Chapter 2: Betrayal, Death, and Running North

After Baba Ojo waka finish, I hand over my clan matter to my younger brother, Ochuko, then quietly carry Nnenna follow body.

Ochuko hug me tight, tears for him eye but pride for him chest. "Brother, no fear. I go hold ground." I whisper some words for him ear, squeeze him shoulder like Papa before, put trust for him hand. Nnenna pack only wetin she fit carry inside faded Ghana-must-go, her wrapper high, face strong. We move before cock crow, our shadow long for moon, like fugitives.

One, because to help Elder for the Northern Campaign na obsession for all of us wey come later. Two, because wetin he yarn me just scatter my head.

Those words press my chest like mortar dey grind fresh pepper. This journey no be ordinary. I remember Mama stories by firelight, how destinies dey change overnight, so I pray low for mouth make my foot no go waka enter destruction.

Few days later, I reach Makurdi with the army, na so I hear bell dey ring for my ear, loud like thunder. Harmattan dust dey blow for air, cold bite everybody skin, but na that bell sound make even the cold run hide.

Makurdi dey buzz like market day, soldiers everywhere, dust dey fly. Then, the bell—a sound thick, cut through noise, enter bone. E be like say dem pour hot pepper for everybody ear. For that moment, time pause, everybody soul shiver.

No church or bell dey nearby, but the sound just dey echo for my head like say e dey my soul.

I look round, expect to see bell tower or at least one small boy dey pull rope, but na nothing—just that invisible thunder dey roll through all of us.

No be only me hear am—everybody around hold their head dey shout, as if the bell sound no come from this world.

Men drop spear, women dey wail like say person die, even tough warriors bend, cover ear. Some dey mutter old prayers, dey call ancestors to protect from evil. The whole square dey vibrate with fear and confusion.

When bell finally quiet, Ikenna waka come out from palace, stand for front of everybody. One palace attendant wey no get any expression dey behind am, but Ikenna eyes full of tears. He take deep breath shout:

His cheeks wet, voice crack, but he still raise head high like chief pikin. The silence heavy, even wind hold breath as we wait.

"Han Elder, Chief of Wisdom, Baba Ojo, don join hand with enemy wan rebel. Evidence dey clear. He must—"

Crowd hiss, some dey murmur. Baba Ojo stubborn, but to hear 'traitor' for him name na like see goat dey enter Sallah ground.

Before Ikenna fit finish, soldiers drag Baba Ojo go on top city wall, push am down. One thin rope tie for him neck, stop am from falling—na so e take end.

Him body swing gently, hang between earth and sky, face turn away from us. Palace women cover face, men bow head in shame. Even children quiet, like say dem know something holy don break.

That time, Ikenna still manage shout the last two words:

"Death penalty."

The word echo for square. Dog bark for far, mark the finality. I stand, heart dey pound so hard I hear my blood for ear.