Alan on seeing Anthony remembered his earlier suggestion to take the painting from him. He stopped the car and came out. Anthony was expecting his payment when Alan got down from his car.
“Hello, Sir Alan. I am glad that you came here. I was even on my way to your house. I am indebted to this man the same amount you owe me. Please pay me so I can release myself from his bond,” Anthony said. “Oh really? I also forgot about the painting I needed to collect from you until I saw you stopping my car. I don’t have the money here with me. Please take your creditor to my house, and with the painting, and tell my wife to give you the amount I owe you. It will really be a surprise to her. But please, do not make her aware of the content because I want to surprise her on her birthday,” Alan of Sierra Leone said.
“Then will you bring it to her yourself? Should I go with the receipt and claim my payment?” Anthony asked. “No, take it with you because I don’t think I will come to the house now,” Alan replied. “Okay Sir, in that case, can you hand over the painting so I can give it to your wife to take my money?” Anthony asked, expecting Alan to go into his car and came along with the painting. “I don’t have the painting, Anthony. It is with you. If you don’t go along with the painting, you won’t receive your payment,” Alan said. “No Sir, I beg you, give me the painting!” Anthony pleads.
“What is the meaning of this!? You were supposed to finish this painting and bring it to my house last week. You gave an excuse that you were not done with the work by explaining many technicalities I know nothing about. Out of consideration, I extended the time to today and you want to cheat me again by lying to me? You turn around and accuse me of having possession of the painting?” Alan said in disbelief. Before Anthony could speak, Jones interjected. “Please Anthony, I have spent a lot of time here. I need my money!”
“Please Sir Alan, give me the money. You can hear how he importunes me! I need the money now to pay him! If you won’t give me the money, please hand over the painting!” Anthony blurted out becoming less patient. “I see! Give the painting to my wife and collect your money!” Alan retorted.
“Come on! You know I gave you the painting. Please either pay me or hand over the painting!” Alan said angrily. “My friend! You are taking this joke very far. Where is the painting?” Alan asked while he stretched out his hands. “Please, let me see it!”
Anthony became angry. “Sir, better give me my money so I can pay my creditor. He is running out of time!” Anthony said. “Well, I owe you nothing for the painting, my brother!” Alan interjected. “Don’t lie please!! You know I gave you the painting forty minutes ago! Why are you denying!!?” Anthony demanded. “You gave me nothing!! You are tainting my reputation by saying so!!” Alan retorted. “You are tainting my reputation the more Sir, by denying you never took the painting from me. You are making me lose credibility and people will regard me as a fraudster,” Anthony lamented. “I can’t allow this, Sir,”
Anthony saw a police officer walking along the lane. He was heading straight to their direction. He approached the officer when he got closer to where the commotion was. “Please officer, I need your service,” Anthony implored the police officer.
“What is the problem?” the officer asked. “Officer, I gave this man a piece of artwork an hour ago. He owes me my wages, and he is refusing to pay. He is trying to achieve that by denying I gave him the piece. I want you to arrest him and put him in prison until he pays the last dime of the wages he owes me,” Anthony said.
“No! I can’t be arrested for committing no crime. Officer, you know me well in this country. I am a prominent person and I wouldn’t lie about anything. I gave the job to this man to be done and presented today in my house. I was just passing by in my car when he stopped me. He asked for payment. Payment for a work I have not seen with my eyes. He wants to fraud me by saying he gave me the piece, but I never saw it!!” Alan said in an angry tone.
The officer became very confused. He didn’t know whom to believe since both didn’t have a witness. He became hesitant as to whom he should arrest. “Sir Alan, there is a charge against you that you are refusing to pay for a work done. I will like to take you to the station to answer few questions,” the officer said. “What!! To which office? Dare lay your hands on me and you will see what I will do to you,” Alan charged at the officer.
When Anthony saw that the officer was feeling reluctant to arrest Alan because of his threat, he took money from his pocket and gave it to the office. “This is your fee officer, arrest him now!!” Anthony instructed. With the motivation, the officer seized Alan by the arm to drag him.
Alan realized many people had come to the scene. Most of them were capturing what was going on camera. Because he didn’t want to be disgraced in public, he agreed to follow the officer to the station. He glared at Anthony. “You will regret this my friend! I will sue you when the truth finally surfaces. You will pay with all your life savings,” Alan blurted out.
