Chapter Eighteen

 

When Ife got to the State House there was a note waiting for her requesting she should report to the office for the Commissioner for Health. Ife grimaced wondering what was up with Dolapo Peters now. She went over to the clinic to see if there were any patients she needed to attend. There was a particular woman, Mrs. Giwa, who she was hoping to see so she could give her some final instructions. Mrs. Giwa had what you might call phantom pregnancy and she had agonized for days on the best way to break the news.

The lady was sitting there eagerly waiting to have her pregnancy confirmed. Ife smiled and asked the woman to be comfortable. Then she brought out the scan reports and looked up at Mrs. Giwa who was staring at her with very hopeful eyes and Ife hesitated.

“My baby moved this morning just as I was coming here, Doctor.”

Ife paused and spoke slowly after taking a deep breath, “I would love to agree with you on that score, but madam, what moved or actually shifted is not a baby.”

Mrs. Giwa gasped and gave Ife a sad glance. “What do you mean?”

“I am so sorry, I would dearly wish to be able to tell you that you are expecting a baby, but what you have are a collection of very large fibroids that give a semblance of pregnancy. You see—”

Mrs. Giwa fled the room in tears.

Ife covered her face in sadness because she knew how much the woman wanted a child. She remained in that sad state for a while but then she remembered she was required to see her Commissioner for Health and she left a message about her summoning with the personal secretary of the First Lady.

There were quite a lot of visitors waiting to see the Commissioner when she got there and Ife sighed, wondering if she should just leave a note and come back. The door opened and a secretary called her to say that Madam Commissioner had been waiting for her and had left instructions for her to go right in as soon as she arrived. Ife thanked the secretary and walked right in, and stopped in surprise.

Dolapo Peters was dressed most inappropriately in a sheer blouse and pants and was sitting in an easy chair varnishing her nails. Ife was even more puzzled as she recollected the crowd sitting patiently in the reception waiting to see the lady.

Ife knew she was in the dark side of a different level of this world, and talking to Dolapo in her real nature. The atmosphere was heavy, sensual and dense, and Ife held her breath. Dolapo wanted her to be seen as she truly was.

Dolapo gave a laugh and asked Ife to sit on the couch beside her. She invited Ife to name her drink. Ife held her disgust in check and answered frigidly that she was on duty.

“Even if you were off duty, I learned that you don’t drink. Someone I put in charge of monitoring you explained that you fellows from Blue Island are a nuisance at the best of times. This is not one of my best days. Acting like a human being can be a bore sometimes.”

“Why did you send for me?”

“You are being proper here, right? Why did you turn off the request of Adewunmi? He would have served you well. He does not know me, you know, but one nice prophetess told him he could receive the blessing of Numen.”

“Why did you send for me?”

“You have not answered my question, have you?”

“Haven’t you done enough harm? You have ensnared a man, made him impotent with his wife and turned him into a plaything for your pleasure. He hardly touches his wife and you want to make Adewunmi a sacrificial goat for your dark temple. No can do, Petra. I recognized you from the first day. I am on duty for that town and her inhabitants, which includes Adewunmi.”

“So why were you not minding your own darn business? Adewunmi came to us and we were willing to help him.”

“You mean you were willing to use him to embarrass the Lion and put the Lion in a precarious situation. He rejected you before as Kike, what makes you think he wouldn’t recognize your new disguise now? If I did so can he.”

Dolapo hissed in anger and stretched out her nails towards Ife who stood calmly watching her.

“You know I was turned down when I offered to be allowed on Blue island. You know what happened?”

“You are twisting the story, you were given an assignment and you turned it into your own ends, Petra, and quite a lot of people perished in that storm. You picked only what your wanted and did not even return to the Island.”

Dolapo whined, “You got the wrong end of the story.”

“I did, a helper from Blue Island goes to earth to help humanity and tried to make them slaves? Slaves of their greed, their sexuality when you know that was the exact opposite of the errand you were sent to do. You failed, Petra, and did not even have the remorse to offer to make it right. You have picked on another and making your return harder to Blue Island.”

Dolapo gave Ife a keen look and from under her eyelashes winked. “You can help me make it back. I want to make your Lion famous. We will punish Adewunmi for daring to want to compete with him and give him lots of wealth beyond his imagination. Just say whatever you want.”

