Chapter 7: The Dream at Okpoko

As I dey look am dey go, I frown, sigh. If my uncle hear say Mallam Danladi just waka like that, he go vex for me. Forget, make I wait small before I go back.

I siddon for root of tree, back dey touch rough bark, air cold. Birds don quiet, only my own breath dey sound. I dey reason my own matter, think about all wey just happen today.

As I think so, I go near one old tree, sit down, rest for am. But as I just sit, my head heavy. Before I know, everywhere dark, sleep carry me.

Inside my dream, I see old man wey face don old, dey come my side. The old man bend, one hand dey hold walking stick, other hand dey carry lantern. He tell me: "Young man, my grandson dey trouble, dem chain am for big stone with iron chain. My hand and leg no dey work well, abeg, help me save am."

The man voice dey crack, like broken drum. The lantern wey he hold dey shake, casting shadow wey dey dance like masquerade for harmattan festival. He look me straight for eye, no blink at all.

So person really come ask me for help? I think say na just talk Mallam Danladi talk. But for afternoon, why he dey carry lantern? Abi im eye dey bad?

I shock small, then rush say, "Okay, where e dey? Abeg, show me."

"Young man, thank you well-well," the old man talk. "Make I carry you go now."

As he just turn, thick harmattan mist just roll come. Everywhere dark as night.

The cold bite my skin, I smell something like burning leaf mixed with palm wine. I dey shiver, but still dey follow the old man.

I look the mist, dey wonder, "Afternoon like this, how mist take full everywhere?"