Chapter 2: Dog With Two Spirits

Her name na Halima, 28 years, product manager for one cosmetics company. As she talk, her wahala don last almost two months. She don try native medicine, oyibo medicine, search internet, go church prophetess—nothing work. Her voice dey shake as she talk, small Ibadan accent inside, but Lagos don harden am. Even her boss don dey worry because she dey forget things. This kind sickness for her age no make sense. Na so she waka from church to native doctor, pharmacy, but remedy na waste.

Recently, e don worse—her hair dey fall, period no regular, she dey faint. E don dey scatter her life. For Nigeria, if young woman hair dey fall and monthly period dey misbehave, family go panic. Dem go talk say village people dey do am. I ask if she don tell her mama, she say yes, dem just dey pray for her for house.

Na one of her customers wey I help check house before introduce her to me. She look me with hope, but small shame still dey her eyes. I gree for her, because referral na the best way for this kind matter.

"You get boyfriend?"

I bring out my old almanac, dey calculate her birth date as I dey ask. The pages brown, some corner tear, na my master give me. I dey use am align my spirit.

"No. But for two months now, I dey get one kind dream. For the dream, one man dey come, I no dey see him face well, and every night he… eh… dey sleep with me."

Her voice drop, face turn side. E clear say shame dey her body. For this kind matter, woman no go want talk am loud. But I encourage her to finish, make we fit find solution.

She look shy, but fear dey her eyes. Her hand dey shake, she dey squeeze her handkerchief. I drop my voice, make am calm: "No worry, na only you and me here. Talk am as e be."

"I dey fear say I don jam bad thing. Prophetess talk say spirit dey my body, give me anointing oil make I rub and drink, but after I use am, everything come worse."

As she dey talk, I nod. Na so e dey be—sometimes, quick prayer fit even open bigger wahala if cover no strong. I dey reason say matter pass ordinary church solution.

"He dey sleep with you?"

I stop to write, look her well. My tone serious now. If na spirit husband, I suppose know the level. This thing fit spoil woman marriage, health, peace. My voice low, but sharp.

For this side, na 'spirit husband' people dey call am. E dey common for South-South and Yoruba land. Some na family curse, some na wahala person jam for road.

I hear one story for Jos: one family dey worship talking tortoise spirit—Baba Ijebu. E suck one woman energy, na daughter-in-law. She no take am serious, last last she die for bed. After burial, dem see small tortoise for her grave.

Story like that dey make person pray say make you no inherit wahala wey no concern you. Evil spirit dey find where to perch, especially for place wey nobody dey watch. Even me wey dey do this work, my body cold. When spirit dey hungry, e no send age or beauty—na energy dem dey find.

Now, Halima own na the same pattern. I reason say if care no dey, this one fit pass ordinary sickness. Her case don deep, prayer oil no dey work.

"You carry anything wey no be your own come house recently?"

I dey check if she remember, because sometimes na small object dey attract spirit—old mirror, jewelry, anything wey carry old owner spirit.

"No."

She talk am sharp, but I watch her face. Some people go forget, but I gree say she dey talk true.

I frown. As I hear her story, I decide to follow her go her house. For this kind work, to see root of matter, you suppose check house. Spirit no dey always show for outside; sometimes na inside wall dem dey hide. I gree, stand up, pack my bag. "Make we dey go your place."

After we chop small puff-puff, she carry me go her place. I buy puff-puff for junction, she collect one, but her mind no dey the food. For Lagos, you no fit waka long without snack, but today, even taste no sweet for my mouth. We waka together, she dey look ground, like say road long pass as e be.

She dey live for village inside city, houses pack tight, no sunlight. Children dey play ten-ten for gutter, old women dey hawk groundnut. Some face tired, some dey hustle. This kind village-in-city dey everywhere for Lagos—hope and struggle dey marry here.