Ife was tired, her inner struggle with Petra was always like that. She never intended to harm the poor spirit, just try to find ways to be helpful. Sometimes she lost patience but today she just wanted to be helpful

“I can help you only when you are willing to drink the water of humility. Last time I looked there were bitter leaves sprinkled in it by you. Until you make a choice, you are bound here.”

“Is that what you think? I called you here to explain to you what has happened—to give you my own side of the story.”

“I do not have the competence to be a judge over you, I am asked to be a protector under guidance and you carry that same ability because you are permitted to be a woman,” Ife replied softly, wishing just for once Petra would open her soul. “Oh Petra, you had so much, why are you doing this to yourself?”

Someone knocked on the door and both of them reverted to their earth bodies. Ife blinked, shocked, while Dolapo had a smug look on her face.

“He can’t do without me every night you know, no matter how many women he has. He returns to my bed every night while that witch he calls wife moans waiting for him,” Dolapo said with vicious relish, as the secretary came through the door inquiring if the Commissioner wanted anything.

Dolapo was amused and smiled sweetly at the secretary that she was almost through with the adorable doctor, so the first visitor could then come in. She turned and gave Ife a baleful glare, “Think about what I have offered you, I can make things happen for you and him here—ease things…but it is your choice.”

“No matter how good the apple, I would not accept one from a serpent. You seem to have forgotten something, one small detail…I am Numen!”

Ife walked out.

~~~

 

Ife returned to her office still sickened by the experience. She was still wondering how she could help the First Lady when she was paged that Mrs. Omolayo was at the gate and they would like to know if she had permission to come up to the state clinic. Ife thanked the security officers and said it was okay for Mrs. Omolayo to come.

Ten minutes later Mrs. Omolayo was sitting in the small consulting room. Ife wondered if she was a simple mother or it was Leila again. Mrs. Omolayo was respectful, and did not indicate that she had left abruptly the other time. They chatted about the change of job and Ife asked after Iwapele and the girl’s studies. Mrs. Omolayo replied that her daughter was doing quite well.

“You could call me Bolanle, it is a bit formal after all you have done for me to have you referring to me as Mrs. Omolayo.”

Ife smiled and explained that since the lady was older, it would be impossible for her to go against the tradition and call the lady by her first name. There was a small pause and Ife wondered if there was anything special that she ought to know, if Iwapele was really doing well.

Mrs. Omolayo hesitated for a moment then mentioned that she had a reason for coming to see Ife. “Iwapele has been having strange dreams lately and she is beginning to worry about her safety. I am worried too. I am wondering if it will be okay for her to come over to your town and visit a lady she said she met there. She keeps talking of seeing herself in a stream there. It sounds foolish and very un-medical to say that but Iwapele still needs some treatment.”

“I see Ma’am, if it will not disturb her studies, by all means she is free to come to my town. Good thing you came here for I will not be here for much longer. I have resigned, you see, so I can pay more attention to my other duties.”

“That will be very kind of you and I guess that will put Iwapele’s mind at rest. She has insisted that we should call her by that name now. She says the name speaks more to her than the first name we all call her by.”

“Interesting, does she have other siblings?”

“No, why do you ask?”

“No special reason except the thought that she has other young persons she grew up with maybe.”

Mrs. Omolayo laughed and the next sentence was a surprise for Ife. She mentioned casually that she has a cousin Yomi who had recently married but had a son from a previous relationship and that Kunle had for a time lived with them.

Ife stared as she listened and then started laughing helplessly. Mrs. Omolayo watched her wondering what was so amusing and Ife spluttered that she knows Yomi, explained about Kunle the son, and commented that it was indeed a small world.

Mrs. Omolayo laughed with Ife, agreeing that it was a small world indeed. Ife, still curious, asked Mrs. Omolayo if her first name was Leila.

There was silence.

“I didn’t mean to frighten you, Numen, when I gave you that warning.”

“You have been gone for such a long time, Lije looked everywhere for you, and so did Jasmine after a time.”

Leila flipped her hair as if she was back at the camp and Ife could almost detect the green eyes looking at her. Leila smiled. “I didn’t want to be found, Numen, I just went hunting and got a summons from Mae to report for my next assignment. DawnRose told me later that you were here on assignment too.”

Ife was so happy that she rose from her chair and both of them embraced, happy to meet on terra firma.

Leila, a friend from the mists of time and I could once again breathe, and feel that I had a friend. Being of the military aspect of our Island they carried out the tougher assignments. I had been on trips with her and she fell in love with Lije but had to contend with the first claim of Jasmine.

So how is my Lion of the Desert?” Leila asked.

“I have not visited for a while; he will be happy to know you are now found; your assignment must have been very much extended then?” Ife said.

Leila turned her merry eyes on Ife and shrugged saying she did not have many hassles with her parents but had problems when she met Ibukun.

“I have heard that name before.”

Leila chuckled. “I am sure you have had even the odd lunch with him. That is the first name of the Governor, I think.”

Ife stared as the import of Leila’s revelation sank into her.

Leila nodded and shrugged. “Iwapele needs to hide out at the grove, they are still hunting for her because Petra, who I assume you have met, intends to blackmail him to kill her so he can keep her existence forever secret.”

Absolutely shocked, Ife said, “Do you mean his wife has no idea about your daughter?”

“I suspect she has some suspicion because she met Iwapele one day and the resemblance piqued her interest.”

“Hmmm.”

Leila was restless as her eyes roamed the consulting room. “We had a pact to keep separate lives after he sent for his wife in England. You know he was a medical student like you. He does not practice, but at one time I had reason to suspect that he wanted to give me drugs that will abort my pregnancy then I caught him cheating. That was when I knew about Ibidun his wife. She came from a wealthier family and was paying for his studies.”

“He does not have an idea what type of being you are?”

“Like most people here he assumed I am what they call Mammy Water. It served his purpose to pretend that he did not mind but he wanted to see if he could exploit me so I went along to see how far he was prepared to go. When he started coming to the bedroom with palm fronds on his groin, I kicked him out.”

Ife could not help it, she laughed at the picture and Leila laughed along with her after a while too. Suddenly Leila straightened and she cocked her ears, and signaled that she had to leave. Five minutes later, the personal secretary of the First Lady came in requesting that the First Lady would like to see her.

