Chapter 9: Fox Pride, Old Flames

As the man come out, the buffalo spirit cover eye with hoof, run!

Even spirit dey fear fine trouble. Buffalo vanish, only breeze remain.

As I no talk, the hand climb my shoulder, grip my chin!

I dey try maintain strong face, but my heart dey pound.

"Why you no talk? You dey guilty, no wan apologize?"

Voice dey tease me, but e sharp. Na that old fox spirit voice.

I force smile: "I just pass, I no see anything!"

I try act like say I no dey shake.

So the man spin me face am!

Na quick move. My leg almost give way.

"Now you see?"

Voice cold, but eye dey burn. As my eye meet am, na spirit dey look me deep.

My breath catch, I close eye, only to see say him face get veil, only him fox eyes dey shine!

I try focus, but the eye dey pull me like market jollof rice.

But even as him face hide, him cloth no cover much!

Wrapper just hang, skin dey glow. My mouth dry.

Maybe he rush come out, just drape cloth, e no even tie!

If elders see this kain, dem go faint.

Him slim waist strong, all the lines dey show!

I dey reason say na wetin make him spirit power strong.

You feel say na so dem dey tempt immortal?

Na this kain thing dey cause wahala for story.

Abeg!

I dey try fight temptation, but the scene funny me.

I touch am sharp-sharp!

For Naija, na only bold woman fit do this kain play. My hand quick, his skin cold.

The beauty breath stop: "Ehn? You dey use me play?"

He look me with shock, but small smile dey for corner mouth.

I touch am two more times, then scold am: "For day time, why you go dey waka half naked? Na which example be that?"

If my mama see me now, she go say I dey act like agbero.

"Na because I get good mind I cover your belle button for you, no try am again!"

I dey try protect small dignity for both of us.

After I talk, I run, dodge am!

If to say na race, I for win. I leap, no look back.

No look down on war chief wey no get power—I still get ginger!

Na my motto be that. Even if power hide, sense still dey.

As I dey praise myself, the person behind stop!

Ehn?

Na odd. Fox spirit no dey tire quick.

Give up?

I dey surprise. Maybe him don catch sense.

I look back, see as beauty tear off veil!

If to say drama dey sell for market, na this kain scene go get plenty buyer.

That face, nothing fit hide am again!

Spirit king in the flesh. His beauty no dey fade.

"So you know say na me since, but you still no wan see me?"

The eye dey shine, but the voice cold. Na mixture of pride and small pain.

Him eyes dey hot, but voice cold: "Ngozi, how long you go dey pretend?"

Even the way he call my name get meaning. Spirit world long, but old names dey draw old feeling.