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  Babatunde nodded. “How do I condole the family of the girl?”

  Sasa replied that the family of the girl were told the girl met with an accident and she was badly disfigured, and her body was buried along with the other victims in a mass burial.

  Babatunde sighed and turned away.

  ~~~

  The next morning, Agbari was arrested by the police for drunk driving causing an accident and he was taken into custody. Babatunde decided to visit the Police Station to talk to Agbari himself. He felt it was strange that Agbari would get caught, as the fellow had always boasted about his connection with the powers that be. Babatunde still had the experiences of the last two days on his mind. He had sent for the family of the girl and commiserated with them. He had asked them to pray for their daughter and wish her well in her next incarnation. That was the customary form of prayer. He wanted to do much more but he knew he had to let it rest at that.

  Babatunde met a sullen Agbari at the Station. Agbari was not forthcoming with answers and the police officer watched him with distaste. Babatunde learnt that the police officer was not a fan of Agbari and thus could not be bothered by any show of affluence. Agbari was listless, demanding to speak with the DPO but everybody pretended to be deaf until Babatunde arrived.

  Kabiyesi requested audience with the DPO and was ushered into the office. The talk was kept private. Minutes later Kabiyesi left for the palace. As the news of Agbari’s arrest became known, the youths started gathering at the town hall asking to see him. When the hall was full, Kabiyesi granted them audience. He welcomed them and asked them to state their complaints. The leader of the protesters made a long list, Babatunde listened until he had finished. Then he raised his horsetail, and stood up to address them.

  He thanked them for bringing their complaints to him but also charged them: he wondered why they had never asked themselves what kind of activity they could do to meet their longings and dreams.

  “You are at a critical point in your lives and the world is open and ready to take from you whatever you put into it. It nourishes what you have put in, feeds it with what it attracts as like nourishment, and returns it to you ripened for you to eat. When a woman goes to the market, she buys what she needs for the home, the food for the children that will make them able to fulfill her dreams for them, and the food for her husband. When she comes back home she prepares that meal and everybody eats and though they may not remember to say ‘thank you’ for the prepared meal, their peaceful snores and slumber is thank you from the Creator. You are at the point in your lives now when you have been given all the ingredients to make a meal for yourselves, but you have shown a penchant for the quick money. You have decided to make pounded yam full of lumps because you are impatient to eat the unripe mango to ease the hunger in your belly rather than roast the yam in the mound that has ripened. The unripe mango will keep you at the communal forest all through the night. Why do you want to sleep on a mat that you have not shaken loose from the scorpion or snake wrapped round it? You look at a shining object in the sun and call it gold? Did you dig for it? Have you ever picked wealth from the skin of a dog with scabies? Listen to me and reach deep down in your souls, write a tomorrow with the letters of hard work.”

  The hall was quiet as the youths listened to him; it was a strange speech directed at their souls and it resonated with them. Babatunde told them that no one had a prerogative to break the laws of the land and get away with it, neither were they to assume it was okay to buy over the law enforcement agents of the land. He advised them to help Agbari come to terms with the fact that a new order was now in place in the town and no one was going to be allowed to break the laws simply because they had the money to buy off the police.

  He informed them that Agbari will have his rights preserved, and justice will be done. He made light banter with them and a few minutes later the riotous youths were in a lighter frame of mind, some even bonded with the dreams of the Kabiyesi as he explained his plans to create jobs for them. He challenged them to solve problems and not be the problem. He reminded them of the peculiar nature of the town. He told them that the first king had insisted that every freeborn son of the town was potential king and thus they should see themselves as princes.

  He made them laugh when he said that the real princes had a swag that showed in their language, hard work and ability to make what was impossible by other towns possible in their town.

  “This is the only town that has a prince in every house, right?” Babatunde invited.

  He got a thunderous one-fist salute in reply.

  The meeting dispersed.

