Chapter 8: Maggot Wahala

I don even think say this kind thing fit happen. The gala and water wey dey inside fit last me three days. As long as I wait make Morayo comot house, I go force the switch open, then fix am later. But as e be, Auwalu dead body, after just one night, don begin swell.

I need handle the body sharp sharp, but I no fit risk make Morayo catch me. So I just dey wait. But second day, Morayo still no comot. Auwalu dead body begin get those kind soft, rotten bubbles. I dey touch am gently, dey fear make e no burst.

By the third day, my hope don dey die. Auwalu dead body don dey change shape: him eyes fall out, belle sink in, skin tear open. Blood and rotten flesh just gum us together. The smell na die, maggots dey crawl for my leg, the smell dey burn my nose—no be small. Morayo no even sleep for bed again—maybe the smell don make her suspect something. But she still no comot house. I know say I no fit continue like this, so I ready to break the switch by force.

But na that time, I hear Auwalu voice. “So so smell, wetin be this?” My breath catch—if na ghost, I dey finish.

I dey nearly craze. The thing dey smell like dead rat wey dem forget for soakaway. I dey sweat for my own sweat, dey pray say village people no go come remember my name for evil. Everywhere dey dark, everywhere dey hot, body dey itch me. Morayo dey waka for house with face like person wey smell dead goat. My own just dey finish.