The crickets chirped from all directions. The moon was full beneath thick clouds, and a breeze blew warm air.
Ojo and Shehu stood by Otunba’s stretch limousine, which was idling in the middle of six other cars, armed men behind their darkened windows. The old man was alone in the back seat, his window down and his arm over the door as he spoke to the two men standing with hands behind their backs.
‘Shehu, are you staying here tonight?’ Otunba asked. ‘You can send someone to go and bring your things from your house.’
‘No, sir. But thank you for the invitation. Alhaja is expecting me home tonight.’
‘They can bring her here too. This is the safest place you can both be right now.’
‘I’m sure I’ll be alright, sir.’
‘You’ll be alright?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘And what about you, Olabisi? Are you staying here?’
‘I will ask Matilda, sir.’
‘You will ask Matilda. All right. Both of you be here by seven am. We have a lot of work to do tomorrow.’ Otunba retreated into the dark interior of the limousine and the three-inch-thick bulletproof glass window slid up.
The gates opened and the cars rolled out of the compound. Shehu and Ojo remained standing under the dark sky, the sound of the crickets louder now that the cars had left.
‘Can you imagine him asking you to stay here as if you are a child,’ Ojo said.
‘He was only concerned for our safety,’ Shehu said.
‘No, Shehu. It is about control. See how we were standing like schoolboys reporting to the headmaster. He knows what he’s doing. That is what he expects would continue to happen when I become governor.’
‘You expect different?’
‘Forget it. You know what, Shehu, I want to take you somewhere really special.’
‘I’m not sure it’s a good idea to go anywhere again this evening.’
‘Are you afraid?’
‘Of your father-in-law?’
‘Of assassins.’
‘I’m more afraid of Otunba than I am of assassins, believe me. And you should be too.’
‘It’s all going to change soon. Very soon, it will all be different.’
Shehu sighed.
‘This place I’m taking you to, you have never seen anything like it before. If anyone told you a place like this exists in Nigeria you will say it is a lie. My friend, you are in for a treat tonight. Your eyes will see wonders and miracles.’
‘I’m not sure I like the sound of that.’