The second son

Chapter six

The setting up of a temporal Cyber Military base had taken shorter time than everyone thought it would have. Files had been lost, data destroyed but the bulk of the intelligence had been backed up even though recovery was going to prove a long process. The site chosen for the temporal base was classified,the country could not risk another loss of her intelligence. The base was located underground a department store in Gwuru, Pedam called 'Money's worth.' What people did not know was that this store was secretly owned by the government.

   Jaachi had been part of the rebuilding process right from the beginning, covering many loop holes that had been there before. It was like the West had done them some kind of favour by bombing the former base, rebuilding had made them discover slot of weaknesses they had previously overlooked. The systems were secured, files encrypted and Jaachi knew it would be near impossible for any foreign agency to penetrate their Cyber security again. The bombing of the base at Jordan had been viewed as a warning, a warning that war could be knocking on the doors of the East anytime, this time, not a mere strained relationship but a full fledged war and they were not going to be taken by surprise when that happened

   SONAR devices in the seas that the East was connected with were scrapped, the ports were shut down and all private engagements at the sea port were suspended. The magnetic anomaly detectors were allowed to stay but the Cyber Military was not going to depend on close range detectors for security, instead the new submarine hunting device was to use the magnetic signatures of their wakes. The device detected magnetic fields produced by the movement of the submarines, it had been accepted by the Special warfare intelligence as a good enough defense system. The seas at the coastal areas of Pryier and Ugwu were rigged with magnets, fifty kilometers from the coastline, this was done stealthily in the night, under cover of darkness even though the ports had been shut down and Military clearance was needed just to get within the vicinity. The rebuilding of the Cyber Military base alongside the re fortification of the marine defense system was a top Military Operation code named 'Watch'. 

   Ironically, Jaachi had replaced the Man who brought him in, taking his place unofficially as director of the Cyber Military as the former director faced questioning by the panel set up to look into the incident of the bombing of the former base. It did not help that Ms. Maopa, the mystery computer engineer whom no one knew her last name had disappeared without a trace. The reason the director was under custody and not Jaachi who brought her in was something Jaachi could not understand. It was however the director who had questioned her after the redirect virus incident and according to the special warfare intelligence, a very clandestine body which had been given full authority over the ongoing war, the director should know enough to decide what could constitute a threat and what couldn't. They were still trying to decide if his case was one of treachery or incompetence.

   Jaachi did not know enough to feel sympathy for the director, he instead wondered what could have become of Ms. Maopa, was she really an enemy spy sent to undermine the country's intelligence or simply an unlucky civilian who had helped an ungrateful government. As much as he wanted to forget the issue of the bombing and move on, he just couldn't help feeling something was off, he couldn't place his finger on it but he knew there was more to the issue than met the eye. Videos of Ms. Maopa and her 'keep hope alive' rallies had been dug up during the ongoing investigation and Jaachi could not reconcile the woman in the video, so passionately advocating for a country she loved and believed in with the cold hearted spy the intelligence was painting her out to be. He missed her or rather, he felt her absence. Nothing he had been taught had been able to prepare him for the responsibility that had now been placed on his shoulders and he could not help but believe she would have made a better acting director than him or in the very least, he would do better with her advice, she was the best in her field that he had ever come across and Jaachi knew the country needed her.

   Since the new operations were being done in the night, most operatives involved in the watch were turned into night workers who slept during the day, Jaachi was no exception, it was not as if they had the entire day to sleep, a war was brewing and some officers worked round the clock, those operatives who managed to get some sleep didn't sleep more than four hours in a day. When Jaachi was satisfied that his work for the night was over, he met with the other engineers on site for a briefing, it was already morning when he left for home. He couldn't help pitying the soldiers who had to sleep on site. He dosed fitfully on the way home, he couldn't wait to get home and stretch out on his bed for as long as he could, he still had to be at the new base that same day. 

   " Where have you been?" Lola asked immediately he opened his door. He ignored her and headed straight to his bedroom, the bed had never looked more inviting. Lola overtook him and stood by the door of his room blocking his entrance. " I'm talking to you damn it!" 

   Jaachi sighed wearily, "look Lola, can we not do this today, please."

   " Okay then you tell me, when are we supposed to do it ehn? You have been leaving the house every evening and coming back in the morning for two days now, today makes it the third.... and you don't talk to me, you just head to your room and that's that."

   " Look I'm sorry Lola." He lifted his hand and touched her face gently.

   "Don't touch me with the same hand you've been using to touch her - "

   Jaachi tried to control the anger building up in him as the meaning of her words registered. "Don't tell me you think this is about another woman because it's not."

  " Then what is it about then huh? Handsome Prince Jaachi who cannot resist anything in skirts."

   Jaachi tried to calm down. " Lola I am very tired right now and honestly, the only thing I want to do is sleep. I understand that you have been very worried about me, but trust me there's so much going on right now that I can't tell you but I promise I'll explain everything later when I have the clearance to do so."