As Alan was being dragged to the police station, Ali came to the scene. He had been sent by Caroline to look for Alan of Gambia whom she thought was her husband, and who had disappeared from the house without a trace. “Sir…. Sir, what is the problem?” Ali asked Alan of Sierra Leone.
“Get away from me, you madman!” Alan screamed at him. “Master, why are you being arrested? Madam sent me to look for you,” Ali added, dismissing what he heard earlier from his master. “Why would she be looking for me after locking me out of my house?” Alan replied. “Lock you out of your house? Who will dare do such a thing? Master, are you all right?” Ali asked. “I can see you are now a madman. Anyway, I don’t have your time now. I will deal with you later. Go to my house and tell my wife that, she should look inside the safe and bring me an amount of two hundred thousand dollars. Tell her that I have been arrested in the street, and that she should come and bail me with the money. Hurry, you fool!!
“Get away from me, you madman,” Alan screamed at him. “Master, why are you being arrested. Madam sent me to look for you,” Ali added, dismissing what he heard earlier from his master. “Why would she be looking for me after locking me out of my house?” Alan replied. “Lock you out of your house? Who will dare do such a thing? Master, are you all right?” Ali asked. “I can see you are now a madman. Anyway, I don’t have your time now. Go to my house and tell my wife that, she should look inside the safe and bring me an amount of two hundred thousand dollars. Tell her that I have been arrested in the street, and that she should come and bail me with the money. Hurry you fool!! Be gone.
Meanwhile, Lucy had reported the conversation Alan of Gambia whom she thought was her brother-in-law had with her earlier to her sister. “Caroline, you wouldn’t believe it! I don’t know what is wrong with your husband. He came to me when you went inside angrily to propose to me. He was calling me “love”. I was feeling very uncomfortable with his awkward behavior,” Lucy said. “Lucy, are you sure of what you are saying? Did he tempt you? No, wait! Was he serious when he said that? Could you perceive it in his eyes that he asked you out earnestly? Please answer me! What observation did you make?” Caroline asked with a lot of anxiousness.
“He denied it first. He said you are not his wife and you have no right on him,” Lucy replied. “You mean he meant he is not my husband!!?” Caroline asked with impatience. “Yes. And he said he was a stranger here,” Lucy added. “Really!?” Caroline exclaimed. “Yes, sister. But, I immediately pleaded for you,” Lucy said, trying to calm her sister. “What did he say when you pleaded for me?” Caroline asked as she drew closer to her sister. “He still stood on his grounds that he loved me. He even said I should allow him marry me,” said Lucy. “With what persuasion did he tempt your love?” Caroline asked, trying to gather more information. “His words sounded honest, sister. First, he praised my beauty and then my eloquence,” Lucy answered. “Was he serious!?” Caroline asked sharply. “Have patience my sister, I implore you,” Lucy said as she held her sister by the arm.
“Patience you say!!? I cannot be patient. How can my husband be in love with another woman? I cannot be still. I cannot bridle my tongue. Look at this useless man! He is so unkind, foolish and vicious!” Caroline blurted out. Lucy smiled gently. “Calm down my sister. Why are you jealous? You are overreacting by calling your husband useless, foolish and unkind,” Lucy advised.
Caroline loved her husband very much despite her fears. “Lucy, I love my husband very much. With my tongue I curse him, but my heart prays for him. I love him so much that it will be unbearable for me to lose him to another woman,” Caroline said as she sat on a chair nearby.
Ali immediately barged into the room where Lucy and Caroline were having their discussion. He was gasping and looked exhausted. “Hurry! Go into the safe!” He said while he wiped sweat from his face with his hand. “Please go now! Be fast!” He added when he realized Caroline was still sitting.
Lucy was surprised at his urgent demand for money. Ali had never approached her sister in such a manner. “Ali, why have you lost your breath?” she asked. “I lost my breath by running fast, my lady,” Ali answered sharply.
“I asked you to look for your master. Where is he? Is he well?” Caroline asked. “Madam, he is far from well! He is in a real mess,” Ali replied. “Please tell me, what is the matter!?” Caroline demanded with impatience and anxiousness. “I don’t know madam. But, he has been arrested on a charge!” Ali answered. “I don’t know the police officer that arrested him, but I know where they are taking him to,” Ali peered at her. “Will you fetch me the money now, madam? Will you deliver him from the clutches of the law?” Ali asked.
“Fetch the money, sister!” Caroline told Lucy. “How much do we need to save Alan?” Lucy asked Ali. “Madam Lucy, he asked me to bring along a sum of two hundred thousand dollars,” Ali answered. Lucy immediately went into the safe and counted the notes.
