Aaron Ansah-Agyeman’s
Chronicles of the Stranger
Chronicle Title:
DEATH ROW
Episode 9
The people in the room remain fixed, unable to move until the stranger has gone outside, gotten into his car and ridden away.
That is when they are finally are able to get out of their seats.
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
(screaming)
FIND THAT MAN! I WANT HIM ARRESTED! I WANT HIM TO FACE THE FULL RIGOURS OF THE LAW!
CHIEF INSPECTOR BEDIAKO
(calmly)
He hasn’t broken any law, sir.
DISTRICT CHIEF EXECUTIVE
(angrily)
What do you mean he hasn’t broken any law, Bediako?
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CHIEF INSPECTOR BEDIAKO
(calmly)
And on what charges are we going to arrest him, sir? That he barged uninvited into our meeting? That he put a spell on us and we couldn’t move? Do you know what will happen if we say the man came here and spoke to us, and none of us could move from our seats? Do you know what the press will do to us? Please, calm down.
What Chief Inspector Bediako is driving at sinks in, and they look at each other, but the politician is still angry.
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
(furiously)
This never happened, do you hear me? Tomorrow, six in the morning sharp, we shall all witness the death of Pastor Zac Larbi! Nothing has changed, do you hear me?
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DISTRICT CHIEF EXECUTIVE
(angrily)
Yes, I agree. The execution goes on.
JUDGE AWEDEGA
(uneasily)
Gentlemen, let’s be rational, please. We must admit that the man is not mad, and that somehow he was able to render all of us powerless, much as we would want to deny that fact. We must look at this… what did he say… this doppelganger thing.
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
(explosively)
And what the fuck is this doublegang bullshit?
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CHIEF INSPECTOR BEDIAKO
(calmly)
Doppelganger, sir. Doppelganger. It is of Germanic origin. Doppel in the German language means ‘double’, and Ganger means ‘walker or goer’. Thus doppelganger means a ‘double-walker’.
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
(angrily)
And what does it mean, and what is its significance here, in this case?
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CHIEF INSPECTOR BEDIAKO
I must admit that aspects of this case have worried me. First, I was a bit worried by the fact that the man in the videos used his right hand dominantly, whilst Pastor Zac is seriously left-handed. That aside, the Pastor passed the lie detector test we made him go through. Now, this hasn’t occurred to me, but somehow the idea of a doppelganger seems a bit plausible. A doppelganger is a double counterpart of a living person.
DISTRICT CHIEF EXECUTIVE
That is madness, Bediako! What are you talking about?
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CHIEF INSPECTOR BEDIAKO
It is not madness, sir! Have you heard of the saying that everyone has a twin somewhere? In the past, when a person dies, his doppelganger might be seen somewhere, and people believed they had seen ghosts. Doppelgangers of persons exist. They resemble each other physically, behaviourally and in every way.
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They dress the same, speak the same, walk the same… in fact they are exact replicas of each other but they are not twins or related in any way. If you see them it will be like you’re looking at twins, but in the real sense of the word, they would not be related in any way! They have different parents and sometimes live in different parts of the world, but when you see them together sometimes their own mothers can’t tell them apart.
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MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
(angrily)
Hogwash! That is bullshit! The execution goes on!
JUDGE AWEDEGA
(carefully)
Maybe we have to wait. Pushing it back an hour or so won’t hurt anybody, and we wouldn’t have to explain to anybody. That man said this doppelganger of Zac will commit a similar crime at the crime scene. Let’s send the Chief Inspector and his men to stake out the place. If nothing happens, and no doppelganger is caught, then we go ahead with the execution.
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DISTRICT CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Why are we letting this stranger suddenly affect us so? Why should we allow some strange man to change what is established by law? It sounds like madness to me!
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
(pugnaciously)
We don’t wait! We go ahead. Six in the morning, sharp. No mad man is going to run this country, do you hear me? This is the law, and nobody is above the law. Execution goes on as planned, do you hear me?
Location: GRAND CASTLE PRISON
Pastor Zac Larbi is lying on the simple cot.
He is dressed in the prison garb, and he is silently meditating.
There is a sharp rap on the metal bars, and he looks up.
The chaplain is standing at the gate, and there are five armed men with him.
