The Seer

"Alhaji, don't go near her yet. She will be good before evening."

Alhaji Kareem did as he was told and sat on a low stool in the dingy hut. He took his time to study the inside of the hut. An immobile lizard is attached to the ceiling, some long gourds attached to each other are dripping a milky liquid from time to time. He then spotted a solid cornpap (Èko eléwé) and lots of oil in a small black pot.

Intrigued with the curious look of Alhaji, the woman smiled.

"That's for appeasing Èsù (the intermediary between Eledumare and humans)....it's not a big deal".

Alhaji simply nodded and lowered his head. Before he came to the spiritualist's house, he expected to see an old woman. But the woman turned out to be effortlessly beautiful and looks very young. When he complimented her, she told him it's the work of Àjídèwe (Herbs used to slow down ageing.)

He was further taken aback when the woman told him she's taking Jewel on a short trip to the sea. The house is nowhere near any waters but maybe they will have to travel to water areas or so was his thinking.

The woman told him the sea is in her clay pot inside her room. When she brought Jewel back to her Dad, Jewel appeared to be in a trance like state and was made to recline on an old bed.

"I want to check the herbs on fire. Do you care for some? It will flush toxins from your system." the woman asked.

"Yes, thank you" Alhaji replied

The woman later came back with two small calabash containing the hot herbal drink and gave one to him.

"Careful, it's hot" she said

"Thanks. What are those snakes in those bottles for?" Alhaji asked

"It is "Back to sender." Once you drink it, snakes will bite whoever tries to attack you spiritually. Do you care for some?" She replied smiling.

"Won't it interfere with the one I just took?" He asked

"No." she replied

"Okay then."

******

"Dad." Jewel called out immediately she opened her eyes

"Baby, I am with you. Are you okay?" Alhaji responded.

"Yes Dad, just some minor flashes."

"Aaaargh!" she screamed and held her head.

"Easy, baby. Maybe you should rest your head a little." He advised

"I'll be okay. I can now remember all my past life under the sea. It's the surge that caused the migraine."

"Oh! You're awake. If you're having headache, it will soon wear off." The woman said upon entering the room

"Thanks, Ma'am." Jewel replied.

"What did you remember? What did Olókun show you?" The woman asked.

Jewel broke down in tears at this point. The woman looked at Alhaji with a reassuring look and urged her to talk.

"Olókun is still his sweet self. Jewel said and managed to smile a bit.

"He tried all his possible best to protect me but other powerful mariners all conspired to make life hellish for him if he doesn't kill me with his own hands."

"My dear, maybe you should try and start from the very beginning. Why did they want you dead? When did it happen?" The woman asked.

"We mariners all coexisted happily and always look out for each other. I was the prettiest of all my peers but also very carefree. In year 1738, when I turned 18, Olokun started making advances, I didn't take him serious at first. But he was serious and I had to warn him of the repercussions."

"There are older unmarried maidens and accepting him will break the rules. Older maidens must be married off first. Olokun persisted and I was carried away by his adorableness."

"We both tried to hide our relationship but others soon found out. With their eyes green with envy, they commanded Olokun to remove my life force himself. I saw the satisfaction the whole mess gave them. I was treated like a thief. Before he executed me, he placed his hand on my back and made a seal on it. He painfully told me he will bring me back to life. He then protected my spirit from wandering around for over 200years and later transferred my spirit into my mother. He never stopped protecting me from infancy till date." She said

"Hmmm....we're getting closer to the answers we seek." the woman replied

Jewel only looked on and said nothing while Alhaji removed his native cap, and wiped the sweat beads forming on his forehead.