Stay close to home to grieve? Sounded more like she didn’t want us out there because it was unsafe. And if it was unsafe out there, then what about—
“The kids,” Sister Michael asked from within the crowd. “The kids at the other Sea Islands have been gone for days. Maybe we should bring them home?”
Nana Ama shook her head. “They are fine. Sheriff Lyle called to check on them and we, the teachers here, conduct routine checks on them. No need to alarm them. They’ll be home soon and we can move forward.”
Nana’s words were strong and assured. They’d make any of the islanders feel safe and like Elder Gilbert’s death was just a freak accident. But I knew her better. I remembered her lesson that sometimes with responsibility, the truth did not always set people free. That sometimes it could be too much for them. Was this one of those untruthful moments?
I caught up to Nana on her way to the cabin, nestled farther back in Kin’s Landing. I waited until she managed to pull away from the normal crowd that gravitated to her after a meeting.
“I’ll text you later,” I told Sekou when he gave me a look like he had no plans to separate. He still looked a little green from earlier, and I felt sorry for him. “I need to catch up with Nana. Text Naira, huh? See if she’s okay?”
He barely gave a nod before I was off, jogging to catch up with Nana, who was walking pretty briskly for an older lady. She veered off the sidewalk and onto the path that didn’t take her directly to our house, but beyond it, to her cabin and her space. I called her a few times before she finally slowed her pace enough for me to catch up.
“Nana Ama,” I panted.
“Not now, I have things to take care of.”
“Like Elder Gilbert’s body?”
She spun on her heels to face me, grabbing my elbow and pulling me close. The gold in her eyes flashed. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“How’d you get the sheriff to give you the body? That’s against the law. That could cost him his position.” Wanting to keep this on the low as much as my grandmother did, we moved farther away.
She said, “Go home, Addae. I’ll be there shortly.”
I whispered, urgency rising in me, though I was unsure why, “Call Naira and the group back. This doesn’t feel right.”
She studied me. “Why? Do you sense something?”
I assessed our surroundings. “No but—”
“Then they’re fine and will be back soon. No need to alarm them, or the rest of the island.”
“But why do you need to burn the body tonight? What will happen if you don’t?”
She looked away. “It’s nothing. A precaution.”
I couldn’t believe she was saying this. “A precaution when you can just let the cops follow procedure, especially if you think his death is suspicious.” I stepped in closer. “It’s suspicious, right? His death isn’t right, Nana.”
She looked around, pausing to listen, ensuring we were still in relative privacy. “You have something to say.” It was a statement instead of a question. She pulled me closer to her. “Go home and when I get a moment you can tell me what you have to say.”
“Tell me what you’re thinking, Nana,” I pushed, willing her to let me in.
“Child, you forget your place,” she snapped.
I reeled back, stung, unsure what to say or do next. My place had always been by her side, to learn how to create protection links, the elixir, and her blessings and incantations she constantly supplied for the Kin when they needed them. She’d never slammed the door between us before.
“I need you to give me a little time,” she said. “I can’t deal with Elder Gilbert and calm nerves and protect the Isle and look out for you at the same time. I need you to do your part.”
“Does this have anything to do with the other morning when I found you in the grove? You said someone was gathering. You said something about the heavens, the spirit world, and the earth clashing together. What does all of that mean?”
“Who said that?” It was the first time Nana’s armor cracked. She stepped back from me, looking alarmed and like I’d wounded her.
“Why haven’t you mentioned this before? I said what?” Her hands rubbed on each golden cuff as I repeated what I’d seen.
It was her turn to look as sick as Sekou had been down at the dock. She remained silent, her fingers rubbing against themselves. Each second of her confusion was an increase to my anxiety.
“And a mountain with the Adinkra symbols circling it?” She looked at me skeptically. “Truly?”
