Chapter 5: Ife Nche Oguo

4

I just freeze. My hand hold broom like person wey dey wait for rain wey no go stop. Golden letters begin turn to signs, dey press the grand elder. The air heavy, you fit feel the force. Amaka Nwokolo see as I dey confused, she lean small, come explain, her voice soft, e be like breeze for ear:

"This one na Law Follows the Word. After Island Clan go dey serve foreign tribe, dem fit use their language fight—even fit summon their own ancient people come battle." As she talk, her face dey serious, you go know say e get weight for wetin she talk.

Oshiro Fifty-Six notice as I dey look lost, come dey mock me, him eye dey sharp:

"Wetin you dey look? You wey be errand boy, you even sabi anything?" The mocking no get brake, e dey bite like mosquito.

Amaka Nwokolo just squeeze her fist, her eyes dey full of pain. You go see say e dey pain her, but she dey hold am:

"Too strong. If you never do power work for hundreds of years, forget am. Who go believe say Island Clan get this kind genius." Her voice low, but you fit hear the frustration inside.

But Umuola own genius no fit live reach hundreds of years again. Na big wahala be that. The pain just dey deep. Add join say power work resources no dey, even the sharpest people just waste. You go see am for the eyes of everybody—tired, empty.

Grand elder face serious. E struggle talk, every syllable na fight:

"i~f~e, n~c~h~e, o~g~u~o"

"Ife Nche Oguo."

For air, golden light gather quick, form bell shape, golden signs dey spin around am, small chanting just dey echo like soft wind for shrine. E resemble when masquerade dey dance for village square—everybody dey fear, nobody wan talk. The big bell come down, protect grand elder inside. The thing shine, everybody open mouth.

BANG—

Loud noise. Golden bell scatter at once, as if sledgehammer meet mirror. Grand elder vomit blood, fall for ground, serious injury. The thing shock everybody. Me, I just stand there like mumu as the fight wahala pass me. My leg stiff, my hand cold. Wait—no be Igbo be that? E shock me, na our language I dey hear inside big magic? My belle turn, I dey wonder if na mistake or my ear dey deceive me.

Amaka Nwokolo raise her hand block the shockwave. Her body stand like iroko, but sweat dey her face. I no fit hold am again, I ask:

"Na the ancient spirit language be that?" My voice small, but e carry all my confusion.