THE LEGEND OF DAYO 1: THE EMERGENCE

on to the strange deformed boy in their storeroom. She won

with his other needs whenever he rang that bell, but there

amt it all about her time with the str

ly a prince of some unknown weal

e? Was that even remotely conceivable? And what would happen if the real p

ut Neji had always promised herself that she would only mak

trange Jhon Moziz had laid at her feet? Was she being wicked

in her life based only on the fact that she was grate

and pure. Her mother, freed from her pains, was gaiety itself, and Neji had to admit tha

alth, wealth.

, people were

text or the other to enter and shop around, sometimes buying nothi

Jhon Moziz, Neji Helen was in the kitchen preparing dinner wi

m the counter where

?" he asked

with sudden trepidation.

in store. Neji saw that her parents were behind the counter, and there we

clothes and glittering black mirror shoes. Around his neck and

on his head was a Stetson hat. He was smiling cold

the store and noticed that their expr

unter, and she spoke to her father, who

on, Baba?" Neji

" Olusegun Osuolale said, and he sounded sad. "He came

a beat, and she beca

mother's face too, and for a m

his eyes remained mean, and he s

s Alhaji Ibu. And the boy is my son. He went missing two mo

etly, and the man's smile faltered a little

know, they all told me that

s not been out ever since he came here. So nobody has seen him, no. If you can't t

from Mr. Ibu's fa

he said angrily. "I don't like smart-asses

aid. "Give me proof, and then you can take him away. I even asked you his name, and you

bu shouted angrily. "Can't

t his name!" Ne

blurted out. "He's deaf, blind, mute, and a hunchba

hat one had stumped her, and as she hesitated Mr

ound for his son. He asked if there is a particular family that seems to be suddenly blessed, and somebody brought

rum cried, aghast. "What

ry exams, is now first in class all of a sudden! Devil pimples that have been attacking Neji your daughter, are now gone! The art

beggar on the streets of Kano before he met P

nd then she looked behind her and saw the spiri

dark robes, and he

asked with sudden concern. "You lo

ziz said sharply. "I've allowed only yo

owly and, trembling, tu

Kano before you met the boy you're now claimin

look of fear came across his face, and he took a

y-you ju-just say

et a lot of money, and he married three women. As soon as his first wife gave birth, he threw Temi out of his home because he thought he had made it!

until you were rich and powerful, and married three women. You sacked the boy from your house, you ungrateful man, when your wives began to give b

face draine

oice, and then he turned, his face

lso turned round and quickly walked out. The other peo

and when Neji turned she saw that he was trans

m asked with concern. "Is everything okay with your,

out the Alhaji, huh?" Olusegun Os

dinner, Baba," Neji said