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THE PRICE
My phone rang and I quickly reached for it from the front trousers pocket. It was a strange number. I cautiously picked up the call.
Hello, a rather heavy horse voice sounded at the other end. I replied by saying a calm word, hey!
How much is your Landcruiser V8? I answered the question as calmly as I could knowing the mentioned Vehicle costs a life's fortune. I said in a rather confident tone, One hundred and twenty thousand dollars. It is a nice and neat machine, Sir. It is a full house, a top-of-the-range version. It is a limited version, recently manufactured and the Odometer is relatively low. I went on to explain the Car details without giving chance for a conversation.
Then the voice on the other end said, Youngman, take it easy! You are talking to a well-informed man about those brands of Cars. I have 7 of the earliest models. I'm well vested in those machines.
I answered in an unconvinced tone, uh sure, Sir. The man in no time placed a demand to view the automobile. He went on to suggest a well-established private Hotel whose proprietor was a prominent local business guru and a seasoned drug Baron, as a meeting venue. I didn't waste any time after the phone conversation and I headed straight to Island 7 Degrees Roadside Mall. It is one of the modern shopping malls in the hillside country.
Driving at a relatively normal speed on a triple-lane highway I saw a fast-approaching Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon in Champagne colour. I became conscious and constantly looked in my rearview mirror as this immaculate automobile was fast approaching and in no time we were at par as we reached the second traffic light on the highway.
Not aware of what this sprinting Posh was up to. A left passenger's tinted window rolled down and a beautiful Brown girl appeared at the steering wheel with a broad smell and squizzed her left eye. I smiled at her and quickly turned to check on the traffic lights but they were still on a stop sign. She gave me a polite horn sound and a flying kiss. She rolled up her tinted window and the green light appeared and she sped off at an amazing and skilful speed. I went past the traffic lights and was wondering who she was. I didn't know her, I had never seen her before. She was a total stranger.
I continued down the highway to my destination. In no time I was entering the Shopping Mall's main entrance. The parking assistant showed me where to park but was suddenly stopped by another seemingly senior parking assistant who signalled me to park in the reserved parking, I was surprised at this gesture not knowing the man who called me was one of the associates of the owners of the Mall.
I parked and disembarked from the SUV. The attendant directed me to one of the Cafes directly opposite the VIP parking slots.
I was smartly dressed and was wearing a nice designer perfume with a unique fragrance. I was ushered into the Cafe and I was welcomed by a young lady who took me straight to the elevator and placed a button indicating 3rd floor. We were the two of us in the elevator and there was total silence. The lift stopped on the 3rd floor and I jokingly said, ladies first! She smiled and didn't utter a word. She got her prox card which was hanging around her long slim neck, she opened the extravagant aluminium glass door and there was a well-dressed guard in a Maroon Jacket, white shirt and dark blue trousers with a pair of black shoes and a cream-white baret and a Maroon and dark blue badge. He welcomed me and got his security chip and opened the executive door to the VIP lounge. The door shut behind me as the guard said, Sir, you can make yourself comfortable as the Boss will join you shortly.
I sat in the soft comfortable Zambian leather lounge suite and another Lady approached and asked me what I could take. I answered saying, no thanks, I'm okay. The lady smiled and walked away without saying a word. About five minutes later a huge tall dark man emerged from one of the four doors directly opposite where I was seated.
The same horse voice that gave me directions to the Mall sounded a greeting. Good morning my young man. I responded in confidence, Good morning Boss! How are you and your lovely family? He replied as he sat next to me, fine man!
Talk to me, he said, rubbing his palms together. Your price is on the higher side my guy, he continued. One hundred and twenty thousand dollars is too much money.
I'm serious and if you gave me a better price we can seal the deal in no time.
I responded as I made myself comfortable. Well, I'm pretty sure that you are well informed on these high-value vehicles as you said earlier.
Oh, yes I'm my young man. A brand new one costs about Two hundred thousand plus dollars. Can you make it One hundred thousand dollars?
As I was about to explain, He said never mind young man these vehicles are damn expensive can you help me with the formalities of registration?
I said, never mind about that, I will do that for you Boss.
He asked how I wanted my payments. Are you comfortable if I pay you in Dollars or Kwachas?
I responded Kwacha will be more convenient for me. The big man laughed as he stood up from the couch. Young man, a young man I will give you Twenty thousand dollars cash and the rest you will get your Kwacha.
He went into the Office and within a minute he was back with Twenty thousand dollars in his hands and a bottle of water. Here you are, my young man. Thank you so much Boss, I responded.
When can I have my Car and my white book? He asked as the guard was coming pulling a two-wheeled leather bag full of cash. As you asked my young man, I have decided to pay cash right away and I hope you will do a great job for me to register my Car.
The book and your Car will be ready in the next three hours. Do you mean three hours or three days? He surprisingly asked. Okay, that will be fine. How will you carry this cash? I will be depositing it in the Bank. Which Bank are you banking with? Zanaco, Big, Strong and reliable I jokingly answered. Let me call the Bank officials to come and do a transaction from here then. Are you sure? I asked. I own this Mall and it's easy for all my tenants to deal with me. By the way, My daughter is the one in charge of the management of the entire Mall. She is...