 ~~~

 

Ife left to meet with the First Lady, then she received the voice of Leila in her mind telling she would visit again and expressed her commitment to being around if Ife should have need of her service.

Ife responded with her thanks and said it was good to have somebody from home around.

The First Lady wanted to know if there was any emergency or something urgent as she was informed that the Commissioner had summoned her. Ife went blank for a few minutes and assured the First Lady that it was just a minor administrative query and she had resolved it. The First Lady watched her keenly as she spoke but Ife was calm so the First Lady shrugged and dismissed the issue with an imperious wave. The First Lady then smiled that she wanted Ife to accompany her to a musical evening at her church.

Crikey Lord of Lights I don’t do churches, Lady, Ife said automatically thought, but she did not speak out so the First Lady asked her if she had anything against churches.

Ife chuckled. “My mother is supposed to be in Israel right now, I presume.”

The First Lady was puzzled so Ife cleared the air by stating that she had nothing really against churches as her mother before she passed had received the title Mother in Israel with her church. She just wasn’t into the religion of the churches as distinct from the teachings of love incarnate Christ.

The First Lady’s eyes widened in surprise at the comment. “You like music, I have heard you play music whenever you were alone.”

“Yes Ma’am, listening to music does not make me a Christian.”

The First Lady laughed and said Ife was going to be missed, but still asked Ife to humor her by sharing company with her. Ife looked at her wristwatch and said it was okay as she still had to be in her town that night. That made the First Lady wonder, if she could not invite the Kabiyesi to join them. Ife mentally laughed at the Lion who had frowned at that telepathically with her.

The First Lady told her the music concert should be over by about eight in the evening so Ife thanked her and said she would just need to stick around until then. The First Lady offered that she could stay in the guest chalet until it was time for them to leave within the next two hours.

Ife tidied up in the consulting room and decided she might as well lie down and stretch her back until she was summoned. When she got to the guest chalet, she found Tiwa already ensconced and sipping a cold drink. Ife laughed at seeing her frown heavily and state that contents in the fridge belonged to her as she was first in the room.

“I would have come earlier if I knew I was going to have pleasant company,” Ife said, as she opened the fridge to see the offerings. It was as usual stocked with all sorts of wines and mineral drinks. Ife brought out a carton of juice and was about to mix it when the attendant rushed in and helped her out apologizing profusely to both Tiwa and herself.

Tiwa and Ife chatted about all manner of subjects as they waited for the time; more ladies started arriving and the discussion became general. Ife smiled most times but her conversation dried off gradually. She normally didn’t feel comfortable in large crowds and would invariably grow silent.