   Lola laughed mirthlesly " nye nye nye nye nye nye! One listening to you would think you're some patriotic citizen involved in some top government operation but I know better, I know you've been screwing that b***h!"

   " What b***h?"

   "That w***e that was all over you at the funeral but I'm not going down without a fight, you heard me? Jaachi, you tell your w***e she'll have to take me down first. Wait till I tell the entire East Hendosia what their beloved prince has been up to, you're going to be all over twitter and i********:, hashtag - the cheating prince."

    Weary to his bones, Jaachi ignored her ranting and started for the guest room. The most important thing to him at the moment was to get his nights worth of sleep and he was not going to let Lola deprive him of that. He could still hear her voice ranting as he entered the guest quaters and locked the door then she was banging on the door, demanding he open up.

   Ejiofor was at the coast of If we Ugwu, since his area of command was Pedam, he had to work with General Kyle Okoto and he was finding that very difficult. The other General was being deliberately uncooperative, creating confusion and mostly getting on Ejiofor's nerves. He tried to take it all in his stride but it was getting increasingly difficult. General Kyle had demanded clearance for every single information he asked for concerning the operation and he couldn't help but wonder how much more they could do, how much time they would save if they put their differences aside and got down to work with unity of purpose and direction.

   Ejiofor was far from confident with the current development, even though the Debye effect was an improvement from the SONAR devices, it was far from being state of the art and they who had no support from the international world were at war with a country known not only for its Military but also as the country with the most Dynamic foreign policy in Africa. It was not that he envied them. Before the split, Hendosia had been respected internationally, donating to poor Nations, Offering monetary aids and standing in solidarity with just any Nation while her own people wallowed in poverty and the nation its self continued to detoriate. News of the country's affairs hardly ever made it to the outside world because of the iron clad control it's government had over the press, in a one party state like Hendosia, the news channels were always filled with p********a and very little information about the real state of the country's affairs that citizens in the country did not even know much of what was going on politically in other states. Art and creativity was stiffled, even though no foreign literature was banned there were stringent laws governing publications and movie productions in the country.

   However, Hendosia had always had one of the best armies in Africa and West Hendosia now still had an army with the same reputation it had before the secession and Ejiofor was doubtful whether their defense system could hold out for long if they came under attack from the West. He did not know the current state of their army but he believed the West could afford deguasing techniques that would evade their under water sensors. They needed unmanned area, surface and under water vehicles and a defence system that was more modern than the Debye effect but getting approval for the Debye effect from a legislature that had not yet decided to go to war had been difficult enough, Ejiofor could not imagine the ELOE approving the disbursement of funds to buy these vehicles. It didn't help that there was just his testimony and the Ugwu coast was not under his area of command. What had the people said? Keep hope alive! He intended to do just that 

   Nmaka was feeling trapped with the total closure of the country's borders. Her plans to leave Africa were put on hold and one thing she did not like once she made up her mind about anything was delay. Trying not to allow the lockdown to affect her she had applied for various jobs in Canada, Australia and France through their online platforms and had gotten conditional job offers from many architectural companies. She had even started applying for permanent residency in Canada, the problem was that the more she was delayed, the more she lost the determination that she had at first. There was just so much she would miss about East Hendosia, making such a big move was beginning to feel more scary each time she thought of it. It would have been much easier if she could just brace up and apply for a visa and permanent residency, buy a one way ticket out of Africa, say hello to her future ,good buy to her past and be on her way. Being delayed caused her to doubt, she was just finding out that she was actually afraid of change, even though she dreamed of it and fantasized about it, acting on her impulsive decision took courage, something she was running out of with each day that passed and somewhere at the corner of her mind was something that had been hatching since her conversation with Jaachi's mother. There was a possibility she could still hold onto the life she knew, if she wanted it.

   It was a hot Friday morning and Nmaka had nothing to do. Before the tension between the East and the West had escalated, back when Nikku was still alive, there had been so much for her to do. From attending house warmings and charities and baby showers to throwing charities of her own, giving talks, making appearances, getting interviewed, some how with all the activities then she had not missed her profession too much but now the rug had been pulled out from under her so suddenly that she did not know what to do. Cheering up, she made herself a smoothie and settled down on a sofa in the sitting room, glass in hand as she paged through her favorite edition of architectural digest. Copies of recent editions had been unable to be brought into the country even before the total lockdown and Nmaka had never really liked the digital version so she was stuck with her old copies. Like always when she saw an architectural work, she was filled with pent up excitement, it was like something big and beautiful was about to happen. She loved architecture, loved the idea of creating art out of wastelands, buildings, she loved landscaping. It was like mating with nature to birth beauty. She was feeling very relaxed and happy when the door bell rang, opening it, she found Rota smiling pleasantly at her.

