TANZANIA SCHOOL OF TALENTS (TST), 2020
“You have made a grave mistake!” Patrice said as he dashed into SJ’s office. SJ wrapped her files and looked at Patrice. He wasn’t wearing his necktie. That was odd. His shirt was wrong buttoned. That too was bizarre. His nose wrinkled. The two were staring at each other.
“Panicking is not good for a 63 years old man.” SJ said.
“What have you done?”
SJ stood. “What?”
“Sending Leo after the cards…”
“He won’t find out.”
Patrice shook his head.
“Relax!” She poured coffee into a mug. “We are different people now.”
“We were supposed to protect him.”
“We are protecting him.”
“By sending him after the cards..?”
“Coffee is getting cold.”
Patrice pulled away the mug. “If he finds out the truth about Leo, he will stalk and kill him.”
“To end this, we need to get that file before him.”
“Innocent people will die.”
“If we don’t end this soon, more innocent people will die.”
“Why don’t we go after the cards by ourselves?”
“You know that’s dodgy.”
“Same to Leo…”
“You fret too much about Leo.”
“We avowed to protect him.”
“Your son, Daniel is there. My daughter is also there.”
“You made a hasty decision.”
“I trust them!”
“Forgotten why we ended up like this?”
SJ sipped the coffee.
“We trusted that man and because of that trust, here we are today.”
“99% of the things people worry about don’t even happen.”
“You are getting old, Sonia.”
“Aren’t you tired?”
“Of what..?”
“Hiding…”
“I am but—”
She walked closer to Patrice. She had to tilt her head above to see Patrice well. “We’ve been hiding for long enough. Enough of that shit. It’s our time to attack.”
**********
“This is strange, isn’t it?” Baraka said, standing 20 meters away from the burnt library. A place where a prohibited library was was now full of rubbles. A place that was well guarded by proficient guards, 24 hours was now surrounded by constructors. The question about who burnt the library wasn’t answered yet, Leo remained the prime suspect.
“What?” Isla said, watching laborers removing rubbles.
Baraka yawned. “A document that can save the school.”
Daniel sniggered. “A document buried under the library…”
Baraka giggled. “If it falls on immoral hands, the school will crumble.”
“And we are the expendables…” Daniel smiled. “Hired to haul out the document before the enemies do.”
“What a myth!”
“I’m curious.”
“So am I!”
“Maybe we should have a bird-eye on the document after we get it.”
“That’ll be cool!”
Isla grunted. “You idiots!”
“What?” Baraka said.
“We get in, we get the document, and we get out.” Isla said.
Daniel sighed. “Isla, don’t blot the funny.”
“Sure, this was going to be funny.” Baraka said.
“We get the document, we give it to SJ. Over..!”
“Don’t be so straight Isla, bend a bit sometimes.” Baraka muttered.
“Just want to know what’s so out of the ordinary with the document.” Daniel said.
“Yeah, what if it is contrary to what SJ says?”
“I said no!” Isla snapped.
Baraka turned to Leo. “Hey, you’ve been hushed for some time. What’s wrong?”
Leo stared at the men carrying rubbles from the library.
Baraka patted Leo. “Leo, say something…”
Leo gasped. “It’s always funny till someone gets hurt.”
Baraka placed his hands on his head. “Don’t tell me you are with Isla?”
Leo pointed his index finger. “Have you seen that man?”
“There are about 20 men there!” Daniel said.
Leo turned to Daniel with a flushed face. “It's better to shut up and give the impression that you're stupid than to say something and erase all doubt.”
Daniel clenched his fist. He stood, his face growing red. Isla hurried and stopped him.
Baraka turned to Leo. “Yes, Leo. Who’s the man?”
Leo squinted, “The one without a helmet.”
“The engineer…?” Baraka said.
“I saw him wandering around the library the night before fire exploded.”
Baraka smiled. “What are you trying to formulate?”
“If you are expecting funny, there is no funny tonight because someone is going to get hurt.”