Chapter 4: Pillars of Flesh and Bronze

After the train stop, we use army jeep go another thirty minutes. Finally, before noon, we reach the camp near the underground palace ruins. Staff lead Musa and me pass through the bronze tunnel enter the underground palace. The place empty, only twelve big bronze pillars dey stand for the dark. If you stand near them, you go feel like ant.

I almost forget myself as I dey stare the pillars. The bronze dey reflect torchlight, shine like palm oil for new pot. For small moment, e be like the patterns dey shift for my eyes.

Professor Okey Nwachukwu dey lead him team dey dig and investigate, he no even notice as we come. I go greet am: "Professor Okey, any update?"

He no look up immediately, just dey brush one pillar gently with small brush, like person wey dey clean dead ancestor grave. The man face tight with concentration.

"Researcher Chima, you don reach," Okey Nwachukwu nod. "For now, we only sure say na sacrifice site. Normally, sacrifice sites no dey alone. I believe say other ruins dey around, but we never find any."

I nod, sit near am. After we quiet for some time, I ask: "Professor Okey, you serve for army before you enter archaeology?"

He pause, then rest elbow for knee. I notice sweat dey bead for him bald head, but the man just dey focus. Some of the young archaeologists dey watch us, whispering behind back, as if Okey carry special power.

Okey Nwachukwu finish for army 2013, teach himself for one year, write exam enter University of Ibadan history department. After school, he face archaeology, focus on bronzeware. Associate professor by thirty-five, full professor just pass forty. Unlike me wey only get small post for Institute of History, he na big name for the field.

Some people say he carry spiritual mark from war, others just respect am because he no dey fear any bush.

"I enter archaeology because I wan come back here," Okey Nwachukwu talk am straight. "I no remember anything wey happen that time. Those things dey disturb me, I wan find the truth."

His eyes red, like man wey never sleep for one week. Musa shift, clear throat, but no talk.

I ask am: "You believe the prophecy?"

"The false ones go come, humanity go finish..." Okey Nwachukwu reason am. "False ones, e mean dem resemble human but dem no be human."

He voice drop, as if e dey talk to himself. I feel goosebumps for my arm.

Suddenly, he look me for eye, no even blink:

"Maybe, na me be false one wey dey wear human skin."

For that moment, everybody for camp pause. Even the generator wey dey hum, slow down. I swallow spit, chest tight like rope.

As I see the emptiness for him eyes, cold catch me. Next thing, Okey Nwachukwu just laugh, pat my shoulder, "Relax, no fear."

His laugh rough, but na just surface. E be like man wey dey try chase shadow from him mind.

I laugh join am, then signal Musa make e calm down. Musa release the knife wey him dey hold for pocket.

Musa whisper for my ear, "Abeg, next time warn me before you ask all this kind question."

"Ah ah ah ah——"

Suddenly, one loud scream come from the dark. We run go where the sound dey come from, some archaeology team members dey run come our side, fear full their face.

The air thick with panic, one man even fall, get up, still dey run. My heart beat dey drum for my ear.

Okey Nwachukwu hold one of them, ask: "Wetin happen?"

His grip firm but gentle, the kind way soldier dey hold junior for parade.

"Pr... Professor..." the team member voice dey shake, "Brother Taye... for the bronze pillar..."

The name Taye echo for my ear, as if spirit call am from the pillar side.

Okey Nwachukwu face change, try calm am: "Calm down, talk wetin you see."

He pull water bottle, pour for the man hand.

The team member face white like paper, he vomit before he fit talk:

"You... better come see am yourself..."

Everybody hush, some dey cross themselves, others dey hold their cap tight for head. Nobody wan go, but nobody fit stand back.