One of the most difficult careers on this island is the work of the police. And the fact that all of the male officers, except the chief of police, were placed on compulsory night duties every week, may be part of the setback that made few of the dwellers embrace the dangerous job. Even though this is a peaceful island with few records of burglars and petty thieves, the sleeplessness attached to the job is enough to scare a chicken-hearted man. And this and many more were the outcomes of why there were few police officers in the service of protecting over a million citizens of Cumberland. To keep boredom away, officer Acharya left home earlier, and picked up a novel at the local library. And then head to the headquarters for his night duty. "Hey... What did you have in your hand?" "A novel. I rented it from the library as I was coming to work." "How many times did I have to remind you to always come with a novel for me as well?" "Apology, I keep forgetting... I'm a fast reader a

"Did you hear about a black-eyes girl that was found in the middle of a sea, ten years ago?""Heard about it, but dismissed it as housewife's tale. What did she have to do with this?""Everything. Am afraid the death is connected to her.""She came to the limelight and suddenly disappeared and was never heard of... At least, that was what they made us believe.""Sad enough, she is alive or to be precise, she was alive and fell into the hand of a writer who wrote about her and her forbidden knowledge.""And the title of the story is LAYLA. Am I right?""Yes, you are. I want to travel down to the island where she was found, then asked around if anyone remembered anything about her.""Can I come with you?""If you wish. I hope the journey will not be too stressful for you?""Am stronger than I look. Don't be deceived by my fragility.""I agree. I have informed all my boys to go into all the bookstores, and libraries. And removed all the copies of that cursed book from the reach of the

A young boy in a white shirt and blue shorts stepped out of a brown-painted duplex and walked on a tarmac for some miles. He stopped beside a large field, stood arms akimbo, and peered at his mates playing football on the grassland far off. His courage seemed to be leaving him as he walked closer, halted some miles off and stood with a fixed smile. "I wish am tough and not a sissy." His voice was filled with sadness and he wasn't aware of the footsteps at his back. "Hey. I always see you standing alone. Why don't you join them to play football?"The boy turned about and was immediately mesmerised by the beautiful young girl in a bikini."They hate me and always called me a sissy.""Don't mind them," the girl paused her speech, jerked her new friend's arm and dragged him towards the shade of a mahogany tree beside them. "They are all bullies. Especially, Lang."The boy nodded his agreement, and the contentment of being held by the pretty girl made him redden. "Let's seat here and

Six people were crammed inside a minibus, and the driver drove around the neighbourhood for a while."Over there. That is their lair," the young girl announced from the back of the car.Zuma drove closer to the uncompleted building on the left side of the road, parked and was out of the car as soon as the ignition was turned off. "Hey. I need to talk to you. Where is Lang?"Six lads were smoking cigarettes and gambling when one among them noticed the officers in uniform, signalled to his comrades, and they all scampered out of the back door and were soon lost among the numerous buildings."Wait. Am not here to arrest you. I just want the novel you collected from her.""Get lost!""Come after us, if you dare.""Damn kids. I am trying to save them from untimely death," Zuma raised his two arms and shrugged."We can't leave them to their fates. Please let's look for them," Isabella let out. "Did you know where they usually gathered apart from here?""No." "Did you know their house?""

The sound of gunshots boomed suddenly and was immediately followed by screams and scurrying feet. "Run for your life, we are under attack.""Into the bunker!""Get off the way now.""My husband is shot. Oh...my... Gush!"The uproar become hysterical at the sight of thousands of men in combat uniforms, and the assaulted inhabitants of the peaceful village raced into the safety of their houses, then hurried back as their refuges burst into flame."Ransacked their house and put all the males to death," a man stepped out from the mobs, gestured to some of his subordinates and announced, "come with me.""They were defenceless villagers, and were just unlucky to be on the enemy's territory, I suggest we tempered justice with mercy, Sir.""Remind me your position, officer.""I am an enlisted private, commander!""Stick to your post and don't put your mouth where it isn't needed," the commander announced, stepped in front of the advancing armies, jerked his machine gun up and targeted an unf