Hushed Echoes

Somehow Richard became startled, searching earnestly for an empty seat so as to cross over in an attempt to avoid the man totally.

Just as he was searching, it became apparent to him that there was no extra seat left; not even one. He resolved in his mind to put up a bold face to keep the man at bay so as to uncover what he was up to.

Five minutes later, the man brought out a whistle from his front pocket and blew it.

Four tough rugged, looking men stood up at once, one from the extreme front, the second responded from the extreme back, the third man appeared in between the middle rows, while the fourth person from the seat next to the driver.

All the passengers inside the bus became terrified when all of them brought out a pistol each from their pockets.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“I say everybody should reman silent right now! And put your hands up in the air!” the leader of the gang who sat beside Marco ordered.

He removed the badge from his laps and slotted it into his pocket, he then place the whistle back into his front pocket.

“We will not hurt any of you,” the man continued, “… provided you all cooperate with us, All we want is money! And in a situation where you choose to be stubborn, you will have yourself to blame,” he pointed his gun at different direction and gestured to his men to swing into action.

They instantly obeyed the instructions for their boss, and went straight away searching through the luggages and pockets of the passengers.

One of the robbers was strategically stationed at the back of the driver, mandating him to keep driving on.

Within fifteen minutes, the whole operation was completed the driver was commanded to stop, which he did without thinking twice, and the robbers ran out of the bus one by one and disappeared into the bush.

“Hey! My whole life is finished, ” cried one of the passengers who was seated in front, “… everything I have toiled and struggled for all through my life is gone. All the money i wanted to use in buying goods in the city have been cartered away by armed robbers. I think it is better for me to commit suicide at once” he lamented bitterly.

… Oh no! Life does not worth living anymore, how can i explain the fact that all my life savings have been swindled out of my plain right in my face? Anotherther man who was sitting in front, next to marco lamented in pitiable tones and fell on the glove compartment of the bus, sobbing sorrowfully.

The whole episode appeared to marco like a dream, although he had heard different stories about armed robbers attacks, he had neither witnessed one before nor ever imagined being a victim of it one day.

” Oh my God! What is this world turning into? How can people be so mean to carry out such a terrible act!”. He wondered aloud.

However, he was somehow lucky that the robbers had not taken anything from him, in spite of the thorough search they gave his bag, they were not opportune to detect any cash in it.

He had deposited the remaining of the money Fred gave him, in one of his trousers pockets after paying for his transport fare. So, when the robbers discovered that there is no money inside it, they simply flinged it in one corner of the vehicle.

When marco picked up the bag after the robbers had perfected their heinous crime and found out that the money was still intact, he was happy and sad at the same time, happy because his money was not stolen.

Had it been they the robbers made away with the money, his whole desire would have been nipped in the bud, moreover, he would have been stranded when he gets to the city.

On the other hand, he felt sad because he was a living witness to that cheerless incident which had plagued his co-passengers, a lot of them were dispossessed of enormous sum of money and other valuable items such as; wrist watches, gold, bangles, e. t. c.

Gradually, the clouds in his mind stretched thicker and thicker, and as each of the passengers lamented their woes, his heart grew more grievous than ever before.