Chapter 8: Lake Trouble and Fox Unveiled

I run comot from the church!

No time! Na sharp leg I use waka. Even bush no fit catch me.

This time, I no waka round again!

I focus. Any small mistake, na fox go chop me.

I leave the fox church far, halfway down the mountain, I even fit see town outline!

Hope rise for my chest. I fit smell firewood soup from distance.

I breathe out!

Relief sweet pass garri after hunger.

But I too quick!

For Naija, dem dey say no run before you check road. Wahala dey wait.

Around noon, as I dey thirsty, I follow water sound reach one lake!

Water cold, clear. My throat dey dry like harmattan.

There, inside misty water, one fine person dey bath!

I look once, quickly shift eye. The beauty wey dey for that water pass all the pretty faces I don see for market.

E back face me, I no see face, but even from back, the beauty fit make person forget home!

If to say dem dey sell beauty for market, na this one go cost pass.

Fine no be small, but this bush bath, e too wild!

No decorum at all. Na pure forest life.

I no get time for drinking bathwater, so I wan waka go, when I jam old yellow buffalo spirit, wey him evil power dey smell!

Buffalo dey block road, eye dey shine red. I dey ready for small fight.

The buffalo spirit think say e hide well, moo two times, then whisper to me:

His voice rough, e face old. "You see those clothes for water side? If you carry am, he go follow you everywhere, be your small husband!"

Me: "..."

I nearly laugh. Na old folktale style. Who dey use that trick again?

This story, I hear am tire hundred years ago!

Na children story now. Even pikin no dey fear am.

Old school, no correct!

Na real bush style advice.

I push the buffalo spirit like madam: "Abeg, I no want!"

I no get time for nonsense.

As I wan find another road, the buffalo spirit pause!

I fit see say e dey plan new wahala.

Then e turn shout to the man for water: "Person dey peep you!"

The shout loud, e scatter birds for tree.

Me: "...ah ah ah"

I open mouth, but words no fit come out.

Next thing, wet hand land for my shoulder, warm breath for my ear:

The hand strong, but the touch soft. E dey shock me.

"Where this perv come from? Dey peep person for broad daylight, you no fear make I carry you go chief’s court?"

The way he talk, e be like say na play, but threat dey inside.

I get am!

Na so trap dey set. My spirit stand. I dey ready run.

Na trap be this!

I blame hunger for my wahala.