The miscreants

I recall the events that started the story of the miscreants as if it happened just yesterday; they were deeply etched in my memory.

One fateful Saturday night, the food/hostel Master, Mr. Donald, was coming back from a meeting of his town union in Bembe, He was whistling for he was happy that an agelong feud between two warring factions in their town union had been reconciled as both sides agreed

to sheath their swords and embrace peace. He also whistled to keep himself company. The road to the teachers' quarters in Zion International College (ZIC) was a lonely stretch and the darkness which engulfed that area did not help matters at all.

Soon, he hit his left foot on a stone and cursed under his breath, Goose pimples came all

Over his body. He recalled that it was a general belief that hitting one's left foot on something usually signified a bad omen. He however shrugged off the belief and tried to instill courage in himself. However, the sense of premonition, of danger lurking in the dark, persisted. Mr. Donald

chided himself for benaving like a frightened doddering old woman while at the same time shoring up his confidence with the fact that he had walked on that stretch of road countless times in many years.

"Stop there, you jerk! a harsh and guttural voice suddenly ordered out of the darkness. Mr. Donald blinked his eye like an owl, trying to recognize the voice.

"If you move, I shoot you! the voice bellowed as a petrified Mr. Donald tried to run for his dear life. Immediately, a strong hand covered his face while others overpowered him. Mr. Donald was like a helpless chicken.

"NoW, you mercenary beef, where did you keep the money students paid for their feeding

which you took and made them to be eating poor food.? a gruff voice asked Mr. Donald. A deadly blow and a kick were given to him. At the same time, one of the assailants was busy tying Mr. Donald's eyes with a thick black cloth. Mr. Donald gave a painful grunt. "SSsh don't make a noise or else you say your last prayers, preparatory to joining your ancestors, a menacing voice threatened and Mr. Donald received hot slap on his mouth that left a salty taste of blood on his tongue.

"You starve students like Mark Twist in the workhouse in order to enrich yourself. May you rot in hell with your ill-gotten wealth," another voice uttered.

"Shoot him!" a steely and deadly voice wounded. People believed that he was attacked by armed robbers until he recovered and narrated his ordeal.

The whole school was in shock at the turn of events. The Director, Mr. Daniel was especially aghast. He did not know that he was training some hooligans in the name of students. Being a strict disciplinarian, he called his teachers for a meeting on how to nip the ugly development in the bud.

"My dear colleagues, you all can agree with me that an ugly precedent has been set in this school. From the look of things, the dastardly attack on Mr Donald, our colleague, can only be the handiwork of student cultists. We cannot allow cultism to thrive in this school, because it is an ill wind that blows nobody any good. Anybody can be the next victim. It may be you or me. We have to nip it in the bud; we have to bale this water while it is ankle deep otherwise, it will grow

into a hydra headed monster that will be very difficult to kill or stamp out". Mr. Daniel said.

The other teachers voiced their opinions and later they generally agreed that no stone should be left unturned to fish out the miscreants who would be severely punished to serve as

deterent to others. They also agreed to set up a body called Operation Restore Discipline (ORD) charged with the duty of investigating and treating every case of indiscipline in the school.

The principal and some teachers invited me, Thomas, the Senior Prefect among were other prefects and school functionaries and questioned us closely to find out if we knew anything about

the people that attacked Mr. Donald. We were ignorant of their activities because they had

operated with utmost secrecy. The principal urged us to keep our eyes wide open and our ears to the ground in order to find out the actors behind the ugly drama.

We tried our best but it yielded nothing even the detective efforts of the school's security yielded nothing. There was an uneasy calm in the School, One morning, the Director addressed the Students on the grave consequences of cuitism.

He stood on the platform and surveyed the students especially SS1.and SS2 students with stern eyes as if to fish out the culprits but each student looked as innocent as a baby.

"It has come to our notice that some of you have started forming bad gangs which unleash terror and mayhem on their percelved enemies in this school. I want you to know that

this school, Zion International College, has a long history of academic excellence. I and my

teachers will not fold our arms and allow a few hooligans and ruffians to drag the name of this

prestigious school to the mud. We will definitely not allow gangsters and ragamuffins to hold the whole school hostage and disturb learning by

enthroning a culture of violence and lawlessness.

