Chapter 4: Antarctica, Here We Come

Seventeen people for our bureau volunteer, but na only me and two others dem pick:

As dem dey read the names, my heart dey beat like talking drum. When dem call me last, I nearly shout "Up NEPA!" but hold myself.

One na senior researcher, the other one na associate senior—both of them get experience.

The only reason wey dem pick small boy like me na because of wetin I write for my application:

[No papa or mama for up, no wife or pikin for down: I dey alone, no dey fear sacrifice. Twenty years I don dey study, get small achievement: I just wan use my brain, make I no get regret.]

Reply from up: [Approved. We dey pray make you return safely.]

When I read the reply, I just smile small. My neighbor for office, Danjuma, tap me for back say, "Na only person wey no get attachment fit dey this kain mission. E make sense."

One hour later, the three of us reach Makurdi Airport, enter special flight go Abuja.

As we dey fly, one woman beside me dey recite Psalm 23, I just close eye, dey imagine how Antarctica go be. Cold dey fear me pass earthquake.

For Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, I meet experts from every state, including big names wey I only dey see for journal.

With security people, we enter special C919, fly go Warrnambool, for Australia southern tip.

First time I dey enter flight with this kind people—na real imposter syndrome dey hold me. Some dey read report, some dey sleep like say na regular trip to Lagos.

Warrnambool na small town, population no reach plenty.

After small rest for airport, we enter bus go port.

As we dey drive, everywhere just scatter: trees bend anyhow, many houses crack or fall.

No be only houses suffer; even petrol station for corner dey leak small, people gather dey pray make fire no catch.

I even see kangaroos wey craze, dey run enter road, locals rush clear them.

E shock me as I see small pikin dey drag kangaroo tail, mama dey shout from window, "Leave am, na madness dey worry am!"

E clear say the kangaroos dey craze because of the kind sound wey the Antarctic earthquake cause, na im make dem dey attack people for town.

Na so dem talk say, "When bush dey burn, even tortoise dey run." Animals know wetin humans never sabi.