  Chapter Eight

  Ife was trying to concentrate as she listened to the other ladies at the meeting of the First Lady’s non-governmental organization. Journalists tended to refer to these organizations as ‘pet projects’ as they only lasted for the duration of their husbands’ tenure in offices. It had become fashionable after the first military president of the country’s wife had started such a project. It had become the thing to do, to be seen as supporting the charitable gestures of the wives of Governors or heads of state. It was probably intended as a good will gesture but Ife always had her own misgivings as she had learned from newspapers that most of the first ladies hardly ever had anything to show for their activities. They used their offices, staff that were on government payroll and more often invited wives of their politicians who happened to be holding public offices.

  Ife looked around now and sighed for there didn’t seem to be much of any difference in the same collection of half literate ladies who by accident of marriage were now invited to be part of a pet project.

  She had attended two meetings and had not been impressed by the offerings. Ife chaffed at the knowledge that she was stuck with the women. One particular woman, Nike-something, had taken a fancy to her. Ife was not interested in the offered friendship. When she had explained her mistrust to Babatunde, he had smiled and said she had to learn to be more accommodating. Each time the woman leaned over to talk to her, Ife felt dismayed. Mrs. Nike smelled like an abandoned toilet and had hair on her face and chest. Ife had to always struggle not to flinch, stare or show her disgust.

  She stole a furtive look at her wristwatch wondering when the torture was going to be over. The outer door opened and refreshments were served. The Personal secretary came in and dropped some envelopes by the side of each lady and Ife sighed. She knew what was in them. It was called per diem, intended as compensation for their attendance at the meeting, and she felt sick. She had mentioned that to Babatunde and he had frowned when she explained that she wanted to return the money. He told her to find out first if that was the norm and to be very careful not to raise any disquieting objections.

  “I think I will use them as donations for the Lavender Project I am thinking of, I actually want to call it the Women of Violet but it sounds kind of funny so I opted for the Lavender Project,” she said.

  She jerked away from her thoughts when she heard her name being called. She was blank—the First Lady laughed and told the other ladies that Her Highness was probably worrying about her patients in the hospital.

  Ife blinked and smiled, apologizing for wool gathering. The First lady smiled in return, and said she was forgiven, and the question was repeated for her benefit.

  It was to decide which color they should use as aso-ebi for the next outing. Ife was furious and bit her tongue trying to contain her rage. ‘Aso-ebi’ was the uniform color that traditionally was picked by families to wear at ceremonies. Her father hated the concept and she had learned from him to avoid being part of that practice. Apart from the mandatory uniform while in school, she had made sure she didn’t dress in the same mode as anyone else. She absolutely had no intention of being dressed in the same fashion for the benefit of a project. In the name of the light, what has the dress got to do with the project?

  Ife had all eyes turned on her and she swallowed. She apologized and murmured that she felt whatever color was chosen woul
d be okay. She explained further that she really was not into the social graces of clothes and stuff and was generally comfortable in her white garb. The ladies laughed and one tall regal-looking lady gave her a penetrating look observing that Ife wasn’t much into social outing. Ife agreed and sent a silent thanks to the woman.

  Much later as the meeting mercifully came to an end, the regal lady came up to her and introduced herself.

  “My name is Tiwa, I am sure you will need me to brief you, on that meeting we just had.”

  Ife said, “Oh dear, was I that obvious?”

  “I watched you, Olori, your eyes and body language was an interesting study in sheer boredom—beautifully covered.”

  “Oh boy.”

  Tiwa laughed and fell into step beside her as they walked to their cars. Tiwa’s was a black colored beast that seemed to crouch ready to spring and she stood by it with a casualness that impressed Ife. Ife smiled as she went towards the car that Babatunde had sent over to take her around. An SUV with a driver attached. She had protested when he made that surprise gift, but now felt gratitude as she walked towards it. The driver came out respectfully to open the door for her. Tiwa watched her and mouthed a goodbye as she got into her own car and drove out of the government house premises.

