the floor.
''Get out all of you and back to work and I will find a way of dealing with this later.'' He said pointing in her direction. She got up slowly and headed back to the room that had now become hers. She would lie in bed till the master got back. She expected the worst, at least this time she knew she had been reckless enough to think that she could get away with running away. She braced herself.