Chapter 25 Ben in a hold
ask, seeing that ben was moving
away from the search group,
“We have to stay together, is
dangerous for you going alone”.
But ben keep moving without saying
a word to Miriam.
“Whatever”.She says and let him
alone.
She then went back to the group
while ben move south from the group.
Three hours has pass and Miriam
is yet to see ben. “oh my God, what
is wrong with this Jackson children?
They don’t have brains and they
won’t ask for help. Where the hell
is he now?
“I don’t know any of these men
here. She murmur and went in
search of ben.
“Ben.. ben.. where are you?..,
come back ben is dangerous to
be alone, Ben..” But no answer
came.
She start walking towards the
direction where ben has gone.
Walking for hours now with no sign
of ben. “Ben come’ on stop playing
around. I don’t have any explanation
to give to your parents; they eat me
alive if you die here.
Ok I know what I will do”. She starts
talking to herself. “If ben dies here,
am not going back home to that
house, I will just die here too.
“No, I can’t die for ben, if is ken, maybe
I might consider dying for him.
No, I will just run away to Sudan and
start prostitution job.
"Miriam... you are stupid", She slap
her face to make sure she’s ok,
of all the jobs in Sudan, is
prostitution you want to do?
she ask herself. What else can I do,
I didn’t go to school, I don’t have
any hand work, only two jobs are good
for me now, prostitution and house
maid, but am done been a maid.
I will go for prostitution, that one pays,
I can marry a rich man…”
She was still conversing with herself
when she caught sight of what
looks like a human being inside
a hole.
Is ben!.., he was fast sinking into
the mud.
“Please help me he said once
he saw Miriam.
“Ben… oh.. my God.. Ben, hold on”.
She ran to get help but the men
were too far from them she starts
panicking. “What should I do?
“Ok, I will jump into the pit and drag
him out.
“What are you doing?. Ben ask
seeing Miriam wanting to jump
into the hole.
“I want to enter inside so I can
push you out.
“Don’t be stupid, both of us will
die here. Look for a stick, or rope,
hurry am sinking down Miriam
hurry”. Ben keep shouting at Miriam.
She start searching and looking for something to give ben so he can
hold onto it while she pull him out.
Then she saw a very long stick,
she brought it to ben, but just
then she remembered something.
“Wait a minute, is this not an
opportunity for me to be rich?.
Miriam don’t be stupid, you will never
get this kind of opportunity again.
“What are you waiting for?
Ben shouted at Miriam, just let
the stick down am sinking please
let it down”.
“Not so fast boy, you give me
something, I let you out, agreed?
“What the hell are you talking about?
just let the stick down”.
“I said you give me something,
I let you out”.
“What do you mean”?
“I mean nothing goes for nothing
right?. Yes, that is what rich people
do right?. What do they call it again,
trade by barter. Yes that’s the name.
The rich people don’t give something
for free, that is why they are
rich right”. So, if you want me to
pull you out of this mud pit, you will
agreed to give me half of your
inheritance.
“What are you saying, are you
insane? ben asked, I thought you
say you love me? prove it now.
“No…no, no, no, no..”. Miriam said
wigging her fourth finger. “There is
nothing like love in the world of the
rich. So are you ready?”.
“Never, you will not get a pin
from me”.
“Fine, am going, she start walking
away with the stick, while ben was
sinking deeper, and deeper”.
“This girl has really gone mad, what
has come over her?, Miriam..
please come back”. Ben called when
he saw that she was serious.
“Ok, ok, ok, I will give you 1 million”.
“One million what?, do I look like
a baby to you?. I said half of your
inheritance, like if your father gives
you two estates, one estate will be
mine, if you get ten million dollars,
you will give me five million till the
last penny you get as an inheritance”.
“Are you my wife? Why should I share everything equal with you?.
“Yea, kind of, let’s just said you are
paying for all the time you slept with
me, but if you are not ready fine,
I just go”.
“Ok, ok wait, I’ll give you anything
just get me out of here”.
“Wait, not so fast, you are going to
give me your pin number”.
“What pin?.
“Your card pin, like your bank
account pin number. And don’t you
dare change it when you get
home, ok. Then, you will give me
two million naira now, because I want
to rent my own house and stop
been a maid ok, and…,
“Miriam please”, ben cut in, “I will
give you anything you ask once I get
out of this hole”.
“Give me your phone”.
“Why?
“I said your phone now”. Ben
threw his phone over to Miriam.
“Give me your password”.
“What do you want with my
password”?
“Are you giving me or not.”
“4427bej”. Ben said.
Miriam got busy pressing ben’s
Phone,
“give me your pin number”.
“I just did”. “Your card pin”.
“4524”. “what are you doing?.
“Transferring two million only, don’t
worry it won’t be more than that.
Ben sown to kill Miriam once he gets
out of this hole.
“Done” she said and puts the
phone in her pocket. Then she brought the stick and gave it to ben who grab it while Miriam keep pulling
with all her strength.
“Keep pulling Miriam Ben said, you
can do this, seeing that she was
getting tired of pulling.
“Ben am tried”.
“But I just paid you so you can’ be
tired.
“Yay, you are not in a better position
to pay people right now and you don’t
have the right to give commands
do you hear me?.
“Am sorry, just keep trying. He say
trying not to annoy her.
Miriam keep pulling with all her
strength, “Ben please try and come
out am tried.
“Why can’t she just keep quiet
and pull” ben said to himself.
“Am sorry just keep pulling am
almost out”.
when he finally came out, both of
them lay breathless on the ground.
“What if ben grab me and throw me
into this pit” she thought as she
lay there breathing heavily, then she
got up and start running.
“Why are you running?”. Ben ask,
“I don’t want you to kill me”,
“And why should I kill you? Ben ask
again.
“Because I took your money”.
“Listen, you save my life so why
should I kill you because of money?,
and what is two million? “That is if
you only took two million, because I
don’t trust you anymore.
he was beginning to be afraid of
Miriam.
“I swear I just took two million only”.
“Then give me my phone and lets
go back to the others”.
“What about the inheritance?
Miriam ask”.
“ You are asking for the impossible,
two million is ok for you to start
something”.
“No, I don’t want to just start
something, I want to be rich”.
“And who told you that’s how rich
people make their money?, Do you
want to use me for money ritual?
Ben ask”..
“No am not a ritualist,
“But that’s what you are trying to do.
Let’s go home first then we can talk
about how you will get rich”.
“Really? You promise?
“Yes, I promise ben said so he
could at least leave this dreadful
place because he was sure that
Miriam didn’t see what he saw before
he jump into that pit.
earlier he saw some funny looking
men passing by so he ran but seeing
the pit he thought of hiding inside but
instead he got trap in it.
“Ok let’s go”.
“My phone please.
“Ok”, she hand him his phone then
they started heading back to
the others.
“Where did you two go?, is
dangerous to walk alone in this forest,
don’t ever leave us next time”.
“No way, there will not be a next
time” ben murmured, “I think we
should go back home”, ben said afraid
of the things they will come across
if they stay for two more days.
“Yes let’s go home” Miriam added.
“Well we have agreed to search two
more days” one of the men said.
“What if something bad happen to
us?, what will you tell my farther?
let’s just go home already”.