“Come to think of it. My husband never informed me he was in debt. Tell me Ali, what was the charge?” Caroline asked Ali. “Madam, I heard from the bystanders when coming here that he was arrested based on a breach of contract. I heard it was about a painting,” Ali answered. “What! A breach of contract? My husband didn’t tell me he had any dealings with an artist,” Caroline said with a surprise.
Lucy returned with the money and gave it to Caroline. “Take the money Ali. Go immediately to the police station and release your master from his debt. Bring your master home immediately,” Caroline said as she handed the money over to Ali.
Meanwhile, Alan of Gambia had become weary of searching for his lost family in Sierra Leone. “I don’t think they are here. I need to go to other countries to look for them there. Also, this place is a strange place. Everyone seems to know me by name and I know none of them. People tender to me money, some invite me, some give me thanks for the kindness I didn’t show and some offer me things to buy. Let me book a ticket and get out of this strange country,” said Alan as he headed to the station to book himself a bus ticket.
As Alan of Gambia was walking to the bus station, he met Ali. Since he didn’t recognize him as the security he met earlier at Caroline’s house, he bypassed him. Ali saw Alan whom he thought was his real master and was very surprised to see him free and holding a painting. He quickly approached him. “Sir! How did you escape? Anyway, this is the money you sent me for!”
Alan of Gambia was very surprised too. “What money is this? And what do you mean by an escape?” he asked as he stared at sweating Ali. “Sir, the last time I saw you, you were being dragged to the police station by an officer. A man made a charge against you that you owed him an amount of money. That was why you sent me to your wife to get this money to free you from your bond. I must confess, Sir, I’m really surprised to see you free!” Ali said, expressing his perplexity. “What are you saying? I don’t understand you! Me, arrested! No! I have not been arrested by anyone, neither do I owe anyone money,” Alan of Gambia said looking very surprised.
Ali was more confused that Alan. Was his master well mentally? Was he suffering from amnesia? “Sir, what are you saying? Have you forgotten you sent me an hour ago to get this money from your wife? Please, take this money before your wife gets angry with me for not bringing it to you. She waits for you in the house and is expecting your return, Sir,” Ali said as he forcefully handed the money to Alan of Gambia.
Season 1- Episode (11)
Ali was more confused that Alan. Was his master well mentally? Was he suffering from amnesia? “Sir, what are you saying? Have you forgotten you sent me an hour ago to get this money from your wife? Please, take this money before your wife gets angry with me for not bringing it to you. She waits for you in the house and is expecting your return, Sir,” Ali said as he forcefully handed the money to Alan of Gambia.
Alan of Gambia took the money, but was feeling uneasy. He had never requested that amount from anyone.
At that very moment, a gentleman approached them. Believing he had seen friends, he walked towards the men. “It is good to see you here, Sir Alan,” the gentleman said as he approached the men.
Alan looked at him thinking to himself, “Humph!! Oh God, not again. Another person which I know not also calls me by name.” The gentleman looked at the painting Alan was holding. “Oh Sir, you were able to collect your painting from the artist!” he smiled. “Anyway, I came to take the items I asked you to clear for me at the port,” the gentleman added.
Alan of Gambia was short pf words. What the hell was that? When did he meet this gentleman to negotiate such an arrangement? Until now, he had never seen him in his life. “Satan! I command you to go away from me!” Alan charged at the gentleman. “Why are you all behaving as if you know me from birth? I have had enough of this nonsense!!” Alan exclaimed.
“Master, is this fine gentleman Satan?” Ali asked. “Yes! He is the devil. He has come in a human form to confuse me and make me look like a madman. But, glory be to God that he had shone His light on him to expose him. It is written that the workers of darkness appear to men as angels of light, light is an effect of fire, and fire will burn. Don’t go near him because he is of the devil,” Alan said pushing Ali beside him.
The gentleman laughed his heart out because he considered Alan’s utterance as a joke. “You guys are ridiculous, Sir!” With that, the gentleman points to his house. “Sir Alan, we can go into my house. My wife has prepared a meal. We can dine and talk there,” the gentleman requested.
“Master don’t go. You said he is the devil and as it is always said, he who dines with the devil must have a long spoon,” Ali exclaimed. Alan became worried by what Ali said. “Please, go away from me this moment! I won’t dine with you, devil!” Alan blurted out.
