Numen! Read online

  Leila flipped her hair as if she was back at the camp and Ife could almost detect the green eyes looking at her. Leila smiled. “I didn’t want to be found, Numen, I just went hunting and got a summons from Mae to report for my next assignment. DawnRose told me later that you were here on assignment too.”

  Ife was so happy that she rose from her chair and both of them embraced, happy to meet on terra firma.

  Leila, a friend from the mists of time and I could once again breathe, and feel that I had a friend. Being of the military aspect of our Island they carried out the tougher assignments. I had been on trips with her and she fell in love with Lije but had to contend with the first claim of Jasmine.

  So how is my Lion of the Desert?” Leila asked.

  “I have not visited for a while; he will be happy to know you are now found; your assignment must have been very much extended then?” Ife said.

  Leila turned her merry eyes on Ife and shrugged saying she did not have many hassles with her parents but had problems when she met Ibukun.

  “I have heard that name before.”

  Leila chuckled. “I am sure you have had even the odd lunch with him. That is the first name of the Governor, I think.”

  Ife stared as the import of Leila’s revelation sank into her.

  Leila nodded and shrugged. “Iwapele needs to hide out at the grove, they are still hunting for her because Petra, who I assume you have met, intends to blackmail him to kill her so he can keep her existence forever secret.”

  Absolutely shocked, Ife said, “Do you mean his wife has no idea about your daughter?”

  “I suspect she has some suspicion because she met Iwapele one day and the resemblance piqued her interest.”

  “Hmmm.”

  Leila was restless as her eyes roamed the consulting room. “We had a pact to keep separate lives after he sent for his wife in England. You know he was a medical student like you. He does not practice, but at one time I had reason to suspect that he wanted to give me drugs that will abort my pregnancy then I caught him cheating. That was when I knew about Ibidun his wife. She came from a wealthier family and was paying for his studies.”

  “He does not have an idea what type of being you are?”

  “Like most people here he assumed I am what they call Mammy Water. It served his purpose to pretend that he did not mind but he wanted to see if he could exploit me so I went along to see how far he was prepared to go. When he started coming to the bedroom with palm fronds on his groin, I kicked him out.”

  Ife could not help it, she laughed at the picture and Leila laughed along with her after a while too. Suddenly Leila straightened and she cocked her ears, and signaled that she had to leave. Five minutes later, the personal secretary of the First Lady came in requesting that the First Lady would like to see her.

  ~~~

  Ife left to meet with the First Lady, then she received the voice of Leila in her mind telling she would visit again and expressed her commitment to being around if Ife should have need of her service.

  Ife responded with her thanks and said it was good to have somebody from home around.

  The First Lady wanted to know if there was any emergency or something urgent as she was informed that the Commissioner had summoned her. Ife went blank for a few minutes and assured the First Lady that it was just a minor administrative query and she had resolved it. The First Lady watched her keenly as she spoke but Ife was calm so the First Lady shrugged and dismissed the issue with an imperious wave. The First Lady then smiled that she wanted Ife to accompany her to a musical evening at her church.

  Crikey Lord of Lights I don’t do churches, Lady, Ife said automatically thought, but she did not speak out so the First Lady asked her if she had anything against churches.

  Ife chuckled. “My mother is supposed to be in Israel right now, I presume.”

  The First Lady was puzzled so Ife cleared the air by stating that she had nothing really against churches as her mother before she passed had received the title Mother in Israel with her church. She just wasn’t into the religion of the churches as distinct from the teachings of love incarnate Christ.

  The First Lady’s eyes widened in surprise at the comment. “You like music, I have heard you play music whenever you were alone.”

  “Yes Ma’am, listening to music does not make me a Christian.”

  The First Lady laughed and said Ife was going to be missed, but still asked Ife to humor her by sharing company with her. Ife looked at her wristwatch and said it was okay as she still had to be in her town that night. That made the First Lady wonder, if she could not invite the Kabiyesi to join them. Ife mentally laughed at the Lion who had frowned at that telepathically with her.

  The First Lady told her the music concert should be over by about eight in the evening so Ife thanked her and said she would just need to stick around until then. The First Lady offered that she could stay in the guest chalet until it was time for them to leave within the next two hours.

  Ife tidied up in the consulting room and decided she might as well lie down and stretch her back until she was summoned. When she got to the guest chalet, she found Tiwa already ensconced and sipping a cold drink. Ife laughed at seeing her frown heavily and state that contents in the fridge belonged to her as she was first in the room.

  “I would have come earlier if I knew I was going to have pleasant company,” Ife said, as she opened the fridge to see the offerings. It was as usual stocked with all sorts of wines and mineral drinks. Ife brought out a carton of juice and was about to mix it when the attendant rushed in and helped her out apologizing profusely to both Tiwa and herself.

  Tiwa and Ife chatted about all manner of subjects as they waited for the time; more ladies started arriving and the discussion became general. Ife smiled most times but her conversation dried off gradually. She normally didn’t feel comfortable in large crowds and would invariably grow silent.

  Thirty minutes later the First Lady peeped her head, elegantly dressed, and greeted the ladies, thanking them for heeding her invitation and they all headed for the air-conditioned buses that would take them to the music concert.

  Later, Ife was driven home with the First Lady thoughtfully providing armed escort as it was late in the evening and she had an hour’s drive over bad roads to get home.

