She Bleeds for Us: The Galactic Consortium 3

Chapter 27

It was late evening as Gabriel and Favour made their way through the streets of Sierra Leone, heading for home. They had spent too long on their mission, or more accurately at the downtown protest.

A young wealthy couple had "way more than they could eat." The concept of too much food was novel to Gabriel, but charity was not. He and Favour had accepted the paper plate, half full of falafel and some cucumber sauce with many thanks.

And with a full belly their desire to get home fled. The speeches had given way to music. It was some rapper Gabriel had never heard of, singing about freedom and the struggles of the people. But the beat was good and he and Favour danced at the edge of the crowd until they were both sweaty and happy.

But now as the light faded all he could think was how far home was, and how curfew would be soon. He forced his weary feet to move as fast as they could.

The city around them was growing poorer and rougher. There were no protests here, in fact, there were signs supporting Bundi. Figures. The protest seemed to be either extreme, the rich wanted ties to the Consortium so their kids could study at Consortium schools or so they could go to space. The poor simply had little to lose and wanted help with basic stuff like food, healthcare and jobs. The middle class was content with the way things were.

Gabriel pushed the thoughts from his mind as they approached the first ghetto. It marked the entrance to familiar territory.

"Hey, you two," a voice called, startling them out of their separate reveries. They turned as a policeman in riot gear stomped up. "What are you doing out? It's almost curfew now."

It was Favour that answered. "We are just on our way home, sir."

He shook his head and grabbed Favour by the shirt. "Yeah, sure. So where is home?"

It was not a friendly question. And it didn't matter. They couldn't tell him they were from one of the barricaded ghettos.

"Two blocks that way," Gabriel lied.

The man clearly did not believe him. He tried to grab for Gabriel, but Gabriel danced out of his reach.

"You don't live around here," the man said. "I'd know you if you did. You're a ghetto rat from up on the hill, aren't you?"

Favour had tears in her eyes and was trembling with fear. She mouthed, "run" at Gabriel.

"Get on ghetto rat, run home and tell your parents that the cops have your sister. They are welcome to come in and get her."

"That's my cousin, my parents are dead," Gabriel shouted, angry.

The man gave a cold barking laugh. "I'm sure they met a fitting end. And so will your uncle and aunt, now get." He made one more futile attempt to swipe at Gabriel without letting Favour go.

Gabriel danced further back but didn't flee. He couldn't let Favour be caught. Even if she didn't talk, she still had some of the mycobactim powder in her pack and they would soon find out the two weren't just poor kids, they were part of the protests and family of the blind witch. But what could he do?

The policeman hoisted Favour upon his shoulder and turned away, heading back towards the station. He used his free hand to say something into his radio that Gabriel didn't hear.

And suddenly Gabriel was running full speed towards the man's retreating back, unaware that he'd made any choice. He hit the man in the back of the knee, grabbing his pant leg and yanking with all the might in his small frame.

The man toppled, dropping Favour and cussing.

"Quick!" Gabriel said.

Favour needed no prompting. She'd jumped up out of the man's grasp. The bag fell from her side. Gabriel grabbed her by the hand, ignoring the dropped bag and the two ran into the growing twilight, pursued by the man's cursing.