Hello, a rather heavy horse voice sounded at the other end. I replied by saying a calm word, hey!
How much is your Landcruiser V8? I answered the question as calmly as I could knowing the mentioned Vehicle costs a life's fortune. I said in a rather confident tone, One hundred and twenty thousand dollars. It is a nice and neat machine, Sir. It is a full house, a top-of-the-range version. It is a limited version, recently manufactured and the Odometer is relatively low. I went on to explain the Car details without giving chance for a conversation.
Then the voice on the other end said, Youngman, take it easy! You are talking to a well-informed man about those brands of Cars. I have 7 of the earliest models. I'm well vested in those machines.
I answered in an unconvinced tone, uh sure, Sir. The man in no time placed a demand to view the automobile. He went on to suggest a well-established private Hotel whose proprietor was a prominent local business guru and a seasoned drug Baron, as a meeting venue. I didn't waste any time after the phone conversation and I headed straight to Island 7 Degrees Roadside Mall. It is one of the modern shopping malls in the hillside country.
Driving at a relatively normal speed on a triple-lane highway I saw a fast-approaching Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon in Champagne colour. I became conscious and constantly looked in my rearview mirror as this immaculate automobile was fast approaching and in no time we were at par as we reached the second traffic light on the highway.
Not aware of what this sprinting Posh was up to. A left passenger's tinted window rolled down and a beautiful Brown girl appeared at the steering wheel with a broad smell and squizzed her left eye. I smiled at her and quickly turned to check on the traffic lights but they were still on a stop sign. She gave me a polite horn sound and a flying kiss. She rolled up her tinted window and the green light appeared and she sped off at an amazing and skilful speed. I went past the traffic lights and was wondering who she was. I didn't know her, I had never seen her before. She was a total stranger.
I continued down the highway to my destination. In no time I was entering the Shopping Mall's main entrance. The parking assistant showed me where to park but was suddenly stopped by another seemingly senior parking assistant who signalled me to park in the reserved parking, I was surprised at this gesture not knowing the man who called me was one of the associates of the owners of the Mall.
I parked and disembarked from the SUV. The attendant directed me to one of the Cafes directly opposite the VIP parking slots.
I was smartly dressed and was wearing a nice designer perfume with a unique fragrance. I was ushered into the Cafe and I was welcomed by a young lady who took me straight to the elevator and placed a button indicating 3rd floor. We were the two of us in the elevator and there was total silence. The lift stopped on the 3rd floor and I jokingly said, ladies first! She smiled and didn't utter a word. She got her prox card which was hanging around her long slim neck, she opened the extravagant aluminium glass door and there was a well-dressed guard in a Maroon Jacket, white shirt and dark blue trousers with a pair of black shoes and a cream-white baret and a Maroon and dark blue badge. He welcomed me and got his security chip and opened the executive door to the VIP lounge. The door shut behind me as the guard said, Sir, you can make yourself comfortable as the Boss will join you shortly.
I sat in the soft comfortable Zambian leather lounge suite and another Lady approached and asked me what I could take. I answered saying, no thanks, I'm okay. The lady smiled and walked away without saying a word. About five minutes later a huge tall dark man emerged from one of the four doors directly opposite where I was seated.
The same horse voice that gave me directions to the Mall sounded a greeting. Good morning my young man. I responded in confidence, Good morning Boss! How are you and your lovely family? He replied as he sat next to me, fine man!
Talk to me, he said, rubbing his palms together. Your price is on the higher side my guy, he continued. One hundred and twenty thousand dollars is too much money.
I'm serious and if you gave me a better price we can seal the deal in no time.
I responded as I made myself comfortable. Well, I'm pretty sure that you are well informed on these high-value vehicles as you said earlier.
Oh, yes I'm my young man. A brand new one costs about Two hundred thousand plus dollars. Can you make it One hundred thousand dollars?
As I was about to explain, He said never mind young man these vehicles are damn expensive can you help me with the formalities of registration?
I said, never mind about that, I will do that for you Boss.
He asked how I wanted my payments. Are you comfortable if I pay you in Dollars or Kwachas?
I responded Kwacha will be more convenient for me. The big man laughed as he stood up from the couch. Young man, a young man I will give you Twenty thousand dollars cash and the rest you will get your Kwacha.
He went into the Office and within a minute he was back with Twenty thousand dollars in his hands and a bottle of water. Here you are, my young man. Thank you so much Boss, I responded.
When can I have my Car and my white book? He asked as the guard was coming pulling a two-wheeled leather bag full of cash. As you asked my young man, I have decided to pay cash right away and I hope you will do a great job for me to register my Car.
The book and your Car will be ready in the next three hours. Do you mean three hours or three days? He surprisingly asked. Okay, that will be fine. How will you carry this cash? I will be depositing it in the Bank. Which Bank are you banking with? Zanaco, Big, Strong and reliable I jokingly answered. Let me call the Bank officials to come and do a transaction from here then. Are you sure? I asked. I own this Mall and it's easy for all my tenants to deal with me. By the way, My daughter is the one in charge of the management of the entire Mall. She is...
