₦airaland Forum

In4matic:
*APPLAUSE!
I must confess, when i started the piece, i read it half attentively and didnt go further than page 1
(i was expecting the story to trail off even though the start was good)

Seeing it again on front page as story of the week made me revisit.

So far its been a good story with just the suspense holding it All together but for me, that piece of extra research you did Up There in capturing Osi's 'Mini-Foundry' is the stuff Master story tellers only are capable of.
I give you a standing ovation once again.

Tnx bruv..pls don't abandon again o

Tolezy001:
Soul baba thanks for the update,more ink to your pen.

You're welcome bro tnx for reading

subtlemee:
I can't wait for tomorrow to read the next update

You'll wait no more...thanks for following, jah bless

GallantEmory:
Phew
This episode has been the best piece I've read in a while
...butterflies in my stomach
Soul you killed it 100%
Thanks for the update
Still waiting for more.

Thanks bro I appreciate

Osi watched the European from his spot in the bush. The man rubbed his hands excitedly as he waited. After some seconds he knocked the gate again.
Osi was suddenly worried. If indeed this man was the killer then wasn't it foolish and risky to be leaving him with Amara?
He tried to convince himself that nothing would go wrong. Joy was in after all so it wasn't like Amara would be alone with him and he didn't expect the man to cross any boundaries, not in Dé Nwachukwu's home.

He watched Amara open the gate and let him in. Just before she locked the gate, she looked across and her eyes met Osi. Her eyes conveyed the words: the time is now...but please be careful.

Immediately the gate was locked, Osi emerged from the bush and headed towards the European's house. He had an hour to snoop around.

°•°•°•°
"Are you the only one in?" Stevenson asked Amara as she locked the gate.
"No I'm not.." She wondered why he asked her and she was suddenly aware that even with her sister around that was no guarantee if he had any other motive. The man had a herculean physique.
He better not!

"I was thinking we should stay on the bench under the tree...its windy and more comfortable" she offered
"Really? I would have preferred inside"
"O-kay...would you like to drink anything?"
"For now I'm okay...you're looking beautiful by the way"
"Thank you" but she was very very conscious and very cautious.

°•°•°•°•
"Ehen! There you are....I heard you stayed behind!"
Osi heard the voice and stopped reluctantly. It was Dé John. He seemed to be in a good mood and when he got closer, Osi knew why: the man was drunk.
"You're very welcome to stay....you feel like one of us already..."
"Thank you sir...actually I'm in a-"
"Its very bad the circumstance you met us in..but as you can see after all, our gods didn't forsake us"
Osi frowned but he didn't have time to banter with the elder. He knew the man was traditional and he was conscious about the time that was counting down. He had about 56 minutes left. He needed to keep moving.

Dé john had other ideas. "My friend..I have about 5 litres left, the palm wine is undiluted and fresh...hours ago it was still on the palm tree"
"I'm sorry Sir...maybe some other time" Osi was already restless...he was prepared to be rude if that was what it would take.
"Oh..you want to tell me you don't drink?"
"Actually I don't sir and I'm hurrying somewhere"
"Nonsense! Even Jesus didn't I hear he turned water into wine? What kind of wine do you think he turned that water too? It wasn't red wine, it was pure natural palm wine...come with me let's drink to the safety of my village"
He made to grab Osi's hand but the pastor was already desperate.
He dodged the elder and hurried away. "Some other time sir..I'm really really pressed right now..."

°•°•°•°•
"So what kind of competition is this?" The European settled on the sofa and instinctively Amara settled opposite him. She wasn't prepared for another groping incident and she was determined to prevent the scenario.
"Its the wife of our Governor that's sponsoring it...basically its for all the villages and the three best essays would be chosen as 1st,2nd and third respectively..with monetary gifts attached"
"Wow..that's a nice move, perfect"
She agreed it was nice indeed. For a pastor Osi actually came up with very good lies.
"Okay so let me start with the major guidelines"

°•°•°•
When Osi finally got to the house he had already used up 10 minutes from the 60.
He would have to make due with 50, the fact that the house was sparsely furnished should enable him find whatever it was he was looking for under half an hour but the fact that he didn't really know what he was looking for (apart from the letter) might double that time.

He traced his way to the backyard just as he had done before but this time, when he got to the toilet window he was disappointed.

The European must have really taken his breach seriously because he had boarded up the window, running slabs of wood across and nailing it. He obviously didn't intend the window to be opened again.
This was an unexpected twist and Osi wondered what to do. He couldn't give up, that wasn't an option and he couldn't think of any plan that would require the European let him into his house. Maybe Amara, he had a feeling he would welcome her in literally with open arms but Osi had no plans of that happening. No way! He would find another way.

°•°°•°
When the younger sister answered the gate he cursed his bad luck.

Joy looked at him with an amused expression. "You're here to see Amara right?"
Osi decided to risk it. "Please I want you to do something for me"

°•°•°•°
"So you understand what I mean? That would be the best way to write the intro..that way you've managed to capture your readers attention."
One thing was for sure, Steve certainly had passion for writing. Amara was actually learning something. She just might give writing a try after all.
Then her sister barged into the parlour with the announcement: "Amara Oluchi is at the gate"
At first she panicked thinking of her friend's reaction if she saw Steve sitting comfortably in her parlour.
"She isn't coming in?" she said but Joy insisted "she said she's not coming in she just wants to give you something quickly"

Amara frowned "please excuse me" she said to Steve who nodded and she hurried outside.
She was surprised to see Osi waiting outside the gate.
"Osi..what happened?"
"I need you to do something for me...the window is shut tight, it would be impossible to get in through there.....I need.." His voice trailed off.
"I think we should call of the plan, I was never comfortable with it. Wait...you need what?"
"I need you to collect his keys"
"What!" She looked behind earnestly and closed the gate, coming outside fully. In a lower voice she said "what...how do you expect me to do that?"
"Amara...look at me, do you have any bar soap"
"Yes.." She blinked "what does that have to do with anything?"
"I want you to just make an impression of the key...I studied the lock and its a single key..the ancient type that can easily be duplicated"
But she was shaking her head "you didn't answer me, how am I supposed to get his keys from his pocket?"
Osi thought hard then shrugged "I don't know...there has to be a way"

Joy opened the gate suddenly "I don't know why pastor wants you to steal something but I'd like to help...I think you and I can pull it off"
"Joy! You were eavesdropping on us?!" Amara asked her younger sister crossly.
Joy rolled her eyes "I only wanted to hear the romantic words this pastor used to sweep you off your feet but its key you people are talking about"
Amara was about to snap but Osi interrupted her.
"Wait...how do you think you can retrieve the key"

°•°•°°•°
Stevenson smiled at Amara when she returned. "Why didn't your friend come in?"
"Oh..Oluchi, she was going somewhere she just wanted to pass a message"
"Okay, very nice...you need to come closer, you're too far away"
Amara nodded. "I've told my sister to bring a jug of palm wine and garden egg"
"No that won't necessary"
Amara sat down really close to him.
"Please...do you have any idea the trouble I'd be in if my father should come home and discover that I did not serve you any refreshment?"
Steve laughed "in that case...no problem"

Joy brought a saucer containing about four garden eggs and groundnut. She placed the saucer on the center table and went out again.

