The City Heroes by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren Read Free Book Online

(She’d always said to me that it was not good to talk while eating.) And even before I’d finished eating, she had made ready my luggage, and one of her servants was ordered to make sure that I was well dressed.
    After the morning meal, there was still something missing. The urge to go and hunt for the last time hit me with a dreadful sting. So I carried myself to my grandmother who was cleaning cobwebs from the corners in her room.
    â€œGrandma,” I said, “Please, I want to hunt for the last time.”
    She brushed a cobweb out of her hair and turned toward me. She lowered her spectacles and looked above them. “What do you mean, Otok?”
    â€œI won’t stay long,” I told her.
    She stared at me for a while. After a time, she sighed deeply. “I will let you go because you have learned your lesson. But don’t stay too long.”
    â€œI won’t. Thank you, Grandma.”
    Before she could blink, I’d left the room. I got my trap and raced to the field. Arriving, I noticed that birds covered the field like a pasture clothed with flocks. Then I set the trap and hid behind one of the trees. I had barely hidden myself when I heard a sound. All the birds flew away except the one in my trap. I ran with excitement towards the poor creature. Happy that I’d finally snared a bird, I grabbed the creature and raced home. My grandmother was happy and ordered one of her servants to slaughter the bird. Immediately the meal was set, and I told my grandmother I would reserve a portion for my father, and she agreed.
    At mid-day, my grandmother gave me two shirts, two pairs of trousers and a pair of boots, and I felt as if I were the greatest human on earth. As I admired my new clothes on the veranda, one of the servants raced into the compound and announced that my father had arrived. Before the servant could finish talking, my father had entered the premises. His movements were confident, as if he had just won a lottery. He was dressed in native attire and hid his lips under a heavy line of moustache. He had no time to spare. After lunch with my grandparents, at which my roasted fowl was served, we left the countryside in the company of my grandparents and two servants. When we got to the park, we boarded a vehicle that was bound for the city.
    There is no one I miss more than my grandmother. As she waited at the park until our vehicle rolled gently away, we waved goodbye to her. And certainly, my next holiday was better imagined.

STRANGER ON THE FARM

 

CHAPTER 1
The Thief



The farmer was distraught that eggs had been stolen from his farm. He had tried to catch the thief, but he had failed.
    The farmer, who was called Ajayi, had just lain down to rest after checking the farm to see if there was any trouble. But the farmer’s rest was cut short by a noise that came from the area where the poultry were kept. Ajayi jumped to his feet and wiped his face with the back of his hands, as if he had only dozed off for a minute! He grabbed his torch and flashed it beside his bed where he kept his cutlass. Then he grabbed the cutlass and ran out of the room, leaving the door wide open. He faced the farm with good speed, shining the torch in the direction of the noise. Anger shone on his face as he ran.
    Sensing danger and hearing footsteps coming his way, the thief grabbed the basket of eggs and raced to a tree near the fence. Before the old man could reach the farm, the thief had climbed the fence and descended by the ladder that he’d propped against the wall. Touching the earth, he heaved a sigh of relief and looked about to make sure that no eye was watching. Then he placed the basket on the ground and brought down the ladder. Happy that he had not been caught, the thief smiled. He placed the basket on his head then took up the ladder and moved into the shadows.
    Ajayi was sad when he got to the farm, because over half his eggs were gone. With the torchlight, he traced the