Terror! Ruthless! Fearsome!
What a reputation!
He wore designer clothes and a heavy silver ring with the shape of a grimacing skull. His perfumes were equally heavy and suffocating and in between his fingers, he held the most expensive cigar.
He is simply called "Blade"—the most feared man in East Dukoro. A name that strikes sheer terror.
With his real identity shrouded in mystery, though vague conversations have linked his ancestry to the "Udu" dynasty, a very influential lineage of wealthy merchants from the slave trade era, rumour has it that he was expelled from the military for killing his commander. From being a kingpin in the underworld to a self-acclaimed watch dog of East Dukoro, questioned by no one, quietly accepted by all and dreaded by everyone, he was the lion who ruled the jungle, East Dukoro's shadowy protector.
At his behest, guns silenced. Millions of shillings changed hands in the shadows. Even the police, too, trod with caution whenever Blade's black SUV rolled down the streets. But for all his ruthlessness, Blade had one golden rule:
"The blood of an innocent must not be shed."
That singular rule kept chaos in check. Criminals feared, for he knew their secrets and what was more amazing was that it was believed that he had eyes everywhere, that no one dared cross him, for dire consequences awaited anyone who did.
Then for the first time in six years, Blade didn't show up anywhere in East Dukoro. His black SUV did not roll through the streets neither was there any trace of his usual presence at the cigar lounge. No one saw him and no one knew his whereabout.
Three days passed with no sign.
On the fourth day, the mice stirred.
By the sixth day, East Dukoro was already turning into a beehive of activities with the sweet taste of freedom. With each sunrise, courage grew. East Dukoro Motor Park that early morning was a chaotic mix of different sounds. Near the loading park, a group of "Agberos" (touts) have gathered, puffed up with new confidence.
Leader of the touts;
"Una dey waste time! Park fee don increase. Na N2,000 for bus wey carry passengers. No argument!" (stop wasting our time, it's now N2000 to be paid by each vehicle with full passengers).
Driver 1;
"Ah-ah, Omonile! Wetin happen? Yesterday na N500!" (what happened now? It used to be N500).
Leader of the touts;
"Yesterday Blade dey. Today, Blade no dey. (That was the time when Blade was around, now he's not anymore).
Another tout;
"This park sweet as cat dey sleep, I swear I like as we dey run things now!" (with the cat asleep, we are having a good time in this Park, we now dictate what happens here).
The drivers complained of the outrageous amount being extorted from them, but they had no choice other than to pay or else their vehicles would not be allowed to move.
Tega, a young man with huge dreams had wandered into the abandoned railway yard—prime real estate for some big plan of his'—he walked the length and breadth, measuring the whole area with his tape, hoping it would be a good place to build a new thing, now that Blade was away.
Then suddenly without warning, the SUV reappeared one morning—quietly, like fog rolling in.
He didn't have to say anything.
The din, almost instantly, turned into utter silence. It was chaos turned into calm. Touts were frozen as they saw Blade walking slowly, the silver skull on his ring twinkling in the sun.
Blade;
"When the cat's away, the mice will play."
Leader of the touts;
“Blade Oga... we just dey arrange the park small. Nothing serious.” (Blade Sir....we are just maintaining the park. Nothing serious).
Blade;
(Still moving around the Park.)
“N2000 per bus. 4x the normal collection. Cursing.”
(pauses)
“Is that the arrangement?”
Leader of the touts;
"Blade, no vex abeg- Na small hustle we dey hustle. You know how body dey hot when air free..."
(don't be angry, we are just trying to survive.. you know how it is when the air is free).
Blade;
(turns slowly to face him)
“Air no ever dey free... Not for East Dukoro." (Air is never free... Not in East Dukoro)
“I left silence here. Order. And you turned it into a circus.”
Leader of the touts;
“We go fix am, sir. E no go happen again.” (we will fix it sir. It won't happen again).
Blade;
(Breathes softly)
“Now fix it.”
The touts scrambled into action-returning over-collected money, apologizing to the drivers, clearing the blocked lanes, and even sweeping the dusty park floor. All the drivers were rejoicing in praises of Blade.
Blade pulls out a cigarette but doesn’t light it. He just rolls it between his fingers, eyes steady.
“Let this be the last time I come back to noise… when I left behind peace.”
Then he turns and walks away without looking back.
At the old railway yard. Tega is standing alone, sketching on a large notepad. He doesn't notice anyone approaching until he hears the soft crunch of gravel under Blade's boots.
Tega;
Startled. "Oh! Sorry sir rrr—uh… I didn’t hear you coming."
Blade;
Looking around the yard. "That's because you were dreaming too loudly."
"Just sketching..... ideas. A youth centre here. A basketball court there. A recording studio over there… maybe even a library over there.... This would help keep our youths engaged and out of trouble." Tega chuckled nervously.
Blade stepped closer and surveyed the sketchpad. A silence followed, then the flicker of something in his eyes—respect? He studies the young man for a moment, then looks at the sketches again.
Suddenly he starts walking away, then stops abruptly in his tracks.
"Leave a copy of that sketch at the café. If I like what I see, maybe—just maybe—I’ll let you dream.
"Thank you, sir." Tega muttered softly, for he had temporarily lost his voice.
"Don't thank me yet. Dreams are fragile things... especially in jungles like ours."
Blade said as he entered his SUV.
In his exclusive little lounge, Tega's sketch, folded but still intact, lies on a table. Blade again carefully studies it.
The next day Tega is sitting in the lounge twisting his fingers nervously.
"Sir... you sent for me?"
"I'm telling you. I don't like dreams. But I respect people who build them" said Blade, then paused as he flipped a match to light his cigarette.
"What do you need?"
"Support sir. Not money. Just space… safety. If you don't shut this place down, it will grow." Tega answered slowly.
Blade (smirking):
"So you want my shadow to guard your sunlight?"
Silence.
Then Blade studies him again, then reaches into his coat, pulls out a black envelope, and tosses it on Tega's laps.
"Therein is a letter to the planning council. And a number. Use it once." Then puffing the cigar's smoke at the boy, he said;
"Don't become like me, boy. The jungle's got enough cats."
Then he stood up and walked away. Tega opened the envelope, eyes wide with surprise.
The jungle remained wild…East Dukoro fell back into its quiet rhythm, but somewhere deep in the yard, something new had began to bloom.
All images are AI generated!
I am @edith-4angelseu and thank you for stopping by my neighbourhood.
This is a compelling story. Blade does his best to keep order in a city engulfed by corruption and evil. Blade's character is a fascinating one and you crafted it well. You also employed the pidgin English in the story skillfully. It seems Blade passed the baton to Tega before disappearing for good.
Thanks for writing.
Thank you very much 🙏
I don't know the circumstances that shaped his life, but I think that Blade is a really nice person deep down.
I enjoyed the story!
Thank you very much 🙏
Thank you very much 🙏
The character of Blade is very interesting. You give him a reckless character, but at the same time a personal integrity of respect for what he believes in. Very good story and very entertaining to read.
Thanks for sharing your story with us.
Excellent Friday.
Thank you very much 🙏
Excellent weekend to you too!
I like what Blade is doing, fighting for the people though fear by so many. He actually did well by letting the people feel his impact.