Chapter 3: The Journey Home

This boat journey long well.

E long sotay my sickness fade like thread wey dem dey pull, I come dey strong small small.

As the boat dey rock, I begin see my body dey recover. My skin dey get colour, my eyes dey bright.

Most people for cabin na traders from Abuja to Umuola.

Dem dey carry pepper, yam, crayfish. Some dey play draft, others dey gist about wahala for Abuja.

Far from king, dem dey gossip, mostly about Obinna.

You know say Nigerians dey like gist. People dey talk with mouth full of suya, voice dey high.

"I hear say after dem remove the prince, one girl wey dey sell vegetable, surname Ifunanya, just dey use am play, lock am for bridge cave, suffer am well."

One old woman shake head, say 'these city girls, dem no get pity.'

"That vegetable seller get the same name as Ifunanya family daughter from Umuola. E fit be the same person?"

Another man add, 'Wetin bring big family pikin go suffer for city?'

"Serious? Ifunanya family na book people for generations. How dem go born this kind wicked woman?"

Na so gist dey sweet for boat. Even children dey listen. E get as e be.

I sip zobo under my veil, dey hear their wahala, just dey laugh inside. Crayfish smell dey mix with diesel, children dey lick groundnut.

As I dey hear am, I dey think say, 'People no dey know wetin dem dey talk.' Na so life be. As I sip my drink, my mind dey far.

All those years I follow Obinna struggle, too many people jealous, dey run mouth for me.

You know as jealousy be. For market, women go point finger. Even men go talk, 'She dey use juju.' I no send anybody.

Some say na because of Obinna fine face, others say na plan to enter royal family.

Dem no know say suffering no be plan. If to say I get choice, I for dey house dey chop beans.

Some even talk say na the ninth prince send me to destroy Obinna.

That one weak me. For Nigeria, if you dey near power, dem go say na you be witch.

Obinna no dey ever answer all these street talk, him too cold.

Him own na to bone face, ignore everybody. Na so e dey move.

Me, I don used to am.

Even when people dey call me name, I just waka. Na God dey judge.

But na one porter wey dey carry rice waka pass, suddenly vex, shout,

"Una dey talk rubbish!"

The shout loud sotay even boatman turn head. People stop to chew, some dey cross themselves.

"Ifunanya family for Umuola, bandits finish all of them—where daughter go remain?"

As e talk, people dey quiet. Some dey nod, others dey look boat floor.

"Even if one survive, she go be wise and gentle. You wey dey run mouth, you reach to talk about her?"

Omo, na real parable. Even old mama dey clap for am inside boat.

The traders vex, wan fight am.

But when dem see say the porter don roll up sleeve, muscle full everywhere, tall pass all of them, dem no fit try am.

The guy big like wrestler. One look, dem all calm down. Dem sabi say wahala no dey pay.

Dem just quiet, dey grumble, tell boatman make he carry am comot.

The boatman wave hand, but e no serious. Everybody just bone face.

I waka go the back of the boat, see the boatman dey shout for the porter.

For Nigeria, wahala dey everywhere. Boatman dey sweat, e voice dey rise.

"You—dey cause wahala again. Last month, you save one girl, rich man break your head."

Boatman point scar for him head, voice dey crack.

"Few days ago, you defend one small cat, abuse scholar till him face red."

Na so e talk. Everybody for boat dey listen small small.

"Today, dem just talk about Ifunanya family daughter, e concern you?"

Porter just stand, no talk for long.

The porter no talk, just lower him fine face.

E dey look ground, like person wey dey remember old pain. My heart dey beat.

Heat don paint him face red, chest dey go up and down.

I dey see say e dey struggle with something deep.

"Why e no go concern me?"

E voice shake small. That kind voice wey you go hear, e get weight.

"Na my late wife be that."

As e talk am, the boat quiet like grave. My mind run scatter. I shock sotay water wan comot for my cup.

I shock, almost fall.

I hold my chest, dey wonder if na true. My spirit dey shake.