The gentleman smiled sweetly and held out his hand. “If you won’t go to my house to dine with me Sir, then give me the items, and I will be gone. I don’t want to trouble you,” the gentleman demanded. Ali became pensive for a while. “The devil is indeed cunning. Master, be wise! Don’t give the items to him. He is the devil and would disappear with it,” Ali said.
At this time, the gentleman is no longer amused. He became impatient. “Sir, please, my wife waits my return. Give me the items or the money or yet still the painting you are holding. From what I heard, the painting is of the same value as my goods,” the gentleman demanded. He moved closer to Alan of Gambia. “Sir, I hope you don’t mean to cheat me?” he asked when he got closer.
“Go away you devil!!” Alan yelled when the gentleman got closer. Now recognizing Ali as the security he met earlier in the day, he held his hand. “Come on let us go away from her! I need you to show me where the bus station is,” Alan said as he dragged Ali along.
The gentleman watched in shock as they strode away with Alan turning his head in both directions as if lost in the jungle. “I am very sure Alan is mad else he would never demean himself! He has my items worth close to two hundred thousand dollars and he behaves as if I gave him nothing. Yes! It is true! This man is mad! Aside this awkward behavior of his towards me now, he came to the restaurant telling a mad story of his wife preventing him from entering his house. I wouldn’t blame the poor woman if she indeed did what he accused her of doing looking at how mad he has become!”
The gentleman continued to think. “I will go to his house now and tell his wife that his husband, being lunatic, refuses to give me the items he cleared from the port. I think this is the right approach. Two hundred thousand dollars is too much to lose!”
Alan of Gambia was famished as he was walking with Ali who had become an acquaintance because of the incident that took place earlier. He decided to pass by a restaurant to have a meal and sent Ali to buy him a ticket instead. “Ali, I have not eaten since I ate from that woman’s house. What is her name again? Eh… eh… Caroline,” Alan said. “Yes, you mean madam? But, why do you call your wife “this woman”?” Ali asked. “Stop asking me stupid questions my friend! I don’t even have a fiancée to talk of a wife,” Alan retorted. Ali became confused, but brushed aside the comment by his master and considered it as a joke.
With that, Ali left immediately to the bus station to buy a ticket for his master while Alan of Gambia went into a nearby restaurant to eat.
Alan of Sierra Leone reassured the police officer, who is well aware of his wealth, but weary of waiting for his wife to bring the money. “Don’t worry, man, I will not run away from here! I will pay the money before I leave here. My wife is behaving awkward today and will not easily trust the messenger’s word that I have been arrested in the street. I tell you, it will sound harshly in her ears!” Alan of Sierra Leone tried to explain to the now impatient police officer.
Ali was passing by the police office to deliver the ticket when he saw his master in the police station. “What is wrong with my master today? One moment he is free and another moment he is bound. What is the problem this time,” he said as he entered into the police station.
Alan of Sierra Leone saw Ali approaching and carrying in his hand a bus ticket. “Here comes my messenger my man! I think he is bringing the money!” Alan said happily to the police officer. “Did you get what I sent you for?” Alan of Sierra Leone asked Ali. Ali nodded stretching out his hand to show his master the bus ticket. “Master, you won’t believe how I struggled to get this!” said Ali as he expressed a gesture of accomplishment.
Alan of Sierra Leone took the ticket and frowned. “But where is the money?” he asked harshly. “But why Sir, you gave me money to only buy a bus ticket. This is the balance of the money you gave me,” Ali said as he handed to his master some few notes.
Alan of Sierra Leone was irked. “Stupid! Two hundred thousand dollars for a bus ticket?” Alan asked angrily. “Two hundred thousand dollars!!? Why didn’t you send me to buy you a plane ticket instead,” Ali said not having in mind that his master was talking about the money he sent him to get from his wife.
Season 1- Episode (12)
Alan of Sierra Leone was irked. “Stupid! Two hundred thousand dollars for a bus ticket?” Alan asked angrily. “Two hundred thousand dollars!!? Why didn’t you send me to buy you a plane ticket instead,” Ali said not having in mind that his master was talking about the money he sent him to get from his wife.
Alan of Sierra Leone became furious at Ali. “You are senseless my friend. I sent you to go to my wife and take from here two hundred thousand dollars to free me from my bond. I have been waiting for hours and you come here with a bus ticket!!!?” Alan of Sierra Leone asked with anger. “Sir, what have I done now? I gave you the two hundred thousand dollars some hours ago. You then sent me to buy a bus ticket for you. I was returning from the bus station when I saw you here. I came inside to even ask you what you were doing here, Sir,” Ali elucidated. “Are you well my friend!!? When did I send you to buy me a ticket? I have been here for hours and besides, I don’t have any plans of traveling!! Better get me my two hundred thousand dollars before I get angry! You thief!!! “Alan of Sierra Leone blurted out.
