Chapter 15: Road Sweet, Snake Dey Hide

Before Musa Adigun go Lake Makurdi, e full of ginger—like every normal person wey get big dream sometimes.

He rise early, take small kolanut, pour libation to ancestors. The morning breeze dey sharp, the sound of river far off. He wear fresh agbada, new beads for wrist, heart light with anticipation, like village boy wey dey go first festival. The palace drummers even play short tune as e waka out.

Truth be say, many road dey for future, some correct, some bad. Everybody sabi which one be which, but we dey always pick the wrong one.

He walk, head high, but for mind, na worry dey hide. The proverb wey granny dey use: "Road wey sweet no dey show you snake." E remember, but still, the temptation of the easy road dey too strong.

Because the wrong road dey soft, birds dey sing, flower dey everywhere.

As e waka, children dey play ten-ten for side of road, flowers dey dance for breeze, birds dey chirp for mango tree. Even the air dey smell of roasted corn and fresh earth. Happiness fit make man forget battle dey ahead.

For Musa Adigun, the road to Lake Makurdi too easy.

He smile, hand behind back, admire how life just dey soft. The road smooth, no mud, no hawkers dey drag agbada. For moment, e forget all palace tension. Na only joy dey chest.

Thirty miles of towers, fine women dey waka like say dem dey fly, dance like white heron wey shock, curtain dey float for warm August breeze, hills green for far, water dey snake, ten thousand water lilies dey open for everywhere.

The scenery na like festival postcard. The hills dey roll, grass fresh like rainy season, women clothes dey flash with colour. Palm frond shade the way, fine girls dey sing as dem pass. The lake itself dey glisten, lilies dey open like dem dey welcome king.

Chief Chinedu toast am palm wine. Before the wine touch mouth, sweet scent don land first.

The cup dey heavy, carved with lion head. As Chinedu raise am, other chiefs follow. The smell of palm wine blend with fried snail, grilled chicken. Drummers dey play slow, voice of praise singer dey float for air.

Musa Adigun eye dey shine. "Which wine be this?"

He swirl cup, sniff again, smile broad. For palace, better palm wine dey rare like dry season rain. His eye dey shine like say he see gold.

Chief Chinedu smile, calm. "Your Majesty, na Odo-Oro Palm Spirit. You don drink am before."

His voice dey low, confident. The other chiefs nod, pride full face. For Umuola, Odo-Oro na only for big celebration.

Musa Adigun say, "Oh, oh," then smile. "I sick small that time. Now I well, but I no too remember things."

He touch head, pretend like say fever dey worry am. The chiefs chuckle, relax. Old servant whisper, "New Oba get humour o."

Halima Sani for side shout, "No wahala! Anything wey Your Majesty forget, we go remind you sharp sharp."

She wave hand, voice bright. Some of the women clap, shout, "Long live the king!" The atmosphere bubble.

After song and dance, more girls come sing highlife. After Odo-Oro Palm Spirit, dem go chop for Chief Okoli house. From goat meat reach catfish, from periwinkle reach snail, appetizer alone reach fifteen.

The music dey sweet, drums heavy. Girls dey sing, dance, wrap waist, feet barely touch ground. For Chief Okoli compound, aroma of spicy goat meat, catfish pepper soup, periwinkle with green sauce, snail roasted for fire. Table full, everybody dey hail chef.

Other better food, no need mention.

People dey lick finger, even elders forget diet. Wine dey flow, laughter full air, children dey run, elders dey gist. Na real celebration.

Musa Adigun don high, dey laugh anyhow for table. "So na this be Umuola!"

He throw head back, laugh shake body. Chiefs join am, some shout praise. Small children peep from door, giggle.

Umuola too sweet. That old fox Oba Sanni really sabi flex life.

He lift glass to the memory of Oba Sanni, mouth full, voice rich. For Umuola, enjoyment be king, and today, Musa Adigun dey wear the crown.

As night fall, Chief Okoli house bright like day. Musa Adigun, half drunk, say, "I no fit, I don too chop. I need stretch leg."

The lamps dey burn, shadows short, even moon dey hide for shame. Musa Adigun rub belly, stand up slow, wobble small, smile never leave face. Chiefs rush to help, but he wave dem off, "Make I stroll small, abeg."

So e waka.

E push open compound gate, night air cool. The street dey alive with music, small boys dey run, lovers dey whisper. For every corner, light and laughter dey.