  ~~~

  A couple of days later, Mrs. Omolayo (Leila), came to the grove and Ife was stunned when Yeye was very pleased to serve Leila and waited hand and foot on the lady. Babatunde was amused and asked if Yeye had met Mrs. Omolayo some place before and Yeye hid her face in her headgear saying the woman was familiar to her in some way. Ife laughed and took Leila to the grove. She saw the maidens getting ready for the annual maiden dance and was entranced by the blooming gardens at the private apartments.

  She promised to bring more plants and bulbs when she came next with Iwapele. Ife took her around the town and Mrs. Omolayo had a very interesting afternoon before she got into her car and left, promising to return the following week with Iwapele.

  Ife returned to the grove because she wanted to be alone. Her spirit felt lifted that she could now count on another female as friend. Leila filled a longing within her and she felt a connection with Blue Island with her around. When they sat quietly, they would chat without words. People wondered how two women could sit quietly and still convey a sense of peace.

  Adejare had moved his investors and the factory was progressing at a pace. Ife was touched when the next morning after the visit of Leila the palace courtyard filled with youths waiting to be interviewed for jobs. They sang and hooted their excitement. It was not a political gathering and Ife’s eyes filled with tears as she watched Babatunde give them a speech and told them he was handing over the factory to them and Mr. Tom Watkins. He challenged them to ensure that the factory turned over a profit soon so it could expand and be a source of revenue and employment.

  Babatunde said they were returning to the days when self-help development was the order of t
he day. Adejare beamed with pleasure as he stood up and announced a surprise foundation that he had not even told the Kabiyesi about. A scholarship scheme for sons and daughters of the town to study at selected universities in the country. The recipients were required to work for the progress of the town and contribute a percentage of their salary to the fund.

  Ife was happy when she saw Lomilayo step forward to receive her own scholarship to read medicine. It reminded her of the same emotion when she opened a letter from her old principal.

  Her old principal had passed before she finished medical school but she had silently kept a promise she made by giving the best science student a prize every year. Very few people were aware of that except Babatunde who of course kept quiet at her request.

  So this day Ife watched and gave thanks in her heart as she saw the efforts of the princes and chiefs cooperating with their Kabiyesi.

  She knew that soon enough her pregnancy will start showing so she had quietly enrolled herself at her old hospital. She paid a visit to the Matron who took one look at her and simply said, “About time my young lady.”

  Ife laughed and said Matron should not fuss as she was being a good girl and starting ante-natal early. Matron huffed around very pleased that Ife had come to her.