Amara held her breath as her sister came out the second time. Joy had a jug of palmwine in her hand and a big mug in her other. Instead of dropping the mug or the jug on the table and carrying it, she proceeded to use her left leg to drag the table to Steve's front where she stood.

She lost her balance and the jug tilted. Half of its contents landed on Steve's laps with a splash.
"Eeeeey!"
"Oh my God..I'm so sorry...I'm so so sorry..."
"Joy...why didn't you drop the jug first..why are you so careless....!" Amara stood up and made to hit her sister.
"No leave her..don't fight its fine" Steve got to his feet looking down in dismay at his trousers. The outline of the map of Asia had appeared on his crotch and he was very uncomfortable.

"Please I'm sorry forgive her..." Amara apologized
"Its alright" the European was apparently on his good behaviour. "Its no big deal..I have to go.."
"No no no...please I won't forgive myself if you go..please sir my daddy would kill me." Joy got to her knees and tears threatened to flow. Amara was amazed. Her sister was a terrific actress.
"Why don't you tie one of Amara's wrappers and I'd spread the trouser within minutes it would dry off"
He seemed amused. "That won't be necessary.."
But Amara touched his arm. "Please Steve..we can't allow you to walk around with that stain, its against our tradition...its shameful to us and to our father"
That seemed to get his attention. Or maybe it was the hand resting delicately on his shoulder.

°•°•°•°•
Osi jerked when the gate opened. He had been resting to the side and had been so lost in his thoughts he didn't hear any footsteps.
It was joy. She held the key to Osi.
"I heard him shout...was he angry?" Osi asked her immediately. To him the European was a bipolar with crazy mood swings.
"No..he was almost apologizing to me instead" she giggled and handed him the key.
"No...I can't take the key and risk him finding out ..just do what I told you before. If possible moisten the soap and get it soft...push the key well into it, and make sure your get the outline very well"

she nodded and hurried back in.
Osi hoped it would work. He had successfully cloned a more complex looking key before back in school but this was meant to be easier. The key was quite ancient. The type with teeth and a long length. Still he wondered if he could pull it off.
He whistled impatiently as he waited and tried not to think about the half naked man in the house with Amara.

°•°•°•°•
Joy went straight to the kitchen, she had a feeling Steve would ask for his keys very soon so she hurried as she got out the bar soap prepared to make a stamp.

Few minutes later, she sneaked outside and after wiping the key, replaced it in the back pocket of the trouser on the line.


°•°•
Joy had put the bar soap in a paper bag and Osi held the bag, thanked her profusely and hurried home.

Pastor Bartholomew wasn't in thankfully and he hurried straight to the kitchen. He placed the soap on a metal tray. This would be his base.
He went round the house digging for metal. Preferably zinc which melted easily and was the best in key casting.

After some minutes he turned up with some pieces of coin, a few nuts and an empty tin of milk which he peeled the label.

This was the tricky part, back in school he had access to a torch burner and had melted the metal by firing the burner like a gun or flame thrower, melting the metal in minutes.

Thank God there was a gas cooker in the kitchen but he would still need to improvise a great deal.
For one he would need a crucible. (A Crucible is a heat resistant container in which metals are melted) he would need something of the sort to place over the fire and melt the metal in.

Once more he snooped round the house. This time after searching the house with no likely solution he was struck with the idea to use the clay flower pot in the verandah. Pastor Batholomew had about three flower pots where he planted aloe vera and resurrection plants.

Osi was very careful, he transplanted the aloe vera to an empty bucket, careful not to pull out the roots. He would transplant it back later hopefully before the owner got back.

He spent minutes cleaning and drying the inside of the pot after he had rinsed it. A little water mixed with the molten metal would spoil the results.

He let the pot heat on the open fire while he used a plier to hold the coins over a second naked flame till it was almost dripping liquid then he dropped it in the clay pot on the fire which was already smoking hot by now.
He used the kitchen rag to cover his nose as a Choky kind of odour was emitted when the coins began to melt.
The nuts and the tin went in next and once the metal was completely liquefied, he scraped off pieces of golden flecks which were copper shells with a knife till he could see only the shiny surface of the molten zinc. He observed the knife worriedly and hoped he'd be able to get the scaps off before pastor Batholomew returned.
Very carefully he poured the molten metal into the key impression on the soap. He filled up the cavity slowly very careful not to overflow and carried the soap from the metal tray carefully.

He kept his little experiment in a corner in the wardrobe in the room Bukky had stayed. Of the three rooms it was the smallest and he didn't think it belonged to the pastor.
He wasn't sure how the outcome would be and he desperately hoped it would work out but there was nothing else he could do. Now he had to wait.

°•°••°•
Dé Nwachukwu entered his house and was shocked to see Stevenson sitting down tying a wrapper with his polo shirt. At first he chuckled, thinking how the white man had come to love his culture down to the dressing but then he noticed the wrapper was his.
"What's going on here?" He thundered
"Dé! You're back" Amara stood up guiltily.

Her father didn't waste time "why is Steve in my wrapper?"
"Erm Dé..."
"Actually sir, it was my fault. Your daughter was very hospitable and served me palm wine but I somehow managed to soil myself" Steve same to her rescue.
"Ooooh....where's your trouser?"
"Joy spread it outside" Amara answered
"Let her use the coal iron on it...it should dry quicker that way" he eyed his wrapper suspiciously and Amara could tell he was wondering if the white man had any underwear on. He didn't look too pleased.

°•°•°•°
Twenty minutes later she escorted Steve to the gate. The map wasn't as visible as before and he could walk freely now.
"Thank you for taking the blame back there"
"No problem, I know your father is a no nonsense man" he replied with a smile.
"Exactly, I'm very grateful"
"You owe me something though" he smiled at her again
"Owe you...what's that?"
Instead of answering her he asked: "when next do we have our lesson?"
She thought about it. If Osi's plan works out he would need to sneak into the house the next day. Preferably very early.
"I'd like it tomorrow morning, if you'd be free"
"Okay I'd be here tomorrow, you'd pay me with a kiss then"

°•°•°•°•
Osi was outside arranging the flower pot back when pastor Bartholomew returned. He smiled at Osi as he stumped his foot on the welcome carpet "someone once advised me to plant that aloevera, it has a lot of benefits infact its a gold mine"
Osi straightened up "I agree...my mom is really into it, I grew up surrounded with the products" he wondered if the pastor could smell the faint odour of melted metal or if it was just him.
"Did you try cooking anything? Something smells burnt" the pastor asked as if he could read his thoughts.

He scratched his head thinking of a lie or to put in better, an excuse.
"I tried to warm some of the stew Bukky left behind...I might have over heated it"
The pastor laughed cheerfully as he entered the house "I can imagine! We really need to settle down pastor...it is time to settle, sometimes I end up burning water...."

