Chapter 4: Chasing Shadows at Okpoko Hills

"Ehn..." Baba Musa sigh, then tell my younger uncle make he arrange keke. He talk small for my uncle ear, enter keke, comot sharply.

The keke engine cough, smoke waka for air as Baba Musa rush comot. My uncle hold head, his hand tremble as he wipe sweat. Some women begin pray loud, one dey shout, "Blood of Jesus! Blood of Jesus!"

After Baba Musa go, my uncle, eyes still red, turn to Mallam Danladi:

"Old uncle, abeg, no go yet. As you dey here... my mind dey rest."

His voice weak, you fit hear the fear for am. The whole family just dey look Mallam Danladi like person wey fit stop rain from falling.

"Hmm..." Mallam Danladi think small, then say, "Before the person come, abeg, no move your son. Just leave am for sun. I wan go check that mass grave for back of Okpoko Hills."

He adjust his long buba, pick staff. Two or three elders whisper among themselves, "This one pass power o."

My uncle eyes shine, "Old uncle, I go stay with my son, I no fit follow you. I go send Kamsi follow you."

He turn to me, "Kamsi, follow Baba Danladi go back mountain."

I answer, quick follow Mallam Danladi go gate.

I wrap scarf for head, tighten my slippers, dey follow am as we waka pass goats and chickens for front yard. The sun dey hot, sweat dey soak my back, but breeze from bush dey cold for my leg. Everywhere just dey quiet like church after closing.

As we dey go, Mallam Danladi face strong, e no talk anything. I just dey follow am, no too near, no too far.

I dey hear my own heart beat, the bush dey rustle small, lizards dey run cross our path. For this kind journey, nobody dey talk anyhow.

As we almost reach back mountain, he stop ask me, "Kamsi, that iroko tree for Halima house, e dey face the main parlour door directly?"

I reason am, "No really, e dey small for left."

I remember the way Halima house dey, the compound shape, the old well, the faint marks for ground where children dey play suwe. Iroko tree get one kind presence, like old man wey dey judge you.