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SUPT. KWESI AKYAW
(solemnly)
Pastor Larbi, your execution is at six in the morning. As the law requires, we’re supposed to give you a last meal, anything you want, just name it. Your dinner today will be special. Just name anything you would like to eat.
Zac stands up and walks slowly towards the bars, and the look on his face is serene indeed.
ZAC LARBI
Thank you very much. But I will not be taking dinner today.
SUPT. KWESI AKYAW
(raising his eyebrows)
Really? Are you fasting, perchance?
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ZAC LARBI
(calmly)
That’s between me and my God, sir.
The chaplain nods once, and he stares at Zac with some confusion. For a moment it appears as if he is going to leave, but he hesitates, looking very uncomfortable, and clears his throat.
SUPT. KWESI AKYAW
(softly)
Listen, my brother. I’ve heard rumours that you’re a virgin. I don’t know how true it is, but coming from Apostle Aboah, I must assume that is true.
Zac giggles suddenly and shakes his head.
He is genuinely entertained.
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ZAC LARBI
(smiling)
Yes, Chaplain, it is true.
SUPT. KWESI AKYAW
(taking a deep breath)
Listen, if you would want to, I can send you a woman, or two, even three women, if you so require. You know, to experience how it feels like before you go, you know.
And Zac Larbi laughs so hard that tears come to his eyes.
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ZAC LARBI
(laughing)
Eeeei, Chaplain! I’m going to die and you want me to take atopa to Heaven’s gate? Fornication? I beg you wai, please let me take my virginity to heaven wai!
He goes back and lies down.
The embarrassed Chaplain turns around and begins to walk away, and he can still hear the soft laughter of the condemned man in his head.
Episode 10
Location: GRAND CASTLE PRISON
At 5:30 in the morning, the Observers’ Lounge of the Execution Room is full.
Present are family representatives of the five women who had been brutally murdered.
There are people from high society; politicians, government and the judiciary.
The Member of Parliament, the District Chief Executive, and Judge Atinga Awedega are in the front seats.
There are observers from the clergy, and Apostle Kweku Aboah and Prophet Ebow Bio are present.
Also present, far behind the Apostle, is Elder Senanu Setorworfia.
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Sitting behind the politicians are reporters from various media stations who are there to observe but not take any pictures.
Outside the prison walls a lot of people are waiting, including a weeping Ama Boatemaa.
At 5:45 a.m. the curtain that covers the glass panel that separates the Observers’ Lounge from the Execution Room slowly rolls apart in two ways, revealing the room where Zac Larbi is going to be executed.
The room is painted white, and the bed is high and white with clasps running along its side.
There is a heart monitor and some other machines around the bed. There is a doctor and two male nurses, all of them wearing white tunics.
The babble in the Observers’ Lounge dies down as the observers stare at the macabre permanency of the execution room.
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At 5:50 a.m. a door at the end of the Execution Room opens, and Pastor Zac Larbi comes in accompanied by some top-ranking prison and police officials including the Chaplain.
Zac looks peaceful, and his face seems to be shining.
He is wearing a white overall.
His hands are handcuffed in front of him.
As he stops a prison official steps forward and unlocks the handcuffs.
The doctor speaks, and Zac removes the overall.
He is wearing a white T-shirt and white boxers underneath.
Inside the Observers’ Lounge Elder Senanu and a few others begin to weep silently.
Zac then climbs onto the bed and lies down on his back.
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Clasps are fastened around his upper and lower arms, thighs and calves, and finally around his forehead.
The Chaplain is praying now.
Afterwards, a high-ranking official reads from an official document, and then they all step back.
The doctor is seen drawing the deadly drug into a syringe.
Zac’s heartbeats are picked up by the heart monitor and beeps through speakers so that the others in the observance room can hear.
The doctor approaches Zac with the syringe.
Many more are weeping in the Observers’ Lounge now, including two members of the family representatives, and a reporter who turns her head, unable to watch.
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The nurses have tied a rubber band around Zac’s upper arm to make the veins stand out.
The doctor inserts the syringe and depresses the plunger, and all the deadly drug enters Pastor Zac Larbi’s bloodstream.
Just then a telephone rings inside the Observers’ Lounge, startling the onlookers.