°•°•°•
Amara waiter until Osi was alone in the veranda before approaching the house. She had been about to call out before she noticed pastor Batholomew arrive. She couldn't hear them clearly but immediately the pastor entered inside laughing she neared the house.
"Pastor..." She called out in a whisper.
The minute he saw her, his eyes brightened and he hurried down the porch.
"How are you, how was it, did he suspect anything?" He had so many questions to ask.
"No...where you able to duplicate the key?"
"Hopefully...I had to make do with the materials available...it needs to solidify now by morning it should be okay and I pray it works"
"Alright...we agreed he'd come in the morning"
"Okay, that would be perfect...I'll have to postpone my trip to the nearby village till evening then"
"He expects me to kiss him"
"What?"
"Steve, he expects me to kiss him as a sign of gratitude"
Osi's eyes reddened "the man must be mad!"

marvwhite:
Like i said before,paul might have stumbled on the body "What! I did no such thing...I arrived the
Virgil almost at the end and heard some
kind of noise...I investigated it and
stumbled upon the body...I tried to check
for his pulse but I found out he literally
didn't have one" extract from chapter 12

MY OBSERVATIONs

from the below extracts,maybe Benedict is trying to use other means(gifts;he also gives Chinaza before her death) .He's trying to befriend her first,since they were NEVER good friends (it was never stated they),Thus the gifts
"Amara...check out this anteater....my traps caught it this very morning...let me cut it open for you and you prepare pepper soup for Dé"

"You know what, its not everything that
you sell..let's call it a gift"

"I'm fine...I'll be right back please" she dashed away from his hall causing him to frown.


am feeling like a crime buster now
NOTE; i may be wrong,for they are just my observations,and are subject to wrong judgements

Sir sherlock wehdone sah

Heeyhun:
The devil wears okrika and around 39-41 shoe size. Ties pink clothes around (I think I read that somewhere) what if the devil is a woman�

I once read one book I think 'carnal innocence was the name the rapist turned out to be a woman...I like the way you think...hmmmm....

Chapter 12

The next morning, Osi was full of mixed feelings as he watched his team drive off.
The deacon seemed indifferent to him staying and Osi suspected he must have called the Reverend with the news already. Good thing he had thought ahead.
The Reverend hadn't objected when Osi had called him last night, he had listened patiently and said "hmmm...whatever you feel in your heart you should do, do but remember you have a youth church to run"

Now Osi stared into the distance after the bus as the dust from the tires settled.
He would miss his friends. He was already missing Greg's gentle but solid personality, Ovie's playful but direct attitude and Bukky's caring nature.
And even Samuel, he would miss the driver's presence. And strange but he just might miss the deacon's sarcastic and vile nature.
But now it was time for work, operation expose the devil was underway and he was to tackle the Paul chapter.

°•°•°•°•
Amara knew he would pass by sooner or later...preferably sooner. The European was frequently seen in the market square mingling with people.
So even though she wasn't with any money, she moved around. It was a market day and the market was crowded as usual. She was tempted to buy some foodstuffs and considered running home to get money but she decided not to risk it.

"Amara...check out this anteater....my traps caught it this very morning...let me cut it open for you and you prepare pepper soup for Dé"
Benedict the butcher called out from his stall as she passed by.
She smiled and walked towards it. The bushmeat in question was unquestionably big.
"I would have but I didn't come with any money"
"You know what, its not everything that you sell..let's call it a gift"
"Wow..thank you Benedict...it would be a pleasant surprise for Dé Nwachukwu when he gets back...I'm already thinking of the spices I'd get"
The butcher smiled as he sharpened his knives. "No problem, so how are you?"
"I'm fine...I'll be right back please" she dashed away from his hall causing him to frown.

She had seen the pale white skin that could only belong to Steve and she dashed after the European.
"Stevenson...." He stopped and turned when he heard his name and she smiled.
"Steve...how are you doing. I hardly see you around nowadays"
He seemed surprised but pleased. She never went out of her way to talk to him like this before.
"I'm fine..I saw you yesterday at the Virgil...anyway how's your father?"
"He's fine...but Steve I need your help" she pouted her lips slightly.
"My help? Walk with me" he took her hand, enveloping it in his 'king Kong' like hand "I'd be glad to help you in anyway that I can"
"Oh...thank you...the thing is I'd like you to coach me just for today and tomorrow there's this competition I entered in the next village and I'd like to win"
"Oh....a writing competition?"
"Yes..essay writing"
"No problem dear...just take it that you've won already" he surprised her by bringing her hand to his face and brushing his lips against her knuckles.
"So how do we do it...you come to my place later today...."
She winced "Actually this is where I really really need your kind heart...you see my father would never agree and I won't be able to sneak out either...I would deeply appreciate it if you could come over instead"
He thought about it for only a second. "Hmm...no problems..the honour is mine. So what time would be convenient for you?"
Amara smiled. This was easier than she had thought.

°•°•°•°°°•
Following the directions Amara had given him, Osi located Paul's house easily.
He met an elderly woman outside peeling groundnut in a basket.
He greeted her and told her he was here to see Paul who he presumed was her son.

His luck was in because it seemed the young man had been preparing to go out. When he came outside he was already dressed and Osi couldn't help wondering why he was always wearing the leather jacket even under the scorching sun. He also noticed it was far from a second hand piece.
"What's this about?" The man frowned as he shook his hand reluctantly.
Osi decided to play it tough and hard. "This is about yesterday...during the Virgil..." He didn't need to say any more because the man pulled him away from his mother whose ears no doubt received audio signals like a satellite dish.
"What about yesterday" Paul asked when they were a safe distance away.
"Oh...so you still need to ask?"
The man sighed. "I knew somebody must have seen me..."
Osi couldn't believe his ears...It sounded like a confession. "Oh..so you admit you killed Okudili?"
"What! I did no such thing...I arrived the Virgil almost at the end and heard some kind of noise...I investigated it and stumbled upon the body...I tried to check for his pulse but I found out he literally didn't have one"
Osi narrowed his eyes at the young man. That would explain the blood stain but he didn't know if he should believe him. He got mixed feelings..not really believing him yet not really doubting the story."
His phone rang out just in time. The fake call he had set 8 minutes ago had come in.
"Excuse me..." He picked the call and listened to the recorded message. Thinking how unfortunate it would be if he should get a real call just now.
"Hello...listen to me...I'll be in port Harcourt soon enough...can you hear me....I said..hello?..hello?..." The 20 second recording had finished and he held his phone up muttering "this network is too bad...." He shielded the phone with his hand as if blocking the sun but the truth was he wanted to get the young man's face perfectly in his camera.
Paul was looking sideways, frowning and watching his mother.
"Sorry for the interruption...I'm trying to call him back" Osi applpgized and the man looked at him just as he had hoped. He clicked the side button freezing Paul's face in the picture but the shutter made a snapping sound. Oh! He had totally forgotten about the sound and failed to consider it.