  As she sat in Matron’s office, the old lady regaled her with stories about the new doctor who had taken her place. Matron said the new doctor was some kind of a scatterbrain and never seemed organized. Dr. Obinna came round and said hello, teasing her that he was going to be very particular in making sure she took her medications religiously. It was a happy time for her. She walked over to see her former CMD. He was nice and enquired kindly after Kabiyesi.

  He shocked her though by confirming her suspicions about him when he said very abruptly that he wanted to marry her and set up his own clinic with her in charge, but he knew her heart was engaged from the day she walked into the office to report for duty. He shrugged that he would wait for her daughter and propose to the daughter instead and that set both of them laughing.

  “With all due respect, Doctor, I think you have been in love with somebody else from the day you stepped into this state.”

  The CMD was about to shake his head but he paused and then said, “Not much good in that area, my friend.”

  Ife felt his pain, falling in love with a woman he could never openly date or talk to except as a junior officer. Ife knew of his pain but she also held him with enough high regard not to mention she knew of the woman he had fallen for. There was no way she could start such a conversation. So she simply laughed and said it would be best if the CMD waited for her granddaughters instead. In that light frame of mind, Ife spent her first day at ante-natal as a patient.

  She talked to the spirit that hovered within her, waiting to cross the bridge, explaining as much as she could what it will mean to both of them, stating that she hoped the incarnating spirit will be a helpful one as she would be experiencing her first motherhood with it. She already sense the spirit was male and she would explain about the earth, what it would find and how it could manage its threads. She said she hoped they would be friends. She talked about her own journey down, how she had to wait to repair the bridge.

