Chapter 3: The Night of Fire

Even as police, that night over twenty years ago still dey haunt me for dream.

Sometimes, I go wake up with sweat for body, dey hear that shout again, as if the fire still dey burn inside me. My wife go shake me, whisper, "Ike, na dream. Rest."

That day, one friend get two tickets, say acrobatic troupe dey perform for town, invite me follow am go watch.

We reason say e go help us forget police wahala. My friend na Okon—he sabi gist, always dey find excuse to chop gala and groundnut.

That evening, me and my friend reach town square on time.

Sun never set finish; people already dey form circle, dey hustle for better seat. Children dey dance, mothers dey fan body, men dey price corn for roadside.

After some acts, one fine girl, like seventeen or eighteen, as piano dey play soft soft, dem use wire lift her go up for air.

Everybody dey stare, even okada men park, dey look. The way she fly, no be small thing—na as if angel descend come town.

She wear white dress, dey dance for up, dey turn and spin like angel.

Her hair dey float, her foot no touch ground. People dey clap, even elders dey nod head.

Everybody just dey look, mouth open—

Some dey whisper, “God, see as pikin fine. This girl get talent.”

Suddenly, fire spark for her body, in one second, everywhere catch fire.

The sound wey the fire make—like person pour petrol inside generator wey no get filter. People shout, some fall for ground.

Na so the fireball fall come ground, land heavy, still dey burn.

Children dey cry, mama dey cover pikin eye. The kind heat and smell, e choke everybody.

The whole place scatter with scream.

Even agbero wey dey always form strong man, run come back, shout "Blood of Jesus!" Another shout, "Ewo!"

I push enter crowd, try save her.

I no even remember say I be police that moment—na just human being dey act.

But e don too late.

As I drag water from one sachet pure water, fire no gree quench. The scream still dey ring for my ear.

Fire don finish her, na later we find out say she pour petrol for herself, both inside and outside.

Na so the news spread—"she do am herself," people talk am with fear. Till today, some people still dey doubt.