"Did you just snap me?" Paul asked suspiciously. He sounded like he couldn't believe it.
"Snap you? What for? What do I need your pic- oh...you heard that sound... That's my incoming message alert" even as he spoke with the phone at his side he clicked the button once more repeating the shutter sound.
"You see....this network self...because you don't have credit they would send you a million messages!" He thought that was a sharp retreat.
Paul seemed to believe it anyway, "please are we done here...I need to rush of to somewhere"
"No we are not..." He returned the phone to his pocket. "We're not done...there's no one to back up your claims and besides the person who saw you put it differently"
"What...so it wasn't Amara that told you?"
"Amara?...no someone saw you mister man and he put it a little differently"
"That's a lie...I only bent over the body for some seconds"
"Be that as it may, the fact remains you're a chief suspect...the only suspect and even if you're innocent the fact still remains that you messed with a crime scene"
"Crime scene?" The young man scoffed "so what are you going to do about it you're not a police man"

°•°•°••°•
"Amara you just don't get tired do you? I never knew you were a LovePeddler..but it seems you don't get tired of attention"

Amara couldn't understand what her friend was saying. Oluchi had stormed into the compound breathing fire.
"What..what do you mean..how can you call me a LovePeddler Oluchi?"
"From Paul...you played with his emotions, turned him upside down to something else and then to the tall pastor but now to Steve...Steve too? Even when you know I like him...I can't believe you!"
Amara was confused "I don't....I don't still understand you..."
"Oh please...spare me I was in the market today..if anybody had told me I won't have believed but I saw it with my own eyes"
"Oh....I only asked him to teach me something"
"Amara you were flirting at him, smiling and just....." Her friend threw her hands up "you surprised me...you disappointed me!"
"Believe me the flirting was unintentional, or to be truthful it was intentional although intended for another reason altogether.
But her friend couldn't wouldn't understand.


So now Amara sat under the mango tree in her father's favourite spot and replayed the encounter. She expected her friend to come around, they had come too far for this kind of issue to last.

She was surprised when Osi walked into the compound. The gate must have been left open when Oluchi had stormed out. She hoped her sister hadn't sneaked out. Their father had since lifted the curfew being convinced the killer had been buried and the gods would not 'vomit' the body.
But Amara was sure the killer was still on the lose and had placed a personal restraining order forbidding her sister to move about alone.

"Osi...did you see my sister on the way?"
"No she's outside the gate with some of her friends"
She gave a sigh of relief "I'm sorry...good morning or good afternoon"
He checked his watch "its just noon now...how are you?"
"I'm fine...and you? I heard the crusaders had gone back"
"Yes...this morning"
She nodded "did you see Paul? Did it work..?"
"Yes I left him not long ago.." Osi brought out his phone "yep...I got his picture...just look at that frown"
She checked it and giggled it was Paul alright....in one of his sour moods. Anyone who sees it can tell.
"What did he say about the blood stain?"
"That he stumbled on the body in the dark..I accused him outright but he denied vehemently"
"Do you believe him?"
"That's the strange thing...I'm not really sure..that young man also has something up his sleeve"
"So when are you going to the neighbouring village?"
"I was thinking maybe later today or early tomorrow but that depends on your success with the European"
"Well...he agreed to come over whenever it would be convenient for me...those were his words I believe"
"Convenient for you....but he's the one doing you the favour now..."
Amara just shrugged.
"In any case...I'd need you to hold him for about an hour this evening while I snoop through his things"
"Again?" She sounded scared
"Yes I have to check for the letter and uncover whatever it is he's hiding"
"If he catches you this time he might kill you out of rage"
"That's why I need you to make sure he doesn't come home early"
"No problem..I'd try and delay him for as long as possible. But I think we should work with the timeframe of an hour"
"I agree..that's more than enough"
"So what about Paul, when do you intend to do some digging?"
"By tomorrow...today is for the European, tomorrow is for Paul"
"Be careful Osi.. I have a feeling we're playing a dangerous game"
"You're right Amara" he took her hand "but this is no game...its life and death"

°•°•°•°•

The village was already ripe with the news that the crusaders had left for their Town but the tall pastor had remained. It seemed he had fallen in love with Amaife.
One thing the devil knew was that the people could be very welcoming, the same way they could be very hostile. Still he planned to have Amara THIS week. There was no two ways about it, before weekend he planned to be remembering and reliving the sweet experience of drilling the innocent beauty. And there was no way the pastor could stop him.

ADECULATE:
As 4 me oo, i tink d devil is safiri or sofiri (pastor bathlomeo broda) am just guessing nani sha. Lol

Lol...this is trial by error na...but u may be up to something....

funnyfun:
Osi stumbled into the market square running like a mad man...he felt eyes on him from every direction but he felt a certain kind of eye on him. He turned round as he looked at the faces. Everyone was busy with their respective business.
"Heey...did you see anyone run out of this bush?" He asked a young boy shining shoes.
"Yes"
Ahaaa! Finally!
"Who was it...who did you see?"
The boy pointed at him and burst out laughing "you"

see, souloho19, if I don't have hypertension after reading this, then I will never have it. Haba kilode! U wan kill person? Anyway, well done for a good job. God bless the work of your hand greatly.

Amen thanks bro Jah bless

jasmine2013:
Great piece... Thrilling and full of suspense. Couldn't stop until I finished. I wish I stumbled on the complete story cos then, I wouldn't have to wait to know who the 'devil' really is.
Keep up the good work.

Thanks I appreciate your comment

At first Osi thought of different ways he could suggest to his team that they extend their crusade. At least for a few days. He decided the best way would be to compel them to stay to make up for the services they had cancelled.

However he was dissuaded from the idea before he could voice his opinion.
After the service as they sat round the dining table having lunch, each of them said words to the effect that they couldn't wait to leave Amaife the next day.
"Pastor...regardless of how it may look, the crusade was successful don't feel bad" Bukky seemed to sense his reluctance or rather she mistook his reluctance for sadness. Not that he was happy anyway.

"Taaaar! The crusade was horrible...since day one..the mistake was when the reverend bypassed me and handed the reigns to Osi...who is actually a good man but inexperienced" of course you should know who can make such a statement by now.
"Deacon can you say that to the Reverend face to face?" Ovie challenged him.
"Of course I can...the Reverend and I have a honest rapport between us"
Bukky scoffed then in an attempt to change the topic: "pastor would we hold any Virgil today?"
Osi snapped back to the present. He had drifted again. His mind was eons away. "Virgil? I think not...who would come sef? We'd just have a two hour service...from 7-9"
"What time are we leaving tomorrow?" Gregory asked him.
"As early as possible" the deacon answered on his behalf.
"For once I totally agree with you sir" Ovie said. He had been very vocal and eager to leave Amaife, ever since he stumbled on Okudili's dead body.
Osi didn't say anything. He wasn't sure he would be on the bus tomorrow.

°•°•°•°•
That Sunday, after her father had left to join the 'victory march', instructing his daughters not to leave the house(specifically instructing Amara not to go to church) Amara kept on replaying the scene from earlier in the Virgil in her head. Paul had been stained with blood and Okudili's dead body had been found few minutes later. So Paul had been stained with Okudili's blood.

Paul was a killer and she was beginning to believe he was THE killer.
Did he kill Ezinne and the rest?
Had he been in a relationship with Ozioma? Exchanging letters with her and coming to see her secretly without anyone knowing? Did he maintain a relationship with her from the nearby village under the guise of 'Emeka? Did he kill Ozioma four weeks ago and start his rampage on the girls?

She knew who she wanted to share this questions with: Osi, but when Dé Nwachukwu gave a specific instruction, woe betide anyone who went against it. As his first daughter she knew first hand what her father was capable of, he was a loving father but also very strict.
So it was safe to say pending further notice she was grounded!

