BOOK EXCERPT: TOM THE LITTLE MAN BY OMORUYI UWUIGIAREN

 

Ton the Little Man by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren

Chapter One - Hard Times

Tom wore a long face and trudged on. His trousers had faded and clothed with dust. Reaching the threshold, he inserted the key into the lock and embraced his house. He hissed and slammed the door behind him, for the evening was the worst day of his life. He had to work late again even though it was Christmas Eve. But now, at last, the hammer had fallen on him! As soon as he was indoors, Tom sank into his favorite chair. After a time, he sat up and drew his rickety table. The little man lit up the room and his face looked pale in the lamplight. Tom took the letter out of his pocket. He lowered his bifocals. He glanced above them at the letter and a deep melancholy settled over his spirit. The company had sacked Tom, and it was a bitter pill to swallow. "WHY ALWAYS ME?" he banged the table.

Tom had disposed of the letter when he heard a faint knock on the door. "Who's there?"

"It's I, Priscilla," her voice was as soft as the morning breeze.

Tom masked his anger with an exaggerated smile and opened the door. He said a friendly good evening to her. "I am sure you came to inquire why I did not attend the church service. My employer asked me to work extra hours…"

"Oh, I understand," the lady smiled as Tom led her into his humble home. Priscilla sat on a chair with her back to the wall. She placed her hands on her thighs and glanced at the little man. "I have good news for you." She revealed, "God told me you have lost your job. But He will use this setback to turn your life around."

A ray of hope flushed over Tom's suntanned face as he sat up and muttered, "Amen!"

She closed her eyes and faced the ceiling. Priscilla brought her hands together, making recitations as if she were praying to a powerful god. Then she paused and turned to Tom. She swallowed hard and said, "The Company downsized to reduce cost…"

"Yes. The manager told me they would downsize. But I never saw this coming," Tom nodded almost a million times. "I didn't plan for it. I am confused!"

"I understand," the prophetess said. "You can bounce back. I have a secret that will make you rich. Do you want to hear?"

"Yes, oh yes!" the little man answered. He straightened his chin and looked at her face.

"You have an eighteen-carat diamond ring you inherited from your father. It's wrapped up in a handkerchief in the right-hand corner of the third drawer. God said you are to get it and give it to me!"

Tom gasped and beat his chest. "Ah, my heirloom? I did not tell anyone about it. How did you know I have it under my roof?"

Priscilla laughed, "God told me now. It's the spirit. Do as he had said and you will be fine!"

The little man chewed his lower lips as he imagined his setback was temporary. He would live in luxury for the rest of his life if he turned the diamond over to Priscilla. Then he sat back and scratched his head. She was right about the diamond in the drawer. He gave this a try. Everything that she had said was true. As if he was under a spell, he rose to his feet and moved to the corner, and then returned to the table with the heirloom. Priscilla grabbed it and placed it in her pocket. "I like people who obey God," she smiled and hugged him. "If you need another hug, just ask," she heaved. "Follow me!"

"Where are we going?" Tom yawned and shifted his weight to one leg.

She rubbed her hands together. "I want to introduce you to a friend. If you have a little money, he knows how to multiply it many times over!"

Tom dreamed of the money. He said, "Thank you. I will be forever grateful, Priscilla."

Priscilla held his hand, and they walked out of the house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Two - Prophet Wusel

It was almost nightfall. They walked fast. After covering a suitable distance on foot, they took a bend that led to an old deserted street. They arrived at a building whose walls were crumbling. With a little push, the gate opened, and they went inside. The lady carried herself to the main building. Tom was a shadow of himself. He looked pale and drawn. He ran to catch up with the young feet of Priscilla.

She made their presence felt with a gentle knock on the door. Not long after, a man of great sartorial elegance opened the door. He smelled like a bar. "I thought you said we will see tomorrow?" he asked her.

"Yes," Priscilla cocked her head. "Things changed. I brought my friend."

"Good. Only change is constant, my dear," smiled the prophet. "Come on in." As he led them into the house, he glanced at the little man with the corner of his eye. "Your name is Tom!"

Their eyes met as Tom nodded. He paused. "Wait. How did you know my name? We have never met before."

"I am a prophet of God. There is nothing hidden under the sun," Wusel replied. He moved away. "I don't need to know you before I can say things about you," his voice echoed in the passage. Pricilla and Tom followed him.

As they got to the door that led to one room, the prophet paused. He turned to Tom, "My friend, a truckload of misfortune hangs from your neck like an Olympic medal! To be free, you will do yourself a lot of good if you cooperate with me."

"Yes, I lost my job!" Tom gasped. "I am not happy. I will do whatever you want me to do."

The prophet placed his hand on the doorknob. A long sigh left him. "Don't worry. Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning," he commented. "If you agree to do what I ask of you, you will spend the rest of your life in complete happiness." He opened the door and went inside. Priscilla and Tom followed him. “Life is no bed of rose.” He threw his hands in the air. “You have to get out of bed and do something remarkable. People should look at you and marvel.”

As soon as prophet Wusel sank into a chair, he glanced up at Tom, "You are in a holy residence. You should be on your knees." He frowned as if the little man had committed a crime.

Tom fell to his knees. His head bowed. He brought his hands together as tears gathered in his eyes. "Please, help me. My life is in a mess!"

The prophet sat up. He flashed an exaggerated smile at Tom. He placed his hand which was as hard as the back of a turtle on his chin and fixed his gaze on the little man. His firm, square jaw made him looked like a troll. Then he turned to Priscilla, smiled and went back to Tom. "You will need to buy some items for prayers. By the time I am through, you will select jobs!" Wusel boasted. He sat back and smiled. He added, "Stand up. You can make yourself comfortable on that chair." Wusel pointed to the seat in front of him.

"What do I need to buy?" Tom asked as he sat down. His gazed fixed on the man.

Wusel leaned back in the chair. "Your case is peculiar. You need three things. A pig to stop your bad luck, a goat to fight off the evil spirits, and a sheep for good luck," the prophet said and sneezed. "After I perform the ritual, you will be rich! The world will know you!"

Pleased with what he heard, Tom scratched his head. "How much will that cost?"

"Ah," the prophet faced the ceiling and chewed his lower lip. "At least one hundred and fifty thousand will do it!"

The little man's countenance fell because that amount was what he had saved his entire life. "That's a vast sum," he commented. "Can't we cut corners and still achieve the same result, prophet?"

"NO!" the prophet shook his head. "Your problem is a mountain. You will be forever grateful to me after the prayers." Wusel closed his eyes and lowered his head, making recitations as if he were praying to a powerful god. Then he paused and raised his head. He flashed an exaggerated smile at Tom. "Your father died of cardiac arrest when you were a boy and your mother abandoned you in an orphanage…"

"You are right," Tom sat up and fixed his gaze on Wusel. He look stunned.