For road, she dey complain about the anointing oil and prophetess, say since she use am, her dream worse. She lower voice, "Oga, you know say after I use the oil, na then my dream come worse? I dey suspect that woman sef." I just smile, tell her say spiritual wahala fit pass the person wey dey pray for you. Pray, but no let anybody rub anything for body wey you no understand.

I no dey spoil another person work. Elders teach say, no dey run another person hustle down, even if your own power strong pass. Everybody dey find bread.

But to talk true, unless anointing oil come from strong hand, e no fit stop spirit wey get mission. Some people go rub, come dey scratch. Small thing dey spoil big matter.

As we reach her building, I pause. The air change, cold breeze blow from gutter. My body pick signal—spirit full area. Six-storey house, old well well. Blocks for outside crack, everywhere damp, moss and weed for corner. The kind building for Lagos Island wey fit collapse anytime. People dey live here because rent cheap—survival na the matter.

Main door hide inside one alley. If you look straight, you no go see end—na only keke napep dey speed pass. Generator dey hum, horn dey blow, keke dey squeeze. For Lagos, alley fit hide anything—good, bad, or spirit. From downstairs, I hear one woman dey shout at her pikin, generator dey hum, and faint Fuji music dey leak from neighbor window.

For less than hundred meters for southeast corner, na dustbin station and public toilet dey. The air get one kind sour smell. For Nigeria, if public toilet or dustbin dey near house, wahala dey follow. Spirit dey like dirty place, e dey make their own power strong.

I hold breath, try block nose with handkerchief. My mind dey count how many spirit fit gather for here once night fall. I close eye, dey picture corners—sun never shine reach here for years. Shadow full everywhere.

If market dey nearby, positive energy and butchers own fit balance am. But here, na only people, so na so so bad energy. Sun no dey enter here. Rats, cockroach, stray cats full ground. For Yoruba, black cat dey fear. For Igbo, black and white cat mean spirit messenger. I count at least five. My heart dey cut.

"Oga, something dey?"

Halima don open door. She look me with fear, still try smile. "Nothing." I wave hand, make she go upstairs. For this work, if you let fear enter, e go spoil everything.

Money wahala full everywhere, so places like this wey dey cheap—just small rent per month—na wetin young people dey choose. How many people fit buy car or house without family help? Na helplessness be that.

Halima dey stay for fourth floor. Landlord wan make sure e get many rooms, so less than eighty square meters, dem carve out five rooms. 'Face-me-I-face-you' setting, everywhere narrow. Curtain dey divide bathroom from kitchen. Some room dey leak when rain fall. Mosquito go chop you, heat go roast you. But as she push door, I smell small air freshener—she dey try make her own space clean.

"You be product manager for cosmetics company. You suppose dey earn well now. Why you no rent better place?"

I ask as she dey open door. I check the room number—five rooms, she dey stay for Room 4B. "Good house outside dey cost plenty every month. My papa and mama no too strong, dem need money. I dey alone, so e no matter."

She sigh, voice low, but I see say she dey try hide pain. Na so Nigerian woman strong—she go suffer, still dey smile. She smile, open door. Small breeze blow, scatter curtain for side. The room cold, even though outside dey hot.

Inside dark, no light. As I stand for door, I see two eyes for inside darkness, dey watch us. All my senses stand. For my mind, I dey pray make e no be wetin I dey fear. I steady myself, ready for anything. Suddenly, dog begin bark. The voice loud, e shake window. I grip bag tight. Na grey and white shepherd dog with two different eye color, reach my knee, dey show teeth, raise yansh. The dog body strong, tail high, two eye dey shine different color. E jump for front, mouth wide. E no bark like small dog; na deep, warning bark.

If na another person, dem for don run. But I just stand, dey size am, because I know say this one no be normal dog. My grandma always talk say, "No trust dog wey get different eyes." That memory grip me as I watch the animal. The dog eye dey follow me like police torchlight—e no blink.

"Milo."