And violence example is the dastardly beating of

Mr Donald by some unscrupulous miscreants".

At this stage a loud wave of murmuring arose among the students. The principal had to

ring a bell before silence could be maintained.

"I have to advise you all to avoid cultism because it is evil. Those who indulge in it thrive in

evil, Wickedness and violence. Shun cultism because it does not pay and you are not born with it. Cultists live in fool's paradise because they have sold their birthright for mere porridge and can never have peace. Instead or enoying good life, they live in perpetual fear, insecurity and danger. If you want success in school, keep away from such cruel, callous, devious miscreants for they are heading towards ruin and destruction. Maintain your unique identity as a child of God without associating with evil. Cult

members are like the grasshopper which was decaying but started boasting that it was

emitting oil. At the twilight of their lives, you will see that they have reaped what they sowed.

Most of thenm will either die in the process or end up with nothing to show for their exaggerated lifestyle. Once again, I remind you that this

school will not tolerate cultism in any form. He who has ears let him hear; a word is enough for

the wise", the Director concluded.

Being a deeply religious man, he ordered that a hymn in Ancient and Modern be sung. It

went like this:

Dear Lord and Father of mankind

Forgive our foolish ways

Reclothe us in our rightful minds

In purer lives thy service find

In deeper reverence strain.

Breathe through the heat of our desire

Thy coolness and thy brain

Let sense be numb, let flesh retire

Speak through the earthquake wind and fire

O still small voice of calm.

As we sang the song that day, it took on a deeper meaning. For the next two weeks, the school was calm with everybody behaving in a

disciplined and orderly manner. Even the senior students who used to be stubborn and

recalcitrant refrained from their willful disobedience and obeyed us. This, coupled with the fact that our detective mission did not find out anything awkward or suspicious, therefore lured us into a false sense of security.

We were then caught napping when the miscreant struck two weeks later. It was on a saturday morning when I got a terse summoned by the principal and members of the Operation

Restore Discipline (ORD). I answered the summons wondering what had gone amiss.

Immediately I saw the stern and granite faces of the principal and the members of the ORD, I knew that something was terribly wrong. They all looked grave and it appeared to me that they held me responsible for whatever had gone wrong.

Wishing that the ground would open and swallow me, I stood with trepidation, facing their accusing eyes.

"You mean to tell me, Thomas, that as the same Prefect, you don't know the movement of those you are leading? The principal was the

first to fire this shot. I stood twisting my fingers because I did not know what to answer since I had no idea what he was talking about. Then, Sir Robinson dropped a bombshell.

Thomas, do you know that the Games and Social Activities Master was attacked last night in

his house.. his own house?"

"Attacked?"I asked.

"Yes, attacked probably by the same miscreants that attacked Mr. Donald, Sir Brent said in a rueful tone.

The Director and members of the ORD charged me and my lieutenants to intensify our detective work by putting our ears to the ground to fish out the miscreants. I slowly went back to

the hostel, feeling like somebody who had failed in his mission. Later, I mustered courage and

summoned all the prefects and school functionaries and narrated to them what that Mr. Daniel and the members of the ORD had told me.

We decided that all hands should be on deck to fish out the undesirable elements behind this

spate of violence in the school. We even decided to act as spies in order to ferret out the culprits. It was later that I got the details of how Mr Ramon, the Games and Social Activities Master was

attacked. He was sleeping peacefully with his family when the night marauders came.

Who's inside this house? Open the door or we kill you!" a steely and menacing voice had

ordered and a loud kick at the door followed. Mr Ramon had jerked up from sleep and as he

hesitated, wondering if he heard the voice correctily, it came again, this time more insistent

and authoritative. Mr. Ramon got up with legs that shook like that of an old man suffering from palsy and the door. It did not occur to him to call the police or any of the teachers for help. A blinding torchlight was pointed in his eyes while he felt the muzzle of a gun in his ear.

"Your set and that of your wife" ordered a gruff voice that Mr. Ramon dared not disobey. As he gave his wife's handset to the assailants, his wife woke up and Mr Ramon signalled her not to

shout or make a noise when the poor Woman saw five masked figures, all dressed in black.

