Locust Invasion

By CHIKA VICTOR ONYENEZI (Nigeria)

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  CHAPTER 3

2

THE MERCENARIES

                                                            
In the field where six men, standing in row, ready to frustrate their Government, Amar walks towards them, and Onyibo joins him, clutching an AK 47 auto rifle. He inspects the men; they look mean, ready to confront any situation. The first man is bearded and tall. He has this military look; the second person also has a military look but not as tough as the first. He walks back to the first man, brings out his pistol, and aims at a falcon in a branch of fern and shoots, the bullet cut through the head of the falcon standing 60meters away from their location. The men remain expressionless; showing no fear at the sound of the gun, the only thing on their face is bitterness. He walks over to the third man, he is average and fierce looking, and he is wearing a combat singlet. The fourth man looks gentle and is clutching a Mark -4 rifle. The fifth has one eye and scarred face, who knows what he has been into Amar thought. The last is a muscular person and seems ready to break any bone.

 “Listen!” he said, shouting at them.  “My name is Drunken Marine, that’s all you should know about me, we all are here for a job, which we must execute. According to the briefing I heard about you, you all are trained soldiers; specialists in your various fields. That is how much I am authorized to know about you and I do not wish to know more. You must remain useful and also utilize every opportunity. I do not execute one job twice that is where I got my reputation. This morning we will send a signal up their spine, let them know we exist; let them know your pains and sorrows. Let them know that your black gold is their backbone!”

He raises his gun, smell the guns nuzzle. He looks at the first man, then at all of them
“We must only be identified by code names.” He points at the first man.
“Locust one”
“Sir, yes sir”
“Locust two”
“Sir”
“Locust three”
“Sir”
“Locust four”
“Sir”
“Locust five”
“Sir, Yes Sir”
“Locust Six”
“Yes Sir”

They have their code names according to the mission. Onyibo sits on the grass, impressed at his performance. Amar looks at him, turns to the men, and says

“The flying boat is waiting at the bay there; we have three hours from now. We will go one thousand kilometers through the creek. Join the ocean to the Delta. We will execute the job sixteen feet below the sea. We must be combat ready, but nobody would expect an attack below the sea.” he smiles “Prepare, we must leave now,”