The Creeping Palms: A Novel

By Victor Ehighaleh

Despite all odds, Maxi, a corporate executive proved to be a very hard nut to crack. For one of his associates, the temporal gains associated with cultism and deceit soon crawled into the waters of retribution. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Victor Ehighaleh
• Release date: Nov 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9791220223676

Victor Ehighaleh

Victor Ehighaleh is a writer and an apostle of the gospel of Christ by calling. He is a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God who is passionate about sharing the word of God and winning souls for Christ.Apart from being a minister of the gospel, he engages in the written craft to bless humanity and improve the lives of people who read and share his books.He has written books in multiple genres which includes novels, short stories, motivational & inspirational, poetry, religion, etc.He is married with children.

Book preview

Oseiwe

CHAPTER ONE

As Obinna Junior, a regular sleep-walker woke up from bed he looked through the dusty window that has never left his bedside since the age of Twelve and a half. Suddenly, he discovered a strange black pole a few metres ahead of his father’s house. He instinctively observed numerous strange looking glowing pin-heads on top of the black pole. The desire to explore the strange pole and its heads overwhelmed him. He left his bedroom and tiptoed to the living room enroute the pole. A moment later, he found himself standing by the side of the pole.

He touched the pole and wiped his face with his palm before looking above the pole so as to be sure he was not hallucinating. On top of the pole are glittering bulbs enclosed in strange tubes which had attracted him. The atmosphere reminded him of his childhood dream of embarking on a visit to the sky to touch and count all the stars in sight. He soon began to count the pin-like strange lights in the sky of his eyes.

He opened his small mouth which enclosed an array of sparkling-white and beautifully structured teeth before he began to utter feeble words in quick succession – one, two, three, four, five… After the count of thirty two, his incantation had hit an abrupt end. He soon began to wonder aloud about the miraculous existence of the strange looking pole.

After achieving his purpose, he decided to embark on a return journey home and as he looked ahead of him, the sight of a heavily bearded moon-faced and well-built man in black apparel, walking towards him frightened him to his marrow and after a very short while, he discovered that he was not day-dreaming – the approaching man is his father. Apparently, he noticed a coiled rope made from animal skin conspicuously dangling on his father’s right hand – the discovery made him begin to palpitate before his stone-faced Dad roared at him –

Obinna, why did you leave the front door open to the extent that twelve neighbourhood goats had been able to enter and litter the living room with their droppings.

As expected, he betrayed the usual cry and screamed.

Daddy please, I am sorry.

Maxi Obinna, in a fit of rage, moved so ferociously absentminded and engaged his biceps until the sound of – fhew, fhew, fhew, - landed on Obinna Junior’s body and also took over every space surrounding his body. The young Obinna soon found himself in excruciating pains and he instinctively borrowed the shoes of a cheetah before he out-run his panting father after a spirited hot chase.

After Obinna Junior had outpaced him, Maxi Obinna noticed strange drops of blood flowing almost endlessly by the side of his head. His bewildered heart soon transited to his mouth and he began to echo a monotonous song - Ewuu! Ewuu! Ewuu...

His cry woke up his snoring wife who instinctively rushed to the front door like a body set on fire to ascertain the reason behind her husband’s strange outburst.

Maxi – What is wrong with you? You are bleeding

I suggest you ask your son. Maxi replied so harshly.

You have lost much blood – we need to stop the flow.

Why are you still standing – get the first aid box! Maxi exclaimed.

Okay sir.

Ifeoma, a registered nurse reappeared in a jiffy with the first aid box and soon succeeded in curtailing the flow of blood. Afterwards, Maxi began to recount his strange experience.

Ifeoma – This is rather strange. I honestly do not have a cogent explanation to give. In fact, I am too bewildered to be able to understand the source or reason behind the sudden outburst of life from my head.

Don’t you think someone hauled a stone at you or you hit your head on something? Ifeoma asked.

Maxi Obinna’s face contracted before he roared -

Ifeoma, Stop the joke, do you think I am a kid?

Okay Maxi – let us allow the sun to dry the clothes. It is too early to start forcing a lion to eat bananas. I guess I’m naturally concerned about your well-being – you know I hate needless quarrels. You must not allow me to break our rule. I am sure you are aware we are already running late for work.

Maxi remembered they had jointly agreed not to be angry at the same time. He knew Ifeoma had almost broken the agreement – he soon decided to be calm so as to avoid unnecessary aggravation of the incident and being late for work.

A moment later, Obinna Junior fearfully emerged from his hideout after fifteen minutes. He looked right and left before he made the decision to proceed home and hide under the shadow of his mother. In a short while, he found himself at their front door.

He was momentarily transfixed after he remembered the fifteen minutes old incident. He soon found himself eavesdropping on his parents who were busy debating over his whereabouts. Luckily for him, he had noticed his mother’s desperation to unite with him because he needed to get ready for school.

