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lips hidden under a heavy line of moustache and a shaved head opened the door halfway. Smiling faintly, he said, “Yes, what can I do for you?”
    Clearing his throat, Mr. Drood replied, “I have a parcel for Magistrate Theophilus!”
    â€œI am Magistrate Theophilus,” he disclosed. “Who gave you the parcel?”
    â€œChief Edaoto!”
    Almost leaping for joy, “Ah, Good! Edaoto finally remembered me. I’ll take it from you now!” the magistrate said.
    Mr. Drood heaved a sigh of relief and handed the parcel to the magistrate. Then turned to go. But Magistrate Theophilus stopped him. “WAIT. I have something for you. I will be with you in a moment!” Before the ferryman could blink, the magistrate disappeared into the house. After a time, he was back with a bottle of wine and some money. “Please, take this wine to merry your good soul, and the money to buy a gift for your boy!”
    â€œThank you,” Mr. Drood said with a smile. He collected the present and faced the way he had come as the magistrate slammed the door.

CHAPTER 5
Thomas For Sale

    Mr. Drood had decided to buy Baby Thomas a shirt with the money, but a short distance from where the clothes were sold he changed his mind. He stopped in the middle of the road and looked at the boy. He flashed a menacing smile at the poor child then took the next bend in the road. He walked down an old deserted street, his feet moving quickly and his eyes darting about to make sure no one was watching. He arrived at a building whose walls were old and crumbling. With a little push, the door opened and he went inside.
    A man dressed in a dark flowing garment came out of a room. There was no smile on his face. He crossed his arms over his body and stood before Mr. Drood. “Where have you been, my friend?” he questioned. “I thought you had turned your back on this island!”
    â€œNo, I have been busy. The fish trade is good and it is part of me now. But I’ve still managed to pull a few strings to get you this!” Drood replied, simpering.
    â€œAh, I see. Keep the boy on the floor and let’s talk business!” The old man strolled to a corner and sat on a chair and offered his guest a seat beside him. After looking at Thomas for a while, the man sat up. He swallowed hard and said, “Name your price!”
    Clearing his throat, Drood replied, “One hundred thousand naira!”
    The man wore a frown and looked straight into Drood’s eyes. “That’s too much for a boy! Be reasonable and let me make my offer,” he said.
    Drood gazed at the ceiling, pondering what next to say. Then he turned to the boy who did not know the evil being plotted against him. After a time, he turned to the man and said, “Ninety!”
    â€œStill too high!” the old man yelled. He rose to his feet and faced the room from which he’d come. “Come; let me show you what I can offer.” He walked into the room and Drood followed. The man had fifty thousand naira in his box, and he felt the money was enough to buy the boy.
    As the men argued and tried to settle on a price, Thomas crawled out of the sitting room through the door that was left halfway open. As he went outside, something interesting caught his attention. By the time the deal was done, and a price agreed upon, Thomas was gone! They searched every part of the house but did not find him.
    Seeing a little dog, Thomas was thrilled. And before the men could rush out of the house, he had crawled after the dog whose owner was a middle-aged woman called Mabel. Walking as fast as she could, she noticed the little boy who was smiling at her dog. As the boy came close to stroke her dog on the head, she smiled and picked the child. She looked carefully about, expecting someone from the neighborhood to come out and claim the child, but no one did.
    Mabel had no time to spare. So she decided to take the child to the police station