Chapter 1: The Night Fishing Disappearance

Since last night when my elder cousin go fish for night, up till now, we never see am. Everybody dey worry. But my small cousin, eight years old pikin—na girl—she dey insist say my cousin still dey house.

The way she just stand, tiny legs akimbo and lips poked out like she dey vex, you go know say this na pikin wey no dey hear word. She drag her slippers for ground, face squeeze as she talk, "Uncle Chuka dey this house, I see am yesterday for parlour, I swear." Everybody look am like say she don craze, but she no gree change mouth. For our family, children dey quick see wetin elder eye no dey see, but this one wey she talk, e pass everybody power.

As she finish, Baba Musa burst enter compound, dey pant like person wey run marathon. He shout say my cousin sleep for mass grave for back of Okpoko Hills, dem try wake am, e no gree. He beg my uncle make im gather people sharp-sharp go carry my cousin come back.

Baba Musa hold stick for hand, sweat dey drip for im bald head as he dey talk. Women for our compound don gather, some dey cover mouth, dey shake head. As the news waka round, small children stop their play, everywhere just freeze. Na so people begin follow Baba Musa run go Okpoko Hills.

When dem finally bring my cousin come house, im body cold like ice block, face white like person wey don die, and still, he no gree wake. Thank God say Baba Musa act fast, run go call Mallam Danladi—the native seer—from next village. Dem lay my cousin under sun for the compound, then Mallam Danladi turn face my uncle.

As dem lay my cousin for middle of compound, Mama Chuka begin wail, dey call im name. Neighbours gather dey whisper. Some old women begin sprinkle salt and red oil for corner, dey murmur protection prayer. Dem dey try block bad spirit from crossing our door. Mallam Danladi just tie im red scarf tighter, im eyes dey steady as he look everybody one by one.

"Where una find am?"

"For the mass grave for back of Okpoko Hills."

My uncle, eyes red from too much cry, talk say, "He dey lie down for one new grave."

"New grave?" Mallam Danladi face change, shock grab am. He ask, "The person wey dem bury for there, na man or woman?"