The imperial sentinels executed the sentence immediately. They held Babida tight by his hands. He did not oppose any resistance and let himself manhandle.
The guards took him to a penitentiary in the underground of the Governor's headquarters. They unlocked the main entrance of the cave. It was lightly lit and not well-aired. They descended the stairs, opened the cell's door, and shoved the lumberjack inside.
One of the imperial sentinels expressed his regrets to him: "Sir, we pray that you get well soon. We wished you remained a freeman but we have a command to enforce." Done, they closed the portals and abandoned him in the penumbra.
The news of the imprisonment of the lumberjack propagated like wildfire. By the end of the afternoon, the whole Okunde had heard of it and passed on the bombshell to the neighboring villages: Okala and Ekule.
Suzie was frying duck eggs for lunch. Her grandma was sitting on the rattan chair and listening to the local radio.