"Come on, lie flat on your face! one of the figures said and he pointed a gun at the terrified

Woman. Mrs. Ezeadi obeyed quickly.

The other four figures started beating Mr Ramon and told him not to make any noise unless he was in a hurry to join his ancestors.

"You skunk, you bougnt low quality jerseys for the students instead of the high quality ones you were given money for. Besides, your claim that armed robbers took the money you were taking to the market to buy new boots is false. You have diverted the money to your pocket, thinking that nobody will know. Now, tell us where the money is", growled one of the

figures as he held Mr. Ramon's throat in a vice-like grip.

"Honestly, I didn't touch a single penny......."

Mr. Ezeadi began.

"Liar! Bloody liar!'" One of the figures cut him short.

"In addition, you have been so strict in preventing guys from befriending the chicks. You

are hereby warned in your own interest to desist from such or you'lI regret it, the figure holding

Mr. Ramon's throat warned in a deadly voice.

Before poor Mr Ramon could reply the figure gave him a thunderous slap that sent him

sprawling to the ground. Blows and kicks rained on him until he passed out. Immediately, the

masked figures vanisned into the dark night.

We, the prerects tried our best to find out the culprits behind this ugly drama but we could not. The Director invited external security operatives to help the internal security operations get at the root of the matter but it yielded no result as well. Everybody was mystified by this deadly group that operated with

utmost precision and secrecy. The Director however was not daunted in his efforts to stamp

out the group. He believed that one day; they would make a slip which would lead to their capture.

"Everyday is for the thief but one day is for the owner," he consoled himself.

While our indefatigable Director fought tooth and nail to sniff out the students behind the violence in our school, I did not relax. I called the members of the students Christian Movement

and told them of the need to go into serious fasting and prayers So that the miscreants would

be fished out. We did a seven day fasting and prayers, trusting God for an answer. After this,

we kept our fingers crossed, hoping that the culprits would be unmasked to put an end to this

horrible nightmare. A few days later, Mrs Joy Giwa, the Guidance Counselor, was attacked.

She was coming back from the village around 7pm on Sunday when she noticed that some

strange figures were trailing her. She increased the speed of her vehicle, trying to smother the

panic rising in her. Just as she thought she was clear of her assailants, some masked figures

blocked her way when she was about to take the route leading to the school. Visibly shaken, she

stopped her vehicle. In a rambo-like manner, the assailants whose faces she could not see yanked open the car doors, entered and ordered her to move. People were passing along that area but none of them suspected that Mrs Giwa was in

danger of any sort.

A few kilometers after the school gate, Mrs. Giwa was told to stop.

"NOW you are warned in your own interest to desist from stopping us from passing examination at all costs. Except you want to Join your ancestors before your time, then try to block us from having our way" one of the masked figures growled. They gave Mrs. Giwa somne blinding slaps and rough kicks.

"This is a taste of what will happen to you if you dare defy us," the masked figure warned

and in no distant time, all of them disappeared into the silent night, leaving Mrs. Giwa to writhe in pains.

The woman was taken home by some sympathizers who heard her calling for help. A few days later, a junior student reported that a masked figure had snatched the school fees he

was bringing to the bursar. The Director and the teachers and we, the prefects, were having sleepless nights because tracing

miscreants appeared to be mission impossible.

However elusive and slippery the undesirable elements seemed to be, we kept on our survellance and intelligence mission by keeping our eyes open and our ears to the ground. The members of the Students' Christian Movement (SCM) continued their fervent prayers and I joined them most of the time.

The spate of crime committed by the miscreants continued unabated. In the hostels students would come back from classes only to find their leather boxes slashed open and their

money stolen. Some times the keys to their lockers would be broken and their provisions Would be made away with.

The members of the ORD and the prefects continued their surveillance in addition to intense

prayers. One day Sir Robinson who was on night duty was on patrol when he caught three boys smoking Indian hemp at the back of the chemistry laboratory. That was how the mystery behind the miscreants was unraveled. The boys whose names were Andrew Earl, Jimmy Lester and Wilson Rick were severely tortured. They confessed to all their crimes. They named all the perpetrators of the attack and they were all

arrested and put in cell. A few days later, all the miscreants were paraded before the members of the P.T.A where their shocked parents looked at them with shame and embarrassment. The director narrated their evil deeds and they hung their heads with shame.

