6 am,
Some four hours after the rape ended, she woke to the feeling of someone tapping her. She saw that she had been lying on the corner of the walkway. About 5 persons had gathered around her while other passersby looked and went on. As she sat up, she became conscious of the fact that her body was exposed save for the ruined dress still on her body. She pulled the two parts together covering her breast and thigh as she looked at the people who were asking her questions she couldn't understand. She was lost.
As her senses returned, she realized that the people who were talking to her were going to church courtesy of the Bibles in their hands. Her bag was by her side and she began to cry. "There were six of them… There were six of them" she kept saying and shaking.
"What's your name? Six of whom? What happened to you? Where were you raped?" were some of the questions the people kept asking her as she sobbed.
Then she heard a familiar voice scream "The blood of Jesus. Max". Everyone turned around to see who the newcomer was.
Having arrived at her house in Quartz some minutes after 11 pm, Mrs Margaret bathed her baby and then herself. Fixing herself and the child a simple meal of sliced bread and cold tea, she had hit the bed crashing immediately. The sales girls staying with her weren't expecting her so they didn't prepare and keep any food for her.
The next morning she woke exactly by 5:30 am and began to hurry up so she wouldn't be late for the 6 am mass she usually attended.
She just alighted from the bus at Elk Street and was about to cross the road when she saw about 5 persons gathered around a young girl sitting on the floor. Conscious of time and not wanting to be late, she wanted to go her way. But her soft and compassionate side compelled her to take a look at what was happening. But when she did, lo and behold it was the same girl she travelled with just the previous day from Cantina, Max.
CAIN
It's been six months already at Quartz Camp for Cain. As a Second lieutenant here, life has been fairly routine, from home to office and back. Nothing special. Nnanive had visited him severally for the first two months but stopped completely from the third month. But last week Saturday she showed up at his door apologizing for leaving him in the dark concerning her whereabouts.
Probed on the reason for the cut in contact, she said her mother discovered she was pregnant even before she understood the changes in her body, and decided she leave Aztec for her home province where she terminated it. Only her mother who arranged the whole termination knew about the pregnancy. Her siblings and Dad are unaware of the pregnancy and its subsequent termination.
She explained she wouldn't be able to see him again because that was the condition given to her by her mother to keep it away from her dad. According to her "For both our good, the relationship has to end". Although he wasn't exactly in love with her, he pretended her was sad about the breakup. They still had a "break-up sex" before she left later that evening.
The time was 8:30 pm and Cain was lying on his couch watching a TV show when he heard two firm knocks on his door. "Who's there?" he asked not standing up
"Captain. Salza" a deep voice answered him.
He jumped up from the couch, tripping in the process of running to the door, he got back up and ran to get the door. Lt. Col Saul, his townsman was also his platoon commander at Quartz Cantonment and he worked directly under his office. Wondering what was the reason for the unusual visit, he opened the door and saw the Captain and Lt Col. Saul the cantonment's 2IC (second in command).
Saluting both his superior officers starting with the Lt Col and then the captain, he was asked to be at ease by the Captain.
"Won't you let us in?" Lt Col. Saul asked the still-surprised Cain in their mother tongue.
"Sorry sirs, please come in sirs" he apologized and moved away from the entrance to his apartment so they could come in. "Please have a seat" he offered after closing the door behind them.
The Lt Col sat on the bigger couch while Captain Salza sat down on a smaller couch.
The Lt Col began. "I understand you are from the same town with Captain Salza right here son?"
"Yes sir. My grandmother and his were cousins" Cain responded standing with his hands behind his back. Captain Salza usually referred to him as a younger brother in their local Mother language
"Which makes you what? fourth cousins?" the Lt. Col. joked.
"Something like that sir" Cain reaffirmed with a little smile
"Good. Now you are wondering why l and Captain Salza are in your apartment, especially at this hour" he paused. But Cain said nothing. He wasn't supposed to. So the Lt Col. continued
"You underwent your commando training and marine warfare tactics successfully and came out tops. Because of this, and from the instructions of the Base commander, I've been mandated to put together a team. A team of our best commandos for a rescue operation which you'll be briefed on with the rest of the team tomorrow". He paused and watched Cain's facial expression which still showed a bit of confusion.
"Yeah, you're probably wondering why aren't we waiting to brief you tomorrow like the rest then. Now, while you'll get your full instructions about the official mission tomorrow, there's an unofficial reason why you are going on this mission which will be led by Captain Salza here. On the personal instructions of the Base commander, you are to recover a package from the vessel." The Lt Col. went on to brief Cain on his role when the main mission was underway. He was made to understand his selection was based on the recommendations and trust the Captain had in him on the one hand and their relationship as townsmen on the other hand.