"You see. That is why you must obey God so that your father's misfortune won't hunt you down like a dog! You can run. But you cannot hide. It will find you out and cause you pain if you don't stop the nonsense."

Tom's heart of heart died within him. "I have always feared for my life. I will get the money as soon as possible. You said 150 grand?"

“Yes!” Wusel cocked his head.

“That is all right.”

"When are you providing the money? We want to know!" Priscilla cut in.

Tom glanced at his wristwatch. "The time is far spent," he remarked. "I will be here at first light tomorrow! Can I use my credit card?"

"No. We are going to the livestock market. Most of the traders are foreigners from Niger Republic. They don't have documentation. So they prefer to be paid in cash," Wusel told Tom.

"No problem. I will be here as soon as possible," Tom reiterated. He scratched his head.

"Good. Hope you can find your way from here?" asked the prophet.

"Yes," he answered.

"Ah. Good. I would have asked Priscilla to show you the way."

"There is no need," Tom said. He rose to his feet.

As he turned to go, the prophet stopped him.  "Hold on. God told me something. He said in three days, you will smile!"

"Amen!" Tom said and moved away.

Priscilla followed Tom out of the room. They moved to the gate. Once Tom was out of the compound, she secured the gate. Priscilla returned to Wusel who was waiting in the room. She fell on him and gave him a million embraces. "You are a top performer!" She kissed him. "The charm is working. The witch doctor knows his job. We will have to renew it every month."

"Sure. It's worth every dime we invested!" Wusel smiled.

"You are not doing badly as a prophet. You should act in Hollywood too."

"No, I will stick to this. Acting in Hollywood is not my life. I am better off a prophet. It takes a discerning spirit to know that I am false. People are not careful. They don’t check the details. All they want is result. So, I give them what they want. They run with it. They cannot wait to check if I am a good shepherd. As you know, a shepherd has a grave responsibility to tend and nurture the sheep in a loving attitude. But I came to steal, kill and destroy. Are you sure your victim will come tomorrow?"

"Of course, I am certain!" She brought out the eighteen-carat diamond ring Tom gave her. "This is our reward for today!"

"It's nice!" Wusel took it in his hands. He inspected the piece and nodded his head. Then his face broke into a gap-toothed smile. "How did you get this?"

"The charm worked wonders. It was in my pocket. I take it everywhere I go. As soon as I was outside his house, I put some of the powder on my lips. The monster possessed me. I entered his house and started talking. He thought it was God talking to him." She smiled, and they kissed. “It was the charm that was talking. My voice filled the room. I was Armageddon!”

Wusel smiled back. "You have learned this trade. Get the men ready. We must not allow Tom to slip off our hands! By the time we are done with him, we will take care of the guy from Tokyo!"

"Okay, I will get in touch with them immediately!" They kissed.

"I will marry you. I can't let you slip off my hands too. You are an important part of this business!" Wusel spoke. "We should stay together as a family. Don’t you think so? "

"All right," Priscilla kissed him. Her hand traveled from his neck to his chest.

His fingers caressed the back of her neck. She loved the gentle touch. They kissed on the chair for some time. She unbuttons his shirt. Her skirt dropped to the ground. Wusel carried her to the table. She leaned back. She wanted his body inside of her. Wusel unzipped his trousers and bruised her petals.

 

EXCERPT: From the Work in Progress, The Mystery of Taiwo Da Silva by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren.

 

omoruyi uwuigiaren

CHAPTER FIVE

The Dilemma of Syclos

So many things crept into my mind as I waited for a vehicle to convey me to my destination. I thought of kicking Yomi out of the house, for his coming has robbed me of my job. The thought of taking my life was an infirmity in my troubled mind. Then a vehicle pulled by at the other end of the road. Before I could blink, four masked men stormed out of the car and opened fire on me. I ran into an old busy street. People scrambled for safety. Stray bullets caught an old woman in the head. She drew a loud shriek and lay struggling for life. One motorcyclist became a victim of the crossfire. Bullets riddled his body. He tumbled from his bike and fell stone dead.

As everyone on the street fled for dear life, I raced with my legs almost touching the back of my head. People perished as bullets flew in every direction.

I was the target. As they gave chase, I went past two or more bends. I glanced back at intervals at the horrible creatures. They were making strange noises. I made the best use of my legs down the last bend that led to an old graveyard near an abandoned church. Two men formed a whirlwind and flew into the other two. As soon as the devils entered the men, they snarled. The devils became very strong and apprehensive. They became supercharged. My pair of legs did not disappoint. 

Then I climbed the barbed wire fence that separated the abandoned church from the street. I tossed myself clear over. As I made for the church, the horrible men took a new form. They transformed into large dogs, barking, and scaled the fence without breaking a sweat. Before the wild dogs could get me, I was already in the church building.

My pants almost hit the roof of my chest. I went near the altar and found a door half-open. I looked in every direction, no enemy in sight, and I went in. The room must have served as a lodge for the pastor or owner of the abandoned church.

An old candle and some Bibles occupied a table covered with dust. Discouraging sights of cobwebs were in every corner. Also, a bookshelf lay on the extreme. The cobwebs on it suggested no human activity there in recent memories. Why it was in such desolation, I could not tell. There was a little window on the wall. And there was another window that faced the church. It would help the pastor or whoever was in the room see the church.

There was a steel door in the far end under lock and key. I looked in every direction to find a weapon I could use against my adversaries if I ran into them again. My gaze met a piece of note on the floor. I went for it and dusted the piece. There were strange writings on it and I could not read it. Then I squashed the note and disposed of it. I broke off one leg of the table in the room to serve as my weapon.

Then I went to the window to glimpse at the church. My heart jumped into my mouth when I noticed the dogs were around. I dashed to the other side to secure the door. When I got back to the window again, one dog came near the room.

Before the devils stepped into the area, I pondered over the possibility of running through the iron door as ill will kiss my soul. There was a short barking from the temple. Before I could blink, it mixed with the thin air. To imagine the beasts would never find me was only an illusion.

Moments later, I noticed a dog appeared on the wall and entered the room. The stench of treachery hung in the air. My heart died within me, for the dog snarled and attacked me. I fought back and sent the dog the other way with my weapon. As the wood fell to the ground, I wrestled my way to the back door—my hope of deliverance. I broke the lock with a single blow. I was already on the other side before the beast found its feet.

My legs were true to their responsibilities. They did not fail me as I raced through the field to the graveyard. Devastation caused me to stumble and weep at intervals. As the mad dogs chased, I noticed an old man holding a digger at the only building in the graveyard. As I cried for help, the old folk got to the veranda, dropped the digger, and went into the house, ignoring me. I suspect the man did not hear me.

