To help you kill the time

Some people seem to want me to blog everyday. Unfortunately, blogging isn't high on my priority list. To give you something to read, I will post another story I am working on. I don't have a name for it or anything but enjoy:

Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
Doctor Régis Melanbo hesitated before the congested intersection, pressing the paper wrapped package tighter against his abdomen. Beads of sweat tricked down his long, dark face; beading below the dense, knotted hairs of his beard. Cars whizzed past him, swerving from lane to lane in search of the fastest route to reach their destinations. Local and foreign businessmen brushed past him on the way to their important meetings or engagements or to have some fun at the local brothels. Everyone seemed to be in perpetual motion except for him.

Melanbo suddenly sensed that something was amiss. The throng of pedestrians continued on their way, oblivious to his instincts of danger. An inspection of the crowd was futile so when the stoplight turned green, he furtively walked across the street, dodging cars that failed to stop in time or didn’t stop at all. After stepping onto the sidewalk, Melanbo turned and glanced back at where he had just stood, unable to shake the feeling erupting from within. Making sure the package was still in his grasp; he walked up to a modern office building with a sign that read Brazzaville Postal Services in faded green letters. A cool rush of air greeted him as he entered the well air-conditioned room. Just like the streets outside, the interior of the post office was a hotbed of commotion. The line for package drop off had already wound around several times, resembling a coiled snake ready to pounce. Everyone seemed to be in a hurry except for the few street kids standing by the corner, happy to escape the blistering heat if just for a moment.
The doctor had no other choice but to wait in line like all the others. He certainly did not want to provoke anyone into making a scene, especially one that separated him from the crowd. The consternation still hung over him as he inched his way through line, sweat continuing to bead despite the air conditioning. When he finally reached the front and heaved his package onto the counter, the attendant could only stare at him.

“How may I help you sir?” the attendant remarked in his thick French accent.

“I would like this package mailed as soon as possible, “he replied.

“Sir, the size of your package means that we will have to send it via a private courier. That will cost a little extra but it will also guarantee a speedy delivery. If you would just step to the counter on the other side of the room so you can fill in the paper work.”

Melanbo hesitated before saying, “I have been standing in this line for over half an hour. I recently had knee surgery and I feeling some discomfort. If we could just get this done right here, that would be most appreciated.”

“I suppose that would be no problem,” the attendant replied as he walked across the room and picked up the paper work. “Now if you would just sign here,” the attendant indicated with his finger “and here. No need to worry, just a standard waiver in case something unfortunate happens during the delivery.” The attendant smiled, his thick lips curling in an attempt to ease worries. Melanbo signed the waivers, tipped the attendant and hastily walked out of the cool oasis into the blazing heat of the African summer.

As soon as he stepped onto the dirt-covered sidewalk, Melanbo noticed the sleek black SUV parked a block away, it`s tinted windows hiding the danger within. In such an impoverished neighbourhood, the luxury car stood out like a black panther in the desert. Before he could turn around and run, the SUV had already begun speeding toward him, creating a billowing cloud of dust in its wake. Melanbo sped along the walkways, sidestepping vendors and pedestrians, and listened to the commotion behind him as the SUV made its way through the congested street. The screams of dissatisfaction became louder and louder, closer and closer. Suddenly, Melanbo made a move by cutting through the crowd to his right and ducked into an alleyway behind the local cinema. Street kids sneaking into the theatre through the back quickly spotted his presence and ran off, fearing he was a policeman.
Exhausted by the most strenuous exercise he had done in years, Melanbo hid behind the corner of the building and snuck a peek at the bustling street from which he had just escaped. The black SUV was now parked, and tuxedoed men with machine guns stepped out and began to walk across the road towards him. As he turned around to run the other way, he smashed into something solid, knocking the wind out of him momentarily and sending him to the ground. When he finally came to his senses, the barrel of a machine gun was pressed against his temple, held in place by the largest man he had ever seen. Those hulking shoulders, the bulging veins and all neatly packaged in an elegant tuxedo. It was all quite a sight. As Melanbo closed his eyes in anticipation, he almost laughed at the thought that the tuxedoed behemoth would be the last image he would ever see. Off in the distance, he heard someone yell, ``We need him alive” Just as Melanbo opened his eyes he saw a massive hand moving towards his face, gripping a bunched up piece of cloth. By the time he realized what was happening, the smell had already engulfed him. A deep haze drifted over his consciousness, and then everything went black.

He was first awakened by the lively chatter inside the cabin but it was the bouncing SUV that shook him out of his stupor. He immediately realized that his hands and feet had been bound together using thick metal chains.

``We made sure you wouldn`t get any ideas,” a hearty voice boomed. Melanbo was startled to see a heavy-set man sitting to his right. ``Now you have some explaining to do. Tell us who you sent it to. It is very valuable to us, to the general. You wouldn`t want to upset him now would you.”

Still in a drug induced daze, Melanbo replied, ``I don`t know what you are talking about.”

``Let`s not play this game. If you do not tell us, I guess we will just have to coax it out of you.” The heavyset man produced a cloth sac. Something squirmed violently within it. ``Do you like snakes, doctor? As he said this, the man loosened the opening and placed the sac on Melanbo`s lap. Slowly, a silver serpent slithered out of the opening, its forked tongue tasting the air.

``She is beautiful, isn`t she. You should consider yourself lucky. Few people ever get to come this close to a black mamba. Most people are afraid of snakes but what they don`t realize is that snakes are just as afraid of people. They never attack unless aggravated.” As he said this, the man grabbed a metal hook and flung the snake in the air. As it landed, the mamba coiled back before darting forward and biting Melanbo`s neck, just above his clavicle. Melanbo let out a primal scream as he seethed in pain. The mamba eventually let go but the searing pain persisted.
As he recaptured the mamba using his metal hook, the heavyset man continued, ``Let me explain to you what will happen in the next minutes. You will first experience tingling in your mouth and nose. This is followed by confusion, loss of muscle coordination, severe abdominal pain, and foaming of the mouth. Without any medical attention, you will eventually experience convulsions, respiratory arrest and then death. This is of course if you do not take anti-venom immediately, which I fortunately just happen to have.” The man took out a small glass vial filled with clear liquid. “All you have to do is tell us what we want to know.”

“I don`t know what you`re talking about.”

“Don`t be stupid. The longer you wait, the more permanent the damage.”

“Go to hell!” Melanbo mumbled incoherently.

“Alright, you`ve made your choice. Stop the car.” The man began unravelling the chains until they lay slumped in a pile at the bottom of Melanbo`s feet. He opened the passenger side door and with a swift push sent Melango tumbling into the road side bushes.

“Don`t bother looking for help. There isn`t a village for miles, let alone a hospital. See you in hell, brother.” With this, the door slammed shut and the SUV roared off into the distance, once again leaving a cloud of dust and exhaust.

This is just the first chapter of potentially many chapters if I ever get the time.