Age of Sango(Naija Demigods Chronicles #1)

The List

Kola narrated in details his visit to the iyaa ajes at the earliest hour of the morning to the Sangosakin and Omítọ̀nàdé.

"You should have introduced yourself as Oba awon orisha" Sangosakin told him.

"I was about to do so when they interrupted me." Kola complained.

"That's in the past now." Omítọ̀nàdé said sagely, "What we should focus on now is going to Ondo town now to seek her out."

"Can't we do it tomorrow," Kola moaned. "I didn't get enough sleep last night."

He'd had nightmares for the rest of the night about scary old women and popping people.

"Let's go Bambi," She said to him as the got to her feet and sauntered to the exit. Kola grudgingly tagged along. Together they headed for the woods. Omítọ̀nàdé bearing gifts of gin and kolanuts for Iroko.

"Why do I have a feeling that you calling me Bambi back there was meant as a mocking remark?"

"Shebi you know it's one of your Oriki?" Omítọ̀nàdé asked artlessly.

"I know what it means in Yoruba."

"Then why are you asking me Oba Sango?" She inquired trying to keep a straight face.

"I wouldn't dare ridicule you."

Kola narrowed his eyes at her.

As they progressed, Omítọ̀nàdé began to whistle Jidenna's bambi "Bambi, Bambi, Ba bam bam bi,"

Kola shook his head as he completed the hook "My dear, I want you here, Don't get too near for there's lions beware."

They got to the tree and Omítọ̀nàdé presented the ebos by the roots of the tried as she petitioned the orisha for a lift.

Omítọ̀nàdé read a sign post that confirmed their location as Akinnola street and they started down the street.

"I didn't ask for the exact address." Kola realized as they passed a few building.

"Don't worry we'll know it when we get to it."

They forayed further down the street. The street was virtually empty save for an old lady dressed in sayanmiran aso oke heading towards them. She was fully clothed in carton brown buba, iro and gele. Only her ipele was chocolate brown. The old lady looked like she might have broken a lot of hearts back in her days.

The elderly female waved them over with a white paper in her hand.

"I think that is her" Omítọ̀nàdé whispered.

"You think or you know?"

Omítọ̀nàdé shrugged as they approached the old woman.

"E ku osan ma." Omítọ̀nàdé greeted. Kola did so as well.

She acknowledged their greetings.

"See I no get time, I dey rush" She said hurriedly. "Take this paper from my hand."
Kola thought it a weird request but he indulged her. She rummaged through her bag, brought out folded notes of money and gave them to Kola as well.

He was surprised.

"Are you Olojongbodu?" Omítọ̀nàdé asked.

She nodded.

"I don already hear say una go cum find me and I know why una come. But before I tell una where I Iku dey, u go help me go market buy the things wey dey the list."

Kola unfolded the notes in his hands and counted them. Then he schemed through the content of the list.

1)four basket of rice.

2)two basket of beans.

3)10 pieces of kpomo.

4)a bottle of groundnut oil. Etc.

The sum of two thousand five hundred naira was what had been handed to him but the gist of the list was at least five times the amount and he told her so.

"iwo yoo sanwo fun awon miiran; you will pay for the others" The old lady shrugged.
Kola's eyes were rounded and his mouth dropped.

"But we don't have any money."

"No market, no information" she said taking her leave. When she was about fifteen steps away from them turned back and waved them o daabo.

"How are we supposed to get all the items on the list?" Kola asked Omítọ̀nàdé.

"Don't worry," She said flashing him a debit card "I don't go anywhere without my master card."

They roamed about asking people for directions to the nearest ATM or POS machine and the market.

When they finally found an ATM, Kola watched Omítọ̀nàdé insert her card into the slot, type in her pin and withdraw the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira from her saving account.

"What do you need that much cash for?"

"I don't know anywhere in Ondo state so we'll have to hire a taxi for the day."

"Even still."

They found an empty cab with light blue sides and yellow top, bonnet and trunk. Omítọ̀nàdé told the driver she required his services for the whole day. The man charged her an exorbitant price that she didn't even negotiate.

The driver chauffeured them to a market where they made their purchases. Like all markets the place was a mix of smells; the sickly sweet smell of rotting tomatoes, the acrid odour of freshly butchered meat, the sour scent of unwashed bodies filled the air lingering heavily in the humid atmosphere. Traders were calling customers over to their place. Around them, the market teemed with vendors and buyer haggling over prices. Kola and Omítọ̀nàdé moved from one stall to stall going through the list and making their purchases. From the market they went to a fast food restaurant where Kola downed a plate of fried rice and chicken with a bottle of coke while abimbola snacked on a burger and hollandia yogurt. After which he took them to Olojongbodu's house where they awaited her return.

The old lady came back late at night.

"I'm sorry I kept you people waiting"

"No wahala ma" Omítọ̀nàdé said handing over two large bargo sack bags.

"Olorun bukun fun o; God bless you. Eshe gun."

"Ami"

"So can you tell us where Iku is?" Kola asked impatiently.

"He is in Abeokuta."

"What??? We came all this way and went to buy you tomatoes and kpomo for you to tell us he's back where we are coming from."

Olojongbodu shrugged as she walked carrying the sack bag into her house. As she opened her door, she noticed the cab driver. She looked back at Omítọ̀nàdé and Kola gracing them with an enigmatic smile then waved at the driver before entering her abode.

Omítọ̀nàdé asked the driver to take them to the nearest hotel where they slept in different rooms for the night.