Chapter 5: Fire and Sacrifice

Na when I shout, Madam Ifeoma come notice me. “Madam, adviser say make I collect today lamp oil.” Small fear show for her pale face, then she sigh.

“Since my husband die, then Uncle Gambo, Big Cousin Seyi… so na my turn reach?”

I frown, Madam Ifeoma like say she know something.

“General Musa, you no notice say something dey wrong for camp?” Madam Ifeoma point around, tears dey her eye:

“My husband and the rest answer God call. When dem burn finish, at least body and flesh remain, but me wey be woman—nothing go remain.”

She laugh small, then rush go the main lamp.

So na Madam Ifeoma be lamp oil?

I shock. To see person wey fit talk for here no easy—how I go let her die?

I use my spear block am before she reach fire.

“Abeg, madam, tell me why this world don turn upside down?”

“Why oga and others don turn spirit?”

“Why young lord Chijioke mama, Madam Kemi, die for confusion?”

“Wetin be the real truth? How we go fit fix am?”

I hold Madam Ifeoma arm, just dey pour questions.

For her voice, pain full everywhere. As she dey talk, her body dey tremble, but her face dey strong, like mama wey don see too much for life. My own eyes dey red, even as soldier, I no fit hold tears. Na only true woman fit bear this kain load.

[Rule Five: Na woman hand truth dey. Abeg, no touch am.]

Abi na Madam Ifeoma the rule dey talk about?

Madam Ifeoma look me well, then smile somehow.

“General Musa, which kind talk you dey talk? How Sister Kemi go die for confusion? Na you hungry, she give herself make you chop, save the pikin. But her sacrifice no reach, the child sef no last. How she go know say her husband don already turn ashes?”

I shock, loose hand, but Madam Ifeoma hold me tight, her arms soft, dey wrap me.

“You no be General Musa… If na so, abeg help me, use yourself as lamp oil today.”

Her fine hand begin push me small small go fire.

My leg no dey move. Face dey hot, I dey struggle, but no fit pass this woman power.

Madam Ifeoma voice strong, dey push me enter Seven-Star Lamp. Fire don dey roast my armor. As I dey suffer, na then I remember—

I remember my mama, how she dey pray every night say make God protect her pikin.

Her hand dey firm, but her tears dey drop for my back. Na there I see say sorrow wey woman carry pass anything. My mind dey race, as my skin dey feel hot, I dey find hope inside rule wey dey my head.

[Rule Five: Na woman hand truth dey. Abeg, no touch am.]

But if she no be the woman wey the rule mean? She never talk the truth, nothing serious. I go risk am!

I bite teeth, use my sword, stab Madam Ifeoma chest. Tears blind my eye, but my hand no fit stop. She scream, her hand loose small. I use the chance, carry her, throw her inside fire. She no shout, only relief dey her face as she look me from inside flame. As she burn finish, I wan waka go, na then voice hail me.

Tears dey my eyes, my hand dey shake, as I see say true sacrifice dey pain pass war. I send small prayer for her spirit—make her journey be easy.