Chapter 4: When War Scatter Everything
Later, Garba Kingdom attack our town, everywhere scatter, everybody run.
Trumpet of alarm loud like thunder. Children dey cry, one mama even forget her slippers as she dey run. Mamas dey pack load with shaking hand. Me and Tunde lost for the back of the crowd, dust rise like cloud. Some people kneel, dey pray: "God no go shame us!" but fear grip everybody.
Tunde and me lost for back. On the road, we hear say my real sister, wey dey with main group, jump from car, disappear.
Tunde begin craze, say he must find her. I beg am, say how I go survive as weak woman for this confusion?
But he just shake my hand commot, frown: "Rong, this no be time for your small small vex. Ifeoma life dey danger—how I go leave her?"
"You stay here. I go come back for you after I find her."
He no look back, just leave me for road.
Before one candle burn finish, four or five Garba soldiers see me.
I no fit bear the shame, I bite my tongue, die. As I bite my tongue, I whisper, "God, abeg, cover my shame."
I do am sharp-sharp, taste of blood bitter for my mouth. For my mind, I dey pray: "God, make my soul rest—no let these people disgrace my name." Tears mix with blood, but my spirit no gree let go.
After death, my spirit see Ifeoma for arms of Garba third prince, Musa Garba. She dey do as if she dey struggle, dey shout: "Leave me! Bad man! I no go be your princess!"
E be like play pass real fight.
For front, Tunde dey kneel, face full of pain and regret.
E funny die.
Na so e call am "life or death unknown"?
The pain and wahala for my mind just real, I no fit breathe.
All I want na peaceful life—how I take end up like this? I no gree!