Blood On The Altar

Copyright © 2008 by Mike Bamiloye

ISBN

Published by
The Mount Zion Publications
The Mount Zion Faith Ministries Int’l
59, Ring Road, (Opp Dikat House)
G. P. O Box 38310,
Tel: 02-7513824, 08035241182
E-mail: mountzionfm@hotmail.com
Mikebamiloye@yahoo.com
Website:

All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be

used without the express written consent of the publisher.

Designed by
Mount Zion Publications

Printed by
 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Dedication

To my loving Wife Gloria, and children:

Mike Jr., Joshua and Gloria Jr.

and

the entire members of

The Mount Zion Faith `Ministries Intl.,Nigeria
With whom we have been coming on this adventurous
Ministerial journey since 1985.
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Contents

Dedication ....................................................................... iii

Introduction ................................................................. vii
Characters ...................................................................... xi
PART ONE ...................................................................... 1
PART TWO ..................................................................... 62
PART THREE ................................................................ 131
PART FOUR .................................................................... 197
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 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Introduction

The whole drama episode revolves around this strong Biblical

precept:

2 Timothy 2:19
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this
seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one
that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” KJV

The lessons embedded in this drama piece are many: The

consequences lying ahead of well respected religious leaders
who toy with secret sins out of the glaring sight of their innocent
followers and the ignoble outcome of a religious pride.

Secondly, sins can not be concealed for ever; sooner or later the
wages of it will be paid for in this life and the eternal
consequences of it will await the sinner in the life beyond. So
this dramatic message presents a sacred maxim: It is futile
concealing an apparent sin. And yet another truth becomes glaring
in this drama: In an effort to conceal one sin, another one is usually
committed. This truth becomes so visible in the life of the
principal character of this story, who put forth a lot of struggles
 blood on
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to bury his atrocities and in the process went deeper into more
detestable acts.

In the lamentation of David over Saul and his son, Jonathan, he

wailed:

“How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!....

How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”

These lamentations are true concerning many ministers of the

altar today. Behind the linen veil of the altar are many evils being
perpetrated to the detriment of the followers. Adultery, idolatry,
covetousness, greed, etc, are all leading to spiritual blood-letting
on the Lord's sacred altar.

These sins are not only leading these great leaders to their
obvious catastrophic ending, but resulting in more terrible
consequence God's people are being led astray and lost souls in
need of genuine salvation are being turned back from the Way.
All these are evident in this dramatic piece.

He held on to his pride till the end, but what a great mistake he
made! His pride deprived him of a blessed confession of his sins;
it hindered him from being a good an enviable father to his
children and a trusted husband to his wife. Sadly, his ignoble
pride obstructed him from finishing his race gloriously.

In it are numerous solemn lessons for both young and old,

including students on the campus of African universities many
of who are easily lured into a world of insatiable desire for
money and lust. This is what almost ruin the life of a church
elder's daughter in the story.

This drama has been shot into a strong inspiring TV film Serial
by The Mount Zion Film Productions, Nigeria and shown on
 blood on
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more than 75 TV stations in Nigeria including several other

satellite channels in Africa and Europe.

I therefore believe, readers will be highly blessed and spiritually

encouraged and inspired as they go through this drama book.

MIKE BAMILOYE
President, Mount Zion Faith Ministries, Intl,
Nigeria.
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Characters

REV. HOSEA
REV. HOSEA'S WIFE
ELDER ROBERTS
MRS. ROBERTS
PASTOR WILSON
TUMI
DEBORAH
SOLOMON
WORKER I
WORKER II /
WORKER III ( Rev. Hosea's office staff)
REV. CHRIS ODIA
APOSTLE KEN MBASI
YOUNGMAN (Rev. Hosea's driver)
MR. CLEMENT OWESE
ELDER MAN (Clement's Pastor in Calabar)
ELDER MAN'S WIFE)
DANIELLA (Rev. Hosea's daughter)
DAVID (Rev. Hosea's son)
DOCTOR (in Scene 13)
THE STRANGER
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MARY
YETUNDE
DOCTOR (in Scene 21)
WILLIAM (Clements's son)
WILSON'S WIFE
PASTOR ANJOLA
MRS. ANJOLA
MAN I
MAN II
ROLAND
LEAH
MALE STUDENT I
MALE STUDENT II
CECILIA (Receptionist at Rev. Hosea's office)
DOCTOR
NURSE (at Hospital Reception)
TAXI DRIVER
POLICE MAN
REV. ODIA
PASTOR DURO
ELDERLY MAN
BABA (The old Pastor)
REV. (DR) BILLY WILLAMS
ELDERLY MAN
DOCTOR
POLICE OFFICER I
POLICE OFFICER II
LADY JOURNALIST
CAMERAMAN
OTHER JOUNALISTS
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

PART ONE
Scene 1

(It is evening. The sky is dark with a sprinkling of twinkling stars in

various sizes. The breeze is blowing the leaves and swaying the branches,
often forerunner of a stronger wind. The grounds around the duplex
building seem a bit uncomfortable. A faint ray of light flickers through a
blind from an upstairs window. Suddenly, a shrill coarse voice is heard
from the room upstairs).

THE VOICE: Ah-a-a-a-a-a-a!

No-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!
Leave me alone!
Let me-e-e-e-e be-e-e-e!

(From the main door, a panicking woman with unkempt hair runs out to
the lawn. She looks troubled, frightened. Then a man hastens out of the
house to join the woman on the lawn).

THE MAN: (Looking around impatiently) What's keeping him?

I've called him three times, and he keeps saying he's on
his way… He ought to be here by now. (Frightening voice
roars from the room upstairs again)
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THE VOICE: You lie! No-o-o-o! None of you! You can't do it!
Leave me alo-o-o-o-o-ne!!! (The man and the woman look
up in the direction of the window in fright and anxiety. Then a
car arrives, screeching to a halt. The man and the woman rush to
the car as the back door opens and a man in a suit steps out. He
looks calm. He carries a Bible. Another man alights from the
front seat).

WOMAN: (Impatiently) Sir, welcome, sir. Thanks for bringing

him, Pastor. (The second man who got out from the front seat
speaks).

PASTOR: (To the man carrying Bible) Sir, we appreciate your

kindness. This is Elder and Deaconess Roberts. As I
explained to you on our way here, sir, the girl is their
daughter.

ELDER ROBERTS: (Emotionally, to the man) Reverend, sir.

For three days you have conducted powerful crusades in
our church and you're leaving tomorrow morning to go
back home. Please, do this for us, for God's sake! We
believe if you pray for our daughter, we too shall
experience miracles under our roof, as it happened in
the church!

MRS ROBERTS: (Sobbing) Please, do something, Lord! Wipe

my tears away!

REV. HOSEA: (To Elder Roberts) You were there for the first and
second evenings of the Crusade, but Pastor here told me
you couldn't make the service this evening, sir.

ELDER ROBERTS: (Sadly) We couldn't make it, Reverend.

We tried to come again this evening but we couldn't!
Her situation suddenly grew worse since we brought
her back home from the hospital. It was even worse
 blood on
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today, so we were afraid to leave her alone in the house

and come to the crusade. However, we trust in God!
Please, come and pray for her. (The Elder leads the
Reverend and Pastor into the house. The woman also follows
them, tearfully, in obvious fear and tension. They cross the
tastefully furnished living room and mount the stairs leading up
to their daughter's room. As they approach the door, the terrible
coarse voice bellows from the room again. They all freeze in
fright).

THE VOICE: No-o-o-o-o-o! Leave me alone! You can't! Get

b-a-a-a-ck!

REV. HOSEA: (Turning to the Pastor) Pastor, I thought you said it

was a girl.

PASTOR: Yes, Reverend. She is a young lady.

REV. HOSEA: (Still surprised) But the voice?

ELDER ROBERTS: Yes, Reverend. That's what we noticed

too! We observed she suddenly began to use a strange
voice and to become more violent…

MRS ROBERTS: (Sobbing) Oh, my God…My God…! (She

walks back to a long couch near the door and sits despondently, in
tears. Elder Roberts opens the door gently and steps into the room.
Reverend Hosea follows cautiously and Pastor comes in behind.
The two visitors are shocked to be facing a violent-looking young
lady with unkempt hair and a bruised face. Terrible hard-
looking eyes glare fiercely at the intruders as she sits on the bed
clutching the pillow to her bosom, with her back resting against
the wall. Dead silence as the visitors and the lady exchange stares
in a charged unnatural silence).
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REV. HOSEA: (Turns to Elder Roberts) Sir, let's go out. I need to

ask you some questions.

ELDER ROBERTS: All right, sir. (They all move out of the room
and close the door. Elder Roberts leads them down the stairs back
into the living room, the woman follows them. They sit down
quietly).

REV. HOSEA: Elder, how did all this start? I need to have some
information before going into prayer. This is a serious
case.

ELDER ROBERTS: She was rushed home from campus

about three weeks ago. It wasn't as bad as this. We took
her to a hospital from which she was transferred to a
private, specialized facility. When it was getting worse
daily despite all the drugs, we began to sense her
condition was more spiritual than physical. We brought
her back home last week when we realized the doctor
could not help. We decided to take the spiritual
alternative. Since then, we've prayed, fasted…

MRS ROBERTS: (Sadly) Pastor has brought the prayer team

here for prayer vigils twice…

REV. HOSEA: So, this started on the campus?

ELDER ROBERTS: She just got admission to the university.

This is her first year and her second semester. But she
had complained once or twice before that some groups
of students were disturbing her.

REV. HOSEA: Disturbing her? How?

MRS ROBERTS: We don't know…

 blood on
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ELDER ROBERTS: Our daughter is a child of God, born-

again, Spirit-filled. We taught her the Word and the fear
of God. So, I can't explain why this has happened to her.
(Elder Roberts wipes his tears gently. Reverend Hosea stands up
quietly, climbs the stairs and moves toward the door again. The
Pastor and Elder Roberts rise up and follow him. He opens the
door gently and steps inside, the others follow him in. The young
lady remains in her previous position, staring unpredictably at
the people. The atmosphere in the room is charged and somewhat
uncomfortable. Dead silence again, as they all stare at her
speechlessly.

ELDER ROBERTS: (Emotionally) Deborah, we have

brought this man of God here to come and pray for you.
(Cautiously, he moves toward her. As he gets closer, she speaks in
a frightening, deep male voice).

DEBORAH: (Staring fiercely at Reverend Hosea) Get this man out

of my sight! (Elder Roberts freezes in fright at the dreadful
order).

PASTOR: (Points in her direction boldly) You foul and filthy spirit,
shut up your mouth, in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ! (She shrinks instantly with a hissing voice. Elder
Roberts, frightened, steps back to the door where the Pastor and
Reverend are. Shortly, she calms down again, opens her eyes
and stares back at them. The pillow still clings to her chest and
Reverend Hosea remains speechless, his eyes riveted to those of
the young lady).

REV. HOSEA: (Takes two steps towards her and points at her) You
evil spirit in Deborah, I command you in the name...!

DEBORAH: (Fiercely in the deep coarse voice) Don't try it….

Don't even think of it!
 blood on
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REV. HOSEA: (Stammers) What…do you mean?

DEBORAH: I mean what I said. And you know what I mean.

If you try it, you will ridicule yourself! (Reverend Hosea is
shocked. Pastor and Elder Roberts look at him, confused. The
young lady bursts into a derisive laughter in the loud deep male
voice. Pastor turns to Reverend Hosea).

PASTOR: Reverend, say something and shut his mouth up.

We have to cast this filthy spirit out of her. (The spirit in
the young lady bursts again into outrageous laughter as she stares
at the Reverend).

DEBORAH: (Laughing) He dare not do it! I know what I'm

saying and he knows it too…

PASTOR: (To Rev. Hosea) Reverend, this spirit is trying to ride

over us. It is very insulting!

REV. HOSEA: (Steps forward toward her, stretches his hand to her
and speaks loudly) Shut up! You foul and filthy spirit, in
the name of the Lord Jesus Christ! (She shrinks again with
a howling voice as her head shakes and her eyes close. She calms
down again and remains motionless, her head hanging
sideways. Reverend Hosea moves quietly towards her and
cautiously lays his hand on her head. Instantly, she opens her
eyes, grabs his hand and gives the Reverend's face a hard slap.
He staggers to the wall and falls heavily on the ground.
Gathering his strength again, he springs to his feet in horror.
The others look on fearfully as the Deborah continues to glare
vengefully at Reverend Hosea).

DEBORAH: (Ferociously) Who do you think you are anyway?

Some sort of great preacher, eh? Just because you go
around preaching so the Lord can save souls…! So you
 blood on
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think that gives you the guts to dabble in things you have
no power over?

PASTOR: (Still in shock) But the Lord has given all believers
power over demons and spirits of darkness. He is a
servant of God!

DEBORAH: (Calmly) Pastor, what do you know?

PASTOR: I know the Word of God and it is true and

established in heaven.

DEBORAH: Yeah. But you don't know this man. Who does he
think he is? He has a beautiful and faithful wife, yet he
still carries on with Tumi. About three times now, they
have done it right in his office and on two occasions he's
taken her along on his ministry trips and they were
lodged together in a hotel room! They had some other
secret meeting places, yet he preaches, souls get saved,
miracles occur… Doesn't he know the Lord is doing all
that to honour Himself? Ask him what he knows about
Tumi! (Pastor, Elder and his wife all stand confused and
stupefied as they look at Reverend Hosea. Then Reverend
Hosea smiles calmly, glances at them and turns back to the spirit).

REV. HOSEA: You filthy spirit, you are a liar and Satan is father
of all lies. You are saying all this to confuse us, distract us
and sow distrust amidst us, to avert us from passing
judgment on you! (He turns to Pastor and Elder Roberts)
Don't mind this lying spirit; I know nothing about what
he is saying…! I don't know anybody called Tumi.

(Instantly, Deborah springs up from the bed and pounces on Reverend

Hosea, who hits the ground heavily again. She mounts him and begins to
box his face violently. Pastor, Elder and his wife have already run out of the
room. Deborah keeps shouting in a deep voice).
 blood on
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DEBORAH: Liar! Unholy man of God! You continue to lie in

my presence! Liar! (Pastor rushing back into the room and
shouts at the spirit in her).

PASTOR: You evil spirit, I command you to stop in the name

of Jesus Christ! (Instantly, she weakens and falls off him, and
begins to whimper as she shrinks back, trembling. She hurries
back to her bed and assumes her former position, clutching the
pillow to her chest. The Pastor rushes to the Reverend and lifts
him up from the ground. His mouth and nose are bleeding. He
is rushed out of the room. Mrs. Roberts continues crying
helplessly, Elder Roberts remains dumbfounded.
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 2

(A few minutes later, in the living room of the house. The Pastor bends
over Rev. Hosea, wiping his bleeding mouth and nose with a dampened
face-towel. A small bowl of water is placed on a stool near his chair. Elder
Roberts sits, still in shock and apparently confused. Mrs. Roberts
continues to sob, quietly. The spirit in Deborah shrieks again from the
room)

DEBORAH: No-o-o-o! I've told you to leave me alo-o-one!

I've warned you never to mess with me-e-e-e! He calls
himself a man of God… liar! A desecrater of the altar!
Liar! Leave me alo-o-o-one! (Elder Roberts sits, his arms
folded, his legs shaking uncontrollably. He feels helpless,
confused and frightened).

ELDER ROBERTS: That's not my daughter. That can't be

my daughter…! Yes, I now agree, another spirit is
working in her…That's not Deborah! (Pastor finishes
wiping and soothing the Reverend's face and drops the face-towel
in the small bowl of water).

REV. HOSEA: (Tiredly) Thanks, Pastor. Something must have

gone wrong somewhere, but God has not shown me yet.
 10 blood on
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PASTOR: (Sitting quietly beside him) But, Reverend, who is

Tumi? Do you know anything about her?

REV. HOSEA: Do you believe the word of a demon, Pastor?

Can demons ever be trusted?

PASTOR: Not really, Reverend… I'm just wondering, as I

recall now that, at times, in the Bible the demons knew
what the people did not know…

REV. HOSEA: How do you mean?

PASTOR: While the Pharisees and the Chief Priests and the
worshippers in the Synagogue did not recognize Jesus as
the Messiah, the demons knew Him and acknowledged
His Lordship. (Rev. Hosea glances at Elder Roberts and his
wife, then takes a hard look at Pastor briefly).

REV. HOSEA: Please, take me back to my room in the hotel. I

need to rest after the hectic pace of the crusade. Besides,
I need to catch the first flight back to Lagos tomorrow.
 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 3

(Next morning a car comes to pick up Rev. Hosea at the airport. It's a
Jeep. A young man sits in front beside the driver. The Reverend's face is a
little bit swollen. He is lost in thought).

REV. HOSEA: (Thinking) The Crusade was a success. But the

deliverance session that would have crowned it all was a
mess-up. Tumi…Tumi…

THE MAN: (Sitting in the front) How was your Crusade in

Kaduna, Sir?

REV. HOSEA: (Startled) Eh?

THE DRIVER: Welcome back, sir. How was the crusade, sir?

REV. HOSEA: (Smiles faintly) Splendid! The Crusade was a

huge success. Many souls came forward to give their
lives to Christ each night.

THE MAN: We knew it, sir. We prayed for you.

REV. HOSEA: Thank you.

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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 4

(The jeep later arrives at a fairly large compound, containing an expensive

fine bungalow. Rev. Hosea alights from the car, apparently in a bad
mood. He walks into the tastefully arranged living room. A beautiful
light- complexioned woman walks in from the kitchen/dining area
wearing a faint smile as she approaches Rev. Hosea who is pulling off his
coat).

THE WOMAN: Welcome. (Taking the coat from him) How did
the crusade go?

REV. HOSEA: (Coldly) Splendid. There was a good turnout.

We thank God! (She stares at him briefly, noticing his cold
countenance).

THE WOMAN: What's the matter? (She sits down, and then
notices something else). What happened to your face? It
seems a little bit swollen. (Moves towards him feeling his face
with her hands).

REV. HOSEA: I noticed it too, this morning. I guess it's a sign

of stress... I just feel so tired since yesterday evening!
(Going into the room).
 blood on
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THE WOMAN: Tumi called a few minutes ago. (He stops

abruptly mid-way)

REV. HOSEA: What did she say?

THE WOMAN: She kept asking if you were back from the
trip. She has called three times this morning. She said
you have an important message, which she couldn't tell
me.

REV. HOSEA: Which message?

THE WOMAN: She never told me. I'm always disturbed at

her strange behaviour. I've kept on telling you, honey,
my spirit doesn't feel right with this lady.

REV. HOSEA: (Turns back, going to the room) All right, I've heard
you. We will do something about it. (He gets to the door,
opens it absentmindedly and goes in, slamming it behind him.
His wife stands looking on, confused. Then she stirs herself,
walks to the door and opens it. She sees him sitting, morose, on
the bed. More confused, she steps in and closes the door gently
behind her).

WIFE: Honey...

REV. HOSEA: Yes.

WIFE: What has gone wrong?

REV. HOSEA: Nothing.

WIFE: But you look disturbed.

REV. HOSEA: (A bit harsh) I told you, I'm exhausted! The

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three-day crusade and the long trip… (The phone rings

again. She goes to the bedside table and picks up the receiver).

WIFE: Yes…? Who is it? Tumi…. (He looks in her direction

instantly. She becomes a bit sterner). Look here, Tumi, this is
the fourth time you've called this morning. What is it
that you can't tell me? He has a message in the office?

REV. HOSEA: Honey, bring it. Let me talk with her.

(Displeased, she hands the receiver to him) Hello… Tumi.
What is wrong with you... eh? You knew I was on a
ministry trip, you have my itinerary with you, you knew
I was due back today. So why all those phone calls to ask
if I'm back or not, right from this morning? A special
message in the office? Who brought the message…?
Then let the message or parcel wait till I arrive in the
office later in the day! (He replaces the receiver and places the
box on the bed beside him. His wife looks lost). Don't mind
her, I will go and check the message later.

WIFE: (Rises up) That lady must go!

REV. HOSEA: She will.

WIFE: (At the door) When?

REV. HOSEA: Don't worry, she will.

WIFE: Something is wrong somewhere. (She walks out and slams

the door angrily).
 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 5

(The black jeep of Rev. Hosea is driven into a large parking space adjacent
to an office building. He gets out of the car, still in the same clothes he
travelled in. He walks briskly into the office, the driver carrying his
briefcase. Inside the office is a large open space for about five sets of office
tables and chairs. Three men and two ladies are sitting behind the
medium-sized aluminium tables. They are in lively conversation as Rev.
Hosea walks inside, each greeting him smilingly).

1ST WORKER: Good afternoon, sir.

ND
2 WORKER: Welcome, sir.

3RD WORKER: How was your trip, sir? (He continues to respond to
each of the greetings as he walks towards his office. Then he turns
back to one of the ladies who are standing greeting him and
smiling).

REV. HOSEA: And…hmm… Tumi?

TUMI: Yes, Reverend. Welcome, sir.

 blood on
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REV. HOSEA: You called this morning to say that I have a

message…

TUMI: (Caught a bit unawares, stammers out). Well… actually, sir,

it was a special invitation to be a guest minister, which
someone brought to my house early this morning.

REV. HOSEA: Is that so?

TUMI: Yes, sir. I only wanted to inform you about it.

(Disinterestedly, Rev. Hosea turns and goes towards his office.
He opens the door and goes in, closing the door behind him.
Everyone resumes his/her duties. Tumi takes a file and goes to
the Reverend's door. She knocks, opens and enters, closing the
door behind her. Inside the office, Rev. Hosea sits behind his large
neatly set table, his two elbows resting on the table. He looks at
Tumi sternly as she enters).

REV. HOSEA: (Angrily in a low tone) What's wrong with you,

Tumi? What has got into your head? Someone brought
an invitation to your house this morning... Was that why
you kept ringing my house, since this morning? Why
are you acting as a child? Your behaviour is sending
some signals to my wife. Can't you understand? (Tumi
stands before him, staring at him with disdain and concealed
anger). Anyway, where is the invitation? (Silence, as she
keeps staring at him disrespectfully. Then she opens the file,
brings out a sheet of paper and tosses it on the table right in front
of him. A bit amazed at her strange behaviour, he picks up the
paper and looks at it intently. He looks up at her again) What's
this? This doesn't look like an invitation.

TUMI: (Smiles wryly) Really?

REV. HOSEA: What's this about? (He looks at it again) “Alpha-

Romeo Laboratory”.
 blood on
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TUMI: It's the result of a Pregnancy Test. (Alarmed. Lost for a

moment as he raises his eyes to stare at her, utterly
dumbfounded)… Surprised?

REV. HOSEA: (Still in shock) Pregnancy…Whose pregnancy?

TUMI: Mine, sir. Are you surprised? What do you expect?

REV. HOSEA: (With trembling voice) You can't be serious…?

TUMI: I'm serious, sir. I got the result this morning, that's why
I was calling to check if you were back from your trip!

REV. HOSEA: But how did you manage…? What … (There is a

knock on the door; they promptly adjust their mood. He folds the
piece of paper quickly and pushes it into his pocket as a young
man enters). Ah, Brother Solomon.

SOLOMON: Yes, sir. They are here, sir.

REV. HOSEA: Who?

SOLOMON: The Director of programs for the Pyramid

Television Network. He's here with his crew for the
interview you slated for 12:30 p.m. today.

REV. HOSEA: My God…I'd forgotten all about the interview!

SOLOMON: Sir, and the Secretary General of the Association

of Pentecostal Ministers has also just come. He said he
has an important message to deliver to you.

REV. HOSEA: Ah, Reverend...

SOLOMON: Yes, sir.

 blood on
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REV. HOSEA: Hmm… let me attend to him first before you

bring in those television people.

SOLOMON: All right, sir. (He goes out briskly. Tumi turns to him
again, lowering her voice).

TUMI: We need to talk more, Reverend.

REV. HOSEA: (Clumsily) I know… I know… but as you can

see, you will have to excuse me. Let me attend to these
visitors. (The door opens. Solomon leads in two elderly men in
suits). Ah… Reverend Chris Odia. Good to see you!

REV. ODIA: Yes, Reverend. It's getting more difficult to see

you these days. You travel a lot…

REV. HOSEA: (Shaking their hands) True. I've not been around
for a few days. I was away at Kaduna.

REV. ODIA: Oh, yes, I was told. (Presenting the other man) This is
Apostle Ken Mbasi, from Believers Tabernacle, Harare,
Zimbabwe. He is also the President of the Zimbabwe
Council of Evangelical Ministers.

REV. HOSEA: (Shakes his hand) You are welcome, sir. (Turns to
Tumi) Yes, you can go and type the letter I told you
about. You can go.

TUMI: Yes, sir. (She turns and begins to go then at the door she turns
back and comes to the table again). Let me have the letter, sir.
I will need the address on the letter.

REV. HOSEA: (Clumsily) All right. (Checking through the file on

his table) I can't find it at the moment… Let me finish...
 blood on
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TUMI: The letter is in your breast pocket, sir. (He checks and
brings it out).

REV. HOSEA: Oh, sorry. You're right! Have the letter. (Tumi
takes the piece of paper and goes out of the office). I'm sorry for
the interruption, sirs.

REV. ODIA: (Lively) As I was saying, Reverend. He arrived

from Zimbabwe yesterday looking for you. He says he
needs to see you.

APOSTLE KEN: Yes, Reverend. We thank God for your life

and your wonderful ministry. The news and the
testimonies have gotten to us in faraway Zimbabwe.
Last year, at the Fore Conference in Nairobi, I attended
your service on the second night. I saw what happened
that night you preached!

REV. HOSEA: (Smiling) We thank God for everything!

APOSTLE KEN: We so much desire that you come for our

Believers' Convention in Harare, this coming June.
That's three months time. All the evangelical churches
in Harare are organizing it. And you have been voted in
as one of the main speakers for the convention. It's
th th
from June 7 to the 11 . We will make the necessary
arrangements for all your team.

REV. HOSEA: That's all right, sir.

 blood on
20 the altar

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 6

(Later in the evening. Rev. Hosea sits at the dining table, eating quietly.
Half the rice on his wife's plate remains untouched. She has stopped eating
and is looking at her husband in confusion and concern. Rev. Hosea eats
on, apparently with a heavy heart. The whole place feels uncomfortably
quiet).

WIFE: Honey, your look is giving me some concern. Is

something troubling you?

REV. HOSEA: Nothing.

WIFE: Did you get the message Tumi wanted to give you?

REV. HOSEA: Yes... Don't mind her!

WIFE: What's it about?

REV. HOSEA: It's an invitation ... Harare Believers'

Convention in Zimbabwe. The man came to my office
later this afternoon. Reverend Odia brought him to me.
 blood on
the altar 21

WIFE: The lady must have a problem then. Why did she keep
ringing our place all morning?

REV. HOSEA: I wonder. (She stares blankly for a while and shakes
her head thoughtfully).

WIFE: (Pondering) Her spirit is not right.

REV. HOSEA: I think so.

WIFE: We have to find a way of settling the dispute between her

and her husband. She must go back to her husband in
Calabar!

REV. HOSEA: She said the man has refused to take her back…

WIFE: They have been separated now for almost a year; her
only son is living with her mother. She has to go back to
her husband! (The phone rings in the living room area. She
gets up and goes to pick up the receiver. Rev. Hosea has stopped
eating, immersed in thought). Yes, hello. Who? Tumi…?
(Rev. Hosea turns in her direction instantly. He springs to his
feet, and heads towards the living room).

REV. HOSEA: Wait…! Let me speak with her. (She still has the
receiver by her ear, listening to what Tumi is saying). What is
she saying?

WIFE: (To Rev. Hosea. She sounds a bit confused). I can't really
grasp what she's saying. She said she has some problems
she'd like to discuss with you…

REV. HOSEA: Let me have the phone. (She gives the receiver to
him). Hello, Tumi. What is the problem? (At the other
end, Tumi is standing by a wooden cabinet in a medium-sized
 blood on
22 the altar

living room. She is in casual wear, holding the mobile phone to

her ear. She speaks harshly the moment she hears the Reverend's
voice).

TUMI: You know what the problem is, Reverend! You told me
we would talk over this issue before you left the office
this afternoon. But you left without talking with me!

REV. HOSEA: (His wife is still standing nearby) Look here, Tumi.
It's time you found a solution to the problems between
you and your husband. You need to go back and
reconcile with him! You must live together with your
son and husband. It's important. (At the other end, Tumi
looks astonished at what the Reverend is saying).

TUMI: (Shouts in annoyance) Reverend! What am I saying and

what are you saying? (Rev. Hosea walks about two steps
away from his wife to prevent her from hearing Tumi's response).
Do you really understand what I showed you this
afternoon? I am pregnant, Reverend! I am pregnant by
you! You told me we would talk this over and you
walked away on me!

REV. HOSEA: That's what I'm saying. Just be calm, O.K?

When I come tomorrow, we will talk more about it. All
right?

TUMI: (Hotly) I hope you understand the implication of all

this, Reverend? I think…

REV. HOSEA: All right, good night. (He hangs up. Tumi stands
enraged).

WIFE: What did she say this time?

 blood on
the altar 23

REV. HOSEA: She's crying. I think she's fed up with being

lonely.

WIFE: I'll have to talk to her tomorrow…

REV. HOSEA: No. Just leave her to me. I'll handle the
situation.
 blood on
24 the altar

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 7

(It is late at night. All is quiet. Lights are off, except the few security lights
around the house whose rays are filtering inside. In the bedroom, the
Reverend's wife is fast asleep. For the last while Rev. Hosea has been
tossing restlessly on the bed. Now he is lying on his back, his eyes wide
open. He rises to a sitting position. )

REV. HOSEA: (Thinking aloud) What have I done to myself?

(He picks up his mobile phone, rises quietly from the bed and
sneaks to the door, opens it gently and steps out. Carefully he
closes the door behind him. He walks back to the living room,
turns on the light and sits down deep in thought. Then he presses
some numbers on his mobile phone. The line is not connected. )
She must have turned off the phone. What have I done
to myself? Could it be true that she is pregnant?
 blood on
the altar 25

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 8

(Early in the morning in Tumi's house. There is no sign of life in the

partly furnished living room. Then the mobile phone on the wooden
cabinet begins to ring. Tumi hurries out from the bedroom, wearing a
flowing nightgown, a wrapper draped over her shoulders. She goes to the
cabinet and picks up the phone, looks at the caller I.D. and hisses with
considerable disgust).

TUMI: (Disrespectfully) Yes, sir!

(On the other end is Rev. Hosea in a secluded area of the house, speaking
in a subdued voice).

REV. HOSEA: Tumi, it's me.

