How long has it been since I closed my eyes to get a little rest? its already day two of no sleeping. Guess this is what came with the job of the camp security officer.
"Get up, get up, you sleeping chicken." I could hear the voice of the commandant waking up the new recruit for their early morning aerobic exercise. I was sitting outside the camp all night just to make sure the new recruits didn't try anything funny, especially some of them who were boyfriends and girlfriends.
"Morning sir"
Deola, who had just joined the Nigeria Red Cross, greeted me formally and was still standing, waiting for me to acknowledge her. "Morning, you can stand at ease" I said to her with my eyes looking like it was dipped inside a red paint.
"Sir, the commandant asked me to call you," she said before turning away, but something in her tone made me sit up straighter. My exhausted brain came awake because I have been to several camps and the commandant normally has no business with the security officer.
"Wait," I called after her. "Did he say why?"
She hesitated for a second before answering. "No, sir, but he looked... serious."
That was enough to send a jolt of alertness through my system. The commandant wasn’t the type to call me unless something was wrong. I stood up, looked around to make sure I am not missing anything, and then followed Deola toward the commandant tent. The early morning mist still clung to the camp like a lazy ghost, and the sound of recruits grumbling through their push-ups filled the air.
As I walked into the commandant tent, our eyes met, and he said something to one of the training officers, which I didn't hear.
"Good, you are here" He started
I saw Fatimah and Grace whispering things to themselves and it was then I knew I was cooked. The both of them were my least favorite person in the camp and for them to whisper when I was around met something was wrong and I was the cause. The commandant stood with his hands behind his back, his face tight with controlled anger. A few other officers were gathered, whispering amongst themselves too.
"Officer, when last did you do a headcount?" he asked, his deep voice slicing through the morning air.
"Uhmm, sir. I haven't done any this morning but I did just before midnight, sir."
The commandant looked at me, then screamed. "Then explain why two recruits are missing. Aren't you meant to be on guard all through the night? You took the position of the watch at midnight so why are two recruits missing this morning"
The words hit me like a rock to my skull. "Missing?" I said. I could barely hear my own voice. I was so sure I didn't sleep all through the watch; I only dozed off some few times, but no one passed without me knowing.
"Yes, missing!" His voice rose slightly. "A boy and a girl. They were in their tents last night, but now, no one can find them. I already ask Deola to check their bunks but it was empty and their belongings are still there. I have questioned other recruits but no one saw them leave. So, I ask again, Officer Fash, how did this happen under your watch?"
It was then it "Dawn" on me, I must have fallen asleep at a point and that was when they sneaked out. My mind was racing trying to remember the time it happened and I couldn't hear what anyone was saying. If something happened to them, I would be blamed. What should I do? Should I tell the commandant?"
"Who are they?" I asked quickly, trying to regain control of the situation.
"Lukman and Adeshewa," Fatimah answered. "They were seen together a lot during the drills. We think they might have snuck off together."
I took a deep breath, then sighed. I looked at the commandant and his eyes were on me. The commandant shook his head in disappointment. "I have seen them a lot and I think I have an idea of where they would be." I thought to myself.
"I’ll find them," I said, already moving towards the entrance.
The commandant’s voice stopped me in my tracks. "You better."
"Please can two training officer go with me, I think I know where they might be but I will need some help to cover more ground" I said and two people were assigned to work with me.
I grabbed my flashlight and stormed out, my mind racing. I approached Deola again. "When was the last time anyone saw them?"
She put her hand on her chin, trying to think. "Adeshewa was in the tent after lights out. Although she had complained about stomach pain so I believe she should still be in her tent this morning, but when I checked for her and didn't see her, I went to tell Lukman but didn't find him either, so I told the commandant."
"You should have come to me first" I said to her with a little frown on my face but that was the least of my problems now.
I and the other two officers that were with me headed towards the narrow path that leads in and out of the camp ground. Just a few meters from the camp, I saw a flashlight heading towards us. I halted then called out Lukman name.
"Morning sir" I recognize that voice, it was Lukman voice, then another voice followed "Morning sir"
They both stood still, waiting for me to acknowledge them before they make any movement. "Morning and get over here" I said furiously.
"How dare you leave the camp ground without informing me" I was angry and about to swallow them both.
We are sorry sir" Lukman started. "Shewa wanted to use the toilet and her stomach hurt, When we came, we saw you sleeping so we did not want to disturb you*"
The two other offices with me looked at each other, then look at me.
"Report to the commandant tent immediately and do that running." I instructed them. Just as I have said, they started running towards the camp ground and I felt some inner peace within me.
It was the dawn of a new day, and I needed my sleep.
The End.
All images used are mine.