A SORDID PACT- PART 2

automatisms on the field. He adhered to the idea at once and ordered for
this set-up."
"Marvelous!" the other two men exclaimed looking impressed. "At this rate,
you're rapidly becoming the General's right-hand man," Rambo continued
jokingly. All three men burst into laughter.
-'B07' for example, refers to the 'seventh company', the young colonel went
on. It is one of the composite divisions comprised of soldiers from mainly two
battalions: the BIR and the BTAP. It is under the command of Lt. Colonel
Ousseini, a BIR operative.
-Hummmm ... Why the 'hell' reference? The elder captain demanded.
-Because it is where all the 'big shots' in the camp reside. They are so
notorious that the dormitory is nicknamed 'Baghdad'.
They were talking as Lt. Colonel Njawé led them through an alley from which
emanated a powerful stench of urine. They walked a few metres before
halting in front of an old tattered construction. Its walls though quite eroded
stood solid; they were made of well-polished clay bricks. The whole structure
was supported by four mighty furnished pillars on each of the four sides of
the building, which appeared unperturbed even though they served as
banquet to the colonies of termites which paraded them. On top of the pillars
was a slated roof which was built in a triangular arch. Above the building's
main entrance was hanging a shattered wooden signboard swaying from
side to side on which could be barely read the inscribed words: 'WERKST' in
faint white, with the S's tail cut in such a way that it looked more like a C; the
only thing making it look like an S was the extension at its base, and the T
made more evident by the little horizontal stick at its top.
"Here are your new quarters!" Njawé said as he pushed open the main door.
Inside the dormitory were bunk beds littered at the different angles of the
large room which was lit by the dim glow of a bulb which shone at its centre.
At the porch was a small group of soldiers, playing cards under candlelight.
"Where is the colonel?" Njawé demanded firmly. At that instant, those whose
backs faced the main entrance, turned their faces to have a look at the
speaker. The expression of their faces immediately shifted to contempt once
they uncovered the identity of the speaker. "He's gone to fetch kerosene for
his hurricane lamp," one of the players responded scornfully. This made one
from amongst the disdainful elements to giggle. His laugh was more like the
squawking of a parrot. Njawé clenched his fists firmly for a moment, breathed
in, then yelled at the top of his voice: "Staff Sergeant Tombi!!! Come over
here!" There was a brief moment of silence. From the crowd arose puny