Names and Secrets by Mark Mutali Chetambe

Author:Mark Mutali Chetambe
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789966560049
Publisher: East African Educational Publishers Ltd

CHAPTER 9

IN THE NICK OF TIME

Ngachi drove the car leisurely through the sugar cane plantation. For the first time in a long time, he looked happy. Although it was only 7.00 p.m. it was already dark. The teachers had explained it as something to do with the position of the earth in relation to the sun. The headlamps shone brightly. Chekai felt good to see his father happy. Maybe the problems at the sugar factory were over, he thought.

“How is the factory now, Dad?” he asked.

“Oh, things are going fine,” Ngachi said excitedly. “In fact, if things go according to plan you will soon be the son of the Human Resources Manager.”

“Does that mean you will be promoted?”

“Yes, and that is good news indeed. The Human Resource Manager is not coming back. And according to reliable sources, I will be replacing him in a few weeks.”

“I am so happy for you, Dad. So, maybe you will buy a different car and get a driver for me?”

“Let us not count our chicks before they hatch. I know you have never liked this Probox. Let us just pray that the promotion comes. If it does, well, as a manager, I will have a driver. And certainly, I will buy your dream car.”

“And then I will play my own kind of music in the car?” Chekai asked excitedly.

“Of course you will. But what is wrong with this rhumba that is playing now? Don’t you find it interesting? It is good music. It has good rhythm and strong messages.”

“It’s dull. I will be happy to play genge and bongo. Will you buy me the music CDs when you get a different car?”

“Let us first pray for the promotion. Everything else will follow. You will have whatever music you wish.” From a distance, Chekai thought he saw as shadow in the middle of the road.

“Look out, Dad!” he shouted.

But it was too late. The car hit a huge rock right in the middle of the road. It swayed from side to side, jerked several times and then came to a stop. Everything was quiet now.

“That was close!” Ngachi said in a frightened voice. “Thank God we did not roll. People can be so careless. Who could have put a rock in the middle of the road at a time like this?”

He was opening the door to get out and assess the damage when Chekai shouted, “Don’t go out, Dad! Look!”

When Ngachi looked through the car window, he saw a mob surrounding the car. There were about six hooded men, all round the car. They held pangas and axes which shone in the darkness. One of them held a gun. Chekai was too scared to say anything. He remained frozen in the car seat. His seatbelt pressed hard against his chest. He could almost hear his own heartbeat. He breathed heavily and rapidly. One of the men hit the roof of the car hard with an axe.

“Get out at once!” a deep voice ordered.

Ngachi began to fumble with the door.

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