Chapter 3: Cave of Hope

Na so human being be: once belle full, spirit dey rise, energy dey return. Na just one day, but I see the change for their body—hope dey come back.

Next day, after small waka, we reach main road, then get to local council post for afternoon. Sun hot, dust everywhere, but my people dey look better, like pikin wey chop correct ogi.

After some bureaucracy, dem assign our group of fifty to go dig canal for north foot of one big mountain. Because the place far, na one corner for the whole project. We dey on our own, small freedom dey.

I still dey lead. After this work, dem fit send us another one, but for now, I dey reason say make I manage this new chance well.

I call Musa, begin ask about the canal digging. For government work, nothing dey straight. Place wey dem give us na forgotten land—if person wan dodge work, na here. Musa go collect ration for government, but over two-third don miss—person don chop am for road. Me, I just laugh, no wahala.

All the tools na wood. I dey reason—who dey use wood dig canal? E be like say dem no send us work, na punishment.

After we gather every, we waka two days reach the site. Feet dey ache, people weak, but hope dey.

Somebody welcome us. Na young boy, lean like broom, yellow like new yam. Hunger dey dance for him bone, but e still get energy welcome us. The place na beauty: clean hill, stream wey clear like morning blessing.

First thing, I send two people make dem find where we go stay—no be to sleep under tree every night, abeg.

Baba Sani, bushman, volunteer. I trust am. Before e go, I give am eight boxed meal, make e carry padi, come back before night. For bush matter, food na insurance.

That night, Baba Sani return, face dey glow: "Oga, we see better place, e no far, just the time wey candle go burn."

After description, I plan say next day I go check am.

Next morning, me and Baba Sani waka go natural cave. As I reach, I shock: nature try! The cave big, flat, clean—six football field fit play here. Middle get opening, so even if rain fall, light dey enter. Water dey rush for one wall—spring wey sweet pass sachet water. Rain mark still dey for cave wall, but inside dry, warm, breeze dey smell like fresh corn.

I scoop with hand, drink—cold, sweet, na pure blessing. I pat Baba Sani for back: "You try, my guy. Go call everybody. From today, na here we go dey."

Baba Sani shy small, say, "To serve you, oga, na blessing for my life." Na real loyalty.

Soon, everybody gather. I arrange make dem light fire, bake the area dry and clean. For Naija, where mosquito dey craze, fire na blessing.

Work suppose start tomorrow. I call everybody, set ground rules. "We dey do government labour. For work hours..." I wan talk eight hours, see as everybody lean, I reduce am to six. Dem never hear that before, so I break am down: "Work when sun rise, rest afternoon, work again when sun no too hot, five days, two days rest. If rain or harmattan, no work. If you sick, rest."

"Government labour dey rest?" one old man whisper, like e dey fear I dey joke.

I raise voice, smile: "Yes. Everyday, una go chop boxed meal, three times a day."

One man with scar stand: "Oga, na true say we go dey chop?"

"True. The food no be anything special, just one big meat, three vegetable. I fit change am, but I no know if una go like."

Everybody chorus: "No need change, big meat dey okay."

For Naija, to chop meat and rice three times daily na royalty. Even king no fit boast. I just dey thank God for system.

I remember another thing: "From today, everybody must bath once a week. Clean body na power too."

After that, I share food. Today, these people chop like tomorrow no dey—some finish four boxes. Hunger dey reset body, but dem dey come back strong.

I see the lean yellow boy wey welcome us, suspect hunger dey bite am pass. I send Musa two Set A. Surprisingly, he no gree chop, say he wan see me.

I look the boy well: "You wan see me?"

He stand, stubborn: "Why you dey raise warriors? Wetin you dey plan?"

Ah ah, warriors? I laugh small: "I no dey raise warriors, I no dey do juju."

"So why you give me your boxed meal?"

I sigh, tired: "I see say hunger dey finish you, I give you food. Everybody dey chop the same. I never force anybody do wetin dem no want."

Musa add, "Oga dey make us work six hours, five days, two days rest, three meal per day."

After that, the boy calm. I just dey reason how kindness fit confuse person.

I stretch hand: "Oya, if you no wan chop, return am."

He sharply hug the food, grit teeth: "I go chop. My name na Okafor Chinedu, I go follow you, oga."

He dey speak like book, English just dey roll. I sigh, wave: "Chop well, build your body."

After, Okafor Chinedu eye dey bright like bulb.

As he waka, Musa help arrange my tent. As leader, tent life suppose sweet, but for bush, mosquito na real enemy. Those wey get tough skin no send, but me, abeg, I like myself.