Halima call am, on rechargeable lamp, hold dog ear make e calm. She rush to dog, squat, rub im head, whisper for ear. Dog look her, then look me, then slowly drop tail.

"You get dog?"

I withdraw hand, dey look the animal. I shift back small, but I no show fear. For Lagos, dog fit sense spirit for person body. I dey wonder how she manage dog for this kind compound.

"Yes, I see am for park near hospital, e just dey look me. My friends talk say e fine, say make I carry am go house. E just dey fear stranger, e no dey bite."

She rub im back, try smile. But the dog eye dey follow me like police torchlight—e no blink. Halima look small shy. She bring food, dog calm small. She pour garri for bowl, add sugar and milk. Dog begin chop, but e still dey peep me. Na so I know say this one get sense pass ordinary animal.

But as e dey chop, e no gree remove eye from me. I fit feel the tension. This kind animal fit dey serve as gate for spirit, especially as e come from hospital side. I look am, then waka go balcony.

I waka slow, make my ear dey pick any sound. The air cold, small breeze dey blow curtain. As I look up, I fit see city hospital building. Place big, old, but the signboard shine: "Inpatient Department." Na sign say sick people full everywhere, some no go come out alive. For Nigeria, nobody dey like make house dey face mortuary or hospital. E mean spirit go dey waka anyhow.

I notice one rust nail for main wall, maybe before person hang protective mirror there, but now e no dey. Maybe na there wahala start.

"Oga, you no dey use any tool check? Like compass or wooden cross?"

Halima pour me water, stand near dog, dey look me with confusion. She dey expect big tool, like prophet for TV. I just smile. "All my tools dey my mind."

My master teach me say true power dey mind and word, not for big big object. I turn look the dog again. The dog don finish food, but e still dey watch me like cat wey no trust rat. E be like human being. The dog eye dey shine, like say wisdom dey inside. For my heart, I dey pray make wahala no too much for this house.

After I check rooms, kitchen, bathroom, I return living room. I waka round, look every corner—under bed, behind curtain, inside bathroom. I dey smell for air, feel for cold spot. That be where spirit dey hide. Halima no disturb me. Everywhere quiet, na only wall clock dey tick. She just dey watch me, dey hold dog for leash. The house dey cold, wall clock tick slow, as if time dey drag leg.

"When you move in?" I tell her make she no dey too formal. I try make her relax, because if you dey do spiritual reading, you need person heart to calm down. If fear too much, spirit fit use am enter deeper.

As I sit, I call the dog. I whistle small, try call am. The dog just look, no move, only ear twitch. But e no move, just lie for bathroom door, dey look me. I reason am say e dey guard something. For my heart, I dey prepare for anything wey fit come out from that bathroom.

"I move in on the seventeenth day of New Yam Festival last year. The date bad?" She ask, voice small, as if she wan know if na her own hand cause am. I see say her leg dey shake. New Yam Festival na big thing for East, so I dey wonder whether na from there wahala start. I pause, count for my head. If date match when spirit dey waka, e fit mean say na open day for bad thing enter house.

"Everything wrong. Public toilet, hospital, dustbin station—all na place where bad spirit dey full. Village-in-the-city, no sunlight, wahala dey. Your balcony dey face hospital ward, where people dey die everyday. I no need talk too much. The place bad well. If you fit move, move."

I talk am plain. Because if person dey die for hospital, spirit go dey find road. Dustbin dey bring another kind energy. Public toilet na home for dirty spirit.

"But I don dey here more than one year, nothing happen before, and no cheap place dey around again."

She talk, voice low. For Lagos, to move house no easy. Money wahala dey hold everybody. Halima sigh, ask if any other way dey. Her eye dey red, as if she fit cry any minute. For country wey people dey manage, no be everybody fit waka anyhow. Her papa and mama dey sick, work no dey move, money tight.

I nod, because na real Lagos problem. Person fit get big wahala, but as rent dey high, you go just close eye, dey manage. Life important, but money too important. "No let poverty kill you before spirit." E mean say you go balance risk.