   "Ah ! Ma, what a pleasant surprise," she stepped aside for Rota to come in while thinking it was more of a surprise than it was pleasant. " Come in please."

   Rota came in, started to sit down then thought better of it. " May I? "  

   " Of cause! Please. "

   Rota leafed through the magazine Nmaka had put down, "I hope you don't mind."

   She waived a hand, " of cause not. Can I get you anything to drink?"

   " Yes please I'm parched, a glass of water would be great."

   Rota followed Nmaka with her eyes as the younger woman got her water. She wished she knew what was going on in her mind, wished that she could get into her head, figure out a way to convince her. At the garden after the reception, Rota could have sworn she had succeeded in planting a seed in Nmaka's mind, she had come feeling confident about that, but now she was not so sure. It was not that Jaachi needed Nmaka to become king, she was sure of the outcome. She had seen the feelings of patriotism being stirred up in the people, knew they would vote against a surrender and with that it would become inevitable for them to accept Jaachi as King. Jaachi had also been able to redeem the image the people had of him after the speech at the funeral, a newspaper had even referred to him as 'the beloved prince's and another one had called him Cyber Military's hope. No, her problem was not getting Jaachi to become king, it was keeping him on the throne. The clause that came with his appointment as king was something she did not like. The ELOE had promised the people that should Jaachi be made king, it would only be for the duration of the war before, after which a zero party election would be held. Rota could not allow that, after all had her husband still been alive there would have been no opposition to a life term. How could the people expect her to pack out of her home, say good bye to a life she had known, a life she had grown to love and worst of all, how could she allow her husband's legacy to die without at least putting up a fight. She would not allow that to happen, allow Iloruku's candle to be put out, could not just surrender the country to the ELOE to do as they pleased or even worse, allow the country to fall back into the hands of the West. The soldiers were out there doing their work but she knew battles were worn on the field but wars were worn away from the battle field by good strategists.

    Rota was so lost in thought that she did not know when Nmaka placed the water on the table, it was only when she cleared her throat a bit awkwardly that Nmaka's mind was brought back to the present. " Wool gathering Ma'am? "

    "Ah yes! " Rota said a bit embarrassed to be caught off guard. She sipped from the glass and tried to compose herself. Keeping the glass down beside her, she picked up the magazine  " You know I have never really seen you do anything about your profession, like design a building or something." She did a double take, "I'm sorry, I don't mean to intrude, that seems like a personal question."

   Nmaka laughed " And can't we get personal with each other ehn Odoba?"

   " Well we certainly can. I just don't want to over step."

   Nmaka looked into her eyes "  My fiancee was your son, you can never over step."

   " Yeah !" Rota said quietly "I would never forget that."

   " I'm sorry, I hope I..... That is I didn't mean to - "

   Rota held up a hand. "We both loved Nikku, you and I, it's fine." She suddenly laughed " look now you're the one apologizing and I'm assuring you." Nmaka giggled. "Let's agree, to be open to each other okay. Let's just say things as they come to us without second guessing." 

   Nmaka nodded. "Yes Ma'am". 

" You know I've never really had the chance to pursue my career." Nmaka said suddenly.

   " Sweetheart nobody's taking that away from you! I mean this is the twenty first century, princesses are actually expected to work." 

   " Well it didn't seem that way, it was like what everyone expected me to do was host charity events, attend some, give speeches and in general, to just be a shining doll of a princess whose only mission in life was to support her husband."

   " Why didn't you ever say something ! I had no idea you were going through all these. I thought you were happy."

   " Of cause I was happy. Who wouldn't want to be me, first to - be princess of Hendosia, engaged to a wonderful Man like Nikku. It's just .... I felt stifled, like all the creativity in me was being slowly drawn out - or maybe just locked up inside.

   Rota turned slightly in her chair so that she was facing Nmaka " sweetheart I totally understand, what you're feeling is very natural. You know I studied to be a medical doctor in the University of Cape town. All I had wanted to do then was treat patients, it was my drive, my vision since I was a kid. I grew up with my grandparents, I was an orphan.... more like what you could call a trust- fund orphan. I had actually known my parents, they died when I was seven."

   Nmaka grabbed her hand "Im so sorry, that must have been horrible, I mean I can't imagine how you must have felt."

   " It's fine, that happened a long time ago but the reason I brought this up was because I was trying to explain a point. Hendosia was a very terrible country at that time, there were no good hospitals, shortage of doctors, bad equipments and I just felt more could have been done to save my parents lives. I think it just clicked, I wanted to be a doctor so that I could make sure that no seven year old girl would ever have to go through what I had gone through. My mother's family had not approved of my father .... at least that was what I gathered... so they just cut her off when she agreed to marry my father. I never met them once until my parents died, when my parents lay critically ill in the hospital, they didn't even lift a finger. My grandparents had all the money to fly them out of the country for treatment, I mean it was just malaria! But no, they allowed my father and Mother to die then they just showed up and took me home with them." Rota smiled sadly, her grand parents had long since relocted to England with their only son and only surviving child. She had chosen not to go, attending boarding school instead and the University of Cape town were she met Iloruku.

