Chapter 4: Blood, Warmth, and Redemption

So from that day, one busy swordsman dey inside the small canteen kitchen.

People dey come chop, dey gossip—"Na so one big man dey peel yam like housegirl." But Lukman no send, he dey work. The canteen business come dey boom, small girl dey smile more.

Lukman Sanni dey use sword peel yam, cut am, slice am fine for chopping board. Number one swordsman dey drag with yam for one whole month.

Him hand strong, yam dey cut straight. I even see am slice onions, him eye no red. Everybody dey wonder which kind man be this.

One month later, he stand for my front, sword wey dey smell like yam for hand.

He no fit even hide am. Yam smell full the place, even mosquito no wan bite am again.

"How long I go dey peel yam? You dey use me catch cruise?" I hear the vex for him voice.

He face squeeze, like person wey swallow bitter leaf.

"E don do." I point him sword. "You no notice say e don change?"

I dey look am with corner eye, dey wait if he go reason well.

Lukman Sanni think am. "Change how?"

He look blade, look me, eye dey sharp.

"Something comot, something join."

I dey drop riddle like old baba.

"Wetin comot? Wetin join?"

He eye me, ready for wahala if I dey play.

"Less wahala inside," I lean smell the blade, "and more… yam aroma."

I talk am, then laugh, make the tension melt small.

Next thing, him sword dey my neck. The killing spirit strong, my body cold.

The blade cold like morning dew, my sweat dey run back.

As blade touch my neck, I dey reason say, if this na my last day, at least I chop correct yam.

"Tell me the second step. If you dey play me, you go suffer," Lukman Sanni talk through teeth.

He mean am. Voice low, eye red. People for canteen hold breath.

"No wahala, I go talk." I smile, gently push the sword.

I dey form confidence, but I dey pray for my mind.

"First step na stop to kill; second na to save life."

I sigh small.

As I talk, I drop my hand, make myself look harmless. For street, soft talk fit cool hot temper.

"One armed robber den dey for northern hills. Dem kidnap children from two villages, wan sell them tomorrow. Use your sword save them."

I talk am quiet, let the story hang. If na film, na here theme song go enter.

That night, Lukman Sanni yam-scented sword see blood again.

Rumour spread for street say armed robbers vanish, children return. People dey hail unknown helper.

"How e be?" I ask.

I dey wait for answer, heart dey beat small. Sometime after war, man no fit talk easy.

"…The children papa and mama kneel down, dey thank me. Nobody ever thank me before… Dem even give me food wey dem no wan chop, call me… big man."

He talk am, but the pride for him voice small. Eye dey red, but no tears.

Lukman Sanni look tired. I sure say he never do this kind thing before.

I give am small nod, make e know say e do well.

"How you feel use your sword this time?"

I dey look am, smile dey my mouth.

He grip the sword, frown, as if e dey understand small small.

He dey reason am like puzzle. Change dey happen, e no know how to talk am.

"E get as e be… but I no fit explain…"

He look ground, voice low. Sometimes, na only action dey talk.

"Draw your sword again." I smile.

I talk am, but I dey hint new mission.

"Girls dey Sunlight Lodge for west, all of them na kidnapped girls. Abeg, use your sword help them too."

I drop the address low, make e no loud.

Two days later, Lukman Sanni come back, blood still dey for sword.

He look me, eye dey dull, but joy dey hide inside.

"How you feel?"

I dey expect gist, but I see pride for him eye.

"Dem call me helper… hero…"

Lukman Sanni talk, him ear red. This cold swordsman even dey blush as girls dey thank am.

I just burst laugh.

I laugh scatter, clap hand. People for street dey look like say we dey mad.

"You don learn my sword move."

I pat him shoulder.

My hand heavy for am, but e no push am. Na sign say e don accept am.

"My sword move na ‘Warmth’. Stop to kill, then save life—na warmth be that inside sharp weapon. To dey kill every time no get meaning. To protect and save people, na that one get sense. Sword move with warmth na the real ogbonge."

I talk am with chest. Old men for compound dey nod if dem hear am.

"So na so e be…" Lukman Sanni shock, then him eye shine. He clench fist, smile—the first time I see am smile.

For that smile, I know say mission complete. Even fly dey dance.

Just like that, I collect the sword from him hand sharp-sharp.

I bow small, pocket the sword, then waka with chest up.