Part 3 (6)
They entered the restaurant. It had no door and was made from red dry mud. An opening existed between the wall and the roof which was covered with dreaded palm leaves. Nice flavors were fragrancing the place. Some customers were already enjoying the delicacies.
They were as diverse as the population of Okunde. Soldiers, civilians, men, women, and children were occupying the long wooden benches that had been affixed to the ground. There was no table. So they held their meals wrapped in wasted papyrus with their hands and put their drinks on the floor or a brick in front of them.
Fried fish, grilled chicken, tomato stew with beans, cassava donuts, porridge, and mango juice were being sold at light speed. And to be served, one must exercise patience.
"Mami Makala, when is it going to be my turn? I have been waiting for too long now." A man in uniform complained to the aged lady vendor. He was extremely vexed.
Suzie and her Uncle stood next to the entrance. An eight-year-old girl came up to their level and spoke to them: "Auntie, Baba, sit on the free space over there!"
"Thank you, sweetheart!" Uncle Bibi mumbled to the infant. He grabbed Suzie by her right arm and they directed themselves to the bench that was shown to them.
They sat and like the customers who attended before them, they waited for their turn. Finally, the eight-year-old child approached them again.
"Auntie, Baba, what would you like to order?" She interrogated the Ekule's visitors.
"I can see by your appearance that you are not from the area. You are certainly from the imperial city, Ekule. Aren't you?" The kid observed. The two travelers had not answered her previous question yet.
Embarrassed that the too-curious little girl would blow their disguise up, uncle Bibi blinked at her and discreetly sent a hush. Then he murmured to her ears: "Bring for each of us a big fried mackerel with five cassava donuts and a cup of sweetened porridge!"
"Okay, Baba! I will be right back." She excitedly replied and left.
A few instants later, she came back with two papyrus filled with food. She handed over one to Uncle Bibi, then said: "Bwam Baba" and delivered the other one to Suzie and uttered: "Bwami Auntie".
"Oh, so you are from the Batumba empire!" Uncle Bibi exclaimed and the infant nodded.
She retreated for a short time and returned with two cups of hot porridge. She laid them on the brick in front of the Ekule's guests.
They had started to savor their repast. Suzie had slightly unwrapped her scarf and let just enough space to slip the tasty fried fish and the crispy cassava donuts in.
Uncle Bibi rearranged his fedora hat so it would not allow his eyes to be visible. He ate carefully.
Done with the core part of the meal, they drank up their porridge.
"Now it's time to leave and find lodging for the night." Uncle Bibi muttered to Suzie while getting up and removing from the right pocket of his boubou two Batangi.
He called the little girl from the Batumba empire with a hand sign. She came up to him and he quizzed her: "How much is our bill?"
"One Batangi." She replied.
"Here are two Batangi. Keep the change!" Uncle Bibi responded while smiling at her.
Then he turned toward Suzie and whispered to her: "Let's go, darling!" And they walked off.
The sun had almost faded away. So they hastened their steps in the hope to get a shelter where they could rest for the night.
Uncle Bibi saw from a distance a sign with the inscription "Four Batangi for a journey to the Kingdom of Iyô".
"Over there, we can slumber!" He declared while pointing in the direction with his right index.
"Follow me!" He instructed his niece.
