For the Dream of 5 Years: Chapter Nine: Pressure in A Decision

"It's time, just before people go to bed, you take your region. The Georges and Samuels are going to face the music. You and I, tonight, are taking the revolutionists of the village. I like you because you are conscientious, reserved, and focused. I have watched you over time, and I like your maturity," Boaz said as he showed himself inside Dan's house. Dan was startled and almost screamed because he hardly had visitors in his house apart from his cousin. In his tribe, no woman could get into his house after the circumcision rite of passage, not his mother or grandmother, who were the only people in the compound at the time. A girlfriend could, but he didn't have one yet. His cousin rarely visited because he had a guilty conscience. Maybe he was worried that he was about to slaughter people for money and couldn't risk Dan picking that up during one of their careless talks if he visited. So, he kept off and pretended to be busy with personal issues. Seeing another person in Dan's room almost made him jump out of his skin. "Wait, how did you know where I stay?" asked Dan shaking from having one-on-one contact with Boaz. Boaz did not utter a word; he blinked a little and left without closing the door behind him. Dan had spent the day wanting to opt out; seeing Michelle a few days back made him think of changing his mind. He did not wish Michelle to face any physical or mental harm. He hadn't looked at his machete when he hid it in his book box. He couldn't hurt a fly; he couldn't frighten anyone, leave alone cut someone with a machete. Now that Michelle was back, the money for the laptop did not matter any longer. Dan was so confused; he knew the consequences of backing out. He knew that once you were in one of the meetings, you were already in for the long haul. He hadn't seen his cousin for two days and wondered what he planned to do. He wanted to know which region was assigned to him. He knew that time was running out and had to act first. He took his phone and dialled Michelle's number. Michelle did not pick up the call. Before redialing her, he decided to call the Georges with a private number. After two rings, a deep voice answered. "Hello Sir, you are in danger; please find a way of alerting the Samuels too, and use the next few minutes to disappear from this village before some evil guys on drugs come and torch you alive. You've been warned," he cautioned the person that received the call and immediately hanged up without being sure whether it was Mr. George or one of his sons. However, he was relieved that he had alerted and probably saved the lives of several people. After alerting Michelle, he switched off his phone and left for the woods in the neighbouring village. He knew that Boaz would look for him, be angry at him for backing out, and probably kill him. He carried a bottle of water, no food or blanket. It was freezing most of the time, and he was hungry. Dan knew the night would be terrifying, not for him, but for the people Boaz's men would attack. He felt a lot of guilt, but there was nothing he could do. He wanted to call his cousin and convince him to back out, but he couldn't risk switching on his phone, lest Boaz called him. He closed his eyes and waited to hear the sound of gunshots and people's screams. He didn't warn his mother and grandmother; how would he explain this information? He hoped they would be alright; besides, they were prayerful women, and the lord would protect them. ******** Boaz called most of the guys to ensure they would be on site when the time came to punish everyone rumoured to have voted for the opposition. He had tried calling Dan for a few hours and wondered what had happened to him. He called again and again and left him a few messages, but it was apparent that he wasn't going to reach him via phone. He decided to go to Dan's house when darkness fell. To his surprise, Dan's house was wide open, just like he had left it without shutting it in spite, but Dan was nowhere to be found. Boaz showed himself in and sat on the bed. His heart was pumping hard because he knew that if Dan didn't show up, he would be the one to face the Georges and the Samuels alone. Although he was perceived to be tough and dangerous, he had never hurt anyone. He put a face of a bad person, but he was a gentle being in his heart. This time though, he was willing to risk it all because of the money he would gain from the politician. He wanted to use his money to start a small poultry business. He wanted to be free and self-reliant. Dan wasn't going to ruin his plans. He would carry out the task alone or with another person and then deal with Dan later. Boaz took his shotgun and called two of his closest men because he wanted to do away with the Georges and the Samuels as it was a specific instruction from the contractor. He had to make sure that he delivered. On arrival, they found the homes deserted. Boaz froze. All the money invested so that these two guys' blood, all the strategy to do it tonight and disguise their fate as political violence that would affect many, all the patrolling to ensure they were still around during and after the voting. There were veins on his forehead, and a thin sweat streamed down his face and neck; he was enraged. He wanted to kill the person that let them know what awaited them tonight. "It must be Dan! That swine!" he cursed and left to find him. He had never hurt anyone, but tonight he would kill Dan: he would skin him alive and cut him into small pieces. He was going to be a murderer tonight. He didn't want to kill the Georges and the Samuels. Dan would have done the job, and his guys would have done the job for a few extra coins; he didn't want any blood on his hands, but tonight, not only would he have Dan's blood on his hands, he would drink it! He would bathe in it and love every bit of it. He was infuriated. He wanted to slash Dan into small pieces and feed him to the dogs. He was so mad that he was losing his vision in the dark. His guys left to give him space to cool down. He headed straight to Dan's place. He showed himself in again and sat on top of Dan's bed, waiting for him to show up. He reached for the beddings and threw them on the floor; he reached for the plasters of beautiful girls like Caroline Mutoko, Sheila Mwanyiga, Lilian Muli, and some other media personalities on the wall and tore them with anger. Saliva was coming out of his mouth uncontrollably; he was not breathing, groaning with anger, pain, and disappointment. It was freezing. He was sweating, he was panting, and his body temperature was high. He reached under the bed, got the box, emptied it of its contents, and saw the machete; he wanted to use it on one person; Dan. He tore all the books and thought of setting them on fire, including the house and everyone else in the compound. The room was a mess, and he poured some water that he found in a jerrycan on Dan's bed. Then he sat on the wet bed, thinking, calming down, becoming sane again, becoming Boaz, the harmless Boaz. He made several calls and learned that a few shops in the local centre had been looted and set on fire, including a church, a school, and a few homes. Even though it had taken a few hours, a couple of people had lost their lives, mainly because they were protesting the looting or fighting back the thugs. It was hectic, and police were all over the place. Boaz lay down on the bed, waiting for Dan's return. He was so furious and swore to himself that he would strangle Dan to death if he backed out and asked anyone to flee. After a few minutes, he slept and woke up almost in the morning, very cold and wet. Dan did not show up. Therefore, Boaz left and went to his house to wait until things cooled.