"I don ask other people before, all of dem talk make I move. If you no fit handle am, I go find another person."

Her tone change small, as if she dey suspect say my own power no reach. I understand, but I no vex. When wahala dey, hope dey fragile.

By now, Halima voice don dey doubt me. Na normal. When person don waka everywhere, faith go dey shake. I nod, tell her to relax. "I go help you."

"Go the spiritual items shop for west side, buy protective mirror for your balcony. Take these four prayer papers—one for your bed head, one for main door, one for bathroom, the last one carry am for body. You go dey alright."

I bring out my prayer papers, draw small sign for each. The ink still dey fresh, as I finish, I pass am give her, show her how to use am. For Naija, people dey believe in written word—either Bible verse or prayer from seer. I drop four hand-drawn prayer papers for table, give her eye, signal make we talk outside.

I use eye show her make we no talk for house. Spirit dey hear word, but for outside, air dey free. Even though she no understand, she follow me go out. She just gree, collect key, follow me go staircase. Dog dey watch us as we waka.

After we close door, reach downstairs—Lagos people dey mind their business, so nobody ask us anything. But my mind still dey on the dog.

"Where you get that dog?"

I ask again, this time serious. I lower my voice, but my eyes sharp. I need know the root of the matter.

"Na pick I pick am."

She answer carefully. Her voice shake small. I fit sense say she dey hide some fear. I push further.

"Where and when you pick am? This dog get two different eyes, grey and white color. E either dey see spirit or dey attract evil. If you keep am, e go harm you."

I dey use my experience talk. For spiritual work, not all animals fit be pet. This one na spirit gate, especially as e come from near hospital.

Since I enter, I know say something dey wrong with the dog. The eyes dey carry wahala, and e dey stay for place wey bad energy too full. If evil spirit enter, e fit turn to deadly ghost.

I watch the dog movement since, the way e dey look me, the way e dey act. No be ordinary animal. E fit kill person. If spirit enter, na serious battle. E no go just bite; e fit spoil life. For Nigeria, people dey fear dog wey carry spirit.

Maybe I scare her, but Halima face don white, her voice dey shake. She bite lip, hold her small bag tight. "Oga, abeg, wetin I go do?" Na so I know say her fear don climb another level.

"I… I see am for park near hospital, e just dey look me. My friends talk say e fine, say make I carry am go house. I don keep am since, nothing happen. Another spiritual man talk say no be the dog get problem…"

She dey try defend her action, but her voice low. Maybe na guilt or confusion. But for this matter, na only truth go save her.

"Na lie."

I vex small. I raise voice, make she know say matter don pass play. "Spirit wey dey near hospital dey find body to use. You go carry am come house? E no good."

This woman no get sense or she just careless? Who dey pick stray animal near hospital? For village, nobody dey pick stray for hospital side.

"So wetin make I do now? Give am out?"

Halima eyes full panic, face white, shoulder dey shake. Her voice small, almost whisper. She no wan lose the dog, but fear dey swallow her courage.

I frown, dey think. For this kind matter, if you throw away the dog, spirit fit still follow you. Na only strong cleansing go work.

"Na just medium. Anything wey wan reach you go still reach you. E never late—now na six o’clock. Go buy the protective mirror, I go come back this night. When you reach house, behave normal—sleep as usual. Put the prayer papers where I talk, act like nothing dey happen, then wait for me."

I point my finger, show her all the steps again. Make she no change routine. Spirit dey watch for sign of fear or panic.

"I… I dey fear."

She nearly cry. I touch her shoulder small, make she feel say person dey for her side. "As long as you get prayer paper for body, e no fit touch you. Remember the places wey I talk—arrange the papers well."

I drop my voice, look her straight. "No panic, just do am as I talk. Na spirit, but we go win."

I give her small handkerchief, say make she use am clean face. "Go, Halima, I dey your back."