But still....maybe she could sneak out to the house and be back in no time. She just wanted to see the pastor and she believed she could pull it off. However her younger sister was another case, she knew Joy very well and she knew if left unwatched her younger sister would leave the house the first chance she'll get. According to her: the killer was dead so she didn't see what the 'biggie' was. But Amara knew what the biggie would be if Dé Nwachukwu saw his daughter outside today.
It was generally believed the gods had struck the killer early that morning and it wasn't mere superstition that the indigenes of Amaife believed the deadly gods could still be hovering round the land. Hence the jubilation and show of appreciation all morning.
She could imagine the scene, dancing and burning of incense and pouring of alcohol 'hot' on the earth to wet and appease the gods' appetite.
Even now the drums could still be heard from the market square.

Someone knocked on the gate and Amara frowned. She remembered Paul saying he would stop by and explain himself but that was before she had seen the blood. Now she didn't want to see him. She believed he was a very dangerous person and it was just unfortunate he was her best friend's brother.
The knock persisted and Amara yelled for her sister "Joy move your lazy body and go and open that gate osisó!"
She heard her sister grumble but also heard the shuffling of feet as she complied.

She didn't expect to see Osi. She was in her room when her sister barged in. "You have a visitor o"
Amara didn't bother asking who it was as she was expecting Paul.
She marched to the parlour prepared to give him a piece of her mind, a very large piece it was but then she saw the pastor standing looking at the charcoal painting of her mother and her mood softened immediately.
"Pastor...I wasn't expecting you"
Osi turned "I know...I just needed to see you"
She smiled "really? Why did you want to see me?" She asked innocently but she was suddenly aware it sounded like she was flirting or she was expecting a romantic declaration from him.
Instead Osi turned to stare at the drawing once more "I love this art....she's beautiful"
Amara smiled as she contemplated the drawing. The artist had done a good job, the face, the angles and most especially the eyes....

They settled into a comfortable silence as they looked at the drawing but then Osi said "I'm supposed to head back to PortHarcourt tomorrow"
"Oh...tomorrow?" She hated herself for sounding so disappointed. What was wrong with her?
"I'm not going with them?"
"Why...why aren't you going back?"
"I can't go back till the killer is caught"
"Oh...you really don't believe its Okudili then?"
He finally dragged his eyes away from the drawing "Amara I know who the killer is"
She gasped "me too"
"Its Stevenson"
"Its Paul"
They both said it together.

"Paul? Why do you think so?"
"Stevenson? Why do you think so?" It must have been love because they both said it together again.

Osi smiled and gestured with his hand, inviting her to speak first.
"Why do you say its Stevenson?"
"Yesterday early in the morning, I decided to pay him a visit...." He narrated his ordeal with Stevenson to her. When he got to the part where the European had him cornered to the wall and shaking with fear, he tried to downplay it and sound a little manlier.
"So the letter is gone?" She sounded dismayed
"I'm sorry...I'd get it back I promise....that's what I'll use to nail him"
"So you mean he had the names of.....of...written in his notepad?"
"Yes?"
"That is strange and very suspicious but it doesn't hold much weight...he's a writer after all...he wouldn't have a hard time countering that accusation"
"That's the problem, he seems covered...everyone trusts him, but I know he's hiding something...he was worried I found something yesterday...he asked me 'what did you find?' And I don't think he had the names in mind"
Amara shook her head and sat down "now I'm getting confused...I never really liked the man to be honest...he's too nice, I always thought because he wasn't one of us but still..."
"Hold up..why did you seem so sure that Paul is the killer?"
Amara patted the space beside her inviting him to sit. She would break her neck if she continued looking up at him that way.

Osi settled on the couch and was immediately conscious of her scents..it seemed to envelope him, she smelled nice...she smelled wonderfully delicious, she-....was saying something very important right now.
"...so all this while he has been in a nearby village meaning he could come and go as he wished and nobody knew...he must have been very careful and he didn't answer to his real name, I heard someone call him 'Emeka'"

Osi frowned as he listened attentively, when she got to the groping incident, he felt his blood get hot. "What.....!who did you tell...that's sexual harassment!" He was livid!

The nail in the coffin was when she mentioned the blood stain.
"Blood stain....I believe I saw both of you after the Virgil...was it around that time?"
"Exactly...just before the people started shouting"
"Jesus! Did you tell anyone?"
"No...he said it wasn't him...I think he said I didn't do it or something like that then he tool off"
"My God...he killed him....how else would the blood get to him....he killed him!"
"But why? Why kill Okudili....why not let him face the judgement first...? After all everybody knows the judgement would be death"
Osi stood up. Sometimes sitting down didn't allow ideas flow as it should.
"I'm beginning to sense a pattern here...in the first place why try and frame Okudili up with the dibia's death?"
"Hmmm...the dibia had just revealed him as the killer that day so it seemed like an act of revenge" Amara suggested.
"Exactly...but what if it wasn't revenge....what if the dibia knew something...maybe knew the killer or something about the killer and he was killed to silence him..."

He frowned as another thought hit him "come to think of it, the very first day the dibia arrived he requested for some items for sacrifice...what if the killer met him later and bribed him to reveal Okudili as the killer? That way he framed Okudili as the killer because the Okudili also knew something about him...maybe he knew something he wasn't even aware of and then the killer couldn't take chances and he killed the dibia but this time he framed the Okudili again...putting him on the run...everybody would say oh...the dibia exposed him and he killed him out of revenge"
"I believe your theory..." Amara sounded breatheless. She was caught up "That way he killed two birds with a stone"
"Yes...no, he killed about half a dozen birds with a single stone" Osi corrected her solemnly. Sadly, it didn't just sound like a metaphor.

They were silent for some seconds lost in thought then she said "but if Paul killed Okudili last night then that would mean he's the killer"
"It would seem so...but I still have a nagging feeling about the European...the truth is we can't trust any of them"
"Me too...but I believe we can crack this together" she looked at him "we're a team?"
He nodded. Right now even if the Reverend drove down himself to pick him he wasn't sure he would leave. No...he couldn't leave those eyes. A man could drown in them easily. He school his head.
"We need a plan"

°•°•°•°•
Pastor Batholomew was at the church office when Osi traced him. He studied the outline of the church once more, he could tell it had been a shopping complex that had been converted to a church and it was quite large. He waited outside the office as the pastor was having a meeting with some members.

Finally he joined pastor Bartholomew in his office.
"Pastor" he got up to shake his hand "I didn't know when you left earlier"
Osi glanced at the wall clock. It was quarter to 5. He admired the pastor's dedication to running the church, he wondered idly if the man had eaten yet.

He got down to business.
"Pastor...there's every possibility that I'd be staying behind tomorrow"
"Every possibility....what do you mean?"
"I mean I won't return to PortHarcourt tomorrow....I'm not ready to go...not yet"
"Hmm..."
"You don't need to provide shelter for me any longer...I'm prepared to look after my own housing as I plan to spend just a few extra days"
"I understand...is it just you?"
Osi nodded. Yes
"If its just you then there shouldn't be any problem with both of us sharing the house. It has three bedrooms after all"
"Woa......I'd be really grateful, thank you pastor"
"No...I should be the one thanking you...I appreciate your devotion to my village...you're a wonderful person pastor and its been a honour to know you"


°•°•°•°•
"What do you mean you're staying behind?" They couldn't believe their ears. They had packed their luggage. The instruments were all locked in the bus in preparation for the next day journey and their pastor...their leader had just come home and announced he won't be following them back.
"I feel there's still work to be done here...we let the distraction get to us and now its hard to play catch up but I must do what I must"
"Pastor why do I feel you're staying behind because you're obsessed with solving this case?" Ovie asked with a frown.
"Which case...the killer is already dead" Bukky pointed out.
"Osi thinks otherwise"
"If that's the case we'll all stay then!" Greg declared.