TUMI: Yes, I know, Reverend. Thanks for all the insults you
heaped on me yesterday evening…! I am trying to tell
you that we need to talk over this issue, you were telling
me to go back to my husband and settle with him. Are
you really aware of what has happened to me? Are you
really aware of the implications?
 blood on
26 the altar

REV. HOSEA: (Trying to calm her down) Listen, Tumi, I'm sorry
about all I said yesterday evening. My wife was around
and I was trying to cover up. We will talk this morning
when you come to the office.

TUMI: (Snappily) No! I'm not coming to the office today, sir.
I'm a bit weak. We need to talk! The pregnancy is two
months along…

REV. HOSEA: (Panicky) Oh...! All right… I'll have to come to

your place to talk it over.

TUMI: I'll be waiting.

 blood on
the altar 27

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 9

(Rev. Hosea comes hurriedly out of the bedroom into the living room,
already dressed up in his suit, carrying his briefcase. He is adjusting his tie
when his wife, still in her night robe comes out of the room after him).

WIFE: (Worriedly) Why are you up so early? It's just 7 o'clock…

You said you were worn-out yesterday. Won't you have
some rest after all those days of ministry?

REV. HOSEA: I still have something to discuss with the

Reverend from Zimbabwe. We fixed an appointment
for this morning. I do need some rest but I'll be back
home early today.

(He carries his briefcase and goes out of the living room. He walks briskly
to the car, enters and drives out of the compound. At the entrance on the
veranda stands his wife, watching as the car disappears out of sight).
 28 blood on
the altar

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 10

(In Tumi's house. There is a knock on the living room door. The
knocking is repeated when Tumi answers from within).

TUMI: Hold on, I'm coming. (She comes out of the bedroom, still in
her flowing night robe, the shawl about her shoulders. She goes
to the door). Who is it?

A VOICE: (From outside) It's me. Open the door. (Coldly, she
opens the door and walks away from it in an apparent show of
annoyance. She goes to the long settee. Rev. Hosea walks in
quietly and closes the door).

TUMI: (Sternly) You insulted me yesterday evening, Reverend.

REV. HOSEA: (coming to sit down on a seat opposite her) I

apologized to you on the phone this morning. I've told
you I was sorry. Let's talk about the issue at hand. Is it
really true?

TUMI: That what?

 blood on
the altar 29

REV. HOSEA: The pregnancy.

TUMI: (Severely) Yes, of course! Would I be lying with a

medical report?

REV. HOSEA: (almost to himself) Jesus…! I can't believe this!

TUMI: (Hotly) Excuse me, sir! What is it that you can't believe?
You can't believe that you are responsible for it or what?

REV. HOSEA: Come on, Tumi. Calm down. Just calm down!

TUMI: (Still impatient) O.K… O.K.! I think we have to settle

something first.

REV. HOSEA: What is it?

TUMI: Do you agree you are responsible for it or not? I think

that should be the starting point. (Rev. Hosea looks away
hesitantly then stammers his words).

REV. HOSEA: (perplexed) I still can't understand…

TUMI: (Bursts out in anger). What? You can't understand what,

Reverend? (She springs to her feet, dashes into the room and
comes out again with that piece of paper. She slams it on the stool
in front of him). You mean you can't understand what is
written on that paper? You can't understand our
meeting together in your office on three occasions? You
can't understand those time you travelled to Benin,
Abuja and Ilorin and you told me to come and meet you
in your hotel rooms? And recently, there were about two
or three times we met together, one of which resulted in
this! So, sir, what exactly is it that you can't understand?!
(After fuming, she dashes back and sits on the long couch. Rev.
Hosea remains silent, completely disoriented).
 blood on
30 the altar

REV. HOSEA: (Faintly) I'm sorry for everything. What do you

want us to do now?

TUMI: Well, I don't know. I have been waiting for your sugges-
tion. (He stands up quietly, in deep thought, walks to the
window, looks back at Tumi and shakes his head regretfully. He
comes back and sits down).

REV. HOSEA: When last did you see your husband?

TUMI: (Looks at him amazed) Who? My husband?

REV. HOSEA: I am just asking.

TUMI: (Chuckles derisively). Don't even think of it, Reverend!

You know it yourself. I've not been with my husband for
about a year now. We've separated, so he is not respon-
sible for it!

REV. HOSEA: No… I know he's not; I'm just trying to work
something out.

TUMI: Like what? (Smiles wryly) You're thinking I could go to

him and probably sleep with him and then tell him later
that I'm pregnant? Is that your thinking, Reverend?
(Rev. Hosea stares at her without responding) And you think
that is logical? The man still doesn't want to see me.
Besides, this thing is two months old. Wouldn't a
responsible man calculate the months? Please,
Reverend, come out with a logical solution! (Silence for a
while as he contemplates, looking downcast. Later he raises his
head and looks at her).

REV. HOSEA: Tumi, can you abort this pregnancy? (Brief

silence, as Tumi stares at him with an angry smile).
 blood on
the altar 31

TUMI: I was getting ready for that response. I knew you would
say that! But I've never done that before. It's risky.

REV. HOSEA: (Alarmed) Then, what are you suggesting?

TUMI: I will keep it.

REV. HOSEA: You will keep what?

TUMI: Don't you think terminating a two-month pregnancy

is somewhat risky? It will amount to endangering my
life. I can't do it! (Rev. Hosea stares at her in astonishment).

REV. HOSEA: You can't keep it, Tumi! We have to do

something about it! How can you, a married woman, be
pregnant from someone like me? What would people
say? What would the church say? My wife, your
husband…! Church members! It's not possible! (Tumi
turns to him calmly).

TUMI: Then what else do you think we can do about it?

REV. HOSEA: Tumi, please… We are left with no other choice

but this. You have to do it! (Tumi rises up thoughtfully, then
turns to him in anger).

TUMI: I won't do it!! (She turns and walks away into the next room.
We hear the slamming of the door. Rev. Hosea stands transfixed,
in absolute confusion).
 blood on
32 the altar

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 11

(His black jeep arrives at the spacious parking space of the large office
building. He is just coming from Tumi's house. He alights from the car,
carrying his briefcase. He walks briskly, not showing any sign of
confusions or dejection. He enters the office wearing a faint smile as the
staff greet him. A young man runs to him to take his briefcase).

REV. HOSEA: (To the young man) You were late this morning.

YOUNG MAN: Sir, I got to your home at 7:30, sir. Mammy

told me you had left earlier because you had an early
appointment at the office. I am very sorry, sir.

(As he moves towards his office room, a staff member calls him).

A MAN: Sir, a man just called by the name Mr. Clement

Owese, from Calabar. He was asking about Sister Tumi.

REV. HOSEA: (Startled) Clement Owese from Calabar!

THE MAN: When we told him she wasn't around yet he

requested her phone number, so we gave it to him. I just
 blood on
the altar 33

called her to ask why she's not in the office yet… She said
she has informed you that she's not feeling well this
morning.

REV. HOSEA: Oh... yes, she just called me now to tell me she
has malaria. All right, thank you. (He goes into his office.
The young man follows him and places his briefcase on a stool
beside a long couch. He comes to the table, picks up the car key
and goes out, closing the door behind him. Rev. Hosea remains
on his feet behind his large table, lost in thought. Evidently in
confusion) Clement Owese from Calabar?… That's her
husband! (He picks his mobile phone and calls a number).
Tumi… Come on, answer me, and don't turn it off!

TUMI: (At the other end, now in casual wear. Responds with disinte-
rest) What is it?

REV. HOSEA: Who is Clement Owese? (She freezes for a

moment).

TUMI: That's my husband.

REV. HOSEA: He just called the office. Andrew gave him

your number when he demanded it.

TUMI: (A bit worried) What for…? What did he say?

REV. HOSEA: Now listen, back to our former discussion. We

are left with only one choice. (She cuts off immediately and
tosses the handset on a chair. She seems frightened and confused.
She stands staring at the handset. Rev. Hosea in his office sits
pondering, looking devastated. Back in Tumi's house).

TUMI: (Biting her knuckle fretfully) What have I gotten myself

into…? Clement...! Perhaps he wants me to come
 34 blood on
the altar

home… (She grabs the handset, hesitates a moment, then calls

a number. The phone rings on Rev. Hosea's desk. He picks it up
and sees that it's Tumi).

REV. HOSEA: (Expectantly) Yes, Tumi… speak on.

TUMI: (Resolutely, but in apparent sadness) I will do it.

REV. HOSEA: Good… good. But where?

TUMI: Leave that to me. I will need some money.

REV. HOSEA: How much?

TUMI: A hundred thousand.

REV. HOSEA: What!? What will you use all that for?

TUMI: (Harshly) You told me to do it and I'm going to do it!

Give me the money!

REV. HOSEA: All right, all right. I will bring the cheque to
your place this evening.

TUMI: That will be too late. I need it this afternoon. I'm

setting out this evening. I won't be home for the next
week.

REV. HOSEA: Meet me at the Bank then. You know my bank.

Meet me in 30 minutes time. (She hangs up and dashes into
her bedroom. Rev. Hosea gets up from his chair, takes his
briefcase and goes out into the large office).
 blood on
the altar 35

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 12

(Evening in the city of Calabar, inside a fairly large duplex building.

The living room is spacious and nicely furnished, adjoining the dining
area. Pictures of family members are mounted on the walls. A man in his
fifties and a woman of about the same age are seated, listening attentively
to a younger man who sits across from them. The young man, Clement, is
in a sober mood and wipes his eyes as he speaks).

CLEMENT: Actually, it was my fault… I still don't know what

came over me that evening, sir! I brought this woman
into the house again, and demanded that my wife serve
her dinner. When she refused, I ordered the woman to
go into the kitchen and serve the food for both of us…
Then… my wife pushed her out of the kitchen and she
hit her head against the wall! I don't know what came
over me that evening… I sent her out of my house, while
the woman slept in the house and took over immediately
after… My wife and our two-year-old son slept in a
friend's house that night. She came back to beg me to
come to my senses, even bringing friends to plead for
her!… I remained adamant that I never wanted to see her
again… I don't know what came over me, sir!
 36 blood on
the altar

ELDERLY MAN: Where is she, now?

CLEMENT: Lagos. She went to Lagos two months later, after

staying in a friend's house for more than a month.

THE WOMAN: What about your son?

CLEMENT: (Wipes his eyes again) I learnt that the innocent boy
was left with his grandma in Lagos, while his mother
secured a secretarial job in a church office.

ELDERLY MAN: And the woman who took over… what

about her now?

CLEMENT: The evening I was invited to your church and

heard you preach on “The Enemy Within”, after which I
gave my life to Jesus Christ, it was as if a veil was
removed from my eyes and I saw what the devil had
brought into my life and my family's. I wept bitterly
when it dawned on me the evil that I had created and the
horrible situation for my wife and my only son. I got
back home and sent the woman packing. She left that
evening. She must have bewitched me!

THE WOMAN: So you have given Jesus Christ a chance in

your life now?

CLEMENT: I have given Him my entire life! I have

surrendered. I am terribly sorry indeed…

ELDERLY MAN: What are you going to do now concerning

your wife? Does she still love you? Have you located
her?

CLEMENT: I have been able to get in touch with the church

office where she works. I got her phone number and
 blood on
the altar 37

called her twice, but the phone was turned off. When I
called the office to ask after her again, I was told she
didn't come to work today, that she has malaria. You
see…? You see what I've caused…? (Sobbing).

THE WOMAN: Don't cry again, Brother Clement. The battle

is already being waged.

CLEMENT: I'll keep trying her number, at least to know

where to locate her and then together, we shall go to
where my son is. I want to bring both of them back
home.
 blood on
38 the altar

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 13

(Same evening in Rev. Hosea's house. Two of his children, a boy and a
girl, are sitting at the dining table having their dinner. Rev. Hosea is also
at the table, but before him is just a glass of orange juice. His wife sits
directly opposite him, eating too. He seems absent-minded, sipping the
juice slowly. The woman glances at him thoughtfully, from time to time).

WIFE: Honey...

REV. HOSEA: Hm…?

WIFE: You didn't eat this afternoon; you didn't have dinner
yesterday. Now you are just drinking juice and you have
not been yourself since you came back from Kaduna…

REV. HOSEA: (Half-heartedly) Just don't feel like eating much

for now, that's all. (He notices the girl is looking listless and
doesn't seem interested in her food). Come on, Daniella, you
are not eating?

WIFE: I've been watching her since she came back from school.
She's been looking so downcast. Daniella, what's the
matter?
 blood on
the altar 39

DANIELLA: Dad?

REV. HOSEA: Yes.

DANIELLA: I've been having bad dreams.

REV. HOSEA: What dreams? Tell me.

(His phone rings, he looks at the caller, then gets up immediately and
leaves the dining table. Still holding the mobile phone without switching
it on to receive the call, he makes straight for the bedroom. The phone is
ringing as he gets to the door. He presses it on as he opens the door, enters
and closes the door behind him). Yes, Tumi. How is it now? Where
are you? (She is sitting inside the consulting room of a private hospital.
A small travel bag lies beside her chair. The doctor is not in the room).

TUMI: I am in a private clinic in Ibadan. I should be back in

Lagos tomorrow but I won't be in my house. I'll be
somewhere resting.

REV. HOSEA: All right. (She cuts the line as the doctor enters the
room and sits).

DOCTOR: Single or married?

TUMI: Married.

DOCTOR: Why do you want to do it?

TUMI: (Stonily) I don't want it.

DOCTOR: You said it's two months?

TUMI: Yes.
 blood on
40 the altar

DOCTOR: You will need to take some strong medication after

the evacuation. And you will need a long rest. It's
important. Have you paid the cashier?

TUMI: Twenty-five thousands Naira.

DOCTOR: Follow me then. (The doctor rises and Tumi follows

him out of the office).
 blood on
the altar 41

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 14

(Inside Rev. Hosea's office. He is busy writing a letter. The door opens
and a young man in a loose white kaftan enters. He is light in
complexion with an expressionless countenance. Rev. Hosea looks up,
surprised at the unannounced visitor. He draws up a chair and sits
calmly, crossing his legs. He fixes his gaze on Rev. Hosea who is staring
at him, astonished).

REV. HOSEA: Do I know you?

THE STRANGER: (Smiles faintly) Are you sure you don't

know me?

REV. HOSEA: I'm not sure I do.

THE STRANGER: Well, it's possible now that you've been

blinded by your secret sins.

REV. HOSEA: What do you mean by that?

THE STRANGER: (Smiles again). You see, it is a divine

principle, established and settled. Every un-confessed
sin multiplies itself and breeds more sin. (Rev. Hosea
 blood on
42 the altar

stares at him) May I produce an example? First, David

lusted after Bathsheba, and he never confessed it.
Second, he committed adultery with her and never did
anything about it. The adultery resulted in unplanned
pregnancy and he wanted to cover it up by sending for
Uriah to come home and sleep with his wife. Next,
those un-confessed sins led him into greater evil when
he plotted the murder of Uriah. Can you now
understand that principle? In an attempt to cover up one
sin, another sin is usually committed. Your best option is
never to try to cover up your sins but to confess the sin
and face the consequences. However, whether you
confess your sins or cover them up, they will eventually
find you out. See you later. (He stands up quietly, goes to the
door, opens it and walks out, closing the door behind him. Rev.
Hosea wakes up startled, sweat breaking out on his forehead and
covering his face. Frightened, he lies on his back, his wife fast
asleep beside him. It's the middle of the night. He rises quietly
and sits up).

REV. HOSEA: (Whispering to himself) Who was that? “In an

attempt to cover up one sin, another sin is usually
committed…” Jesus…! What have I gotten myself into?
 blood on
the altar 43

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 15

(Same night in the private clinic in Ibadan. The doctor has completed the
abortion. Tumi, lying on a stretcher, is rolled out of the operating room to
the passage. The doctor leaves her lying on the stretcher as he walks down
the passage removing his bloodstained gloves and apron).
 blood on
44 the altar

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 16

(Back in Rev. Hosea's house. Same night. The dining area is dimly lit
by the rays of light filtering through the windows from outside the house.
All is quiet, except for the various nocturnal sounds. He walks about the
dining room talking almost inaudibly to himself).

REV. HOSEA: This journey has a terrible ending. I was

enjoying the favour, mercy and goodness of God in my
life, my home and my ministry… until I walked into this
mire…This is my twenty-fifth year in the ministry …
which has blessed hundreds of thousands of
people…Wouldn't it have been better if God had taken
me home before falling into this terrible scandal…? The
whole story changed on the arrival of that young woman
to our ministry ten months ago… I wasn't careful
enough! (The dream he just had flashes across his mind).
“Your best option is never to try to cover up your sins but
to confess the sin and face the consequences.”
Confession… How do I do that? Where do I start? What
happens to my ministry… my family… my children and
my wife… How will they feel?... My reputation and
position among the evangelical circle…? (He is suddenly
startled by a voice behind him).
 blood on
the altar 45

WIFE: Honey.

REV. HOSEA: Yeah, honey. You've woken up?

WIFE: Just now, and discovered you're not in bed again. You've
not been sleeping, have you?

REV. HOSEA: No, I just got up to come pray and meditate

here. I'll come back to bed in a few minutes.

WIFE: All right. (She walks back into the bedroom and closes the door.
Rev. Hosea stands mesmerized as he watches till his wife enters
the room).
 blood on
46 the altar

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 17

(It is almost mid-day. Tumi alights from the taxicab, carrying the small
travel bag she had taken to Ibadan. She looks very weak as she walks
beside the road. She is still in the clothes she wore the previous day.
Feebly she climbs over the concrete slab, evidently in pain as she limps
along a deserted byway).
 blood on
the altar 47

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 18

(In Rev. Hosea's office. The mobile phone rings on his table, he checks the
caller and swiftly grabs it to receive the call).

REV. HOSEA: (Lowering his voice) Yes, Tumi…how did it go?

(At the other end, she is lying weakly on a bed. Her countenance
reveals pain and discomfort).

TUMI: (With a faint voice) Just want to let you know I'm back
and it's done.

REV. HOSEA: Where are you now? Are you in the house?

TUMI: No, in a friend's house. I will be here till I'm better.

Don't look for me, you won't find me. My husband got
me on the phone a few minutes ago. He asked for my
forgiveness. He said he would locate the office and
come. (She begins to sob) I don't know why I got myself
into this…! Please, pray that the Lord will forgive us
all…! Pray that he will heal me fast and bring me back
home to my son and my husband… When all this is
over, I won't sin anymore! (She cuts the line, switches off
 blood on
48 the altar

the phone and continues sobbing. Rev. Hosea wipes his eyes as
he holds on to the phone, staring blankly with apparent guilt. A
knock on the door startles him. He quickly cleans up his face and
puts on a smile).

REV. HOSEA: Yes, come in. (Solomon, one of the staff members,
comes in). Yes, Solomon.

SOLOMON: (With lowered voice) The man has come, sir. He

said he is Sister Tumi's husband, but she is not in the
office this morning again.

REV. HOSEA: Oh. Tumi's husband. Bring him in.

SOLOMON: Yes, sir. (Closes the door. Rev. Hosea adjusts himself as
the door is knocked once again and Solomon leads in a tall light-
complexion man).

THE MAN: (Standing reverently near the door) Good afternoon,

sir.

REV. HOSEA: Oh, good afternoon, sir. Please, come and have
a seat. (He comes to the chair in front of the large table and sits
gently. Solomon leaves and shuts the door again). Welcome,
sir. I understand you are looking for Tumi.

THE MAN: I am Clement Owese, husband of Mrs. Tumi

Owese. Actually I live in Calabar but my son and she live
here in Lagos.

REV. HOSEA: Oh yes, she told us about you. But how come
you have abandoned her for so long?

CLEMENT: Sir, first of all, I would like to express my

appreciation for all your love and concern for her. I
learnt your ministry provided her with a job when she
 blood on
the altar 49

came to Lagos, through which she has been able to cater

for herself and our son, who stays with his grandma.

REV. HOSEA: We thank the Lord for everything. I understand

you had a little disagreement and you sent her packing.

CLEMENT: Yes, sir. But I realized later that a strange woman I

brought into my life had bewitched me. I regret all my
actions, sir. But now I have given my life to Jesus and
He has removed the veil from my eyes. I will make up
for all those moments of sufferings and anguish my
recklessness had cost them. I arrived in Lagos this
morning on the first flight from Calabar. I wish to go
back home with both my wife and my son.

REV. HOSEA: Thank God for the restoration!

CLEMENT: How can I see her, sir? One of your staff told me
she has not been to the office for three days.

REV. HOSEA: Oh, yes. She called me yesterday to say she had
malaria and would need some rest.

CLEMENT: Please, can anyone describe to me or take me to

where she lives?

REV. HOSEA: All right, let me check. (He presses the table bell.
Someone opens the door and peeps in. It is Solomon again).
Yes, Solomon, does anyone know where Tumi lives?

SOLOMON: Yes, sir. Sister Mary knows her house.

REV. HOSEA: That's good. Call her for me.

SOLOMON: Yes, sir. (He shuts the door again).

 blood on
50 the altar

REV. HOSEA: (To Clement) And how has your new life in
Christ Jesus been?

CLEMENT: God has been faithful to me, sir. I worship at Way

of Pentecost Evangelical Mission, Calabar.

REV. HOSEA: And where do you work?

CLEMENT: I am a Naval officer, sir.

REV. HOSEA: I see. (The door opens again and a lady enters). Ah,
Mary, I understand you know Tumi's house.

MARY: Yes, sir. But I've been trying to call her number and it
didn't go through. Just to enquire about her
condition…

REV. HOSEA: Perhaps she is resting at home and doesn't want

to be disturbed by any call. Take her husband to her
house.

CLEMENT: (Standing up) It's nice of you, sir. Thanks very

much, sir. (They both go out of the office. Rev. Hosea remains
more perplexed, his countenance betraying inner weakness and
guilt).
 blood on
the altar 51

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 19

(Somewhere in the city, in the house of Tumi's friend where she is resting.
She is lying on the bed, restless, her face wincing with pain as she turns her
legs from side to side. She groans at intervals, holding her waist.
Someone opens the door from outside. She is a lady in skirt-suit with a
bag strapped over her shoulder. She also carries a nylon bag containing
some food items. She enters with a smile).

THE LADY: Hello… I'm back. (Shutting the door, she comes closer
to her). You called to say you'd like to stay with me till
Sunday. How are you feeling, Tumi?

TUMI: (Faintly with a groan) Yes….I'm not feeling well….I'm

not feeling well, Yetunde.

YETUNDE: What happened? In what way are you feeling…?

TUMI: (Groans more loudly) Ah…What have I gotten myself

into…, Jesus! My tummy! Ah-ah! (Suddenly Yetunde
spots some bloodstains on the bedspread).

YETUNDE: (Alarmed) What's this, Tumi…? You're bleeding!

 blood on
52 the altar

What have you done to yourself? Tumi…you're

bleeding…! (She has now begun to groan aloud in pain).

TUMI: Yetunde…Yetunde…Please call my office…call

Reverend…

YETUNDE: (Panicking). Oh, my God…! Where is my

handset? What's the number? (She becomes momentarily
disoriented).
 blood on
the altar 53

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 20

Towards the evening in Rev. Hosea's house. Inside his bedroom, he stands
by the window looking at nothing in particular, just thinking. His phone
rings, he rushes towards it, looks at the caller's ID and calms down).

REV. HOSEA: Yes, who's this…? Reverend Hosea on the

line… Ah, Mr. Clement. Mary told me you couldn't
find her at home… that her door was locked.

CLEMENT: Yes, sir. But I was able to secure a phone number

of another friend of hers. I called and she told me she
would try and contact another person. I am still
hopeful, sir. I am putting up in a hotel till tomorrow.

REV. HOSEA: All right, try and call me back if you happen to
get in touch with her.

CLEMENT: All right, sir. Bye, sir.

REV. HOSEA: Bye. (He throws the handset back on the bed. He
places both hands on his head in sorrowful regret as he stands by
the window, staring out blankly. The bedroom door opens and
his wife peeps in looking worried).
 blood on
54 the altar

WIFE: Honey, there's a lady in the living room. She claims to be

Tumi's friend. She seems to be in a hurry saying Tumi is
in the hospital. (Rev. Hosea freezes, stares at her
dumbfounded).

REV. HOSEA: Tumi… in the hospital?

WIFE: So she said…

REV. HOSEA: (Anxiously) What happened to her? Let's go and

see the lady. (He dashes out of the room, followed by the
woman. They get to the living room and see Yetunde standing
impatiently. Her eyes are wet with tears).

YETUNDE: Sir, Tumi is seriously sick in the hospital. She

managed to give me the directions to this place.

WIFE: What exactly has happened to her?

YETUNDE: She just started bleeding and had lost a great deal
of blood by the time we got her to the hospital.

REV. HOSEA: (Faint-heartedly) Ah… She is bleeding? What

caused it? Did she say what could have caused it?

YETUNDE: No, sir. She said nothing. She couldn't speak

much. We need to get there fast, sir.

REV. HOSEA: Ah, Tumi…What type of sickness is this? Let me

get my car key. (He begins checking the cabinet for his key. His
wife dashes into the bedroom and comes out again with a
headscarf. They all hurry out of the living room).
 blood on
the altar 55

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 21

(Inside a hospital ward, a room with two beds. Tumi lies on a bed
looking frail, groaning in pain, her face soaked in perspiration. Standing
beside her bed is Clement, who is looking extremely worried. Also
standing nearby is Mary, whose eyes are bathed in tears. Clement holds
her hand affectionately, watching her helplessly).

CLEMENT: (Emotionally) Dear… please, forgive me…! I've

been searching for your whereabouts since this
morning until finally someone led us to this place…
Please, I'm back…! I'm taking you and William back to
Calabar. So my prayer is that the Lord will heal you
fast…forgive me, please…! (She holds on tightly to
Clement's hand, staring at him in tears, which are streaming
down her face, and she shakes her head mournfully as she tries to
speak).

TUMI: (Very faintly in agony) Clement… I'm very sorry. Plea-se

… forgive… me…

CLEMENT: Tumi… It's all my fault. The Lord will heal you!
I'm taking you back home… (A man in a doctor's coat and
 blood on
56 the altar

stethoscope walks in). Doctor, please… What really

happened to her?

DOCTOR: Have you just come?

CLEMENT: We just came in now, sir.

DOCTOR: A lady brought her here and dashed out; her case is
critical. (Then the doctor looks at her and notices something
strange). What!? Excuse me. (He checks her eyes and her
wrist pulse, then, quickly he checks her heartbeat with his
stethoscope. He glances at those standing by and shakes his
head).

CLEMENT: (To the doctor) Doctor, what is it? What has

happened? (He becomes panicky as he sees the doctor standing
downcast. He bends over her, moves her hand, it drops, shakes
her body, there is no response. He looks at the doctor again).

DOCTOR: Sorry, Mister, we've lost her. (Doctor walks away).

CLEMENT: Ah-a-a! Ah-a-a-a! God! I'm finished! (Mary sinks

onto the ground crying. Clement kneels beside the bed,
prostrating himself over his wife's body. He keeps sobbing
sorrowfully). Oh-o-o! (Rev. Hosea, his wife and Yetunde
storm into the room, astounded at what they see).

MARY: (Crying loudly) She's gone…! Tumi is gone…!

WIFE: Gone…? (Yetunde crumbles to the floor, sobbing bitterly. Rev.

Hosea stands stupefied, staring at the dead body. Clement
remains inconsolable, his face buried on his wife's chest. The
doctor enters again).

DOCTOR: Ladies and gentlemen, I am sorry... We lost her

before we had a chance to do anything.
 blood on
the altar 57

WIFE: (Still shocked). What happened to her, doctor?

DOCTOR: She lost a lot of blood before she was brought here.
I was told she is a married woman.

WIFE: Yes, doctor.

DOCTOR: Then I must ask her husband some questions.

(Clement lifts up his tear-soaked face).

CLEMENT: (Sorrowfully) I am her husband, doctor.

DOCTOR: (To Clement) You should have used preventive

measures if you knew you didn't want a baby. Why did
you allow her to get an abortion? (Silence. They are all
startled at the sudden revelation. Clement rises to his feet, staring
at the doctor in astonishment. Rev. Hosea and his wife remain
speechless).

WIFE: She had an abortion?

DOCTOR: The procedure was badly done and she lost too
much blood before getting here.

REV. HOSEA: (Faintly) Ah…!

CLEMENT: Tumi underwent an abortion? (Then he bursts into

tears again).

WIFE: (Amazed) Doctor, she's been separated from her

husband for almost a year now. Then, how did this
come about?

CLEMENT: I have come today just to reconcile with her and

bring her and our son back home… Ah! Ah…!
 blood on
58 the altar

WIFE: (To Yetunde) Did she tell you anything about who was
responsible for the pregnancy?

YETUNDE: (Tearfully) Ah, no, ma. I never knew such a thing

happened. She just arrived today from Ibadan… I just
noticed she was bleeding, that's all…. Ah! Tumi…. Ah!

REV. HOSEA: Ah!... Ah!

 blood on
the altar 59

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 22

(In Rev. Hosea's office. He sits behind his large table, weighed down with
guilt, his eyes are wet with tears, and his countenance betrays his anguish.
He sighs heavily and bangs the table intermittently, his spirit
overwhelmed with remorse and confusion. There is a knock on the door.
He adjusts himself and wipes his face).

REV. HOSEA: Yes, come in. (The door opens and all the office staff
members enter. There are two ladies and three men, all looking
despondent). You are all aware of what happened to Tumi.
We lost her. The doctor said she had an abortion. (Some
of the staff express shock). It was very unfortunate.
Incidentally, she and her husband had separated for
almost a year but he came here to reconcile with her, and
then met with this unfortunate incident. It's a painful
thing indeed. (He pauses a while to wipe his perspiring face).
However, as a member of this ministry and one of the
office staff, I suggest we assume the responsibility of her
burial after contacting her people. (He wipes his face
again) God bless you, you can go. (Solemnly, the people
trudge out of the room and shut the door. He rises up weakly, goes
to the window, and looks out through the parted curtain at
nothing in particular. He walks pensively to the refrigerator,
 60 blood on
the altar

opens it and brings out a bottle of water, pours some into a glass
and walks back to sit on his swivel chair. He slowly sips the
water, gazing at the blank wall before him, completely lost in
thought. The door opens slowly. Rev. Hosea looks in its
direction to see who's coming in. The strange man who appeared
to him in his dream some time ago enters again, still wearing his
long white kaftan. He comes in without expression, fixing his
gaze on Rev. Hosea as he pulls out the chair from under the table
and sits down, crossing his legs calmly. Rev. Hosea stares at him
with some astonishment. After a brief silence, the strange man
speaks again).

