Chapter 4: Fate and River Staff

Sani Wada look back at the fading Okpoko Hills, just sigh small, as breeze carry dust pass. Sun wan set, everywhere dey golden. For Sani mind, na ten years pass, as group people talk—ten whole years for Okpoko Hills before Baba Idris just find small excuse send am away. Everybody know say na forced graduation—no be say e ready, na system push am out.

According to group analysis, after he leave Okpoko Hills, he go return to Monkey Valley, gather the monkeys, and become big demon king. Then, one old monkey go suggest say their king need proper weapon—make e go River Palace for East Water go collect one. Sani Wada remember am clear: those monkeys never even waka commot Monkey Valley, yet old monkey dey give advice like say e see vision. Why?

To believe say nobody dey control things for back—e no make sense. Sani dey reason, "Abi na elders for village dey run this show for back?" Sani dey suspect say invisible hand dey push story, like how elders dey run masquerade from behind curtain.

Even when he reach River Palace, the East Water King just sit for big chair, dey sip kunu, smile like person wey know tomorrow, give am chance to pick any weapon. Water King wey be one of the Four River Lords, na so e easy? If na so, River Palace for don empty since. Sani just dey reason say, 'E no add up.'

Sani Wada pull raffia mat, sprinkle salt, break kolanut before the reading—na old monkey divination—sit for ground, chant small incantation, do reading for himself. The sign show say everything dey go well for now—peace still dey, but e know say rain fit fall anytime.

And e true—inside Pilgrimage to the East, before dem press am under Five Elements Rock, Sani Wada way just smooth—no serious wahala. Like say world dey wait for him own time.

But as dem dey talk, to believe everything for book worse pass if you no get book. Now wey he no be the monkey wey elders and angels dey use play, e fit no follow their script again. Sani fit choose him own destiny, if e wise.

The Iron Staff of River Calm—e strong? Sani Wada fit only talk: e strong well—against normal monsters and palace guards, e dey clear road. But if na real strong enemy, e be like ordinary stick. Even staff wey dey called River-Calming Divine Needle, River Palace dey use am hold East Water down—if he just carry am waka, how flood no go burst?

Plus, according to group, both Iron Staff and Musa's Nine-Toothed Hoe na Baba Prophet make. Back in the day of King Garba, dem borrow the treasures take stop flood. After the things stay for River Palace so long, why be say when Sani Wada reach, Iron Staff fit suddenly dey grow and shrink as e like?

Iron Staff really dey obey Sani Wada, or na Baba Prophet tell am to cooperate for now? Na this kain question dey worry Sani as e dey look sky. The more he think, the more e no clear. E be like village mystery—if you look too much, e go confuse you.

No, Sani Wada no fit allow dem dey control am anyhow. Thank God for the group people—he need ask them for next step. For Sani mind, na only wisdom fit save person from wahala wey pass him power.