"No...no...pastor Batholomew gave up his house for us for a full week...he's coming back tomorrow. He's agreed to accommodate me for some days"
"Pastor this is ridiculous...let's all go back"
"Bukky my mind is made up..before weekend I should be in p.h so no worries"

He headed towards the room. "I don't want to tell the deacon now because I want the Reverend to hear it from me first so I better call him now"

His friends watched him leave, shaking their heads in dismay.
"Maybe he actually cracked up a bit yesterday" Bukky said.
"He's really determined....I wish I could stay behind with him...I might speak to Batholomew my self"
"Does this mean we're still contributing money for his surprise party? I mean his birthday is on Wednesday and he could miss it" Ovie asked.
Bukky looked at him with fire in her eyes and he raised both hands "sorry I asked"

Sveen:
Well I think the devil is Pastor Barthomew... although I'm second guessing Benedict and Paul.

You people will not leave pastor B alone...he's my friend ooo

mrsochy:
btw why was sofiri d pastors brother never suspected besides amara said she knws him too wel how com all of a sudden dis writer stirs up d character amongst d alredi existing ones more suspense abi come take ur time ooo if ts nt paul or stevenson me nd dis op go just fight ahhan i don turn detective shuu

Lol....bro you too funny..thanks man...but actually I've laid the foundation for the Sofiri character all along...wait lemme update first I'd do some digging and modify...unless I fall asleep
*
Okay modified.... *

A young man rushed out before they got to the entrance.
"Good afternoon. You must be pastor Osi" he said to the Deacon. He was certainly dressed like one.
"no..I'm the pastor" Osi spoke up when the deacon remained quiet.
"Oh....sorry about that, pastor Bartholomew told me you would be coming in today. I'm to set you up in his house-"
"Where is he? Is he not around?" The Deacon interrupted.
"Actually....he had to go to the village square for a meeting but he'd be back"

This was Sofiri then...that was why Osi was sure they had met before.

"No problem...I don't even know where you stay, I know you gave up your house for us." Osi asked his new friend as they shook hands.
"Oh..that's no problem..I have so many places to rest my head.But I'm living with my younger brother right now..I believe you met him the day you arrived"
"Yes..I can recall something like that"
"Okay have a good night"

Smokeydrinky rachelfst meneski swankmee thanks for nominating this story for story of the week. Jah bless you.

My fellow detectives...thanks for your comments and analysis as usual..don't worry its getting close..

Ghostreaders thanks for ghost reading

You know what this means... arrestdarrester have you caught up on this yet?

donkelz:
souloho19 good morning man. Sorry I didn't call all this while. My phone was stolen and I lost your number too. Am in Abakaliki, hope we'll reconnect. By the way, its getting clearer who the criminal is...kudos bro!

No probs bro..I also lost my contacts recently. I'm in lag now but by next weekend I'd have landed Ebonyi.

marvwhite:
pheeew! I thought nobody is going to buy my THEORY

Bro your theory is legit and full of facts...in fact I call thee sir Sherlock Holmes from henceforth

swankmee:
Soul, dis particular episode got me cracking my ribs.... Seriously I wish I could write as well as u do... Kip it up sir

Lol..I'm really missing the characters from this story..thanks for the complement..I'm planning on reading one of your stories myself I'm sure it'd he dope. And thanks for the nomination too..Jah bless

arrestdarrester:
I lost touch with you on Nairaland after the ban on your literature citing site rules. I didn't know how to follow up on you thereafter.

I stumbled on this again after so long and in a few hours I have downed DELAYED DIAGNOSIS with gusto.

Suspense and detail not lacking through out.

You sure write good...yeah, you do!

Its been long thanks boss I wondered about your absence nice to have you back

tlordz:
This is a superb story...
Its bn long I read a thrilling story like dis..
Thanks for dis one boss....

You welcome bro..thanks for reading

Osi himself took the stage. He had a specific word to share with the villagers. He believed God had used the Reverend's call earlier to speak to him. It had recharged him and he knew the people needed to hear it to.
He spoke passionately about the killings, about the effect it would have on the villagers, about the fear, anger, sorrow...he told them how they could not allow themselves to be yoked to all these negative feelings.
"God is telling us tonight...."(actually by 12:33am it was morning already) "he's telling you to come to him...get yoked to him, are you burdened with fear, grief, anger, regret? You need to make a conscious effort today to be yoked to God..cause he tells us his burden is light..."

°•°°•°•
"I know why you won't give Paul any face" Oluchi whispered to her friend. She had been watching her friend since the tall pastor began his sermon and she suddenly knew her friend had feelings for the man.
"Shhh...focus" Amara cautioned her without looking. She had a serious look on her face and Oluchi sobered up immediately.

°•°•°•
Ovie was on usher duty which he hated. He didn't like standing for long and as a matter of fact he had mastered the drumset just because sitting down was guaranteed. However they were short on personnel. No one had imagined the turnout for the Virgil would be as much as this. The crowd tripled the number that had turned up during the previous service.

It was ironic that the recent killings had halted the progress of the crusade when in fact the people needed it now more than ever.
But that was by the way, Ovie was overweight and he needed to sleep. He scanned around for an empty seat. He walked slowly, tapping an elderly man who had fallen asleep with his mouth hung open. Only when the man woke up that Ovie realized it was Pa Kenneth. The old man looked very tired. Ovie felt like telling the man he could continue sleeping but he moved on. His legs were killing him, he needed to get to the empty seat.

He gave a sigh of relief and stretched back, causing a creaking sound from the plastic chair.

That was when he heard the sound. It sounded like a hissing sound and Ovie had half turned in his seat wondering who was sleeping behind him, at first he saw nothing then he hoped it wasn't a snake.
But then he saw the man, he was half naked or maybe he was stark naked because the light from the bulb didn't quite reach the tree and a part of his body was in the shadows.

Ovie stood up wondering what had caused this. 'I hope its under the anointing...' He mumbled to himself.

He reached the man and switched on his torchlight.
It wasn't anointing. No far from it, the man lay twitching on the floor and making convulsive movements. He was dying. It seemed he tried to speak or maybe he tried to shout but his throat had been sliced and more blood sprayed from his dislodged jugular like a bloody fountain resulting in the peculiar sound that Ovie had heard. Something gleaned just beside the head and he traced it. It was a piece of broken bottle. An alcohol bottle. He was sure that was the murder weapon.

He switched off the torch. He felt he was being watched. Whoever had done this was among the congregation seated here or maybe the killer was in the shadows watching him...waiting to grab him..
He tried to flashback and remember if anybody had passed him heading towards that direction but he couldn't recall.

Whatever noise any struggle would have caused must have been drowned by the massive speakers at the two opposite ends.

