“Professor Chandus,” said Chike.
“That is my name. I am alpha and omega. Abracadabra. Pick up that piece of paper.”
Chike picked up a small, dirty piece of paper from the floor and gave it to the man.
“Watch carefully,” said Chandus. He squashed the paper between his palms and whispered something into the closed fist. Then he opened his hands and there was a small ring of wire there. He gave this to Chike.
“When you get home,” said Chandus, “dip it in water seven times. Then put it under your pillow when you sleep. In the morning it will bring you plenty of money.”
Chike took the ring and thanked Chandus and was about to go.
“The spirits want something from you,” said Chandus.
“I have nothing but this threepence,” replied Chike.
“It will do,” said Chandus. “Tomorrow the spirits will reward you.”
Chike reluctantly gave him the threepence.
When he got home he did as Chandus had told him. He dipped the ring in water seven times and placed it under his pillow when he went to sleep. He woke up twice in the night thinking it was dawn. On the second occasion he woke up Michael and asked if it was morning yet. Michael grumbled angrily and warned Chike not to disturb his sleep again.
When morning finally came Chike was sleeping peacefully and deeply and Michael had to shake him vigorously to wake him up.
He sat up, grumbling and rubbing his eyes. There was something on his mind but he could not say what it was. Then, like a flash, his mind went to the ring. He pushed aside his pillow. The ring lay on the mat as nakedly as he had left it.
10 Chike Returns to Chandus
Throughout that morning Chike was very unhappy. He barely touched his breakfast. Michael asked him what was wrong but he said nothing and went on brooding.
By midday he decided to go and report the matter to S.M.O.G. After all it was he that recommended the magician to Chike.
S.M.O.G. was eating garri and okro soup. The front of his shirt was covered with the soup, which he found difficult to control. Chike noticed the quantity of fish in the soup and his throat began to itch.
“Come and join me,” said S.M.O.G. with his mouth full.
“No, thank you,” said Chike. “I am not hungry.”
“Go and join him,” said S.M.O.G.’s father who was reclining on a stretcher. [3]
Chike did not need any more persuading. He washed his hands and fell to. He knew how to control okro soup and when he had finished eating, his shirt was hardly soiled.
Chike did not want S.M.O.G.’s father to hear about the magician; so he took S.M.O.G. outside before telling him what had happened.
S.M.O.G. appeared very unhappy about it all. He swore he was going to teach the fellow a lesson.
“Has he ever doubled money for you?” asked Chike.
“No,” replied S.M.O.G. “I get everything I need from my mother. So I don’t need to have my money doubled.”
Chike was not impressed by this argument but did not wish to pursue it.
“How is your mother?” he asked.
“She is getting better,” said S.M.O.G. “It is her rheumatism.”
“What is rheumatism?” asked Chike.
“I don’t know. It is something old people get. Her legs are painful.”