  On her way out, Ife pondered the day and decided she should find out more about her tall acquaintance for she felt that she had made a friend. Might not be in the same mold as the bearded smelly Nike but at least this one looks like a human being. Her phone rang and it was Babatunde checking how the meeting had progressed. She gave him her news and promised to be at the palace in good time.

  Her next phone caller was Josephine and they made a lunch date arrangement for the next day. Josephine was coming over from Enugu in the southeastern part of the country. She had been there for three weeks and Ife was anxious to know if her attempts to appease her rejected fiancé had borne fruit.

  Tinu was waiting for her when she got to the hospital and Ife felt normalcy had returned to her life. She soon had a change of heart when she heard why Tinu had come to see her.

  “Now that you move in rarefied circles, what can you do for Lucas?”

  “Speaking in parables will not get you anywhere; what is wrong with Lucas?”

  Tinu gave Ife a considered look and her voice changed as she asked Ife that she had better sit down to receive the news. Ife gave her friend and cousin a speculative frown and shook her head as she checked her files for any urgent case needing her attention. She was unprepared for the bombshell from Tinu.

  “Lucas has run away because the police have traced the missing girl to Lucas’ farm. He swears he doesn’t know anything about it and I believe him.”

  “Whoa. Hold it will you? What missing girl?”

  “Didn’t you hear about the girl that went missing two days ago?”

  “Here in town? You mean it was announced on CNN maybe? Or the town crier went around the hospitals?” Ife asked.

  Tinu paced.

  “Why don’t you simply sit down and tell me the story from scratch so I can make out what happened from the beginning.”

  Tinu sat down reluctantly and as she opened her mouth to talk, there was a knock at the door. It opened abruptly to show Lucas and a girl at the door. Lucas was unkempt and appeared distracted.

  Ife invited them in as she gave the girl a keen glance. Suddenly she knew what was wrong for she saw the threads of a young boy hanging loosely and close to the girl. The threads didn’t hold firmly and that puzzled her—it actually started fading off as Ife tried to understand. The threads were also around Lucas. Ife’s heart felt heavy as she knew immediately what the issue was going to be about, but she allowed an outward calm to settle on her face.

  “Where have you gone?” Tinu screamed at Lucas.

  He kept his gaze on Ife and she saw the agony in his eyes—compassion rose in her for him but she said nothing. The girl stood silently by the door not saying anything. It was obvious that she was in the grip of some fear.

  Tinu was getting worked up by the silence and demanded to know what was going on. The girl keeled over in a faint as Ife rushed in time to break her fall. She was bleeding. Ife immediately called for help from the hospital and rushed to give the girl first aid and emergency treatment.

  The doctors that rushed to help Ife examined the girl; she was not pregnant but someone had raped her and made an incision in her lower abdomen. She also had been drugged as the girl only whimpered could not say anything more. Some dark substance had been rubbed into the incisions and Ife was shocked to see that her abdomen had been swabbed in a faint indigo color.

  Ife knew then that the girl had been a near victim of ritual sacrifice, and went cold with concern and anger. How had Lucas become mixed up in this? Tinu was, however, not noticing the near escape of the girl from the hands of her would-be killers, but was staring in jealous horror at Lucas who refused to say anything except ask Ife if the girl was going to be helped.

  “Who is this girl, Lucas?”

  Lucas shook his head and left her to look at the now sleeping girl in the ward. Ife counseled Tinu to be patient, suggesting that she should wait for Lucas or the girl to be able to talk. Ife reminded her that she had come seeking help for Lucas, and Tinu should make that help available now rather than start an inquisition.

  Lucas was persuaded to go to the hospital restaurant and Ife ordered for some food to be given to him. She noticed his badly scratched hands and swabbed them with disinfectant. Lucas accepted the ministrations calmly staring straight ahead.

  When he finally was able to focus, Ife saw that he trembled with fear and he dropped his head and allowed his eyes to seek that of Ife. She saw that his eyes were pools of pain and confusion.

