Chapter 16: The Whip Straightens

I return car go carry other tools, tell Aunty Li make she bring Ngozi come. As she hear say I don find am, Aunty Li no know whether to happy or fear, her body dey shake. But she try, hold her pikin well as she come down.

She dey pray as she dey waka, dey call on all her ancestors, dey mention Jesus join. For her face, hope and fear dey fight.

As I dey carry my tools, my eye see the soul-beating whip again. I no know why, but even though I coil am for seat, now e don straight, all eleven iroko wood join together, the tip dey point go the willow for window.

My heart beat dey double. Na that kind sign elders dey warn about—when old charm dey behave strange, e mean something big wan happen. I quick touch the whip, talk, "Make you guard me."

I carry am, tuck am for waist.

For inside bush, anything fit happen. I dey ready my mind, dey talk short prayer for inside.