My legs, gravestones, and demarcations here and there almost gifted me to the devils. Before they could make quick work of me, I was already on the veranda. I grabbed the digger and hurled it at one beast. The whine of a miserable dog hit the air as the enemy lay struggling for life. Before the other could make any move, I pushed the door open and dashed into the house.

I slapped my hand on my chest and gasped when I got into the room and did not find anybody. No old man and the room were quiet, as if no life had set foot for ages. As the strange barking of one dog flew into the room, I accepted my fate. Find my way before the dogs poured in like night rain. As I threw my gaze in every direction, I noticed strange carvings on the wall at the extreme of the room. When I went close, I was glad it was on a door to some other habitation. Only a push got me to the other side of the bloody mess.

It was a gigantic house, calmer than the still water. The enormous house contained books, papers, wooden boxes, and so forth. There were inscriptions on the walls that proved difficult to decipher. On the far left were old graven images. Horrible creatures that sent jitters down my spine. I feared I had stepped into a world of misery. As soon as I made two or more cautious steps forward, one image fell and shattered.

Every other thing, including a curious little man reading a book, was upside down. The old man was bald and had a beard I could not notice.

At intervals, he would grin and let go of a yawn that took some time to mix with the air. I thought he did not see me. So I moved towards a door on the far left, which I felt was an exit.

God will make a way where there seems to be no way. He works in ways humanity cannot see. I was a stone’s throw from the exit when the old man cleared his throat. He turned to me, “Fat pig, what are you trying to do?” He turned the other way and flew to knock me over. As I fell, begging at his feet, a withering smile paraded his face. He muttered, “Why are those creatures after you? What is your crime?” He raised an eyebrow that gave birth to a furrow on his forehead. “They always have a reason to hunt, you know. I don’t want to make life difficult for you. Give me an answer so I can resolve what to do with you immediately. I have no time.”

His hesitation to strike was a sign that there were chances I would leave the hole alive. I sat on my elbow, panting, and answered, “I guess they are from my landlady. I have not known peace since I moved into her house.”

The old man chuckled. He crossed his arms over his body and threw out a question. “Who is the fellow?” A strange look sat on his face. “Saying you have not known peace since you moved into her house is a weighty allegation, isn’t it?”

“She is Methuen!” I stammered. “I am not lying. The allegation is true.”

“It wouldn’t have been a clever thing to say if you have no evidence. Methuen is a bloodsucker, unholy, and a coldhearted murderer. It’s a shame! I knew that was your problem. Good, you did not lie to me. I would have cracked your ribs with a single blow! You were trying to play tricks like most silly kids do, but she is not your regular woman. She is always a step ahead. You cannot pull her down. She is tough. If she feels cheated, she will hunt you down like a dog.” He laughed out loud. “You had sex with her and you wanted the party to stop because of your girlfriend. Is that not a silly thing to do? Methuen is wild, and she doesn’t understand the language of a weak man. She will always come for more!” He glared his eyes at me and growled. He breathed fast as if he was about to emit some destructive powers.

“Who are you?” I asked, adjusted my terrified body on the floor, and tried to look at him. “May I ask why you know so much about her?”

“I am Syclos. I know enough of the world,” he replied. He chewed his lower lip and added, “Such questions provoke me. Don’t remind me of my past. It wasn’t palatable. I should not remember how I ended up here. This is how far she can go to get back at people who she feels have hurt her. I fear for your life!” He shook his head. “You are dealing with Armageddon.”

“Sorry if I have offended you. I am scared. Could you let me go? I need to leave here before my pursuers arrive. If they find me, they will kill me…”

“SHUT UP! Methuen is my wife! You had sexual intercourse with my woman! We were married.” He hissed and turned away. “Things were fine until one evening she found some text messages on my phone.” His countenance fell. The man walked away from me. He sat on a chair that I guess was his favorite. He paused. I froze when a cat suddenly crossed the room. The poor cat disappeared into a little opening on the roof of the building. The man placed his head in his hands. “I could not cover my tracks. Methuen found me out. I forgot to delete the chat on my phone.”

“Didn’t you password your phone?” I adjusted my frame on the edge of sorrow.

“I did to fend her off. That did not work. I wonder how she unlocks the phone, checks my messages, and calls logs. That is strange for a woman who is not tech-savvy. If I had not found out, I would never have known who she was. I underestimated her. Methuen is a top-level witch. She tells people she is a devoted voodooist. That is on the surface. But she is a shadowy creature. She doesn’t require any expertise to break into any phone. I have seen her do it with my phone many times.

“She is in the habit of checking my messages when I go to the restroom. For this reason, she never allowed the both of us to use the showers at the same time. At first, I did not understand, but later I realized she was doing something behind my back. I observed that once I was away in the showers, things didn’t remain as I left them if I got back to the room. She was disgusting.

“To summarize my story, Methuen felt I was messing around with my secretary. She was right. Mirabel and I were seeing each other. She accused me of cheating on her, which I denied. I thought there was nothing to worry about. But Methuen has a heart of stone and was always a step ahead of me. She doesn’t forgive. Have you seen a man cry? I once did to prove my innocence. It’s not good to lie. But if you must lie, be brief. Once you are out of trouble, fix that thing that made you lie as quickly as you can. You may not have the luxury to lie another day.

“For several days, we argued over my cheating. I thought I was in the clear. Not knowing it was only a matter of time before things would spiral out of control. To avoid her, I started skipping our usual evening meals together. That did not change the situation. She did not believe I had anything to do with the poor lady. 

“One day, she asked that I sack the secretary. For peace to reign in my house, I agreed and asked the lady to go. Yet, Methuen remained unsatisfied. That was the beginning of my sorrow. She kept a close watch on me. My wife monitored my every move. It was trouble. There is no peace for the wicked. There is no concord for the fellow who cheats on his partner.

“One evening, she came home. She ran upstairs and burst into the room. Then I was in the room reading a novel. The force at which she broke into the room scared me. I flung the book away and jumped out of bed to see who must have caused the disturbance. It was my wife. Methuen came to my corner. She landed a slap on my face. Her eyes were red with rage. She was shaking out in anger. It was a jealous rage. If she had a gun that very moment, she would have closed my eyes upon the light of the world. 

“I was the thorn in her flesh. I was the devil on a cold night. She told me she will deal with this matter once and for all. I didn’t need a prophet to tell me what she was talking about. It was Mirabel. My secretary was the reason my wife lost her mind.

“Before I could blink, she smacked me on the face again. It was killing a fly with a sledgehammer. I lost my balance and went to the ground. She walked out of the room and slammed the door behind her. I sat in a corner, with my head in my hands. She must have gotten wind of the information that I was still seeing the woman. I sacked Mirabel, but I did not let her go. She was a good worker. It was difficult for me to let such a nice staff leave my establishment. She knew her job. The poor girl was efficient. There are few workers like Mirabel. She was exceptional and loyal. Instead of severing ties, Mirabel and I agreed she should work from home. I had her where I wanted. It was like she never left. Nothing changed. We only moved location so we could have more time for ourselves.

