Chapter 6: The Secret of the White Cloth

I shake head small, "Me and my cousin no too close. I no sabi im matter like that."

I remember when Halima dey alive, she dey always wear one big Ankara gown, dey walk with bare foot for market. My cousin no dey even look her side, na quiet boy. Sometimes I wonder if e fit offend am.

Mallam Danladi eye just dey shine, but he no talk again, just waka go front.

As we dey move, breeze dey blow, small leaf dey dance for air. Old spirit of the land just dey silent, as if dem dey watch us.

About half hour later, I follow am reach mass grave. He waka round the place three times, then bring out some white cloth with marks, throw am for air. As the cloth dey burn, e turn ash for air, he sigh. Then he bring out another white cloth, face me:

"Kamsi, I talk say I wan check mass grave, na just excuse to commot. Your cousin own too get wahala, I no wan join. Wetin I tell you just now, abeg, keep am for yourself. This cloth—hold am, no tell anybody."

He give me the cloth, then say:

His hand dey shake small as he pass me the cloth. The marks for am be like old nsibidi sign wey I don see for shrine before. My heart dey jump as I hold am.

"No rush go house, stay here small. Even though cold spirit full here, as you hold cloth, nothing go do you."

I collect am, talk, "Baba Danladi, if you commot now, how I go take explain give my uncle?"

"Just talk say nothing dey here, I look finish, then I commot."

As he dey go, he stop, turn tell me:

"If person come ask you for help later, abeg, help am. No forget, you must help. Because your forehead dark... that one no good sign."

I confuse, "Who go come mass grave come ask me for help?"

But Mallam Danladi no answer, just waka go.

The cloth heavy for my palm, like say e dey draw my hand. I dey look Baba Danladi small small as im back dey fade for bush.