The Director pleaded with the parents to help them in the onerous task of training their

children by giving them a Sound moral upbringing before sending them to school.

Later the miscreants were expelled so as not to corrupt other students. After this stringent measure, many students were deterred from forming such groups.

However, after some time some diehard senior students started showing Signs of restiveness. They became very unruly, stubborn and disobedient to the school authorities. They

called themselves current, Civilised and happening guys while they referred to those that

were serious with their studies as "jew" guys, village boys, local elements etc. They started

holding clandestine meetings and their activities were cleverly concealed from public gaze.

The Director was poised to effectively stamp out cultism so he gave the members of ORD more powers with which to operate.

One day during our promotional exams, I was preparing for my first paper and was searching for a conducive corner for revision, when I heard a voice shouting my name with

urgency, Thomas!" rang the voice and I looked and it was one of the ORD members, Sir Robinson. I went to him and he took me to the Chemistry

Laboratory. I knew he wanted to ask me some questions but I could not figure out exactly what

it was though I had an idea it must. be about students' discipline.

"Do you know what happened to the last set of senior students before you?" he asked.

"Yes, Sir", I answered.

"Don't ever let your set be like that", he advised and continued. "I know I met the set of Alan, then Senior Prefect, when I came to this school newly. That set wasn't alright but

Alan was picked for being good and was reward alright. They didn't have any problem at all. And then this last set of Sam was not only bad but their leader also had a problem. He was influenced by his classmates. That is why you are warned to be very careful because if you ever

follow his footsteps, you'll have yourself to blame. Don't be like him".

"Yes, Sir, I said

"I can see that your people are trying to push you to the way of Sam".

"God forbid!" I said quickly.

"Don't say God forbid rather God for Thomas", he said sarcastically. Now, have you heard of any book known as slum book?" Sir Robinson asked me with seriousness now.

"Slum book?" I was a bit perplexed.

"Is it a textbook or..?"

"No, I mean just a book", he persisted.

"Is it in this school?" I asked feeling like an ignoramus.

"Anywhere, whether in the school or outside the school".

"No, Sir, I haven't, I am, still confused".

"Okay, what about Famous Five?" he asked.

"Is this one also a book? I asked as I was now answering him with questions.

"Have you heard of it before?

"No, Sir"

"Mhh! it means you are in a school where you are the senior Prefect and a lot of water passing under the bridge, yet you don't know it.

You mean you have not heard of all these?

I felt like ten different kinds of fools. I was somehow ashamed of myself for my poor observational ability and I began to wonder

where and when and by whom all these were done.

"But, Sir, they could be doing all those things and hiding them from us".

By us, I meant my deputy and myself.

However, I had not even grasped what the "Slum Book" and "Famous Five" were all about. I was eager to know but it was something I should have discovered earlier and communicated to the

ORD members.

"Thomas", Sir Robinson called me in a stern

tone, his face mirroring displeasure and disappointment. "It seems you guys have begun

to hide things from us. You don't bring reports to us anymore".

"Sir, it's not that way lt is Just tnat we and even I personally have not heard of any of such things existing in the school".

"Do you know that Antonio Samson from time to time does the work of getting girifriends for other boys in the boys' section? In fact, in the girls' section, he is known by the name M.0.L'. I

was dumbfounded. He asked me if I was aware that Antonio was known over there by the giris as

M.O.L.

"All I knew about Antonio is that he is known by the name Prof. Jumbo in the class.

That is the name he answers in the classroom", I told him.

"You said Jumbo?" he inquired.

"Yes, Sir, either Prof. or Prof. Jumbo. That is what he writes on most of his books", I explained further.

"No, but what I mean is M.O.L. That is what the girls know him as".

"Sir, maybe he only answers the so-called

M.O.L. Over there because in the boys' section, he does not go by that name", I said.

"Right now, he has succeeded in getting girl friends for the boys. He makes the connection for them using the Slum Book.

However, that apart", he switched over to another topic still bothering on misconduct of

students. "Do you know about this 'Big Boy's Club? He asked me.

"Yes, Sir said after some seconds silence. I know of it and last two terms ago, l reported that case to the patron of the school".

