Godwin Inyang's Blog

  CHAPTER 5   PEREMPE ONCE ON THAT GROTTY LANE behind the motor park on a visit to his brother had been robbed. On a second visit, he had prayed he should meet the hoodlums again. The rest of the story reached the village via his brother who narrated it to old friends and close relations. And as it is said, no fare is paid for news (especially rumour), the narrative went free of charge from mouths to ears and the whole village knew about it. It was speculated that grabbing cobras, leaving them in a briefcase, and letting them strike at the appropriate time was beyond ordinary. And so there began to be some mystical aura surrounding Perempe. (Some versions of the tale in the village had it that one lad was actually struck by a cobra). Mr Ransom was rightly worried and scared that Madam Cash’s illogical move to run away with some of the cassava flour suppliers’ money (of which the famed Perempe was among) could provoke his friend, as he had threatened, to unhook and sling across hi

  They walked past the motor parks, big shops and bars and areas around the town’s two big markets for prey. Not seeing one quickly, they crossed the motorway into the dim and serene streets of the Government Reserved Area (GRA) where big fruit trees surrounded big houses owned by big men in government services. Den, Paul and Ken peeped through or over hedges, fences, walls and their gates. Everything they could have easily stolen was either locked away securely or guarded jealously by giant dogs or grave-looking uniformed guards. Disappointed and afraid their movements would soon be noticed, the young gang returned to the loose part of the town. They walked past the open sports ground used for march-past during Children’s and Independence Days, football competitions, crusades and conventions, free film shows and not too long ago, when the ‘khaki boys’ were still in power, for shooting armed robbers. A wicked thought suddenly filled Paul’s mind. He turned, giggled and was about to say