Work in progress entitled, "The White Rhino" by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren.

The shootings had alerted the guards at the station in the national park. Cameras had been mounted on all corners in the park. One of the guards in the control room checked the monitors to find out what led to the shooting. He saw Dante chasing an intruder in one of the monitors. Then, he picked up his handset and called Sizwe, the head of operations.

Sizwe was in the next office reading a newspaper when his phone rang. He dropped the paper by his side and grabbed his handset from the table. “WHAT?” Sizwe answered the call. He sat up, gazing at the ceiling.

“We have an intruder!” the man in the control room disclosed. He yawned.

“Where?” asked Sizwe and adjusted.

“I think he came for Dante!”

“The rhino?”

“Yes, sir.”

“SHIT!” Sizwe banged the table as his countenance fell. “Keep your eyes open and watch his movement. Keep me updated. I am going there right away!” Sizwe dropped the call. He placed his handset in his pocket. He rose from the chair and made for the door. Once he was outside, he slammed the door behind him and secured it. He turned and glanced about. Some guards were around. He adjusted his huge frame and cleared his throat. “Guys!” he bellowed. Sizwe seemed to get their attention with the single call.

Everyone abandoned what they were doing and glanced up at him.

“We have an intruder! He came for the rhino. Get the van!” Sizwe spoke at the top of his voice.

“Yes, sir!” about three men or more chorus. Everyone was engaged. One of the drivers rushed to the garage to get the van.

One guard walked up to Sizwe. He looked pale as if he was under the weather and had not tasted a good meal for days. Fairly scrawny, his eyes had turned yellow with fever. “Boss,” he coughed violently, bending his body and shivering. “I wanted to see you earlier. But I was weak. I need to see the doctor.”

Sizwe went closer. He felt his neck with the back of his hand. “Bojo, you need medication. Take permission from the admin and go to the hospital.”

“Thank you, sir.” Bojo bowed a thousand times. He turned and faced the way to the administrative block. Walking as if unable to hurt a fly, Bojo could hardly coordinate his steps. He went like a steam engine going through a deplorable road. The fever was taking its toll. How did it get to this point? Health is wealth but some people don’t take care of themselves. Paying attention to their health is like a mountain too high to climb. Sizwe crossed his hands over his body and watched him disappeared into one of the offices in the admin block. Once the man had gone, he sniffed and returned his gaze to the other people.

About six or more guards were ready. As they waited for the van to roll out of the garage, the man in the control room called again. Sizwe adjusted his earpiece. He went aside to receive the intelligence. Moments later, the call dropped. Sizwe breathed deeply. It seemed things were not as bad as he had thought. Not long after, the van arrived. Sizwe and the guards jumped into the vehicle and they drove to the scene.

Like Jonah in the belly of the big fish, Gunter was trapped in the hole and could not get out. Dante was circling the hole, growling at the unfortunate soul. The man was yet to regain his consciousness. Immediately the van pulled up at the scene and the guards who had often fed Dante alighted from the vehicle, the rhino calmed down. He turned and retreated to a corner. The rhino sat under a shade created by a small mango tree expectantly. They have always made the difference in his life. Sizwe, in particular, has a heart of gold. He fed the animals each time he visited the area. Now, it was the rhino’s turn to benefit from his benevolence. The rhino knew his presence will put a good meal on his table. All that is needed at this point was to be patient. And Sizwe did not fall short of his expectation.

One of the men went to the back of the van. He carried a sack of grass and walked to the rhino and emptied it on the ground. Dante was pleased with the meal. The timely intervention of the men had saved Gunter from further knocks from the angry hands of the rhino.

The rhino could not have asked for more. He rose to his feet and began to munch the grass quietly. Sizwe will forever be remembered by the animals. The rhino has good senses of smell and hearing. How Dante could forget the men that fed him?

BOOK EXCERPT: The Farmhouse by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren

The Farmhouse by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren Chapter One The Family `Once upon a time in the old town of Gid, an old farmer called Erasmus had a horse and a son. The boy’s name was Jason, and the horse was Francis. They lived in a farmhouse, and Francis took them everywhere they went. The farmer had no wife. She died after Jason was born. Erasmus vowed never to remarry and had remained a widower ever since. Taking care of Jason and Francis alone was never easy, but the farmer promised his late wife on her deathbed that he was going to raise Jason into a fine man. One sad morning, the cockerel said it was dawn. The disturbance woke Jason. The boy stormed out of sleep. He removed the blanket and rolled out of bed. He went to the window and peered out. The weather was clear, and the boughs of trees bowed and danced to the sweet movement of the morning breeze. Jason liked the morning, and then he carried himself to the sitting room, where his father was on his knees saying his morning prayers....

From the novel entitled, "Beyond Imagination" by Oladele Dada.

Oladele Dada. It was dawn. The chilly dust-laden wind formed dense fog on the road. The rocky hills and the tall trees made Ajewole a beautiful town. The birds sang aloud, and clanging of stainless dishes in the neighbourhood suggested human activity was at its peak. Humans had begun to move to their various destinations. Adunni had trouble with child bearing and her husband was worried. Then she booked an appointment with her doctor. After several tests, the doctor suggested the couple be patient and that she will surely get pregnant. Not long after, Adunni was pregnant. After several months, Adunni was delivered of a boy. The women in her neighbourhood, alongside the children, sang and danced to her home to celebrate with her. Her husband, Fredrick Olagbade, thanked the Lord and named the boy Juwon. As Juwon grew, his mother had another child whose name was Olakitan. Juwon was intelligent and his parents were struggling to make ends meet. As poverty st...

NEW RELEASE: Those Ghostly Victorians by Annette Siketa

Those Ghostly Victorians by Annette Siketa ABOUT THE BOOK At its zenith, the belief in ghosts in the Victorian era bordered on the hysterical. From stately homes to deserted wells, no dwelling was complete without a resident ghost. Halls and mansions and even the odd palace or two, spawned a multitude of family legends, many of which still persist. Many people claimed to have direct contact with a ghost through an object such as a ouija board or a pen, the latter collectively known as 'spiritual writing'. For example, a secretary allegedly continued to take dictation from his employer long after the latter was dead. Whether it was through books, plays, or supposedly true stories, the influence of the supernatural was profound. And it is not difficult to understand why, especially in the 'lower class', the majority of whom were uneducated. With nothing but drabness and poverty on the horizon, events such as a windy night or a violent storm were likely to set the ima...

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