It is the telephone of the Member of Parliament.
He picks it up and looks at the screen, and his heart gives a painful lurch as he sees that it is from Chief Inspector Kwabena Bediako.
The Member of Parliament looks at the wall clock.
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It is 6:00 a.m.
His heart beating with fear, he picks the call and puts it on loudspeaker.
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
(trembling)
Yes, Chief Inspector?
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CHIEF INSPECTOR BEDIAKO
(voice strident)
STOP THE EXECUTION, SIR! WE HAVE CAPTURED THE DOPPELGANGER!! JUST LIKE THE STRANGER SAID! WE CAUGHT HIM WITH ANOTHER WOMAN AND HE WAS TRYING TO RAPE HER IN THE SAME BUILDING THE OTHER WOMEN WERE KILLED!!
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HE LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE THE PASTOR, JUST AS IF THEY’RE TWINS!! A REAL DOPPELGANGER, SIR! DEAR LORD!! THE PASTOR IS INNOCENT!!! PLEASE, STOP THE EXECUTION!! PASTOR ZAC LARBI IS INNOCENT!! THE DOPPELGANGER IS THE CULPRIT!!
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The Member of Parliament gets to his feet as his whole body is suffused with deep pain. His phone falls as he rushes to the glass partition and pounds hard on it!Â
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
(screaming)
STOP IT! STOP IT RIGHT NOW! HE IS INNOCENT! STOP IT!!
The body of Pastor Larbi is lying still on the bed, unmoving!
The heart monitor is now fluctuating, and now it is flat-lining with a long unbroken beep.
Pastor Zac Larbi is dead!
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Location: GRAND CASTLE PRISON
There is pandemonium in the Observers’ Lounge.
People are trying to find out what has happened, and as the truth is passed around, that the real murderer has been captured, people burst into spontaneous weeping.
In the Execution Room, the doctor is told of what has happened.
He quickly rushes to the body of Pastor Zac.
They fuss around him, injecting another drug directly into his heart, but to no avail!
Judge Atinga Awedega is trembling, and he is sweating so badly that they clear a space on the floor and put him down so that he would not pass out. He was making gurgling sounds in his throat, and there was real terror on his face.
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The Member of Parliament is pressed against the glass, shivering, his face shattered with remorse and haunted pain, shaking his head numbly with the depths of his acute horror.
As the doctors struggle over the body of Zac Larbi, the curtains come back together slowly, blocking the view of the Execution Room from the sight of those in the observation room.
The doors open, and people begin to rush outside, weeping and wailing.
Apostle Aboah and Prophet Bio are sitting rigidly.
APOSTLE ABOAH
(shivering)
We’re dead! Oh, what have we done, Ebow? What have we done? We are ruined! He was innocent all along! Oh, God, forgive us! Oh, my Lord, I have sinned! Dear God, what have I done? Oh, Zac, Zac, my son! Zac, forgive me! Awurade Nyankopon!
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PROPHET BIO
(unsteadily)
Let’s calm down, please, Apostle. We don’t know what is happening now. Who did they capture? Is it a twin? I heard the man mentioning some double rangers on the telephone. Let’s just wait, okay?
Elder Senanu has dropped to his knees and he is weeping inconsolably.
Episode 11
Outside the prison Ama Boatemaa is bent low on the ground, wailing, and then she suddenly feels a tap on her shoulder.
She looks up, and she recognizes the tall, bearded stranger.
Ama Boatemaa flies into his arms and holds him tight as her tears fall in torrents.
AMA BOATEMAA
(inconsolable)
Oh, sir, sir, sir! They killed him! Dear Lord, they killed Zac! They killed my heart!
THE STRANGER
(calmly)
Hush, little woman, hush! I’m coming from Camp Golgotha. They’ve arrested the real murderer. Now, stop crying this instant. I’m going inside, and I’m bringing your man. He is just a man, girl, not your heart!
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And then he steps away from her and approaches the huge gates of the prison.
He speaks to the guards for a moment.
One of them goes inside and makes a call, and a moment later they allow the tall man to go inside.
The tall man is taken to a nice building a little bit off the main prison administration block.
There are cars parked here, and a lot of people are milling around, most of them obviously distressed.
Elder Senanu sees the tall stranger, and he runs to meet him.
