The Golden Chair by A J Fontenot

Author:A J Fontenot [Fontenot, A J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780998100777
Publisher: [ Five Round Rocks Media ]
Published: 2019-09-01T22:00:00+00:00

37

The Man on the Ferry

Mofi stood, looking over the rail of the ferry, staring down into the white water crashing into the boat’s bow several feet below him. The wind was strong against his face. As he looked up, he could see the mountains surrounding the lake.

Lake Volta was long. The result of a flooded river, its length covered nearly half the length of the entire country. This was the second time he’d crossed the lake, though at different points, on the mission Tano had sent him, looking for Paul. And…he was beginning to feel like he was chasing a ghost. Everywhere he’d been, they knew Paul…but he hadn’t been there recently…or he’s just missed him, a few months back…

The waves and spray were becoming hypnotic. Leaning on the edge of the ferry, he thought again about the look on Tano’s face the last time he saw him. The urgency, almost panic in his voice. The image of Tano like that kept replaying in his mind. He’d never seen him like that. All of his life, Tano had been a strong elder in their community, one the rest of them looked up to…

Mofi turned from the edge and moved back across to the other side of the ferry. The lower deck where he now stood was filled with cars. Above, the ferry was filled with people. Several floors. The ride wasn’t too long, maybe an hour. And if he didn’t buy any food, which he couldn’t afford at the price they sold it for on the boat, he could ride for free. Until it docked on the other side, he didn’t have anything to do. He walked to ease the anxious feeling. The feeling that kept mounting the longer it took him to find Paul.

As he walked to the other side, moving through the crowds down on the lower level, something caught his eye, between two large trucks. He paused, looking at the spot. An eerie feeling struck him.

The boat rocked, and it was hard to get a clear look. Mofi moved closer, in between the two large trucks.

As he did, he saw it again. Or he thought he did. The same movement, now, again…still. He paused, looking hard in between the large trucks, both under the overhang from the upper floors. He focused his energy on letting his eyes adjust to the darker area. Trying to see.

Was it…the same man? He wondered. The thought, the implications, scared him, though he wasn’t exactly sure why.

Mofi moved around the outside of two trucks, between them and the wall of the ferry. Edging along. He slipped around, seeing no one.

Then, over his head, moving up the stairs to an upper floor, he caught the briefest glimpse of a red-checked shirt.

The man from the Nkonya market. The same one he’d also seen the day before. And the same one who stood out…not belonging. What was he doing here? he thought.

This was…wrong. Mofi knew something was wrong.

He looked over his shoulder and then back toward the dark stairs, where the man in the red-checked shirt had gone.

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