The City Heroes (6 page)

When it was evening, the workers called it a day and went home. But Ajayi and Tolu stayed back. When it was dinnertime, they had a good time at the dining table.

When the meal was over, Ajayi rose from the table and wiped his hand with a handkerchief. He drank another glass of water and then collected his torch. Flashing the light about, he smiled faintly. Then he turned to Tolu, who was still at the table and said, “You are a good cook! But now we have a task to perform. Meet me at the poultry pen.”

“Okay sir,” Tolu responded after swallowing a final morsel.

The old farmer walked quietly to the farm, all the while flashing the torch about. When he got to the poultry, he was glad that there were enough eggs to sell the next day. But before his worker joined him, Mr. Ajayi gathered all the eggs into crates. As soon as Tolu got there, Mr. Ajayi asked him to carry the crate of eggs to the cottage.

Without wasting time, the young man carried the eggs and asked with a smile, “Sir, do you think the thief will visit tonight?”

“I just want to be a step ahead of him. We have two more things to do before we go to bed. I hope that won't be too much for you?”

“Oh no,” he replied.

As the young man turned to go, the farmer said, “Don't worry, Tolu. You will have a day off tomorrow.”

“Yes thank you, sir,” he replied.

“Remind me to pay you for tonight's work before you leave tomorrow,” Ajayi added with a grin.

Tolu nodded as he walked toward the building. Mr. Ajayi looked on, smiling faintly as the worker faded into the warm hands of the night. Happy that the eggs were safe, he sighed and flashed his torch and moved on. As the farmer moved about, he made sure the farm was in a good state. The fowl, pigs and goats were safe, and he wished they were always so.

After a time, Tolu joined him to inspect the livestock. As they got to the pigsty, Mr. Ajayi hinted, “Tolu, I do have a feeling that the thief will visit tonight.”

“Then we must stop him!”

Mr. Ajayi nodded and said, “Yes, we must. But I don't know how to catch the thief. Do you have any idea?”

“Such people are clever and hard to crack,” Tolu stated and crossed his arms over his body.

“The only idea I have is to stay awake all night. At intervals, we can walk round the farm to check if everything is in order. If that does not work, then I will hire a guard.”

“That's not a bad idea. But if you intend to stay awake all night, it must not be in the room.”

“Why?” Ajayi asked with a yawn.

Tolu shifted his weight to one leg and explained, “The cottage is far from here. Before either of us can run to the scene, the thief will have gone!”

Mr. Ajayi nodded quietly as he pondered his words. “You are right,” he admitted, chewing his lower lip.

“We can bring our blankets here and find somewhere to sleep!”

The farmer chuckled. “You are funny, Tolu. You expect us to sleep out here all night?”

“If we really want to get the thief, we must not be far away from the farm,” Tolu explained patiently.

Ajayi said, “I quite agree with you. Two good heads are better than one. Let's get the blankets…and the weapons.”

Tolu raised an eyebrow when he heard the word “weapons”. “Why do we need weapons, sir?” he asked.

“You can use a weapon for defense,” the farmer remarked. “It is only a crime to use it unlawfully. I won't kill the robber if we catch him. With a cutlass, we can defend ourselves if he tries to attack us.”

Tolu was satisfied with the response. Ajayi led him to the building to prepare for the night.

The night was cold. The few stars that sat on the doorstep of the sky could not light up the poor earth. When it was midnight, the thief emerged from the fence, but Ajayi and Tolu were already asleep. The man, who was as dark as midnight, wore a mask to hide his identity. Just as he had done in the past, he climbed down from the tree.

As soon as he touched the earth, he glanced about. Sensing that no eye was watching, he flashed a menacing smile at the farm. It was time to steal. He placed his hand on his torch and began to move quietly to where the eggs were. After a few steps he paused and looked about. Afraid that he might be caught off guard, he looked about more carefully, this time flashing his torch. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he placed his discomfort on the doorstep of the past and moved on. Sensing no danger, he adjusted his mask.

Unknown to the thief, his movements had woken Ajayi and Tolu. They jumped to their feet and looked about. They saw someone moving toward the area where eggs were kept. Without wasting time, they grabbed their weapons and followed the man quietly. When the thief got to where he usually stole eggs, he quickly brought out his basket. But when he moved closer, his jaw dropped, he gasped and beat his chest because there were no eggs! The thief pulled up his mask and surveyed the farm. Not to leave the farm empty handed, he decided to steal some hens. He grabbed a hen and violently twisted its neck. Once the life had gone out of the bird, he placed it in the basket. He smiled deviously then turned to the next hen. But just as he'd grabbed it, and almost robbed the chicken of its life, Ajayi and Tolu rushed in, flashing the torch and wielding their weapons at the thief.