The Elder is in great anguish.
ElDER SENA
(mourning)
I was there, sir! I saw it all! They killed an innocent man! Oh, sir! This is the most terrible day of my life!
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THE STRANGER
(calmly)
No, he’s not dead, my friend. Do you still have that church building ready?
ELDER SENA
(nodding, confused)
Yes, sir.
THE STRANGER
Good. Pastor Zac Larbi is going to need it. He is going to be the founder of a new church, and you’re going to give him all the assistance he will need, do you understand?
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ELDER SENA
(weeping, angry)
Aaaaaah! Did you hear a word of what I said? He is dead! The Pastor is dead!
Without another word, the tall stranger leaves him and enters the glass doors of the building.
The people are in the reception area now.
The Member of Parliament, the District Chief Executive, Judge Atinga Awedega, the Chaplain, Apostle Aboah, Prophet Bio, the doctors, and high-ranking police and prison officials are all here.
The stranger pauses and looks around at them.
For the very first time, he removes the huge brown sunshades and glares at them through eyes filled with fury.
The Member of Parliament looks down with great remorse.
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THE STRANGER
Where is the pastor?
The room is silent.
Nobody can look straight at him.
Fear is great in the atmosphere.
THE STRANGER
(harshly)
Where is the pastor? Don’t let me ask you again!
They start jabbering, but the Member of Parliament stands up and opens a door with trembling hands.
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
(weakly)
In here, sir, please!
The stranger enters the room.
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He sees the bed and sees that Zac’s body has been covered with white sheets.
A junior nurse, weeping, is packing some medical equipment into a box.
THE STRANGER
You. Out. Now!
The nurse quickly turns and, bellowing with distress, rushes out.
The stranger removes the key from the door on the outside, enters again, shuts the door, inserts the key, and locks it.
The stranger walks forward and draws the curtains even closer together so that they were completely flushed, and no one in the observation room can see inside.
He walks to the bed and gently draws the white cloth off the face of the pastor.
They have removed the clasps from his body.
He is lying peacefully, and his face is serene.
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But he is definitely dead.
The stranger stands looking at this man of God for a long time, and then he slowly puts his right hand on Pastor Zac’s shoulder, and his left hand on Pastor Zac’s wrist.
THE STRANGER
(softly)
And it is written, in the Book of Mark, the eighteenth verse of the sixteenth chapter, that those that are empowered by the Lord shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them! They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover! It is also written, in the Acts of the Apostles, that they laid their hands on the dead, and they raised them, and the dead became living.
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If I be a true servant of the Most High God, I so command any poison that has so entered this host of the Lord to come out, for he is needed in the Lord’s vineyard, because the harvest is huge, but the workers few. He has been injected with something deadly, but I stand on the Word of God, and decree, that it shall not harm him. If I be a man of God, then by the power embedded in me by the Holy Spirit, and with my faith bigger than a pea, and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I cast out the poison crippling your body, and I say you shall rise, Pastor Zac Larbi!Â
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And instantly the vein in Zac’s arm through which the deadly drug had been delivered swells, and the deadly drug that had entered Pastor Zac Larbi begins to ooze out slowly through the vein!
It spills on the floor, every little drop of it!
The stranger then takes the Pastor’s hand and raises it.
THE STRANGER
Because the work is great, and the harvesters few, because the Lord wants you in His vineyard, I take your hand today, Pastor Zac Larbi, and what I have, I give you… in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, arise and walk!
Pastor Zac Larbi, formerly the late Zac Larbi, begins to cough, and then the stranger pulls him up, and he sits up in the bed.
He coughs a bit more, and then he looks around him slowly until his eyes rest on the stranger standing beside the bed.
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ZAC LARBI
(softly)
You.
THE STRANGER
Me what? Show some respect, you puny pastor.
ZAC LARBI
(with tears in his eyes)
You… you resurrected me, didn’t you?
THE STRANGER
(coldly)
Who am I to resurrect the dead? I’m but flesh and bone, an ordinary man like you, with no power whatsoever in my body.
ZAC LARBI
(nodding, lips trembling)
Of course, of course! In the name of Jesus have I been resurrected, defeating the jaws of death so that I can continue to work in the Vineyard of the Most High!