  One early morning just after dawn broke, Ife felt the urge to go into the garden to watch the sun rise, so she left her bed and went outside. The maids were not about yet but you could hear the odd footstep of a farmer wanting to tend his farm before dawn. Ife stood close to some flowering plants when she felt the spirit close to her move across the bridge. She saw golden threads in shades of gold, and some rainbow colors just above her belly button and the mass in her belly moved as her visitor took residence. The most glorious song left her and she knelt in praise and thanksgiving. Her baby had moved.

  ~~~

  Three days later Iwapele came to the grove in the company of her mother. Yeye bustled all over trying to make Iwapele comfortable. There was no guesthouse in the grove for live-in guests, so Iwapele was given a room in Yeye’s house as a temporary measure. Ife offered that Iwapele could come to stay in the palace but surprisingly Iwapele said she wanted to experience the grove her way and said she would prefer the very modest accommodation offered by Yeye.

  Mrs. Omolayo, who had already paid an earlier visit, felt at home. Ife took them to the palace for an early lunch and they chatted. As they moved around the private wing Ife was informed that Tinu had seen her vehicle and thus had arrived to see her at the reception room. Ife asked that Tinu should come over to her private wing and happily introduced her to Mrs. Omolayo and Iwapele.

  Tinu greeted them formally but seemed constrained by Mrs. Omolayo and Ife sensed why. Iwapele went over and knelt before Tinu saying a soft hello. Obviously she recognized Tinu from a previous encounter and Tinu had forgotten that face. Ife and Mrs. Omolayo watched the exchange keenly. As recognition dawned in Tinu, she stepped back involuntarily, bristling, but Iwapele remained kneeling and raised calm eyes to Tinu.

  “Your husband will need to see me for all his memory to come back so he can forgive himself and move on,” Iwapele said.

  Tinu looked from one woman to the other, observing her keenly and to the kneeling young girl. She was quiet.

  Ife spoke gently, “You will have to unravel the threads, Tinu, something is not right. I have never known you to be unreasonable.”

  Tinu burst into tears and rushed out. Iwapele was upset too. Mrs. Omolayo laid a gentle hand on her daughter and told her that since she was going to be in the town everything would work out. She asked if there was anything Iwapele would like sent to her and said she would be in touch daily.

  Later that day, as Ife ensured that Iwapele was settled in, she went to look for Tinu at home. She walked in to find Tinu making early dinner and sat in the living room. Tinu came to join her.

  Tinu came in to sit and gave a long sigh. “Lucas says he knows one of the Indigo people.”

  “I guessed you knew something or else you wouldn’t act so strangely.”

  Tinu agonized as she twisted her fingers. “He is Lucas’ half-brother, Ojo.”

  Ife raised her eyebrows and invited Tinu to speak and explain how Lucas knew about that. Tinu explained that Lucas had wondered about one of the three men whilst in that state of stupor. He felt he could almost recognize the voice even though the third person had worn a mask when he regained consciousness from the beating the first time. Tinu said he had hesitated to tell Babamogba his suspicions because he was not sure if what he heard and the voice actually was his half-brother as he could have been mistaken.

  Ife knew what that meant—in a polygamous setting it would have been dangerous to make such an accusation, for it could be interpreted to mean Lucas was looking for a way to eliminate competition for their father’s estate.

  “Besides, in the weeks preceding the attack, Ojo had come round to his brother asking for more money. He had insisted that the share of the cocoa proceeds given to him was not fair enough. He had even accused Lucas of taking more than his fair share and hinted that it was from the illegal proceeds that rightfully belonged to him that Lucas had built the new house. Lucas was very angry and threatened to beat Ojo or make his half-brother regret being alive. So Ojo took his complaint to his mother and a family meeting was scheduled. The matter was resolved in favor of Lucas. Ojo was told that being the eldest male, Lucas had a right to what he shared out. Ojo left the meeting after giving his half-brother a long look. Lucas said he had felt chills rise within him from that look but that he shrugged it off. He called his brother aside the next morning and offered to help him out if he had financial needs before the next cocoa season so he could have a better yield. Ojo shrugged and said he had plans to be a really big man before the next cocoa season. Lucas told me that he noticed that Ojo was wearing indigo beads and had a traditional ring on his third left finger. He knew the sign, it meant Ojo had joined a cult. Remember I told you that your cousin was planning to be in the Ifa circle and they were going to give him Ifa beads? Well,
Ojo said that was not going to be because they had gathered enough materials to dispense with the training. Chief Sao then reported his beads stolen and Lucas and I knew what was going on. I was wondering how to ask for your help when Lucas went missing and the rest you know of when he turned up with the girl at your clinic.”

  Ife was very quiet as she digested all that she was now learning from Tinu. She wondered where the crazy quest for money was going to take some people. She still hadn’t been able to learn how human beings are turned into currencies or why in the name of anything, a human being will seek to murder another in order to be rich. She placed a comforting hand on Tinu. “But why did you burst into tears when Iwapele said she needed to help Lucas get over his problems?”

  Tears rolled down Tinu’s cheeks as she said it wasn’t Lucas who needed help but herself, then she threw herself at the feet of Ife as she said she had been raped under the influence of a drug by Ojo.

  Ife was stunned. “How did this happen?”

  “It was one of those days that Lucas retired to the farm and refused to talk to anyone. Ojo came round and asked after him; he then did a strange thing. He prostrated flat before me asking me for forgiveness that I should help him appeal to Lucas. Something happened thereafter, while he prostrated, he watched me keenly and I gradually lost my inhibition. I knew my will was being taken away but I just watched him as he brought out a small bottle that he gave me to drink. I thereafter followed him to our bedroom and I watched the whole act as if it had nothing to do with me. When he finished, he told me I would not find Lucas attractive to me again. That I would experience shock and pain each time Lucas touched me. Then he cut me and drank the blood. I have been thinking of how to commit suicide without telling anyone. I will still kill myself but I want you to help my children.”

  Ife took Tinu into her arms and rocked the now weeping, heartbroken Tinu. Ife consoled her as much as she could then stiffened when she sensed they had company. She turned around into the wild staring eyes of Lucas. Tinu turned too and seeing Lucas and that he had heard everything, she fainted. Lucas turned away and re-emerged with a sharpened cutlass.