MBEYA, 2014
In the darkness, people call him daredevil but in light, he has got a name, Leo Felix. He has been the preeminent gambler in the region for the past two years but today the situation is different, there is a life not money at stake. He wins, he saves a life. He loses, someone loses a life. He is petrified.
He was in a gloomy room, not able to see anything around him. After hours, the door opened and lights flicked on. Leo squinted at a giant man in a black suit bending over the door to enter the room.
“Is my brother alive?” Leo shouted to the man
“For now he is,” the man smiled, “but later it will depend on how you perform”
“Mr. Patrick, you’re the cruelest man I have ever met”
“We are all endeavoring to survive kid”
“By killing..?”
“You don’t seem to understand” Mr. Patrick leaned on the table, “you win this game, I forgive your brother’s debt and you two will live contentedly after that. Is that what you call cruelty?”
“What if I lose?”
"Let's pray for you to not." Mr. Patrick peeked over his watch, "It's almost time for the match. You ready?"
“I’m not playing till I see my brother”
“You’re so obstinate”
“I need to confirm his safety first”
Mr. Patrick whispered and two men entered the room, “Take this kid to his brother, five minutes only.”
Leo was ushered to another dark room where his brother was restrained. After entering the room, they flicked on the lights.
“Don’t take the match, Leo!" Benjamin Benson, Leo’s brother mumbled after seeing him.
“You will die”
“If you lose, we all die”
“That’s fair. We both live or we both die”
“Your parents need you”
“I don’t have parents. You’re my parents”
“You can’t abhor them, Leo"
“I’ll get you─”
Mr. Patrick entered the room, "enough!! Go win the game and you will have the whole time on earth"
Leo was escorted to a nice, tranquil bedecked room. He had been gambling in Maisha club for two years but he hadn’t seen a room well bedecked like this. This suggested the inimitability and weight of the challenge waiting for him.
He saw Mr. Patrick and the other white man sitting on the VIP table. Their faces were filled with smiles as their heads kept swinging slickly by the sweet melody of John legend’s hit, all of me.
He saw his competitor, a Chinese man whose body was filthy with tattoos. After greetings, the VIPs placed their bid and the match was about to begin. Leo and the Chinese man were at the sides of the high-quality pool table, cue sticks on their hands.
For my brother, Leo gripped his cue stick
Eightball pool table match began and Leo made a break shot. The game was hot and exigent. Both players were talented and skillful. Leo won the first round after pocketing all solid balls, finishing with the eighth black ball. Mr. Patrick's face was full of a grin.
The second round began, all prayers dogged to win the game. After pocketing two balls, Leo’s eyes became hazy. He missed his next shot. Leo tried to concentrate on the game but his hands grew weak and his eyes were fuzzy. He couldn’t hold the cue stick, which tumbled from his hand. He turned his head to look at Mr. Patrick who stood from his seat. When their eyes met, Leo shook his head. He hardly saw the white man aside Mr. Patrick smiling
Leo grunted, rushing his hands on his head. His body was getting weak. He felt as if the whole place was rotating.
What’s happening to me? It can’t be now, I have to save─