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THE STRANGER
And that is as straight as the truth can be.
ZAC LARBI
(weeping hard)
Oh, thank you, thank you, brother!
THE STRANGER
(crossly)
You should really watch your utterances, boy. Another blaspheming word from you and I swear-
ZAC LARBI
(cutting him off)
You’ll cover me from head to toe with leprosy!
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Zac begins to laugh, but tears streamed down his cheeks at the same time.
Blindly he reaches out and hugs the stranger tightly.
After a while, the stranger stands back.
THE STRANGER
The real murderer has been captured. He was a doppelganger, a man who looked exactly like you in every way. You’re a free man. There’s a young lady outside these walls who will die in the next few minutes if you don’t see her.
ZAC LARBI
(excited)
Ama Boatemaa! Oh, my love! My treasure!
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THE STRANGER
Your what? Nonsense!
Zac bursts into laughter again as the stranger unlocks the door and goes out.
The people in the living-room stare at him, and then the doctor cautiously cranes his neck, looks into the room, sees Zac walking towards him, and he utters a strangled cry and collapses on the floor.
Zac Larbi appears in the doorway.
PROPHET BIO
(screaming)
AJOOOOOOOO!!!
He turns and flees desperately from the room.
Everybody is trembling uncontrollably as Zac stares at them.
ZAC LARBI
Do not be afraid! I didn’t die. I was just sleeping. I’m not a ghost… I am God’s servant, and He didn’t allow my toe to stumble! He is a mighty, faithful God! He is my Lord, and I present Him to you all!
Episode 12
DAILY BUGLE EXCERPT:
…and in a bizarre twist to the whole Zac Larbi murder case, a police team led by Chief Inspector Kwabena Bediako yesterday morning arrested a man, Kwame Darko, in the forests of Camp Golgotha where the murders took place. Kwame Darko, a resident of a small village called Twabisodea, across the river from Camp Golgotha, is believed to be a fisherman with a rather unstable mind and had been terrorizing the villagers before going missing about two years ago…
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PARADISE BASE TELEVISION, MID-DAY NEWS:
…doppelganger, Kwame Darko, who was arrested this morning. When he was presented at the police station, everybody present was taken aback and shocked by his complete likeness to the accused Pastor, Zac Larbi. People just couldn’t believe that it was mere coincidence, and they don’t believe the whole doppelganger subject.
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There are many who believe they could be twins who were separated at birth. The only difference between them is the fact that Pastor Zac Larbi is left-handed, and his doppelganger, Kwame Darko, is right-handed…
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KICK TELEVISION:
…very emotional scenes at the Grand Castle Prison this afternoon when Pastor Zac Larbi was released. Many people were filled with remorse, and the crowd was so thick that it took police several hours to disperse them. Many people interviewed were convinced that this Pastor really is loved by God, because the dramatic turn of events that led to him being released from Death Row could only be described as miraculous…
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STRAIGHT GOSSIP NEWSPAPER, EXCERPT:
…the police are claiming the first injection that was administered to Pastor Zac Larbi was not really a deadly dose intended to kill him. They claim it was just a sedative to make Pastor Zac sleep before the real lethal dose was injected. However, investigations reveal that this is not a normal procedure.
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It seems there is a cover-up somewhere because some people are also talking about a strange bearded man in the centre of the whole saga who played a very incredible role in the Zac Larbi case, but everybody interviewed claimed there was no such man. We will continue following and bring you updates on Pastor Zac Larbi’s miraculous escape from death. Stay tuned to your authoritative newspaper…
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CRIME-SPOT NEWSPAPER, EXCERPT:
…were arrested at the border today. They had several kilograms of cocaine hidden in tubers of yam. Mr. Ato Quaicoe then led policemen to his father’s house where further parcels of cocaine were discovered in their basement, leading to the arrest of Mr. Sunsum Quaicoe. It would be recalled that Mr. Ato Quaicoe is engaged to Miss Yaa Pomaa, and they are all members of the Golgotha Heights International Church where Pastor Zac Larbi used to worship. It would also further be recalled that at one time, Pastor Larbi and Miss Yaa Pomaa were engaged…
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SALVATION SPREE MAGAZINE EXCERPT:
…of the new YAKAI INTERNATIONAL CHURCH. Pastor Zac Larbi, who used to be a Pastor of Golgotha Heights International Church before being wrongly accused of multiple murder, explained that ‘Yakai’ means “God Lives”.