Second Lieutenant Cain, seven other officers of the same rank and training, and Captain Salza were assembled Sunday morning for a briefing in the base missions briefing room. They were awaiting the arrival of the Base commander. Captain Salza joked with the boys as they awaited their superiors. The time was 7 am.
Some 10 minutes later, the General and Lt Col. Saul, the Cantonment Base commander and 2IC respectively, came in. The officers on the command of Captain Salza stood up and saluted their superiors. "At ease," said Lt Col Saul.
The General began; "Good morning gentlemen. You have been assembled here on such short notice because of the task we have at hand. You're going to embark on a rescue mission aboard a vessel that would later today cross the Native waters, some 80 miles away from the coast of Aztec. The vessel would be departing Calls Base later tonight and is bound for China. He paused to take a look at their faces before continuing.
"Officially, the vessel is known for the sole purpose of bringing in used cars and clothing from Europe to the Eastern Republic, while also returning with fresh fruits from the Eastern Republic to China, and subsequently conveying new cars back to Europe. But it has been discovered to be moonlighting as a slave vessel. More like a vessel for human trafficking. This means it takes teenage girls mostly smuggled into the Eastern Republic from the Country back to China and the latter. From where together with new cars, it takes illegal immigrants from China back to Europe to work as cheap labour.
Turning to face his second in command, Lt Col Saul, he said "Col please" while pointing at the projector indicating he should take over the briefing.
"Lieutenant David, turn off the lights" Lt Col Saul began by instructing an officer closer to the light switches. Picking up the remote control of the projector, he began displaying a picture slideshow.
The first picture that showed up was that of two girls. They were the definition of beauty and Elegance. Probably between ages 16-18, Cain thought. The Lt Col. began; "This is Michelle and Raya Williams. Ages 17 and 19. They are the daughters of billionaire banker Minister Andrew Williams, personal friend and Classmate of the Governor of the province. They were kidnapped on their way home from school two weeks ago, with their driver shot dead. For those of you who listen to the news, you must have heard about it.
While the police were busy fooling around, our contacts were able to establish that the girls were taken across the border to the Eastern Republic. There, they were sold to international sex slavers who are shipping them later tonight to China. While the kidnapping is a result of business rivalry which ain't your business, you must make sure those girls and other girls are rescued unscathed.
Besides Minister Williams being the governor's friend and a National, there other girls whose parents are nobodies but deserve to have their children back. So this mission is to get every single girl on that ship back home to their parents". With that, he called on Captain Salza to come to brief the boys.
Captain Saul began; "Alright boys, it is believed the girls were all bought by the Beijing Brotherhood with the initials Bb, which is led by Liu Xiao Wu". Clicking the projector remote control, a picture of the mafia's initials Bb and the leader Lui Xiao Wu came on the screen.
He proceeded "While the Beijing brotherhood is known for their transpacific drug trade, you're wrong to think that they depend on the drug trade alone for survival. With their South American counterparts from other countries and the likes competing for the trade market, they had to look for other business fronts and sources of income. This led to human trafficking, preferably virgin teenage girls." He paused as one of the junior officers raised his hand to ask a question
"Yes, Lieutenant Miguel?" he responded to the raised hand
"Why the preference for virgins Captain?" Lieutenant Miguel asked
"This is because virgin sex slaves go for far higher prices than their non-virgin counterparts. It is generally believed by Chinese businessmen that their businesses tend to grow exponentially whenever they have sex with virgins. Hence, such girls are sold for as little as $500 with the girls passing through all forms of sexual torture" Captain Salza answered the lieutenant.
Proceeding, he said "This is Doctor Idris, a Togolese citizen and screwed-up Doctor who would be on the ship. He must confirm by examination the presence of a hymen and if it's genuine. He carries out all necessary blood tests to ascertain the health status of the girls, this as you can all guess is because their buyers don't get to use any form of protection. We're to take him alive with the rest of the crew.
Before proceeding, he left the floor open for questioning. After answering all their questions with the General and Lt Col Saul chipping in now and then.
Captain Salza then went on to give details of the weapons on board the ship, the crew member's details, the level of hostility to expect, the complete map of the ship etc. Also, he stated their entry method, their arms, departure time etc..
The mission was to remain a secret till completion and they left the briefing room at 8:30 to reassemble by 20:00 hours.