Chapter 13: Umuagu Hill Cemetery

"We don reach."

After we drive for narrow mountain road, I finally see the gate of Umuagu Hill Cemetery. Na only iron frame remain, some letters don miss, everywhere just dey abandoned. I drive enter the gate, see say the cemetery dey for hillside. First two rows look like dem just repair am—still neat, tombstone and stone brick dey. The back na bush everywhere, grave mound bend, grass cover am.

The place dry, no bird dey sing, only breeze dey blow leaf like whistle. I park near the old mango tree, off engine, my mind dey alert. The air for there cold, even when sun dey high.

The taxi drivers wey no gree carry us talk say this place before na mass grave. The county try turn am to cemetery, but as dem start work, wahala begin happen. Dem call babalawo and even police, but wahala still dey, so dem just leave the place to bush. Since then, nobody dey come this mountain road. Dem say if harmattan fog dey, you go always see person dey stop car for roadside. If you stop, you no go fit come out again.

As we waka enter, I dey pray inside, "Make our spirit pass here, make our leg no jam wahala." Aunty Li dey hold her rosary, Ngozi dey press small Bible. I check time, sun don dey climb.