   " So why didn't you... Practice ?" Nmaka dared to ask.

   "Probably the same reason you didn't. " She smiled at Nmaka. " At first, I told myself I wanted to build a strong home first, be there for my kids, I didn't want to be an absentee mother and then Iloruku was made King. I didn't know how to be Queen and a medical doctor at the same time so coward that I was, I decided to be a house wife. That was why I did not hire any domestic staff to help me out at the palace, I think I was actually trying to make myself believe being Odoba was actually a profession but it was not. I was merely deceiving myself. "

   Nmaka was silent for sometime, taking it all in. " You know you're not a coward, it must have been scary to be the first Odoba in East Hendosia at a time when absolute monarchy was becoming extinct... What am I saying ? Absolute monarchy is an anachronism and with no one to talk to ..... I might be wrong but it might be hard to discuss these type of things with ones husband "

   " I couldn't even try it." Rota laughed. " I'll was always telling me how proud he was of me, how great a wife I was and I guess I just didn't want to disappoint him, then he was made King. He was always so worried about the affairs of the state, always telling me his dreams for the country, I felt like I was his only comfort. I think Ididn't want to pull the rug from under him."

   She smiled sadly, playing with her ring. It was the first nervous gesture Nmaka had ever seen her make. She had always been so composed, such a pillar in the society. The elegant Odoba who was hardly ruffled, always said the right thing at the right time but she was actually human Nmaka thought, and loosing her husband and so at the same time must have been very shattering, especially having lost both parents at such a young age.

   " You know, you can change the narrative. " Rota continued, " it doesn't always have to be so. We set the pace - with an absolute monarchial system of government so we get to decide whether the Odoba vis to be a career woman or a wall flower. We get to decide and it could all start with you." Rota saw she had gotten Nmaka's attention, she was beginning to feel hopeful, perhaps ....." You can have it all you know? Be Queen, own your career, have a life outside charity balls and galas, I think that is actually what East Hendosia needs. You could actually bring international recognition to the country, I'm sure you'll make a good architect. Look at the country, apart from trading oil, we don't really have any contact with the outside world. We don't belong to any international organization, not even OPEC ! Our basketball team isn't doing well, the red foxes have qualified only once for the Nation's cup and have never made it to the world cup.We don't even listen to our own music talk more of getting international nominations. We need art, we need creativity and there's something so creative about architecture.

   Nmaka smiled. " That's a little bit of wishful thinking." But she had been wishing too, had been carried on by the Odoba into the East Hendosia of her dreams. You did not say literature Ma, imagine having Nobel prize literary giants among us."

   " And movies! Show casing our rich culture and the essence of who we are." 

   Nmaka sighed, I don't want this to end... I want the war to be over... I.. I want to keep hope alive."

   " Well this does not have to be the end." Rota said softly. "You could still be Odoba, we could still win this war, set up ministries and industries, encourage creativity, give out grants and loans....

   Nmaka was shaking her head. "You know I can't be Queen Ma, all of this is just wishful thinking"

   "Well it's not, look the only question should be whether you want this or not because if you do then it is very possible ."

   " What if he doesn't want me.... I know he doesn't want me, I know he would probably be seeing Nikku anytime she looks at me plus he has a girlfriend - "

   "Psssh! " Rota shook her head. "Ever heard of the saying 'everyone is single until legally married ?

   "Ma !" Nmaka giggled. " You're being despicable.

   " Oh but it's true! Lola is not the right one for him, everyone knows it, even him. He's probably just feeling sorry for her or something.

   " But that does not make me the right woman for him - "

   "Nonsense !" The Odoba cut in. "I know you are the right woman, he just needs to realize it. Nmaka you are the people's choice.

   " The people's choice or his choice? He's not even going to be King for long. The referendum did say there was going to be a zero party election after the war.

   " Then let's work on getting him re-elected. The people have already started to like him, they see him as a hero.

   Nmaka was unsure. "I don't know Ma, this feels like betraying Nikku. The sand on his grave is still wet and here am I thinking of - I don't even know this is.

   " And do you think Nikku would want everything he fought for to just ... go with the wind! East Hendosia does not need a president, we have not evolved enough  for such a complex political structure. What we need is a king, a king who loves his people and wants the best for his country. Jaachi cannot be that king without you.

   Nmaka's mother walked in at that moment, she looked strange dressed in a long white robe and red head scarf, she even had chalk marks on her face. Noticing Rota, she was a little embarrassed but instead of exchanging pleasantries, she hurried out of the sitting room

   " I'll be going now Nmaka," Rota said sensing the tension in the house. "Just remember what I told you. If you want Jaachi then he's your's, I'm sure you would not let that lady from the West steal a true son of the soil right from under your nose.

