One Pick Up Too Many (6)

This time around, the young man had nothing to say. He could only bite his lower lip until he tasted blood! He needed to feel more comfortable, the heat was killing him. He removed his hands from the steering wheel and leaned back to remove his jacket. One hand first and then the other. Ranti’s words had cut through him like a knife, wrenching his heart.

He was thirsty! Remembering that he hadn’t eaten at all that day, he shook his head. “What in God’s name am I doing here?” he wanted to ask but he knew he dared not!

In the past, he had preached that abortion was more than taking a life. It was tampering with God’s purpose and plans for humanity. Why, he even gave financial support to an orphanage that encouraged would – be single mothers to give birth and surrender their babies rather than having abortions!

But this was different, he tried to convince himself. This was a child that couldn’t be born!

The “You are Alpha and Omega” ring tone on Ranti’s phone brought him back to reality. He glanced at Ranti who was about to take the call but on seeing the caller, tossed the phone to the rear seat!

The young man didn’t have to be told who the caller was. He waited patiently for his own phone to ring. A minute later, it did. “Mercy said No” it sang, until he took the call

“Pastor” he murmured

Pause

“Yes sir, she’s here”

Pause

“Her phone is here sir.”

Pause

“At the back of the car”

He offered the phone to Ranti but seeing the look on her face however, he got back on the phone.

“She doesn’t want to speak with you sir. I’m sorry”

Pause.

“That may not be a good idea sir”

Pause

“We are almost there sir. I’ll call you as soon as we get there”

The phone call didn’t let him realize that the traffic had started moving but as the impatient Danfo driver’s horn startled him, he quickly changed gears from idling to drive and rolled the car on.

Talking to Ranti was fast becoming an invitation to warfare, so, he kept his thoughts to himself.

“Would God understand?” he asked himself over and over again.

Pastor had explained to him yesterday that the product of the adulterous relationship between King David and Bath-Sheba had to die because his very existence would give the enemies of the Lord occasion to blaspheme!

Now, he didn’t know what to think! Maybe if he wasn’t so much involved, he would have had a clearer head to think.

Ah, mercifully, they were almost at the intersection. There was some road repair ahead and that apparently was the cause of the traffic jam. The traffic up front was free. He couldn’t wait to get to the Hospital and get it over and done with!

His “Mercy said No” ring tone came on again. Picking the phone up, he answered, “Yes sir”

Pause.

“I don’t know sir” His voice seemed to rise a little and it appeared he was struggling to contain his emotions.

As he continued speaking on the phone, close by, from the old Defence house and Western House axis to be precise, a thirty liter petrol tanker was approaching the intersection, heading for the bridge. Traffic on its side was virtually non existence.

The Road Safety Corps always warns against taking phone calls while driving. The driver of the Toyota Camry never did see the Petrol Tanker coming at him at full throttle!

Perhaps it was a sixth sense thing or something else. Some seconds before impact, Ranti raised her head and saw the Petrol Tanker headed towards them. All she could do was raise her arms and whisper in an emotion laden voice.

“Jesus, please forgive me”

And then, she heard the blast….