THE STRANGER: Remember me? (Rev. Hosea looks on

speechlessly). Now, let's continue our story the story of
David I was telling you that other time. Can you still
remember? You see, after David had killed Uriah, he
thought all the rotten secrets were well concealed, until
Prophet Nathan showed up.

REV. HOSEA: (Half-heartedly) Who are you?

THE STRANGER: (Smiles faintly) Me? … No, let's talk about

you. You have killed! You have spoiled! Now you
thought the war was ended… but that is far from the
truth! You were anointed minister of the gospel, to
preach, to heal and to deliver. The heavens were opened
over your ministry and you were enjoying divine favour.
The Lord is increasing your ministry and blessing the
works of your hand wherever you go. And the Lord had
made a covenant with you to still do much more. Why,
then, have you despised the commandment of the Lord
to do evil in His sight? You have gone in unto another
man's wife, plotted the death of an innocent baby and
murdered the wife of your fellow brother with an
abortionist's knife. You have soiled the altar of the Lord
with the blood of sin. Henceforth, prepare for the
 blood on
the altar 61

consequences! In many places, the altar of the Lord

have been desecrated with innocent blood by ministers
of the gospel like you, and the time has come for the
Lord to begin to fight for His name. (He steps out of the
room and shuts the door. Rev. Hosea wakes up breathing
heavily. Sweat covers his face. He had dozed off, placing his
head on the table, the glass of water still in his hand. He raises his
head, panting as he gazes at the blank space in front of him, in
deep thought and obvious fright).
 62 blood on
the altar

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

PART TWO
Scene 23

(Kaduna, daytime in Pastor Wilson's house. He stands beside a wooden

electronics cabinet, pouring water from a bottle into a glass cup. He is
performing these actions pensively. He walks about the room deep in
thought, sipping the water slowly as he paces about. A young woman in
casual gown walks into the room).

WOMAN: Dear, are you still thinking about those incidents?

Why are you allowing this to bother you?

PASTOR: I am seriously worried, dear. If all what that demon

said is true, then I shouldn't have invited him to my
church in the first place. He even laid hands on those
who came forward to rededicate their lives!

WOMAN: Are you really sure that evil spirit was telling the
truth?

PASTOR: Well…that's where I'm confused.

WOMAN: And I don't think you should be confused. Why

should you trust the words of a demon?
 blood on
the altar 63

PASTOR: (Looking disturbed) I don't trust a demon, and I don't

believe Reverend Hosea either. When I asked if he
knew a lady called Tumi, he said he never knew the lady.
Yet his defence was not convincing. Instead of him
having authority over the filthy spirit, it was the other
way round. The demon cast him out of the room! It
was a sorry sight… (There is a brief silence).

WIFE: What is your conviction?

PASTOR: Something is wrong somewhere. I do not trust a

demon, but Reverend Hosea's life is not right either. If
my fear is confirmed, then, it was a grievous mistake to
have invited him for that Workers' Conference.

WIFE: (Sits on the bed perplexed) I can't believe this!

PASTOR: It is difficult to believe for anyone who saw

Reverend Hosea in the pulpit, without having seen him
being molested by an evil spirit… It has been a
nightmare to one since then!

WIFE: (Wondering) He preached so fervently, gave prophetic

utterances…, prayed his heart out…(Silence for a while as
Pastor stands lost in contemplation. Then he stirs himself and
turns sharply to his wife).

PASTOR: Dear, I'll go travelling right now. I should be back by

tomorrow. I'm going by plane. Tell Deacon Ajala to
take over the Gospel Night this evening. (Hurriedly, he
gathers some items together. His wife looks on in amazement).
WIFE: What? Where are you going?
PASTOR: (Packing hurriedly) There are some things I must find
out. I must get to Elder Roberts' house first. (Arranging
his briefcase).
 blood on
64 the altar

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 24

(Elder Roberts' house. He sits quietly alone in the living room, looking
resentful. Pastor Wilson walks in, dressed for his journey).

PASTOR: Elder, how is she? (Coming to sit beside him).

ELDER ROBERTS: Nothing changed… except that she slept

a bit in the night. Then, this morning, she spoke with
her true voice… I mean, I could hear Deborah actually
talking!

PASTOR: (Anxiously) Good. Very good. What did she say?

ELDER ROBERTS: She was just crying and asking: “Why

now? Why now, Roland…? Roland, why now?”

PASTOR: Roland? Who is Roland?

ELDER ROBERTS: We wouldn't know. We tried to ask her,

but she seemed not to hear us or even take notice of our
presence… Shortly after, that strange voice took over
again.
 blood on
the altar 65

PASTOR: Can I see her?

ELDER ROBERTS: Yes, Pastor. Let's go. (He leads him to the
door of her room and quietly opens it. They peep inside and see
Deborah lying quietly on the bed, her face turned towards the
wall. As they step inside, she turns her face slowly towards them
and the deep frightening voice speaks again).

DEBORAH: When you get there, ask him about Tumi. He is a

murderer.

ELDER ROBERTS: (Astonished, turns to Pastor in a whisper).

Whom is she talking to?

PASTOR: It's me. She knows I'm travelling already.

ELDER ROBERTS: Are you travelling?

PASTOR: (Stepping out of the room) Yes. (They walk back to the
living room. Elder Roberts sits looking more confused and sad).

ELDER ROBERTS: She's talking about the Reverend again,

isn't she? So many riddles remain unsolved. What do I
believe now? The bad spirit just now called the
Reverend a murderer, yet the man of God said he knew
no one called Tumi. What is all this?

PASTOR: Elder, forget whatever the bad spirit is saying. Don't

pay attention to it. Focus on what the Lord Jesus would
do. He will heal your daughter!

ELDER ROBERTS: (Almost to himself). And why should this

happen to my daughter in the first place? She is a child
of God, she assumed her studies on that campus as a
child of God... so why should this happen to us? And the
66 blood on
the altar

Reverend, who just finished conducting that powerful

revival at our Workers' Conference, suddenly gets
beaten up by a lady under the influence of a strange
spirit! I'm confused…. very confused! (The Pastor looks
on helplessly. Elder Roberts sits looking even more sad and
bewildered).
 blood on
the altar 67

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 25

(A car zooms into the compound of Rev. Hosea's house and comes to a halt
in front of the porch. Mrs. Hosea comes through the door just in time to see
who the visitor is. The car door opens and Clement Owese steps out,
holding the hand of a young boy, about four years old).

MRS HOSEA: Oh, Mr. Clement!

CLEMENT: (Still looking subdued, but manages a faint smile)

Afternoon, ma. (Mrs. Hosea steps forward and picks up the
boy).

MRS HOSEA: And who is this? Your son?

CLEMENT: Yes, ma. This is William.

MRS HOSEA: (Cuddling the boy lovingly) Oh-o, my boy. How

are you? (To Clement) Come in. Let's go inside. (She
leads him inside into the living room).

CLEMENT: (Sitting) Just coming from his grandma's. I had a

meeting with the family members this morning and
they all agree I should take the boy.
 blood on
68 the altar

MRS HOSEA: Oh, that's great news.

CLEMENT: How is the Reverend, ma?

MRS HOSEA: He should be resting in his room.

CLEMENT: I would like to thank him for all his help. I shall
be leaving to go back home to Calabar with my son
tomorrow.

MRS HOSEA: Oh! Wait… let me call him! (She gets up and
gently places the boy on the chair).

CLEMENT: No, don't wake him up, ma.

MRS HOSEA: (Going up the stairs) Don't worry, I will wake him
up.

(In the bedroom, Rev. Hosea is lying on his back with his arm across his
face. Apparently, he is not sleeping but immersed in deep thought. His
wife enters the room). Dear…

REV. HOSEA: Hm.

MRS HOSEA: Come on, wake up! We have a visitor.

REV. HOSEA: (Looking up) Who?

MRS HOSEA: Brother Clement.

REV. HOSEA: (Startled) Clement?

MRS HOSEA: Yes, Sister Tumi's husband. (He rises up immed-

iately to a sitting position).

REV. HOSEA: He's asking for me?

 blood on
the altar 69

MRS HOSEA: He just wants to greet you before going back to

Calabar with his son. (He stands up quickly, puts on his
slippers and follows her out of the room down the stairs into the
living room. Clement rises up reverently as he sees him).

CLEMENT: I'm sorry for waking you up from your rest, sir.

REV. HOSEA: Oh, no, Brother. It's alright. Sit down… sit
down… (Seeing the boy) Is this your son?

CLEMENT: (Sitting down) Yes, sir. This is William, our son.

REV. HOSEA: Oh, my God. What a handsome boy. (To the

boy) Come here, come and greet me. (The boy goes to him.
He holds his hand affectionately). How are you, boy?

WILLIAMS: Fine…Where is mammy? (Silence, as Rev. Hosea

stares at him briefly, then hugs him. Clement shakes his head
sorrowfully).

REV. HOSEA: Don't worry, go back and sit down, right? (The
boy goes to his seat, and sits quietly).

CLEMENT: (Sadly) He has been asking me this same question

over and over since yesterday. Grandma had been telling
him all along that mammy was travelling, then he would
ask: "When is she coming back?" Can you see my plight?
Can you see what this woman has done to me… or
maybe what I did to myself? Perhaps it was my fault.
Because I decided to abandon her, she too decided to go
her way with another man.

MRS HOSEA: Brother Clement, take it easy, right?

CLEMENT: But ... when I heard she was working in an

evangelical ministry, I was relieved that God had
 blood on
70 the altar

preserved her throughout my brief moment of

waywardness and craziness. But instead… (He wipes his
eyes).

MRS HOSEA: Brother Clement, I told you, you have to get

over this.

REV. HOSEA: Brother, relax, eh…? It's a very painful thing...

However, you have to get over this.

CLEMENT: Well, sir. I'm trying to. How I wish I knew the
man responsible for this pregnancy.

MRS HOSEA: The lady she stayed with said she didn't
disclose the name of any man. We tried so much to
question her friend, but she insisted she came back from
work and found her bleeding… Then she took her to
the hospital.

REV. HOSEA: Brother Clement, the Lord God will heal all
your wounds. But you must decide to get over this.

CLEMENT: (Incredulous) Very difficult to overcome, sir! It

will take some time to erase this from my mind…my
wife dying from an abortion… (Rises up, bends down and
carries the boy).

MRS HOSEA: Going?

CLEMENT: I must be on my way, ma.

REV. HOSEA: Brother Clement, the Lord be with you!

CLEMENT: Thank you, sir, for all your efforts. (He moves
towards the entrance door. Rev. Hosea and his wife follow him
out to his car. He opens the door, gently settles the boy in the front
 blood on
the altar 71

seat, and closes the door. He gets in the driver's seat, starts the
engine, waves to the Reverend and his wife and drives out of the
compound. Quietly, Rev. Hosea turns back and walks into the
house, depressed and guilty).
 blood on
72 the altar

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 26

(Yetunde's house. It is a simply furnished one-room plus parlour

apartment. She is in a casual gown, sweeping her bedroom. The bed is
strewn with clothes, folded loosely on hangers. She seems to be arranging
the room. She slightly lifts up the mattress to sweep underneath the bed;
then, her attention is drawn to a slim volume lying on a plank under the
mattress. She picks it up, lowers the mattress and sits quietly as she
wonders at what appears to be a diary. Then she opens the front cover and
gets alarmed).

YETUNDE: (whispers in shock) What!

Tumi's diary…?
(She begins to cautiously turn the pages. Then, her eye catches
an envelope tucked between the pages of the book. She pulls out
the envelope cautiously with a strong premonition, becomes more
shocked to see her name on the back of the envelope:
YETUNDE PONLE. She whispers in shock again).

Ah… It's mine. The letter is mine (She opens the envelope
and takes out the folded letter slowly, she unfolds it. Her eyes
express shock as she stares at the contents of the letter). Je-e-sus
Christ! (Then, she begins to read slowly).
 blood on
the altar 73

Yetunde. This is the saddest day of my life. I wish I

could keep this to myself without letting anyone know,
but I don't know what may happen to me before you
come back from the office. In case I'm gone before you
arrive, please, get in touch with my people. My
husband's number is 080 230 80898, and get my Pastor
at 080 232 45569. My son is with my Mum at 56 Okeke
Street, Aguda, Surulere.

Let it be on record that my Pastor, Reverend Hosea made

me have an abortion against my will. He is responsible
for whatever happens to me. Tell my husband I'm sorry
for everything. It's a pity I have to leave my son this way.
I pray God will forgive me this sin. Tumi Owese.

(She looks up with moist eyes, her mouth open in amazement). What!!!
(Then she bursts into tears) Oh, God! Oh….God!
 blood on
74 the altar

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 27

(Rev. Hosea's house. It's evening. It is relatively quiet. The children are
at the dining table eating their dinner. Someone presses the doorbell.
Mrs. Hosea descends the staircase).

MRS HOSEA: Hold on, I'm coming! (She goes to the door and
opens it. Two gentlemen are standing before her. It is Pastor
Wilson from Kaduna and another man. She looks at them
inquisitively). Good evening, gentlemen.

PASTOR WILSON: Good evening! I'm Pastor Wilson of

Revival Deliverance Chapel Kaduna. And here is a
Pastor friend based here in Lagos, Pastor Anjola of Faith
Assembly, Ogba, Ikeja.

MRS HOSEA: Oh… Please, come inside. Come in and have a

seat.

PASTORS: Thank you, ma. (She leads them to the living room
where they take their seats).

MRS HOSEA: (Sitting too) How can we help you? Do you want
to see the Reverend?
 blood on 75
the altar

PASTOR WILSON: Actually, Reverend Hosea was in my

church in Kaduna two weeks ago.

MRS HOSEA: Oh-o, yes, he was in your church in Kaduna?

PASTOR WILSON: Yes, ma. We thank the Lord for his

ministry, ma. (They hear footsteps coming down the stairs. It is
Rev. Hosea. He enters the living room and sees Pastor Wilson).
Good evening, sir. (Stands up reverently).

REV. HOSEA: (Shrinks back a bit but quickly adjusts himself) What!
Pastor Wilson? How come? (They shake hands). What
brought you to Lagos?

PASTOR WILSON: It's just a brief visit about an urgent

matter, sir. I'll be going back tomorrow after my
assignment. (Introducing the other man). Here is Pastor
Anjola of the Faith Assembly, Ogba, sir. He is based here
in Lagos. He is a Pastor friend. (He stands up reverently,
shaking hands with Rev. Hosea).

PASTOR ANJOLA: Pleased to meet you, sir. We thank God

for your life and ministry, sir.

REV. HOSEA: Thank you very much. (They all sit. Mrs. Hosea
rises up).

MRS HOSEA: What would you like, juice… or tea? …How

about some food?

PASTOR WILSON: No, ma. Juice will be o.k. for us.

MRS HOSEA: All right, then. Please, excuse me. (She goes
into the kitchen).
 76 blood on
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PASTOR WILSON: Sir, once again, thanks for your visit to

our church the other day. Your coming was a blessing to
us.

REV. HOSEA: (Ignoring the pleasantries) So, what brought you to

Lagos? How is the ministry?

PASTOR WILSON: The ministry is going fine, sir, except for

a few challenges here and there. For instance, Elder
Robert's daughter, Deborah is not getting better.

REV. HOSEA: (Chummily) Oh, that young lady. How is she

now?

PASTOR WILSON: I was with her shortly before leaving

Kaduna, and she confused us even further.

REV. HOSEA: Confused you? How?

PASTOR WILSON: (Insignificantly) She still kept mentioning

a Tumi…or whatever she said her name was.

REV. HOSEA: (Smiles dryly) Those familiar spirits cannot be

trusted. They cause chaos. The spirit will leave her.
The power of the Lord will prevail over the young lady.

(Mrs. Hosea enters the living room again, carrying a tray of glasses and a
package of juice. She holds her handset with the other hand, answering a
phone call hurriedly).

MRS HOSEA: Yes…Yes… hold on a minute. He's here. (To

Rev. Hosea, in a hushed tone) Yetunde, she wants to speak
with you.

REV. HOSEA: Who?

 blood on
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MRS HOSEA: Yetunde, the friend of…

REV. HOSEA: (Cutting her off as he takes the phone from her) Oh
yes, I know her…(He rises up, walking away as he responds to
the call) Yes, Yetunde. Good evening. How is it? (He
walks away to the back of the house). Yes, what is it?

(Back in the living room. Mrs. Hosea serves the drinks to her visitors and
sits down quietly afterwards).

PASTOR WILSON: Thank you very much, ma.

MRS. HOSEA: Oh, we thank God.

PASTOR WILSON: Ma, how is Tumi?

MRS HOSEA: Hm?

PASTOR WILSON: Tumi, I learned, works in your church

office.

MRS HOSEA: (Sadly) It was pathetic, sir. She passed away

about a week ago.

PASTOR WILSON: What! I can't believe it. I mean Tumi, ma.

MRS. HOSEA: Yes, Tumi Owese. It was a sorry case. You

know her?

PASTOR WILSON: Tumi? Passed away?

MRS HOSEA: We've not gotten over the shock.

PASTOR WILSON: Did she fall sick or meet with an

accident? What happened?
 78 blood on
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MRS HOSEA: Abortion. She had an abortion and it became

complicated somehow. She bled so much the doctor
couldn't help. We were there at the hospital a few
minutes after she died.

PASTOR WILSON: Oh, Jesus. Why? Why did she have to do

that? Why?

PASTOR ANJOLA: (Amazed) That's serious …, very serious.

(Pastor Wilson looks at his watch).

PASTOR WILSON: Oh, mammy, we have to be on our way.

There are other places we have to go this evening before
I travel back tomorrow.

MRS HOSEA: Ah... Please, hold on for him, he's speaking on

the phone. (Rev. Hosea arrives and Pastor Wilson rises
abruptly). Dear, they are about to go, they are in a hurry!

REV. HOSEA: Oh, Pastor Wilson, sorry for leaving you alone. I
had a call… So then, when are you returning to
Kaduna?

PASTOR WILSON: Tomorrow morning, sir. I will be getting

in touch when I get back home, sir. Thank you, ma.

PASTOR ANJOLA: Thanks very much, ma.

MRS HOSEA: All right, good night.

REV. HOSEA: See you again next time. (They escort them out of
the living room)
 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 28

(Pastors Anjola and Wilson have just left Rev. Hosea's house. Pastor
Anjola drives while Pastor Wilson, who is apparently trying to conceal his
shock and anger, sits beside him).

PASTOR ANJOLA: It's a pity a child of God had to die such a

shameful death.

PASTOR WILSON: It's shameful and painful indeed. Tumi

… dying from an abortion?

PASTOR ANJOLA: And they couldn't track down the man

responsible for the pregnancy…

PASTOR WILSON: (Absentmindedly) The Lord will track him

down. I'm going back to Kaduna tomorrow on the first
flight.

PASTOR ANJOLA: What have you actually come to do in

Lagos?

PASTOR WILSON: I've fulfilled my mission.

PASTOR ANJOLA: Really?

 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 29

(Later that evening, in Rev. Hosea's house. He comes out of the house
into the garden beside the house and sits pensively on a concrete block,
holding his mobile phone in his hand).

REV. HOSEA: (Whispering) Ah! What did this lady mean by

that? She said she has some information about Tumi and
me. I asked her to explain further, she said she would
call me back and she has not called since then. What sort
of information? Oh God…!
 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 30

(Same time in Yetunde's house. Sorrowful, her eyes red with weeping
and her countenance expressing bitterness and anger, she paces about the
room, the letter in one hand and the diary in the other. Her mobile phone
lies on a stool beside the bed).

YETUNDE: (Restlessly) Ah! Tumi…! No...! That's wickedness!

Sheer wickedness! He is supposed to be a shepherd but
he has turned himself into a wolf instead, attacking and
devouring the sheep. (Pacing about in bitterness)
Hypocrite! He was there by her deathbed keeping mute
as her husband cried bitterly… He was there behaving
as a holy man of God…! Ah!...Wickedness! He
impregnated her and made her have an abortion…!
(Then she sits back on her bed disconsolately. Her phone rings,
she picks it up and checks the caller, then hesitates resentfully.
Then, reluctantly she responds). Yes?

(On the other end is Rev. Hosea, still sitting on the concrete block in the
garden beside the house).

REV. HOSEA: Yetunde. You said you would call me back but
you didn't. I've been expecting your call. (Silence. She
 82 blood on
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just holds the set to her ear and stares dumbly).

Hello…Yetunde… Hello…!

YETUNDE: (Coldly) Yes, Reverend, I'm listening, sir.

REV. HOSEA: You said you would call. What information did
you say you have?

YETUNDE: (Harshly but calmly) Reverend, I have a letter here

with me, which Tumi wrote before she died, expressing
her regret at the abortion she committed and saying
emphatically that you are responsible for the pregnancy
and you made her have the abortion against her will!

REV. HOSEA: (Begins to sweat. Stammers) N-oo... Yetunde,

that's not true. It's not true!

YETUNDE: What do you mean by that, Reverend? You are

still telling me it's not true?

REV. HOSEA: Because Tumi's letter is not telling the

truth…Yetunde…

YETUNDE: You are lying against the dead, Reverend. What

kind of Reverend are you? All right… (She cuts off the
conversation and throws the phone on the bed. Rev. Hosea is
significantly disturbed).

R E V. H O S E A : H e l l o … ! H e l l o … ! Ye t u n d e … !
Yetunde…(Desperately, he begins to call the number again.
Yetunde sits downcast as the phone rings again. She picks it up
and responds).

YETUNDE: Reverend, don't call me again. When I present

my facts before the whole world, you will determine if
Tumi's letter is lying or not. Please, leave me alone!
 blood on
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REV. HOSEA: Please, Yetunde… be patient with me. Please!

We need to talk. I need to see you. I'll give you the
details of my side of the story.

YETUNDE: (Angrily) Listen, Reverend. Your side of the story

is that on numerous occasions you met her right inside
your office. On two or three occasions she went to meet
you in your hotel rooms. I have with me the address of
the clinic where she had the abortion in Ibadan and I
know the amount you gave her for the abortion.
Reverend, it might interest you to know that I have her
diary here with me and it contains all these facts and
more. (Rev. Hosea is frozen with shock as he holds the phone to
his ear). Hello… are you still there?

REV. HOSEA: (Cowed) Yes…. Please, Yetunde, listen to me.

We need to see...

YETUNDE: (Snaps) No. It's not necessary!

REV. HOSEA: Oh, please, Yetunde. There are some things I

need to explain to you.

YETUNDE: (Adamantly) No. I am through with this

conversation! I'm switching off.

REV. HOSEA: Oh, No-no-no. Please. I beg you. Don't switch

off.

YETUNDE: Then, what do you need from me?

REV. HOSEA: We need to see...

YETUNDE: No. I will agree to talk with you one...on one... on

one condition.
 blood on
84 the altar

REV. HOSEA: (Fretting) What is it?

YETUNDE: I want you to make an open confession of this

terrible sin. Confess that you were responsible for the
pregnancy Tumi aborted and that you gave her N100,
000 to go and abort it.

REV. HOSEA: Ah! Yetunde, that will be impossible!

YETUNDE: I give you just three days to do just that or on the

fourth day I will do it for you. For your information, I
work for a newspaper company. I will not tell you the
name for security reasons, but just to let you know that I
am a journalist. Good night. (She switches off the phone
and throws it beside her again).

REV. HOSEA: Hello…Yetunde… Ah! (He sits there defeated,

staring blankly into the dark shadows before him in fear and
confusion. All around him is quiet except for the piercing sounds
of nocturnal animals and insects).
 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 31

(Nighttime inside Pastor Anjola's house. Pastor Wilson sits on the bed,
anguished).

WILSON: (Talking to himself) The evil spirit did expose him.

The filthy spirit said he was having an affair with Tumi
on many occasions… yet he said that he never knew
anyone called Tumi. Then… it actually turned out to be
a lie. Tumi got impregnated and had an abortion? Who
was responsible? Whoever was responsible for the
pregnancy killed her…Ah! It was a mistake we invited
him! We invited a man who preached brilliantly but was
subjected to shame before a demon. We invited an
adulterous man to come and bless us. We called a man
who had blood on his hands to come and lay hands on us
for empowerment. It was a mistake!
 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 32

(Midnight in Rev. Hosea's house. He is kneeling beside the bed, face

down and arms spread out on the bed. Confused, frightened and sad. He
lies there speechlessly for a while before raising up his head).

REV. HOSEA: I'm sorry, Lord. Pull me out of this miry clay.
I'm sinking deeper each passing day. Ah…! If that lady
goes ahead with her threat, I'm finished… My home,
my family, my ministry… my testimony…my life…
Help me, Lord!

(The conversation between him and Yetunde flashes across his mind again
:) “I want you to make an open confession of this terrible sin….”
(His face lights up with fright again) No… that will be impossible! I
have gone too far…! (He remembers her words again) “I give you
just three days to do just that or on the fourth day I will do it for
you.”
(Shrinks backs in fear once more) No, that cannot happen! No,
never… Oh, my God! (There is a soft knock on the door, which
startles him to his feet) Yes, who is it? (A voice replies behind the door).

VOICE: It's me... Daniella.

 blood on
the altar 87

REV. HOSEA: (Hastens to the door and opens it). Daniella…What

is it? (He finds the girl standing at the door in her pyjamas,
looking frightened, beads of sweat on her face. He brings her into
the room). What's the matter? (The girl, apparently
overwhelmed by fear, stands staring blankly before him. Then,
he shakes her into consciousness). Daniella…! Come on…!
What's the matter?

DANIELLA: I had a bad dream again. (He brings her to sit on the
bed).

REV. HOSEA: (Sitting beside her). Bad dream again? What did
you see? Tell me. (She sits there tongue-tied, looking confused
and frightened. The door opens and Mrs. Hosea, in her
nightgown walks in).

MRS. HOSEA: What happened to her?

REV. HOSEA: She said she had a bad dream again.

MRS HOSEA: Last night I heard her shouting in her sleep.

About an hour ago, I heard her talking in her sleep,
begging someone not to hurt her. I came to her room
and found her asleep. I've just finished praying and I'd
gone to check her room again.

REV. HOSEA: I was also praying when she knocked my door

and stepped in. (Turns to her again) Daniella…what did
you see in your dream?

DANIELLA: (With trembling voice and tearful eyes) Some one was
chasing me with a cutlass. (Mrs. Hosea walks to the bed and
sits quietly beside Daniella. She also looks a bit confused and
frightened).
 blood on
88 the altar

REV. HOSEA: Did you see the person's face?

DANIELLA: No.

MRS. HOSEA: It's not a matter of seeing the person's face.

The fact is… the spiritual atmosphere in this house has
become tense. I can sense some evil around us in this
house… a premonition of danger. There isn't freedom
in the Spirit like there used to be… I have a very strong
feeling that our home is somehow vulnerable to some
attack or danger or mishap… I can't understand…

REV. HOSEA: Then we should pray. Let's pray. (They all kneel
down beside the bed). Our Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you
for your protection…your covenant of peace over us
and your promise to be with us all the days of our lives.
We decree in the name of Jesus Christ, that all evil and
mishaps that the enemy has meant for us in this family
be diverted and nullified in the name of Jesus Christ!

ALL: Amen!

REV. HOSEA: We plead the blood of Jesus!

ALL: Amen!

REV. HOSEA: We hide ourselves under the precious blood of

Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name we pray.

ALL: Amen.

REV. HOSEA: (rising up and sitting again. He lifts up Daniella).

Now, go back and sleep. We've prayed.

MRS. HOSEA: Come, let's go. Let me take you to bed. (She
 blood on
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leads her out of the room and shuts the door again. Rev. Hosea
sits, empty of all feeling).

REV. HOSEA: Jesus… I said I am sorry for all these acts of

wickedness. Please… my wife has begun to have a
premonition of danger… a sense of insecurity. The
atmosphere of joy and security in this house has been
polluted by my wicked deeds. Please, Lord… don't visit
the iniquity of the father upon the child. (He remains
seated upon the bed, staring blankly at the wall before him).
 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 33

(Rev. Hosea's office. A lady in a skirt-suit and dark glasses, with a bag
strapped over her shoulder, walks briskly into the reception area of the
office and goes straight to the female staff at the reception desk. She is
Yetunde).

YETUNDE: Please, is the Reverend in his office?

RECEPTIONIST: Yes, but he has some visitors with him.

You will have to wait for a while.

YETUNDE: No. I can't wait. Tell him Yetunde is here. I have

an appointment with him.

RECEPTIONIST: All right. (She calls over the intercom). Hello,

sir. (Over there, Rev. Hosea is attending to a couple that have
come for counselling).

REV. HOSEA: Yes, Cecilia.

CECILIA: There is a lady here. She wants to see you.

REV. HOSEA: Tell her to sit in the reception area till I'm
 blood on
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through with this couple here. You know the right thing
to do, what's wrong with you?

CECILIA: I told her, sir. She said she has an appointment with
you. She is Miss Yetunde.

REV. HOSEA: (Shrinks back) Eh..? Yetunde? Oh, yes, it's true!
I need to see her. Please, let her come in.

CECILIA: Yes, sir. (To Yetunde) You can go up and see him, ma.
(Rev. Hosea momentarily loses his composure).

REV. HOSEA: Yeah, so, my brother, please… you will have to

excuse me for about fifteen minutes. I need to see a
visitor urgently. I will see you later when I'm through
with her.

THE BROTHER: All right, sir.

THE SISTER: Thank you, sir.

(They rise up and go out of the office. There is a knock on the door. Rev.
Hosea, seated, prepares himself).

REV. HOSEA: Yes, come inside. (The door opens and Yetunde
walks in, her eyes obscured behind black glasses. She is
expressionless as she stands before Rev. Hosea, who stares at her,
fidgeting).

YETUNDE: You said you needed to see me! So, here I come.

REV. HOSEA: (Calmly) Please, sit down. (Quietly, she pulls out a
chair and sits down, crossing her legs arrogantly. They remain
silent, each waiting for the other to speak).
 blood on
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YETUNDE: (Bluntly) I guess I should leave, if you have

forgotten why you said you needed to see me. (She begins
to rise).

REV. HOSEA: Wait. (She sits back again). I want you to hear me
out.

YETUNDE: All right, go on, sir. (Silence again as he looks away in

confusion and guilt).

REV. HOSEA: (Stammers) You see, I don't know what to say.

YETUNDE: Because you know you are guilty.

REV. HOSEA: How can you be so sure?

YETUNDE: Because I have the facts and evidence.

REV. HOSEA: (Softly) You said she gave you her diary and a
confessional letter before she died.