   "Yes Ma." Nmaka said as she shut the door behind the Odoba. She was beginning to get very worried about her Mom."

                                                                                              ***

When Jaachi got to the new base, he was getting funny stares from people, nothing too obvious but he still had a feeling he was missing something. " Good morning everyone." He said to the small group of people in the room. "The Debye is being put in place right now and by the end of today it should all be set. We are using mainstream computers for our combat control but they can read every signal from our sensors at the coasts. Everyone needs to be alert, this is a war! And we can stop the battle from entering our borders if we are alert and do our jobs. I don't know what went wrong on tuesday but I can assure you there is an on going enquiry concerning the bombing." He looked around at all the faces. "We can't afford any mistakes or oversight, report anything you find suspicious and on no account should this building ever be empty again. That's all for now, everybody get back to work or whatever it was you were doing." The people dispersed and Jaachi entered his office, removing his jacket. He had been unsure how to dress and could not imagine himself dressing like the former director so he settled for a relaxed cooperate look but even that was proving uncomfortable, he hated office clothes. Feeling a little better with the jacket off, he put on the TV, hoping to catch up with the news. The news channels were all talking about the bombing, emphasizing on the fact that the director was 'being investigated' while praising Jaachi and calling him a true patriot and other funny things like that. Jaachi sighed, he did not need flattery, neither did he need to hear of things he already new about. He even knew far more than the press about those matters. He was about to switch of the TV when the newscaster started talking about a tweet, no several tweets by Lola, calling him out as a cheat and a liar and asking the people of East Hendosia if they wanted that kind of Man as their king. Jaachi felt overcome by weariness. He was beginning to wonder what had made him think he was in love with Lola in the first place - or that she loved him. There was no doubt about that now, the only thing she loved was drama. Seriously considering a breakup, he decided to check out the tweet that was rocking the social media. The tweets were filled with hate, they were so vengeful that he wondered where such anger had come from. He couldn't place the turning point, when she had turned from a carefree girl to someone so embittered he could hardly recognize her. The truth was that he didn't know her anymore, she was now like a stranger to him. Twitter had not been kind to her, people called her out for being wicked, East Hendosians saying that this was exactly why Easterners should marry among themselves, some saying he should breakup with her and settle down with a decent woman from the Mmiri tribe. Others asked for evidence, rejecting the videos of Flora and him at the funeral as proof enough for such an embarrassment while a very few set of people supported her, some of them calling men names and commending her for speaking up while another set of people called him the fly boy, with hashtags like ' the flyboy would not rule us' and 'East Hendosia is not a family affair' but mostly, people were not in solidarity with her. Jaachi was surprised to find out he was actually relived by that. He shut the screen of his phone, it was time to end things with Lola. He found himself thinking about Flora, wondering how she would react to seeing her name entangled in something so messy.He felt sorry for her, somehow he believed it was his fault. He told himself the reason he had decided to pay her a visit was to find out how she was coping with the embarrassment but deep down, he knew he was lying. He wanted to see her again and the reason had nothing to do with Lola's tweets. 

   He was leaning back on the comfortable leather chair with his feet on the L shaped glass desk when the former director walked in. Embarrassed, he quicky brought down his legs.

   " Ah! Prince Jaachi, I see you are getting aquinted with the place."

   Jaachi did not know how to act. He stood up quickly and extended a hand. "Im really happy to see you. Honestly this, all this is beyond me. Have you been cleared?"

   Albino hesitated before he took the hand Jaachi offered, griping it in a firm hand shake all the while watching Jaachi closely. "Yes I have been cleared." He said finally. "Maopa is still a chief suspect, we're still looking for her.... Haven't you been briefed?"

   "No" Jaachi said at the same time an incoming call buzzed. It was a life video from a man who said he came from special warfare intelligence. According to him, James Albino had been cleared and was free to resume his duties as the director of cyber military. Jaachi was to assist him in every way he could and to report if Maopa ever tried to contact him, she was still suspected for sabotage and collaborating with enemy intelligence.

   When the man from warfare intelligence hung up, Jaachi turned to Albino. "Well I think it's time I vacated the office, welcome back. I want you to know I never thought you heard anything to do with the bombing."

   " And you don't also think Maopa had anything to do with it either."

   Jaachi was caught off guard. "Well yes, I don't think she had anything to do with it, I don't see what she would stand to gain."

  "For two weeks since the virus got into our system, we doubled our security at the borders, soldiers were put on watch 24/7. Everyone was on the alert and then suddenly, here comes this mystery lady with all the answers. We think our sensors are back on and we relax the soldiers at the borders then whoom! The enemy gets past our borders and no alarm goes off so they proceed directly to bomb the base. Now this is a war, and I am not the police, whatever her motive may be, I don't care. If you ever get in touch with her, report it immediately." He looked around the office. "And well done by the way, you've really done a great job, both here and at Pryier."