Ovie left the body and returned to his seat. He was not prepared to cause any panic. No sir...he didn't see anything.

°•°•°•°•
"I didn't know that your brother still came for the service" Amara tugged her friend's hand. The service had ended and people were socialising before leaving. Most would not be going back to bed because in a few hours they'd be going to open shops or their rewpective workplace.

She had been looking out for Osi but then she had seen Paul talking to a young man. But Oluchi wasn't paying attention. She was talking to Steve and even a blind man would be able to tell she was attracted to him. She touched her hair too many times, smiled too much and paid the white man too much attention.

Amara gave up. She narrowed her eyes and marched to where he stood. Ever since Ezinne's death, she was looking at everybody with a very big microscope. And by everybody she meant Paul.

"Mister man...Oluchi said you were not coming" she announced barging in on his conversation with the young man.
"Okay but the thing be say-" he turned around and she could swear he was jittery.
"Oh...Amara...I changed my mind...this is Sofiri..Sofiri this is Amara"
"I know him very well...but we thought you wouldn't come"
"Yes...but I could hear the songs from my place and I couldn't sleep so I decided to come" he faced her fully, forgetting the man he had been talking with.
"I can't sleep Amara...you've been hunting dreams"
"Erm..hmmm hmmmm....Paul we go see later now...Amara later" Sofiri excused himself and went in search of his brother.
"Paul...biko...please please don't start....you're hiding things from me...how do you expect me to feel...or how do you expect my feelings for you to grow when you're not straight with me" (yes if that was what it took, she was willing to tow that path)
His ears stood at attention. Did she just admit to having feelings for him? "I can never hide anything from you, I swear it"
"Really...okay for starters...tell me why they call you Emeka...and tell me for how long you've been around"
"Amara I'd tell you I promise...but its late...lemme come to your place later in the morning.....we'd talk very well"

°•°•°•
"Pastor are you with me?" Bartholomew frowned and followed Osi's eyes.
Osi shook his head "yea yea...I'm listening to you...the Sunday service starts by 9"
Pastor Bartholomew glanced at him strangely. Osi had been watching Amara and the leather jacket man not comfortable with how freely they were discussing. At a point she put her hand on his shoulder in a really flirty way.
"Pastor..are you with me?" Pastor Bartholomew asked again.
"Huh....yea I'm with you pastor...I'm with you"
A young man walked up to them and pastor Bartholomew ran through introductions "pastor this is my younger brother Sofiri...he's the one I've been staying with since your arrival"
Osi could remember meeting the man in the church on the first day. He had been the one to settle them in the house.
"Its a pleasure to meet you..I think we've met before....sorry for the inconvenience"
The man smiled.."no pastor..its no inconvenience my brother hardly visits me..so I'm happy to have him with me, before I get tired of him the crusade would have been over and he would have gone back home by then"
They all laughed.
"So...pastor..tomorrow the crusade ends and by Monday you guys travel back?"
"That's the plan.." But Osi did not feel ready to leave..not just yet. There was unfinished business to take care off.
"Hmm...pastor is it possi-"
"Pastor...I need to see you" Ovie interrupted him.
"Just a minute Ovie....pastor is it possi-"
"Pastor I have to see you now"

He looked at Ovie. The man was moving side to side, bouncing on his heels as if he was pressed.
"Just a minute.." He pleaded with pastor Batholomew and hurried to Ovie's side.
"Ovie what happened?"
"Pastor...I saw-"

There was a commotion from the extreme end as a woman screamed.
She must have stumbled on the body.
"Remember that short man that came over and punched you some nights ago?" Ovie rushed the words
"Yes..Okudili or something.."
"Well his dead body is behind a tree"
They heard someone else shout: "The devil is dead! The devil has been killed!"
Another person shouted: "praise the Lord!!"
Osi rubbed his face in dismay "oh God..."

°•°•°•°•°
Amara was still waiting for an answer when the first person shouted. When Osi had seen her touch Paul's shoulder, it hadn't been a flirting gesture although she had been moving along those lines but the reflection from the nearest overhead bulb had drawn her attention to a peculiar liquid stain on his arm. "Paul...what is this....is this blood?" She asked in disbelief as she studied her red stained fingertips.

Now: "The devil has been killed!"
"Praise the Lord!"
She looked at him and her eyes must have portrayed her thoughts because he held up his hands. "Amara I swear it wasn't me...I didn't do it...." But he was already moving backwards.


°•°•°•°•
Sunday morning the church was empty. Only about a dozen people had turned up for service.

The sound of drums could be heard. Drumming and singing and it seemed to drown the drumset and keyboard and the uniform voice of the choir as they proclaimed "this is a day of joy, a day of joy"

The people of Amaife were dancing round the village and thanking the gods. The gods did not abandoned them after all, they had struck just as they were known to strike, Silently and very lethal. The man who had spat in their face by killing their chosen messenger had been dealt with. The killer was dead! Their women were safe! They didn't need church anymore, it was a day of jubilation!

Osi stepped outside the church and paced about. His gut was telling him the European was behind this and he knew Okudili had been murdered for a reason. The same way he had been framed for the dibia's death and mama Ozioma's death.
Now the people of Amaife had gone back to their traditional ways and his worst fear was that it would be easier for the killer to strike again. Everyone was bound to feel safe.
"I'm sorry...maybe if I hadn't frozen last night...he was still alive when I saw him"
Ovie had followed him outside and now he sat down on the pavement with a sad look in his eyes. Guilt had been eating him all day.
"Don't do this to yourself...that man was already gone..there's nothing you could have done"
"Hmmm...I can't wait to leave here tomorrow...its been a disaster"

Maryclaire1:
This is Brillant i must say soul you are too good to be true you just dey wow me dey go .I can't wait to know the devil that wears okirika...the suspense no b here..marvwhite your points are top notch...i keep reminiscing on what you wrote and they all fit my main suspects now are Benedict and pastor Bartholomew. Honestly De john doesn't have the agility to run that way.

Thanks dear but why are you pipu forgetting Stevenson

SenatorPope:
Souloho19, thanks for this wonderful piece...

Kindly drop the links to your previous stories.

Thanks

.

Thanks bro..just this other story my first actually: https://www.nairaland.com/3571801/delayed-diagnosis

meneski:
The devil wears okrika
by souloho19



https://www.nairaland.com/3946214/
devil-wears-okrika/



Osi na pastor


okudili na devil


stevenson na devil


de john na devil


pastor bat na devil


paul na devil


butcher na devil
...... And counting


inside these devils them na only one we de look for for Amaife community.



Four gils don die and counting...



Native doctor don die.


Who be next?


Come make una help us find this one devil were de terrorise one full community.


The writer na DIE


The suspence na dead


The readers them don dey suspect every body even their fellow readers.




This devil hand go soon touch am.

Hahahqaha bro I swear you made my day, this is hilarious!!!

sKeetz:
I am the devil.

