Chapter Three: Trailing The Thief

The market was again a bustle as people came out of their hiding places. Those who fled from the market returned to pack their wares and lock up their stalls and sheds.

Bala and Agbiara descended from the tree and mingled with the crowd. No one except Agbiara knew the close shave the 14-year-old Bala had with the lion.

The chatter and patter were at a peak as people talked excitedly about the event. Even those who did not actually see the lion were claiming they saw it.

People searched for their relatives and friends. Families were having mini reunions, as those who had not been in the market before the incident came in search of their relatives.

Bala moved through the crowd until he got to the edge of the market where the near victim of the lion was lying unconscious. Agbiara followed closely at his side.

People had gathered round the woman.

"It appears she is still alive," said someone.

"Let's take her to the clinic," suggested another. She was carried by two able-bodied men to a bus parked at the edge of the market. They implored the driver to take her to the clinic.

Two women and an elderly man, apparently her relatives, got into the bus. Bala wanted to enter the bus with them. His mother worked as a nurse at the clinic. He decided against it. He would rather look out for the man who stole her money bag.

Agbiara thought Bala was going to enter the bus. He got inside hurriedly much to the consternation of everyone in the bus and those standing nearby. One of the able-bodied men, who carried the woman into the bus, shoved him aside. He landed with his back on the muddy ground.

Bala headed back in the direction of the woman's shed. Agbiara got up and followed him. The woman's wares were being packed by her daughter. Bala trod to the path leading to the forest. As he moved towards the forest, he saw one of the men who came to the rescue coming from the opposite direction. Bala approached him.

"Ndeewo," he greeted the man.

The man mumbled a reply. He was upset because he had not got the lion. Whoever succeeded in killing the lion and brings its carcass to the village would be honoured. He continued walking in the direction of the market. Bala changed his own direction and walked alongside the man. Agbiara did likewise.

The man glared at Agbiara but said nothing. He continued to move on.

"So, where are the rest of you?" Bala started in a friendly tone. He spoke in pidgin English since his Igbo was not yet fluent.

The man scowled at him.

"Who are you to question me?" He said roughly, regarding the small statured boy with irritation.

"I just wanted to know the four brave men that rescued the townspeople from the lion."

The man's cold face dissolved into a warm smile. At least, somebody had noticed he was one of the men that came to the rescue.

"Eeeh!" The man laughed. "My own name is Ndubuisi, the other people are Eche, Uzondu and Chima. My own name is Ndubuisi." He repeated his name for emphasis. "Make sure you let the people know that it is I, Ndubuisi, and three others that rescued them from the lion. We chased the lion away. Even if one of my friends succeeds in killing the lion, it was my own arrow that hit the lion first."

"What is the name of the tall man who is skinny and fair in complexion?"

"Who?" the man asked, reluctant to bring any of his mates to the limelight so the person would not receive more praise than he would. "I am not sure of who you are talking about."

"The man that was wearing a green vest with grey trousers."

The man sneered at the thought that Uzondu, the most lazy of them all, was being singled out.

"That should be Uzondu. He was the one that ran from the market to tell us about the lion. He was so afraid. If not for me, he would have gone back with us to attack. None of his arrows hit the lion. It was my arrow that first hit the lion, so I am really the one that rescued the townspeople."

Bala smiled.

"Yes, you are," he said, to make the man happy. Now I know the name of that thief, he told himself.

Bala found his way home. Agbiara was still with him.

Ijeoma had decided to go home, while Chidi looked around the market for Bala. Baji, the dog, stayed with Chidi since it did not know where Ije was going. The dog was so scared.

"Where have you been?" she challenged Bala when she saw him, and opened the gate for him. "Get away!" she said sharply to Agbiara, who wanted to enter. About that time, her late father's brother, Uchenna, arrived. He came to ensure that Ije and Chidi, his late brother's children were okay.

He took a big stick from the ground and threatened to hit Agbiara if he did not leave at once. Agbiara left after hollering at the man. Chidi soon arrived with the dog.

"Where have you been?" he asked Bala. "I have been looking all around for you."

Bala kept quiet.

"Osaka!" Uchenna called Bala by the Igbo name his mother gave him. Bala ignored him. He always refused to answer to his Igbo name. His own father was Hausa and he preferred to be called by the name given to him by his father.

When Bala did not answer him, Uchenna moved near him and shook him roughly.

"Oh Uncle," Chidi tried not to laugh. His uncle did not like Bala, as he was jealous for his late brother's sake. Bala tried to free himself from Uchenna's grip, but the older man continued pulling his shoulders forcefully.

"Answer!" ordered Uchenna.

"I decided to confront the lion so I stayed behind in the market while every other person ran away."

Chidi and Ijeoma burst into laughter.

Uchenna was not amused. He scowled at Bala. "I knew the moment I set my eyes on this child of your mother that he is a no good trickster and clown," he told Chidi and Ije.

Ijeoma got over her mirth. "Uncle, please let him be."

Uchenna released Bala. "You children, make sure you stay inside and shut the gate. I'll go to the clinic and assure your mother that you are all okay."