Chapter 4: The Woman and the Lamp

[Rule Two: If person don craze, abeg, no reject anything wey dem ask you.]

Fear hold me. I wan run, but my body just dey waka go front, dey shake as I dey open my chest, wan comot my own heart. The rule no dey allow me disobey. Wetin I go do?

If to say na normal wahala, I go don run with speed, but this one, e be like say something dey control my bone. Na so I dey pray, dey beg for inside my mind, make help show from anywhere—even if na from bush baby.

Suddenly, one idea flash my mind, I shout, “Oga say make I refill lamp oil. That order still dey or e don change?”

As I talk am, Pastor Lanre freeze. Two different orders dey jam for him mouth, e come be like generator wey no fit start.

Me sef still no fit move, but as I see Pastor Lanre dey confuse, plenty questions dey my mind. Na this the real Baba Kongming? He just dey like mumu.

I dey wonder how I fit use this confusion take survive, na so I dey quick dey scan the room, dey watch him every movement like hunter dey watch grasscutter. The air dey tight, but hope small dey rise for my chest.

As we dey jam, I see small light for Pastor Lanre feather fan, like say small words dey flash. I focus, like say something dey pull me, I just read am out.

“Only… after… death…”

Pastor Lanre body pause, one clear tear drop from the bloody eye for him forehead. Then, all the eyes for him body begin cry join.

Next second, all the demon things disappear, only young man with sorrow for face remain.

“To give everything… only after death…”

Pastor Lanre dey talk to himself, then look me steady.

“The Seven-Star Lamp fit drive away darkness, fit lock the possessed warriors. But after forty-nine days, candle go finish, demons go scatter everywhere. Find the truth, save the world! Time no dey for you.”

Him face turn wicked again, but body waka go, like say two people dey fight inside am.

I just quiet, hold my weapon tight, waka go Madam Ifeoma tent.

As Pastor Lanre waka go, my body cold, I just dey thank God say I still dey alive. For my mind, I swear say this kind wahala, na only for people wey strong for spirit and bone. Before I waka reach Madam Ifeoma tent, I whisper Psalm 23 small for my chest.

Madam Ifeoma tent dey beside Seven-Star Lamp. For middle of the place, one big lamp tall reach person dey, seven small lamps surround am, forty-nine small lamps dey for outer ring, all dey shine clean light. The place neat, like heaven for inside wahala camp. Madam Ifeoma just dey for door, dey look the Seven-Star Lamp, no even know say I don reach.

The lamp dey glow like say e get angel wey dey blow breeze. For that moment, peace dey enter my soul, even if na small. Madam Ifeoma wrapper neat, her gele tie well, but her face show tiredness and long sorrow. My spirit pity her even before I open mouth.