Chapter 11: Mortal Roads, Spirit Suitors

Not long after Folarin waka, I finally come out from bush!

E be like say his spirit pave way. Road clear, my feet dey free.

As I ask for direction, I hear my first better news since I land for mortal world!

One woman for farm point road, give me better yam too. Human kindness still dey.

Here no too far from capital!

I dey thank my chi. At least, wahala never finish me.

With my leg, I go reach in some days!

Hope dey, but leg go pain. I dey plan my waka.

But small wahala dey!

For this land, wahala na constant. I dey prepare.

Even as my power seal, my body still be immortal. For some bad spirits eye, I be walking tonic!

Na big risk. If dem catch me, na my own be that.

Three days, I beat eight evil spirits, and the iron sword I buy anyhow don dey blunt!

I dey sharpen am with stone, but e no dey sharp reach spirit weapon.

After three days, maybe dem realize say even without power, I no be person to play with, so dem stop to dey try kill me!

Na reputation matter. Dem hear say I sabi fight, dem respect road.

Instead, dem start to dey enter my bed!

Na new style wahala. Dem say if you no fit fight person, enter their heart.

Middle of night, I jam snake spirit wey dey lift my bed curtain!

Snake dey shine, eye dey red. E get charm, but I no dey buy.

The iron sword for my hand shine, the snake spirit surrender, waist go limp, fall for my bed!

E no even try struggle. Na surrender straight.

"The bear spirit you kill today na my old enemy. As you kill am, you do me well. I no get anything to pay you except myself!"

Na spirit way of say 'thank you.' But e sound like wahala.

Three hundred years pass, mortal world don dey madder!

Na true. Everything now na rush, even spirits dey copy human style.

I try drag curtain back: "No dey do sex for favour! The door dey there, abeg waka!"

I talk am firm. Na boundaries I dey draw.

Snake spirit no gree: "I mean am, I love you at first sight! I no want anything, just to stay with you, dey take care of you!"

Him eye dey plead, but I no dey fall for trick.

Yes, take care till I enter bed!

I dey reason say na this kain spirit dey cause story for elders.

As I see the snake spirit stubborn face of "If you no keep me, I go die here," I rub my head, then say:

I dey sigh, my patience thin.

"People wey wan follow me fit line reach Western Region. Compared to them, wetin you get?"

I dey count my suitor spirit, dey form level.

Snake spirit bite lip, think, then raise waist: "I get two... Dem say if snake wrap you for night, na good luck for marriage!"

I quick cover him mouth. For this kain talk, na only silence fit help.

"Stop, that one no fit air!"

I use wrapper cover mouth. I dey thank myself for fast hand.

But I no go lie, that one strong!

For spirit talk, the confidence dey impress me.

Under my palm, snake spirit blink, stick tongue, lick me!

Na small shiver run my spine. Spirit dey try o!

I shock, no dodge quick!

Ehn! For this kain bush, anything fit happen.

Snake spirit think say I like am, him eyes shine, hand dey reach my belt!

Na my belt dey suffer. I dey ready slap hand.

"I go make you enjoy..."

Na so e dey promise heaven. I dey roll eye.

Before e finish, the whole snake fly out the room!

Fox spirit no dey slow. Na who fit fight fox, make e try.

Spirit king wey suppose no dey, dey for door, face black, him usual watery eyes don freeze!

Him face dey fierce. Na serious matter.

Serious killing vibe!

Na only fox king fit show that kain power. Even curtain fear.

I guard again, think say maybe na revenge!

I dey prepare mind. If fight start, I go try.

"You!" Folarin point me!

Voice sharp, eye dey red.

I quietly touch my sword: "Wetin?"

I dey ready for wahala.

"You dey so hungry, even that kind rubbish dey enter your eye!"

If na jealousy dey do you, talk am straight, no dey form spirit king.

Me: "..."

Words no fit come out.

Me: "Ah ah ah"

I no believe my own ear. Na me you dey talk to like this?

If you wan do revenge, face me, no dey insult me!

If to say I get power, wahala for full ground.