   "I was just doing my job." Jaachi answered as he took his jacket and left the office. He wondered what had happened to the director at the place he was held, the man he just saw was a bit different from the director he knew but then maybe this was the man's real character and Jaachi was only getting to know him, after all you didn't become the director of cyber military by shaking hands and patting backs. He did not however believe that Ms Maopa had had anything to do with the bombings. Even though she had acted suspiciously that day, he believed she had a reason. He just wished he knew what that reason was.

   Mary Ahkil, Nmaka's mother was scrolling through comments on Lola's tweets and laughing wildly, it was time to kick that imposter called Lola out of the palace and she believed Nmaka was ready to take her rightful place in Jaachi's life, thanks to Rota. Everything was now beginning to fall in place, there was no more cause for alarm, Nmaka was a smart girl, she knew what to do.

   " Are you okay Mommy?" Nmaka asked, standing by the door. She had come drawn by her mother's strange laughter and she was frightened. Her mother had removed the horrible white robe and red scarf but she still had chalk marks on her face as she sat scrolling through her phone with a wildness in her eyes. " Mommy ! I asked a question."

   "Yes I'm fine, I'm fine Nmaka. It's that Lola who is sick."

   Nmaka had seen the tweets and had been angry on Jaachi's behalf but her mother was behaving very strangely.

   Marry regarded her daughter for a while. "I'm sorry Nmaka, I know I have been acting a little strange lat - "

   "Little is an understatement, Mom you've been acting very strange."

   " I know, I know. I just have so much on my mind right now, I wish I could explain it but there's so much you can't understand right now."

   " I'm worried about you Mommy." Nmaka said hugging her mother.

   "Don't be." Mary said hugging her daughter back. "It's going to be all right. She released her. "So Rota decided to stop by."

   "Yes and you didn't even bother to say hi, you just disappeared like - "

   " I know Nma, I'm sorry." Her use of Nmaka's childhood name brought a smile to Nmaka's lips.

   " Well you can talk to me Mommy, you know you can tell me anything."

   " Never mind, it's over now. Just tell me what you were discussing with Rota."

   It was Nmaka's turn to be evasive. "Nothing much, she just visited."

   " Does the nothing much by any chance have anything to do with Rota's second son?"

   Nmaka stared at her fingers. "And I guess you are going to tell me I have a chance."

   " Chance! No baby, you have more than a chance, why are you so blind that you can't see it. Jaachi is probably just feeling guilty, that's why he hasn't made a move yet. Trust me, I know these things."

   "Yeah, the guilt! That's the number one factor. even thinking about it is making me feel guilty. Imagine me getting into a relationship with Nikku's own brother just after his death."

   "Look Nmaka, if you expect me to start trying to persuade you then you're mistaken. You're a grown woman, make your decision and follow through with it. If you want to give up all of this without a fight then okay but if you want an in then now is the best time, Lola is probably not going to be Jaachi's favorite person at the moment."

   Nmaka was quite, she had already made up her mind about Jaachi and had only wanted to draw her mother into a conversation, to convince herself that there was nothing wrong with her mother.

                                                                                   ***

Ejiofor sat with the president of the ELOE and the director of special warfare intelligence in a secret meeting. The president of the ELOE had been contacted by the president of Ghana, the West wanted to negotiate on neutral ground and the issue that was being deliberated was who to send as a delegate. Ordinarily, if the Ochia had been alive, he would have gone - of cause but without an official head of state, it was difficult to delegate such responsibility to just anyone even though what ever was decided in Ghana was still subject to the approval of the ELOE. Who ever was sent was going to have to make use of discretion and that was the tricky part. However, the meeting was not meant to be one where decisions were made but simply for each Nation to air grievances and state what they wanted.

   After long deliberations, the trio unanimously elected the president of the ELOE to represent East Hendosia at Ghana. Ejiofor saw the fact that they wanted to meet as a good sign, they hadn't even waited for the two weeks time the East had demanded to deliberate on the issue of a surrender and they already wanted to talk treaties at Ghana. It was going to be a three day summit, so the director was not going to be around for the referendum. Ejiofor did not mind this, the director had already done his part in making sure of the success of the referendum and by success, he meant the people voting a no for surrender and a yes for every other thing.

                                                                                    ***

That evening, Jaachi found himself unable to resist going to see Flora.

   "Hold on a minute." She shouted from somewhere inside when he knocked then she opened up .

   " Helo." Jaachi said to a  very speechless Flora. " Can I come in?"

