Chapter 8: The Gamble of Truth and the Seven Star Lamp

I think say Mallam Sani go retreat small small—after all, na master strategist. But instead, he just smile with pain:

"With Baba for brain, Dogo for force, any plan I get na suicide."

Men grunt, head low. I feel pity but fear—when wise men fail, who go save us?

Army run, reach Jos. Night before we enter, Mallam Sani call me alone. For carriage, na only two of us. Driver waka far, only night insect dey make noise. Finally, he talk:

"General Ifedike, as e be so, make we no hide again: one answer for one answer."

I confuse. "How you mean?"

He smile, sly. 'You ask, I answer. Then I ask, you answer. No cheating. Old code.'

"How I go know say you no go lie?"

He laugh, short, dry. ‘No juju can protect liar here, my brother.’ Mallam Sani bite finger, draw blood, circle me, then draw am into him chest:

"Na blood curse—if anybody lie, na instant death. Now, ask."

I steady voice. "Tell me—wetin concern that bell?"

Mallam Sani quiet, then talk nine words:

"When bell ring, living go die, evil spirit go rise."

Cold catch me. Even fire for lamp flicker like say e dey fear.

Before I fit talk more, Mallam Sani say:

"My turn: General Ifedike, wetin Baba Ojo tell you?"

I shine eye. Mallam Sani na real trickster, wan use nine words collect everything Baba Ojo tell me.

I talk slow: "Baba Ojo tell me, make I carry Ikenna or Musa go Riverland."

He quick: "And then?"

I smile. "Na second question be that."

He frown, vex show. "Then ask your second question."

I shake head, dust imaginary sand from knee.

"No need."

I drop from carriage. 'Those nine words do me.'

As I waka commot, cold sweat soak me. Baba Ojo talk true—Mallam Sani fit use, but no trust am. If I no sharp, he for don use me.

That 'blood curse' na just eye service. Ifedike wey never leave Umuola for life go believe am. But I don watch juju show tire—I see say at the end, na my body the 'blood curse' enter.

Luckily, he rush, only ask 'wetin he tell me,' forget to say make I talk everything. If not, all my secret for don enter those nine words.

As I suspect, Mallam Sani hide something about the bell.

Because as we reach Jos, Musa rush come greet us:

"Sani, thanks to your backup, me and my elders no suffer for the bell."

Mallam Sani just look me, but I form like say I no hear, dey gist with Nnenna. Musa wan talk more, but scout rush enter—no matter how dem fight, Dogo don near Jos, less than hundred miles remain.

Fear catch Musa, he drop everything, follow us run.