“Sir, your word hurts me. I have been a loyal servant in your house for ten years. I have never stolen a penny from you even when I had the chance. Why call me a thief now?” Ali asked with a lot of hurt in his voice. “Why won’t I call you a thief? I sent you to get me money from my wife and you come back here with empty hands. As if that was not enough, you lie to me as well!!” Alan exclaimed.
At this time, the police officer is caught between the two men. “Please. You people should calm down. There are many people around so solve this case amicably,” the officer advised. “No Sir! We can’t solve this case amicably. This servant is a useless one! What is his use if he lets me down on the day of my greatest despair,” Alan lamented. “He should give me the money he took from my wife before I deal with him now!!” Alan added still irked. “What have I done to you Sir? What are you punishing me for? I did exactly what you asked!! Said Ali
“Hold your peace, man!!” Said the officer to Ali. “Don’t you know he is your master!?” the officer added. “Please officer, hold him rather before he strikes me. You can see how furious he has become,” Ali lamented.
Alan of Sierra Leone saw Caroline entering the police station. She had waited for hours for Ali to bring her husband home and was now weary of waiting. “Lucy, get dressed! We are going to the police station. I have been waiting for Ali for several hours and it seems he is not coming. I don’t know what has happened to him there. Hurry! Let us go to the police station to find things out for ourselves,” Caroline said as they left the house to the police station.
She took along with her a priest. “Lucy, I suspect that my husband is being possessed by a demon of madness. We need to look for a priest to cast that unwanted spirit out of him,” Caroline said on their way to the police station.
“Look officer! There comes my wife. She is coming to pay all my debt,” Alan of Sierra Leone face gleamed when he saw his wife. “Have you brought the money? And why have you kept so long, Alan asked.
Along with Caroline was Lucy and the priest. Caroline became speechless for a while. “What money are you talking about? I sent the money through Ali some hours ago,” Caroline tried to explain.
“Yes, Madam, and I gave the money to him!” Ali blurted out. “You fool!! When did I receive money from you? The only thing I received from you was this stupid ticket!” Alan of Sierra Leone exclaimed.
“Priest, please help my husband! He is being tormented by a demon! Please cast out this unholy spirit that wants to take control of his mind! I want my husband restored!” Caroline said with anxiety. “I am not mad!! I am in my right sense of mind!” Alan screamed.
The priest moved closer to Alan. Alan saw him coming and moved back to avoid the priest from touching him. “Please don’t touch me! I am not mad!!” Alan exclaimed. “I will not do any harm to you Sir. I just want to have a feel of your hand and let me feel your pulse,” said the priest.
Alan of Sierra Leone gave out his hand. “Take my hand and feel it on your forehead!” Alan said while thwacking the forehead of the priest with his hand. The priest raised his hand in defense and pulled back. “I command you, Satan, taking shelter in this man, to come out of him, according to my prayers and go back to hell!!” The priest yelled.
“Why are you making a scene out of this!? I told you I am not mad and you are there wasting your energy commanding what doesn’t exist. I pray you Sir, use your time and energy somewhere else!” Alan of Sierra Leone said impatiently.
“Insane you are, my dear husband. If not, you wouldn’t demand from me the money I had already sent you!” Caroline exclaimed. Alan became furious by what his wife said. “You said I am insane? What kind of woman are you? You held the gate against me and prevented me from dining! That was not enough for you! You are applying salt to my wounds by calling me an insane man in public!” Alan said angrily.
“What are you saying my husband? You know well that you dined with me this afternoon at home!” Caroline said, looking very confused. “Dined at home!!” Alan cried out. “You made this villain here who calls himself my security man insult me as if I was a pauper!” Alan added angrily.
“I? Insult you!? You were in the house dining Sir, so how could I possibly insult you?” Ali asked in disbelieve. “Shut up, you fool! I don’t have your time now!” Alan screamed at Ali, who became silent. “You can ask my business partner, my wicked wife! He will explain to you how you kept me from entering my house. You disgraced me in front of him. I went away angry and had to go to a restaurant to eat from there with my business partner,” Alan said with tears filled in his eyes.
To be continued….
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