"What about this 'Big Boys' Timers Club?"

Sir Robinson was becoming more inquisitive and I tried my best to tell him all I knew.

"I think the right name is Big Tymerx club. I explained, Sir Robinson began to write it down he spelt it as "BIG TIMERS CLUB".

"No Sir, that's not the way they spell it" I then gave him the correct spelling as BIG

TYMERX CLUB'.

"Another one is BBC", I told him. That is the one I mentioned before, that is, the Big Boys

Club".

Sir Robinson immediately came to understand better what I had been saying because unconsciously he had been thinking of Big Boys Club". I thought it was a mistake. But

now, the Scales seemed to have fallen from his eyes.

"I reported these things to our patron that period when it was fully in operation but I don't

know if they treated it that moment. I told him, that is, the patron about the 'Big Tymer Club, the BBC'and one in 'Da Club".

"Do you say In The Club?", inquired Sir Robinson as he couldn't grasp the real spelling.

He tried to write it on the paper but had a little difficulty in the spelling. Immediately, l discovered that he could not spell it right because he would try to spell it as a layman as far

as the club was concerned, I helped him to spellit out. In...Da..then Club.

"But they said that it was his e-mail address", I explained, "also those involved in BBC

denied the allegation by claiming that the abbreviation BBC means British Broadcasting Club instead of reported meaning, Big Boys

Club. They also went ahead to explain to the patron that in that club, they read news and did closely related activities". As I Was still explaining, Sir Robinson interrupted me by asking of those involved in each club. I gave him the names I could remember for the BBC. I also

gave him the names of the members of Big Tymerx. But at the moment, I could not figure

out exactiy the correct names. I was not very sure anymore even though I could remember. So

I gave him the names. As for the "In Da Club only one person was involved and he claimed that it was only an e-mail address. I didn't want to implicate any person unnecessarily. So I could

not say with certainty that it was a club even though it was associated with the word club.

"So that one is one man's club?" Sir Robinson sneered. "You said that Gary is the person that is in this club, this one-man club?

"Yes, sir, I replied.

"The one in your class?, he inquired again.

"Yes, Sir"

"But what about this boy..."He seemed to have forgotten the name as he rubbed his forehead as though by doing that, the name would emerge. Finally he looked down and said,

"James"

"James?"I asked.

"Yes, James Kyle, the fair boy" Sir Robbinson clarified. "How does he behave?

I stood for a while, and then remembered that somebody, a member of staff, a senior member for that matter, had asked me about the same James Kyle. James, by his body structure, would be suspected to be a troublesome boy. In fact, hearing his language, one would say he was a bad guy. But in the real sense, he didn't cause much trouble.

So I told Sir, Robinson, "Well, for James, he does not disturb the prefects. He keeps to himself. However, he may be found from time to time offending by his incomplete way of dressing to school or some other minor cases, but he doesn't disturb us".

"Okay, he doesn't disturb?"

"Yes, Sir, he is okay".

"Now, this assignment that I will give you must not be known by any person even your closest friend including your deputy. In fact, I don't trust any student in this school, both boys and girls, apart from you. You are the only person I can still trust on the boys side. On the girls side, the only person I would trust is Catherine that is their senior perfect, so do the work alone

Open your eyes wide and monitor every movement that goes on around you and also look out for this Slum Book in the hostels. We are going to conduct a search, but it is going to be a

sudden search. Let nobody know about this"

"Yes, Sir, I promise". I honestly and sincerely meant it and within me, I determined

not to betray any trust bestowed on me by any person. If the should so much trust me above

other person, I would not want to betray that trust for any reason. In fact, I would prefer to die

rather than be a saboteur.

After this long discussion, my countenance automatically changed. I become moody and angry with everyone around me.

Throughout the rest of the day, I could not communicate freely with any person. This was because my regime had been discovered to be poor in observation and ignorant of the nefarious activities going on in the school.

"Thomas! Thomas!! came a voice, ringing through my dream world. I answered, still dosing.

"Thomas!" came the voice again, now more real, and I woke up from sleep and raised my head to know who was calling me. It was the ORD members. Sir Herbert, Sir Pedro and Sir

Robinson. I was a little surprised to see these men in my cubicle at that time of the night. It was

about 2 a.m in the morning. However, having been informed earlier, I wasn't unaware of their

mission.

