Chapter 7: The Elder’s Judgment

Uncle Oche squat, check the woman corpse, face dey dark more.

E look body, check hand, even smell her palm. E stand, wipe sweat for brow, breathe heavy. The whole house dey fear.

My mama call am two times, e just sigh, stand up.

She dey beg, but him mind dey far. E no answer her, just wave hand, like person wey no wan hear nonsense.

“This matter no easy o. If una no careful, your whole family fit follow am go grave.”

His words strong, like curse. For village, when elder talk like that, e mean say the land dey vex. Spirit fit judge anybody.

My mama panic. “Uncle Oche, abeg find way. Dauda—na your...”

She dey beg, voice low, but before she finish, Uncle Oche cut am, eye cold. My mama just shut up.

He no dey like talk too much. Dauda na him favorite before, but now, e turn face. Silence heavy, everybody dey breathe slow.

Dauda na my brother name.

I repeat am for mind. My brother, wey everybody dey praise before, now e name fit bring wahala come house.

I just know say dem dey hide something from me, but since dem no talk, I no ask.

Sometimes for village, pikin wey ask question too much dey collect slap. I just bend head, dey watch.