“It was fun. So, I started spending more time at her house than at the office. We made love like wild dogs everywhere in the house. Mirabel was the forbidden fruit and forbidden fruits are the sweetest. We used the showers together. Did almost everything like love birds. Mirabel could cook. She spoiled me with sex. She was the perfect woman. 

“As for Methuen, I took her outburst as one of those things that women say when they are angry. I did not read any meaning into her message until I had a fatal road accident.

“I was returning from a business trip to Ondo state. I took a public bus that could take eighteen passengers at once. Then I sat in the passenger seat in the front beside the driver. We were comfortable, and the atmosphere was peaceful. It was clear weather. The sun had settled on the bare chest of the sky and everyone could see beyond their nose. The city had burst into life and I could see the future from the horizon. It was a beehive of activities. Men from all civilizations would gather here someday to eat and drink to the greatness of the land. Everything started fast. Our time here was up. We had to move on. I was eager to get home to see my family again after some days outside of Lagos. I missed my daughter so much. She was the consolation in my entire life with Methuen. My marriage was a bone in my neck. We didn’t have that connection. Sometimes I wonder why. But I could not walk away from the marriage because Methuen brought so much to the table. She wasn’t a woman you could push aside by the mere wave of the hand.

“As we left the city behind us, our vehicle gathered dust. Trails of Ore were fast fading. We were descending into the road that would end in the popular Ojota garage in Lagos. Tall buildings and houses were growing smaller as we moved on. Soon, they disappeared completely from sight.

We saw huts, pockets of them spread about like pastures clothed with flocks. Then the huts too, either became a tiny fraction or disappeared. Only beautiful bushes, tall trees, and the forest world stared at us in the face as we journeyed back to the center of excellence. I was happy that Ore had disappeared. It meant we were advancing to our destination.

“After the driver had covered a vast distance, I noticed he dozed off. I tapped him on the shoulder. The man looked at me and nodded his head. The motorist pulled his handkerchief from his chest pocket and wiped his face with it. He threw the handkerchief on the dashboard of the vehicle. The man steadied himself again behind the wheel. He tried to fend off the sleep that had crept into him as soon as we left Ondo.

“Not long after, a giant bird flew into the path of the bus. The driver tried to avoid the creature and lost control of the wheel. Our vehicle wheeled off the road and plunged into a pothole. The bus somersaulted. It landed on the nearby bush, a few inches away from the road. We were motionless. The once bubbling atmosphere in the bus had gone silent. No one, except my poor soul, survived. Human body parts littered the place. The driver had his head snapped from his body; his torso ripped off his body and was by the road. I saw an index finger covered in blood on the dashboard. I guessed it was that of the driver or the passenger behind him.

 

I couldn't feel my legs, and my shoulder was dislocated. I tried to pull myself out from under the ruins, but there was nothing I could do. I had no strength. It was the saddest moment of my life. I thought about my little family back home in Lagos. How will they cope without me? When I remember my only child, Bisi, I had this rush of energy. I wanted to survive and go back home to be with her. These seemed like an uphill task. I had one arm moving and the rest of my body buried under the bus. I could do nothing.

“As I bled inside the vehicle, I started growing weak. I lost hope. Defeat stared at me in the face. I thought about death, her fangs, and all the madness in this world. It was vengeful. Bitterness wrapped itself in the air. I was going to die after all. No matter how hard I try, I may not survive before help finally comes. We were on the lonely road that stretched from Ondo state to Ijebu Ode. No houses on either side of the road. Bushes encroached on the tarred road and no sign of life in the near jungle state sealed my fate. I wish death would come fast. At intervals, a vehicle will speed past. The drivers or the passengers will glance at us and then they will move on.

“I understood their fears. We are in a wicked world. The fear that it could be their turn if they stopped to help was real. That area was notorious for armed robbery. It’s a kidnapper’s den. Drivers don’t pull up there for any reason. It was a black spot. From a distance, we must have appeared like some victims of kidnappers or highway robbers. And the criminals are not far away from the scene. So it would have been a miracle if any vehicle with no armed security men pulled up to help us. I tried to pick up my phone from my pocket so that I could call home. Peradventure, my wife could get me help. I could not reach into my pocket because the lower part of my body was stuck on the bus. I felt the pain mounting and my end growing with each passing second.

“As I waited for death to kiss me goodbye, the gigantic bird that caused the disaster landed on the floor some meters away from me. It shook and transformed into Methuen, my wife. She wore a dark, flowing garment. Methuen was elegant and robust, as usual. The enchantress walked up to me as I bled to the floor.

“She paraded a wicked smile on her face. The woman paused and stared at me. Then she shook her head and said I did not respect her. I broke her heart. My wife revealed my secretary confessed I was her boyfriend. Methuen thought she tamed me, but she was wrong. My mind was a wild animal. The woman disclosed how I rented an apartment for Mirabel so that I could eat her rotten fruit. That was true. We were even planning to marry. That was how dirty we were and how we had gone.

“Methuen told me she placed my secretary where she belongs. I understood her. She killed Mirabel. Then she grabbed her large boobs and turned around. “Look at me, Syclos,” Methuen fumed at me. “Is this not enough?”

“I couldn’t say anything. What exactly is that thing the skinny girl gives she does not have? You have had sexual intercourse with my wife, Taiwo. You can also testify. She spat on my body.

“It is true she gave me everything I asked of her on the bed. But my wife gave more than sex. She established me. How much did she invest in me? It’s already in the millions. Methuen was close to tears. It was clear I frustrated her. When she said I always call her a witch. But she used her powers to push me up the ladder. I felt depressed. It was obvious I was ungrateful. I didn’t value my woman. I took her generosity for granted.

“That woman made sure I brushed shoulders with the best in my industry. What else do I want? Rather than tag along, I cheated on her. I lied to her. She told me it pains her. She had to take me through this. I was out of control. I brought the mess upon myself. 

“She looked at me one last time. I could feel the heat on her face. I sensed she still loved me. But I pushed my luck too far. Mirabel killed me!

“I tried to apologize, but I had no strength left in me to talk. She tossed her hand in the air; a dark cup appeared in her hand. Then she emptied the content on my body and said I will not die but will suffer. I will live like a bat. Because of my daughter, she will spare me. She will give me a chance to get my life back. I will recover if I can find any man who has slept with her. Sacrifice the fellow on an open field. As the smoke goes up into the high heavens, I will recover and be a human once more. But there are no guarantees that we will be together. Our paths will cross again when I come to see my daughter.