Halima Sani carry am go big house and tea joint, go watch grasshopper fight, go see women dey wrestle. Musa Adigun happy till e face red, dey bet money like craze man.

For the tea joint, lanterns dey swing, grasshopper fight dey fierce—men dey bet, women dey cheer. The wrestling ring dey full, two strong women dey roll for sand, crowd dey shout. Musa Adigun forget kingdom, dey spray money, face red with joy, body light like feather.

Sun dey hot small, but river breeze dey cool everybody skin. Local games dey everywhere—ayo, sisi pelebe, agbalumo, suya and dodo dey pass hand to hand. Children dey shout, elders dey laugh, festival spirit full ground.

Back palace, Musa Adigun remember say e forget talk peace or war with Gidan.

He sit for big chair, finger count money, mind go blank. "Ah! I forget wetin bring me here. War, peace—na enjoyment dey my head."

Musa Adigun burp, reason say, Next time sure. I no fit resist all this flex?

He pat chest, laugh alone, say, "Tomorrow get ear." For now, na food and laughter dey reign.

Second day: dey listen music for tea joint.

He reach tea joint early, musicians dey play, voice high, flute sharp. He order pepper soup, relax, let music wash am like river.

Third day: dey watch wrestling for big house.

Again, wrestling dey call am. Women fighters stronger, crowd bigger. He shout, place bet, lose money, still dey laugh.

Fourth day: Musa Adigun, Musa Adigun, you no suppose dey waste your life for enjoyment! You suppose go war, take back capital!

For inside room, conscience dey prick am. Old voice for head dey shout, "Remember Okpoko!" But body still dey soft, heart no wan hear.

Fifth day: dey watch harem concubine play horse game.

He settle for palace courtyard, concubines dey play game, horses dey dance, laughter full air. Chiefs dey hail, wine dey pour.

Sometimes Musa Adigun wonder, all this chiefs wey dey praise am, dey talk say e rebuild kingdom, stabilize Umuola—dem dey whine am?

He squint, scan the faces. "Na true dem dey talk, or na wash?" Palace life sweet but suspicion dey mix the palm wine.

Musa Adigun laugh them. "Na true say I get this kind big achievement?"

Voice loud, challenge clear. Some chiefs dey shift for seat, but others clap, shout praise. Fake smile dey spread like harmattan fire.

Plenty chiefs jump. "Your Majesty, abeg, no talk like that. Gidan army no be small thing. Your Majesty dey follow King Oduduwa, dey bear shame, dey suffer to win later."

Dem hail, talk high, mention King Oduduwa. The praise dey sweet, but for Umuola, everybody sabi when talk dey empty.

Halima Sani add, "Your Majesty, na high strategy be this. No stranger dey last. If we dodge now, wait till dem weak, one day we go finish Gidan with one blow."

Her voice loud, eyes shine. Chiefs nod, some dey mutter, "True talk." The wisdom of patience dey sell for market this week.

Musa Adigun laugh loud. "So I strong reach like this?"

He throw hands up, laugh loud. The celebration dey spread, people dey shout, "Oba, Oba!"

No be say nobody dey talk true, but Musa Adigun find out say those ones self get their own wahala.

For palace, truth dey hide like tortoise. The few wey dey try yarn true still dey plan own benefit. Musa Adigun dey observe, dey learn.

Chief Chinedu go show am the bad thing those ones do. Musa Adigun squint. "This one don confess, still get mouth advise me?"

He eye Chinedu, remember old gist of men wey dey steal goat but dey judge thief. For palace, nobody clean finish.

Chief Chinedu nod. "All this self-righteous pure officials, na so dem dey. Dem fit dey chop life, but Oba suppose dey manage, dey suffer."

He shake head, lips twist. "Pure official for Umuola na fowl wey no dey bath. Dem dey pretend, but na dem dey chop pass."

Musa Adigun hiss. "This kind pure official, dem suppose dey court?"

He wave hand, hiss loud. The palace, catching the mood, join in silent agreement. Only the old portrait of Oba Sanni dey frown.

So e go, soon Umuola City voice become one. Even though many still hate Chief Chinedu, nobody dey talk again.

The city street quiet, gossip reduce. Chiefs dey follow Chinedu, others dey avoid am. Silence become safety, everybody dey watch who go move first.

Musa Adigun continue dey flex everywhere, dey enjoy.

The enjoyment reach level—palace cook dey invent new dish, wine dey enter from all village, laughter dey flow like river Benue after rain. Musa Adigun forget battle, forget Gidan.