Seeing the two men, the thief was alarmed; he almost died of fear. He threw the basket away and took to his heels. Tolu ran after him and brought him down with a single blow. The criminal groaned in pain as he crashed to the ground. The farmer and Tolu stood over him pointing the torch at his covered face. “Show your face!” Ajayi thundered, his cutlass hanging in the air.

Afraid that he might be killed if he refused, the thief took off his mask. Now that the coward's face was revealed, Mr. Ajayi could not believe his eyes. He wiped his face with the back of his hand and looked carefully again, just to be sure. Yes, it was true: the thief was none other than his so-called friend, Bode. He exchanged a sad glance with Tolu. “So, you are the person doing this to me!” the farmer roared as he returned to Bode.

Bode again tried to hide his face in shame. “Please, don't kill me. I will return what I have stolen!” He could not help the quiver in his voice.

“Why did you decide to ruin me, Bode?”

Bode burst into tears and tried to explain: “I don't know what came over me! It must be the devil at work.”

The farmer chewed his lower lip angrily. Then he paced up and down, pondering what to do next. After a time, he paused, as if an idea had just flown into his head. He turned to Tolu and ordered: “Tie him to the tree. Before mid-day tomorrow, I will have decided what to do with this old bat!”

Before Bode could protest, he was roped to the almond tree. Then the farmer and Tolu walked away.

Mr. Ajayi could not sleep all night because he did not believe his former best friend could be the thief stealing his eggs. At daybreak, the cockerel had barely sounded it was dawn when the farmer jumped to his feet and rushed out of the cottage. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him to the farm as Tolu, who was also awake, followed him. When Mr. Ajayi got to the tree where the man was tied, he grabbed him by the neck and yelled, “I will hand you over to the police, you thief!”

Shivering, Mr. Bode cried out, “Please forgive me. The devil used me!”

“Do not blame the devil for your weakness. What can you gain by being a thief?”

Mr. Bode lowered his head as shame fell on him: “Forgive me. I will refund all that I have stolen from you.”

The farmer flared up, “I don't want anything! If you truly respect me, then you wouldn't steal from me!” Then he reached into his pocket and brought out his wallet. After counting out some money he turned to Tolu with an ordered: “Untie him!”

Tolu did as his employer had asked and stood back. As Bode regained his freedom, he rose to his feet. He dusted off his clothes but fought gallantly to make certain that their eyes did not meet.

Mr. Ajayi handed the money that he had just counted to Mr. Bode and said, “Take this money. I hope it will meet your immediate needs.”

The thief declined the offer and turned to go. But Mr. Ajayi threatened, “If you do not take this money, then I will involve the police and you will have no choice but to face justice!”

The thief paused, and for the first time exchanged a glance with the farmer. After pondering his words, he feared that he could spend time behind bars, so he inhaled sharply and received the money on bended knees.

The farmer placed the wallet back in his pocket and crossed his arms over his body and warned, “Let this be the last time that you will steal my things. If it happens again, I will not forgive you.”

Mr. Bode was touched and could not hold back his tears. He placed the money in his pocket. “Thank you for sparing my life,” he muttered.

Mr. Ajayi frowned and turned to Tolu: “Lead this man out of here and meet me in the building.”

“Okay sir,” Tolu replied. He followed the thief to the gate. As soon as Mr. Bode was gone, he returned to Mr. Ajayi who was happy he had finally caught the thief. Tolu was rewarded with cash and gifts, and the farmer lived a full life in his newfound wisdom.

It was a Saturday morning in the village and the fishermen were busy casting their nets in the river. On the streets some had nothing better to do than lean out their windows to catch a breath of fresh air, for it was a good time to enjoy the glorious morning. Others were on their way to the daily market.

Mr. Francis owned a boat, which had made him a small fortune. He used the boat to fish and to move people from the riverside to a remote island off the coast of Lagos.

Lydia, his wife, was busy preparing breakfast. Not comfortable in the kitchen because her little boy was playful and into everything, she took the child in her arms and moved to the sitting room. “Darling, I need your help,” she said.

Mr. Francis put his newspaper aside. He lowered his spectacles and looked over them. “What can I do for you, my love?”

“The kitchen is not the best place for Thomas now. Please, can he be with you until I am finished with the cooking?”

Mr. Francis sat up and replied, “Yes, he's my son. Thomas gives me joy!”

Lydia smiled and placed the child in the warm hands of his father. Mr. Francis embraced the boy and gave him a kiss on the forehead. He rose to his feet and moved out of the house as Lydia rushed back to the kitchen.