YETUNDE: Yes, and the content of the diary is terribly

incriminating.

REV. HOSEA: You don't have to complicate issues for me. It

was a mistake and God has forgiven me, you have to let
this matter lie low.

YETUNDE: (Getting irritated) Come on, stop it, Reverend!

Don't bring religion into this. God might have forgiven
you, but I, her close friend, have not forgiven you at all
never! Do you know what it is for someone to watch her
best friend dying? (Her voice is gradually escalating out of
anger) You persuaded her to go for an abortion and she
died...! (Rev. Hosea signals for her to lower her voice).
 blood on
the altar 93

REV. HOSEA: Shhh…! Please. (She complies by lowering her

voice a bit).

YETUNDE: Think of what is to become of her three years old

boy. You made the boy motherless and turned the man
into a widower. Did you think of that as a mistake? You
are a man of God, you are supposed to live godly, not to
swim in the dregs of adultery. Is it not utter wickedness?
You committed adultery with your staff member,
impregnated her and persuaded her to get an abortion,
then, worse still…! she died in the process! I wonder
how you could have the boldness to still preach or
conduct crusades.

REV. HOSEA: (Looking disarmed) My God…. what do you

want me to do now?

YETUNDE: I've told you what to do. This is day one. I've
given you three days to make an open confession of this
evil or I will do it for you myself. My chief editor will be
most eager to publish such a lucrative story about a
popular preacher who kills his secretary by means of
abortion.

REV. HOSEA: Oh no, Yetunde, don't do that! I beg of you,

don't fan up an already dwindling flame… please! You
must not do such thing! (Without saying a word further she
rises up to go) Going?

YETUNDE: Yes, sir. (She begins to go towards the door).

REV. HOSEA: (Visibly shaking) Wait! (Yetunde pauses at the door

and looks back unsympathetically with a mocking smile) Are
you a born-again Christian? (She pauses for a moment and
stares at him sternly before replying).
 blood on
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YETUNDE: Why do you ask, sir?

REV. HOSEA: (Pleadingly, on his feet) Because if you are, you

wouldn't want to put the name of the Lord into disrepute
by putting that thing in the newspaper.

YETUNDE: (Irritated) Now you are trying to put me on the

defensive, right? Yes, I had just been converted three
months before you killed my friend. I was a carefree
person, living a wayward life when Tumi came to Lagos
from Calabar and began living with me. Later, the
situation in her life brought her to Christ and she got a
secretarial job in your office. So I was impressed and
became converted … just three months before you
killed her!

REV. HOSEA: I didn't kill her!

YETUNDE: (Harshly) You did, Reverend. When you

committed adultery with her, you brought her back into
her former sinful life. When you impregnated her, you
destroyed her marital commitment and foundation, and
when you persuaded her to abort, you took her life,
Reverend!

REV. HOSEA: (Faintly, in soberness) I know I've sinned. It was a

mistake!

YETUNDE: Good! So… let's go back to your question. I was

a born-again child of God until I witnessed the evil a so-
called priest in the house of God perpetrated.

REV. HOSEA: You are backsliding?

YETUNDE: Yes, I quit. It isn't worth it! I've heard it before...

 blood on
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many priests at the altar are perpetrating evil things, but

now I am a witness to it. Is it worth it? When the
Shepherd has become the wolf and those who are
carrying the light to show the way are going astray. Is it
worth it?

REV. HOSEA: (Pleading in desperation) Yetunde, don't put this

in your newspaper. It will discourage many from
coming to the Lord!

YETUNDE: You should have known that already, Reverend.

You are a popular man of God in this city. You should
have known that when you fall, many will fall with you.
(Still standing at a distance). This conversation is over.
Thanks for the interview.

REV. HOSEA: Interview?

YETUNDE: Yes. (She brings out a small cassette recorder from her
handbag and shows Rev. Hosea).

REV. HOSEA: (shocked) What's that?

YETUNDE: (Smiles wryly) I have just recorded all our

conversation, including your personal confession of
your sin of adultery and abortion, which resulted in the
death of one of your staff.

REV. HOSEA: (Faint-heartedly) What! What have you done?

YETUNDE: (Tucking the cassette player back in her bag). As a

professional journalist, I know the evidence from the
diary and Tumi's letter is not enough, I need a piece of
evidence from you too, to substantiate my claims. (Rev.
Hosea rushes forward, attempts to grab her bag. She steps back
instantly to the door and gives a warning signal to him). Don't
 blood on
96 the altar

try to come near me or attempt to take the recorder out

of my hand!

REV. HOSEA: (Sweating with fear) You can't do that! You can't
take that recording out of this office! (He steps forward
towards her).

YETUNDE: Reverend, don't attempt such a foolish thing. If

you take one step further, my scream will bring all your
staff running to this office. (Rev. Hosea stops at once).

REV. HOSEA: No, don't do that, please!

YETUNDE: Good! So, go back to your seat quietly and let's

round off this meeting on a good note. (He promptly goes
back to his seat and remains standing). Good. Now sit down
quietly. (He obeys, as he takes his seat, staring at her). In
journalism, any happening is news, including your
rushing forward towards me to take the recorder from
my hand. It's a perfect scoop.

REV. HOSEA: Ah! (She puts on the dark glasses, opens the door
quietly and steps out, shutting the door behind her. Rev. Hosea
remains stunned, gazing at the door).
 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 34

(Back in Kaduna. It's Elder Roberts' house inside the room where
Deborah is locked. She lies on her back, her eyes closed, but she's not
asleep. The door opens and Mrs. Roberts, still looking pitiful with her
tear-swollen eyes, leads inside a young lady. The lady lets out a cry at the
sight of Deborah).

MOTHER: We brought her home from the hospital when the

doctors couldn't do any more.

THE LADY: Ah. Deborah! (Instantly, she stirs on the bed, opens her
eyes and looks in the direction of the lady. Then, she begins to
mumble some words as tears trickle down her face).

DEBORAH: (Whimpering in her normal voice) Sister Leah…

please… please, help … me!… help me…!

LEAH: Ah! Sister Deborah … My God!

DEBORAH: (Feebly) Ah… Ah… help me... Ah…! Roland…!

Roland…! Alpha Grove… the white handkerchief…
Ah… help me…!
 blood on
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LEAH: (Astonished) Oh! Deborah… Roland?

MOTHER: Who is Roland? Every once in a while, she speaks

in her normal voice and begins saying those same
words…Alpha Grove… handkerchief.

LEAH: (Still staring at her with amazement) Deborah… , what did

Roland do to you?

DEBORAH: Ah… help me…!

LEAH: (To the woman) Mammy, let's pray. (She lifts up her hand
and points towards Deborah). “I stand upon the Rock of
Ages, the Lord Jesus Christ, and hide beneath the cross
of Calvary, operating under the power of the
resurrection of Jesus Christ. I command you evil powers
in her to stop in the name of Jesus Christ! (Deborah begins
to let out a growling sound, vibrating all over as Leah intensifies
her prayers with command and authority. Suddenly Deborah's
face begins to contort and the deep clumsy voice begins again,
taunting Leah as her mother cringes by the door in fear).

DEBORAH: (The strange voice) No-o! Stop it! I can't leave her!
She broke the vows! She tried to back out! I will kill her!
I will squeeze her to death! I will starve her till she's skin
and bones! Hi-i-iis-sss…! (Then the force vibrates her
violently again and holds her to the bed, then there is stillness.
Leah and the mother look on fearfully. Then the woman bursts
into tears again, opens the door and goes out of the room. Leah
follows her quietly, becoming helpless).
 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 35

(Much later, in Elder Roberts' living room. He is seated with his wife,
Leah is still there, also seated. Pastor Wilson has since come. Elder
Roberts looks very worried, while his wife's eyes are red and swollen with
tears).

LEAH: I know Roland. He is one of those boys who rule the

campus. Probably he is in the cult, I can't say for sure.
But he hangs out with a particular group of boys and
everybody knows him.

WILSON: And Deborah was hanging out with him at a

particular time?

LEAH: Yes, the whole episode started in the second semester.

She suddenly stopped coming to our fellowship. Then,
she began taking offence with some of us who are her
friends. Later, towards the end of the second semester,
we began to see her among some strange girls and at
times, in the company of Roland and other boys.

MOTHER: (Lamenting) Ah… Deborah… Deborah…! We

taught you the Word of God, raised you up in the ways of
 100 blood on
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God… you got to the campus and lost your way… Eh,
Deborah?

ELDER ROBERTS: (Astonished) Actually, I'm shocked. I

never knew all those things were happening. Whenever
she came home from school for regular breaks, or
semester breaks, we always went to church together.
She never showed any sign of backsliding. Ah!...

WILSON: Then, she said something about Alpha Grove and

white handkerchief.

LEAH: I don't understand that myself. Maybe it is connected to

Roland… I don't know.

WILSON: This Roland, you know him very well?

LEAH: Yes. He is in Engineering. He stays in Katho Hall.

 blood on 101
the altar

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 36

(Later in the evening, Pastor Wilson's car arrives on the University

campus and parks under a tree in front of a male residence. He alights
from the car, sporting a long-sleeved t-shirt. He sees three young men in
conversation nearby and approaches them).

WILSON: Evening, gentlemen.

MAN I: Yes, evening.

WILSON: Please, can you help me? I'm looking for Roland. I
was told to come to this building to look for him.

MAN II: (Sternly) Who told you Roland is here?

MAN III: (Staring at him suspiciously) Who are you, man? Are
you a policeman or an SS man? You've come to arrest
somebody?

WILSON: (Smiling) No, gentlemen. Not at all! I'm a Pastor.

MAN I: Pastor? What does Roland want with a Pastor? You

want to preach to him? Forget it!
 blood on
102 the altar

WILSON: No, not at all. I've come to beg for his forgiveness.

MAN II: You offended him?

WILSON: No, my sister did.

MAN I: Go into the hall, Room 127B.

WILSON: Thanks, gentlemen.

(He goes away. Man 1 brings out his mobile phone, presses a number).

MAN I: Hello … yeah, it's me, Bernard. Oh, boy! you have a
visitor … no, a Pastor … well, I don't know. He said he is
coming to ask you for forgiveness … He said his sister
offended you…
 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 37

(Inside a room in the hall. The room has a single bed, the wall is
decorated with a celebrity poster, a music deck sits on a small cabinet,
clothes hang loosely on a clothes rack. The table is strewn with books.
The room is quite untidy. A tall man in jeans and a sleeveless vest lies
propped up on his elbow, on the bed. He has a red bandanna round his
head, a matchstick hangs from his lips. He fondles a switchblade with one
hand, while his other hand holds a mobile phone set. A thin stream of
smoke rises from a small incense bowl, placed beside the bed, which makes
the room a little bit hazy. There is a quiet knock on the door. He stares at
the door without responding. The knocking sounds again, but he is just
gazing at the closed door. Later, he answers).

ROLAND: Come inside, Pastor. (The door opens quietly and

Pastor Wilson enters. He sees him and smiles).

WILSON: (Smiles) How do you know I'm a Pastor?

ROLAND: (Unimpressed) Forget about how I know and tell me

what brings you here.

WILSON: (Friendly) Do you mind if I take a seat?

 104 blood on
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ROLAND: (Sternly) No, I prefer you don't stay long. So, don't
bother to sit. Get straight to the point of your visit.

WILSON: All right, then. I've come to ask you for forgiveness.

ROLAND: Riddles. I don't know you. You didn't offend me.

WILSON: Yes, my sister did. Deborah Roberts. You know she

did. (His eyes light up for an instant as he fixes his eyes intently
on Pastor Wilson).

ROLAND: I don't know you, mister. And I don't know what

you are talking about.

WILSON: (Coolly) Yes, you do, Roland. You know what I'm
talking about. She needs your forgiveness.

ROLAND: (Getting irritated) I'm warning you, mister, get out

of my room. I don't know whom you are talking about.

WILSON: She broke the vow… She tried to back out …!

Please, Roland.

(Angrily, he stands up from the bed, holding the knife in his hand
menacingly).

ROLAND: I say leave!

(Pastor Wilson turns and walks towards the door, then he looks back at
Roland, whose eyes still blaze with anger).

WILSON: You know it, Roland? Deborah is being attacked

because she tried to back out. She broke the vow.

ROLAND: What was she trying to back out from? What vow
did she break?
 blood on 105
the altar

WILSON: Well… I don't know!

ROLAND: (Hotly) Then why did you come to poke your nose
into things you know nothing about?

WILSON: (Solemnly) I know of the Alpha Grove. I know of the

White Handkerchief. (He becomes softened immediately.
The knife drops from his hand. He stares at Pastor Wilson).

ROLAND: (Sits down slowly on the bed, still gazing at Pastor Wilson
with bewilderment). You know of the Alpha Grove and
White Handkerchief?

WILSON: (Affirmatively) Yes, I do. (Then, he turns back, opens the

door and make as if to step out).

ROLAND: (Instantly rises to his feet) Wait! (Pastor Wilson pauses at

the open door and looks back at him). Please, don't go. (He
steps back into the room and closes the door). The Alpha
Grove, the White Handkerchief, how do you know
about that? Deborah could not have mentioned that.

WILSON: And why?

ROLAND: (In a low tone) It's impossible. She couldn't have

said that with her own mouth.

WILSON: (Sitting down on a stool. Roland sits too). Why do you

think she could not have spoken that deep and secret
thing? (Roland pauses for a while, still baffled).

ROLAND: Once she broke the vow and tried to back out, she
wouldn't be in the right frame of mind to be able to
reveal what she saw there.

WILSON: Is that the rule?

 blood on
106 the altar

ROLAND: I didn't make the rule. It is binding on everyone

who breaks the vow.

WILSON: What vow?

ROLAND: I wouldn't mention that. (Pastor Wilson looks at him

for a while).

WILSON: All right, then. (He stands up and begins to walk to the
door)

ROLAND: What happened?

WILSON: I'm going home.

ROLAND: (Getting frightened) Why?

WILSON: Because you wouldn't tell me what type of vow she

broke.

ROLAND: I too need to know from you how you got to know
about those things! the Alpha Grove and the White
Handkerchief. It's important!

WILSON: (Standing in front of the door) Deborah mentioned it,

herself.

ROLAND: (Startled) Impossible! Has she gotten better?

WILSON: No, not yet, but she is going to get well soon.
Roland, I know you too are caught in the web, somehow.
Help me so I can help you. You need to be free too. But
you need to open up. Whether you tell me now or you
don't tell me, I will still know all I want to know. If I leave
this place now and go back home, we are going to pray a
 blood on 107
the altar

little more and disarm that evil spirit holding her in

bondage, and she will reveal all the secrets behind all
this, and the Lord shall set her free. However, what
about you? How can you get out of this mess? Who will
set you free? You are caught in a web that only the Lord
can free you from! Your life is hanging precariously; it
could drop and shatter any time. Are you not tired of
this sinful wayward life you live? Are you content being
like this or do you want your freedom?

(Roland is already overcome with tears, sobbing quietly, his head buried
in his arm).
 108 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 38

(Later that evening. Wilson is sitting on a stool near Roland who sits on
the edge of the bed, now looking sober and regretful. The room is quiet as
he talks to Pastor Wilson, who is listening with rapt attention).

ROLAND: Two years ago, one of my girl friends influenced

me to be initiated into a cult. The whole initiation
happened in a cemetery. And since then, I've been stuck
in this.

WILSON: What cult is that?

ROLAND: The Alpha Grove. She belonged to the cult on

campus.

WILSON: What is the cult about?

ROLAND: It's mainly for girls, a set of campus babes who

possess an enormous power over men. They can do and
undo. Their weapon lies in their body. They have the
power to make any male lecturer sleep with them and
once that happens, the man will do anything for them.
 blood on 109
the altar

They can remain on campus without writing a single test

throughout a whole session, and they'll still pass the
course of whichever lecturer they've conquered in bed.
The moment that happens, the man has no control over
himself again in the presence of that lady.

WILSON: (Ruminating) Alpha Grove….

ROLAND: The lecturers aren't their main victims, the men

out there are… the big shots of the city, big executives of
successful companies, politicians and businessmen with
the fat pocketbooks are their main victims. They go off
campus in search of these big fish and once the fish take
the bait, they get hooked permanently and their lives are
ruined.

WILSON: (Overwhelmed with astonishment) Why?

ROLAND: The girls hook them for their money, their riches.
And they're drained before getting off the hook. Such
girls on campus are richer than the Vice Chancellor.
They cruise about in flashy cars and maintain exquisite
apartments.

WILSON: (Inquisitively) You are in the cult and you are not rich,
Roland.

ROLAND: (Sadly) I was used and dumped.

WILSON: How?

ROLAND: My girlfriend used me to get initiated into the cult.

She lied to me that if I wanted to get rich and powerful
on campus and in society, that she had been told how to
help me. So, I fell for her lies. She took me to a
cemetery in the middle of the night and at exactly 1.00
 110 blood on
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am, on a concrete grave, I slept with her right there

under the moon. I didn't know she was using me in her
ritual for getting initiated into the Alpha Grove. Two
weeks later, she became something else on campus. I
watched her rise within a semester to become a campus
shaker. But here I am… used, battered and empty. I feel
something has gone wrong in me. I feel a part of my life
is gone. I haven't done well academically since then and
no money ever stays in my hand. I feel useless, empty…
oh! (He begins to sob again).

WILSON: (Pats him compassionately) Roland … come on … stop

crying. (His sobs subside). What about the White
Handkerchief?

ROLAND: (Wiping his eyes) When we finished on the grave,

that night, she brought out a white handkerchief and …
you know, wiped me and also wiped herself… you know,
and tucked the handkerchief back in her purse. You
know, I never knew she was using me… Oh…! What
sort of life is this…?

WILSON: So you never benefited from the initiation.

ROLAND: No. I only lost … except anytime I was broke and I

needed some money I would go to her and she would
give me … at times N50,000, at times N70,000 but
recently she stopped giving me money … trying to avoid
me …

WILSON: What happened to Deborah?

ROLAND: (Regretfully) It was a mistake.

WILSON: What?
 blood on
the altar 111

ROLAND: (Sadly) She wanted to be like them.

WILSON: (Wonders) Like the Alpha Grove girls?

ROLAND: Deborah was my girlfriend and we were hanging

around together, but somehow… I don't know how she
got in touch with one of those girls. She suddenly
became obsessed with the thought of being like them,
cruising about, moving about the campus and
swimming in money. Then, she came to me and told me
about it. I introduced her to Susan, one of those girls.
She took her to a place off the campus where she was
prepared for the initiation, then Susan linked her up
with a male student and they went to a cemetery
together. I don't know what happened there, she came
back behaving strangely.

WILSON: What about the boy?

ROLAND: The boy died in his bed the third day. Newspapers
carried the news that a guy in third level Biochemistry
died a mysterious death … Some said the cultists killed
him, some said he was a drug addict who died of an
overdose … but only myself and Susan knew that he
died the third day after coming back from the cemetery
… But we didn't know what made Deborah insane and
what killed the boy!

WILSON: Why were you afraid to speak initially?

ROLAND: Because I didn't want to die. Susan came to warn

me never to let any one know about any part of it, that I
should never mention it to anyone. When I was afraid
that Deborah might speak out, she said it was impossible,
that she must have done something wrong during the
 112 blood on
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ritual in the cemetery and once she goes crazy, she will
never be able to recover, or speak about what happened
till she dies. I'm even amazed she's still alive. She ought
to have died within two weeks of her return from the
ritual. That's the whole story. (He looks up at Pastor
Wilson, terrified). I've told you everything I made a vow
with her never to say … I don't know if I am going to die
too or go insane like Deborah.

WILSON: (Sweetly) Roland.

ROLAND: Yes, Pastor.

WILSON: You're amazed that Deborah ought to have died but

is still living, though not in her right mind. That is the
impact of the Power of Jesus Christ. Thank God you are
still alive. Thank God you still have your senses, so that
you can make your choice. And you have only one
choice to make to be able to get out of this web you've
found yourself in.

ROLAND: (Hopelessly) Man… I'm stuck in this terrible

cobweb … ready for the taking by the giant spider!
Man… I don't know … Oh God !… why am I in this
mess? (He begins to sob again. Pastor Wilson moves closer to
him and places his hand on his shoulder).

WILSON: God sent me here to pray for you and show you the
way out of all this. Do you really want to be free?

ROLAND: (Tearfully) Yeah, man… I'm fed up with

everything…! Oh! I've messed up my life…!

WILSON: (Touched) Roland?

ROLAND: Yes, Pastor.

 blood on
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WILSON: Look at me, come on. (He raises his tear- soaked eyes
slowly to look at Wilson). Fifteen years ago in the
University of Calabar, I belonged to the Black Axe, a
dangerous cult on campus. I was the leader. I led many
operations against other cults in and out of the campus.
I've killed people before … I've tasted human blood …
My life was almost ruined and I was facing an uncertain
future, until I met the Lord Jesus Christ. (Roland's eyes
light up as Pastor Wilson speaks).

ROLAND: (Unbelieving) You were in a cult before?

WILSON: Jesus Christ changed my life and gave me a

complete transformation. He gave me a good wife, good
children and a settled home, then, He called me into His
glorious work to be a Pastor. Do you believe He can do
the same for you?

ROLAND: (Desperately) Yes!… yes!… I do believe!

WILSON: Then you will accept His Lordship over your life
and submit to Him completely?

ROLAND: Yes. Completely!

WILSON: Would you go down on your knees before Him,

therefore, to accept Him as your Lord and Saviour?
(Quietly, slowly in tears and utter submission, Roland drops on
his knees beside his bed) Say these prayers after me.
 114 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 39

(Midnight in Rev. Hosea's house, in a room. Mrs. Hosea has been in

prayer for a while. She is perspiring profusely as she walks about with a
Bible in her hand).

MRS. HOSEA: Jesus…! Je-e-sus! Your word says they that

follow You shall not walk in darkness but shall have the
light of life. I dispel all darkness hiding in this house … I
bring every hidden thing to light in the name of Jesus
Christ. Something is wrong somewhere … the
atmosphere is not right. There are shadows lurking
around us in this house … Holy Spirit, Spirit of light, let
every hidden thing come into the light! In Jesus name!...
I am having strange dreams, my children are having
strange dreams… danger hangs in the air, we can sense
it!… Then, what has happened, Jesus!? I am begging
you, my Lord Jesus … my husband has not been right, I
can see it… Things are not the way they used to be…!
Set us free, Lord, from all bondage, in Jesus name!
Thank you, Lord…! Thank you Jesus! in Jesus' name I
pray. Amen. (Exhausted, she sits down wearily, rests a while,
then goes out of the room and opens the door quietly in order not to
 blood on
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wake up her husband. She enters the dark room, closes the door
and puts on the light. She is startled to see the man sitting up on
the bed, back against the wall, holding a pillow to his chest).
What! You are awake?

REV. HOSEA: (Pensively) Yes. (She comes to bed and sits, too).

MRS. HOSEA: Why are you awake? Praying?

REV. HOSEA: Yes, praying … meditating… thinking…

MRS. HOSEA: What have you been thinking about? Is

something troubling your mind?

REV. HOSEA: No. Nothing.

MRS. HOSEA: But you have not been well, I can see it. You've
not been eating well most of the time, you've been
thinking. What's going on? (Silence, as she pauses, expecting
a response from him).

REV. HOSEA: Well, you see… I have this feeling that

something is wrong somewhere!

MRS. HOSEA: (Worriedly) Since yesterday, I've been fasting

and praying that the Lord will bring this thing to light.
I've been feeling it too. (They both sit, looking worried).
 116 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 40

(During the day in Rev. Hosea's house. Mrs. Hosea is dressed for an
outing, enters the bedroom and goes to the dresser mirror, sits down, and
makes up her face. The door jerks opened abruptly, she looks back in its
direction as Tumi storms inside, enraged. Mrs. Hosea springs up in
surprise).

MRS. HOSEA: Jesus! What do you want in our room? Get

out! (Tumi stands adamant, unhappy.) I say get out! (Then
Tumi moves to the bed and sits down in defiance. Mrs. Hosea
angrily rushes at her, grabs her and begins to push her out while
Tumi struggles to resist the push). What's your business in
this room? Get out… get out! Come on, get out in Jesus'
name! Get out in Jesus' name…! (She keeps on pushing
Tumi out of the room and shouting till she wakes up abruptly, in
bed. She opens her eyes and sees her husband standing beside her,
trying to wake her up. She looks stunned and frightened, covered
with perspiration and breathing heavily).

REV. HOSEA: Dear…dear… what is it? Get up…! Sit up!

Your shout woke me up…! (She sits up slowly, still thinking
about the nightmare as she gradually gathers herself together. Her
 blood on
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husband sits on the edge of the bed, near her, still wondering).
You were shouting in your sleep: “What are you doing
here? Get out of here!” Who were you talking to?
(Silence. She is still getting over the fright) Dear?

MRS. HOSEA: Yes.

REV. HOSEA: Who was it? What did you see in your dream?
Who was frightening you?

MRS. HOSEA: Tumi.

REV. HOSEA: (Shocked) Tumi?

MRS. HOSEA: (Reflectively) Tumi … What has she got to do

with this house? I saw her storm into this bedroom
angrily…

REV. HOSEA: (Thoughtfully) Tumi… Dear, you have to dispel

that thought. Dreams can be funny. Tumi is no longer
alive. Why are you dreaming about the dead? That was
a bad dream.

MRS. HOSEA: (Pondering) It's not good to dream about the

dead…. But I've been praying since yesterday, with
fasting, that the Lord would show me something about
the present situation… What has Tumi got to do with
this house…? (She keeps pondering the dream; the husband
sits besides her also wondering).
 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 41

(Very early in the morning, down in the living room of Rev. Hosea's
house. The clock on the wall shows 6.00 am. In his pyjamas, noticeably
anxious, he comes down the stairs into the living room and goes to a corner
to sit. He carries his Bible in his hand with his mobile phone).

REV. HOSEA: (Thinking) She dreamt about Tumi? God … I

can't confess this at this stage...! I've gone too far… Can
these sins ever be concealed? (Quietly, he rises up and goes
out to the car park outside, walking around contemplatively.
Then he presses some number on his handset. Speaks faintly)
Hello… Hello… please, Yetunde… It's me. (She is lying
on her bed, in her pyjamas, a bedspread covering her up to her
chest).

YETUNDE: (Insignificantly) Yes, Reverend.

REV. HOSEA: I just want to tell you that we need to talk.

YETUNDE: (Impatiently) But we've been talking, Reverend.

We've been talking and it has always been the same
repetition of words and pleas. Is there any new thing to
talk about?
 blood on
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REV. HOSEA: Yes, there is. Please, be lenient with me. I

know the death of your friend has injured your spirit,
but you know this wasn't intentional. I've prayed and
asked the Lord to forgive me and He has forgiven me!

YETUNDE: (Getting hot again) And I have not forgiven your

hypocrisy, man of God! Do you think if Clement hears
this he will readily forgive you? What of the innocent
child this lady left behind? Will he forgive you? Or the
bereaved parents of the lady, will they ever forgive a man
of God who violated their daughter and then pushed her
into an abortion that killed her, Reverend?

REV. HOSEA: (Soberly) Yes, Yetunde.

YETUNDE: If your wife and children hear this, will they

forgive you? Will the church of God, whose image
you've tarnished, be able to forgive you? There is a
position you get to in the ministry, where you allow God
to take you home, rather than allowing some types of
scandal.

REV. HOSEA: Yetunde, you're right. But I've gone too far to
fulfil the conditions you laid down. It is just too difficult
for me to begin making an open confession of all these
things.

YETUNDE: Today is day 3, the final day I gave you. If it's

difficult for you to do, I will do it for you! I've already
begun to write my story; I will update it with this latest
development, that you called me early in the morning to
beg me never to make this juicy story public.

REV. HOSEA: Ah! Yetunde, are you documenting every one

of our discussions?
 120 blood on
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YETUNDE: I'm simply doing my job. I'm a journalist.

REV. HOSEA: You must help me!

YETUNDE: What do you want me to do?

REV. HOSEA: Bury this story.

YETUNDE: Upon one condition!

REV. HOSEA: What is it, please?

YETUNDE: One million Naira and I won't raise this issue

again.

REV. HOSEA: Yetunde, what did you say?

YETUNDE: You will buy the entire story back with One
Million Naira. Then I will keep quiet. That's the deal!

REV. HOSEA: (Dazed) Yetunde … That's too much! Please!

YETUNDE: And your evil is much more than that! I give you
just today to think that over and call me back about your
decision. One million Naira. Don't forget! (She cuts the
line. Rev. Hosea stands transfixed in utter dismay).

REV. HOSEA: (Almost inaudibly) One million…where will I

get that in one day? Ah! She yielded to blackmailing…
Ah...!
 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 42

(In the morning in Elder Roberts' house. Pastor Wilson and Elder
Roberts are seated while the mother, deeply sorrowful stands by the
window talking almost to herself).

MOTHER: (Lamenting) You left from under the shadow of the

Almighty and went to dance in the valley of the shadow
of death…. Eh? Deborah…! We taught you about
heaven, about God, about contentment…you got to
campus and wanted to cruise about in sports cars and to
be swimming in dollars… Eh? Deborah…! All right!

WILSON: (To mother) Ma, you have to trust that the Lord will
take her out of that dungeon! (Back to Elder Roberts) We
really thank the Lord for giving me His favour with that
boy, and for bringing him to the foot of the cross. The
Lord who saved Roland will deliver Deborah.

ELDER ROBERTS: (Still astounded) My daughter…? Going

to a cemetery with a man in order to be someone on
campus…? Ah! Unbelievable! Ah! Where did we go
wrong, Lord? We pray in this house, we fast, we teach
them the word of God… But my daughter simply
 122 blood on
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refused to follow your instructions, Lord! (A car arrives

outside the house).

WILSON: (To Elder Roberts) Those men have come. You don't
need to follow us into the room. The two men from the
Prayer Team and I will go into the room. You and
mammy stay here and be praying along with us. (Two
men walk in with their Bible in their hand). Welcome,
brethren.

MAN I: Pastor, we are sorry for coming late.

MAN II: We had some delays on our way here.

WILSON: (To elder Roberts) Sir, the two men have been praying
along with me about this situation for three days. We
have been fasting together too. We believe the Lord will
give us victory!

ELDER ROBERTS: Thank you for coming to help us,

brethren! The Lord will shame the devil!

WILSON: (To the men) Let's go into the room, the parents will
remain here in the living room. (The three men walk to the
door of the room. Pastor Wilson stretches his hand towards the
door). We are hidden in Christ Jesus, as we enter this
room in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus!

THE MEN: Amen.