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The church, replete with baptismal pools, offices, ultra-modern conference rooms, and a whole lot of other perks, was donated by Elder Senanu Setorworfia and his wife, Afi Setorworfia. Both of them used to be at the Golgotha Heights International Church, but they are now officers of the new church. The auditorium on opening Sunday was filled to the brim. It is believed that Pastor Zac Larbi’s miraculous escape from the jaws of death has a major role to play in how many people have now flocked to his new church…
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Location: YAKAI INTERNATIONAL CHURCH
Yaa Pomaa knows she has made a very big mistake!
Her mother is right, has always been right!
Oh, why has she been so tempted by the devil to leave Zac?
She had not believed in him despite his claims that he was innocent, and she had gone back to Ato Quaicoe, who is a drug pusher, and has been arrested, together with his father!
Now she is all alone, and she has realized that indeed, she loves Zac! She knows that no man can ever love and respect her as Zac Larbi had done!
But it is not too late!
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She is going to win back her love!
That day she approaches the Administration Block of the Yakai Church premises wearing a fetching ash dress.
It sets off her amazing body to perfection. She is glowing, and she knows that with a few drops of tears and a true show of repentance Zac will take her back.
He is a good man and a compassionate man, and he will understand.
She is directed to his office, which is on the sixth floor of the building.
She rides the elevator to the sixth floor, and the pastor’s secretary looks at her with a welcoming smile.
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SECRETARY
Please are you one of the people he invited? I only have two on my list.
YAA POMAA
(smiling sweetly)
Yes, my dear. He called me. You can check with him if you want.
SECRETARY
Oh, that won’t be necessary. If he invited you personally then please go ahead.
Yaa Pomaa smiles and approaches the door the secretary indicated.
It is a huge polished mahogany door, exquisite and beautiful.
YAA POMAA
Oh, my Zac, my darling! You’re now a big man of God! I’m going to make you such a sweet loyal wife, my dear!
With a look of profound remorse on her face, and false tears already pricking her eyes, she opens the door and enters the plush and exquisite office of Pastor Zac Larbi.
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Elder Senanu and his wife Afi are already in the room.
Pastor Zac is looking resplendent in a white shirt and black trousers, his tie loosened, making him look very handsome indeed.
He is kneeling on one knee, slipping a diamond-studded ring unto the ring finger of Ama Boatemaa, who is weeping with unbridled happiness and looking at Zac with total love on her face.
Yaa Pomaa gasps, and they all look at her.
There is no recognition on Zac’s face as he turns his attention back to Ama Boatemaa.
ZAC LARBI
(tenderly)
…that is why I’ll always love you, Ama, my heart, my breath! Please, accept it as a symbol of my total commitment and love for you. Will you set my heart ablaze and marry me?
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AMA BOATEMAA
(weeping)
Oh, yes, yes, Zac! Oh, my love, my heart… oh, yes, yes!
She falls into Zac’s arms, and they hug tightly with great love as the Setorworfias applause happily.
Yaa Pomaa gasps with pain and turns around, running out of the office as tears course down her cheeks, and they were not false tears this time.
She is feeling real pain as it dawns on her, finally, how greatly she has come to love Pastor Zac Larbi!
Final Episode
The secretary, holding a bouquet of flowers, is approaching the door, and she steps aside with shock as a weeping Yaa Pomaa comes running down the corridor.
The secretary enters the office and sees the pastor holding
Ama Boatemaa, who shows her ring to the secretary.
SECRETARY
(excited)
Oh, Miss Ama! Congrats! Oh, wow! This is so super!!
She hands the flowers to the Pastor and hugs Ama Boatemaa happily.
Pastor Zac is smiling happily as he takes the bouquet and turns the card on it round, and then he freezes and the smile dies from his face.
ZAC LARBI
(anxiously)
Akua, who brought the flowers?
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There is so much concern in his voice that they all look at him.
SECRETARY
A bearded man, Pastor. Tall, well-built, wearing huge glasses but he didn’t leave his name!