"In which hostel is Antonio Samson?" asked Sir Herbert who was dressed in a white long

sleeved shirt with a spotted long tie.

He is in Abraham Hostel, cubicle one," I replied and as they left I lay down again to

continue my sleep. But I heard another voice,

"Senior Prefect, please come along'". It was Sir Robinson. I stood up and looked under my bed for my bathroom slippers.

"Where is the hostel of your deputy?" Sir

Herbert asked me.

"He stays at the storey building, Joshua Hostel, cubicle four". I described and followed

them as they left. I was somehow excited as someone called to witness an arrest.

We went straight to the hostel of my deputy, Francis. When we got there, the door was locked from behind. I knocked and opened the door.

"Come," said one of the teachers.

Francis followed us, surprised why he was called out by this time. He became suspicious and as we moved along with the three Master he tapped me from behind and asked, "what

the matter? It was a quiet night and sound traveled at a high frequency. So I whispered him not to begin discussing the issue because didn't know the exact mission of the teacher even though I had a little knowledge of it. We followed without talking. All we knew was that something was afoot.

We moved to Antonio's hostel and straight to his bed where he lay deeply asleep. Sir Pedro flashed torchlight on his face and then hit him with his cane to wake him up.

"Where is the Slum Book?" asked sir Herbert. I was watching to know if he knew anything about the so-called slum book and to my surprise he really knew what it was.

"It's not with me", Antonio replied rubbing his eyes with the back of his palm.

"Where Is It?" sir Herbert inquired again,

"I gave It to Melvin and he took it home,"

"When did you give it to him? asked the master.

"It was When we were going home. I told him to hold it for me and from there he took it

home".

"Then, why did you give him the slum book? Sir Robinson asked.

"I told him to put it in his bag for me, said Antonio samson, calmly replying the questions that were being fired at him by the three teachers.

"What and what did you do with the book? "asked Sir Herbert.

"Excuse me Chairman please, Sir Robinson cut in, "At what place did you give the book to Melvin? You told us that you gave it to him to put in his bag. Before you gave it to him, where

was it?"

"I was holding it in my hand, replied Antonio, and I gave it to him when we went to the browsing centre at Idora town".

"And you did not make use of the Slum Book at all?" interrogated Sir Pedro who had

been flying his cane in readiness for a flogging exercise.

"It was Melvin who used it," Antonio confessed and this made the teachers burst into brief and mirthless laughter that denoted progress in thelir investigations.

"Then, why didnt you collect it after the browsing? asked Sir Robinson, pointing his cane to the floor.

"I forgot to take it back when we parted Samson Antonio asserted.

"Now listen Samson," said Sir Herbert,

"If we go to Melvin and he says the Slumn Book is in your custody or that it is even in this

School premises, you are gone. I mean you are finished".

"That's the meaning," agreed Sir Pedro.

"We have to go immediately to Melvin hostel, Sir Robinson resolved as we made our way out of Antonio Samson's hostel. He lay down again on his bed as we left.

"Where is Melvin's hostel, S.P?" Sir Herbert asked me.

"We are all in the same room at the first hostel," I replied with the eagerness to know more about the case on ground.

"The teachers, Francis and I left for my hostel to confirm from Melvin what Antonio had said.

The hostel was quiet as many people were sleeping. A few of the students were already awake especlally Michael and John who were awakened at the sound of our entry. The light in the room was on. I pointed to Melvin's bed and gave way for the masters to get there by themselves.

Melvin was such a notorious boy in the School. He was rude and unruly. However, he sounded so polite each time he denied an allegation that one would Scarcely argue with him. Yet, he could be the very devil. Many staff members had one Complaint or the other against

him. Melvin had little or no regard for authorities.

He was strong on the city life. The masters knew the person they were about to confront.

Stories also had it that Melvin's elder brother was a very bad boy in the days he was in

the school and had narrowly escaped expulsion.

He gave teachers so much headache that tales of him were still on years after he had left the

school. His younger brother, Melvin, seemed to have taken after him.

Sir Robinson tapped Melvin with his cane and called his name, David Melvin, get up."