(He opens the door of the room and they enter, coming face to face with the
girl, who is sitting up as usual, the pillow clutched to her breast, eyeing the
strangers maliciously).

DEBORAH: (The spirit voice) What do you want? You want

to….
 blood on
the altar 123

MAN I: (Cuts in instantly) Shut up, in the mighty name of the

Lord Jesus! (She cringes and quickly shivers).

MAN II: (Points to her) We permit you to say nothing by the

power of the resurrection of Jesus!

WILSON: (Shouts) Lift up your head, O ye gates! And be ye

lifted up, ye everlasting doors! And the king of glory
shall come in! Who is the king of glory? The Lord
strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle! (She
continues to shiver, still in the cringing position, whimpering).

MAN I: Shall the prey be taken away from the mighty, or the
lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the Lord, Even
the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the
prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend
with him that contends with thee and I will save thy
children!

MAN II: And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own
flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood,
as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I, the
Lord, am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty
One of Jacob!

(As the word goes on, she begins to grunt very loud, holding her neck as if
being choked while her eyes are tight shut. The words continue. In the
living room, both the father and the mother are kneeling down by different
seats, praying silently).
 124 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 43

(In the afternoon in Rev' Hosea's office. He sits behind his table, restless,
nervous, looking at the closed door expectantly. Then there is a knock on
the door).

REV. HOSEA: (Adjusts himself quickly) Yes, come in. (The door
opens and Yetunde walks in, smartly dressed in skirt-suit and
neckerchief. She wears her glasses).

YETUNDE: (Disdainfully) I'm here against my wish. You

should have fixed this meeting somewhere else,
Reverend.

REV. HOSEA: You said you didn't want cash?

YETUNDE: (Sitting down) It would be too heavy to carry.

REV. HOSEA: I wanted to give you a cheque, but you refused

that too, so I made it in Bank Draft payable to your
account here in Lagos.

YETUNDE: That's better. And where is it?

 blood on
the altar 125

REV. HOSEA: There was a deal, Yetunde. Where are the

write-ups, the diary and the audiotape?

(She dips her hand into her bag and brings out the items: the
audiocassette, some sheets of paper and a diary).

YETUNDE: Here are the materials… Where is the draft?

(Rev. Hosea opens a large diary and brings out a bank draft and
hands it over to her. He collects the items and tucks them in his
drawer).

REV. HOSEA: Settled?

YETUNDE: Settled.

(She rises up immediately and walks to the door. Rev. Hosea calls).

REV. HOSEA: Yetunde. (She looks back). I hope I can trust

you. (She does not respond but turns back, opens the door and
goes out, shutting the door behind her. Rev. Hosea stares at the
door). Lord… what is happening to me? (His phone rings,
he picks it up and responds wearily). Yes... Who is it?
Yes…This is Rev. Hosea on the line…. (Then he sits up
abruptly, fear showing in his eyes) What…? Daniella…?
What happened…? Where? Where is the place…? All
right… I'll be there… Thanks. (He springs up to his feet,
grabs his coat and dashes out of the room).
 126 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 44

(Back in Elder Roberts' house. The intense prayers of deliverance still go

on in the room. The three men are in a sweat as they continue to pray
vigorously. Deborah has been violently jerking on the bed, grunting
aloud with her eyes bulging and both nose and mouth drooling).

WILSON: We decree according to your Word in Psalm 18: 43-

48, thou hast delivered your child, Deborah, from the
strivings of the people, and thou hast made her the head
of the heathens, a people whom she has not known shall
serve her. As soon as they hear of her they shall obey
her. (Then he raises his voice) The strangers shall submit
themselves unto her! The strangers shall fade away, and
be afraid out of their close places! The Lord liveth and
blessed be our Rock; and let the God of Our Salvation
be exalted! He delivers (Deborah) from her enemies,
yeah, thou Lord lift her up above those that rise up
against her. (Then he shouts louder) Thou has delivered
her from the violent man! Deborah! The Lord declared
and we decree that thou art delivered from the violent
man, in Jesus name!
 blood on
the altar 127

ALL: (In unison) You, violent man hiding in this vessel, this
vessel is delivered from your hand! Come out in Jesus'
name! (She makes a loud scream, rises up and falls back on the
bed. Then there is quiet. Pastor Wilson and the two other men
remain calm, looking at the still body. Later, she stirs slowly,
groaning faintly).

WILSON: Deborah…!

DEBORAH: Hm…!

MAN I: Hallelujah!

(In the living room, the father is already on his feet with the mother,
anxiously gazing at the doorway, as the door to the room opens and Pastor
Wilson leads out the feeble Deborah. Elder Roberts and his wife rush to
her excitedly, in disbelief).

ELDER ROBERTS: Ah! Jesus! Jesus! (He embraces her, the

mother falls on her knees again in prayers of gratitude).
 128 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 45

(Outside a private hospital, a young man sits on the verandah, troubled

with tearful eyes. A policeman stands very close to him. Rev. Hosea's car
arrives at the hospital in haste. He rushes out from the car and comes to
the verandah. The policeman approaches him).

POLICEMAN: Are you the father of the girl, sir?

REV. HOSEA: (Nervously). What girl? Daniella? I was told my

daughter Daniella is here!

POLICEMAN: (Points to the man sitting on the floor) This is the

man. But you must see the doctor first, before we take
him to our station.

REV. HOSEA: What happened to my daughter? What did this

man do to my daughter? Where is my daughter? (He
dashes into the reception area) I'm Reverend Hosea. I was
told my daughter is here!

NURSE: Be calm, Reverend. Come and see the doctor.

 blood on
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(The Nurse leads him to a ward, where the doctor stands over the body of
the girl whose nostrils and mouth are bloody. Rev. Hosea is shocked).

REV. HOSEA: (To doctor) Please, what happened to her? (Doctor

is preventing him from getting closer to the body). What
happened?

DOCTOR: Reverend, she was hit by a taxi.

REV. HOSEA: (Emotionally) Let me get to her! Is she still

unconscious or what?

DOCTOR: (Softly) Reverend, you are a man of God. You

should know how to convey this news to her mother.
She died a few minutes ago.

REV. HOSEA: Ah! She did what!? Daniella! Ah! (With his back
against the wall, he breaks down in tears, sobbing inconsolably).
Ah! (Mrs. Hosea storms into the room panicking and sees her
husband sitting on the floor; she rushes to the bed and sees her
daughter).

MRS HOSEA: (To the doctor) What happened to my daughter?

DOCTOR: Madam, easy… please…!

MRS HOSEA: (Shaking Deborah) Come on, Danny, come on

now…! God! Je-e-sus! Why? What have I d-o-o-ne?
(Rev. Hosea rises up and goes out of the room to the verandah
outside. He goes to a separate place, sits down in tears staring
blankly).

REV. HOSEA: (Whispering in tears) It was I who sinned, what

has this innocent girl done?
130 blood on
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(He bursts into tears afresh. The sorrowful cry of his wife inside
the ward can be heard from where he sits on the ground, by the
pillar. The Policeman stands beside the taxi driver, who wears a
very sad and confused countenance).
 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

PART THREE
Scene 46

(It is evening in Rev. Hosea's house. It is dark outside. A gentle wind

caresses the trees in the garden in front of the house. The compound is
hushed and gloomy after the death of their child. Once in a while a
sorrowful groan is heard, coming from Rev. Hosea's wife in the room
upstairs).

MRS. HOSEA: Ah…! No…! Why Lord? Ah…! Why this…!

What have I done…? (A car arrives in the compound and
halts in front of the house. Two elderly men alight from the car
and walk quietly into the house. They step into the living room
as Rev. Hosea descends the stairs into the living room. The men
greet him consolingly).

REV. HOSEA: Ah. Reverend Odia… (He turns to the other man)
Pastor Duro, thank you.

REV. ODIA: (Holding his hand sympathetically) We heard the sad

news, Reverend. We are here to let you know that we
sympathize with you. Take heart!

REV. HOSEA: Thank you, Reverend. I appreciate this.

 blood on
132 the altar

PASTOR DURO: Reverend, I am here on behalf of my entire

congregation here in Lagos and in all the branches, to
tell you that we are praying for you.

REV. HOSEA: Thank you, Pastor. (Mrs. Hosea's sorrowful moan

comes again from the room upstairs).

MRS. HOSEA'S VOICE: Ah! … Why Lord? What has

happened to me?

REV. ODIA: (With concern) Is anyone with her?

REV. HOSEA: Mrs. Williams arrived some minutes ago with

the wife of the Pentecostal Association President. They
are with her.

PASTOR DURO: Then, we don't need to go up and see her.

Let's leave the women with her.

REV. ODIA: When she is a bit more settled, please, pass on our
greetings to her.

REV. HOSEA: All right, sir. Thank you, sirs.

(Upstairs, inside one of the rooms, Mrs Hosea, completely dejected and
sorrowful, sits on the bed with a pillow clutched to her chest . Her eyes are
red and swollen with prolonged crying. A woman sits with her on the
bed, placing her hand on Mrs. Hosea's shoulder as she speaks solemnly to
her. Another woman sits on a chair close by. Mrs. Hosea still sobs
quietly).

MRS. HOSEA: (Almost to herself) I had a premonition of some

danger… my daughter having a series of bad dreams
too…. I prayed and fasted to avert this… then, why? … I
sensed there were storm clouds around us … I thought
 blood on
the altar 133

we were secure but … when I dreamt and saw Tumi… I

knew our roof was leaking … (Then she groans aloud
again) Ah-a! What's going on around here…? Won't
someone show me exactly where my roof is leaking?

MRS. WILLIAMS: (Touched, as she pats her shoulders softly again)

Come on … when we don't understand something, we
will do better not to talk too much … God understands.

MRS. VINCENTS: (Still expressing some shock) Esther … that's

the truth! Let's leave matters we can't understand with
God…. He knows all things!

MRS. HOSEA: (Sobbing) Reverend, Mrs. … My roof is

leaking! It's leaking and God has not shown me exactly
where!

MRS. WILLIAMS: Come on, Esther don't say that! When

things happen this way, it doesn't always mean that
something is wrong.

MRS. HOSEA: All right…. All right…. My Lord Jesus, I

commit everything into your hand! I withdraw all my
foolish questions, Lord … I submit to Your ways … but I
ask You, Lord … Lord … please, take away this darkness
from me… Lord …!

(She bursts into tears again. Mrs. Williams draws her to herself
compassionately again).

MRS. WILLIAMS: (Softly) That's all right … Esther, it is all

right. (Downstairs, outside, Rev. Hosea has escorted the two
elderly men back to the car and as they are entering the car).

REV. ODIA: Reverend, sir. Take heart, the Lord is in control of

all situations.
 134 blood on
the altar

PASTOR DURO: We shall continue praying for you,

Reverend. (As the man is about to enter the car, he pauses
again) And what about the Pentecostal Week starting
next week?

REV. HOSEA: No problem, Reverend. Please, let the

Association President know I will still give the opening
message for the program, as already slated. This is a
program that includes all ministers from all the
churches in the state. I will not allow this incident to
draw me back from fulfilling God's purpose.

REV. ODIA: (Pleased) That's good, Reverend. With Jesus in us,

we are above all situations. (He too enters the car and the
driver starts the car. They wave to Rev. Hosea as the car moves
out of the compound)
 blood on
the altar 135

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 47

(Midnight in Rev. Hosea's house. The bedroom. He lies on his back,

asleep. On the other side of the bed his wife's position is vacant. As he stirs
awake and sleepily looks at her side, he sees only the empty place, the
pillow and the bedspread lying loosely at his side. He raises himself to a
sitting position, weighed down by depression).

REV. HOSEA: (Staring straight ahead, pensively. He speaks in a

thoughtful whisper) Atilade Hosea… how do you swim
out of this pond? Lord… have mercy on me…! Evil is
striking my home… is this not a direct consequence of
the sins I've committed? (Then, he looks at his side again)
Where is this woman? (Quietly, he comes down off the bed,
puts on his slippers, goes to the door and opens it quietly. He
walks out of the room. As he comes to the stairs, he sees her sitting
downcast at the bottom of the stairs. He calls her dumbly and
looks straight ahead again. He comes down slowly and sits
beside her. He remains quiet for a while, not knowing what to
say). I know you are grief-stricken. Daniella's death is a
painful one, but you can't remain this way for long, it
will affect your health.
136 blood on
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MRS. HOSEA: (Sorrowfully) She saw the death coming….

several times she told us about it, but we could do
nothing … How I wish I knew exactly where...

REV. HOSEA: Exactly where? Where … what?

MRS. HOSEA: I know there is a breach…. a gap in the wall.

My roof is leaking… We are unprotected. (Tearfully)
What's going on, Lord? You said in your Word that they
that follow you shall not walk in darkness, but shall have
the light of life! (Rev. Hosea sits quietly in guilt beside her).
 blood on
the altar 137

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 48

(Rev. Hosea's house. A solemn serenity pervades the atmosphere of the

house. He lies on the couch with his arm across his face. The entry of
someone into the living room stirs him. He moves the arm to see the
person and sits up immediately. He is the Elderly Man who came into
his office some time ago. The man walks into the living room with the
same expressionless countenance. Rev. Hosea rises and goes to him,
stretching out his hand for a handshake, respectfully. The man ignores
this courtesy and goes straight to a seat. Rev. Hosea too sits calmly)

REV. HOSEA: Thanks for your visit, sir. You heard what has
happened to me? My daughter has died.

ELDERLY MAN: (Expressionlessly) You refused to turn back

when it was easier. You still have the chance but your
time is limited. You must turn back from this deadly
route; it leads to an infamous river of raging torrents,
which flow into a destructive bottomless waterfall.

REV. HOSEA: But it was I who sinned, what had my daughter

done?
 138 blood on
the altar

ELDERLYMAN: That was similar to the question David

asked the Lord when the angel was destroying innocent
people of Jerusalem. You see, in your thirty-two years
of ministry, you still fail to realize that as a father and
husband in your home, you also serve dual spiritual
roles as priest of the home and as watchman over your
family. Once you doze off at the gate and the enemy
sneaks into your home, he can inflict his vengeance on
anyone under your care.

REV. HOSEA: Has the enemy sneaked in?

ELDERLY MAN: Yes, long ago, and he has begun to rage.

REV. HOSEA: (Desperately) Ah! Mercy! Help me!

ELDERLY MAN: Can a man take fire in his bosom and his
clothes not be burned? Can one step onto hot coals and
his feet not be burned? So is he that goes into his
neighbour's wife; whoever touched her shall not be
innocent. But who so commits adultery with a woman
lacks understanding; he that does it destroys his own
soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his
reproach shall not be wiped away.

REV. HOSEA: What shall I do now?

ELDERLYMAN: Confess and repent of your sins.

REV. HOSEA: But I have confessed and repented and I have

been forgiven.

ELDERLY MAN: No, you have not. Instead of confessing

and repenting, you are multiplying your iniquities. You
went from adultery to abortion and to death. Then, in
 blood on
the altar 139

an attempt to cover up your sins you decided to buy all

the evidence with money. That is very similar to what
David did when he too decided to cover up his tracks.
Are you bracing yourself for the type of consequences
David suffered? (Rev. Hosea still looks on speechlessly).
Confess your sins and repent with all your heart. (He still
stares at the Elderly man. The man looks at him for a while and
shakes his head pitifully). I can see you are willingly
allowing the enemy to harden your heart against the will
of God. (The Elderly man rises up quietly, about to go. The
mobile phone on the stool beside Rev. Hosea rings. He looks at
it briefly. The phone rings again. As he puts out his hand to
pick the phone, he wakes up in the living room, covered with
perspiration. He lies there on the couch, breathing heavily. He
looks round hastily as he rises to sit up. He sees no one around;
everywhere is quiet. His mobile phone on the stool beside him
rings, he pauses a minute, then picks it up and checks the caller.
He looks doubtful as he sees the number. He turns it on).

REV. HOSEA: Yes, this is Rev. Hosea. Who is this?

(Sitting relaxed inside a nicely furnished sitting room is Yetunde. A

newspaper is spread on her lap. Beside her chair is a stool with a plate of
bananas on it. She holds a peeled banana in one hand and the other hand
holds her phone to her ear).

YETUNDE: Afternoon.

REV. HOSEA: (Still ruffled) May I know who is speaking,

please?

YETUNDE: I've been trying to get to you for three days, but
each time my call went through you cut me off.

REV. HOSEA: Is that… who's speaking, please?

 140 blood on
the altar

YETUNDE: It's me, Yetunde. Why are you avoiding speaking

with me? I got another line this afternoon. So I knew I
would get you. This is my new line.

REV. HOSEA: (Irritated) What do you want from me now?

YETUNDE: I have wanted to express my sympathy on the

sudden tragedy that befell your family. Sorry, indeed.

REV. HOSEA: Thank you. I appreciate it.

YETUNDE: Hello, Reverend.

REV. HOSEA: Yes.

YETUNDE: Just wish to know from you. How did you feel
when your daughter died?

REV. HOSEA: (Irritably) What type of question are you asking

me? How do you expect me to feel?

YETUNDE: (Softly) You felt sad, right? You feel you have lost
someone precious to you, eh?

REV. HOSEA: (Angrily) Look here, lady, I'm not in the mood
for all your trivialities…!

YETUNDE: (Sharply) Don't try to cut this conversation,

Reverend. I'm serious. Don't try it. (Rev. Hosea softens a
bit).

REV. HOSEA: Why all these harassments, lady?

YETUNDE: (Harshly) I'm not harassing you, I'm only trying to

express my mind and you are trying to shut me up!
 blood on
the altar 141

REV. HOSEA: I'm not trying to shut you up; I'm only trying to
tell you that I'm not in the mood for these conversations.

YETUNDE: Well, Reverend… You've got to listen to me even

if it makes no meaning. You've got no choice.

REV. HOSEA: (Cowed) All right… I'm listening. I'm sorry.

YETUNDE: (Stretches her feet on the stool before her) As I was

saying, I want to know how you feel about the death of
your daughter.

REV. HOSEA: Just as every father who lost his precious

daughter would feel.

YETUNDE: That's the point.

REV. HOSEA: What point?

YETUNDE: It would make you know how exactly Tumi's

parents felt when she died suddenly … or rather when
you killed her.

REV. HOSEA: (Angrily) Will you stop that nonsense! What's

wrong with you? Eh? What else do you need from me?
And by the way, I know nothing about what you are
talking about.

YETUNDE: (Teasingly) You know nothing about Tumi…

REV. HOSEA: She was once one of my staff in my office. Now

she's dead. That's all I know about her. Good day. (He
switches off the phone. Yetunde smiles faintly, puts down the
phone and continues eating the bananas).
142 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 49

(In Pastor Wilson's house. His wife is in the kitchen, washing some
dishes while Pastor Wilson stands by the door. They are in thoughtful
conversation).

WIFE: (Rinsing the plates) Honey, I strongly believe it wasn't a

mistake we invited him for that conference. The Lord
ordained it.

WILSON: (Feeling bad) No, I don't believe so. The Lord could
not have ordained it that an adulterous minister of the
Gospel, who made another man's wife pregnant and
forces her to have an abortion, be invited to come and
teach His workers how to serve Him and live holy lives
for Him. And in addition to that, lay hands on them for
empowerment. Empowerment to do what?

WIFE: I would advise you, honey, to stay out of this matter and
focus on your own work in the ministry.

WILSON: No, you are getting it all wrong, dear. If you say his
coming to our church is God- ordained, then it must
have been for a purpose. We prayed earnestly that God
 blood on
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would lead us to the man He would use to change,

challenge and bless His workers….

WIFE: Exactly, and God led us to invite him despite his secret
unholy life.

WILSON: (Agrees thoughtfully) That's the point, dead on. God

must have done that for a purpose. It was God's plan
also for him to come to Elder Roberts' house for that
deliverance session. When that evil spirit attacked him
in our presence and exposed his adulterous life, it was
for us to take a positive step. I believe God ordained all
the steps. (His wife pauses thoughtfully and turns back to face
him).

WIFE: So what do you think you're going to do? (Pauses. He

thinks for a while).

WILSON: The Lord could not have allowed me to know all this
and keep quiet. It's like being an accomplice. I should
be able to help somehow.

WIFE: Help? How? He is an elderly man of God, who has

fathered many young ministers of God in the ministry.
He is regarded as a reputable ministerial personality.
How do you face such a man?

WILSON: I am convinced the Lord made me know all these

facts so that I could take a positive step with it.
Somebody must be able to approach him with the spirit
of love and humility, and point this out to him.

WIFE: So, what are you going to do?

WILSON: I just feel that my assignment is not yet completed. I

believe the Lord will teach me what to do. (His wife
 144 blood on
the altar

continues rinsing the dishes; his phone rings in the living room).
Excuse me. (He rushes out of the kitchen into the living room
and picks up the phone) Yes… this is Pastor Wilson. Oh…
Pastor Anjola. Thanks for…. what? What!!! When did
that happen? Three days ago? My God? (His wife rushes
inside).

WIFE: Who was that? What is it?

 blood on
the altar 145

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 50

(Elder Roberts' house. He is at the dining table with his wife, about to eat.
Deborah, dressed in a beautiful casual gown and her hair neatly woven
back, serves the food. The television is on with the volume lowered in the
living room. The atmosphere is peaceful. The sound of a car is heard
arriving in the compound. They all look towards the door to see who the
visitor is. Pastor Wilson hurries inside, looking a bit worried).

ELDER ROBERTS: Pastor… we meet you well. Come and

join us, there's enough for us all…

WILSON: Oh, Elder, I'm all right, sir.

DEBORAH: Good evening, sir.

WILSON: Deborah. You're blessed.

DEBORAH: Yes, Sir.

MOTHER: She is just breaking her fast. She has locked herself
up in her room since morning praying and reading the
Bible. (Elder Roberts rises up from his seat at the table, noticing
Pastor Wilson's unsettled countenance).
 blood on
146 the altar

ELDER ROBERTS: Pastor… I notice you are not in a good

mood. What is the matter? (He comes to him in the living
room).

WILSON: (Sitting down calmly) I just heard some bad news now
about Reverend Hosea.

ELDER ROBERTS: (Alarmed) What happened to him?

WILSON: My Pastor friend in Lagos who accompanied me to

his house, the last time I went there, just phoned some
minutes ago to say that Reverend Hosea has just lost his
daughter.

ELDER ROBERTS: What? What happened? She fell sick?

WILSON: No, I saw her when I was in his house that evening.
I wasn't told what actually happened. My friend said the
girl died about three days ago.

ELDER ROBERTS: (Confused) What's going on around this

Reverend? Several things are strange about him. I can't
understand why an evil spirit would be casting out a
minister of God, who had just concluded a powerful
workers' retreat, and the spirit saying all those strange
things about him.

WILSON: Elder, I'm going back to visit him. I'll be leaving

tomorrow morning.Elder, those things we were
privileged to witness are not strange at all; we are meant
to take positive steps in this situation.

ELDER ROBERTS: Well, what are we to do?

WILSON: Pray for Reverend Hosea and his family. And pray
for me too, that the Lord would grant me utterance and a
 blood on
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discerning heart. I strongly believe it was the Lord who

led us to invite him, so that we might witness all those
things and play a positive role in its resolution.

ELDER ROBERTS: All right, Pastor. We have a family vigil

tonight; we will make it a priority prayer.

MOTHER: When are you coming back?

WILSON: I should be back this week. It's a special spiritual

assignment, which I have a burden in my heart for.
Should there be any change of plan, I will send my wife
to you.

ELDER ROBERTS: All right, Pastor. The Lord be with you.

WILSON: Good night.

DEBORAH: (At the dining table) Good night, sir. (He dashes out).
 blood on
148 the altar

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 51

(In Rev. Hosea's house. His wife lies on the couch in the living room; a
Bible lies opened on her lap. She is not particularly reading but thinking.
Rev. Hosea comes down the stairs into the living room looking displeased.
As he crosses to the dining area, his wife, who still lies with her arm across
her face, speaks).

MRS HOSEA: Who was that?

REV. HOSEA: (A bit shocked) Who was who?

MRS HOSEA: I overheard you talking angrily to someone

over the phone… (He pauses, stares at her for a while in
surprise).

REV. HOSEA: (Stammers) Oh, don't mind him. It was

Solomon.

MRS HOSEA: Brother Solomon, the Administrative

Secretary?

REV. HOSEA: (Going to sit down) Yes.

 blood on
the altar 149

MRS HOSEA: And what was he arguing about? You were

shouting at him.

REV. HOSEA: I was only explaining something to him and he

was trying to argue with me.

MRS HOSEA: What was it?

REV. HOSEA: He got an invitation for me to minister at a

conference, and I told him to get information back to the
people that I would not be able to come.

MRS HOSEA: No. I don't think so!

REV. HOSEA: (Startled) What do you mean? (She rises up quietly

to a sitting position and looks at him intently, her eyes wet with
tears).

MRS HOSEA: I heard you talking to someone, warning who

ever the person was never to call you again. I heard you
mention Tumi and I heard you say Yetunde. So, that
makes me believe it wasn't Solomon who called you.
And who ever you were talking to, it has to do with Tumi
… So, Honey, what has been going on? (Rev. Hosea
remains speechless as he stares at her with astonishment in a brief
pause). Honey?

REV. HOSEA: Yes, … actually, I didn't want to bring the case of

that lady up before you again. Solomon was trying to
raise…

MRS HOSEA: (Shouts angrily) Dear! Stop telling me lies! (He

looks stunned) Keep Solomon out of this! You were
talking to someone, warning the fellow never to call you
again. You couldn't have told Solomon, your
administrative Secretary never to call you again! So,
 150 blood on
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what has been going on without my knowledge? What

are these clouds and shadows about Tumi? I have not
stopped thinking about how I saw her in my dream,
storming into our room and sitting on our bed, and I was
trying to drag her out. I still pray that the Lord would
show me the meaning of that nightmare. I was having
premonitions and unresolved negative feelings prior to
Daniella's death. Dear, what's happening?

REV. HOSEA: (Snappily) Nothing. I've told you it's nothing.

(A car enters the compound and halts in front of the house, an elderly man
in a black suit and white clerical collar alights from the car, supporting his
steps with a walking stick. A young man, also in suit and white collar,
alighting from the front seat, carries a brief case and leads the elderly man of
God into the living room. As Rev. Hosea sees him, he springs to his feet).
Ah! Baba!

BABA: (Smiles faintly) Afternoon, my son.

MRS HOSEA: (Kneeling beside her seat) Welcome, sir. (Rev. Hosea
goes briskly to him and greets him, slightly prostrating. The
elderly man signals to him to rise up).

BABA: Up… up. Hope we meet you well?

REV. HOSEA: We are all right, sir. (The man sits down gently. The
young man also takes his seat nearby) Welcome, sir.

BABA: I delayed in coming; I ought to have been here last

month. My heart has been here, to come and see you
and ask about your wellbeing.

REV. HOSEA: Thank you, sir.

 blood on
the altar 151

BABA: We came for our annual Senior Pastors' Conference

and we should be back in Ilesa before evening.(He notices
Mrs. Hosea's dull countenance). Esther, you look downcast,
what's the matter? You are not as cheerful as you used to
be. As I stepped into this house, I felt that the spiritual
air is not clean… things are not normal here.

REV. HOSEA: Baba…

BABA: Yes.

REV. HOSEA: We thought you'd heard…

BABA: Heard what?

REV. HOSEA: We lost Daniella.

BABA: What? Who? Daniella …? What happened to her?

REV. HOSEA: It's a painful thing, Baba. A taxicab hit her. It

happened about a week ago.

BABA: What? (Still in shock) Daniella … died? (He looks at Mrs.

Hosea; she is wiping her tearful eyes).

MRS. HOSEA: Baba, what you observed when you stepped

into this house was right. Even before she died, the
atmosphere has been somehow… ominous. I began to
have some negative dreams. And my daughter also did.
Baba, we don't understand the evil that has besieged our
home and ministry! A staff member in the ministry died
about two weeks before Daniella died. There have been
two deaths within a month!

BABA: (Turns to Rev. Hosea) Is that so?

 152 blood on
the altar

REV. HOSEA: Yes, Baba.

BABA: Did the Lord show either of you anything about this?

REV. HOSEA: No. We saw nothing.

MRS HOSEA: Except the dream I had briefly after the female
staff member died. I saw her bursting into our bedroom
and sitting on our bed. I tried to drag her out, she
resisted. (There is a brief pause as the elderly man thinks for a
while, then turns to Mrs. Hosea).

BABA: Esther, please… excuse us. (She rises up quietly and goes
upstairs to her room. Baba turns to the young man who came
with him). Pastor, please… excuse us. (The young man also
leaves and goes outside. There is another brief silence as Baba
gazes at him for a while.) Reverend Hosea, listen to me
attentively.

REV. HOSEA: Yes, Baba.

BABA: You've spent more than thirty years in the ministry;

you've come a long way. The Lord has been faithful to
you and He has enlarged your ministry. Now, don't
grieve the Holy Spirit, son. Where have you gone
wrong?

REV. HOSEA: (Looking confused) I don't know, Baba. I don't

really know.

BABA: Ah, no! You know! You are really aware of where
you've gone wrong! When I stepped into this house a
few minutes ago, I sensed in my spirit that things are
spiritually wrong in here, in addition to some dreams I
had about you a few weeks ago. Where have you missed
the mark?
 blood on
the altar 153

REV. HOSEA: I can't yet understand it, Baba. These are just
trials of faith.

BABA: Yes, at times there are trials of faith more terrible than
this; but the spiritual atmosphere around such trials
does not smell polluted. There is a presence of sin in
this house, son!

REV. HOSEA: (Adamantly) No, Baba, there is nothing like

that!

BABA: May I advise you, if you have sinned against the Lord to
come out before Him for His mercy? Don't cover up
your sin. When it explodes, you won't be able to hide it
then! (Rev. Hosea sits adamantly speechless, looking away from
Baba. Baba shakes his head sadly). I can feel it, son. You
have gone off the edge, you have over-stepped the
boundary. What did you do? (Silence. He still looks away
from the elderly man).

REV. HOSEA: Nothing, Baba.

BABA: (With deep concern) When David sinned and Nathan

confronted him, he gave no word to excuse himself but
owned up to it and said: “I have sinned”. Nathan assured
him that he was forgiven and would not die eternally nor
be forever put away from God, because he was truly
sorry for his sins. However, the Lord still visited the
transgression with the rod and his iniquities with many
stripes. It is a terrible thing to despise the grace of God.
So, perhaps you would be wise as David at this point to
speak out before a Nathan. Son, what did you do? (Rev.
Hosea pauses for a while and then shakes his head thoughtfully).