As she go buy protective mirror, I stand for downstairs, dey look up the fourth floor, Halima balcony. I check sky, dey try calculate time. Spirit dey waka well from 11pm. I dey prepare mind for battle. The dog dey there, blue and green eyes dey look me. E still dey look me, no blink. I whisper small prayer under my breath. I narrow my eyes, waka go. For my line, if you stare spirit too long, e go follow you home.

As I reach my stand, I bring out the wooden box my master leave for me. The box old, but the spirit inside strong. I open am, cold air blow me, like person dey watch from behind. Inside, na command flags and one wooden plaque. Since he die, na only third time I dey bring them out. Na serious matter dey make me bring am. My master talk say, "Only open this box when wahala pass your hand."

As I look the red ‘chi’ character, my eye sharp. I trace the mark with my finger, remember how my master teach me to pronounce the word. Na secret only the initiated fit know. His voice dey my ear: "Ifedike, na for this work your name go stand. No dey fear anything wey pass flesh."

"We no be big church people, we no get sect or master. For fortune-telling and spiritual work, we no reach mountain prophets, but if na ghost catching, dem no fit catch us, na we dey front."

He repeat am—no be by big name, na by heart. Our own different from all these showy prophets. We dey street, dey carry cross for people wey no get helper. We dey work for ancestors, na us be enforcers. Ifedike, remember, if you jam ghost, god or evil spirit for human world, as long as e dey harm person, I get only one thing to tell you.

E mean say if e come to fight, no dey beg. For Lagos, spirit wey dey harm woman fit ruin family. My master voice dey give me courage. Only fight, no dey beg. I tie red cloth for waist, the kind wey my master say dey block arrow and bad spirit. I set my mind. This night, I go do am as he teach me—no look back, no fear, only forward.

Night rush come. Crescent moon dey up, red like palm oil. For Yoruba, red moon na sign say spirit dey waka. I tie wrapper, wear white singlet, put prayer beads for hand. For my mind, I dey sing small Egede song, make my courage strong.

For late night (around 11 p.m.), I enter city village alley. Everywhere don quiet. Only generator hum for background. I waka with steady step, eyes sharp, senses open. The kind cold wey dey blow from gutter na sign say spirit full everywhere.

Tonight na only fourth time since I become disciple wey I open my spiritual eye. My master warn me—no dey open eye anyhow, because if you see wetin no concern you, e fit pursue you for dream. But this night, I get no choice.

Everywhere I look—corner, dustbin, dead-end alley—small small spirits dey waka for the damp dark. Like shadow dey move, voice dey whisper, cold dey bite for neck. Na only me sabi wetin dey waka with me that night.

Dem be poor souls, some part of their soul don lost, dem no fit enter ancestor world or reincarnate. If nobody help, their spirit go weak, disappear for this world. If you pity them, you go drop small coin or food for road—e fit help. But nobody fit carry another person cross for head every day.

If dem lucky, dem fit jam church prophet or native seer wey go deliver them, maybe dem fit reincarnate. But these days, true spiritual people dey rare—dem dey hide for bush, city no dey see them. As for those wey dey beg for road or dey give cross and bead, abeg run.

If you see prophet wey dey collect money for every prayer, abeg no near am. Some dey do more harm than good. Real power dey hide; na noise dey market. Dem no fit help you, but dem fit harm you well. I see one time prophet dey spray perfume for person head, say e go remove spirit. Later, person faint, never wake up. Fake hand fit spoil your life.

Those ones wey dey sell things for Facebook live, dey claim say their prayer paper or bead get power—no let dem deceive you. Na scam, na to use God name, wear white, form prophet. Our elders dey talk: "God no dey market." Spirit no dey follow noise, na for quiet heart you go see solution. For money, dem don throw away all rule. People don forget the old path, na only money dem dey chase now. Na why spirit dey vex for Lagos.

Me, I no be pastor or imam. I no dey deliver spirit, so I no send these wandering souls. As long as dem no dey harm person, I face my own. I just dey do my work, make I no carry curse wey no be my own. My master talk say, "Every man get im own cross."

