The old man nodded and suggested that Babatunde should be thinking of that as well, and then he rose to his feet and offered that he might walk by the next day and tell Babatunde his ideas.
“Give my regards to Gbadamosi.” He went on his way.
Babatunde was aware of the mystery when his father claimed no knowledge of the old man and asked his son to describe him. Babatunde tried very hard to remember what the old man looked like but only remembered the slippers. The answer made his father give him a sharp look of surprise and he asked if the old man had given his name.
Babatunde became irritated. “Papa, you don’t expect me to ask an old man his age do you?”
“I suppose. You are right,” his father responded, but started when Babatunde said he was going to the Orijajoogun house.
“There is no old man in that house.”
“What?” Babatunde felt goose bumps all over him. He told his father that the old man said he would come round the next day.
Babatunde waited for two nights in a row and felt a keen sense of disappointment when the man did not show.
The morning after his endless wait he made ready to leave for the city and drove not paying particular attention to his surroundings. He had just driven past a spot when he though he saw in the rear view someone who looked like the old man sitting pensively. He reversed his car and parked. He got out of the car and sure enough it was the same old man of three evenings ago. He was still wearing the same tiny beaded slippers. Babatunde sat on the old stump beside the man and was about to vent his anger when he remembered that the old man had told him that those who listen to the Earth may pick her rhythm.
The old man didn’t really look at him but indicated he knew Babatunde was close by placing his hand gently on Babatunde’s. He spoke softly as if he was talking to himself and reliving a picture.
“Let me tell you a story. I know Gbadamosi has told you the bit that he knows or that he can remember. But I will try as my age permits to fill in for you. Becoming a king was not a decision that was taken lightly. When we agreed to leave our first place of abode, naturally because I led the hunters everyone looked to me to protect all of us.
“Those were dangerous days and we had to move away from the wolf-men all the time. They could smell out human beings and seemed to have a thing against men. They had a habit of coming just before dawn and taking our women away. On one of such nights I had woken up earlier and stood watch. I heard the rustling which sounded like the wolf-men were about so I held my spear at the ready and whispered to some of the men to be on standby. There was a bright light suddenly in the clearing and we were rooted to the spot as we saw a maiden appear.
“She stood in the encircled light sniffing what I learnt to know as roses from a small bag she carried, and she hummed a song to herself. We were almost mesmerized and would have broken cover when a lion came and lay down quietly at her feet and she patted its giant head. The
picture was powerful for me and the men who watched. But suddenly the lion stood on its forelegs and sniffed the air, and gave one growl that made the blood in our veins run cold. I thought I had moments before death because I was sure we were the ones that the lion sniffed.
“The maiden did not fly or become frightened but stayed close to the lion. It gave a mighty roar as one of the wolf-men who had been on a tree fell down and died. The lion did not touch the wolf-man but led the maiden out of the lit place. I was rooted to that spot for a long time.
“We noticed that we did not see the wolf-men again. It was like they had melted into the forest. We all decided that the spot was a protected place and we decided to settle down there. It grew gradually. I still led the men. The men and women decided there was no need to change the status quo but I insisted that every able-bodied true son has a right to the throne. We decided that one of the chieftaincy heritages we would institute was always to have a lion as the chief protector of the village and if there was a crisis and a competent king could not be raised the lion would assume the kingship. When we cleared the surroundings we discovered that hill and the top was shaped like a crouching lion.”
Babatunde sat still, taking the story in.
The old man continued with a sigh. “The nature of man hardly recognizes grace even when it is thrown on his lap. As I got older I picked a young woman to warm my bones and naturally the other women got jealous. I provided for them, they had no reason to feel that much hate for the young one. However when she brought forth a son, the child went missing the day when we were going to give him a name. My young wife was inconsolable and wept. Her son became the lost prince since we never found his body or his bones. However one day several months later, we found a strange symbol by the basket that his mother always placed his clothes. The Supreme Mother came to me in a dream and told me that when it was time, the lost prince will come and be the protector of the people. Recently I was told how we will recognize him. I think he is here now.”
“Papa said that they are no old men in the family house you told me you were headed for,” Babatunde said softly.
The old man gave a soft chuckle, dipped his hand in his native shirt and brought out a package. “Here. Hold this in safekeeping for me, do not open it for yourself or by yourself. When the chief Ifa priests asks you for it give it to him. It will be when the lost prince is revealed. I understand you are the young Lion so I am entrusting it to you. May the wings of the morning protect you.”
The old man stood up and removed his hand from Babatunde’s palm. Babatunde stood transfixed as the old man faded and he was standing staring at the statue of the first king of the town. The statue was holding a spear and he had tiny beaded slippers.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Babatunde walked into his office feeling much better than he had been in the last two months. He kept reading the letter in his hand and leaned back in his chair as a mental replay of what he had experienced in the last two months played itself out. He had learnt quite a few salutary lessons. He could now see his naiveté in assuming that he could just live his life and assume that he would not have to defend his convictions. He sighed and read the letter from the Hospital Management Board exonerating him from any wrong doing and explaining the indictment was now lifted. He was also informed that a copy of the letter was being sent to PSN, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, thus removing the threat to his professional career.
