Dawn 4

 

It was during one of the antenatal sessions, Emenike and Nash had met Chuks. Chuks’s wife was expecting their second child and one thing led to another, they became quite friendly. Chuks upon learning of their predicament from Nash who believed in the mantra 'if you keep quiet you die, why don’t you talk and not die?’, started paying their bills in the hospital and even sorting them out periodically.

Emenike was overcome with gratitude, no one had ever been this kind to him before. On one of the hospital visits, he drew Chuks aside to ask for help, a job, anything to keep body and soul together

He remembered the searching look Chuks had given him

‘Guy, you want me to get you a job?’

‘Yes, Chuks, the baby will arrive any day now, we’re yet to get baby things, asides that I don’t want to bring up my child in the house we currently occupy. Please help me'

Chuks smiled

‘Hmmm. I’ll help you, better yet, I’ll introduce to the business I do. Instead of working for others, you’ll have your own business. You will make billions of naira, nwokem'

Emenike was so excited at the mention of billions. Who wouldn’t?

‘Chai! Me? Billions?! Chuks, how can I ever repay you? You’re my angel sent from Heaven!’

Chuks gave a grimace

‘Lets leave Heaven out of this, first. You’re my brother and I don’t like the way you’ve been suffering. I want to help you, lift you out of poverty. I cannot forget the first day I visited you guys, I almost suffocated in your one room apartment! No, your life needs a serious uplift'

Tears of joy and gratitude poured down Emenike's face. Chuks patted him on the shoulders, a little embarrassed. Finally Emenike composed himself as he cleaned his face as best as he could with his threadbare handkerchief.

'Emenike, the pathway to wealth is'int easy. There are sacrifices you and I, nay , anyone desirous of wealth must make'

Emenike replied earnestly 'I know that nothing good comes easy'

Chuks smiled to himself as he continued ‘What I mean is, are you ready to make sacrifices to get wealthy?’

‘Yes, I am ready' ‘Emenike replied swiftly

‘Alright….let’s meet in two days time at an address I’ll send to you..hmmm? I’ll send my driver to pick you up'

And so he did.

Emenike couldn’t sleep over the night. He kept turning and tossing, at a stage Nash had to insist he vacate the bed as his restlessness was disturbing her sleep. 

To avoid the long queue at the bathroom, he was up and bathed by four am.  Nash was still snoring. He smiled at her still form as he set about dressing up. He had just two outfits to choose from and in a few minutes he was dressed. He sat down in the lone chair in the room, humming under  his breath. There was no power and because he didn’t want to start pouring sweat, he declined to on the lantern, rather, he used his Nokia phone torchlight to illuminate the room. Pick up time was 8 am and it was barely 5 am. He had three hours to kill. He started rehearsing answers to questions he felt Chuks associates would ask him as the purpose of the meeting was to be acquainted with them. Eventually he found himself dosing off.

He awoke with a start at the sound of someone banging at the door of the room. It was the driver.

At the palatial office which in Emenike's opinion was nothing short of an exotic palace, the introductions were made with Chuks’s business partners. He noticed they all used a peculiar handband, a thin leather handband. He wanted to ask Chuks but decided it didn’t matter. Afterall they were going to make him a billionaire, what was the relevance of a handband? 

They were very friendly and assured him they would help to register his business as their partner. They told him they were into importation and exportation of all kinds of commodities.

Within a month, Emenike had his own office on the Island. Within three months he had moved his wife and baby from the one room apartment into the duplex he had bought on the island

Things started going so well, too well, he thought at times. His partners had funded his business and were there for him at the hint of any assistance. Chuks gave him the handband one evening when he came visiting

‘Bros, this is our signature mark, the Sherpherd signature mark. You must wear it at all times, for your own good' Chuks had told him in a tone brokering no argument. Reluctantly, he had put it on. He suddenly felt a momentary chill and mentioned it to Chuks who said it was normal

‘ That is a confirmation that you’re one of us'

‘ Chuks, I hope this does not have a spiritual connotation?’ Emenike had asked worriedly

‘Tah! You worry too much!’ Chuks had replied. With a taunting smile he had asked Emenike

‘ Don’t you know the spiritual controls the physical?’

Emenike did not know what to say as Chuks rose up to take his leave

To be continued…