“She will make me tough so that I can protect myself and make the most of my new house. She walked up to me and touched my lips; my body shook for a moment. Then she disappeared. As soon as she disappeared, a mighty force pulled me from underneath the vehicle. It tossed me into outer space. I disappeared into the wandering clouds. By the time I opened my eyes, I found myself in this room. I hung upside down in a corner of the room like a bat. Every night here, I must transform into a bat. Then fly around town. Perch on trees and eat fruits. That’s depressing. 

“Now, as providence would have it, you are Methuen’s runaway boyfriend. You have bruised her petals and eaten the forbidden fruit. You have had sexual intercourse with my wife. It pains me that another man is seeing my wife. But there is nothing I can do. It is what it is. Life is no bed of roses. With you in my arms, I stand a chance to be a complete human all over again. Bisi will see her father once more…”

He clenched his fist, roared beating his chest, and waved his tiny fingers at me. He got me in midair. The fear of death stood before me. I could feel the heat on my face. “I will do exactly as Methuen had suggested. I will not only sacrifice you, I must have my revenge. You will burn on the fields and I will feed you to the bald vultures. Your death will have a purpose. My pain will disappear from the face of the earth. My name will rise and swim against the tide. I have been in this hole for a few years. Nobody wants to be trapped forever.”

Shivering, I said, “It is true we had sex a lot of times, but I have stopped seeing her. I called it quits because I have a girlfriend and we are getting married. Please don’t kill me!” As I begged, the walls behind us cracked and the fiery dogs broke into the house. They almost barked the room down.

The dogs transformed into creatures of dual appearances. From their waist to their heads, they were the head of a human and the torso of a wolf!

Syclos, unfazed by their appearance, waved his tiny bony fingers at me. I flew out of his sight and landed in a corner. There was no time to check for bruises. My eyes shot back and forth, watching for his return.

Then he turned to the creatures and spoke. “Ah, Methuen’s puppets are here. I have long expected you. I see you want to claim your meal under my nose?” He clenched his fists.

“Yes. Feasting is the beauty of living.” One creature said and straightened his chin as if he was ready to emit some harmful powers.

“I hope you know the rules. “ Syclos asked with a frown.

“Which rules, old man?” said the other creature.

“You are such a terrible interloper. Under normal circumstances, you shouldn’t be here! This is my house!”

The creature chuckled and took some steps forward. “Syclos, we are players in this world. He is our meal, and it is not our wish to trouble your soul. You know what we stand for. We are messengers. In a situation like this, you must hand him over to us. You could see he strayed into your net,” said the creature, and his head swelled. “He did not fall from the sky. He got here because we chased him. The man belongs to our boss. Respect our decision so that peace would reign.”

“He is more useful under my nose than anywhere else. I also need him for my sacrifice so that I can be a complete human again. If I use him, I will walk the street and trade with humanity. I am missing my daughter. The little girl your wayward boss had for me,” Syclos said and swallowed hard. “She knows. She is aware I need this situation to get back on my feet. I already have her blessings. I expect you to leave now so that I can begin the process of my recovery immediately.”

The beast wore a frown. “Not this one. Syclos, find another meal. He belongs to Methuen. She has ordered us to deal with him because she still needs the poor soul. If she did not need him, she would have ended his life before now.”

“You are insulting me. Methuen is my wife! Respect my decision and get out of here!” Syclos yelled at them. Syclos threw his hand into the air and made some incantation. Before I could blink, stones fell from the roof and crashed on the intruders. But they were smart enough to duck before they could get hurt. One beast charged and clashed with the old man. They shared blows from one end of the room to another. The devil tasted misfortune as his meal for the day. Syclos waved his hand at him. He landed on the floor and broke his neck. As he groaned in pain, the old wizard cast a spell on him. The beast transformed into a piece of stone and disappeared.

The other creature grabbed hold of one of the graven images and hurled it at Syclos. It knocked him over. Before he could regain his feet, the beast pounced on him and a fresh battle followed. As they descended on each other, sharing filthy blows in the air, I crawled out of the room.

Syclos saw me crawling away but was too engaged in the fight to get his hands on me. Then he yelled, “I know your scent, silly boy. I will hunt you down….” His voice filled the room as I fled the scene. I ran at top speed out of the graveyard and raced homeward. My legs were touching the back of my head as I ran fast.

  

          

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BOOK EXCERPT: THE MYSTERY OF TAIWO DA SILVA BY OMORUYI UWUIGIAREN

 

                     

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

My Guest

Even as brilliant weather sat on the bare chest of the beautiful earth. Our mutual friend, the morning, took its place in the progression of days. A bizarre tale, more hellish than the enterprise of a sorcerer, crossed my threshold. It led me into a gloomy morning. I had vowed to get rid of the cockroaches in my cupboard, where they claimed lordship. Confusion greeted my arrival, as the insects dashed here and there to escape my blows. As I ended their reign, a frightening figure, brawny as a man who had spent hours in a gym, emerged from my shabby walls. He began to punch me. His eyes were fire, and a puckish nose sat upon his wicked face!

As his treachery crushed me against the wall, I yelled like a man that misfortune had dealt a miserable blow. I did not need a prophet to tell me that my very survival depended on how I could maneuver my young fist. The blows I delivered did not betray me, for the devil almost lost his balance. As he regained his footing, he clenched his fist. He flashed a menacing smile at me, as if my effort to retaliate were an abomination.

The cruel creature charged me, his bulk like a battering ram. Before I could snatch a breath from the wings of the morning, he descended upon me. I fought, but the interloper got the upper hand as we traded punches. But the vigorous blows he dispensed, none would prevail. So, when it dawned on me that my adversary would spare me not a breath. His blows tossed me about– I decided to feign death. I collapsed on the floor. I was an antelope silenced by the frenzied attack of a predator. My attacker grabbed one of my legs and suspended me in mid-air. He examined me as if taking inventory of his stock. Convinced that I was lifeless, he threw me against the wall. The monster rubbed his hands. His face gleamed with pleasure that he had finally snuffed the life out of me. As he roared and beat his hairy chest, a whirlwind came out of the ground and carried him away through the back door.

Now the air was still, and Lady Tranquility returned to her esteemed seat in my house. Still not recovered from the assault, I heard a faint knock on my door. I was not expecting anyone except my co-worker who had promised some nights ago to pay me a visit. I battled to pull myself to my feet, but my legs betrayed me and I fell to my knees. The knock persisted, harder than ever. As I considered the possibility that the devil had returned to cause me more pain, I was afraid. My heart died within me. So I quelled my impulse to open the door and crawled to my armchair to rest. It is only natural to retreat when one does not have what it takes to confront his adversary.

As the knock continued, a second thought flew into my head. If it were the devil, he would not bother to knock at my door; he would burst in, as he did a while ago to wreak his havoc.

