Chapter 6: Fox Trick and Final Showdown

I no know how long I squat for that tree—my yansh don dey pain me—but the monk no comot from room.

Spirit fit dey squat, but na body still dey remind you say you dey this world. Mosquito dey bite, breeze dey blow, still I dey form strong.

As sleep dey catch me, I stretch, look down. One small monk, maybe six years, dey sweep leaf under tree.

E dey struggle with broom—na so small breeze carry am pass.

As boredom wan kill me, I jump down behind am.

I nor fit die of boredom for baobab top, abeg.

The small monk turn, drop broom, fall for ground.

E mouth wide like fufu seller wey see police, eye big like torchlight for blackout.

I click tongue. "E reach like that? I resemble ogbanje?"

I dey expect small laugh, but the boy still dey shake.

The small monk shake head. "Oga, why you still dey monastery? You no know say dem close today? Run before palace guards catch you!"

E voice dey crack, e dey fidget. Na so pikin dey fear ghost.

I wave am. "Abeg, I go soon go. But this your Father Onyekachi—how the guy be?"

I dey do like street journalist, dey fish for gist.

The small monk, long leg, stand up, shake head like person wey dey worship.

E arrange cloth, stand straight like person wey dey do parade.

"Father Onyekachi sabi God, dey follow the way, dey save people, get better heart—nobody reach am."

See as pikin dey praise e mentor. If na village, dem for say e dey find meat pie.

I snort. "You don turn am to angel. How you know say e no dey sneak go mama put or dey drink palm wine, dey break rule?"

For Naija, everybody get secret. Nobody holy pass.

The small monk open eye, almost cover my mouth.

E dey shake like person wey see masquerade at night.

"Oga, abeg, no talk that kind thing o! Bad luck fit jam you!"

Na so e whisper, e dey look left and right, dey fear spirit thunder.

I roll eye. Na me know pass if e dey break rule.

If dem dey share award for spiritual wahala, na Father Onyekachi for carry trophy.

"You better waka go. I wan go copy Psalms now. Make dem no catch you o!"

E dey run like say guards dey chase am already.

E grab broom, run.

Na so sand just dey fly for air. Pikin nor dey waste time when fear catch am.

Night don fall, Father Onyekachi still dey inside.

Moon don full, owl dey hoot. E mean say time don go.

I no fit sleep for tree again.

If mosquito bite me pass this, I fit swear for baobab spirit.

I reason, hide my spirit aura, change to my original form—only tail remain—run go him door, scratch am, make small whimper.

Fox spirit sabi trick—na so we dey survive since before colonial masters land.

I dey do like stray dog wey dey find shelter. Fox spirit sabi trick.

No be monks dey get pity?

If dem see animal for night, dem dey carry am inside, pray for am, bless am, even give food.

If I show as small animal, I fit stay for him room this night. Once e sleep, I go grab my pendant.

Correct plan.

Sharp plan, fox style.

After I whine reach, no answer. I try again, make am more pitiful.

I even roll for ground, wag tail, try form sick animal.

As I expect, door open small. Father Onyekachi wear white undercloth, black robe, step outside, eye dey down.

E dey reason whether to chase me or pity me. But soft heart nor dey hide.

I sharply run enter, curl near bed, look up with innocent eye, dey form stray animal.

Na so I dey form like say I never chop for three days. My eye big, tail curl.

Father Onyekachi stand for door, half turn, face no show for shadow.

E dey look like say e dey talk to God. E no sure whether to trust animal or not.

My plan set: if e chase me, I go change, fight, grab pendant, run. If not, I go wait till e meditate, then collect am.

I dey calculate every move, dey watch leg movement.

After small standoff, e turn, close door, just like before, sit for bed, close eye, begin meditate.

Spirit dey talk say if person dey calm for wahala, e fit do wonders. Na so I dey look for my chance.

E mean say I fit stay.

Victory dey my corner. Only patience remain.

Monks dey soft—easy to run their street.

I dey celebrate small for mind. My ancestors dey nod head.

I sneak reach bed edge. As e no talk, I move closer.

I dey tiptoe like say ground dey hot. Na so I dey near.

Three steps, two steps.

Na so tail dey wag small, ear dey stand. One more step, I fit grab am.

As my paw wan touch pendant, Father Onyekachi sharply carry am away.

Spirit don jam wahala! Na so my chest cold.

I panic, and as fur dey stand, I jump—

I leap like say demon dey pursue me. All my muscle tense.

Na so I land for Father Onyekachi hand, eye open, we dey look each other.

For that moment, everywhere still. Na only heart dey beat, like drum for night festival.

...

Wahala.

Who send me message for this life? My fox ancestors go dey laugh for spirit realm. But as Father Onyekachi eye dey shine for dark, I know say this night never finish.