CHAPTER 54

The sun was beginning to pathways for the moon when they broke into a clearing, but sloping down the hill, they continued further into the mouth of a cave, which sat on the far side. It was patched up with grasses, twice the size of a whale but hiding under a large tree as if it was shy of the falling sunlight. The night birds were beginning to write their songs and the hums of the gentle wind caused the hair on the skin to stand. Truth be told, nobody in their right senses would wander far from the village, but for the hunt, Ejima doubts if she would have dared it herself. Rumors of wars had kept some brave men watching their families and village, but more dreadfully was the wicked spirits that patrol these woods, spirits that were known to drive men and women into eternal madness.  

“Torch,” Uche said and the amber glow flared into life even before Ejima could understand what he had said. “Don’t touch anything.” He gave Ejima an abhorrent look as if saying that the la