Chapter 5: Piercing-Heart Wahala

"As I think am, na piercing-heart wahala sha."

Mallam Danladi look far, "Iroko tree no suppose dey front of house, na old rule. Halima family not only plant iroko tree, e still dey face main parlour door. For compound arrangement, dem dey call am 'piercing-heart wahala'—na bad luck, e dey finish family. If person use this kind thing harm person, e bad well. If na another tree, the person fit still come back to life. But if na iroko tree, the person no go ever born again.

He touch the ground with staff, face squeeze. "Long time ago, elders dey use iron nail press am for compound so e no go face door. But Halima people, maybe dem no know. Or dem no fit change am."

That Halima girl must to don find out something. She use her own death break this piercing-heart wahala. E mean say the iroko tree no be her family plant by themselves. Dem set them up."

He shake head, voice low. "Na this type of thing dey cause family to finish."

I shock small, "Halima family really... no person remain. Baba Danladi, you never even go her house, but you sabi all these things. You sabi work well. But why you still talk make my grandpa go call another person?"

My body cold small as I ask am. I dey wonder how old people dey take know things wey ordinary eye no fit see.

"Your cousin matter too get wahala, I no fit put mouth." Mallam Danladi climb mountain road, "If person soul waka, e no dey come back house by itself. But your cousin soul dey hide for house. That one strange. Plus, as I check your cousin time of birth, e show say e no suppose pass twenty years. But now, e almost thirty, still dey strong. That one no normal."

As he talk reach here, he stop, turn look me:

"Kamsi, your cousin ever offend Halima before?"