Chapter 6: Musa Iliyasu and the Underwater Scene

As I use the lighter, the candle catch fire immediately, burn well till the end of the ritual. Later, I go meet the guy to thank am. He introduce himself as Musa Iliyasu.

"Brother, na your film I dey watch since small. When I join this work, you don retire. I no believe say I go fit work with you—e sweet me die."

Na that kind talk wey dey make person heart dey soft. I clap am for back, say make e no worry—one day e go reach the top too. His smile wide, teeth like groundnut, eyes dey shine hope.

Musa Iliyasu na just logistics assistant, nobody dey really notice am. Other staff no dey look him face, e dey waka humble. I begin pity am—na so I sef be when I start, nobody send me. With my own bad luck and the candle wahala, most crew dey avoid me, only talk to me if e necessary, like say dem dey fear make my bad luck no rub off. Na only Musa Iliyasu no send, always dey call me "Brother Chijioke."

When people dey pack prop, na Musa go carry load pass. I see am dey mop sweat with cheap handkerchief, still dey smile. Sometimes he go buy gala and La Casera for me, say make I rest small.

Anything I need, na him I dey call. For break, I go gist with am, share small experience. First three days, filming go smooth. Fourth day, we suppose shoot underwater scene, I need hold breath for long. I dey nervous, so I pray for my room, tie my master palm-wood charm well.

As I dey kneel by my bed, I dey pray, 'God, abeg, protect me, protect my son.' I rub the charm for my chest, feel small heat. Na so courage enter body.

Before I enter water, crew gather to help me wear harness. Musa Iliyasu stand for edge, dey look me, mouth "Good luck, Brother Chijioke!"

I smile back. The props master notice as I dey look am, frown, then talk:

"Oya, Uncle Chijioke, if anything happen, just signal, we go pull you up."

The way him voice come serious, e be like say e dey expect accident. Small hush fall, but people just dey try laugh to break tension.

I nod, take deep breath, enter water. I open eye, begin act struggle with water spirit. For my ear, director dey direct:

"Uncle Chijioke, abeg make your leg movement big! Kick hard, imagine say water spirit hold your leg, you no fit free!"

As he finish, na so I feel something grab my ankle, begin drag me down.

The water cold reach bone. My chest tight, my mind dey flash back to all those warning my master give me. I remember the stories dem dey tell for old film set—spirits for water, people wey no return.

My ear dey drum, gbim-gbim, as if my own heart wan burst water.