C5 Episode 5

It was Friday night and I was in my corner with some friends, chatting. We had just taken our supper and unlike the other nights during exams, we were in the hostel. Everyone was happy because the highly dreaded examination period was over. Only those who had one case or another with the schoo

authorities were tensed and pensive. This was because they could not really tell their fate. They did not know if they would be expelled or be pardoned. Also, they did not know if their cases had gone to the higher authority of the school or if it was still within the ORD members, that is, Sir Herbert and his Colleagues.

AS we were in the hostel, it was noisy as friends were chatting in some popular corners

like mine. Suddenly, a silence descended on the hostel like the one that descends on chickens

when a predatory hawk hovers around. As usual, all eyes went to the door to see who had entered the hostel

"Where is the S.P?" asked Sir Herbert.

Immediately someone called me, "Thomas, Sir is caling you" I quickiy got up to answer the call and the students in my corner gradually went away.

"Where ls Ernest Melvin?Sir Herbert's

asked as Sir Robinson, Pedro and the Host Master, Todd, came in with stern looks. "Let no one leave this cubicle" came a terse instruction.

Coincidently, Matthew was about to leave, but Sir Todd blocked him and asked him to go

back. Sir, this is not my cubicle, I only came to collect something, said Matthew. On seeing the

seriousness on Sir Todd's face he kept quiet.

"I want to go and ease myself, said Jesse who persisted until Sir Herbert gave him leave.

Melvin came forth reluctantly to meet the teacher. Sir Pedro took him to the front of their

interrogation room and told him to wait for them there. Antonio was also in my hostel that hour, so they took him also. They were told to kneel down there until the teachers came.

"Now who are the people using radio sets in this hostel?" Sir Herbert inquired after

thorough searching had been conducted on Daniel Rufus and Craig Alan who were the Suspects but the sets could not be discovered as the boys had hidden them. Nobody answered

that question and a deadly silence prevailed.

"Did you hear my question?" Sir Herbert said more sternly. Who are the people using

radio sets in this cubicle? he repeated. Under normal circumstances nobody would speak word. This was a policy among the students never to reveal any culprit even if they knew the person for the fear of being castigated by others at the end. This was even more when the

malefactor and his facilitators were dreaded ones who had strong influence on others.

Among the felons, Daniel Rufus, who was my lieutenant happened to be in the category of those whose had influence on others. He had a highly admired group that gathered almost every

hour of the day both in the hostel and in the classroom. They would tell endless stories whether good, bad or ugly. Apart from the radio set offence, he was also accused of linking boys and girls in illicit love affairs, an offence in a mission school like ours. Besides, he was indicted on the issue of filling the Slum Book which was the incident that implicated the majority of the

students and that was courtesy of Antonio Samson.

The teachers waited for somebody to answer their question. But silence continued as the students looked at one another.

"Okay, we are going to interrogate everybody one after the other, beginning from the first bed", Sir Herbert said.

"That is what we are going to do so that everyone will tell us what he knows concerning radio sets in this hostel", said Sir Pedro.

Meanwhile, sir Robinson was waiting for actlon while Sir Todd, the Hostel Master, was sitting on the bed by the door to esure that no one left.

"You, come down fast", Sir Herbert ordered Shawn, and innocent student, who was just on his bed, watching the investigation team,

The diminutive Shawn was unfortunate, "Tell us all you know concerning radio" said Sir Robinson.

Shawn was afraid and could not speak as all eyes focused on him. Before he knew it, a hot stroke of

cane smote his back. Before he could say Jack Robinson, another one landed on him from Sir

Pedro who took his turn after Sir Robinson in the same manner.

They shared the strokes of cane they gave to each student. If one flogged, he would give

way for the other, "Thomas said, it was Daniel, Shawn uttered as he writhed in agony on the floor, now pleading to speak.

"Not what Thomas Mike said, but where have you personally seen and heard the sound of a radio?, Sir Herbert persisted.

"I.... I have.. I used to hear it in Daniel's corner and in Clarence's corner. But since S.P

confronted him and warned him, I have not heard it since then", Shawn stammered in pain.

"When did you hear it last"

"Last week, Sir"

When Shawn said this, I knew he was no correct. However, that could be the time he heard it last. But I was sure that I heard Clarence's radio on Thursday night though he lowered the

Volume.

I had come back from night prep, and immediately I entered the hostel, I heard the sound of a radio because he was sleeping in the bed by the hostel door. Because of my ceaseless disturbance on Daniel and Clarence, they resorted to putting on the radio in my absence. Whenever the set was playing and they noticed my

presence or thought I heard it, they would put it off. On one occasion, the radio was playing in

Daniel Rufus corner with high volume. His friends, as usual, were gathered around him and

they were chatting. I heard it and made my way to them and asked, "Who is playing that radio in this hostel?" One of them, Edwin Vernon started shouting and singing an uncoordinated song to mollity me. I ignored him and changed my subject-matter. So, I was in no doubt that the

radio was still in the hostel only that it had been concealed by the conspiracy of the students.

The masters released Shawn, having got from him what they wanted.

"Daniel", come here", said Sir Herbert.

He came forward dressed in his night Wear.

"Daniel", the master called.

"Sir", he answered.

"Are you aware that you are a prefect of the school who is supposed to live an exemplary life and maintain discipline as well as orderiness among the students under you and make them obey the school rules?, It is then disheartening that you are the very person breaking the rules"

Sir Herbert sermonized in his pastoral voice.

"However where is the radio you play In your corner everyday? he asked.

"Sir, I told you that I was not the owner. It was Iweka Antonio who seized it from a junior student and kept it in my cupboard. So I began to

make use of it. But he warned me not to use it anymore so that during mid-term break we will

give it back to the boy", Daniel explained.

"Who owns the one you played recently?" Sir Pedro pried into Antonio's suspected lies. I was standing by like every other

student in that cubicle at that moment. And I was bleeding in my heart at the cunningly devised tales that these guys told. They even swore that no radio was in their possession.

The masters suspended Antonio's case and faced Clarence who claimed that he had given his radio to his guardian who was a staff of the

School.

"Do you want to say that we should go and ask Pastor Reberto?", retorted Sir Herbert.

"Yes, but it was his wife that I gave it to.

So he may not be aware", Clarence said.