Paths to destiny.

Chapter 11. The thief.

While Gabriel walked along the street, Riggs, who was in the direction he was walking towards, began coming in his direction too.

As they came close, about to pass each other, Riggs deliberately hit him, but he did it as though it was a mistake and was all Gabriel's fault. The items he was holding were dropped to the ground.

"What is wrong with you, kid?!" Riggs began to shout. "Don't you have eyes to watch where you are going? Why can't young men like you just concentrate on where they are going and stop looking around like some fools or thieves? This is actually the fourth time people like you hit me this morning. Or did you all plan it? You want to still somi from right?! Why am I even asking you this? It's obvious, you all are thieves. But the fact that the others failed you too is going to fail."

Riggs was saying all this without observing a pause or taking breath. He was sounding very mad and Gabriel did not know what to say to calm him. He believed he was the one at fault so there was nothing he could say to justify himself. All he did was to bend down and pick the goods which had fallen from Riggs.

As he was picking up those stuff, Riggs quietly and secretly slotted gold jewelry into Gabriel's sack.

Kevin and Gross just stood at their distance watching what was going on. They had no idea what Riggs was doing until the moment they noticed him put something into Gabriel's sack. That was when they had a clue of what he was doing.

After a minute, Gabriel got back on his feet with the items all packed back into Riggs' sack.

"I'm sorry sir. Here is your stuff. I didn't mean it. And I'm also not a thief nor am I with anybody. As you can see, I'm all by myself." He hands over the sack back to Riggs, yet he did not notice him. His mind was no longer focused on recognizing anyone but on clarifying his personality. 

Riggs forcefully grabbed his sack from Gabriel's hand. "Sorry for yourself! Hope you did not take anything?"

"Of course I did not."

"I wasn't expecting you to answer me because I know that is what you will say."

Gabriel was not sure that he was looking for trouble, so he just continued his walk to avoid any further embarrassment because so many eyes were now on them.

As he moved some steps away, Riggs pretended as if he was looking for something in the sack and then he instantly turned as he shouted. "Stop that thief...!"

And the people in his front laid hold of Gabriel because they had seen what transpired between them.

"Let go of me... I didn't steal anything..." Gabriel was begging as more people surrounded him. Kevin and Gross also joined them.

"Where is it...?!" Riggs was asking him with all manner of seriousness.

"Where is what...? I didn't take anything...?"

Unluckily for Gabriel, two soldiers were on patrol as they came to involve themselves in the matter.

"What is going on here...?! Let him go...!" The soldier commanded the people holding him.

"Sir, this young man is a thief."

"I did not take anything..." Gabriel continued to beg. They had left him but he was surrounded by the crowd.

"Calm down," The soldier said to Riggs who was acting very hot-tempered. "Can you tell us what he stole from you?"

"He took my jewelry. I just bought it for my wife and now he has taken it."

"Sir, I did not take any jewelry from him. I have put everything back into his sack."

"Liar! it's not in my sack. You have taken it for yourself to sell..."

"It's okay. We are here to settle this. Let us have a look at your sacks?"

Then the two soldiers divided themselves, one searched Riggs and his sack while the other searched Gabriel and his sack.

Immediately the jewelry was brought out of Gabriel's sack, Riggs shouted. "That's it...! That is the jewelry I'm talking about."

"Young man, is this yours?" The soldier asked Gabriel.

He was surprised and did not know what to say.

"Answer the question, you thief." Riggs shouted.

The soldier was still looking at Gabriel for an answer.

"No sir, it's not mine. I don't know how it got into my sack."

"Shut up you liar! You stole it from me."

"It's okay," The soldier said to Riggs who was still shouting. "Here, take back your jewelry and go your way."

"No! This must not end here, he should be taken to the general for judgment."

"There is no need for that. You've got your jewelry back. Let this end here." The soldier said to Riggs.

"No, I want him to pay. Let him face judgment, that way people will stop taking what is not theirs.

Gabriel knew where this was driving to. If he was taken to the general then he would surely die because the general himself was also looking for him.

"Please sir, let this issue end here. Let it not be brought to the general. Please, I am begging you."

"No. You will face the general so that those you are working with will stop stealing. I said it from the beginning that you are one of them. You will have to call out your partners."

"Please sir. I am begging you. Name whatever it is you want from me, I will pay. But please, let the general be taken out of this." Gabriel was begging and did not know when he said what he did.

Those words sure proved him to be a thief just as he was accused.

The soldiers were responsible, they knew what judgment Gabriel will face if he is presented to the general. They felt pity on him. He does not look like a thief to the soldiers but from what they had seen, they had nothing to doubt. The only thing they were trying to do was save his life by begging on his behalf but Riggs would not listen to any of their pleas. The people who had gathered around also felt pity for Gabriel. But it wasn't their property that was stolen so they knew how Riggs felt. A few people joined in begging Riggs on Gabriel's behalf but it was all on deaf ears.

As the situation waxed higher and higher, the soldiers decided to take Riggs aside and reason with him while the crowd ensured that he did not escape. Anyway, he had no thoughts of escaping because that would worsen the whole situation. Since the soldiers were pleading on his behalf, he had to stay calm and hope for the best.

As Riggs and the two soldiers were set apart from the others, Riggs then made himself known to the soldiers and it was a shock to them. He was one of the high rank officers of Byron.

When his identity was made known to soldiers pleading for Gabriel's sake, the plea was ended, because he gave them a command and they must not go against.

Then they were back to the spot where Gabriel was and said. "Young man, we are sorry but you must come with us to see the general."

At the sound of that, Gabriel knew it was his end. He now began to regret so much advice that was given to him starting from that of his late father and old Mueller. He should have never come to Tadeas as his father had warned him. Or he would have returned home after discovering who his father was and why he was killed. All these regrets did not escape his mind as he was being taken to meet the general for judgment along with Kevin Gross and Riggs who followed them.