Chapter 4: Border Humiliation

Sun dey shine for my head; I no fit see Musa Danladi face well, but I fit imagine the pride wey dey show for him face.

The sun for border dey bite skin, turn brown to black quick. He stand for horse back like person wey own the sun. My shadow short, my temper long.

Even as I dey vex, Musa Danladi no even send me, he still dey use me play.

He bounce for horse back, head dey up. Sometimes he throw side eye, as if he dey rate me for market.

My anger dey rise as I struggle to stand up.

I grip the horse mane, try shift weight, but pain dey drag me back. My fingers dig inside leather—if to say na ground, I for scratch sand.

As he notice my movement, Musa Danladi just press him sword for my back.

The metal cold, even through cloth. My heart skip one beat.

Na so e be like say mountain dey press me down.

Pressure strong, like mama’s hand when she dey hold pikin from running into rain.

My position already awkward, now I no fit move at all.

I just turn head glare at am. "You dey mad? You know who I be?"

My voice sharp like kpankolo drum, but he just dey look me.

Nobody don ever treat me like this before.

Even chief guards for palace dey bow before talking. This one just dey behave like say I be goat for village market.

Musa Danladi no even answer me, he just dey talk to the other man.

As if na fly dey disturb am, he shift focus. His hand steady, no shaking.

"Your knockout powder weak o. See as she don wake up already."

He dey talk like say I be stubborn goat. The other man dey fear, sweat for him forehead.

Nobody don ever ignore me like this before.

I feel like slap am, but hand no reach. My pride dey pain me pass the injury for my back.

I swear for my mind, say I go deal with Musa Danladi for this disrespect.

My papa talk am: Never let person finish you with mouth. This one go hear am.

After he finish with the other man, Musa Danladi finally look me well, slow slow.

His eyes dey measure me like tailor dey measure cloth for wedding.

"Na me you go still depend on."

He talk am with confidence wey dey border pride and insult.

I no understand why he talk that one.

For my mind, na only God I dey depend on, who be Musa?

As I dey wonder, Musa Danladi raise hand small.

His fingers dey stretch, shadow pass my face like small cloud.

I fit guess wetin he wan do, but e don late.

My body tense, but mind slow from pain and tiredness.

"You dey craze—"

Before I finish, him hand land for my shoulder.

The slap heavy, like papa slap for back of head. My eye nearly see star.

Sharp pain run my body.

The pain hot, travel from my neck go my waist. My teeth clench, breath catch.

Musa Danladi get mind... he knock me out.

I hear small laughter as darkness close eye.

But as I turn away, Musa Danladi's eyes catch mine—sharp, stubborn. This battle never finish.