“Is it their energy that I am using to open the gate?” He soliloquized. To worsen the matter, they have baptized and addressed him as Oliver Fool.
After the meal, Evans strolled to the house to get some cash for the Chief Priest. He was delighted when he saw the drivers and the PA eating at his apartment.
“What about the security guards, I hope they had eaten?” He asked the maid, who served the food with Cynthia and Lillian.
“We would get theirs,” they promised and left for the kitchen while Evans walked to his room. He got off his room at once and saw them taking the food to the gate house. Then, he walked behind them to take a look at the guards.
“What happened?” He inquired, when he saw them, walked back with a portion of food.
“One of them rejected it,” Cynthia replied. He ignored them and walked to the gate all the same. They greeted him respectfully, before he looked at the one without food and inquired. “Why are you not eating?”
He shrugged his shoulders again and responded, “I don't want.”
“I see. What is your name?” “Peter.”
“It is all right. What is your name?” He asked the person with food. “My name, Oliver, Sir.”
“That is good.” Without more words, he walked away.
“Why are you like this, Peter? Wouldn't you have respectfully said that you are not hungry instead of giving them attitude?”
“No wonder those women called you Oliver Fool. I just warned you about watermelon, and now this. Don't you know that everything you eat would be deducted from your salary?”
“Oh! Is that your fear? Let me enjoy my meal since I won't be paid.”
Oliver blithely ignored Peter and ate his food to his envy because he was certain that he was hungry and loved the rich meal. Nevertheless, Peter glared at him with killing intent.
At Emma's Hut.
Evans, who had taken his decision on Peter, returned to the hut and met the Chief Priest seated timidly. He was still scared of Mr. Aaron due to the accusations he levelled against him for the murder attempt on Beck's family members.
“I welcome you once again, Chief Priest.” Uncle Emma greeted.
“Thank you, Mr. Aaron.”
“I invited you to formally inform you that we have decided to forgive and forget and give my brother a befitting burial,” Emma informed, and studied the expression of the Chief Priest.
“That is a good one. Thank you for finding a place in your heart to forgive him.”
“You are welcomed.”
“If I may ask, what role do you want me to play?”
“That is why I invited you. It is your burial. As you can see, he does go to church, and I want to believe that you are the only Priest that he knows.”
At that point, the Chief Priest was inwardly infuriated, but concealed it. He remembered that their relationship did not end well due to their unfinished business. Besides, Beck was not there to explain what went wrong in the application of the charm or to refund his money. Nevertheless, he found solace in the money that Callum and the parsimonious Emma gave to him a few days ago. He looked up and saw their inquisitive eyes on him and said, “I have heard you, Mr. Aaron. The best we can do for the dead is to lay him to rest.”
“That is correct.” They chorused. He gave them the requirements for the burial, and Emma took advantage of the situation to fight the palm wine dealer.
“Thank you, Chief Priest. I want to believe that there would be no obstruction from the weather, or do I contact the rainmakers by myself?”
“The rainmakers? Who are they? Don't bother yourself about them, please.”
Now, Emma smiled with triumph, and went further to make another request.
“I am delighted to hear that. You know that my brother had offended many people in his lifetime, including you.”
“Certainly.”
“I'm glad that you are aware. I would love to use his burial to appease everyone by providing enough food and drinks.”
“That is thoughtful of you. At least, no one would remain with grudges against him.”
“That is the idea. I would be glad if you would handle that too. Don't bother about the money. I will settle the dealers when they supply.”
“Consider it done.” The Chief Priest, who would do everything to ensure that Emma dissociated him from the death of Beck, responded. Now, Emma's in-laws, nieces and son, who listened attentively to their discussions, were relieved. Nevertheless, Evans wished to know more about the mysterious python, who came to welcome his children.
“Thank you, Chief Priest. You were in a haste when you came to welcome my children this morning,” he said, and paused to study his countenance. Evans' words stimulated everyone's curiosity, especially Fredrick and his wife, who were not comfortable with the visit.
“You are right, our in-law,” he responded, and paused too. To get more details, Evans opened up and asked, “Could there be evil lying in wait against them?”
“We don't own ourselves. When the gods move, we cannot question them. We see in parts, but they see in full.” The Chief Priest elucidated.
“Take this. Tell the gods that we appreciate them for having their eyes on our children.” Evans said, and handed a bundle of fifty thousand Naira notes to him. At that point, Fredrick asked the funniest question ever, which made Emma to laugh his heart out for the first time.
“Can I make a transfer?”
“My in-law, you amuse me. Does he look like someone who had visited a bank before, talk more of owning an account?”
They laughed happily, and Fredrick laughed the more at his overestimation of the Chief Priest. Incidentally, the Chief Priest was mesmerized with the cash in his hand to be moved by their jokes. Now, Uju, whose purse was beside her, picked it and brought out a bundle of twenty thousand Naira notes and handed over to her husband and said, “This may suffice for now.”
Fredrick collected it and handed it over to the Chief Priest and supported, “Take this too in appreciation of the gods.”
Nevertheless, the completely flabbergasted Chief Priest looked at them in awe.
“The gods accept and appreciate your givings.” He appreciated when he recovered from the shock. He just realized that he had been foolish by working with Beck.