Chapter 6: Mountain Circles and Hungry Prayers

After three hundred years, as I return mortal world, my mind full!

As I open eye, na new air, new bush, new wahala. E sweet, but the fear dey small.

Mainly say those born immortals no get sense!

Dem go dey act like dem sabi everything, but na we wey chop ground rice dey understand how earth dey be.

According to Destiny Keeper, I suppose be cousin lady wey dey find shelter for Duke’s compound!

Na so I begin dey practice my cousin voice, dey adjust my wrapper.

I think say the main thing na ‘cousin lady’!

I dey expect dem to treat me with small respect. Na cousin, after all.

No know say na ‘find shelter’ be the koko!

As I open eye, na wild bush I dey, the only place nearby na fox spirit church!

All these kind remote place, na spirit go dey use am chop offering. My skin begin stand.

For reason I no fit talk, I no really wan enter that church!

My body just dey warn me. Instinct dey ring bell for my head.

So I turn, begin waka down the mountain, plan to ask for town how far capital dey!

Plan dey simple. I go find shortcut, dodge wahala.

But I no know say the mountain deep well well!

Ehn! E be like say na spirit dey draw me back. My leg dey waka, but na circle I dey go.

I waka till night, still no fit come out from bush!

Mosquito dey bite, my wrapper don stain. I dey tire.

Instead, I waka round, land back for that fox church!

Na so fate dey play. The road always lead me back. I sigh.

My belle begin cry, I dey look the fresh fruit for offering table!

Hunger na serious matter. My pride dey argue with my stomach.

After small time, under the fox statue eye, I carry the offering fruit!

I look left, I look right. Na only bush dey answer. I reach hand, sharp sharp.

"Abeg ancestors, make this fruit no turn wahala for my belle." I even salute the statue small, try use joke beg am for mind.

Fox statue: "..."

The air still. The only answer na silence.

That one taste, I chop all!

After the first bite, I forget shame. Hunger na real spirit.

I no go lie, the fruit sweet!

The thing dey juice, pass market orange.

I know say fox no fit become immortal, and all these fox statue no fit get sense!

But I still dey watch my back. For Naija, no be all shrine you fit trust.

But as I chop all the offering, no leave small, I still dey shame!

I dey reason how I go pay back if dem catch me. I even dey calculate whether I fit find fruit replace am.

So I carry the red cloth for offering table, shake am, use am cover the statue head!

Na my own way of say, 'make dem no see my face.' Na only thief dey do that kain sharp sharp repentance.

Yes! Now e no dey before statue again!

I clean my hand, dey ready find sleep.