Thirty minutes later the First Lady peeped her head, elegantly dressed, and greeted the ladies, thanking them for heeding her invitation and they all headed for the air-conditioned buses that would take them to the music concert.

Later, Ife was driven home with the First Lady thoughtfully providing armed escort as it was late in the evening and she had an hour’s drive over bad roads to get home.

~~~

 

A couple of days later, Mrs. Omolayo (Leila), came to the grove and Ife was stunned when Yeye was very pleased to serve Leila and waited hand and foot on the lady. Babatunde was amused and asked if Yeye had met Mrs. Omolayo some place before and Yeye hid her face in her headgear saying the woman was familiar to her in some way. Ife laughed and took Leila to the grove. She saw the maidens getting ready for the annual maiden dance and was entranced by the blooming gardens at the private apartments.

She promised to bring more plants and bulbs when she came next with Iwapele. Ife took her around the town and Mrs. Omolayo had a very interesting afternoon before she got into her car and left, promising to return the following week with Iwapele.

Ife returned to the grove because she wanted to be alone. Her spirit felt lifted that she could now count on another female as friend. Leila filled a longing within her and she felt a connection with Blue Island with her around. When they sat quietly, they would chat without words. People wondered how two women could sit quietly and still convey a sense of peace.

Adejare had moved his investors and the factory was progressing at a pace. Ife was touched when the next morning after the visit of Leila the palace courtyard filled with youths waiting to be interviewed for jobs. They sang and hooted their excitement. It was not a political gathering and Ife’s eyes filled with tears as she watched Babatunde give them a speech and told them he was handing over the factory to them and Mr. Tom Watkins. He challenged them to ensure that the factory turned over a profit soon so it could expand and be a source of revenue and employment.

Babatunde said they were returning to the days when self-help development was the order of the day. Adejare beamed with pleasure as he stood up and announced a surprise foundation that he had not even told the Kabiyesi about. A scholarship scheme for sons and daughters of the town to study at selected universities in the country. The recipients were required to work for the progress of the town and contribute a percentage of their salary to the fund.

Ife was happy when she saw Lomilayo step forward to receive her own scholarship to read medicine. It reminded her of the same emotion when she opened a letter from her old principal.

Her old principal had passed before she finished medical school but she had silently kept a promise she made by giving the best science student a prize every year. Very few people were aware of that except Babatunde who of course kept quiet at her request.

So this day Ife watched and gave thanks in her heart as she saw the efforts of the princes and chiefs cooperating with their Kabiyesi.

She knew that soon enough her pregnancy will start showing so she had quietly enrolled herself at her old hospital. She paid a visit to the Matron who took one look at her and simply said, “About time my young lady.”

Ife laughed and said Matron should not fuss as she was being a good girl and starting ante-natal early. Matron huffed around very pleased that Ife had come to her.

As she sat in Matron’s office, the old lady regaled her with stories about the new doctor who had taken her place. Matron said the new doctor was some kind of a scatterbrain and never seemed organized. Dr. Obinna came round and said hello, teasing her that he was going to be very particular in making sure she took her medications religiously. It was a happy time for her. She walked over to see her former CMD. He was nice and enquired kindly after Kabiyesi.

He shocked her though by confirming her suspicions about him when he said very abruptly that he wanted to marry her and set up his own clinic with her in charge, but he knew her heart was engaged from the day she walked into the office to report for duty. He shrugged that he would wait for her daughter and propose to the daughter instead and that set both of them laughing.

“With all due respect, Doctor, I think you have been in love with somebody else from the day you stepped into this state.”

The CMD was about to shake his head but he paused and then said, “Not much good in that area, my friend.”

Ife felt his pain, falling in love with a woman he could never openly date or talk to except as a junior officer. Ife knew of his pain but she also held him with enough high regard not to mention she knew of the woman he had fallen for. There was no way she could start such a conversation. So she simply laughed and said it would be best if the CMD waited for her granddaughters instead. In that light frame of mind, Ife spent her first day at ante-natal as a patient.

She talked to the spirit that hovered within her, waiting to cross the bridge, explaining as much as she could what it will mean to both of them, stating that she hoped the incarnating spirit will be a helpful one as she would be experiencing her first motherhood with it. She already sense the spirit was male and she would explain about the earth, what it would find and how it could manage its threads. She said she hoped they would be friends. She talked about her own journey down, how she had to wait to repair the bridge.

One early morning just after dawn broke, Ife felt the urge to go into the garden to watch the sun rise, so she left her bed and went outside. The maids were not about yet but you could hear the odd footstep of a farmer wanting to tend his farm before dawn. Ife stood close to some flowering plants when she felt the spirit close to her move across the bridge. She saw golden threads in shades of gold, and some rainbow colors just above her belly button and the mass in her belly moved as her visitor took residence. The most glorious song left her and she knelt in praise and thanksgiving. Her baby had moved.