It was a close experience and Babatunde decided he was going to resign his appointment—it was no longer a difficult decision. He had waited to remove the cloud hanging over his head. He did not want to go through this kind of experience again.
There was a soft knock on his office door and before he had a chance to say anything, his heart pumped as Ife stood framed in the doorway. He stood up and she ran to him. His body trembled and he held her tightly to himself. He did not know how he was going to go on so he lifted her chin up and looked into her eyes, allowing all his feelings to pass in.
“Princess, you really have to marry me so I can go on. I need you with all my being.”
Ife in a soft voice reminded him that she chose him first. She added, “I am saying yes now, consciously.”
Babatunde made a soft sound and rubbed his cheek against hers. He moved away reluctantly and showed her the letter he had received. He explained that he would resign his appointment with the hospital as he needed to work on his own. “Besides Princess, I would ultimately like to do research and I would be hampered by government rules and regulations. I have always been interested in aspects of our medicine that are cloaked in secrecy. I want to make them available.”
Ife smiled, quietly removed the cowries she always wore on her wrist, and placed them on Babatunde’s open palm. She curtsied. It was her symbolic acceptance that Babatunde was expected to wear openly. It was a promise and its significance was not lost on Babatunde who bowed very low and said nothing. There was no need for words. They had gone to a very ancient ritual, done so simply and without fuss. Ife had acted w
ithout thinking. Old memories returned. They had done this once before.
There was bright light in the room and both of them heard the songs.
They were transported to the side of the mountain. Numen moved to the waterfalls and got down from her horse just as Babatunde, in his real self with a mane as golden as the sun, alighted with quite a few Misties coming close. Numen was amused to see Lije in the distance pretending he was not moved but the fierceness of his gaze showed he was holding back tears.
“You would think Lije organized everything the way he has been carrying on,” Numen said to Babatunde.
“He has cause to be happy, He has permission to remember his last trip.”
“Yes I know,” Numen murmured, running her fingers through the clear waterfalls.
She knew a level of peace that she had never experienced while in her Earth consciousness. The words of Mae rang through her being as they concluded their vows in the hall of the Blue Mountains. “When two souls recognize each other and decide to go on a journey together. It does not preclude challenges, hard times or even doubts about who they are. It only enhances their convictions to live their own truth and serve that truth for the success of the coming together is the possibility of earning a kingdom of their own. They must be like two streams flowing in the same direction and emptying into the mighty ocean of a clear spirituality. There are so many levels open to man to assume heights that will give him the greatest happiness possible. That great happiness is when man recognizes the Almighty and returns to the very source of his beginning.
“Go in peace and let what has been concluded in the spiritual take form in the Earthly.”
~~~
”Tradition demands that once you have decided on a man you must bring him home for us to investigate and confirm if he is right for you,” Aunty Yetunde said, her voice indicating that she was holding her patience with great difficulty.
Ife shrugged trying hard not to snap at the woman. She chaffed at having to talk at all with her aunty but she swallowed and patiently waited to have a word in on the long list that Babatunde would need to bring. Her aunty frowned and asked what was wrong with the man marrying so late, saying she was suspicious of him. “He must been turned down by every decent girl in town—”
The expression of Ife’s face caused her to stop and cough, and she amended that she did not mean to say he was a reject.
Ife had had enough. She stood up and announced that she would decide if she wanted her aunt at her wedding and would inform her. Ife told the shocked woman that as the head of the family, she only needed to inform her aunty but did not need her aunty’s permission, then she stomped out of the house straight into her vizier.
“And where did you spring from? I have not seen you in ages. Thought you abandoned me.”
Her vizier’s eyes had a small merry glint as he replied that he had not received any summons from her but had always followed her around. Ife felt like a little girl again and chatted amicable with him until she noticed her aunty had come out and was now staring at her.
Oh bother, isn’t this ever going to end?
“Who are you talking with, Imole Ife?”
“My name in full? What have you forgotten to fight about, Aunty Yetunde? That I am still alive?”
Her aunty stared at her in shock and rushed back inside the house as Ife decided to go to the grove to work off her anger.
~~~
When she returned to the hospital, there was a message waiting for her that the first lady required her presence. Ife’s mind went blank for a few minutes, shrugged, and decided she might as well go find out what the woman wanted.
When she got there, she sensed the lady was offended. She could not place the reason for the brusque manner in which she was kept in the waiting room after she had announced her presence. She gave the lady a further ten minutes and stood up at the expiry time. The inner door opened and the personal assistant said she could go in. Ife was really pissed when she got in and found that the lady had not been busy at all. Ife kept her anger under firm leash as she politely said hello but refused to curtsey or smile. The first lady gave her a cursory glance and wondered aloud why Ife did not deem it fit to attend the last meeting as she had expected her.
