TST, 2020
Leo held his breath. “What surgery?”
“TCAR”
“What?”
“Transcarotid Artery Revascularization”
“What happened?”
“Carotid artery disease. She’s at the risk of getting stroke.” The lady grunted. “Doctors say if she won’t get the surgery early, she’ll die or suffer a permanent disability. They have referred us to Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac institute.”
“How much is needed?”
“For starters, 1 million will suffice.”
Leo gasped. “How much time do I have?”
“Not that much. The earlier the better…”
“Can I—” The phone hung up.
Leo tried to call but the number was unreachable.
Why always me? He gazed at the sky, his fingers rubbing his hair.
“Is everything okay?” Dailah said.
“Prof is in class. Why don’t you scurry and go?”
“A problem shared is half solved.”
Leo signaled Dailah to move her ear closer to him. Daliah did as instructed.
“Never tell your problems to anyone. 20% don’t care and the other 80% are glad you have them.” Leo whispered in Dailah’s ear.
He rushed to his room. He thumbed over the papers in the drawer till he found a number. He typed the number and dialed.
“This is Mr. Patrick!” The other side responded.
“I’m Leo Felix.”
Mr. Patrick giggled. “The dare-devil?”
“Let’s spare the talk, I have a problem.”
“You always have problems. Is it Benjamin again?”
“My mother is sick and she needs a quick surgery. I need 1 million.”
“I wish I could be of assistance.”
“I wasn’t asking for money.”
“Then why call me?”
“I’m in Dar. Can you connect me to any gambling house where I will get that amount?”
“As I said, kid…”
“What?”
“I wish I could help.”
“What do you mean?”
“I quitted that business, 4 years ago.”
**********
Songwe Airport. SJ read on a banner through a window as the Taxi exited the airport.
“We’ll stop at Tarafani market, Mbalizi.” Patrice instructed the driver.
A Taxi stopped at Tarafani market and the two dropped out. The place was full of vendor stalls. Women selling vegetables, fruits, and food spices occupied the area. Motorcyclists were arguing. Some argued about football and others about the general election, which was to be done two months to come.
“Excuse me!” SJ said, smiling at a girl of about 15 years.
“These vegetables are very good madam.” The girl said.
SJ smiled. “Sorry, I was looking for someone.”
The girl’s face drowned. “Who?”
“Abiola…”
The girl rubbed her chin. “Abi… what?”
Patrice smiled. “Abiola.”
“Mama Musa, do you know a woman named Abiola?” The girl shouted.
“Yes, it’s Mama Leo!” Mama Musa shouted.
The girl turned to SJ and Patrice. “You should’ve said Mama Leo. Everyone here calls her that.”
“Anha!” SJ smiled. “Where is she?”
“She hasn’t been here for a week. I heard she’s sick.”
“Can you take us to her home?”
The girl sighed. “My mother told me to finish all these vegetables before the sunset.”
Patrice dug into his pocket and came out with a ten thousand note.
The girl smiled. “Follow me.”
The two followed the girl.
“I wonder why people call her Mama Leo.” The girl muttered.
“Why?” Patrice said.
“I’ve never seen this Leo before.”
“Have you ever asked about him?” SJ said.
“There are a lot of stories about him.” The girl said, “I wonder which one is true.”
After ten minutes, they stopped at a small house. The roofs were reddish-brown and the wall was full of cracks. One would say the house would collapse at any minute. There were two women sitting on a mat, a young girl and a woman of about 48 years old. The two were welcomed. A young girl who brought them left and the other girl who was sitting with a woman entered the house.
“Are you Abiola?” SJ said after greetings.
Abiola nodded. “Who are you?”
“I’m Sonia and he’s Patrice.”
Patrice grinned. “We’re Felix’s friends.”
Abiola chuckled. “I thought Felix had no friends.”
“We are his friends.”
“After neglecting him for 13 years, what do you want now?” Abiola said.
“We’ve been abroad for ten years. We didn’t neglect him.” Patrice said.
“What do you want?” Abiola said.
“To help you and your son.” Patrice said.
Abiola seemed relaxed, “How?”
“A long time ago, we worked together with your husband at Geita Gold Mine. We found 10 kg gold. We chose not to sell it and we hid it somewhere. That gold is now worth billions.”
Abiola smiled. “Will I get my husband’s share?”
“You will but we’ll need to get the gold first.”
“What should I do?” Abiola said.
“We wanted to make sure that the three of us are all there when we sell the gold. We split the locker keys into three segments and implanted them in cards.” Patrice and SJ showed their cards. “The card looks like an ATM card but it has no bank name.”
Abiola squinted, taking a look at the cards.
“To open the locker, we’ll need all three cards. Felix had the third.”
“I’ve never seen such a card before.”
“Are you sure?”
“After his death, I looked at all of his belongings. If it was there, I could’ve seen it.”
“Then we won’t get the gold.”
“Maybe I take another look.”
SJ took out a business card. “Please alert us as soon as you find it. The sooner the better.”
Abiola nodded, taking the business card.
“Has anyone asked you about the card before?” SJ said.
“No.”
“Good.” SJ said, “If someone comes to ask for the card, don’t tell them anything.”
Abiola nodded.
Patrice sighed. “Leo too. Don’t tell him anything.”
SJ raised her eyebrows. “I insist. Don’t tell anyone else about this and alert us the instant you have the card.”