Chapter 1: Seven Instructions and the Bell of Makurdi

As I open eye, na so I realise say I don turn to Ifedike, and Baba Ojo don catch me for him hand.

The room smell of burnt palm oil mix with camphor, early morning harmattan breeze sneak enter from under the raffia mat. As I blink, Baba Ojo just dey above me, him old eyes sharp but tired, white beard for him chin dey shake as he bend tap me small for shoulder with him flywhisk, that thing wey elders dey use for prayer and for flog stubborn pikin.

He tap my shoulder gently, then talk:

"Ifedike, I don catch you seven times now, and I go leave you with seven instructions:

First, do everything in your power to stop the Northern Campaign."

My chest seize. Stop campaign? Which kind wahala be this? Baba Ojo voice get weight, make my heart dey beat quick, like goat wey stray enter Sallah ground.

"Second, you fit use Mallam Sani, but never trust am."

I bite my lip. Mallam Sani? The sly fox? Why I go need am? My head start dey turn with questions.

"Third, that Battle of Palm Creek na big scam—Chief Zubairu still dey alive."

My memory flash: Palm Creek! E shock me—so all the stories na lie? I feel fear mix with small hope.

"Fourth, na Musa and Ikenna get the key to solve this wahala. Carry one of them go Riverland."

Musa and Ikenna? My mind race. Which one I go trust? Wetin be Riverland self? Doubt and confusion tie my tongue.

"Fifth, Riverland dangerous—no ever let dem know who you be."

My skin cold. Riverland wey old women dey warn pikin for? I dey shiver small, fear dey spread for my body.

"Sixth, I don make one big mistake, and my own don finish. If you see me again, abeg light the Seven Star Lamp."

My mouth dry. Baba Ojo? Mistake? The man no dey ever admit error. Wetin he see for future wey dey make am shake?

"Seventh, when the bell ring eight times, this world go turn wahala ground, nobody fit come back."

My heart just dey beat anyhow. Eight times? Which kind bell? The air for room heavy, I feel say thunder dey hide inside cloud.

Baba Ojo eyes linger on me, beg me with silence to remember every syllable. As he fade enter shadow, I know say this one pass ordinary warning—na message for survival, for legacy, for destiny. My soul dey answer am already.