Ife quietly replied that she assumed she had a right to a decision if she wanted to be part of such a gathering as it was not in her schedule of duties, for actually on that said date she had been attending an emergency.
There was silence for a few seconds as Ife seethed inwardly then she looked at the pendant she was wearing and her anger dissipated. The personal assistant had a scandalized look on his face. Obviously no one had ever thought of turning the first lady down.
“Ah well, that is a pity, I thought you would want to do your bit for the state in service.”
“Your Excellency, I am in service not just for the state but humanity as well.”
They stared at each other. Ife showed her bewilderment and the lady laughed.
“I hope nobody ever tampers with this fresh naiveté of yours. Obviously you don’t like my type.”
Ife was uncomfortable and said softly, “I like you. I was just busy”
That mollified the lady and she invited Ife to sit down. Ife sat gingerly on the edge of the seat, her hands folded primly on her lap. The first lady explained that she had looked forward to Ife coming and thought she must have offended her. Ife did not know how to respond to that and gave polite answers stealing furtive glances at her wristwatch.
“You have to be somewhere?” the first lady asked sharply.
Ife apologized and said she had a surgery due in thirty minutes. She gave the first lady an imploring look.
“I am sorry, Your Excellency, but the woman is due and she had been in labor for two days. Her muscles have gone to sleep and her contractions are not progressing well. I just received signal that she is to be taken to the operating room. The CMD just ordered that so we can save her life and maybe that of the baby.” Ife added in a soft voice, “It is the woman’s first baby, she has been childless for fifteen years.”
Ife almost kissed the first lady when she called for her vehicle to take her back to the hospital.
~~~
Two hours later, Ife came out of the operating room exhausted but pleased. She had had to talk to the incoming child to relax and assured her that she was incarnating in a home of love. The new father was beside himself with joy and had ordered all kinds of presents for the nurses, and was asking Ife to name whatever she wanted. He was one of those rare men who had waited for his wife to birth and had not married any other woman. Both of them looked besotted with the tiny infant and just kept staring at the new guest in their home. As Ife walked to her room, her phone rang and she was puzzled because she did not recognize the number. She was stunned when the caller turned out to be the First lady. She wanted to have news if the woman made it and if the baby was fine.
Thirty minutes later, the personal assistance turned up bearing gifts from the first lady. Ife was touched as she led the personal assistant to a bemused patient and explained what had happened. The couple just stared at her stunned but said nothing. Then the new dad quietly sent his thanks to the first lady.
~~~
Later that day in her bedroom, Ife reviewed what had happened and wondered about the personality of the First Lady. A very interesting relationship was to evolve between Ife and the woman, but that night Ife only sent a song of gratitude to the Supreme Mother and thanked the Lights for the opportunity she had received to be helpful.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ife and Tinu were at the restaurant opposite the hospital, it had become their favorite place. Deji walked in and came straight to their table. Ife frowned while Tinu watched him curiously. Deji sat at the table and smiled at the women. “You are not going to slap me in her presence now, are you?” he said, giving Ife a mischievous grin.
“I will probably do it if I know it will work and keep you away from me,” Ife replied mildl
y, and went on with her meal not bothering to introduce Tinu.
Deji did not appear offended and introduced himself. He made a yowl of pain from a severe kick to his shin by Ife.
Tinu was surprised and asked why Ife was acting out of character. Ife said she was only stretching her legs and suddenly stood up.
Deji stood up too.
“Deji, I am not available to you, just leave me be, please.”
“I will keep hoping until I know hope is lost.”
Ife now spoke gently, “Deji I will be getting married in a couple of months and I am discussing my bridal arrangements with my chief bridesmaid here, right Tinu?”
Tinu swallowed her shock and nodded adding very brightly that they were actually drawing a guest list and then added that she would probably send him an invitation. Tinu gave Ife wide eyes almost popping out with the questions.
Deji gave the women a close look and as if in confirmation Babatunde walked in and Ife stood up to be folded into his arms. Babatunde just held her very tightly and then told her that he was just coming from the local government headquarters.
“The date is free, Princess.” He gave Tinu a gentle smile as he asked if she was going to be able to make it. Ife smoothly cut in on Babatunde’s enthusiasm and introduced him to Deji.
Babatunde gave Deji a firm handshake then suddenly froze.
“Can I come back, Princess? I need your help over something. I need to talk to Yomi first though. Will you still be here? Tinu will keep you company. Just ten minutes.”
“Sure, Tinu needs some clarity on some things and we will be about done when you come back.”
Deji took his leave as Babatunde hurried off.
Tinu turned back and gave Ife a look as she adjusted herself properly in the seat. “Well, my dear bride-to-be, when was I going to be given the news? Wow, before I burst and pee all over the table in excitement, start talking and, eh, do they serve champagne here?”
Rose of Numen Page 18