As a result of the green light shown by his mother, he boldly knocked on the front door and waited for his mother’s response.

Ifeoma screamed –

Who is by the door.

It’s me Mummy. Obinna Junior replied.

You must not come into this house. Maxi Obinna responded.

Please Daddy I am sorry. Obinna Junior replied.

After a brief silence, he entered the living room and appeared crestfallen before he scooped on his knees while pleading for forgiveness.

Maxi’s face became numb and forlorn until Ifeoma volunteered to bridge the gap. Soon, father and son were reconciled. A moment later, Obinna Junior observed something unusual on his father’s head.

Dad – What happened to your head? I can see traces of blood clots.

The agitated Obinna senior made a brisk remark –

Obinna, I suppose the answer resides in the habitation of Amadioha.

A moment later, a gentle knock at the door elicited the disappearance of Maxi into the bedroom while Ifeoma asked –

Who is by the door?

Good morning mummy Obinna, it’s me Ifeku.

Oh, Good morning, you can come right in my dear.

Ifeku entered the living room and after the exchange of pleasantries, Obinna did the needful by retiring to his room to thank his God for delivering him from his father’s wrath.

Ifeku momentarily observed an unusual odour and its source in the living room and decided to enquire.

Mummy Obinna – Your living room is littered with animal droppings. Do you breed goats here?

Not quite my sister – Obinna left the front door ajar a moment ago and a group of neighbourhood goats made their way into the living room – that explains the droppings.

Oh I am so sorry.

That’s alright – Let me beckon on Obinna to take care of the mess while we go outside to continue with our discussions.

Ifeoma screamed –

Obinna - the animal droppings are begging for your attention!

Ifeku’s visit was short lived. She had exited Maxi Obinna’s residence in less than five minutes. Ifeoma thereafter retired to the kitchen to prepare breakfast while Obinna Junior crossed over to the bathroom. As soon as breakfast was ready, Ifeoma rushed to the bathroom to have her bath and a moment later, was united with Obinna Junior on the dining table.

Forty minutes later, Maxi Obinna returned to the living room after a hot bath to the warm embrace of Ifeoma and Obinna who were already having their breakfast.

Dad – You are almost late for work. Obinna opined.

I still have about twenty five minutes left before resumption. Hopefully, breakfast should be over in less than ten minutes and as soon as that happens, we should be on our way.

Okay Dad. Obinna Junior replied.

Ifeoma glanced at her husband’s injury and decided to give advice.

Maxi, you should be mindful of the injury on your head while at work. If necessary, I suggest you ask for a day break so as to enable you to have a proper rest.

I am okay Ifeoma, that won’t be necessary. Maxi replied.

Maxi works as a retail manager in a blue chip supermarket holding located on the ever busy Stone Street. He had arrived just in time before resumption and immediately proceeded to his office to behold a list of receivables lying angrily on his desk. Mr Nsofor – the managing director a few minutes before, had instructed his secretary to deliver the list of receivables to Maxi’s office. The managing director was obviously not pleased about the huge debts owed the company. In fact he opined that the debt profile was capable of threatening the liquidity status of the company.

As soon as Maxi sighted the list on his desk, he became so apprehensive and instantly knew he had swallowed more than the capacity of his stomach. He immediately summoned the sales team and rightly ordered them to prepare to welcome more dust on their shoes and also get their clothes ready for the absorption of large amounts of sweat because the managing director was already dangling a sorrow-breeding sickle before the retail department.

After dispatching the sales team, he remembered his wife’s advice and instinctively knew that he could not afford to ask for a break because the atmosphere at Triple Bongo Limited was too charged. He reasoned that any attempt to seek for a day break will undoubtedly lead to untoward repercussions. In fact, he assured himself that it will be easier to recover a tiny pin from the bottom of the sea than for the managing director to grant his request. He thereafter resolved to manage the situation professionally.

A moment later, as expected, he was summoned to the managing director’s office to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him as a result of the huge debt that has bedeviled the company. The fact that he had already dispatched the sales team to recover the debts saved him from outright disciplinary action.

*

A few hours later, the atmosphere at Triple Bongo Limited had changed so dramatically. The sales team had succeeded in collecting seventy percent of the outstanding debts. This singular action saved Maxi Obinna from ending up like a fish out of water.

At the close of work, Maxi Obinna drove his red coloured saloon car out of Triple Bongo’s car park. He soon made his way out of the ever busy Stone Street and headed for the East circular road. After navigating through the road so filled with brightly coloured luxuriant trees lining both sides of the road on East circular road he turned right after the police post. Soon, in less than twenty minutes, he was already on Keys Lane – a street that consists of well structured homes. His house, a fenced three bedroom cream colored bungalow was open to anything that can move because it lacked a gate. A welcome fragrance emanated from the luxuriant flowers that line the front of the house before the fence.