I took a deep breath. Was I that man who has bitten more than he could chew and lost control over his life? I summoned my courage, subverted my ugly predicament, and staggered to the door. “Who’s there?’ I asked. My voice was as soft as the morning breeze.

A baritone voice responded from the other side: “It’s I, Yomi Badore.”

My fear and sadness flew away in an instant. My childhood friend stood outside the door to my shabby house. I cast my calamity behind me and opened the door. I flashed an exaggerated smile at him. “Yomi! Where have you been? I have tried to get in touch with you a million times, but all my attempts met a brick wall,” I said as I embraced him.

“After we left school,” Yomi disclosed, “A school in London offered me a scholarship. A few weeks after I left, my father wrote to me that he relocated to another town. So that was how we lost contact, Taiwo. We didn’t tell you we moved.”

“You are right. I hope life has been fair to you. As you know, the world is a beautiful place. But sometimes a change of environment does not bring the fortune we desire.”

“Oh yes,” he cocked his head. “But I know enough of the world now. Our part in life is to persevere and to learn as quickly as we can, for our victory depends upon our perception of the world. My study abroad was interesting but not stress-free, as I had anticipated. Even so, as I’m sure you can see, it has made me a better man.” His smile was a majestic mountain. That’s the beauty of getting the best out of life.

“Thank God, your journey abroad made you a better fellow,” I told my truest friend. “It is all over you, and you will be a blessing to the society that brought you up!”

“It is only human to be kind to others,” he noted. “We will be better off if we do not create problems for ourselves,” he predicted.

I did the right thing without further delay. I led this beautiful fellow with a large chin, a little nose and full lips inside my humble home.

My pain had now abated and my joy stood taller than the pair of legs that carried me. Reminiscing, as old friends would, I reminded my guest what he did in the ‘good old days’. “Do you remember how you threw the entire school into pandemonium?” I prompted him.

“Hmm… My particular madness is like the wind that blows with a vengeance,” he said. “It is the sand at the bottom of the sea. Back then, many thought I was under the influence of a wicked spirit. Or I shared in the misfortune that excess liquor gives her lovers. What particular event are you talking about, Taiwo?”

 

 

“The dormitory nightmare!”

“Ah, yes, I remember!” He paraded a smile over his face.

                                 ***                                

On a day that the sun was hot, tormenting the earth as if there was no tomorrow, Yomi ran into the dormitory shouting. “Hey! Hey! The Headmistress is dancing outside her office. She’s invited everyone to join her. Come and have fun!”

Without a second thought, some of the students ran to the office to catch a glimpse of the dancing headmistress. There was commotion. The forest of legs reminded me of triumphant warlords. Their feet wrote frustration on the face of the old earth as they returned from battle with an enemy.

But, the students received a rude shock when they found out it was a lie. The Headmistress had set foot out of her office and was about to enter her car to attend a meeting. “What is the problem? What’s chasing you all?” She turned to the students and shouted.

There was no answer.

The confused students were like monuments in a vast land. Before the headmistress could blink, they faced the dormitory. The students ran back to their classes.

“This is ridiculous! Someone initiated this,” said Mr. Jamiu. He was the personal assistant to the headmistress. “It must be a prank!”

“Yes, you are right,” Mrs. Akintomide, the Headmistress, agreed. “It would have been an embarrassing situation if the inspectors had been here. It appears that the prefect is not alive to his responsibilities! Tell the head boy I want to see him in my office, right now!” she thundered. She went back into her office and sat down with her hand to chin.

Not long after, Tolu, the head boy appeared, drowned in fear. He was a terrified lizard on his feet.

The old woman sat up and looked out over her bifocals. “Tolu,” she began. “Have I not warned you to never allow the pupils to roam the school premises when they are not on break?”

“Yes, you have. A boy in Class Four ran into the dormitory, shouting that you were dancing in front of your office!” Tolu trembled, and lowered his head.

“What!” She banged her table. “Who is the foolish cricket?”

“Yomi Badore!”

She took off her lenses, placed them on the table and sat back in her chair. “School is a small world. I will make an example of him. Go and fetch him for me!”

Tolu made the best use of his legs to reach the dormitory with speed and dispatch. But before the proverbial dust had settled, Yomi had slipped out of the school and rushed home!

A few days later, I was struggling to adjust to a life without Yomi. I noticed a large man carried himself into the school. Now little more than a shadow of himself and looked sober as if he had drowned his ugly past and turned a new leaf. Yomi ran to catch up with the old feet of his father.

It was easy to tell what had transpired for Yomi in the office of the Headmistress. He returned to the classroom with a broad grin on his face.

***

“That was an old chapter, now gone forever,” said Yomi, yawning. “I am not trying to say I can no longer fall into delusion. If you study my face and read my lips, you will see that things have changed. You don’t have to be a clairvoyant to see that man does not have total control over his own life.”

“You are right. Only change is constant. It would have been a disaster if you were still married to your old life!” I chuckled and threw myself on my feet. “Let me get you something to start your day,” I said. “Then we must roll out the drums.”

He nodded with a smile and made himself comfortable on my old wooden furniture. As I stepped toward the back door, he cleared his throat to command my attention. “Taiwo, I noticed something,” he said. He raised an eyebrow that gave birth to a furrow on his forehead.

“What’s that?” I turned toward him.

“What happened to your legs? Did you dash your foot against a stone?”

“No, I was attacked this morning by a fiendish creature. It is not safe here anymore.”

“A fiendish creature attacked you?” he asked, making a face. “Where did he attack you?” Then he sat up and crossed his arms over his body.

“Right here in this house. He was a monster sort of. He came out of the wall and beat me to the ground. He almost killed me.”

He chuckled and sank into his seat. He paused and tried to think. He did not believe my story. He leaned forward, glanced up at me and said, “You sound strange, my friend.” His eyes traveled round the room as if inspecting a below par decorated casket and then back to me. My effects were not out of place. The framed pictures on the wall were not shattered. “There are no cracks on the wall to suggest that someone broke into this house. Not to talk of saying you were attacked by a creature that almost killed you.” He looked at me as if he was inspecting his poultry. He cleared his throat and asked once again, “Are you alright? Tell me the truth. Don’t beat about the bush. Tell me the truth. We are friends. If it is something I can do for you, I will fix it. Are you okay? Do we need to see a psychiatrist? I can arrange it.”

“No need for that. I am good.”

“I’m afraid you are not. You need to see a psychiatrist!”

I was angry because he was a friend that I have not seen for a while; I had to mask my anger with a smile. “I am not lying,” I shook my head. “My landlady is a terrible woman. She is diabolical. By the mere wave of the hand, she can set a hundred demons on an insect. She sent a creature to attack me this morning. I never knew she was this bad until we were so intimate. We started seeing each other the moment I set foot here. Ever since I told her that I was no longer interested in the illicit affair, my life has been a nightmare. I find myself battling against all odds. It has been from one problem to another.”