                                                                                    ***

Lola was beginning to regret her actions, she was sure she had finally pushed Jaachi too far this time around. Everything had been for him or rather had been for the both of them, for the sake of their relationship, after all, she had come all the way from the West just to make sure he was okay. She was convinced that it was her trip from the West that had put her in the mess she was in at the moment. She just couldn't understand Jaachi, one minute he was talking surrender and acting indifferent towards the war and the next minute he was chanting slogans and leading top government operations - If you could call the administration of East Hendosia a government. Distraught, Lola pounded her pillow in faustration . She had only wanted to get through to him, make him confide in her. He hadn't been confiding in her lately, it was like she was living with a total stranger in the house. She missed her father, her father always understood her, he would never put her through such stress. Staying in the palace was stressful, it was obvious to Lola that Rota didn't like her, even though the woman had always been civil, she had always managed to make Lola feel unwanted. All she had wanted was just to get Jaachi's attention, well that had not been all she wanted, there was still the matter of the debt she owed, a debt that would have meant nothing if Jaachi had not become so interested in becoming king lately. She wondered what she was still fighting for, it was obvious their relationship was over. She just wished she hadn't gotten herself into this mess all for nothing.

   When Jaachi entered into the house, he was smiling. "Lola Lola!" He said pleasantly, " how are you doing this wonderful evening?" 

   Lola blinked, " I thought you were going to be mad at me."

   " You see Lola " Jaachi said circling her. " Think about it, why should I be mad, have you any idea?" He lifted a strand of her hair

   " But you must have seen the tweets." 

   "Ah yes! The tweets." He let his hand drop from her hair. " And did you think those pathetic - permit me to call them that, those pathetic tweets would have the ability to make me feel angry? Ah Lola, do you not know me at all?"

   Lola twisted her fingers. " Jaachi I'm very sorry..... "

   "Yes, I'm sorry too." He shook his head, tell me Lola, what made you so bitter, so full of hate, I don't understand."

   " You !" Lola screamed, tears running down her face. " You think I'm the only one who's changed huh? Like this is all my fault but it's on you too." She wished he would put his arms around her as she cried, the old Jaachi would have done that, he would have made her feel cherished, protected. But this was the new Jaachi.

   "I don't understand you Lola, how did I make you send out those tweets? "

   " You know the worst thing? It's the fact that you dont even see it. When I met you, you were a footballer, you were so carefree and easy going - you always used to talk about the software company you would love to own when you retire from football, after making a lot of money. You were in love with me.... we were madly in love with each other, you wouldn't do anything to hurt me - well apart from that time you cheated on me .... at least I hope it was one time.

   "So what has changed now Lola?" But even as he asked, he knew the answer, everything. Everything had changed. 

   " Are you really asking me what changed? You ! That's what changed. You gave up football and jumped right into politics now they want to make you king. King Jaachi ! You, the Flyboys amazing striker and it's not just the fact that you gave up football, it's about the little things, you've stopped confiding in me we don't spend time together again, we don't even do anything for fun again, its now - "

   " Lola we are at war !" Jaachi ran his hand through his hair in frustration. " What kind of fun can you possibly have during a war. My Country  needs me, my people need - "

   " That's exactly my point !" Lola cried, " can you just listen to yourself. Your people need you? Has it ever occured to you that I might need you too. Look at your mother both of you stay in the same - "

  " Leave my mother out of this."

  " I will not ! When was the last time you saw her, talked to her even though you live in the same building with her ? You just go on and on with your political affairs while you neglect the people closest to you. Fine, I get it, you don't love me anymore but what about your poor Mother, she just lost her husband and - "

   Jaachi caught her hand, daring her to keep talking. He was finally beginning to get angry. " Do you now care about my mother more than I do, would you remind me that I just lost my father and brother or would you explain to me how my own mother feels ?"

  "  If you claim to understand your mother so well, you're wrong. She's hurt , broken, she's in mourning. You would do well to spend more time with her.... Look Jaachi I'm very tired, at the moment, I don't really care anymore. Do whatever you like or if you want, we can continue this conversation in the morning... or evening, or whenever you're around and in the mood to talk to me. She snatched her phone from the night stand. " I'll be sleeping in the guest room tonight."

   Jaachi sat down slowly on the bed after she had gone. He had been able to convince himself that she was hundred percent at fault for the recent turn in their relationship but the conversation he had just had with her was unsettling and worse, he knew she was right. To think that he had been neglecting his mother.... he looked at the wall clock, it was thirty minutes past ten, his mother would still be awake. He decided to go and see her.

   Rota still stayed in the main apartment in the building and Jaachi wondered how she was coping with all the memories. It had been so long since he had seen her last, it was like the last time he had seen her had been at the funeral reception and they lived in the same house!

   Rota was surprised. " I see you remembered to visit your mother, and you chose what..... " She glanced at the clock. " Ten o'clock as your perfect time ?" She was smiling, genuinely pleased. She had missed her son.