As usual the seasonal high number of brightly coloured petals littered the floor of the compound before the front door. Obinna Junior had once joked that even the blind would notice the presence of Hibiscus flower plants that filed round the compound almost endlessly like soldiers undergoing pre-battle briefing.

Finally, the masquerade was home. The injury on his head had gone on a recess courtesy of the pressure at work. Maxi happily drove through the narrow path leading to his front door before switching off the ignition after he had parked the red saloon car at its normal resting place. As he walked toward the front door, he heaved a sigh of relief when he heard the sound of agitated water and fats hissing and protesting violently away from the frying pan in the kitchen. This happened whenever his wife was frying fish or meat. Maxi was sure of a fabulous dinner - it would make up for his rather queer experience at work.

Obinna Junior as usual, was busy with his school assignment and did not notice the arrival of his father who had strolled in and went straight into the kitchen. A highly surprised Ifeoma happily embraced her husband at a safe distance away from the angry battalion of air-borne hot water and oil within the airspace of the frying pan.

CHAPTER TWO

Maxi Obinna woke up to meet a bright new morning. He was so refreshed and had obviously gotten rid of the dry and unfriendly glassy-clouds that had so menacingly hovered over his head the previous day at work. As far as he was concerned he was not yet out of the gutter but was sure of a better beginning beyond the huge calabash pot that was so brazenly left across his path the previous day.

As he prepared for work, his childhood friend – Idemudia, suddenly arrived at his doorstep. A characteristic hard knock was interrupted by a subsequent group of voices speaking intermittently in hushed tones. This strange occurrence tampered with Maxi’s airspace. A moment later, his front door was so forcefully let down and before he could utter the word – Johnbull, his living room was overwhelmed by a flood of distrust looking ruffians.

He soon realized that the gods are angry. His bewildered wife and son were not bold enough to come close to the invading army of manner-less creatures. The air of violence smiled over the house and the sound of thunder boldly stood on top of the roof of the living room.

As the leader of the gang approached Maxi, his sense of comfort was taken over by chickens and soon, he was lying on the floor like a hundred years old cadaver. The gang leader soon began to hallucinate and in a jiffy the invaders disappeared like a piece of meat in the mouth of a famished slave.

Idemudia was the only one left standing and as soon as his brain escaped from the hibernation mode, he screamed so loudly to the extent that all human legs in the neighbourhood appeared and filled Maxi’s house and its surroundings.

An apparently lifeless Maxi Obinna was rushed to the Life-Line hospital by Idemudia and the community leaders. The hospital predates Maxi Obinna and Idemudia. Legions of Doctors work at the two hundred and fifty beds well structured hospital situated on a very large expanse of land on East circular road. The hospital premises have a peculiarly segmented car park that was tailored to meet the specifications of its management.

Maxi Obinna was soon admitted and given first class medical attention. Two hours later, he regained consciousness and began to ask strange questions in quick succession.

What happened to me?

What is my offence?

Who wants me dead?

Are you sure I am alive?

Ifeoma, Idemudia and Obinna Junior who were sitting by his bedside had been looking so morose. Apparently, Idemudia had not been able to get over the shock that had affected his ability to think well. He was as confused as a mouse that suddenly found itself in the home of hungry looking cats. He could not decipher the origin of the crowd that attacked his friend neither could he recognize the face of any of the invaders. In fact, it appears to him like a visit from outer space. He was so bemused that even the walls of the room could feel the impact of the frenzy. He soon began to utter words that respond like a trail of echoes.

Ifeoma and Obinna Junior as expected looked so forlorn. Traces of tear-like looking shadows betrayed their face. They were obviously having a recess after an explosion of river-like flow of tears that rudely took over the better part of their world only a moment before.

Unfortunately, the doctors could not decipher the true nature of Maxi’s predicament. They only noticed his rather unstable disposition which hugely contradicted all tests administered on him. The moment their findings were made known to Ifeoma, the sea of tears soon began to flow from its source of captivity without measure. Obinna Junior soon agreed with his mother on the next line of action – he instinctively plunged into a temporal reverse and soon, a great outflow of tears surged forward and rudely washed away everything along its path until it emptied on his father’s body.

Ifeoma’s colleagues at Life-Line hospital entered the room by their numbers and gave words of succor and encouragement to Ifeoma who was supposed to have resumed at the female ward.

Obinna Junior’s absence at school elicited a phone call to Ifeoma. The unexpected call jostled Ifeoma back to reality and she informed the caller of the avoidable incident that had necessitated Obinna’s absence from school.

Four hours later, Maxi’s predicament had filtered to Triple Bongo Limited and his managing director and some staff were soon at his bedside clouded by compassion for him after they behold his condition. The urgency in their eyes is akin to the one demonstrated by ants on a mission to cart away mountains of sugar. Their