AMA BOATEMAA
(stunned)
Oh! Oh, my God! Is it him?
Zac shows her the card on the flowers.
It reads:
CONGRATULATIONS, YOU TWO!
YOU BETTER MAKE IT WORK OR I’LL COME BACK AND COVER YOU FROM HEAD TO TOE WITH LEPROSY.
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ZAC LARBI
My dear Lord! It’s him!
AMA BOATEMAA
Yes, oh, yes! Akua, when did the flowers come in?
SECRETARY
Oh, just a few minutes ago. I brought it here the minute he gave it to me!
The pastor rushes to the desk and lifts the telephone and dials with trembling hands.
ELDER SENA
(awed)
It’s that strange man, right?
AMA BOATEMAA, weeping silently and impatiently is looking at Zac.
AMA BOATEMAA
Yes, yes, Elder! And we haven’t seen him to thank him ever since Zac came out of prison!
ZAC LARBI
(shouting into the phone)
Security! There’s a tall bearded man coming down! Please stop him, okay? Don’t let him leave! Tell him I’m on my way down, but please do not hurt him, okay?
AMA BOATEMAA
(agitated)
Oh, let’s go, let’s go!
The two of them run out to the corridor and take the private elevator, which brings them to the main reception area where the head of security is waiting with three others.
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ZAC LARBI
(anxiously)
Where’s he, please? Where’s the man?
SECURITY CHIEF
He’s gone to the car park, Pastor!
ZAC LARBI
(agitated)
Why didn’t you stop him? I gave express instructions to keep him here!
SECURITY CHIEF
(nervously)
We tried, Pastor, but… but he… he said if we touch him he will put leprosy all over our body… I’m sorry but… we believed him!
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AMA BOATEMAA
(laughing now)
Of course you did, of course you did! Come, darling, the car park, quickly!
They run across the yard towards the car park, but suddenly a sleek, beautiful, powerful black Escalade comes round the corner and heads towards the entrance.
The window winds down, and the stranger looks at them, and then he salutes.
ZAC LARBI
(anxiously)
Please, please, stop! Please, we beg you, sir! Just for a minute!
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AMA BOATEMAA
I beg of you, sir! Please, please, we need to speak to you!
The stranger does not stop.
The window comes back up, and he turns through the entrance, and he is gone!
The two of them stand looking at the entrance.
ZAC LARBI
Hope you got the number of that car!
AMA BOATEMAA
No, love. Thought you did.
She wipes tears from her cheeks and smiles.
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ZAC LARBI
Goodbye, sir! Thank you, for everything you did for us, for our love, for me. I can’t thank you enough!
AMA BOATEMAA
(shudderingly, sad)
You think we’ll ever see him again?
ZAC LARBI
I hope so, my love, I hope so!
AMA BOATEMAA
Goodbye, stranger! May God continue to bless you… thank you so so soooo much!
And out on the highway, the stranger pulls off his hat, and it comes with the bushy facial hair.
He tosses the hat into the back, revealing that he is not so old at all.
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He is indeed a very handsome young man, and obviously with a lot of money.
A handsome, wealthy young man.
He looks into the sky and laughs wildly.
THE STRANGER
You came through again, Father, and I’m glad you used me for Your good works, once again! I adore You, I honour You, and I worship You, for counting me worthy!
A terrible three-tongued lightning lights up the sky, and thunder roars massively, vibrating through him pleasantly, and he knew he was loved when he felt a massive presence in the back seat, a presence that filled the car with blinding light.
The Stranger smiled sweetly.Â
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He had to fight with all his might not to turn round and look at that Supreme Presence in the back seat, because he knew that if he turns and sees it, he will die.
THE STRANGER
(exhilarated)
Old man that!
And the sky splits open with multiple lightning strikes that look like an elaborate web!
It is the most amazing sight the stranger has ever seen, and he laughs as he drives on.
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THE STRANGER
Welcome, Mighty Father! You’re powerful, and none compares to you!! And that is why I’m not ashamed to flaunt you, because, Yakai, You live, and You’re the greatest!!
The presence was very heavy, and for a moment he feels the touch on the back of his neck, and something powerful and divine passes through him, and tears come to the Stranger’s eyes, because he knows he is loved, and favoured…
End of DEATH ROW Chronicles
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