Chapter 3: The Spirit’s Bargain

But as my aunt dey talk my cousin birthday and time, Mallam Danladi dey count for finger, suddenly im face change, shock hold am. He just dey look my cousin with one kind eye, no talk anything again.

The whole compound hold breath, some women begin mumble Psalm 23 under their breath. Even the chickens for backyard quiet, like say dem too dey fear. One or two men for back begin shift leg, dey eye Mallam Danladi as if he go announce another bad thing.

As Baba Musa see am, he rush give am cigarette, dey beg am with respect:

"Old brother, abeg, anyhow, try help my grandson. Na me train am, na my own blood."

Baba Musa voice crack, he bend one knee small, almost kneel. For here, to beg elder with that kind voice mean say matter don reach neck.

"Your grandson jam something wey no pure, im soul don lose," Mallam Danladi collect the cigarette, talk with fear. "And ehn... last night, even though he jam bad thing—luck still dey, im soul never waka far. E still dey house. But me, I no get the power to call im soul come back. This one pass my calabash, e reach where only big medicine fit reach. Brother, you go need find person wey sabi pass me."

Baba Musa begin panic: "Old brother, you sure say you no fit do anything? The person wey sabi... I know one, but e far, nearly hundred miles from here. My grandson fit survive till the person reach?"

The family elders for veranda exchange worried looks. Small boys for corner stop dey play, dey peep through window.

"E go survive." Mallam Danladi nod. "Your grandson own na because im soul waka, so e no fit wake. Plus, that mass grave full of cold spirit, and na there he sleep overnight. All that cold spirit full im body, na why he cold like ice. Make your grandson dey for sun well-well, the cold go comot. He go survive till the person come, even if na two or three days. Na because im soul dey hide for house. Brother, if I fit do am, I for no push am give another person. Abeg, make you rush go call the person, no waste time."