REV. HOSEA: (Faintly) No, nothing, Baba.

 blood on
154 the altar

BABA: I know what you are thinking: prestige, your reputation,

your ministry, yourself… Do you think about the Lord
who will never allow sin in His presence? He is too holy
to condone or conceal sins. Psalm 51, verse 17 says that
the sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit and a
contrite heart; God would not despise that.

REV. HOSEA: Thank you, Baba. (The man rises up quietly to

leave) Going?

BABA: Let's pray before I go. (Rev Hosea kneels reverently before the
elderly man).
 blood on
the altar 155

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 52

(In Rev. Hosea's office. He sits writing when the intercom on his table
rings. He picks up the receiver).

REV. HOSEA: Yes, Cecilia … who is it? … He's here right

now? … OK, let him come inside. (He looks a bit displeased
as he puts down his pen and leans back on his swivel chair.
There is a knock on the door). Yes, come in. (The door opens
and Pastor Wilson steps inside wearing a faint smile) Ah…
Pastor Wilson. Morning.

WILSON: Reverend, sir. Good morning.

REV. HOSEA: Oh, come and have a seat.

WILSON: (Comes to the chair in front of the large table) Thank you,
sir. (He sits calmly). Sir, we heard what happened, sir.
Accept our condolences, sir.

REV. HOSEA: Oh, Pastor Wilson, is that the main reason why
you have come? You should have called me on the
phone to send your condolences.
 156 blood on
the altar

WILSON: Oh, no, sir. I need to bring the greeting on behalf of

my entire congregation. Sir, accept our sympathy, sir.
The Lord understands all things, and He will heal every
wound the incident has inflicted on you and your wife,
sir.

REV. HOSEA: Thank you, Pastor Wilson. I so much apprec-

iate this visit.

WILSON: (Hesitantly) And… sir, we consider it quite

unfortunate and painful for you and your ministry to
suffer the loss of two people within a month. That's
why I think our condolences are not what we can express
over the phone.

REV. HOSEA: (Fidgeting) Oh, yes… thank you, thanks very

much.

WILSON: Sir, I understand the other lady who died was one of
your staff.

REV. HOSEA: Yes, she was.

WILSON: Sir, was she Tumi Owese? (Rev. Hosea looks at him for
a while before responding).

REV. HOSEA: Yes, you are right.

WILSON: Sir, one more question… just one more question.

Was she the same Tumi that evil spirit was…

REV. HOSEA: (Cuts in impatiently) Please… Please… Pastor

Wilson. I don't want you to bring an uncomfortable past
incident to my memory. I don't want to talk about that
for now … Please, excuse me. (Silence for a while as Pastor
Wilson remains quiet and thoughtful).
 blood on
the altar 157

WILSON: You don't want me to say anything about her any

more.

REV. HOSEA: (Displeased) No, please. I'm putting everything

behind me.

WILSON: But, sir, when you came to us in Kaduna and that

spirit confronted you about her, you said you never
knew her.

REV. HOSEA: (A bit angry) Pastor Wilson. Your visit is

supposed to give me comfort, not to agitate me! Please,
let's forget about that matter and say something better.

WILSON: Sir, I wanted to forget about it and concentrate on

my personal ministry, but the spirit of God would not
allow me.

REV. HOSEA: Likewise, my spirit will not allow me to go

further with this conversation. Would you please excuse
me, as you could see that I was quite busy when you
came inside? (Pastor Wilson gets up quietly and takes a step
towards the door, then looks back at Rev. Hosea, who still stares
at him harshly).

WILSON: I learnt she was pregnant before she died.

REV. HOSEA: Did that lying spirit tell you that?

WILSON: No sir, I heard it here in Lagos. Doesn't it bother

you that a child of God, a church worker serving in your
ministry would have an abortion and die in the process?
(Rev. Hosea looks stunned).

REV. HOSEA: Where did you hear all those lies?

 158 blood on
the altar

WILSON: Was it a lie? (Rev. Hosea stares at him harshly). I am

here by the leading of the Lord, sir, to come and tell you
to amend your ways before the Lord God. You, an
elderly man of God, sir, I need not remind you of the
danger of desecrating the Lord's altar with blood of the
innocents.

REV. HOSEA: (Angrily) Get out of my office!

WILSON: (Reverently) Goodbye, sir.

(In front of the office building, a white sports car enters the large parking
lot. As the front door opens, Yetunde steps out of the driver's seat, shuts the
door and locks it. It seems like a new car. She is smartly dressed in a
skirt-suit with a bag hanging over her shoulder and her black glasses
shielding her eyes. She walks into the reception area at the time Wilson is
descending the stairs to the reception lobby).

YETUNDE: (Approaching the receptionist) Hello. Is the

Reverend around?

CECILIA: Yes, Ma. But, let me inform him of your presence.

YETUNDE: All right. (Cecilia presses some numbers on the

intercom set).

CECILIA: Hello, sir.

REV HOSEA: (Still wearing the sour countenance). Yes, Cecilia.

CECILIA: You have a visitor, sir. The lady…

REV HOSEA: Which lady?

CECILIA: Um… Miss Yetunde, sir. She's here. She wants to

see you.
 blood on
the altar 159

REV. HOSEA: Yetunde…? I don't have an appointment with

her. I'm busy at the moment.

CECILIA: All right, sir. (She drops the receiver and turns to
Yetunde). He said he doesn't have an appointment with
you today. He is very busy just now.

YETUNDE: Tell him that I have an appointment with him

today, that it's very important I see him.

CECILIA: He said he doesn't have an appointment with you

today. You can't see him today, Ma. Sorry. Maybe
tomorrow?

YETUNDE: (Angrily) The matter is of great importance! It

can't wait till tomorrow! (She turns and begins to go towards
the stairs that lead up).

CECILIA: Sister, what do you think you are doing?

YETUNDE: (Going upstairs) I know his office, don't bother

yourself, relax. (Cecilia quickly picks up the intercom again).

CECILIA: Hello, sir. The Lady refuses to listen to me, she's

coming up already.

(Inside Rev. Hosea's office. He is still on the phone when the door opens
abruptly and Yetunde strolls inside).

REV HOSEA: (Flaring up) What sort of rubbish is this, lady?

Will you stop this nonsense? What sort of audacity is
this? You are not giving me breathing space at all! You
call me at home, in the car, in the office, what do you
want? Will you stop this nonsense? (Nonchalant, she walks
to the chair in front of his large table and sits down quietly with a
faint smile, apparently undisturbed).
 160 blood on
the altar

YETUNDE: (Calmly) Relax, Reverend, I'm here just for two

reasons. One is to express my sympathy on the death of
your daughter. It must have been so painful indeed. I'm
sorry!

REV HOSEA: (With disinterest) Thank you.

YETUNDE: Second. I want to show you what God has done

for me. I' ve got a car… a new car. I want you to follow
me down to the parking lot and bless it. That way you'll
celebrate it with me. Finished.

REV HOSEA: Congratulation on the purchase of your new

car.

YETUNDE: Thank you.

REV HOSEA: But I can't follow you to the parking lot to bless
it and I don't know how to celebrate it further.

YETUNDE: You won't follow me down to the parking lot to

bless it… agreed. But you have to wash it for me. You
have to wash it.

REV HOSEA: (Displeased) How? I don't have time for all this.
How?

YETUNDE: (Playfully) Simple. Give me N 50,000 to celebrate

it with my friends.

REV HOSEA: I don't have that kind of money.

YETUNDE: Alright, N 100,000…

REV HOSEA: Are you serious?

 blood on
the altar 161

YETUNDE: (Sternly) I am. N 150,000…

REV HOSEA: (Stunned) What's wrong with you?

YETUNDE: Nothing. N 250,000!

REV HOSEA: Are you all right?

YETUNDE: We shall see. I'm raising it to N 350,000 and if you

talk further it goes up higher. (Rev. Hosea remains
astonished as he stares blankly at Yetunde, who has now stretched
forth her hand towards him). Where is it?

REV HOSEA: What?

YETUNDE: The cheque. I need the money today.

REV HOSEA: (Softened) Why are you doing this? Haven't I

bought all the evidence? I paid one million Naira, which
I raised with difficulty, so that you might not raise this
issue again. Why don't you stand by your word? (Yetunde
looks steadily at him for a while and smiles wryly).

YETUNDE: Reverend, you really think you have bought all

the evidence?

REV HOSEA: (A bit frightened) Isn't that what you made me pay
one million naira for? You have handed over the tape,
the write-ups and the diary.

YETUNDE: I handed over to you the original write-ups and

the tape, what about the copies?

REV HOSEA: (Alarmed) Which copies?

 blood on
162 the altar

YETUNDE: (Smiles derisively again) Didn't it occur to you,

Reverend, that I could make photocopies of those write-
ups and make copies of that audiotape?

REV HOSEA: (Nervously shaking) Was… that what you did,

Yetunde?

YETUNDE: Do you have the diary with you?

REV HOSEA: I've burnt everything. The write-ups, the diary

and the tape, I burnt them all the very day I got them
from you.

YETUNDE: (Chuckles) You didn't even check through the

diary before you burnt it…

REV HOSEA: (Afraid) What about it?

YETUNDE: I removed all the relevant pages. So, all the

information is still in my possession. I have more than
ten copies of the tape I gave to you and I have the
photocopies of the write-ups with me. Good day,
Reverend. (She moves towards the door).

REV HOSEA: Wait! (She pauses at the door) Ah! Yetunde, you
really want to finish me, don't you?

YETUNDE: You finished yourself the very day you

disrespected the grace of God and his anointing upon
your head and put your hand into that sin of adultery.
(She turns to open the door).

REV HOSEA: Wait! (She stops again) How much did you say I
should bring?

YETUNDE: N 500,000.00 for now.

 blood on
the altar 163

REV HOSEA: Ah!

YETUNDE: I'll be expecting your call before the sunset. (She

opens the door and steps out of the room leaving him astounded,
his mouth agape).

(As she comes down the stairs into the reception lobby, Pastor Wilson is
seen in discussion with the Receptionist, jotting down some notes in a
small notebook. Yetunde approaches the reception table again).

YETUNDE: (To Cecilia) Hey sister! thanks, I've seen him. Bye.
(Cecilia looks on with surprise as Yetunde goes to the parking lot
and opens the door of her car. Pastor Wilson hastens to her, as she
is about to get into the car).

WILSON: (Smiles sweetly) Hello, Ma.

YETUNDE: (Disinterestedly) Yes, Mister.

WILSON: (Calmly) You are Miss Yetunde, am I right?

YETUNDE: (Her eyes questioning) Yes… have we met before?

WILSON: Well… not really. By the way, I am Pastor Wilson.

YETUNDE (Chuckles disdainfully) Another Pastor…! so, what

can I do for you?

WILSON: Actually, I just want to beg you not to be angry with

Reverend Hosea.

YETUNDE: (Looking intently) Who told you I was angry with

him?

WILSON: No one told me; I saw it myself. You went up into

his office uninvited.
 164 blood on
the altar

YETUNDE: Then you should go and ask him why I'm angry
with him. You are one of his pastors, right? You are an
associate pastor under him…

WILSON: Not really, miss. We know him as an elderly man of

God, well respected in the ministry. I'm like a spiritual
son to him.

YETUNDE: In that case, this conversation is over. I can't talk

further with you; you are all the same! (She turns round to
enter the car).

WILSON: Do you know Tumi? (Yetunde freezes; then turns to

him).

YETUNDE: (Pauses a bit) No, I don't.

WILSON: Oh, sorry then. I must have made a mistake. I

thought you knew her. (Reluctantly, Yetunde enters the car,
Wilson helps her close the door respectfully).

YETUNDE: Why are you asking?

WILSON: (Smiles faintly) No, don't worry. Since you didn't

know her. Thank you. (He turns and begins to go. Yetunde
calls him).

YETUNDE: Pastor Wilson. (Wilson turns and comes back to the

car).

WILSON: Well, the Tumi I knew was Tumi Owese.

YETUNDE: You actually knew her?

WILSON: Why are you asking?

 blood on
the altar 165

YETUNDE: You've not answered my question, Pastor. Did

you actually know Tumi? (Wilson pauses thoughtfully and
speaks sadly).

WILSON: I know she died recently. She had an abortion and it

became complicated, she bled so much that the doctor
couldn't help.

YETUNDE: (Sadly) Yeah, I was in the hospital a few minutes

after she died.

WILSON: Rev. and Mrs. Hosea were there too at her deathbed.

YETUNDE: I took them to the hospital. But unfortunately,

she died before we got there.

WILSON: I'm sorry about your friend. I want to beg you once
again not to be angry with the Reverend.

YETUNDE: (Sternly) I don't actually know who you are. I

must not talk too much. Perhaps you were even hired by
the Reverend to come and beg me.

WILSON: You mean he sent me to come and beg you because

of some facts you know about the death of your friend?

YETUNDE: (Sternly) Man, you are too smart for my liking.

(She starts the car). Are you really a Pastor or a Police
detective?

WILSON: (Smiles) A Pastor. (He brings out an introduction card

from his breast pocket) Here is my card. You can call me
before tomorrow, in case you need more information on
Tumi Owese.
 166 blood on
the altar

(Yetunde takes the card, looks at it briefly and places it on the dashboard.
She pulls out of the parking lot, drives out to the main road and takes off.
Wilson comes back to where his Pastor friend parked his car. He opens the
door and gets in wearily).

ANJOLA: How far have you got?

WILSON: I am making progress. (He starts the car, pulls out and
drives off).
 blood on
the altar 167

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 53

(Evening in Rev. Hosea's house. The mournful silence still pervades the
compound. Mrs. Hosea, in loose casual gown and shawl draped over her
shoulders, sits on a curb at the edge of the flowerbed. She seems moody.
From the back of the house, David appears, coming towards her).

MRS HOSEA: David.

DAVID: Yes, Mum.

MRS HOSEA: What is it?

DAVID: Mum.

MRS HOSEA: Yes. What is it? (Comes to sit besides her calmly).

DAVID: Mum, why are you sitting alone down here?

MRS HOSEA: Fresh air, I'm here to take fresh air.

DAVID: Mum, but it's cold outside this evening.

 168 blood on
the altar

MRS HOSEA: Really? I'm feeling hot outside here, so inside

is even hotter. (Pause as David remains thoughtfully quiet)

DAVID: (Solemnly) Mum.

MRS HOSEA: Yes.

DAVID: I noticed that you have not been on good terms with
daddy recently. A few minutes ago, I heard you shouting
at him in your room.

MRS HOSEA: I'm sorry about that. It was just a little

misunderstanding. Have you eaten?

DAVID: No, I don't feel like eating anything.

MRS HOSEA: You look down. You miss her?

DAVID: (Mournfully) Yes. (She pulls him to her and embraces him).
Sorry, eh…? Go inside, I'm coming. (He gets up quietly
and walks away towards the back entrance).

(Mrs. Hosea manages to control her emotions but caves in the moment her
son is out of sight. She continues sobbing quietly, wiping her eyes with the
shawl round her shoulders. Rev. Hosea appears from the same corner of
the house coming towards her. She calms down and wipes her eyes).

REV HOSEA: Why are you sitting down here alone? It's cold
out here. (No response) Honey, let's go inside. (He takes
her hand, attempting to pull her) Come on, let's go inside.

MRS HOSEA: (With a low hard tone) Let go of my hand, please!

(He complies)

REV HOSEA: Please, let's go inside.

 blood on
the altar 169

MRS HOSEA: (Looking away) It's hot inside. I'm all right here.

REV HOSEA: (Persuasively) No, it's cold out here.

MRS HOSEA: (Harshly). Everywhere around here is hot for

someone like me. I feel insecure, and apprehensive
about everything around me. I could feel better,
perhaps, if you tell me what's going on. I was asking you
who that lady was and you were shutting me down. Her
name has kept on recurring just the way Tumi's name
kept coming up on the phone before she died. So, I ask
again: Who is Yetunde?

REV HOSEA: I've told you, she is Tumi's friend. You've seen
her before, haven't you? She was the one who took us to
the hospital where Tumi died. She was…

MRS. HOSEA: I already know those facts!

REV. HOSEA: Then what else do you need to know?

MRS. HOSEA: Her calling has been too frequent! Then, this
evening, I overheard you arguing about an amount. You
were saying you wouldn't be able to pay a certain
amount of money. Then I think she cut you off and you
were calling her back. It was suspicious why you should
pick up the phone in the living room and run outside to
answer the call. What's wrong with you?

REV. HOSEA: (Snobbishly) I won't answer all those irrelevant

questions. (He turns to go. Angrily, she grabs him by the shirt
and pulls him back. It makes a tear at the neck).

MRS. HOSEA: (Hotly) You can't ignore those questions! (He is

alarmed and angry at his torn clothing, while she still holds on to
the shirt).
 170 blood on
the altar

REV. HOSEA: (Furiously dazed) Is that why you tore my shirt?

(He raises his arm and slaps her heavily; she staggers back and
falls with a scream. David watches from the window of his room
upstairs, tears streaming down his face. When Rev. Hosea slaps
his Mum, he holds himself rigid, in shock. She gathers herself up
painfully).

MRS HOSEA: (Crying) You slapped me…you are treading the

evil way, I told you and you slapped me…! My daughter
just died…. and a strange lady threats my peace and
home… I pointed this to you and you slapped me…!
Are you no longer a Minister of God? (Rev. Hosea,
ashamed and guilty, turns back and begins to walk away into the
house. She sits back on the stone, wiping her eyes).
 blood on
the altar 171

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 54

(Same evening. Inside her nicely furnished, medium-sized sitting room,

Yetunde, in simple gown paces back and forth, pressing some numbers on
her mobile phone).

YETUNDE: Hello…! why did you keep cutting off the line,
Reverend? You are trying my patience. Have you made
up your mind yet? (Rev. Hosea is now wearing a T-Shirt. He
is sitting on his bed).

REV HOSEA: About what?

YETUNDE: You are asking me that question?

REV. HOSEA: I don't know what you are talking about.

YETUNDE: About an hour ago, you were begging me not to

increase it beyond N 500,000 because you couldn't
meet the sunset deadline. Have you made up your mind
to make the N 500,000 available by 10:00 a.m.
tomorrow?
 172 blood on
the altar

REV. HOSEA: We have no deal. I don't know what you are

talking about.

YETUNDE: (Smiles dryly) We have no deal?

REV. HOSEA: You heard me, lady. Go and do your worst! (He
cuts off).

YETUNDE: Hello! Hello! (Almost to herself) I should go and do

my worst. (She begins to press the numbers again. Rev. Hosea
still sits quietly on the bed, in disarrangement. His phone rings
again, he picks it up and looks at the caller. He hesitates as the
phone continues ringing. He switches it on).

REV. HOSEA: What's the matter with you, lady? I do not have
any money to give you tomorrow, so go and do your
worst. You heard me!

YETUNDE: (Calmly) I know, I know, Reverend, I just want to

say that when I begin to do my worst, don't come back
begging me. (She cuts off the line. Boiling with rage, she sits
calmly down on a dining room chair, then smiles bitterly. She
gets up and dashes into the room. She comes out a short time later
with a photocopy of Tumi's letter. She picks up her phone and
begins to press the numbers in the letter). It's ringing… (Inside
a modestly furnished living room of a small bungalow. A mobile
phone lies ringing on the electronics cabinet. William sits on the
rug watching television. He turns towards the dining area and
calls aloud).

WILLIAMS: Daddy! Your phone is ringing! (Clement, in shorts

and T-Shirt rushes in from the kitchen, wiping his hands with a
napkin. He picks up the phone hurriedly).

CLEMENT: Yes… Yes… this is Clement Owese. May I know

 blood on
the altar 173

who is on the line, please? (Yetunde still sits at the dining

table, the letter spread before her).

YETUNDE: Now please, listen, Mr. Clement. My name is of

no use to you because you may not know me. I have
important information to pass on to you. Your late wife
died from an abortion. Call Rev. Hosea, I think he
knows about the man responsible for your wife's
pregnancy. The man gave her money and persuaded her
to go for the abortion.

CLEMENT: (Dazed) Are you sure of…. (Yetunde disconnects the

line, folds the letter back and goes into the room. Clement stands
there in the living room astounded, the phone still in his hand as
he tries to comprehend the information). Reverend Hosea
knows the man? The man gave her money and
persuaded her… What! It's impossible!
 174 blood on
the altar

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 55

(Rev. Hosea's house later in the evening. He comes down the stairs into
the living room still in the loose t-shirt. He clutches his mobile phone in
his hand. Mrs. Hosea lies quietly on the long couch. He comes to her, sits
on the lower part of the couch and touches her leg apologetically).

REV. HOSEA: Dear, I'm sorry for what I did; I'm deeply sorry.
(His phone rings, he looks at the caller and switches it on)
Hello… who is this? (Clement is still in the living room. He
restively paces about the place. William is seen at the dining
table, eating).

CLEMENT: Evening, sir. Is this the number of Reverend

Hosea?

REV. HOSEA: Yes, this is he. Please, who is on the line?

CLEMENT: I am Clement Owese.

REV. HOSEA: Mr. Clement Owese? (Frightened a bit, but he

adjusts his composure quickly) Oh, how are you, sir? How's
your son?
 blood on
the altar 175

CLEMENT: We are all fine, sir. Hello, sir?

REV. HOSEA: Yes.

CLEMENT: Someone called me just a few minutes ago to say

that you knew the man responsible for the pregnancy of
my late wife. The caller said that the man actually gave
her money and persuaded her to go for the abortion.
The caller said you knew the man (Pauses, Rev. Hosea
stands transfixed). Hello, sir.

REV. HOSEA: Yes, I'm listening. The whole thing seems to

me deceptive. Who is the person?

CLEMENT: It was the voice of a lady. She gave me no further

information about herself.

REV. HOSEA: No. It's not true. I think the person only
wants to make you feel sad about the past incident. No…
not at all. The whole thing was astonishing to us all.

CLEMENT: (Confused) All right, sir. Thanks. Convey my

greetings to mammy. Good night, sir.

REV. HOSEA: Good night.

MRS. HOSEA: That's Tumi's husband?

REV. HOSEA: (Despondently) Yes.

MRS. HOSEA: What's the problem with him?

REV. HOSEA: He said somebody called him now saying he

was responsible for Tumi's pregnancy and that we know
him very well.
176 blood on
the altar

MRS. HOSEA: Ah. This lady has died. Why should her ghost
haunt this family endlessly?

REV. HOSEA: In fact, I'm fed up with this whole affair.

MRS. HOSEA: Her friend was bombarding you with calls;

her husband has begun to call you too. I saw her in my
dream storming into our room and sitting on our bed. I
hope you don't know anything disturbing about this
lady. I just hope you are not at the centre of this affair!

REV. HOSEA: (Angrily) What do you mean by that? Will you

stop this nonsense! (He rises up and goes upstairs in a
pretended anger. He enters the room and shuts the door, then
begins to call a number hastily. In Yetunde's sitting room, her
phone rings, she hurries out of the room to pick it up) Hello…!

YETUNDE: Reverend, why are you calling me again?

REV. HOSEA: (Lowering his voice) Were you the one who called
Mr. Clement and told him that rubbish?

YETUNDE: (Sternly) I never thought he could respond so fast.

Yes, I was. Listen, Mr. Reverend, I have no use for these
endless phone conversations. I have made my stand
known. In my fifteen years of professional journalism, I
have never been this unethical, but you gave me no
other choice! As a professional journalist, I know how
to play both the ethical and the unethical game. I have
got my battle plan ready. I have more than twenty ways
to press your buttons. Have you now made up your
mind?

REV. HOSEA: (Panicky) What did you tell him?

 blood on
the altar 177

YETUNDE: I didn't tell him much. I gave him no clue. But

don't push me again!

REV. HOSEA: What do you want from me?

YETUNDE: I've been lenient. I haven't increased it. It still

stands at N 500,000.

REV. HOSEA: (Cowed) The fact is, I drained my personal and

family accounts to give you that one million you
demanded last time.

YETUNDE: You know what to do if you feel you really need

the money.

REV. HOSEA: No. I don't. I've drained all I have!

YETUNDE: Don't pretend you don't know what to do! Your

congregations are still there. Raise pledges, hammer on
about tithes, and take up offerings under various
pretexts. You could raise a lot of money from your
congregation, Reverend.

REV. HOSEA: (Terrified) This is terrible!

YETUNDE: But you must get something ready for me by

tomorrow, if not all, then on Monday I should get the
balance. Is that all right by you? (Abruptly the door opens
and Mrs. Hosea enters the bedroom. He quivers a bit). Can
you hear me?

REV. HOSEA: Yes. You have to come to church on Sunday.

Don't worry; the Lord will take care of your problems.
Come to church on Sunday but come with your
husband. I will see both of you, right?
 178 blood on
the altar

YETUNDE: (Astounded) You are speaking slang, Reverend!

You are dodging the answer again?

REV. HOSEA: No, I understand all your explanations. I will

see both of you on Sunday. Good night. (He switches off.
His wife has climbed into bed and is lying down. He looks
exhausted and confused. He sits on the edge of the bed, staring at
nothing in particular).
 blood on
the altar 179

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 56

(In the morning, in Pastor Anjola's house. Inside the guest room, Pastor
Wilson is dressed up and is fixing his tie when Pastor Anjola steps into the
room).

ANJOLA: You're dressed up?

WILSON: Yes, I'm going back home. I've delivered the

message the Lord sent me to give him. I'm through with
the assignment.

ANJOLA: But he didn't accept the words.

WILSON: I've spoken out the warning the Lord sent me to give
him. I told you he threw me out of his office.

ANJOLA: What about the lady?

WILSON: Yetunde. I sense she is embittered at Reverend

Hosea and it has to do with Tumi's death. I also have a
feeling that she knows a lot about the circumstances
surroundingTumi's death. I think she's on a vengeance
 blood on
180 the altar

mission. I was wondering if the Lord wanted me to play

a further role…

ANJOLA: I wish we could at least have access to her heart and

counsel her.

WILSON: I purposely handed her my card and told her to call

me for more information about Tumi, with the hope
that I could speak further with her and release her from
that bondage of the spirit of bitterness and vengeance.
But she didn't call back. I'm going home. (His phone
rings, he picks it up) Yes, hello…? Yes, Pastor Wilson on
the line, who is speaking, please? (It is Yetunde, already
dressed up to go out. She has her bag over her shoulder and a cup
of tea in her hand. She holds her phone in the other hand).

YETUNDE:I'm Yetunde, we met yesterday, do you

remember?

WILSON: (Sits down calmly) Oh, yes, Miss Yetunde. I thought

you would have called me yesterday. How's everything?

YETUNDE: (Bluntly) You told me to call you for further

information on Tumi.

WILSON: Yes.

YETUNDE: I'm interested.

WILSON: Where can we meet?

YETUNDE: Can you tell me on phone?

WILSON: No. We need to meet somewhere.

 blood on
the altar 181

YETUNDE: I need the information urgently. When can we

meet?

WILSON: In an hour's time. You know Debby's Eatery?

YETUNDE: Stadium Road?

WILSON: Yes. Let's meet there. (She cuts off. Wilson turns to
Anjola with a smile) I think the Lord still has an
assignment for me. You'll be taking me there?

ANJOLA: (Smiles) The Lord has given gifts unto men as He

pleases. This detective and investigative ministry of
yours is a strange one.

WILSON: As long as it fits into God's plan! (He thinks briefly) I

feel we need to pray before confronting this lady… We
need spiritual insight, utterance and revelation. There is
a mystery lurking between this lady and Reverend
Hosea. There is something I must know. Why I must
know it, I don't know. But it is of great spiritual
importance. (Pastor Anjola draws a stool closer and sits
opposite Wilson. Reverently they join hands in prayer). Lord,
you brought me to Lagos to deliver your message to your
servant, Reverend Hosea and I have done it, leaving the
rest to you. Now, I don't know why the matter of this
lady has to crop up in the meantime, but I have a feeling
in my spirit you want me to plug into this. What you
want to do, I don't know. So, we pray for wisdom,
knowledge and revelation of the right thing to do and
say, in Jesus' name.

ANJOLA: Amen.

WILSON: Let your Spirit take up this work and have it your
way, Lord.
 blood on
182 the altar

ANJOLA: Amen.

WILSON: Let things work according to Your own plans, in

Jesus' name we pray.

ANJOLA: Amen. (Wilson stands up and continues dressing) Are we

eating now?

WILSON: Tell your honey to keep the food till we come back.
It's important we are there before her.
 blood on
the altar 183

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 57

(Inside a fairly busy eatery, soft instrumental music goes on in the

background. People are seated at the tables, in twos and threes while some
are coming in and going out. In an inconspicuous corner sits Pastor
Wilson, his eyes shielded behind dark glasses; a large newspaper is held up
purposefully, to hide his presence, which he peers over from time to time.
He reads, half concentrating as he glances towards the entrance. Soon,
Yetunde enters. She removes her sunshades as she steps inside. She looks
around briefly and walks to the service counter, orders some snacks and
drinks and carries the tray back to a vacant seat. Pastor Wilson is looking
at her all the while, the newspaper positioned to shield his face. Yetunde
settles into her seat and opens her bag. She brings out her tiny tape
recorder, checks the tape and re-inserts it, tests it and tucks it back into the
bag, which she places on the table beside the tray. She begins eating
calmly. Pastor Wilson stands up quietly, removes his glasses, puts down
the paper and goes to the service counter. He orders some snacks and a soft
drink and carries the tray towards a vacant seat a bit removed from where
she is sitting, but within her view. As he is about to sit down, Yetunde sees
him).

YETUNDE: Hello Pastor.

 184 blood on
the altar

WILSON: (Looking up in her direction) Good morning, ma. (He

carries his tray to her table and sits down opposite her) How is
it?

YETUNDE: You've kept me waiting. I've been here for some

time.

WILSON: Sorry about that. (Yetunde picks up her bag and places it
on her lap. She opens it and thrusts her hand inside the bag,
pretending to be searching for something, but presses on the
recording key and places the bag back on the table. Wilson smiles
faintly).

YETUNDE: You said you would tell me more about Tumi.

WILSON: Yes, I promised you, I will… on one condition.

YETUNDE: What?

WILSON: That you'll tell me all you know about her.

YETUNDE: That's impossible, Pastor.

WILSON: Why?

YETUNDE: (Harshly) Because I don't know you! I don't

know why you need this information and I don't want to
open up to a man who has that Reverend as a spiritual
father!

WILSON: I am Pastor Wilson. I pastor a small church but

basically I am an evangelist with a very strange type of
calling. I travel a lot. I have a wife and three children.
Two are in secondary school, one in primary. So, that's
all about me. (Yetunde gazes at him a while).
 blood on
the altar 185

YETUNDE: I'm not impressed, you've not said much. How

did you come to know that Reverend?

