Chapter 8: Tunde’s Delay

The spiritual tonic wey kings and chiefs dey find for their whole life—dey for my front so. But all I feel na serious disgust. Pastor see say I never take am, e confuse. “Why you dey delay? Grand Elder need rest.”

Pastor voice dey lose patience, but I dey stand like person wey stubborn pass donkey. I dey look the tonic, but my mind dey calculate how to escape without dem noticing.

I bite my tongue make I hold myself, carry the ‘tonic’ with both hands, bow. “Pastor, I don already fail Spiritual Awakening once. If I fail again, I go disappoint elders and Pastor.” I talk am with all my heart, “I remember say, in the next few days, some outer disciples go also take the tonic, cleanse their spirit. I wan observe and learn from Senior Brother Abdul.” Before Pastor go suspect anything, I sharply add, “If e possible, make Pastor help me keep this tonic for some days… I never reach the level yet.”

Since small, because of these eyes, I don see many secrets. I sabi pretend. True true, Pastor reason am, wan talk, but Grand Elder first talk, laugh: “Leave am. I never see disciple wey dey fear like this for long.”

“Thank you, Elder.” I bow again.

As I dey bow, I dey plan my next move. For my head, e dey like chess: one wrong step, na checkmate. I dey thank Elder with big voice, but for my heart, I dey beg God make dem believe my lie.

I hear the bronze bells for old roof dey ring for wind: Ding—

The bell sound deep, heavy, echo like voice of ancestors. I dey listen, dey count each beat, like say e go give me clue on when to run.