CAMARADERIE TROUBLES novel Chapter 15

Nurse Florence wasn't reluctant after she was paid a lump sum of #500,000. She didn't even think twice before accepting the offer. Moreover, Chinua did well in convincing her to give in. Money is indeed the root of evils.

"He is in ward 24, a fair-skinned guy, wrapped up in a purple blanket, that's him! Inject him with something lethal and take his life without hesitation. Let him go and be singing with the angels in heaven."

She smiled, they shook hands afterwards. They had struck a deal!

The night was cold, probably cos Shagbo was in its mid-harmmatan season. The mid-night before the dawn of vicar's coronary bypass surgery, vicar was giving some kinda reactions NIM never liked. He was talking like someone about to kick the bucket, giving some farewell speech, wishing Sandra and NIM luck in our endeavors in life and all.

"Vicar, can you please stop all these? You will not die, this surgery will be successful and you would return back to the convent hale and hearty" NIM noticed he was cold. The wrapper he covered himself with didn't give any warmth. NIM saw him shivering beneath it. The hospital was dead silent as a graveyard and what worsened the situation was that the electricity was out causing a blackout. Seeking help would be fruitless so NIM thought of an alternative. About a few meters away from the wheel stretcher vicar was laid was another sleeping patient which happened to be IK. He wasn't even well covered in the purple duvet, it only covered his legs. "Abeg, this guy no need am. Sandra kindly help me reach out for that blanket"

"Reach out for wah? That doesn't belong to us and you know that,yeah?"

"But he doesn't need it, he shooved it aside. Would you watch your vicar linger in the pain of cold and continue to shiver? Excuse me"

NIM shifted his legs aside and took the blanket from the patient. He never even noticed, someone who was snoring like a pig , E no make me fit sleep. NIM carefully wrapped vicar with it. "Thank you my son" He managed to say. Nobody knew he thanked NIM for the gift of death he offered him. We slept.

****

Nurse Florence measured a high dose of Pancuronium bromide and inserted it into a syringe. It was a muscle relaxant she expected would make any patient she injects sustain paralysis in the respiratory muscles and would eventually die by suffocation. She slightly adjusted the needle, raising it up like a scientist trying to avoid parallax error while taking readings. Ika!

She horried her footsteps to ward 24 alongside a short fierce-looking ugly nurse who carried the stainless tray that contained surgical equipment. Sandra and NIM were told to have them excused as they were about to administer some drugs and move vicar to the theater. "Is he the owner of this?" She asked, pointing to the blanket. "Yes" NIM lied. That wasn't much of a big deal. NIM didn't want to face the embarrassment of telling her NIM took it from another patient, without his consent. Sandra scolded NIM for that after we left the intensive care unit. Many other convent officials came to join us at the hospital. We were praised for staying that long with the vicar as we all anticipated the surgery and and get our most loved vicar back home. But

Nurse Florence stepped out of the theater looking downcast and disturbed. NIM understood this look. He's seen in movies how medical practitioners display this bullshit. NIM was gradually getting stirred up. My instincts got confirmed when she said "We care but only God saves."

"Meaning what?!" NIM screamed.

"We lost him"

Everyone was dumbfounded.

"He had a cardiac arrest while we were trying to to.."

"To what?!!!" IK and Solomon burged in with some policemen.

She fainted.

"Who did you want to deceive? Officers, arrest her! You think I don't know about the whole conversation thing? Purple blanket bla bla bla" Solomon roared. He probably overheard the envious band members before he left and teamed up with IK. The atmosphere was intense "This boy here" He said pointing at NIM " Innocently took the blanket away from him to cover the deceased who was in need of it. He never knew it was the symbol of identification for their prey".

In a nutshell, Nurse Florence was arrested after an autopsy that proved vicar was administered a lethal injection. She exposed her accomplices; those that sent her on the mission, they were all arrested immediately. Odogwu, Chinua, Judas and the nurse faced trial and were sentenced to death by hanging. Afterall Judas was hanged in the Bible. The hospital was also sued by the convent. It was closed down mehn.

NIM caused it all. If NIM didn't take the purple blanket this would have been a different story entirely. Sadly.