Melvin looked behind as he was lying with his face on the pillow. Seeing the men that surrounded him at this time of the night, the

sleep vanished from his eyes. He was suddenly alert.

"Where is the slum Book that Antonio Samson gave to you? asked Sir Herbert. Melvin looked at the stern faces of the masters which appeared to be hewn out of granite, as though he were at a loss.

"I don't know what you are talking about sir Melvin said.

"Do you mean to say that you did not understand my question or that you have not

heard of Slum Book before? Sir Robinson queried.

"I mean, it is not in my custody", Melvin said, gesticulating as if to prove his innocence.

The teachers laughed for it was obvious he was lying through his front teeth.

"Okay, come with us", ordered Sir Herbert

They moved away from the hostel and my deputy and I followed them. We were merely watching the drama, observing the interrogated and the

interrogators. Everything happened without any trace of it coming to our notice. That was very unfortunate.

In a jiffy, we were at Antonio's hostel again.

He was lying down in deep thought-on his bed waiting for the feedback on the information

gave.

Antonio, Sir Herbert called.

Sir Antonio answered, trying to wear a deep pan expression.

"You told us that the Slum Book was with Melvin

"Yes, Sir, I gave it to him".

"You gave me whatl'"Melvin exclaimed.

Didn't I give you the Slum Book? Why are you denying it, Melvin?" Antonio asked.

"I hate someone accusing me of what I did not do, Melvin tried to justify himself.

"During mid-term break, do you say that I did not give it to you and you returned and told

me that you left it at home?" Antonio became more specific and made a sign to Melvin with his eyes to accept that the book was at home.

The masters were then watching both of them as they argued back and forth and accused each other. Then Melvin suddenly accepted that he received the slum book from Antonio but forgot it at home while returning.

"Oh, have you now accepted that you collected it?" Sir Pedro mocked. "I thought that you didn't even know about the book".

"Samson", called Sir Herbert, "I hope you know you are in already trouble with us"

"Yes Sir"

"Well, take note of that. Even when your father brought you back to school, right there

and then, you were caught with a blue film disc.

You are already a disgrace to your father and your family", said Sir Robinson.

"No, he is trying to be" contradicted Sir Herbert. This was because he was closely related to the family of Antonio. Moreover, he was a Pastor and Samson Antonio's father was also a highly respected Pastor.

That notwithstanding, this case was not the type to be treated with kid gloves. "Get ready, this morning, immediately it is 7a.m., come over to my residence for a permission card to travel..

You are going to bring the Slum Book back to school today. Take note that every information in

the book is well known to us. We know everything written there, all these questions we are asking are merely for necessity sake, only to confirm what have already," Sir Herbert said in a

clipped tone.

"You can go back to sleep," said Sir Herbert. Melvin left for his hostel and we left also for other hostels for another set of the midnight arrest.

On reaching my hostel, more students were awake by because of the noise we were making. The masters inquired from me where the beds of some of the culprits were. I directed them to the places.

Daniel Rufus was one of the major prefects of the school. He was also wanted for one or two cases leveled against him. I had also reported to the teachers that Rufus was making use of a radio set in the hostel which was a very

serious offence in the school. Even though I was their overall leader as the Senior Prefect, I had respect for my executive members. As a result of this, I didn't report Daniel Rufus immediately. I kept warning him and threatening to report him.

He however paid a deaf ear and refused to put the radio away. It was now that I was being

accused of not bringing reports to the authorities about all these nefarious and clandestine activities taking place in the school that I decided to prick the bubble.

Fortunately for the masters, this sets of boys were all birds of a feather. They slept in one Corner. Some slept on the top bed of the bunk while some slept on the lower one.

Daniel Rufus, Larry Jeffrey, Frank Scott, Eric Alfred, Edwin Jeff and Chad Collins were awakened from sleep and fished

out.

The hostel was becoming rowdier. More students woke up; they could not understand the

sudden events of that night which were reminiscent of the Spanish inquisition.

We followed the masters to the front of their interrogation room where they stayed to query the apprehended boys.

"Thomas Mike", Sir Herbert called me and said," we want you and Francis, to be here and witness what has been going on in a school.

To Be Continued...