 ~~~

 

Three days later Iwapele came to the grove in the company of her mother. Yeye bustled all over trying to make Iwapele comfortable. There was no guesthouse in the grove for live-in guests, so Iwapele was given a room in Yeye’s house as a temporary measure. Ife offered that Iwapele could come to stay in the palace but surprisingly Iwapele said she wanted to experience the grove her way and said she would prefer the very modest accommodation offered by Yeye.

Mrs. Omolayo, who had already paid an earlier visit, felt at home. Ife took them to the palace for an early lunch and they chatted. As they moved around the private wing Ife was informed that Tinu had seen her vehicle and thus had arrived to see her at the reception room. Ife asked that Tinu should come over to her private wing and happily introduced her to Mrs. Omolayo and Iwapele.

Tinu greeted them formally but seemed constrained by Mrs. Omolayo and Ife sensed why. Iwapele went over and knelt before Tinu saying a soft hello. Obviously she recognized Tinu from a previous encounter and Tinu had forgotten that face. Ife and Mrs. Omolayo watched the exchange keenly. As recognition dawned in Tinu, she stepped back involuntarily, bristling, but Iwapele remained kneeling and raised calm eyes to Tinu.

“Your husband will need to see me for all his memory to come back so he can forgive himself and move on,” Iwapele said.

Tinu looked from one woman to the other, observing her keenly and to the kneeling young girl. She was quiet.

Ife spoke gently, “You will have to unravel the threads, Tinu, something is not right. I have never known you to be unreasonable.”

Tinu burst into tears and rushed out. Iwapele was upset too. Mrs. Omolayo laid a gentle hand on her daughter and told her that since she was going to be in the town everything would work out. She asked if there was anything Iwapele would like sent to her and said she would be in touch daily.

Later that day, as Ife ensured that Iwapele was settled in, she went to look for Tinu at home. She walked in to find Tinu making early dinner and sat in the living room. Tinu came to join her.

Tinu came in to sit and gave a long sigh. “Lucas says he knows one of the Indigo people.”

“I guessed you knew something or else you wouldn’t act so strangely.”

Tinu agonized as she twisted her fingers. “He is Lucas’ half-brother, Ojo.”

Ife raised her eyebrows and invited Tinu to speak and explain how Lucas knew about that. Tinu explained that Lucas had wondered about one of the three men whilst in that state of stupor. He felt he could almost recognize the voice even though the third person had worn a mask when he regained consciousness from the beating the first time. Tinu said he had hesitated to tell Babamogba his suspicions because he was not sure if what he heard and the voice actually was his half-brother as he could have been mistaken.

Ife knew what that meant—in a polygamous setting it would have been dangerous to make such an accusation, for it could be interpreted to mean Lucas was looking for a way to eliminate competition for their father’s estate.

“Besides, in the weeks preceding the attack, Ojo had come round to his brother asking for more money. He had insisted that the share of the cocoa proceeds given to him was not fair enough. He had even accused Lucas of taking more than his fair share and hinted that it was from the illegal proceeds that rightfully belonged to him that Lucas had built the new house. Lucas was very angry and threatened to beat Ojo or make his half-brother regret being alive. So Ojo took his complaint to his mother and a family meeting was scheduled. The matter was resolved in favor of Lucas. Ojo was told that being the eldest male, Lucas had a right to what he shared out. Ojo left the meeting after giving his half-brother a long look. Lucas said he had felt chills rise within him from that look but that he shrugged it off. He called his brother aside the next morning and offered to help him out if he had financial needs before the next cocoa season so he could have a better yield. Ojo shrugged and said he had plans to be a really big man before the next cocoa season. Lucas told me that he noticed that Ojo was wearing indigo beads and had a traditional ring on his third left finger. He knew the sign, it meant Ojo had joined a cult. Remember I told you that your cousin was planning to be in the Ifa circle and they were going to give him Ifa beads? Well, Ojo said that was not going to be because they had gathered enough materials to dispense with the training. Chief Sao then reported his beads stolen and Lucas and I knew what was going on. I was wondering how to ask for your help when Lucas went missing and the rest you know of when he turned up with the girl at your clinic.”