   "Oh so now I have visiting hours for my own mother huh?" Jaachi said stepping in. " Any chance I can have one of those your awesome smoothies ?"

   Rota laughed. " Oh I see he came looking for bribe."

   " But what could I possibly be getting bribed for ehn?

   " Visiting more of cause. Would you promise to visit more often if I agree to make you that smoothie. You know I don't usually know when you're around or not."

   Jaachi laughed. " We both know you are going to make that smoothie whether I promise or not but of cause I will be coming more often because if not, I will miss you. 

   Rota swatted at her son playfully then went to make the smoothie. She realized she was happy, more than she had been for so long. 

   Jaachi returned to his room after spending several hours talking with his Mom, reminiscing about the past and planning the future. He was beginning to think Lola wasn't so bad after all. 

                                                                                            ***

Ejiofor turned on his TV to see Maopa in the seven o'clock news. The 'authorities' had asked that anybody with information about her whereabouts to report immediately. A number was displayed on the screen and everyone was instructed to contact the number should they get in contact with her or if they already had.she was declared wanted. 

   So they had finally made that decision, Ejiofor thought. Personally, he had always felt there was something wrong with the woman, even when she had seemed the heroine of the day. It was however possible that she had not had anything to do with the bombing and Ejiofor wondered why she did not just turn herself in, face interrogation and get it over with. They had released Albino hadn't they? He shrugged, different strokes for different people, he had bigger fish to fry, he needed to think about the East Hendosia royal jet that had crashed killing his brother and nephew  and he needed to think fast . 

                                                                                              ***

Maopa Will- Inshar stood in front of the mirror, she had rented a bungalow in a very quiet neighborhood in Shobar as soon as she had had of the bombing. She new the drill, she would be called in for questioning at first but then the West would probably want her back. They might even offer a ransom for her. She couldn't let that happen, couldn't let the West take her. East. Hendosia was her home now and she was going to make sure it remained so. All she needed to do now was lie low till evidence surfaced exonerating her. That was going to prove difficult after her name had been splashed all over the telly, she wondered how she was going to alter her appearance so that she was not spotted, she already knew she was going to have to leave the house. No matter how un intrusive her landlord had been, how quiet the neighborhood, they were good citizens - both her landlord and the neighbors and Maopa knew nothing was going to stop them from blowing the whistle on her at first sight.

   Life in the U S was slot easier, she couldn't help thinking as she quickly braided her hair. Well at least life as the movies portrayed she conceeded. - For white people, life was pretty much the same for black people both in Africa and in diaspora. She finished braiding her hair and started stuffing it into a wig cap. - White people could just wear a wig and big sunglasses and wham! Nobody would be able to recognize them again but a black woman would wear a wig, sunglases, heavy make up, even a face mask and it wouldn't even be classified as disguise, well unless she got a full make over from a great make up artist but it was all on black women for always wearing wigs and false hair until it became part of the culture, so that your eyes were trained to spot them beneath what ever hair they had on. Nmaka put on her disguise, a full fringe wig. She did not have the luxury of a make over, what she had was her wig, her carton coloured track suit with it's good - she had always considered carton colour a better camouflage than black, expecialy during the day. It was most suitable for hiding in plain sight. She put the hood on, a little satisfied with what she had come up with and hit the streets, climbing out of her window when she had the banging on the door, probably her landlord coming to confirm if it was really her before he called the police. He could be daft like that at times.

   She kept her head down, avoiding eye contact with everyone she passed, just another jogger jogging a little bit too late in the morning. She made sure to avoid major roads patrolled by soldiers, yet she didn't feel secure. The sun was coming out with full force, judging by it's position, it was probably around eight in the morning. Her throat was parched and she already felt tired, she had never really been one to jog. She told herself the reason she was getting curious stairs from some people was because it was too late to be jogging, it also didn't help that she was always touching her hood, making sure to keep it in place as she jogged under the hot East Hendosian sun. 

   According to her estimates, Maopa was five minutes away from her destination when it happened. She had taken a sharp turn only to spot an army truck a few feet ahead of her. Completely taken by surprise she tried to turn and go through another road when she tripped on a stone and fell on her face, attracting the attention of the entire soldiers at the check point.

   " I'm sorry Ma'am, are you okay? " An officer asked politely.

   Maopa nodded. " I'm fine." She ignored the offered hand and got to her feet, head bowed. Let them think she was embarrassed. Her wig had somehow goten entangled with her zip and her hood was off. Struggling to detangle her wig and put her hood back on, Maopa knew the moment it was over. Her wig betrayed her, slid off her head completely. Terrified, she paused with her hand on the hood and looked up to see the soldier's eyes narrow

   " Do I know you somewhere Ma'am ? " Then she knew when it clicked, all civility had gone out of the soldier's tone when he shouted "Don't move."

   Maopa knew then it was time to run.