Chapter 3: Leiyin Cathedral Wahala

I use cloth clean sweat for my face. Monkey no attack me.

I dey observe am, dey reason say if monkey never vex, at least today fit still get hope. My hand dey shake, but I just dey pretend like say I strong.

After we waka two, three miles, one big church appear for front.

The church big, pass any cathedral for Lagos. Roof dey shine like gold, window dey sparkle. E dey stand alone, no neighbor, just thick bush and cassava farm everywhere, birds dey fly around like dem dey praise Baba God.

Birds dey sing, flowers dey open, gospel music dey play, light from heaven dey shine, everywhere dey gold.

Gospel choir dey rehearse somewhere, organ sound dey float for air, make everywhere be like Sunday morning for big parish. The sweet smell of incense dey mix with fresh flower scent. E remind me of Easter Sunday for St. Paul's, when everywhere dey smell of frankincense and fried akara.

For top gate, three big letters: Leiyin Cathedral.

Dem carve the letters with gold, dem shine like say dem get their own private sun. My heart skip one beat as I read am.

My three disciples dey smile, real joy for their face.

Na only me dey fear. This na Small Leiyin Cathedral of Yellow Brows Chief Priest—one of the deadliest places for Journey to the West.

I dey hide my fear, dey bite lip, dey hold rosary tight for my pocket like say e get power.

Even Sun Wukong self nearly die here, dem trap am for golden offering bowl.

Na here wahala dey, I dey remember the story, dey wish say I fit waka pass this road.

As we dey near Small Leiyin Cathedral, I just talk: "Wukong, your master dey see say this cathedral just stand for bush like this. Make we no rush enter, make trap no catch us."

I dey use wisdom, dey style the talk, make dem think say na advice. My leg dey shake, but my voice dey steady.

Monkey say, "Master, see as this Leiyin place fine—e no fit be Spirit Mountain? If we no worship Baba God well, how we wan take get the real scriptures?"

E dey shine teeth, but im eyes no dey smile. E resemble those boys wey dey wait make you fall for their hand.

"Your heart no pure!" monkey shout, and black blood just dey come out from im eyes, ear, mouth, nose—all at once.

The blood thick, e flow down im face, drip for ground, stain the holy place. Other disciples just dey smile, like say na normal thing. My skin get goosebumps.

I wan find another excuse, but the second rule flash for my mind.

【Senior Brother go protect you; no reject wetin him ask you.】

Rule dey clear, no space for back and front. I dey choke, dey pray inside mind.

If I refuse am nko? Dem go wipe me out or monkey go beat me die?

I dey remember stories wey my mama yarn—when stubborn pikin dey argue with elder, na so thunder fit strike. I no fit argue here. My mama always warn me say make I no kneel for where I no trust.

Wukong, Wukong, why after you change, your Fiery Golden Eyes no dey again?

I dey search im face, dey look for sign of old monkey, but no joy. The eyes empty, no fire, only shadow.

I just sigh, come down from ram, waka enter.

As I land ground, I use leg tap am twice, dey find small courage for my shoe.

Soon, we reach Hall of the Redeemer.

For the high table, eight elders, five hundred church workers, all kinds of angels and saints line up.

E resemble big crusade—ushers dey everywhere, altar boys dey move around, saints dey wave palm branches. The atmosphere thick with incense and prayer.

For center of the hall, one big lump of flesh and blood dey twist, dey form like Redeemer—dey look holy.

The flesh dey pulse, dey beat like heart. Blood dey drip down, e dey form small pool for altar side. The sight make my head turn.

As I enter, another voice just land for my head.

【Scripture-seeker don enter Small Leiyin Cathedral. New rules join.】

【Redeemer no be lump of flesh. Redeemer no be lump of flesh. Redeemer no be lump of flesh.】

【My Redeemer dey merciful; scripture-seekers no fit kneel.】

The words heavy for my mind. Na like when pastor dey shout prophecy for revival ground. My spirit dey twist, dey shiver.

Before I fit reason am, monkey voice just come from back, dark like night.

"Master, why you never kneel?"

Im tone hard like thunder, e carry force. I feel eyes dey pin me for back, saints and elders dey wait make I move.