Chapter 6: The Red Hare Escape

“E never do.”

I turn. One man with red face, long beard, sharp eyes stand with red horse. Na Uncle Gambo, Lord Gambo. He stand gidigba, like iroko tree wey no dey shake for wind.

“To burn kindness, righteousness, respect, wisdom—wetin remain na greed, anger, confusion, hate.”

“These Seven-Star Lamps need the sense of ten thousand people every day, or purest virtue as fuel.”

“Oga Obiora own kindness, Big Cousin Seyi own courage, Pastor Lanre wisdom, my righteousness… all of us don use as lamp oil these days.”

He grit teeth: “One Madam Ifeoma no reach. Red Hare get spirit—add am, e go just do for today.”

I look the famous horse, pity wan catch me, I try beg am:

“I wan ride go enemy camp find truth. Red Hare fast—Uncle Gambo, abeg, borrow me…”

Before I finish, Uncle Gambo laugh, throw rein give me.

“You guess am. Even if I don burn, sometimes I fit get sense back—if I burn again, no wahala.”

I understand: the lamp oil dey burn all the good thing for body. Uncle Gambo righteousness too strong, even after burn, e still remain for lamp oil. But how dem go get enough for forty-nine days?

I look ground, see plenty feather fans wey don dirty near Seven-Star Lamp. Lamp oil don finish since. Na only Pastor Lanre dey use him own sense burn again and again, dey keep the forty-nine days.

I wan talk, but Uncle Gambo wave hand:

“I no care who you be—no let am leak, or I no go fit control myself. Quick, comot for here.”

I nod, greet Uncle Gambo and adviser tent, jump on Red Hare, run commot. I clear some possessed soldiers, ride out of camp. For back, Uncle Gambo shout for sky, enter the red flame.

“Find Royal Seal! E go make Seven-Star Lamp dey burn forever!”

Uncle Gambo last shout dey ring for my ear. Plenty possessed warriors begin pursue, but pure candlelight lock dem for camp.

I carry Red Hare run, the ground dey shake under me. For my mind, I dey wonder which kain wahala world fit ever recover after all this sacrifice. The sky don dark, but hope small dey my heart. Sky red like palm oil, sun no dey shine normal again. I dey swear say I go find Royal Seal or my spirit no go rest.