Chapter 3

Few weeks later...

Kunle parks his car at the car park of the vice President's office. The compound is heavily guarded with soldiers, Kunle finds this strange as the vice President never had soldiers in his compound until this day. He walks to the round shaped six story building, designed with graffiti of different types. 

The soldiers allows him to pass after he shows them his identity card, and after they searched him. He walks through the entrance which slides open by itself after the security system scans his body. Kunle walks to the reception and approach the desk of the receptionist, to his surprise the seats in the reception are empty, and the place is quiet. 

The receptionist is busy with the desktop before her, she is dressed in a native fabric suit and wears a wig. He walks to her and tells her of his appointment with the vice President, the lady stares at Mr Kunle and says;

"Am sorry Mr Kunle, his Excellency is leaving the city as we speak.

"What? Why? To where? The questions rushed out of his mouth without control.

"States business sir, you should understand that. Anyways his jet hasn't taken off yet, if you can make it quickly to the hanger.

"Which way is it?

"Down the corridor. She points to her right, you will take the elevator to the first floor.

"Thank you!

Kunle walks quickly pass the corridor, the offices are quiet and feels deserted, once again he feels uneasy but ignores his thoughts. The elevator descends as if it was expecting him, he walks inside the transparent elevator and speaks to the computer.

"To the first floor please." 

"Yes sir."The door closes and the elevator hums as it ascends to the first floor. Soon the elevator stops and the door slides open.

"You have arrived at the first floor sir!"

Kunle exits the elevator unto another corridor, he sees a stair case and takes it to another door. 

The censor on the door beeps and turns green and he was able to push it open. He is now on the top of the building, the view of the city in broad daylight is more fascinating on the roof top of the building. 

Kunle adjust his glasses and checks his appearance as he walks towards the hanger just few steps away from him. He opens his file and brings out some papers from it. On the hanger rests Africa's fastest jet, it looks like a bird with it wings pointed upwards, the black bird thrusters roars to life. Kunle could see the vice President with other officials talking, there seems to be an argument. He had reached them before he got his senses back. The discussion ends and the men stares at kunle who stands feets away from them.

"I beg your pardon sirs, your Excellency, if you will excuse me I would to take my leave."

He turns to leave.

The vice President waves at the others and they walked away.

"I believe I have an appointment with you, Mr?" Kunle turns around swiftly.

"Kunle sir.

"Okay, so Mr Kunle as you can see my jet is ready and I will be late if you don't make this fast. The man smiles at Kunle, he is richly dress in white Agbada and a blue native cap, his neck is decorated with red beads of different sizes, his wrist are not an exception as they are also ardorned with beads, his black shoe looks very expensive and classic, the man is in his 50s.

"Right away sir." The humming of the jet engine is calm and bearable.

"Your Excellency this are reports from the north sir." He handles the papers to the vice President, the man scans through them.

"Alake told me all about this!." Kunle is stunned. "She sent me every piece of information your organization dug out from the north, I assure you young man that everything is under control, I believe this issue was from NAFDAC and corrections would be made."

"Yes sir."

"Weldone Mr Kunle." The man pat him on the shoulder and looks straight to him.

"You see Kunle, there's a train that everyone is boarding, I wouldn't want you to be left behind, even the CEO of your organization knows what am talking about, don't be too diplomatic. Leave State issue for the State, join the train and you will have no regrets."

He turns and heads to the jet, the door hiss open and drops. Other officials enters the jet.

"There's a new change coming kunle!." Kunle just stood there stunned, his head throbbing.

The vice president enters the jet and the hanger is lifted from the bird, the four thrusters turns downward and the bird rises from the building, the thrusters turns backward and fires up at full power, the jet is out of sight. Kunle adjust his glasses, he throws his hands by his sides then he heads back.

Driving back home, his mind runs through every word the vice president had said, then he remembers the one that thrilled him the most,

"There's a train?!" 

"What type of train?"

"Of course it wouldn't mean the normal speed trains in the city!"

"Was it a parable?"

"Was the man trying to pass a message?" 

"And what does " leave state issue for the state?" 

"Does that mean he was being overboard?"

He sighs and pats his his car steering wheel. He gets to a traffic, the traffic light is red. His phone rings, he commands the car computer to pick the call.

"Hello Kunle!" 

"Micheal..how are you doing?"

"I am fine man. So how did it go?"

"The vice president is out of the city currently."

"What? To where?"

"I have no idea."

"So any luck, were you able to talk to him?." 

The traffic light turns green and kunle hits his accelerator.

"His Excellency is quite updated Micheal, Mrs Alake gives him feedback, how could I have been so stupid not to know that."

"Calm down, I believe you did what you thought was right, I mean Mrs Alake acted like the information wouldn't leave our organization."

"Yes exactly."

"God knows what's happening, let's just leave it to the state."

"Yeah he said the same thing!

"What else did he say?"

Kunle wanted to tell Micheal about the parable so bad, but something tells him to keep shut.

"Nothing man, am just heading home." 

"Okay that's a good idea, hope you are hearing from your wife and kid?"

"Yeah, thanks man."

"Okay, just take care of yourself, we've done our best."

"Yeah I guess, thanks man."

Beep.

In his house, Kunle sits on the couch in his sitting room, he place his laptop on the center table and calls his wife via video call. He removes his glasses and adjust his eyebrows.

"Hey babe!"

He's startled. And smiles immediately, his wife holds their son, a boy months old, he holds an action figure and chews on it sometimes.

"Hey." 

"Look at my young man." He touches his son face on the screen.

"Awwwn." Elizabeth exclaims

"How's everyone there?" 

"Peaceful, my mom sends her greetings." 

"I hope your stay with her won't be longer than planned?"

"No, of course not, she's just lonely and wants to see her grandson, a few weeks won't do you any harm babe."

"Yeah ofcourse." He smiles.

"I miss you guys."

"We miss you too. You look bothered babe is everything okay?"

"I don't really know, but everything will be fine, just a little ish at work that's all."

"Okay, don't push too hard dear, I know you are good man but don't push too hard, we still need you."

"Yeah, thanks. I love you."

"We love you too, hey jnr say bye to daddy!" She raise their son's little hand and waves it to the camera.

Kunle smiles and the call ends. His laptop screen is black, he closes the laptop and leaves it on the table, he stands and heads to the staircase, he's heading to his room.