I am in my house, come and beat me

Lol...na the youths go fall on you oo

marvwhite:
That meant alot coming from you,thanks......
#fromYourBiggestFan

Same here bro...but I just realized Ezinne was killed with a knife too...maybe the same one used in the abbatoir

"Osi what's going on...you can talk to me, you know that I'm there for you..just a phone call away"
Osi paced the room as he held the phone to his ear.
The Reverend had called him not long ago. He must have gotten the report about Osi's "nervous breakdown"
"Reverend...I know..so much has happened, I've gotten obsessed with unravelling the killings that have been happening in this village"

The Reverend sighed over the line. "Son, I understand...I know it has become personal for you, but times like this you need to take a break. Throw yourself into the word, throw yourself into prayers and most importantly focus on the crusade. I believe this is the sixth day in that town but you've only held a night service, a Virgil and a communion service..."
"Actually sir the reason was-"
"No son...no matter the reason..you're yoked to something else..you know the yoke is used to hold the direction of the oxen while plowing the field?"
Osi blinked, he wasn't understanding his Reverend "yes sir..the yoke is used to hold the ox together to the direction of the field, so they plough it withou-"
"Exactly..that's the key word..direction..since you arrived that village you've been yoked to something...lemme ask you son, are you yoked to God?"
"Yes sir...I believe I am"
"Then why is everything so hard?"
Osi had no reply for that. Life was hard after all.
"No you see...I can tell you're stressed..I can tell you're weak...that can only mean your direction isn't on the field God wants you to plough...he says come onto me when you're heavy laden and I would give you rest...for my yoke is easy and my burden light"
Osi was suddenly seeing sense in the counsel the Reverend was administering. He sat on the bed and scratched his jaw.
"So son.." the Reverend continued "you may be yoked to anger..yoked to grief over the killings...yoked to solving the crime but the burden is too much and its facing you in the wrong direction..get yoked to God for the burden is light"

After the call, Osi sat still on the bed thinking of what the Reverend had told him. There was a heavy doze of truth in it and he thought of different ways he could apply it.
The truth was now he was getting hooked on the idea of exposing Steve as the killer but maybe...just maybe the Reverend was right and he got his priorities mixed?
He knew what he needed to do, he went on his knees.

°•°•°•°
It was almost 5pm when he came out of the room.
Bukky hurried to his side. She was always like a mother hen. "How are you feeling now, you've not had anything to eat all day, let me dish your food"
He smiled at her.
"I'm fine Bukky...where is everybody?"
"The deacon is in his room, Samuel is around somewhere....Greg and Ovie said they would move around for a little evangelism"
"Wow..bless them...please get ready, we're holding a Virgil tonight"
"Tonight?...that's terrific, that may be what everybody needs..but pastor you really should eat something first"
"Bukola" he held her shoulder and smiled "man shall not live by bread alone".

°•°•°•°
It turned out bread was still very essential. Osi listened to his stomach growl as he supervised the finishing touches in the market square. He was starving..no two ways about it.

The villagers had come out to watch and before long some of them had assisted with arranging the chairs and speakers and even setting up the podium.

The villagers really needed the service now more than ever.
Osi felt a little ashamed of himself. He was grateful for the call that had put him in order but as he watched a young man assist Ovie set up a speaker he still thought of how he could expose the Steve. He was sure now more than ever he had retrieved the letter from his pocket. Oh yes, the devil was white.

°•°•°•°•
"What time do we kick of?" Gregory joined him.
"10 pm should be perfect"
"Alright...I'm glad to see you bounce back"
"Where's the deacon?" He looked around searching for the man
Gregory just sighed "honestly..only God knows"

°•°•°•°•
When the team had started setting up the market square, this was around 6:30 in the evening, Amara had passed by with Oluchi and her younger sister. She had called out when she saw Osi.
"Amara....good to see you" he nodded politely at the other girls.
"You're having a night service?"
"No a Virgil....listen I'm really sorry about your friend...I'm so so sorry, I'd like you to attend today...I'd like you all to attend" he corrected extending the invitation to the other two girls.
"I'd love to but the only way we can come is if we have an escort preferably male"
"No problem...I'd come and pick you up around 9"
"I think I'd pass" Joy said.
"Me too..Paul has been acting weird and I'm sure he won't accept to take me" Oluchi sighed.
"That wouldn't be a problem...Osi and I can take the other path and pick you up" Amara assured her.
Oluchi looked at the pastor. "Hope it won't be too much stress for you?"
He could see she really needed to come for the service "of course not...just be ready by 9"

So now it was a quarter to 9 and he instructed Greg: "put on the generator and let Bukky just be singing...play the piano, give the right atmosphere, you know what I mean"
"I read you loud and clear"

°•°•°•°
He started down the path wishing two things:
1. That he had eaten something.
2. That he had brought a torchlight along. Seriously what was up with the moon nowadays?

"Pastor...how do you do?"
Stevenson materialised from the dark and smiled at Osi. His white teeth gleamed in the night.
Osi looked at him as the emotions began to simmer...rage, shame, suspicion.....he forced it back bouncing the words: 'my yoke is easy' in his mind.
"Steve..I didn't see you help with the setup"
"I was quite busy pastor...but I won't miss the service for anything"
"Okay.." He looked at the man remembering hours ago how rage had filled that face and how he had almost choked him to death.

"Pastor I'm really really really sorry for my reaction earlier" Stevenson must have read his mind.
"Its nothing...I was at fault, I accept the blame"
But the European wasn't convinced.
"The thing is I've had a bad experience in my country with breaking and entering...I was shot in my stomach by robbers...I'd show you the scar but its dark"
"Oh..my apologies then, I didn't wish to trigger any memories with my action"
"So hope you can understand and forgive me for roughing you up earlier?"

But what about the letter you took? What did you mean when you asked me 'what did I find?' And what are the names of the dead girls doing in your pad??
But he strongly felt not to ask these questions so instead he nodded. "I totally understand...let's bury the matter"
Steve smiled. "I'd be glad to"

°•°•°•°•
Meanwhile just on the outskirt of the city....
The short man marched towards the stream. He needed to take a bath before anything. Okudili didn't care much for hygiene but right now he could pass out from his own body odour. He hadn't washed in days.
He had only the shirt on his back. His other shirt had been found ripped at the crime scene of the dibia and mama Ozioma.

Okudili didn't know this, but he knew he was tired of running away from his hometown.
No one knew this but spending all your days, every minute and second at the market square gave him a bird like view of everything in the market. He had seen a lot of things and he knew a lot of secrets. If he was going down, he wasn't going down alone.
He stripped at the stream, hiding his clothes and the bottle of alcohol under a bush. He kissed the bottle first. He would need to get tanked before heading to the market square.

swankmee:
.... It is not Stevenson or Paul.. It could be pastor Bartholomew or one of d De's may be De John...



Meanwhile u are a wonderful writer sir more ink to ur pen... Was just picturing each and every event in my head.... Kip it up sir

Thank you...I've been singing Dé john since but no one believes me..
Thanks a lot

Segibambo:
Oh dear!

When's the next update...

Been a day one follower!


I like the theory that points to the butcher, it actually makes sense.

Curiosity and the need to know the DEVIL brings me here everyday, checking periodically even after knowing the writer posts in the night/evening if I'm not wrong.


Meanwhile, souloho19 would be like, I'm gonna play around with my readers heads!

Lol..thanks for following bro..I've been tempted to say something that would mislead everybody but that won't be fair..so I'd let the story unwind itself..the next update is incoming BTW..jah bless bro