Chapter 2: Ifedike’s Return

My name na Ifedike. I just retire as criminal police officer.

Dem dey call me Oga Ike for town. My papa na hunter before he kpai, so people sabi my family as people wey dey strong head but no dey carry bad heart. My wife, Mama Ifunanya, sabi do pepper soup—her own dey make grown man forget him wahala. I dey proud of my work; my uniform still dey for my box, even though e don old small. Sometimes, I go touch am for night, remember old case.

For 1999, dem transfer me go Makurdi because I sabi solve case.

That transfer na big deal that year. People dey send me off with prayers and kola nut; elders even drop small yam and bottle of schnapps for my journey. Makurdi no be small place, and the work no dey light.

Now, after I retire, I don come back my village, dey hope say I go enjoy my old age in peace.

I dey dream say I go dey sit for my verandah every evening, dey sip palm wine with friends, dey gist about football and election. Make I rest small before God call me.

But just few days wey I reach house, I notice say the matter of that old case still dey hot for people mouth.

Na so one night, as I dey buy suya for Mallam Bello stand, dey price extra onion, when I hear young boys dey argue, dey call the matter “Ngozi Fire,” like na film. Old women dey still dey cross sign of cross when dem waka pass that field.

The main reason be say: dem say spirit dey waka.

People no dey play with night matter again. Even okada riders dey avoid the area once moon full.

For more than twenty years, people dey claim say as dem dey waka for night, dem go see one woman wey wear white lace dey waka about.

You go hear people say, “Na for that junction I nearly jam am last week. Ehn, my body cold!”

And the woman face na exactly like that girl wey burn die for stage that year.

Young and beautiful, but her eye dey hollow, like say she dey look through you. Even pikin wey never born that time sabi the story from fear wey parents use warn dem.

Everybody dey talk say, e get reason why her spirit never rest.

One baba for our street even swear say until justice dey done, her ghost no go comot for town. Town crier don even warn people, "Make una dey pray well!"

Wetin even shock me pass be say, not long after I return, I see one letter for my door.

I first reason say na those area boys dey play prank, but the thing no be ordinary.

Inside the letter, dem put ticket for acrobatic show wey go happen next week.

The ticket na original, with foreign writing. E dey smell small like perfume, the type those circus people dey use.

For top the envelope, dem write only one line:

"Ifedike, you wan know the real truth from that time?"

As I read am, my hand begin shake small. I swallow spit, whisper small prayer under breath. I look left, look right, nobody dey for compound.

But the case don settle since, evidence clear well well.

For my mind, I dey try calm myself, dey remember procedure and how we close file that year. Nobody drag the case reach Supreme Court.

The girl kill herself, and we see why she do am.

She no leave letter, but her action talk pass thousand words. People wey close to her notice how she dey quiet, how her eye dey red for rehearsal.

Somebody violate her during the day, and out of shame and anger, she end her life for front of everybody.

This kain shame, especially for girl wey no get family for town, dey heavy. E dey swallow person like river during rainy season.

And na one young man from our town do am.

Everybody point finger, as if the matter easy. Nobody wan own the wahala, but all eyes land for Musa head.