Lightseekers by Femi Kayode

Author:Femi Kayode [Kayode, Femi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781526617569
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2020-10-06T00:00:00+00:00

NA ME KILL THEM?

Too much has happened today and I am burning with curiosity, but I need to focus on my real task in Okriki, so I don’t confront Chika to ask what Omereji meant. I get in the Land Cruiser and point in the direction of the compound.

‘Let’s get closer.’

Wordlessly, Chika drives there and parks across from the building, which looks as desolate as the first time we were here. I alight and Chika follows.

‘It couldn’t have taken them more than forty minutes to get here from Whyte Hall. Matches Godwin’s report that they got to his house around five.’

‘He remembered the exact time Bona and Winston got here even under such stressful circumstances,’ Chika says pointedly.

‘Not too much of a stretch actually,’ I say, squinting at a sun so harsh even my sunshades can’t protect me. ‘For one thing, he’s been asked that question so many times, one can conclude that he’s had to become sure of his facts to support his claims. Besides, I think it’s normal to recall to the last second when someone pulls a gun at you.’

‘And not recall when a whole human being joined the party?’

‘He said he doesn’t know,’ I point out. ‘Not that he can’t remember …’

Chika snorts. ‘I would love to put him and Tamuno in the same room.’

I am about to say that might not be a bad idea when I catch a glimpse of Madam Landlady coming from behind the house, a large wrapper tied around her bosom. She’s holding a machete. She heads straight for us and her aggressive manner indicates that she now knows our real purpose in Okriki.

‘You again!’ she shouts, coming at us. ‘Troublemakers!’

‘Madam …’ I start placating.

‘Madam your mama! Get out of my compound now – now!’

‘Technically, we’re outside your compound,’ Chika says calmly.

The landlady’s rage reaches a boiling point. ‘You want to lawyer me on my own property?’ She turns her head and raises her voice. ‘Dem don come again oh! People come help me oh! Dem don come again!’

Chika and I run to the Land Cruiser and quickly get in.

‘You dey run? Come back now! Troublemakers! People come help me oh!’

She’s screaming at the top of her lungs, every part of her body shaking with anger as she waves the machete at our car. Three, then four people have come out, more curious than threatening, but none implore the landlady to calm down. Chika roughly reverses on to the road as Madam Landlady keeps yelling for the benefit of the onlookers.

‘Troublemakers! Leave me alone! Na me kill them? Have I not paid enough?! Leave me alone! Wetin you want from me again?’ She’s screaming so vigorously that I’m afraid her wrapper will fall off.

Even when Chika turns a corner and the landlady is out of sight, her shrill voice and angry face stay with me as we head back to Hotel Royale. Today confirms that her bravado on our first meeting was an act. If anyone was feeling the impact of

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