As I reach Halima place, she don do as I talk—prayer papers everywhere, protective mirror don hang back. I knock, she open, whisper thank you. Her voice don change—small hope dey inside. The shepherd dog quiet when e see me. The dog no bark, just look me, then waka go lie for corner. E dey avoid my eye now.

I tell Halima make she go sleep, sprinkle little salt for balcony, then I sit for center of main room. The dog guard Halima bedroom door. E no bark, but the way e dey look me with those two eyes, e no be like normal dog. I give her small packet of salt—e dey chase away dirty spirit. She sprinkle am for balcony, thank me again, then enter her room. I take my mat, sit for center, close eye, begin recite small prayer.

I squint look balcony. For my mind, I dey picture all the corner—spirit fit waka enter through any small crack. I dey prepare. To catch this spirit well, I put prayer paper for my chest. E go make me invisible to spirit eye. Na special prayer—my master teach me say e dey block spirit sight, but only for short time. As I arrange am, I feel my heart steady. Na like say I vanish—but only for spirit, not for human. For human eye, I still dey there, but for spirit, e be like air. Na strong shield.

The dog cock head look me. The dog shake ear, stand up, waka round small. Na so I know say spirit dey near. I ignore am, close eye, rest. I steady my breath, dey let my mind enter deeper level. For spiritual battle, calmness na weapon.

Wall clock dey tick. Everywhere quiet, you fit hear pin drop. As I dey house, Halima sleep well, even dey snore small. I smile for mind. E mean say prayer paper dey work for her. If not, spirit for don dey disturb her dream.

When I open my eye again, midnight don reach. The room cold, my body get small goosebumps. E mean say spirit don enter level.

I dey ask myself if na fake alarm. But deep down, I know say e dey near. I frown. I rub my chin, try focus. My master talk say, "Sometimes spirit go test your patience before e show face."

Na that time, I see the shepherd dog ear move. E look balcony side. The dog stiff, tail straight. My body prepare—battle dey start.

My heart cut small. Na so e be when real spirit dey come. You fit feel your chest tight, breath short. For balcony, salt begin show footprint. Na sign say invisible leg dey waka. Salt dey block spirit, but if e strong, e fit break through.

One man with grey shirt appear for my eye—no get eye for face, head full blood, skin white like chalk, lips red like palm oil. As I see am, fear bite me small. But I remember my master word—"No fear, fight." I prepare my command flag.

E look up the protective mirror for balcony, like say e dey fear. Spirit dey fear mirror, especially the one wey carry prayer. The way e pause, I know say e dey judge whether e fit cross. The dog dey restless, dey waka up and down, dey growl low. The growl low, not loud, but e shake my bone. E mean say spirit dey try enter.

I stay calm, dey watch everything. Spirit dey expect you to panic, so I bone face. Four prayer papers dey protect house—if e enter, e no go survive tonight. As I dey count my protection, I dey ready for anything.

Suddenly, e look inside room, bend head toward where I dey. Spirit sabi find person wey get power. E look me, like say e dey measure my strength. After e look finish, e enter. The air for room change. Cold pass freezer, my hair stand.

But I need wait. If you attack spirit too early, e fit disappear. Na patience dey win battle. If e fit ignore protective mirror, e get small power. Na so I know say this one no be ordinary wandering soul. E get mission. Soon, e bend toward the dog, e spirit enter the dog body like person dey enter water.

My mind scream—this na serious battle. Spirit jump enter dog like say na cloth. The dog stiff, then stand, eye shine. That moment, the dog freeze, then slowly stand for two legs, those two different eyes shine, begin waka like human being.

For my whole life, I never see dog stand for two leg, waka like person. Na only for dream. But this one real. E push open Halima bedroom door, slowly pull her bedsheet. The dog hand dey shake, but e dey move with confidence. E open bedsheet, touch Halima leg. I dey ready my command flag.

