Resumo de A Tragedic Experience

In April last year, I decided to travel to a state in the same bus with some traders in our town. I was told that they would leave for the state about 8:00 p.m. and, before that time; I was already at the bus stop, ready to go. We set off for the journey at about 9:00 p.m.
The driver of the bus was very careful in driving, especially as we were traveling in the night. We were in good cheer, and we happily discussed many things as the bus moved smoothly and pleasantly along the road. The weather was cool and windy, traffic on the roads was light (since not many people like traveling in the night), and the fact we were all traveling from the same town gave each and everyone of us a sense of belonging. After we had gone a long way the sky became dark with thick clouds. We thought it would rain but it didn?t; and the clouds soon cleared away after a while.
The time was 2:00 a.m. and not many people were talking inside the bus as they were doing before. I started to doze while the bus moved on smoothly in the silence of night. When I opened my eyes and looked round after a doze, I saw many heads bowing low in compulsive sleep. I lightly closed my eyes again to enjoy another light sleep. But instead of dozing off into sleep I was growing apprehensive without any visible reason I didn?t sleep again, since I had just had a doze. I therefore remained awake; and the driver drove on, cracking a piece of Kola-nut in his mouth. We were negotiating a corner when suddenly the driver of our bus shouted, "Yen!, these people are here!" His hands shook as he tried to slow down the speed of the bus. I didn?t quite know which people he was referring to; and I thought perhaps he was without his vehicle particulars and other vital documents. I was not going to take things for granted. I stood half-way from my seat and peeped gingerly through the side of the bus to see those whom he meant. I was dismayed by what I saw. Three tall people in masks stood silently in the middle of the road. They looked fearful like weird masquerades. As the bus moved slowly near them I saw they had guns and knives in their hands. They stood behind a log of dry wood put across the road. They waved our bus to a halt.
As soon as our bus stood still the two men in masks swiftly came round to us. When I saw them coming I quickly woke up some of the passengers snoring around me, and they sat up rubbing their eyes. Instantly we heard, "Come down, all of you!" Before this sentence ended, two gun- shots went loudly into the air. Those who were still slumbering woke and stared in terror. "I say come down, all of you there," came quickly and forcefully a second order. We soon came trooping down in trepidation from the bus. Before all of us were down, another voice sounded in another command, "Raise your hands and close your eyes where you are,?. And don?t move". We all obeyed. "Now," came a firm demand, "bring out all the money with you, and hand over to me;?.. quick!" I saw each passenger reaching, without hesitation, for his or her money in panic; and I reached for mine too. My bag dropped down as I was opening it. I took it up quickly. Each one whose money was snatched was asked to lie face downwards on the ground. It was a terrible experience. Anyone who was not quick enough was beaten with a big rod. The operation was as fast as lightning or as a flash of light, and within minutes it was over. The driver was asked to start up his bus and move.
We left the place with nothing in our bags; and our pockets were turned inside out. As we traveled along we silently bewailed our losses, occasionally looking back to see if the robbers, were in pursuit. At long last we reached our destination in the early hour of the day, and we thanked God that we arrived with our heads.
Hush! What a tragedic experience!.

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