Chapter 3: Masquerade Hustle and Treasure Lies

“Better brother, wetin you get wey fit help us subdue Father Mbaka and e people?” After small palm wine, Great Chief grab my hand—e palm hair sharp like wire.

Subdue Father Mbaka and e people? If I see Father Mbaka alone, I no sure say I fit even win am.

But to survive, I gats continue the play: “Great Chief, if you sabi yourself and sabi your enemy, you no go ever lose. This Father Mbaka wey dey go west—every mountain lord wey e meet na Orunmila pikin or masquerade pet. Abeg, Great Chief, wetin be your own background?”

E face show small shame. “To tell you true, I no get any connection for Orun. Na wild leopard I be before, just dey for bush, one day ancestral spirit enter my body, I cultivate, get human form, meet Second-in-Command, we join body take over Odo Idodo Cave, call ourselves ‘Odo Idodo Chief.’”

I reason am—Nigerian Journey to the West, sequel, spinoff, even later chapters—never hear of ‘Odo Idodo Chief.’ E mean say na small masquerade, not even among the ‘eighty-one tribulations,’ sef no get waka pass.

If this kain masquerade fit chop Father Mbaka flesh, even White Bone Spirit go dey cry inside shrine.

But I still gats ginger dem: “No background mean say you dey free! You dey outside system, do anyhow, nobody fit order you. See Gold and Silver Horn brothers: Father Mbaka flesh almost reach their mouth, but once Orunmila talk, dem gree return to Orun.”

“I hear am, I hear am.” Odo Idodo Chief raise cup, face show regret.

“So, make we learn from their mistake: no delay. Whether na steam or fry, once we catch Father Mbaka, chop am sharp sharp—no story. As dem dey talk, ‘Wicked man dey die because e dey talk too much.’”

Second-in-Command stroke e beard, nod. “You sabi talk.”

Great Chief eyes don dey dream, like say Father Mbaka don dey inside steamer. “Since na so, better brother, which method you get? Tell us!”

“Well…” I dey buy time, but gats talk something. “I get way, but to do better work, tool suppose sharp. Great Chief, which treasure una get wey I fit use?”

I wan use am do wayo, hoping say nothing dey—these kain small masquerade no suppose get better thing. But Great Chief jump up: “If na this one, I dey awake! Better brother, follow me reach Treasure Room!”

Wahala dey o.

Na the way dem dey boast about their so-called treasure, e be like wetin old people for village go dey brag about dem fowl wey never lay egg. For this kind bush masquerade, if dem get better thing, then Sango sef fit dey fear ordinary broomstick—broomstick wey Mama Nkechi dey use pursue goat for backyard.