“I don’t understand you. Your story is still not making any sense. You are limping. What happened to you?” He raised his voice with a streak of meanness. “I didn’t ask you to explain how you have been sleeping with your property owner. That’s your cup of tea. It’s your private life. I don’t want to know how you live with your woman. I am worried because you don’t look good.”

I took a mighty heave and tried to be calm so that I can explain things to him in a manner that will not upset me. “Listen, Yomi. Before you came into this house today, someone came into the house through the wall and fought with me. It was an interloper. He was tough. We shared blows from one end of the room to another. I sustained slight injuries to my leg as I tried to defend myself. Were it not that I feigned death, only God knows what would have become of me.”

He shook his head in disbelief. “You still don’t understand. Your story does not look good, Taiwo. It is ridiculous to say the least. I need you to convince me that you are telling the truth. We are friends. I know what you are capable of doing. Do you remember how I used to beg you in school to cook up stories each time I want to tell lies to my parents? Without breaking a sweat, you told lies that my parents never bothered to verify whether they were true. You were so good. You had an answer to any question. Once you open your mouth to talk, we are done. That was Taiwo Da Silva. You can’t deceive me in secondary school and still do it again today. I am an adult. Now I can pick holes from your lies without breaking a sweat, too.”

“If you need me to swear by the name of the gods, I will do it. My landlady is chasing me everywhere with her body!”

He laughed aloud. “That is fine. I do not dispute that,” he stated. “We have two issues here—the woman and the devil. As things are, if we decide to take her to court, you won’t win. What evidence do you have that suggests your landlady is the devil or she is the one that sent the devil to attack you? This is simple logic. You don’t need to be a professor to know. I am trying not to say things that will offend you. We are meeting for the first time after many years. It won’t be nice to start quarreling over little things.”

“Yes, you are right. But I know what I’m saying. She is a top level witch. She told me I will be punished for messing up with her.”

He shook his head. “I have heard stories that appeared to be true but after proper investigation, they were lies. I will rather be patient and get the facts than rush into conclusion.” He placed his elbow on the arm of the chair with his hand to chin. He tried to think. According to him, I was not making any sense. I don’t know why he doesn’t believe my story.

“Two foolish men cannot stay in a room,” he continued. “They will bring down the roof of the house. You should be able to convince me beyond any reasonable doubt that you are telling the truth. It is not enough for you to accuse her. You need to have evidence or you could run afoul of the law. It is as simple as that. Your story does not sound true. You have to be careful how you accuse people so you do not land yourself in trouble.”

“I know what I am saying,” I protested. “She is going to kill me if I do not continue with her. I meant it. Believe me!”

“It will be easier to believe a bedtime story than agree with you that a demon came out of the wall and attacked you. Look at the house. There is nothing that suggested there was a burglar. No investigator will believe you because there are no cracks on your wall. Nobody broke in. You are trying to frame her up for something that doesn’t exist. If such a creature had broken in, part of the house should have collapsed and some of your effects smashed. If you were right, you should be devastated now. Apart from your rickety legs, you don’t look like someone that came out of hell. I should have met you clearing the wreckage. Windows shattered, walls cracked, chairs and table out of position.  Seeing your house in a bad shape is enough. Then I will fight for you with my last ounce of strength.

“Did the fellow use the window? Your explanation did not suggest that was what happened. If you had said he came into the house through the window, you would have a point. Common criminals are always in a hurry. So often than not, they will use the window rather than break the walls and get into the house. There is no vault here packed with money. Your story would have passed the test of logic if it had gone in this direction. To make the matter worse, you accused your landlady as the devil who came into your house through the wall. Or did you say she sent some creature to beat you up?”

 “She is a top level witch. She sent someone to beat me up!”

“I travel a lot,” he interjected. “The last time I heard this type of story, the person was later diagnosed with high fever. He was treated immediately and the nightmares and troubles stopped. He accused his neighbor of stealing a goat. After further investigation, the authorities discovered the incident only happened in his dream. In real life, the man had no goat. He could only boast of a few old shirts and two pairs of faded jean trousers. He was broke and weak. There was nothing to steal from him. It’s a crazy world that we live in today. People say all sorts of things and get away with it.

“Those who were not patient enough to get the full gist had already gone to attack the neighbor. It took the intervention of the village chief to save the poor soul from the mob. ”

He looked straight into my eyes, “Taiwo, I am struggling to believe you. I don’t know why.” He crossed his arm over his body and threw out a question, “How did it get to this? What have you done to yourself? There is no smoke without fire. Tell me what is wrong with you so that we can find a solution before it is too late.”

“I have nothing much to say. I lost my peace when I started seeing my landlady.” I sank into my favorite seat next to him, and explained. “One evening, Methuen, my landlady, came to my house to ask that I help her check her new phone. Whether it was a ploy to get me or it was the cruel hands of fate, I do not know.

“It was pouring with rain that evening. I was at the dining table. I had my dinner and was preparing to put the day behind me. Aside from my boxers that hung to my waist, I had no shirts on. Then I heard a faint knock on the door. I thought it was my girlfriend, Elena, because she promised to spend the night with me. I jumped to my feet, rushed to the door, and threw it open. I was shocked to see Methuen. It was like an ambush. My keen eye sight makes me the perfect hunter. She was in the rain. The nightgown that flowed to her knees was light and stuck to her skin. One could see through the outfit. I greeted with a bow.

“She smiled and stared at me. She placed her left hand on my bare chest and guided it down my abdomen. Her hand missed the body of my boxer by a few centimeters. She pushed me into the house. I moved aside as she carried herself into the house. As I followed her in, I noticed she wore no bra. Her breasts were in their natural gravity embraced position. I felt a cold shiver down my spine. This was not a good idea. So I put my feet on the ground. It was tough and she was a skilled assassin. It was an unholy hour. The cool temperature was all about life or death. This was my territory and I need to defend it with all I have got. It was worth fighting for or I will be busy chasing shadows.

“Her round body filled the room. I could not breathe. Her unpredictable gyration means she was not afraid to show her assets. It looks crazy but it works. It is all about the hover. This takes a lot of energy. It is no secret that the whole world has gone butt wild. Then she stopped in the middle of the room and turned around to me. I was struggling to think straight. I could see my weakness. Her body almost popped out from underneath her dress. In as much as I fell in love with her body, I tried to avoid eye contact. It was the saddest state a man could ever be, staring at things that may never be his.

“No matter how hard I try, my warm arms will not grab her. We do not belong to the same estate. She was at a level that would need so many years of hard work for me to arrive at. I retired to the seat on the other side.