Ife was very quiet as she digested all that she was now learning from Tinu. She wondered where the crazy quest for money was going to take some people. She still hadn’t been able to learn how human beings are turned into currencies or why in the name of anything, a human being will seek to murder another in order to be rich. She placed a comforting hand on Tinu. “But why did you burst into tears when Iwapele said she needed to help Lucas get over his problems?”

Tears rolled down Tinu’s cheeks as she said it wasn’t Lucas who needed help but herself, then she threw herself at the feet of Ife as she said she had been raped under the influence of a drug by Ojo.

Ife was stunned. “How did this happen?”

“It was one of those days that Lucas retired to the farm and refused to talk to anyone. Ojo came round and asked after him; he then did a strange thing. He prostrated flat before me asking me for forgiveness that I should help him appeal to Lucas. Something happened thereafter, while he prostrated, he watched me keenly and I gradually lost my inhibition. I knew my will was being taken away but I just watched him as he brought out a small bottle that he gave me to drink. I thereafter followed him to our bedroom and I watched the whole act as if it had nothing to do with me. When he finished, he told me I would not find Lucas attractive to me again. That I would experience shock and pain each time Lucas touched me. Then he cut me and drank the blood. I have been thinking of how to commit suicide without telling anyone. I will still kill myself but I want you to help my children.”

Ife took Tinu into her arms and rocked the now weeping, heartbroken Tinu. Ife consoled her as much as she could then stiffened when she sensed they had company. She turned around into the wild staring eyes of Lucas. Tinu turned too and seeing Lucas and that he had heard everything, she fainted. Lucas turned away and re-emerged with a sharpened cutlass.

Ife made a hurried call to Babatunde as she ran after Lucas. But Lucas took a short cut and by the time Lucas was found, he had finished castrating Ojo who was left screaming his head off in a pool of his own blood before his equally screaming wife.

Ojo was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery and Lucas taken to the police station. Ife insisted that Tinu could not be left alone so she was taken into the protective custody of the palace.

It was a long day for Ife, Tinu and Babatunde, who as Kabiyesi requested that the details of the event should be kept away from the prying press. He asked that when Ojo recovered he would be left to decide if he wanted to press charges. The police kept Lucas under protective observation as there was the concern that he might inflict bodily harm on his own person as well. Lucas was like someone under a rigid influence and he locked his teeth and said nothing, just kept shivering and would shake his fist. A close relative came to take the children into temporary care while the case was being resolved.

Ife was close to tears too and sat in the palace sitting room with her head in her hands trying to think. Late in the night Babatunde walked in and watched his wife. He sat next to her and pulled Ife into his warm embrace, rocking her gently so she could allow the stress to flow out.

“How is Ojo?”

“He will never be able to do that to any woman again, not even his wife,” Babatunde replied grimly.

“But why did he do that?” Ife asked. “Why are men evil?”

There was silence as Babatunde went on rocking her until she sighed and pulled out of his arms. Her cheeks were wet with tears but she was calmer and looked round the room.

“Can something be salvaged for Tinu and Lucas? Lion, would Tinu be whole? That blood he sucked from her was like a vampire, right? Why did he do that?”

“Take it easy, Princess, there is an antidote for every illness except Vengeance which belongs to Edumare. We will make herbs for Tinu that will take the effects of the mind-altering substance out of her system. Since Ojo sucked her blood without her consent, the binding he wanted would not be effective but we will do that in reverse order for Tinu anyway. That is why we say a true initiate, when he makes medicine, keeps the antidote for himself. The final antidote rests with the Lion.”

“What do you mean?”

“As the Kabiyesi, every medicine man is required to list his medicine with the young Lion, since I am about to vacate that post as Ifa has dictated, I had taken the precaution to request that the listing be made up to date and I submitted my own nominee for the young Lion last night at the Ifa meeting.”

Ife asked, “You have nominated someone?”

Kabiyesi smiled and said yes he had and asked that Ife should not filch it from his mind. That comment brought a smile to Ife and she said she would not filch as she understood he must stand in prayer and be sure of his choice.