  “Can I talk to you for a minute in private?” he finally whispered to her.

  Ife nodded and invited him to her consulting room locking the door firmly after he had entered.

  Lucas’ next action shocked Ife as he suddenly dropped his pants. His groin had been incised as well and swabbed with the same color, and Ife noticed there were slashes across his chest. Ife gulped and sent a very urgent telepathic call to Babatunde before she sat down.

  Lucas told her what had happened.

  He had gone to his farm as usual only to find the girl wandering around his farm, her eyes blank and she was incoherent. He assumed she was lost and tried to calm her down. She struggled free from his touch. Lucas said he noticed that she shrank from him and just kept pacing his farm in a strange circle. He broke the circle by sprinkling ash from the hut. The girl stopped pacing and stood still seeming to be held in a trance. He was worried about what to do and tried to remember if he had seen the girl before. It was while he was pondering his next action that he heard the crashing inside the forest next to his farm. He dragged the girl into the small hut and tried his best to keep her quiet. The crashing noise got closer and he knew that the men whose voices he could pick faintly must have traced the girl to the hut. Lucas said he was frightened as he listened to the steady incantations going on behind his closed hut but was powerless, as he had no countering incantation he could give as fear steadily rose in him. He could not say how many minutes he lay frozen and crouched by the door; all he knew was that the girl fainted and the door opened.

  Four men rushed him. Their faces painted in the colors of indigo and black. When he came round, he was bound with the girl to a big tree that had been cleared in the forest. Some kind of liquid was forced down his throat and that of the girl. He watched as he was stripped and incisions made on his groin. He felt like he was watching a film while he saw himself rape the girl, but at the point of ejaculation he threw up. That seemed to have angered the men as he was beaten silently and methodically. The pair were tied up again, and the men conversed on what they were to do next. A knife was sharpened. Lucas said he felt very calm as he watched what was going to be his imminent murder. He said he felt no sense of fear or trepidation. His mind was just blank and he answere
d all questions put to him but could not remember his name and each time he tried, the men slapped him until he lost consciousness again. As he came round he heard the roar of a Lion and suddenly felt a sense of the present danger he was in, so he was able to pick one of the logs of fire and with a wild flourish followed the men. For some reason, his recovered senses sent fear into the men and they ran off.

  The roar of the Lion got closer making them shiver and then he heard the screams of the men. The screech of spinning tires pulling away and then silence. He had assumed that the Lion had torn him apart and he was dead. When he woke up again, the girl was sitting calmly beside him, still blankly staring, and the thought became urgent in his head for him to seek out the Princess.

  Ife was silent when he finished speaking but her heart was in a fever of overlaying thoughts. One soft knock and Babatunde walked in with Babamogba close behind. They did not say anything but led Lucas out of the hospital consulting room.

  When Tinu barged in a minute later, she found Ife calmly writing case notes for the girl and there was no sign of Lucas. Tinu stopped abruptly looking round.

  “You can check my drawers too, Tinu, Lucas is not here. He said he would like to pick something from outside the hospital gates and asked me to tell you that he needs to be home urgently so he can assure his mother that he is fine. I can drive you home in the next thirty minutes.” Ife’s voice was mild.

  Ife watched her friend closely but did not say anything further, sensing that the less said, the easier it will be for Tinu to adjust to a normalcy that Ife herself did not as yet feel. There was residual vibration in the room for her to know that the two men who spirited Lucas away had not come into her consulting room physically. She knew she would have to take a look into that experience later.

  Tinu was close to collapsing and Ife briskly offered her a glass of water, and began packing her bag. She promised that they would soon be on her way. She called Dr. Obinna about the anonymous female patient stating that she needed to be home but would be on afternoon shift the next day. She suggested that no one should be allowed to visit the girl under the pretext of being a relative. Ife also called the matron and gave her details of what had happened requesting that no one was to visit the girl and she was to be placed under security surveillance.