“She walked up to me and stood before me. Without saying a word, I managed to glance up at her. Then she said she knew I was surprised to see her this evening. I shouldn’t be nervous. She said she only needs my help. If I can help her, she will be grateful. She revealed she doesn’t know what happened to her phone. She couldn’t receive calls. She told me her daughter said I was a technician. I can fix things. She asked if I could fix her phone.

“I nodded and asked for the phone. She stretched the phone. I took it from her and inspected it. Before I could blink, she sat next to me. She was a distraction. Her weight could sink a ship. The room kept spinning. Now was not the right time to feel weird. I tried to concentrate on the phone.

“She placed her hands on my thigh. Methuen moved her fingers around my body. My heart skipped a bit.

“Before I could snatch a breath from the wings of the evening, she crept into my boxer and I was within her reach. She squeezed me.  Her phone slipped from me onto the sofa as she kissed me.

“At that point, I should have shut her down. But my response spoilt everything. I tore her fragile dress. Her brown delicate body was exposed. I went for the fountains on her chest. I pulled and squeezed them. I bent to take one in my mouth. She elicited a loud moan and grabbed my head. She pulled me to herself so that I could have enough of it in my mouth.

“She pushed me and I went down with my back on the sofa. She pulled down my boxers. She wrapped her warm, wet tongue around me.

“My head was light. I was in heaven. I saw angels and the son of man sat next to God without lifting a finger.

“Good sex is noble for the body. Nothing beats having your brain intoxicated with love hormones.

“I left her in the sitting room and my legs carried me to the shower. Not long after, Methuen joined me in the shower. We washed ourselves and returned to the sitting room.

“By the time I finally checked the phone, it was not an issue that required anyone to see an engineer. The phone was in flight mode! I returned it back to normal. She thanked me, and sank a kiss into my neck. That was the beginning of our affair.

“She stayed back. We made love until she reduced me to the mere weight of a dry leaf. She did not leave the house until it was six in the morning of the next day. We were exhausted and satisfied at the same time. After that day, our meeting became regular.”

Transfixed, Yomi laughed. “With your long oratory, I don’t see her as someone that you can toss aside by the mere wave of the hand. I am trying not to sound negative because a determined spirit can conquer all frontiers. Otherwise, I would say you are in for a long night. If you don’t want her, you must give her good reasons why you cannot continue the relationship. It is not going to be easy but you have to try,” he advised. “You have bruised her petals. She won’t let you off the hook without a fight.”

“You are free to tell me, Yomi,” I coughed a bit. “A man can achieve little in isolation.”

“Do you love her?”

“No. I guess it is the sex thing. There is nothing more. I cannot spend the rest of my life with her. Our relationship is not going to lead anywhere. I have Elena. That is enough…”

He shook his head in dismay. “There lies your problem. Why sleep around with a woman you do not love? It doesn’t make any sense. It is counterproductive and dangerous, especially for a promising young man. You cannot afford to make a mess of your life. I have seen precious lives wasted because they fell into the wrong hands. I thought that by now you would be married and have kids.”

“I have plans to settle down and get married. Like I told you, I have a girlfriend and we are planning to get married soon. Ever since my landlady came into the picture, things have not gone according to plan. I am struggling to commit myself to Elena. My landlady is a huge distraction.”

“That is because you allowed it. She is your landlady does not mean she has your life. Be a man, Taiwo. You have no excuse for messing around with her.”

“You are right, Yomi. She was all over me and I could not help it. Only God knows what came over me. Sometimes I do think it was a spell. That woman is capable of anything.”

“Why do you think it is a spell?”

“She is a Voodooist.”

“How does that exonerate you from any blame? You are a man. If you had shut her down the night it all stated, it would have been a different story.”

“I tried to stop her. Any time I lift a finger, she does something crazy. I have never met such a seductive woman in my life. Something is not right. It was the spell that made me have sex with her, no doubt. If not, how could I have slept with such a terrible creature? I know myself. I don’t fall for anything in a skirt. I know my boundaries and I respect them. There are things that I cannot do no matter how hard I am pushed. One of such is having an illicit affair with someone I do not have an affinity with. She doesn’t fit the profile of the kind of woman that should go to bed with me. But once I set my eyes on her, I will almost pee in my pants.”

He chuckled, “Listen to your story. You are such a funny creature. ‘It was the spell that made me have sex with her.’ Does that sound nice? You are clever. You should come up with something reasonable. I would have forgiven you if you only had sex on one occasion with her. But your story suggests you do it almost every time. That is not class. It is reckless. You have lost any act of clemency from me. You knew what you were doing. It was not a spell. It was lust. You saw the danger and the cracks on the wall. You ignored it because you lacked self-control. That is crazy. If she is a terrible creature as you claimed, she will not leave you without a fight. She came to your house with a phone that was in flight mode. Rather than fix the phone, you had sex with her for several hours. Nothing stops you from rejecting the job if you suspect something sinister. That you did not do. People say all sorts of things to appear innocent. Right now, you are guilty!”

“Yomi, she manipulated me. I couldn’t have done that under normal circumstances. She once told me she has a shrine in one of the rooms in her flat. She practices Voodoo! When I confronted the daughter, she confirmed it. My landlady once confessed to me that she is an enchantress! So what more proof do you need before you can believe me that I was manipulated into having sex with her? For reasons best known to her, I can’t have my peace.”

He laughed aloud, covering his mouth with the back of his hand. He paused and said, “Whether you have been banging a witch or not, it was within your powers to reject her advances. Do not push the narrative that she is a top-level witch. That’s why you were powerless. It does not make sense. Going forward, avoid her. Scale down on the things that connect the both of you.”

“Anyway, I have stopped seeing her. As far as I am concerned, we are no longer together. But she will not let me be. I do not blame myself for all the mess. My girlfriend, Elena, too should share in the blame. She pushed me to the wall. If she had come that night, that witch wouldn't have had her way. Mere seeing Elena with me would have put her off.”

“Here you go again. You are blaming your poor girlfriend for your mistake. Do not bring Elena into this. You should bury your head in shame. She did not ask you to cheat on her, did she?”

“No, but she is not always here...”

“That excuse is still not enough for you to cheat. If you want a woman to stay with you, show some commitment. Take your relationship to the next level. Today, it is your problem, deal with it. You should have let Elena know how you feel. Relationships are all about sacrifices. Two of you need to meet and talk things over. Or else, your attitude will continue even after you finally get married. As you know, old habits die hard.”

“Elena is a busy woman. She works in a media house.”

“It does not matter. If your girlfriend cannot come here, then you visit her, Taiwo. You cannot afford to fall into the seductive arms of a strange woman. She will ruin you.” He cupped his hands on his mouth and coughed.

“Yes, I have decided to seek God’s intervention and stay away from my landlady. The woman is not my life.”

“I am hungry,” he yawned. “Go and prepare something for us.”

“Okay.” I rose to my feet and moved into a shadow.

 

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