Part 3 (5)
Five hundred meters away from Okunde's west gate, they put into action their plan. Suzie went up front. Uncle Bibi slowed down. They walked as if they were perfect strangers. Suzie arrived at the checkpoint. The imperial sentinels were kind to her. She passed the control formalities and was authorized to enter the village, which she did.
A few minutes later Uncle Bibi showed up at the gate as well. He had pushed upward his fedora hat. His face was fairly visible and was not given any dubious impression. He answered without any problems the guard's inquiries and was granted access to the village.
But as he was about to step in, a sentinel who was standing a few meters away from the gate screamed: "Wait!".
Uncle Bibi halted his movement and looked in the direction of the guard who was approaching his position while parading. He was lifting his feet straight and touching the soil with assurance. His hands were swinging from the left to the right.
After a long moment that seemed an eternity, he arrived at Uncle Bibi's level. He kneeled on his right foot while he joined the palms of his two hands and greeted him: "My commander, I wish you well."
"The gods have preserved you from harm and I thank them for their favor upon a retired servant of the imperial forces."
The other guards remained passive spectators to what was going on. They were mesmerized by the reverence of their comrade to someone they regarded as a regular passer-by at the gate.
"Rise, Bobo!" Uncle Bibi ordered but Bobo stayed kneeled.
"I see you have become a grown-up man and a tremendous athlete and soldier." He added.
Uncle Bibi extended his right hand and placed it on the right shoulder of the deferent young warrior, and begged him: "Please, rise brave man!"
The soldier stood up, looked at his comrades, and uttered: "Gentlemen, I introduced to you, His Eminence, Bibi, former Commander of the Regiment of the Ekule's men of honor."
The imperial sentinels heard their colleague and in unison, they took a bow as well from their positions. Then, one of them yelled: "My Commander, we wish you good."
Uncle Bibi got emotional. He hoisted his right arm, placed his fingers on his right temple, and gave them a salute. Then he implored the soldiers to get back on their feet: "Valiant warriors, please rise!".
The soldiers rose. Uncle Bibi turned and faced the gate which was still open, then crossed and set foot in Okunde village.
Suzie was three hundred meters away. She was sneaking toward the checkpoint. She saw her uncle coming and exploded with joy. She began to jump while waving at him. To draw even more attention she yelled: "Uncle Bibi, uncle Bibi, I am over here."
Her uncle saw her and increased his pace. He walked up to her as fast as he could. A powerful uncle-niece feeling seized them. Suzie moved toward Uncle Bibi to narrow the distance. Finally, they bumped into each other and hugged intensively.
"The Ancestors are with us today," Suzie whimpered in her uncle's ears.
"Yes, they are watching over us. Come, let's go!" Uncle Bibi replied and they pursued their journey.
The two adventurers footed for a while. They were thirsty and hungry. They had departed from Ekule early in the afternoon and now the sun was about to set in Okunde. They spotted a local restaurant and decided to stop by.
"Follow me!" Uncle Bibi said to Suzie and she trailed him.