WILSON: Well… we know him as a strong and popular man of

God so we invited him to our Workers' Conference. He
spent three days with us and challenged everybody with
his messages and … that was how I came to know him
personally. But before that, I attended numerous
conferences and conventions where I sat under his
ministry. (They stare at each other once again).

YETUNDE: And Tumi. How did you come to know her?

WILSON: I've met your condition and told you all I know
about her. She was your close friend, right? You took
Reverend and Mrs. Hosea to the hospital where she
died; that would mean that you were with her before you
went to go and bring the Reverend. And probably, you
were the one who brought her to that hospital. And if
that is the case, she must have spoken with you before
she died. She died from abortion and she was part of the
staff in the ministry office of Reverend Hosea. She
aborted the pregnancy because… (He pauses as he looks
intently at her).

YETUNDE: Because “what”? Come on… go on.

WILSON:Probably, because someone unexpected was

responsible for the pregnancy.

YETUNDE: Someone unexpected?

WILSON: Yes, someone she had been having a secret affair

with.
 186 blood on
the altar

YETUNDE: Do you know the person?

WILSON: Now, I have spoken out enough. Tell me why you

are angry with Reverend Hosea.

YETUNDE: Well, I'm not prepared to speak about him.

WILSON: Tell me the truth. Are you happy with Reverend

Hosea?

YETUNDE: No. That's impossible.

WILSON: You are so angry with him that you'll never have
respect for him again.

YETUNDE: Why do you say that?

WILSON: Because, you didn't even wait for the receptionist to

give you permission before you went storming into his
office. The lady said the Reverend didn't have an
appointment with you, but you insisted you had an
appointment with him. You stormed into his office and
came out calmly. It's like you have him in the palm of
your hand…

YETUNDE: (Becoming uncomfortable) I don't understand what

you mean by that.

WILSON: No? You do, Yetunde. As it is now, you can call on

him any time, any day and he has to do your bidding.

YETUNDE: I don't understand that.

WILSON: How is your new car?

YETUNDE: How do you know my car is new?

 blood on
the altar 187

WILSON: I saw it yesterday. It has new plates on it. The date

on the vehicle license attached to the windshield is that
of three days ago. The car is new.

YETUNDE: (Getting irritated) And what about it?

WILSON: I was wondering... What work do you do?

YETUNDE: (Angrily bangs the table) Will you stop this

nonsense! What sort of irresponsible question is that?

WILSON: (Calming her) Please… please, I'm sorry. I am deeply

sorry. I apologize. (Silence. Pastor Wilson quietly stands up,
picks up his sunshades and pulls back the chair to go)
I am sorry to annoy you.

YETUNDE: What's going on? Where are you going?

WILSON: I'm sorry for irritating you. I'm going. I've upset
you.

YETUNDE: No. Sit down. That's all right. Don't worry. Sit
down. (Calmly, Wilson sits back again).

WILSON: Thanks!

YETUNDE: That's all right. Continue.

WILSON: Where was I?

YETUNDE: (Mumbles) The car. Skip it.

WILSON: All right. I will skip it. Why don't you want to tell
me why you are so embittered toward Reverend Hosea?
 188 blood on
the altar

YETUNDE: It is a secret I keep to myself. I'm here to hear

more information about Tumi.

WILSON: I think I know why you don't want to disclose some

facts about the Reverend.

YETUNDE: Why?

WILSON: Probably, you have some incriminating facts or

evidence against him. And you have made that your
meal ticket through which you can demand money
from him from time to time, promising to keep the
secret. (Yetunde has become restless).

YETUNDE: (Whispers) Stop it!

WILSON: Now, the man is at your mercy, because you can

keep on milking him till he's dry.

YETUNDE: (Angrily in lower tone) I said stop it!

WILSON: (Continues unperturbed) I don't know your job, but

the new car has probably come out of the proceeds of the
blackmail.

YETUNDE: (Furiously bangs the table again) I said stop it! What
sort of rubbish is this? Do you have to bring me here to
harass me? (Wilson grabs her handbag on the table, quickly
opens it and brings out the tiny tape recorder. He presses the
button fast and plays it back again. He raises it up to her as they
both begin to hear the recorded conversation. Yetunde becomes
softened and embarrassed. Instantly, he removes the audiotape
from the recorder while Yetunde stands speechless).

WILSON: (Showing her the tape) Is this what you wanted to do?
 blood on
the altar 189

You want to get more incriminating information, which

could be used against him in order to probably hike up
your monetary demand on him? Because a man of God
has fallen, must you become an instrument in the devil's
hand to torment him further, by sucking him dry? You
want to take advantage of his fall to enrich your purse!
And you are helping him to cover up his sins! The life of
a man does not consist in the abundance of things he has.
(Yetunde looking around with embarrassment).

YETUNDE: (With lower tone) That's enough.

WILSON: (Continues) Has it occurred to you that in order to

meet your heavy demands, he might resort to anything
to ensure that you don't speak out? You want to
encourage him to keep taxing his congregation to service
his unending debt to you.

YETUNDE: I say that's enough. (Silence. They both sit looking

away from each other). He made a deep wound on my
heart.

WILSON: (Softly) Yes, I know. But you do not have the right
to make him pay for the wickedness he has committed.
You need Jesus to heal whatever wounds you might have
suffered.

YETUNDE: I had Jesus before, but the wickedness at the altar

has made me quit.

WILSON: You quit Jesus? You quit heaven? You quit eternal
life? You quit the peace of Jesus that surpasses what man
or any earthly possession can give? Tell me, since you
quit Jesus, do you have peace and satisfaction? Since
you quit Jesus, what can you show for it except this car
and other material things you got through the filthy
190 blood on
the altar

lucre? Wickedness at the altar is never sufficient excuse

for anyone to quit Jesus and lose heaven! (Yetunde, now
conquered, briefly wipes her lowered eyes) Because he fell,
must you fall with him? You have to rush back to Jesus!
He needs you! You are too good and too brilliant to be
an instrument in the devil's hand. We should both look
for ways to restore him, not to push him deeper into
more sin!

YETUNDE: (Wipes her eyes again) Thank you.

WILSON: You should come back to Jesus. That's where you

belong. (Yetunde nods quietly) Give me your hands, let's
pray. (Right there on the table, he holds her hand and they both
bow their heads as Wilson prays).
 blood on
the altar 191

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 58

(Later in the day in Rev. Hosea's office. Pastor Anjola's car arrives in the
parking lot of the office building. Pastor Wilson and Yetunde alight from
the car and walk into the reception lobby of the office. Yetunde approaches
the lady).

YETUNDE: Is the Reverend around?

CECILIA: (Unfriendly) I don't think he would like to see you

again.

YETUNDE: (Smiles) Don't worry. Just tell him I'm around,

and if he doesn't want to see me, I will go. (Cecilia complies
as she picks the intercom receiver and calls his number).

CECILIA: Sir, the lady is here again…You've been expecting

her? (To Yetunde) You can go, Ma.

YETUNDE: Thank you. (She leads and Pastor Wilson follows her
up the stairs. Inside Rev. Hosea's office, he has been sitting and
waiting anxiously. There is a knock on the door).
192 blood on
the altar

REV HOSEA: Yes, come in. (The door opens and Yetunde comes
in) What happened? I've been waiting for you all
morning. I was wondering what kept you and I thought
maybe… (He pauses).

YETUNDE: (She sits more composedly) Maybe what?

REV. HOSEA: Maybe you have carried out your threat…

YETUNDE: Did I issue any threat?

REV. HOSEA: I was thinking probably you have called Mr.

Clement again to give him further clues or gone ahead
to inform other people. But I've told you I don't have all
the money with me today.

YETUNDE: I've told you I will collect the balance on

Monday, after you've collected the tithes and assorted
offerings on Sunday morning. The balance should be
ready by Monday morning.

REV. HOSEA: Yes, I have here with me N 350,000. I should be

able to come up with the balance on Monday.

YETUNDE: (Smiles faintly) That's all right.

REV. HOSEA: (Sadly) Yetunde, is there any hope of relief in

sight?

YETUNDE: What do you mean by that?

REV. HOSEA: (Stammers) I mean… am I going to perpetually

be in this slavery? Within three weeks, you've
demanded a total of 1.5 million Naira. Is this how you
are going to be making your demands?
 blood on
the altar 193

YETUNDE: Do you have another solution in mind or should

I give you a suggestion?

REV HOSEA: I can't fulfil your condition. I can't confess.

How do I confess? How do I tell people? The secret
affair, the pregnancy, the abortion … and then the death
… Oh! My God. Her husband … her son … then my
wife … How did I get myself into this?

YETUNDE: What are your suggestions?

REV HOSEA: The cost of confession is too devastating and

how can I continue to service this debt? I want to
suggest you let me pay you off and please let this matter
die.

YETUNDE: Too costly. You can't pay me off at once. Can

you get 20 million Naira?

REV HOSEA: Ah!

YETUNDE: That is the cost of paying me off once and for all.

REV HOSEA: Ah!

YETUNDE: But you can put me on your monthly pay roll.

REV. HOSEA: Monthly?

YETUNDE: By that, the burden will be lighter.

REV. HOSEA: Maybe that will be better. What's your price?

YETUNDE: One million Nairas monthly for the next three

years. How about that?
194 blood on
the altar

REV. HOSEA: Ah. That will be too burdensome. I can't bear

it. Yetunde, please!

YETUNDE: May I say something?

REV. HOSEA: Please, do.

YETUNDE: I hope if this burden gets heavier on you, the

devil won't begin to give you nasty suggestions?

REV. HOSEA: Devil, giving me suggestions? Like what?

YETUNDE: For instance, if you begin to feel uncomfortable

with these demands, the devil may begin to suggest in
your heart to get rid of me, like praying for me to die, or
thinking of assassination or planned accident or food
poisoning, or anything that could silence me
permanently.

REV. HOSEA: (Frightened) No, that's not possible!

YETUNDE: What makes you think so? If it happens, won't

you still attempt to cover it up the way you've been
trying to cover up your sins?

REV. HOSEA: (Breathlessly) No … I can't do that!

YETUNDE: Where is the money? (He bends down and carries a

bulky brown envelope from under his table. He stretches it
towards Yetunde). Put it on the table. (He places the envelope
on the table) How much is this?

REV. HOSEA: It's N 350,000. I will get the remaining ready by

Monday, I promise. But, please, Yetunde, don't have
this evil thought about me. I could never think of
committing such evil acts! (Yetunde coughs aloud three
 blood on
the altar 195

times) Sorry. You need water? (The door opens and Pastor
Wilson steps inside. Rev. Hosea is shocked. He attempts to
remove the bulky envelope from the table. Yetunde stops him).

YETUNDE: Don't worry! leave it.

WILSON: (Smiles) Reverend Hosea.

REV. HOSEA: (Angrily) Pastor Wilson, why should you burst

into my office without a knock? Were you not told I
have a visitor?

YETUNDE: (Calmly) We came together, sir. (Wilson comes to sit

down quietly).

REV. HOSEA: You came together?

YETUNDE: Yes, sir. He is already aware of all the facts.

REV. HOSEA: What! You've broken the rule!

WILSON: Reverend, for how long are you going to cover up

your sins? If you hide from man, can you hide from
God? Why have you allowed the devil to push you up to
this point? I want to advise, sir, enough of this cover-up!
Surrender before the Lord!

YETUNDE: Reverend, your action made me backslide, and I

vowed I would never come back to the Lord when I
witnessed the atrocities a priest like you committed at
the altar. But I thank God who sent Pastor Wilson to
me, to rescue me from my revenge mission, which
would have ended my life in hell. So, I am back with the
Lord and I've repented! (She opens her bag and brings out a
bank draft). I have returned the car I bought with the
blood money but unfortunately, the dealer deducted
 196 blood on
the altar

fifteen percent from the money I paid him. Thanks to

Pastor Wilson, who followed me to the dealer and the
bank, I have managed to return N 930,000, which I now
changed into a bank draft bearing your name. When the
Lord blesses me, I will refund the remaining N 70,000.
But I thank God I have my peace back. I promise you I
will go back home now and burn all those photocopies
and the pages of the diary in my possession. I will have
nothing to do with it again. I leave you alone, Reverend,
to amend your ways. I leave you alone with God! (They
both rise up to go).

WILSON: Reverend, may the Lord help you! I trust the Lord to
help you do the right thing.Tomorrow morning, I should
be back in Kaduna. I think I've completed my
assignment here.

YETUNDE: Bye, Sir. (Rev. Hosea remains speechless and stupefied

as they both walk out of his office. He keeps staring at the door,
even after they have gone out and shut it. The brown bulky
envelope still lies on the table. All is quiet save for his rapidly
pounding heart).
 blood on
the altar 197

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

PART FOUR
Scene 59

(It is afternoon in Rev. Hosea's house. The atmosphere is solemn as

usual. Mrs. Hosea, still in sombre mood, comes out of the dining section
of the house into the living room looking gloomy, in apparent depression.
She walks about the spacious living room, her arms folded across her chest
pensively. Upstairs in the room, Rev. Hosea is on the phone, having a
conversation with someone. He speaks in a low tone).

REV. HOSEA: Yeah, I just want to thank you for your

understanding. I so much appreciate it. (At the other end is
Yetunde, behind a table of papers, files and computer).

YETUNDE: (Unimpressed) You don't need to thank me,

Reverend; I only did what I believe the Lord had
empowered me to do. I have not done anything special,
I only turned back from the evil way of exploiting a
pastor, who had fallen into sin, and was desperately
looking for a cover-up.

REV. HOSEA: Yes, I know… all the same. I thank you.

YETUNDE: Did you call me because you are doubtful of my

repentance and you feel I might change my mind?
198 blood on
the altar

(Silence). No, Reverend, I've made up my mind not to

tread the path of perdition. I've washed my hands of
your case. I leave you alone to own up to your sins and
take the appropriate steps. Go and confess.

REV. HOSEA: (Soberly) Thank you, Yetunde. I will confess…

I just need to take my time. There is an appropriate
time for everything.

YETUNDE: And I do sincerely wish you to do the right thing

in time. I hope it won't be too late.

REV. HOSEA: Concerning the remaining N70, 000. I don't

want you to bother returning it. Just let's forget it.

YETUNDE: Never. If I had returned N930, 000, what will

stop me from looking for the remaining N70,000? I
never wanted to be part of your sin, Reverend. I have no
need of the blood money. I must come to your office
with the money before the week runs out. I've decided
to borrow the money from a friend. I can't take that
offer. It is too costly. (Behind the door of the room, Mrs.
Hosea has been standing, listening secretly to the conversation).

REV. HOSEA: Please, Yetunde, I wouldn't want you to bring

the money to my office, please, go and pay it into my
account. You know my bank, don't you?

YETUNDE: No, I brought the bank draft to your office. I will

bring the balance to your office. Why don't you want
me in your office?

REV. HOSEA: No, Yetunde, not that I don't want you in my

office, but people are beginning to be suspicious of your
presence in my office.
 blood on
the altar 199

YETUNDE: Please, I don't want to be a partaker of your

camouflage. Allow me to come to your office for the last
time… at least, to drop the balance of the money. Please,
allow me.

REV. HOSEA: All right, when are you coming?

YETUNDE: Whenever I get the money this week. Any time.

HOSEA: All right, when you…(The bedroom door opens suddenly,

and Mrs Hosea bursts in). Thank you very much for your
concern. Thank you, bye…(Mrs. Hosea rushes to him and
snatches the mobile phone from him, then runs away from him.
Hosea looks ruffled). What are you doing? (Mrs. Hosea holds
the phone to her ear).

YETUNDE: (A bit confused) What am I doing now? I'm in my

office. Hello…

MRS HOSEA: Hello…Yetunde…?

YETUNDE: Yes, who is this…? (Rev. Hosea rushes to her to take

back the handset. There is a struggle, but she holds on to it
tightly. He pushes her to the wall and she falls sprawling on the
ground. She screams with pain. At the other end, Yetunde
switches off the phone quietly with fright as she rises quietly from
her chair, sadly). Ah! That must be the wife. There is a
struggle and a noisy quarrel going on over there…Ah!
(Mrs. Hosea still holds on tenaciously to the handset, while the
Reverend is still struggling to take it from her. There is a
bloodstain on her lower lip. She is now looking angry and
adamant).

REV. HOSEA: (Madly) Give me the phone!

 200 blood on
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MRS HOSEA: No! (As the struggling continues, the phone falls on the
floor and breaks into pieces. Hosea gets infuriated and slaps her
heavily. She staggers back to the wall with a scream. She stares
at him in shock. He bends down to gather the pieces of the
phone). Ah! You slapped me…! You beat me...! An evil
has besieged you, you have suddenly become another
man…you've changed…You beat me…! you slapped
me…! (He finishes picking up the pieces and turns to go out of
the room not responding her. As he opens the door, his wife
speaks). I heard everything you said to that lady. I heard
all your conversation! (He stops short at the door and looks
back, his eyes burning with fury).

REV. HOSEA: What did you hear?

MRS HOSEA: (Wiping her tears) It is the same lady you have
been talking to all this while. Yetunde… Tumi's friend!
You don't want her to come to your office because
people are already getting suspicious of her presence.

REV. HOSEA: What's wrong with you?

MRS HOSEA: Don't you know many things are wrong with
our home? You've never beaten me in our twenty years
of marriage, until the matter of these ladies cropped up!
Don't you know many things are wrong with your
ministry now? Are you really all right? You beat me…!
You slapped me after the death of my daughter… Is
something not wrong with you? (Silently, he turns back,
opens the door and walks out of the room. Mrs. Hosea cleans her
bloody lip and wipes her wet eyes).
 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 60

(Midnight inside Rev. Hosea's bedroom. He is fast asleep, while Mrs.

Hosea lays on the bed, with her face and tearful eyes turned to the wall, her
back to her snoring husband. She is heavily troubled and in deep thought.
She turns her head back to glance at her sleeping husband; then, slowly she
rises and sits up. She rests her back against the wall and clutches the
pillow to her bosom. She glances at her husband again, and then begins to
tap him).

MRS HOSEA: Dear…Dear…Wake up.

REV. HOSEA: (Mumbles) Hmm… what is it?

MRS HOSEA: Wake up.

REV. HOSEA: (Sleepily) Why?

MRS HOSEA: Please…wake up.

REV. HOSEA: I say why?

MRS HOSEA: Please…! (Sluggishly, he raises his head and sits up

slowly).
 202 blood on
the altar

REV. HOSEA: What is it?

MRS HOSEA: I just want to ask you some questions.

REV. HOSEA: (Eyes her defensively) What questions?

MRS HOSEA: I've been trying to avoid asking this question for
a long time, partly because I'm afraid of what the answer
could be, and partly because I can't imagine myself
asking you such question…

REV. HOSEA: What is it? (She pauses a while, takes a deep breath
and looks intently at him).

MRS HOSEA: I'm sorry to ask you this question. I am sorry if

the question would hurt you, but I have no choice now
but to hear plainly from you.

REV. HOSEA: (Faint-heartedly) What is the question?

MRS HOSEA: (Pauses a moment) Did you have an affair with

Tumi?

REV. HOSEA: (Looking discomfited) Affair? What affair?

MRS HOSEA: Let me rephrase my question. Did you at any

time have any relationship with Tumi?

REV. HOSEA: (Looks more confused) What are you saying? What
type of relationship?

MRS HOSEA: (Getting a bit irritated) But you know what I

mean!

REV. HOSEA: (Harshly) No. I don't know what you mean!

 blood on
the altar 203

(Silence again. She sits there, gazing blankly at nothing).

What type of relationship?

MRS HOSEA: O. K. Forgive me if I'm wrong! Were you

responsible for Tumi's pregnancy? (He freezes
momentarily).

REV. HOSEA: What did you say?

MRS HOSEA: She was calling this house frequently before

she went for the abortion. Then after she died, you
were negotiating about an amount of money with her
friend, Yetunde. One time you were begging her to be
lenient with you. Then I dreamt and saw Tumi
storming into our room and sitting on our bed. I have
been linking some clues together and becoming more
convinced daily that Tumi's death is somehow
connected to this family.

REV. HOSEA: What nonsense are you saying?

MRS HOSEA: If I'm talking nonsense then I am sincerely

sorry, but if not, and you keep the sins hidden, then, I'm
in danger, because we may not be able to handle the
impending consequences.

REV. HOSEA: In fact, you amaze me. You amaze me!

MRS HOSEA: I'm sorry if I amaze you, but things are not
normal in this family. And you have probably noticed
that the ministry is affected.

REV. HOSEA: (Angrily) Dear, you amaze me! (He turns away,
lies down and covers himself with the bedclothes, turning his
back to her. She glances at him dejectedly and turns her eyes to
the blank wall before her, gazing at nothing. Then, she gets up
 204 blood on
the altar

from the bed, wraps her nightgown around her, grabs the pillow,
goes out of the room and slams the door. Rev. Hosea, who was
pretending to sleep, gets alarmed as he quietly rises and sits up,
looking frightened yet adamant. Downstairs in the living room,
she paces up and down, her countenance betraying her mounting
rage).

MRS HOSEA: (Talking to herself) Calm down…Esther. Calm

down. Lord help me…!What is wrong with me? What
has happened to my home? What has happened to my
husband? He has done something terrible… he is
hiding something from me… Why was he begging
Yetunde? He has been having secret conversations with
Yetunde… Why? I'm too confused to pray… Jesus, help
me… Help me…! First, it was Tumi, now it is
Yetunde… (She paces up and down the living room,
disoriented, confused, her eyes blazing with anger).
 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 61

(Early in the morning, in Yetunde's bedroom. She is still in her

nightgown, sitting on the edge of the bed, holding her phone. Her Bible
lies opened on the bed beside her. She looks troubled as she sits downcast
on the bed).

YETUNDE: I heard a loud scuffle over the phone… then I

heard her scream. He must have hit her or slapped
her… or probably beaten her… The woman called me
familiarly. She sounded so innocent…! The man is
trying desperately to cover up his wickedness. (She
begins to press a phone number on her handset. Dejectedly, she
holds the phone to her ear). Hello… hello! Good morning,
it's me. (At the other end, Pastor Wilson is sitting by a reading
table with his Bible and notebook spread before him).

WILSON: Yetunde, morning. What is it? You sound so

down…

YETUNDE: Hosea called yesterday night to tell me I should

not bother about the remaining money and …

WILSON: No, you can't do that. Don't do that, Yetunde.

206 blood on
the altar

YETUNDE: No, I'm not doing it. I told him straight that I
wouldn't want to have blood money in my possession. I
told him I would pay the balance.

WILSON: Good.

YETUNDE: But while the conversation was going on, I think

his wife came inside and snatched the phone from his
hand. She called my name immediately. Then, I heard
a loud scuffle… I heard the woman scream and… I
think he was beating her… and I felt so bad!

WILSON: Reverend Hosea beat his wife? Are you sure?

YETUNDE: I heard her scream and I heard them struggling.

I just feel that's not fair. This woman just lost her
daughter, the man has just dismantled her home by the
illicit affair he had, and the woman still has a terrible
embarrassment to face, when this whole episode gets
blown up eventually… Yet he is still mistreating her! It's
not fair!

WILSON: Now, Yetunde… Listen to me, calm down. I know

you are boiling, but don't allow your emotions to ride
over your reasoning. Don't do anything rash.

YETUNDE: The man has been unfaithful, why should he

treat the woman that way?

WILSON: (Calmly) But we weren't there. We can't say

definitely if he slapped her or beat her.

YETUNDE: (Impatiently) But I heard the woman scream after

calling my name. Then, I heard a scuffle. The man is
desperate to cover up his misdeed!
 blood on
the altar 207

WILSON: Just calm down. We need to pray for him, for the
Lord to be merciful to him. He needs our prayers now.

YETUNDE: Do you think the two of us are enough to handle

this? As of now, only three of us know about his evil act:
the Reverend, you and I… This man is not ready to
help himself, he is drowning and he may bring his entire
family down under with him. Pastor?

WILSON: Yes.

YETUNDE: I am not comfortable with this attitude of helping

a man of God to conceal his sin. Are we not being
partakers of his sins by helping him to keep it secret?

WILSON: (Thoughtfully) Yetunde, I think you are right… Give

me some time to prayerfully think of what to do. I will
certainly call you back later today. I will call you back!

YETUNDE: All right. I'll be waiting.

 208 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 62

(Later in Pastor Wilson's house. He kneels beside his bed, his Bible and
notebook opened on the bed before him. He is praying, as he remains
quiet with his head lying on the bed and his arms spread).

WILSON: (Whisperingly) Lord, teach me. Teach me your ways.

I wanted to wash my hands of this case, but… as it is, I
have seen that I was wrong to try to help him conceal his
sins. Teach me what to do, Lord. For knowing the
truth, I have become a debtor… I have become the
Lord's representative. What would you have me do?
(The bedroom door opens and his wife enters and sits quietly on
the bed beside where he kneels).

WIFE: (Concerned) What are you going to do now?

WILSON: (Raising his head, looking disturbed) I don't know.

Sincerely, I don't know yet. My former line of thought
was wrong. I was thinking he is an elderly man of God, a
senior preacher who knows what to do. I was thinking
of not affecting his home and church by deciding to
expose him. That was my thinking.
 blood on
the altar 209

WIFE: All along, I knew that line of thought was wrong.

Ephesians 5:11-13 has kept flashing across my mind
ever since you've been on this case. (He is immediately
interested).

WILSON: What's in that passage?

WIFE: It says something about taking part in the unfruitful

works of darkness. (He begins to flip the pages of his Bible
immediately; then he pauses at the passage).

WILSON: (Reading it slowly, meditatively) “And have no

fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but
rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of
those things, which are done by them in secret.”

WIFE: My Bible is Revised Standard Version and the English is

clearer. It says: “Take no part in the unfruitful works of
darkness but instead, expose them”.

WILSON: (Pensively) I see…!

WIFE: Since he has refused to confess his sins, he will be

getting more hardened, honouring invitations,
conducting crusades, and laying hands on the heads of
innocent people of God. My own conclusion is that if
you don't expose these hidden secrets, you are a
partaker of it. (Thoughtfully, he rises to his feet and sits quietly
on the bed beside his wife).

WILSON: (Thoughtfully) I will be on the Lord's side!

 210 blood on
the altar

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 63

(Morning in Rev. Hosea's house. A car speeds into the driveway and stops
at the front of the house; someone hastily alights from the car. It's Reverend
Odia. He looks upset as he hurries into the house. Just as he is stepping
into the living room, he sees David who comes in from the kitchen side).

REV. ODIA: (Smiles) Ah, my boy. Good morning.

DAVID: Morning, sir.

REV. ODIA: Is your dad awake yet? I need to see him urgently.

DAVID: He might be having his quiet time. Let me check, sir.

If he is praying, you will have to wait awhile.

REV. ODIA: All right. (He sits calmly. David rushes upstairs. In the
bedroom Mrs. Hosea stands by the window looking angry but
with a mocking smile on her lips. Hosea is restlessly searching
for something as he pulls out the drawer of the dressing table,
checking under the pillows and inside the bedside tables).

REV. HOSEA: Esther, I need the SIM card, for God's sake! I
know you took it.
 blood on
the altar 211

MRS. HOSEA: (Mockingly) Mere assumption.

REV. HOSEA: (getting impatient) This is not an assumption.

You broke the handset yesterday evening. I removed the
SIM card and kept it in this drawer, to put it inside
another handset this morning. Now it's missing. (There
is a knock on the door) Yes, who is it? (The door opens and
David peeps in). David...

MRS HOSEA: David. What is it?

DAVID: Reverend Odia is in the living room. He says he

needs to see you urgently. I told him you might be
praying.

REV. HOSEA: Tell him I will see him shortly.

DAVID: Yes, Daddy.

MRS HOSEA: Have you eaten?

DAVID: No. I'll eat later.

MRS HOSEA: Come on, I've told you not to be downhearted

any more. Cheer up. I want to see you smiling and
happy. Come! (As David steps inside to come to her, Hosea
shouts at him).

REV. HOSEA: Go and tell him I'm coming! (David turns back
immediately, goes out of the room and shuts the door).

MRS. HOSEA: (Looks at him angrily) Do you realize what you

have just done? Shouting at a boy who is suffering
psychological trauma after just losing his only sister!
 212 blood on
the altar

REV. HOSEA: (Still searching) I didn't shout at him, I only sent

him on an errand. Esther, I need this SIM card. I need
to make a call! (Mrs. Hosea moves away from the window
towards the door, going out. Rev. Hosea rushes to the door,
blocking her way).

MRS HOSEA: I didn't take it.

REV. REV. HOSEA: You're lying!

MRS. HOSEA: (Smiles derisively) Really? You think I, a

Reverend's Mrs. would lie to you?

REV. HOSEA: It was there in the drawer before I went to sleep.

I don't believe you!

MRS HOSEA: Very well, then. You must have taught me how
to lie and deceive.

REV. HOSEA: How do you mean?

MRS HOSEA: It is like the oil of Aaron the precious ointment

poured upon his head that ran down his beard to the
skirts of his garments. It starts from the head.

REV. HOSEA: What are you saying?

MRS HOSEA: You are the head of this family, the Prophet of
the home, the Priest of the altar. When the pulpit is
corrupted, the pews get polluted. You started the lies
and deceit; perhaps it's rubbed off on me. Let me pass.

REV. HOSEA: (Pushes her back, she falls on the bed) Enough of this
nonsense! Give me the SIM card!
 blood on
the altar 213

MRS HOSEA: (Hotly) No! I'm not giving it to you! What are
you hiding anyway? Are you keeping something from
me?

REV. HOSEA: (Hotly) But I want to make a call! It's important!!

MRS HOSEA: I too want to make a call more important than

yours. Our home is crumbling and I must salvage it.
(He makes to rush at her on the bed). If you repeat what you
just did to me now, I will scream and Reverend Odia
will hear us. (He retreats, staring at her angrily, unable to do
anything further). What are you waiting for? The
Secretary General of the Association of Pentecostal
Ministers is waiting for you downstairs. Don't keep the
respectable man of God waiting. He is a honourable
man! Go and see him. (He stares at her a while, turns round,
opens the door and goes out, shutting the door behind him. She
gets up from the bed, goes to the bedside table by her side of the
bed, opens her Bible and the tiny SIM card is there. She opens
the wardrobe and tucks the Bible inside a pile of clothes in the
wardrobe. She goes to the door, opens it and pauses abruptly.
Then, she goes back to the wardrobe, opens it and brings out the
Bible. She closes the wardrobe again, walks back to the door,
opens it and goes out with the Bible in her hand. Down in the
living room, Hosea is sitting with Odia)

REV. HOSEA: When did you receive the mail?

