The City Heroes by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren Read Free Book Online Page B

to your wife. You have always had male children. A female child will be a treasure this time!”
    â€œYes, that is my fondest wish.”
    The farmer walked his visitor to the gate. As soon as he was gone, Ajayi slammed the gate behind him. He stood staring at the beautiful earth, lost in his thought. After a time, he swallowed hard and walked toward the shade.

CHAPTER 3
The Farm

    When it was evening, the workers called it a day and went home. But Ajayi and Tolu stayed back. When it was dinnertime, they had a good time at the dining table.
    When the meal was over, Ajayi rose from the table and wiped his hand with a handkerchief. He drank another glass of water and then collected his torch. Flashing the light about, he smiled faintly. Then he turned to Tolu, who was still at the table and said, “You are a good cook! But now we have a task to perform. Meet me at the poultry pen.”
    â€œOkay sir,” Tolu responded after swallowing a final morsel.
    The old farmer walked quietly to the farm, all the while flashing the torch about. When he got to the poultry, he was glad that there were enough eggs to sell the next day. But before his worker joined him, Mr. Ajayi gathered all the eggs into crates. As soon as Tolu got there, Mr. Ajayi asked him to carry the crate of eggs to the cottage.
    Without wasting time, the young man carried the eggs and asked with a smile, “Sir, do you think the thief will visit tonight?”
    â€œI just want to be a step ahead of him. We have two more things to do before we go to bed. I hope that won’t be too much for you?”
    â€œOh no,” he replied.
    As the young man turned to go, the farmer said, “Don’t worry, Tolu. You will have a day off tomorrow.”
    â€œYes thank you, sir,” he replied.
    â€œRemind me to pay you for tonight’s work before you leave tomorrow,” Ajayi added with a grin.
    Tolu nodded as he walked toward the building. Mr. Ajayi looked on, smiling faintly as the worker faded into the warm hands of the night. Happy that the eggs were safe, he sighed and flashed his torch and moved on. As the farmer moved about, he made sure the farm was in a good state. The fowl, pigs and goats were safe, and he wished they were always so.
    After a time, Tolu joined him to inspect the livestock. As they got to the pigsty, Mr. Ajayi hinted, “Tolu, I do have a feeling that the thief will visit tonight.”
    â€œThen we must stop him!”
    Mr. Ajayi nodded and said, “Yes, we must. But I don’t know how to catch the thief. Do you have any idea?”
    â€œSuch people are clever and hard to crack,” Tolu stated and crossed his arms over his body.
    â€œThe only idea I have is to stay awake all night. At intervals, we can walk round the farm to check if everything is in order. If that does not work, then I will hire a guard.”
    â€œThat’s not a bad idea. But if you intend to stay awake all night, it must not be in the room.”
    â€œWhy?” Ajayi asked with a yawn.
    Tolu shifted his weight to one leg and explained, “The cottage is far from here. Before either of us can run to the scene, the thief will have gone!”
    Mr. Ajayi nodded quietly as he pondered his words. “You are right,” he admitted, chewing his lower lip.
    â€œWe can bring our blankets here and find somewhere to sleep!”
    The farmer chuckled. “You are funny, Tolu. You expect us to sleep out here all night?”
    â€œIf we really want to get the thief, we must not be far away from the farm,” Tolu explained patiently.
    Ajayi said, “I quite agree with you. Two good heads are better than one. Let’s get the blankets…and the weapons.”
    Tolu raised an eyebrow when he heard the word “weapons”. “Why do we need weapons, sir?” he asked.
    â€œYou can use a weapon for defense,” the farmer remarked. “It is only a crime to use it unlawfully. I won’t kill the