No wonder Halima dey get those dreams—na here the wahala dey. My heart pain me for her. Na spirit dey use the dog body as vessel. Every night, e dey come touch her, dey draw her energy. Na real 'spirit husband.'

E mean say the thing pass ordinary dream. Na real attack. As e bend, wan touch Halima, one grey light shine from her body. The prayer paper wey I give her for body dey glow. E block the spirit hand. The dog fly hit wall. The impact loud, but Halima no wake. Spirit dey try, but protection dey strong. E come realize something, begin run up and down for parlour. The dog dey scatter everywhere, dey jump from table to chair. I dey watch, dey wait. But I don dey guard the balcony.

I stand, no move. My hand dey ready my command flag. As e try escape, my eyes change from round to vertical like cat, I wave hand, raise command flag. My master teach me the incantation—my eyes sharp, voice deep, I wave am three times. My sleeve fly, three flags float for air. Green, yellow, red—dem shine for darkness, small wind blow inside room. As e see say e no fit escape balcony, the dog turn, try break bathroom, main door, window, but everywhere lock. Spirit dey fear command flag, but e still dey try. Na so I know say e get small power.

E crash, blood dey come out for head, e stand for my front, dey show teeth, wicked light dey those two eyes. Blood drip from mouth, but e no send. E ready for last fight. Ready to fight die. If e succeed, Halima no go wake again.

"Dirty prophet, comot for road!" The voice no be dog again—na deep, like thunder wey dey shake wall. My mind strong, I no move.

"You no know command flag? All your power na waste."

I look am coldly. I dey channel my master courage. "I dey here on top ancestor order. If you wan die, today na today."

"I hold the command, by order of the ancestors—no dey under three realms or five elements, na to fight spirit and god wey dey harm living. By command of the flag! Descend!"

My voice loud, echo for wall. I wave green flag. Out of the three flags—green, yellow, red—na green one answer, rush forward. Green na for wandering soul, yellow for family curse, red for deadly god. For this battle, green fit scatter ordinary spirit.

Under the green flag, eighteen ‘chi’ characters show, surround the dog. The air cold, 'chi' sign shine like firefly, dey press the dog to ground. Eighteen hell levels, ten thousand spirit cry form the ‘chi’ characters. Ordinary evil spirit no fit stand am. For room, you fit hear sound like small baby dey cry, wall dey shake. E mean say power dey work.

As expected, once the ‘chi’ sound and characters appear, the dog begin bleed for all im seven holes, nailed to ground by the characters, dey struggle, dey howl. Blood from nose, ear, mouth. The dog dey howl like say e dey pain, but I no shake. Na this work my master teach me.

As I wan point my staff for yellow flag to end am, something happen. Suddenly, air cold pass before. I pause, dey watch, because for spirit battle, last minute twist fit turn everything. The dog bite im tongue, I see im eyes turn grey. The spirit jump from the dog eyes, use the time when command flag hold the dog soul to blow one of im own soul, escape the flag, rush go balcony.

Na so spirit dey do—use one soul cover escape. E mean say e go return another night if we no finish am. Use the dog soul take explode im own soul, run? E prefer lose host than let me catch am fully. Spirit wey get sense fit survive for many years like that.

I frown, no chase, begin calculate for hand. No rush. I go find am another time. Tonight, at least, Halima go get peace. Command flag don finish the dog soul. E leave half tongue for ground, dog don die.

I walk to the dog, kneel down, whisper small prayer for im soul. Even as dog, na victim e be for this matter. I cover the dog with old wrapper, pour small salt for head. For Lagos, even animal spirit fit need rest.

Suddenly, I see one kind bump for im belle. I touch am. E be like bone. I cut small, see say na finger bone dey hide inside. I whisper, "Ewo!" My master voice echo for mind—every spirit carry sign. This one no go end here. But for this city, spirit no ever really die. I dey wait for next knock.