Chapter 10: Survival Before Mission

But hope or no hope, I still get to save Chief Olumide. Na why system bring me back, and na the only way I fit survive.

If I nor complete this mission, system talk say na permanent delete be that o.

But before I fit save am, I gats solve my own wahala first.

Food, shelter—man must survive. Even saviour dey chop.

I manage find job as night-shift librarian for the bookstore downstairs from Chief Olumide’s company. My shift dey end for midnight.

Omo, that kind work na only God dey keep person awake. Customers dey sleep, me I dey arrange old books and dey pray make time quick go.

The lights for the building across still dey on. I sit for bookstore steps, open boxed food wey don cold.

My mind dey run, as I dey blow on cold jollof rice.

By 12:07, Chief Olumide’s black Prado pass.

I nor dey count the time, but my eye always dey sharp for that car.

The tinted glass block my eye, but I know say na him dey inside—because bullet comments dey make noise, as if dem dey see everything, dey joke for my head.

[System don tire, she sef don tire...]

[Other strategists dey rush go near villain once dem enter, dey try make demself known.]

[But this one? She just find work, dey do her own thing.]

[Bodyguards don scare her from day one?]

[So we go just dey watch her arrange books everyday?]

[She no get hope. She no suppose gree for this mission...]

E be like say everybody just dey watch film for my life.

I ignore the noisy comments, na then I notice one stray dog dey wag tail for me, eye dey beg.

I smile for the dog, e remind me of street dog wey dey our old compound. I give am the only two pieces of meat for my food—small shaki and one kpomo—share my dinner with am under the night sky.

The dog chop the meat, lick my hand, and I feel small peace inside me. Sometimes, na small kindness dey help person hold body.