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I sat down on a row of chairs. There were not many people in the bank on the
Tuesday afternoon. So I figured that I would not have to wait long for my turn.
Suddenly I heard someone shout behind me. instinctively I looked around and was
shocked to see two gunmen brandishing
handguns and telling everyone in the bank to get down on the floor. I obeyed
quickly. I was too stunned to feel any fear. I just lay down on the floor like
the other customers. I could not see anything except the floor tiles next to
my face but I heard harsh voices shouting, the sound of someone being hit and
some death threats being uttered. It sounded like the robbers would not hesitate
to shoot anyone who did not comply. From the corner of my eye I caught the
sight of a pair of moving boots. For the first time I felt fear. The boots must
be that of one of the robbers ! Anyhow the boots disappeared from view for a
moment, reappeared and then disappeared again. I heard the
trampling of feet and I knew that the robbers were making their
escape. It did not take them long to do their dirty business. I raised my head
and had a momentary glimpse of two figures running out of the bank door. Another
figure flashed past my view and I realized that it was a security guard. He was
holding a pump gun in his hands ! I got up to have a better view. The security
guard ran out of the bank just as the robbers were making their getaway on a
motorcycle. The motorcycle sped off just as the guard leveled his gun and fired
at the fleeing duo. Even in the bank, the sound of the shot was deafening.
From my position I saw the shot hit the pillion rider smack on his back. There
was a spray of blood and the body went limp. As the motorcycle accelerated, the
pillion rider was flung backwards onto the road in a lifeless heap. The guard
fired another shot at the remaining motorcyclist. The shot missed the target but
shattered the back screen of a car nearby. By then I was out of the bank
watching the real-life action. So were other customers. It was just like in the
movies except that it was for real. The guard ran up to the robber that he had
shot and examined the slumped figure. There was no sign of life. The guard then
picked up a bag that the robber had dropped. No doubt it contained the loot. I
watched the scene until the police arrive about ten minutes later. After I went
home as there was no point hanging around I could do my banking at another time. |