REV ODIA: Just this morning. I just opened my box and

found it there. Probably they don't have your e-mail
address.

REV. HOSEA: They do. My letter of acceptance of the

invitation, which my secretary gave to Apostle Ken
Mbasi when he brought the invitation letter, definitely
 214 blood on
the altar

had my e-mail address on it. Why didn't they write to

me directly? Why sending the mail to you?

REV. ODIA: Probably the mail I saw in my box was a copy, sir.
Have you checked your mailbox this morning? They
might have sent it there…

REV. HOSEA: I'll go and check it.

REV. ODIA: According to the letter, they said they have taken
care of all the publicity and planning and
accommodation for you and your wife, including your
three assistants. They said, however, the Lord led them
to cancel your invitation… That you shouldn't bother to
come again. I see the whole thing as lack of proper
planning. Didn't they pray before they sent a delegate
here all the way from Zimbabwe? It's all lack of proper
organization! (Mrs. Hosea walks into the living room).

MRS HOSEA: (Smilingly) Hi, Reverend Odia, good morning.

How's mammy?

REV. ODIA: She is O.K. I'm happy to see you smiling this
morning, ma. Thank God, He is already healing your
wounds!

MRS HOSEA: (Chuckles) Really? Well... I believe so. What

brings you here so early?

REV. ODIA: The invitation to the Believers' Convention,

Harare, Zimbabwe.

MRS HOSEA: Yes, what about it?

REV. ODIA: I got their mail this morning saying they have
 blood on
the altar 215

cancelled Reverend Hosea's invitation, that he is no

longer invited to the event. I mean… it's quite
ridiculous.

MRS HOSEA: (Undisturbed) Did they give any reason?

REV. ODIA: No tangible reason other than that the Lord had
led them.

MRS HOSEA: That's the most tangible reason any group of

people could give. If they were led by the Lord to cancel
my husband's invitation, they must have heard from
God.

REV. ODIA: Why do you say that, ma? I see the whole thing as
a result of lack of proper planning and focus.

MRS HOSEA: No, I don't think so. Many times the Lord
leads in a way we can't understand.

REV. ODIA: But I think…

REV. HOSEA: All right, that's all right. All things work for
good to them that are called according to His purpose.
Reverend Odia, thanks for coming. (They shake hands
and Rev. Odia rises to go as Rev. Hosea too stands to escort him
out).

REV. ODIA: Goodbye, ma!

MRS. HOSEA: God bless you! Greet mammy for me. (Rev.
Hosea escorts him out of the living room. Mrs. Hosea opens the
Bible and brings out the SIM card. She looks at it briefly and
puts it back in the Bible).
 216 blood on
the altar

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 64

(In Pastor Wilson's house. He sits on a chair beside the dining table
adjacent to the spacious living room. His diary is opened before him,
beside some other sheets of paper lying on the table. He looks a bit
worried. A tea cup and saucer are also on the table before him. He is
desperately trying to reach someone on his phone).

WILSON: Hello…Yetunde! (She is standing somewhere around

her office).

YETUNDE: Yes, sir.

WILSON: I've been trying to get him on the phone for the past
two hours, without success. The call isn't going
through.

YETUNDE: Maybe he has switched off.

WILSON: And maybe not… I have decided to have some

words with him on the phone, to tell him my position
and my conviction. I want to let him know that we are
not ready to partake in his sins by covering him up. But
I can't get to him.
 blood on
the altar 217

YETUNDE: Well, what do you suggest?

WILSON: I don't know yet.

YETUNDE: Do you want me to go to him? I can go to him. I

can approach him in his office.

WILSON: No, Yetunde. You won't be able to handle it. You

are so irritable. You'll mess everything up!

YETUNDE: Well, I still have to go to him today or tomorrow.

I am going to return the balance of the money.

WILSON: But you need wisdom to know the right thing to say.
We should tell him the mind of God. How I wish I
were able to get him on the phone!

YETUNDE: Are you thinking of coming back to Lagos?

Kaduna is a long way. Don't bother to come.

WILSON: I will continue trying his number. I may be lucky

and get him. I'll call you back.

YETUNDE: All right, sir. Bye.

 blood on
218 the altar

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 65

(Inside one of the rooms in Rev. Hosea's house. Mrs. Hosea sits near a
small stool, on which a phone handset is disassembled. She removes the
SIM card and puts it aside. Then, she opens the Bible and brings out the
other SIM card, inserts it in the slot and replaces the cover of the phone.
Then she begins to reset the phone).
 blood on
the altar 219

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 66

(Back in Pastor Wilson's house. He is still sitting at the table, trying the
phone number. He holds it to his ear. Suddenly he gets excited).

WILSON: It's ringing… praise God! (Mrs. Hosea is still in the

room, the phone lies beside her on the bed. The phone has been
placed on vibrate, so she sees it and picks it up. She turns it on
and holds it to her ear). Hello… Reverend Hosea. This is
Pastor Wilson. Please, don't switch off the phone. It is
important I talk with you. Are you listening to me?
(Silence, as Mrs. Hosea remains quiet, indecisive as how to
respond). Hello…Hello, Reverend Hosea. Are you
hearing me?

MRS HOSEA: (Trying to deepen her voice) Hmm.

WILSON: Good. I've been trying to get you on the phone for
the past two hours, but I guess you switched it off.
Anyway, I would like to make my stand and conviction
known to you regarding all the past incidents. I believe
in the word of God as it is written in Ephesians 5:11-13,
that we should have no part in the works of darkness but
rather expose them. I don't want to be a partaker of your
 220 blood on
the altar

sin. Hello, sir. Are you hearing me? (She drags the stool
noisily and responds in a bass voice).

MRS HOSEA: Hmm…!

WILSON: Good. Why are you trying to cover up your sin,

Reverend? You are trying desperately to cover it up and
surely it will tell on your family, your home and your
ministry. Proverbs 28:13 says: “He that covers his sin
shall not prosper, but who so confesses and forsakes
them shall obtain mercy.” However, as it is, instead of
confessing, you are trying all you can to cover-up. I
learnt you slapped your wife or beat her yesterday
evening. Despite what this woman has suffered,
including the loss of a grown-up daughter, in your bid to
hide your wickedness, you slapped or beat her! That's
not fair at all! I suggest you try to open up to her first.
Confess this horrible thing you've done before it's too
late. Yetunde and I, who have full knowledge of all these
hidden atrocities, hereby advise that you come out in the
open and confess to receive God's mercy or we shall
have to inform your wife and some elders of the
household of God. You have from this moment till
tomorrow evening to inform your wife. Thanks for not
turning off your phone. Bye…

MRS HOSEA: (Hastily) Hold it! don't cut off!

WILSON: (Stunned) Hello...! Is that not Reverend…?

MRS. HOSEA: (Coldly) No, I'm his wife.

WILSON: What! Are you the person I've been talking to?

MRS HOSEA: (Reservedly) Yes, I am.

 blood on
the altar 221

WILSON: (Astonished) What! I am sorry, then. I might have

been speaking to the wrong person.

MRS HOSEA: No, Pastor Wilson, please… Hello... Hello…!

(Over there, Pastor Wilson has cut off the conversation. He
stands still, absolutely astounded).

WILSON: Wh-a-at? I said all those things to her! How

come…? (Hastily, he begins to call another number).
Hello…! Hello…! Yetunde! Yetunde! Can you hear me?

(She is sitting behind her table in her office).

YETUNDE: Yes, Pastor. I'm listening. I've tried Reverend

Hosea's number, I think it's engaged. I just gave up
trying.

WILSON: No. Don't call him, Yetunde. Don't call the line.

YETUNDE: Why? I want to inform him I will be bringing the

money tomorrow. I need to inform him in order to
meet him in the office.

WILSON: Don't call him now. If you do, you will be talking
directly to Mrs. Hosea herself.

YETUNDE: How?

WILSON: I just called him to tell him our conclusion. But you
won't believe me! I never knew I was speaking to his
wife! All the comments, observations and expression of
our position on his hidden sins… everything I said was
landing on Mrs. Hosea's ears. Don't call him yet!

YETUNDE: (Unenthusiastically) Pastor Wilson.

222 blood on
the altar

WILSON: Yes.

YETUNDE: If his wife has heard those things, that relieves us

of our burden. It makes our responsibilities easier.
That's good news. Why the panic?

WILSON: I'm not panicking, Yetunde. I only want this

situation handled in a wise and productive manner. We
should make a constructive move and not a destructive
one.

YETUNDE: All right. So, what do I do now?

WILSON: Don't do anything till I call you back!

YETUNDE: All right. Good luck!

 blood on
the altar 223

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 67

(Inside Rev. Hosea's bedroom. He is restless as he still ransacks the

drawer and tables and then begins to search the wardrobe).

REV. HOSEA: What's all this, eh? I've probably missed so

many calls by now! (Then he pauses, exhausted as he leans
his back against the wardrobe door. He speaks whisperingly).
I'm sinking deeper into the mire of deceit. Is it possible
to get out of this...? But I need the SIM card. Yetunde
could phone… or Wilson….

(Downstairs, in the same room where Mrs. Hosea has been. She reclines
on the bed, her back resting against the headboard, supported by a pillow.
She has her phone in her hand, as she remains thoughtfully quiet. Then
she begins to press a phone number).

MRS HOSEA: (Whisperingly) Why are you avoiding me? (She

holds the phone to her ear to listen for the tone). Hello…Hello!

(It is Pastor Wilson in his living room. He has the phone as he sits on the
edge of a chair).
 224 blood on
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WILSON: Yes, Mrs…

MRS HOSEA: (Calmly) Why are you doing this to me? Why
are you avoiding talking with me?

WILSON: Because I desire to have some words with him first. I

consider it inappropriate to talk to his wife on this issue.

MRS HOSEA: Promise me you will give me about five

minutes to talk and you won't cut me off this time?

WILSON: All right, speak on.

MRS HOSEA: Pastor Wilson, you are a servant of God. Why

are you comfortable helping a man of God to cover up
his sins? You are a custodian of his wicked secrets and
hidden atrocities, yet you are very relaxed and peaceful,
going about your normal ministerial duties while the
enemy ravages our home, family and ministry because
of an un-confessed sin. I have been praying, fasting and
waiting on the Lord to show me the cause of our
afflictions, not knowing another man of God is privy to
it. Why are you keeping quiet, Pastor Wilson? Is that the
will of God?

WILSON: (Guiltily) I'm sorry, ma.

MRS HOSEA: Was it God who told you to conceal the sins of
another man of God? Didn't the word of God instruct in
1 Timothy 5:20, to rebuke those that sin before all that
others also may fear? Didn't the Lord command in
Ephesians 5:11 that we take no part in the unfruitful
works of darkness, but instead to expose them?

WILSON: (Remorsefully) You are right, ma.

 blood on
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MRS. HOSEA: Then why are you afraid to expose sin? What
do you preach in your church, Pastor Wilson?

WILSON: Yes, Reverend Mrs.

MRS. HOSEA: Whose side are you on?

WILSON: I'm on the Lord's side, ma.

MRS HOSEA: I am the wife of Reverend Atilade Hosea. What

evil has my husband done? What atrocities has he
committed? (Pastor Wilson remains quiet and uneasy) I
knew it myself, and when you thought you were talking
to him, you confirmed it to me, that there are sins he has
committed, which he has refused to confess. And since
he has partaken in that sin, the joy of the Lord has
departed from this home and our ministry has begun to
suffer too, Pastor Wilson.

WILSON: Yes, Reverend Mrs.

MRS. HOSEA: I am aware that atrocities are being committed

by a number of men of God, and many people who are
privy to these are keeping them secret. Those who are
keeping them secret are doing exactly what the devil
wants, so that those sins can remain hidden and not
confessed, and eventually lead those who committed
them to eternal destruction! Those who are helping in
the cover-up of various sins at the altar are helping the
devil to fulfil his purpose, Pastor Wilson!

WILSON: (Conscience-stricken) Yes, ma, I'm listening.

MRS HOSEA: I don't want the un-confessed sins of my

husband to lead him to destruction in hell. I love him.
 226 blood on
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WILSON: (Remorsefully) We have implored him to confess

these sins, but he has remained adamant.

MRS HOSEA: Then you have to let me help him. You have to
tell me everything about the evil you know he has done.
(Silence briefly, as Pastor Wilson stands up from where he is
sitting and walks around contemplatively).

WILSON: All right, Ma. I understand.

MRS. HOSEA: You will have to…(The door opens suddenly and
Rev. Hosea peers in, looking nervous and staring at her
suspiciously. She speaks into the phone). It's all right, I will
call you back soon. (She switches off) What is it, dear?

REV HOSEA: You've still not given me my SIM card. I need it.
(Peacefully and calmly, she takes her Bible, opens it and brings
out the SIM card. She gives it to him). You made me miss a
lot of calls.

MRS HOSEA: (Smiles calmly) I'm sorry. (He looks at her again
suspiciously, looks at the SIM card and goes out of the room,
closing the door).
 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 68

(It is evening in Pastor Anjola's house. His wife and two children are in
the living room relaxing, watching a television program. The doorbell
rings).

ANJOLA: (Glued to the T.V). Dear, someone is at the door.

WIFE: It's Brother Edward; they are back. I'm coming! Hold
on. (She walks to the door and opens it. She stiffens
momentarily) Pastor Wilson! (Pastor Anjola turns instantly
towards the entrance as Pastor Wilson enters gently with his
usual briefcase).

ANJOLA: Ah-a. You never called to say you were coming back.

WILSON: (Looking exhausted as he walks into the living room). I

tried your number several times this afternoon; it didn't
go through.

ANJOLA: My battery was down; I couldn't charge it in the

office. I'm just charging it now.
 228 blood on
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WIFE: What happened? Welcome. (He sits tiredly after patting the
children playfully in greeting. The woman also comes to sit
down).

ANJOLA: What brought you back to Lagos? You said the case
was closed, or have you opened up another one?

WILSON: No. It's the same old case. The Lord sent me back.
He said it couldn't be closed until it is concluded. The
whole thing took a new turn this morning.

ANJOLA: What happened again?

WILSON: Actually, it was Yetunde who opened my eyes to the

fact that it would be spiritually, and morally wrong for
us, to conceal the abomination committed by this man.

WIFE: (To her husband) You see? I know I received this in my

spirit and I told you that we are not doing the right thing.

ANJOLA: My wife said it is like taking part in those atrocities

with him.

WILSON: Exactly what Yetunde said.

ANJOLA: Actually, we have been confused for the past three

days. Have you heard of the coming Pentecost Power
Conference?

WILSON: No. What conference is that?

ANJOLA: It's going to be a very big event. It combines all

churches and ministries from all the zones of the state.
It is a three-day conference beginning next week,
Thursday.
 blood on
the altar 229

WIFE: And Reverend Hosea is one of the speakers. In fact he is

going to give the opening message.

WILSON: Is that so?

ANJOLA: The ads have been running on the television since

last week. The posters are already up in the city.
Reverend Hosea's picture is on the poster. My church is
involved in the planning. My ushers and counsellors
are among the primary workers for the mega-
conference. I just came back from the general meeting
of the co-ordinating pastors.

WILSON: No-o-o wonder the Lord brought me back!

ANJOLA: So, what do you want to do now?

WILSON: It is not my responsibility to judge men of God or

seek to expose their sins. No. It is the Lord who judges
and we are all responsible to the Lord our Master. But I
must not encourage others to cover up their sins. I don't
want to be a partaker of another man's sins. We have
known a lot of facts about this evil committed by
Reverend Hosea. So, we can't pretend we don't know.
We will have to take this burden off our backs by
informing an authority of elders. Then we leave them
alone to do, as the Lord would lead them.

ANJOLA: Which authority can we inform?

WILSON: I don't know. But first, I must see him and have
some words with him. Perhaps he will be humble
enough to approach the Lord for forgiveness and mercy.
Then, I must see his wife if necessary.
 230 blood on
the altar

ANJOLA: So you will eat now and rest. Tomorrow we set out
on the assignment.

WILSON: No. We set out this evening. I will eat and rest when
I come back.

ANJOLA: I just came back home from the General Pastors'

meeting in preparation for the Power Conference. It
has been hectic today!

WILSON: You just drive me down there, you can stay in the
car, I'll go inside. Don't forget we are in this work
together.

ANJOLA: (Getting up sluggishly) In fact, this is a strange

ministry. Thank God, I'm getting used to it. (He goes into
the room).

WIFE: (To Wilson) You can eat something while he goes inside
to put on his clothes.

WILSON: No, I just need water. I will eat when I come back.
(She springs up to her feet and dashes to the kitchen).

SCENE SIXTY-NINE

(Later in the evening in Rev. Hosea's house. Pastor Anjola's car arrives in
front of the house. Pastor Wilson alights from the car and shuts the door.
He bends down and peers in through the car window).

WILSON: (To Anjola) You can recline the seat and have a
snooze. When I come back I'll wake you up.

ANJOLA: The sleepiness is gone. May I follow you in?

 blood on
the altar 231

WILSON: No. He may not want a third party. If need be, I will
send for you.

ANJOLA: All right. (As Pastor Wilson is going into the house, Pastor
Anjola is seen reclining in the driver's seat to relax. Inside the
house Mrs. Hosea is sitting back on the couch, alone. The
television is on, but the volume is lowered. David is eating at the
dining table. The doorbell sounds).

MRS HOSEA: (To David) Go and see who's at the door. (He goes
to the door and opens it. Pastor Wilson steps inside with a Bible
in his hand. When Mrs. Hosea sees him, she sits up instantly).
Pastor Wilson!

WILSON: (Reverently) Evening, ma.

MRS HOSEA: (Amazed) You came?

WILSON: Yes, ma. I saw that it was necessary I come. Besides,

the Lord impressed it heavily on my heart to come.

MRS HOSEA: (Lowering her voice) We didn't finish our

conversation this afternoon. Please, sit down.

WILSON: (Comes to a seat and sits down calmly) Actually… we

have concluded the conversation. I have said all that was
necessary to say at that time.

MRS HOSEA: (Whisperingly) But you've not told me all the

other necessary things you need to tell me.

WILSON: Not until I discuss it with him first.

MRS HOSEA: You want to see him?

 blood on
232 the altar

WILSON: I desire to give him the singular honour of opening

up before you himself.

MRS HOSEA: He is in the room upstairs. May I go and call

him then?

WILSON: Yes, Reverend Mrs. (She gets up quickly and goes up the
stairs to the small passage that leads to the room. She opens the
door and sees Rev. Hosea lying quietly on the bed, half-asleep.
She taps his foot). Dear. Rise up… Dear…

REV. HOSEA: (Opening his eyes) Yes…

MRS HOSEA: Get up. You have a visitor.

REV. HOSEA: Who?

MRS HOSEA: Pastor Wilson. (His eyes open wide abruptly).

REV. HOSEA: Pastor Wilson?

MRS HOSEA: Yes. He's looking for you. (Still astonished, he

gets himself up slowly, wondering, his wife staring at him). He
is waiting for you.

REV. HOSEA: Pastor Wilson. Did he come alone?

MRS HOSEA: He came alone.

REV. HOSEA: All right. Go. Go tell him I'm coming to see
him.

MRS HOSEA: Get up. Let's go and see him.

REV. HOSEA: Us? Did he say he wants to see us together?

 blood on
the altar 233

MRS HOSEA: No. He said he's looking for you.

REV. HOSEA: (A bit harshly) Then, go and tell him I'm coming!
(She leaves him and goes out of the room. He remains sitting on
the edge of the bed quietly. Still wondering). Pastor Wilson.
What has he come to do at this time? I thought this was
all over… What's going on? (Down in the living room, Mrs.
Hosea is seated too, noticeably restless. Shortly, Rev. Hosea
comes down into the living room and Pastor Wilson rises
reverently to greet him). Pastor Wilson.

WILSON: (Bows reverently as he receives his handshake) Evening,

sir. I'm sincerely sorry to bother you, sir. I learnt you
were already resting.

REV. HOSEA: Oh, no, never mind. (He comes to a chair). Please,
sit down. (They both sit) So, how's the ministry doing?

WILSON: The Lord is helping us, sir.

REV. HOSEA: What brought you here this evening?

WILSON: I need to see you, sir. I have some things to discuss

with you, sir.

REV. HOSEA: (Smiles faintly) All right. Where can we talk?

WILSON: (Turns to Mrs. Hosea) Can you please excuse us, ma?
(She looks at both of them hesitantly).

MRS HOSEA: (Getting up reluctantly) It's all right. (Silence as

they watch her go up the stairs, hearing her footsteps till the sound
fades out. Then Rev. Hosea turns to Pastor Wilson nervously,
no longer pretending to be relaxed).
 234 blood on
the altar

REV. HOSEA: (Lowering his voice) Pastor Wilson, what brought

you here again? I thought all this was over. Why are you
here this time? (Wilson remains silent, staring at him in a
strange way). Come on... all right, what do you want to
see me for?

WILSON: (Still staring at him strangely. He begins to speak in his

normal loud voice) Thus says the Lord God, “I anointed
you a minister in My household and delivered you from
all your enemies around you and gave you a flourishing
ministry and peaceful home; and had even decided to do
much more. Why have you despised the word of the
Lord to do this great evil in His sight? (Rev. Hosea looks
round with fear, becoming uncomfortable at the loud voice of
Wilson). You have lain with your neighbour's wife in
adultery, you have killed with the sword of abortion and
have not feared the Lord thy God in making several
attempts to cover it up and still offer sacrifice on my
altar. You have brought discredit to my church. You
have made the world to jeer at Christ. You have not only
broken the laws of thy God, but have also broken His
heart. Thus saith the Lord thy God whom thou hast
despised and ridiculed; I am tired of your offering and
despise your sacrifice. Since you have preferred to
sacrifice your years of labour on the altar of adultery
then, your ministry is taken away from your hand and
burnt into ashes. Put your house in order, for thou shalt
die tomorrow.

(Silence. Rev. Hosea has remained transfixed, perspiring and trembling

as he looks at Pastor Wilson giving the prophetic utterance. His face is wet
with both sweat and tears. Frozen with fright, his mouth opened unable
to scream or shout. On the stairs, very close to the living room, but out of
sight, is Mrs. Hosea drenched in tears and sobbing as she sits on the bare
stair. She had already taken off her slippers. Quietly, Pastor Wilson picks
 blood on
the altar 235

up his Bible and walks out of the living room. The moment he steps out,
he bursts into tears. Pastor Anjola notices him and comes out of the car).

ANJOLA: (Panicking) What happened? (Still sobbing, Wilson

enters the car and closes the door. Anjola, still baffled, enters the
car too). Come on, what happened in there?

WILSON: (Trying to control his tears) I don't know… Let's go.

(Afraid, Pastor Anjola starts the car, reverses it and pulls out of the
gate to the main road. Pastor Wilson still sobs as they go on).
 236 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 70

(Later in the night, inside Rev. Hosea's bedroom. He sits on the bed, his
back against the headboard, a pillow clutched to his chest in sorrow. His
face is drenched in sweat and tears that stream down from his wearied eyes.
He sobs as he talks to his wife, as she stands by the wardrobe looking
helplessly at her husband).

MRS HOSEA: (Breathlessly) Ah…!

REV. HOSEA: Ah! On two occasions, I had sent for her to

come and meet me in my hotel room when I had
travelled.

MRS HOSEA: God…! Ah…!

REV. HOSEA: So…when she came to tell me that she was

pregnant, I persuaded her to go for an abortion… I gave
her N100,000 to go and terminate it.

MRS HOSEA: (In shock) Oh…! My God…!

REV. HOSEA: The evacuation was badly done by whoever did

it… That was why she died… Oh!
 blood on
the altar 237

MRS HOSEA: (Goes down slowly into a squat and bursts into tears
aloud) Oh, my God… my God… Ah…! (The bedroom
door opens and David peeps in, looking very scared as he sees
both parents in tears).

DAVID: (Frightened) Mammy… Dad…Why? What has

happened again?

REV. HOSEA: (Ceases crying and briefly wipes his eyes). David,
don't be scared, your mum will explain everything to
you later. Go back to your room, right? (Slowly,
reluctantly, still very scared, he goes back and closes the door).
Dear… that is the evil I have done to my God. I have
despised His grace and scorned His favour. I have
dragged His precious name in the mud. I've sinned
against His Holy name.

MRS HOSEA: Oh…! Oh…!

REV. HOSEA: (Sobs again) I don't know why it has taken me so

long to open up and surrender at His feet. Why have I
done this evil to myself? Now, that Pastor has given
prophetic word from the Lord that I should put my
house in order…

MRS HOSEA: (Madly) No-o-o-o! No, Lord!

REV. HOSEA: He said I shall die tomorrow.

MRS HOSEA: (Frantically) Stop it! Stop i-t! You shall not die!

REV. HOSEA: (Disorderly) Perhaps… he will spare my life…

now that I have confessed… Ah! What have I done to
myself? A thirty-year ministry flushed down the drain,
just like that… just like that… Oh…! (Mrs. Hosea rises
up on her feet and spreads out her arms as she looks up weeping).
 blood on
238 the altar

MRS. HOSEA: (Sorrowfully) Oh, Lord God of Israel… there is

someone standing in the gap…! I don't want this man to
die…! Are you not plenteous in mercy…? Mercy…!
Mercy…! (She continues crying with her hands raised up and
her eyes full of tears. Hosea remains seated in the same spot,
weeping and looking on helplessly).
 blood on 239
the altar

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 71

(Same night in Pastor Anjola's house, inside the guest room where Pastor
Wilson is staying. Pastor Wilson, Pastor Anjola and his wife are all in
fervent prayer. Pastor Wilson kneels by the bed sobbing as he prays, while
Pastor Anjola and his wife pray fervently).

WILSON: (Tearfully) We ask that you spare his life, Lord.

Forgive him his sins and let him live. Mercy, Lord,
mercy!

ANJOLA: You will be favourable to his wife and the only

remaining son. You will show your mercy and forgive
his sins. We pray that you spare his life. (The prayer
continues fervently in the room as Pastor Wilson remains on his
knees praying and sobbing).
 240 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 72

(In Rev. Hosea's House. They are still on the bed and it is running far
into the night. Mrs. Hosea is now sitting on the floor, crying incessantly.
Hosea still remains at the same spot on the bed, his eyes are red and
strained with incessant tears, which still flow down his face).

REV. HOSEA: (Sorrowful in tears) My Lord God… is it true I'm

dying tomorrow? I know I have broken Your heart… I
know I have despised Your grace. I know I have dragged
Your name in the mud… (Then he laments aloud). I know
I am a great sinner…! but Lord, You are the great
Saviour! Have mercy on me, Lord. I'm sorry, Lord…
Forgive me! Lord… turn your anger away from
me…I'm deeply sorry…!
 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 73

(It is afternoon, in Rev. Hosea's office. He sits behind his busy table. At
his right side he holds a long golden metal staff, which looks very much like
a sceptre. He wears white-laced material and a well-made cap sewn from
the same material. He sits calmly, but looks worried and frightened. His
left hand is holding a file on the table; his other hand holds the sceptre. He
is startled as the door opens and the elderly man in white enters. Rev.
Hosea gazes at him speechlessly with apprehension. The man walks
calmly to the front of his table, staring at him).

ELDERLY MAN: Man that is in honour, and understands it

not, is like the beast that perishes.

REV. HOSEA: (Trembling) Baba, is it true that I will die

tomorrow?

ELDERLY MAN: (Sitting) Why are you afraid to die?

REV. HOSEA: I'm not prepared for it yet.

ELDERLY MAN: Are you sure you are not prepared to die
yet?
 242 blood on
the altar

REV. HOSEA: So many visions yet to be realised. Lots of land

yet to be conquered. I still have several ministry ideas
that could liberate millions of people. I don't want to die
now!

ELDERLY MAN: You are talking about the visions you are yet
to fulfil, but even the ones you have accomplished have
already been destroyed. (He freezes in unbelief).

REV. HOSEA: Thirty years of ministry?

ELDERLY MAN: Yes. You've just destroyed it yourself.

REV. HOSEA: Ah. Lord. Won't You forgive me? You are the
Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious,
longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth.
Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and
transgression and sin…

ELDERLY MAN: (Calmly) …and that will by no means clear

the guilty. (Silence, as Rev. Hosea stares at him trembling).

REV. HOSEA: Please, Lord, forgive me!

ELDERLY MAN: I have forgiven you.

REV. HOSEA: I don't want to die.

ELDERLY MAN: Will you be able to withstand the impending

shame, disgrace and affliction that this sin will bring
upon you? (Silence. He looks at the Elderly man speechlessly).
Your ministry is gone, my son. Your life is cut short.
David was a man after my heart, when he did things
similar to this, he asked for forgiveness, I forgave him,
but do you know what I told him in 2 Samuel 12:12? I
said, though he committed the sins secretly, I would
 blood on
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expose him before all Israel and in broad daylight. Can

you remember the shame and disgrace he went through,
as well as losing his four eldest sons, including Ammon,
his crown Prince? He spent his remaining years in
distress and calamities. You won't be able to handle
what is ahead of you.

REV. HOSEA: (Sobbing sorrowfully) I'm deeply sorry for this

error, Lord. Ah…!

ELDERLY MAN: The enemy has triumphed over you to

some extent. He has cut short your ministry and made a
mess of your thirty years of labour in the vineyard, but
taking you away from the game field will save you from
further afflictions of the enemy. Your wife and your son
will still escape through, they are innocent and I will
favour them. (He rises up quietly and stretches forth his
hand). Give me the sceptre.

REV. HOSEA: (Sorrowfully) Why, Lord?

ELDERLY MAN: I'm taking it from you, son. You have no

ministry any more. (With much grief, slowly, reluctantly, he
hands it over to the elderly man) I'm taking from you the
authority of ministry. Keep the file, that's the utterance.
You will still deliver my message. I will come back for
the file. (He turns, goes to the door, opens it and steps out. As he
shuts the door behind him, Rev. Hosea wakes up on his bed. He
looks around him; the environment looks strange. His wife is
standing by).

MRS. HOSEA: Praise God…! Dear… Dear...?

REV. HOSEA: (Still looking baffled) Yes… Where am I? Where is

this place?
 blood on
244 the altar

MRS HOSEA: It's a hospital.

REV. HOSEA: Hospital? Why? What happened?

MRS HOSEA: Sh-h-h…! Don't talk too much. Relax…relax.

REV. HOSEA: Please…what happened? How did I get here?

MRS HOSEA: When you were in the room last night… I was
sitting on the floor… you know? Then… when you
were praying and crying, you just went unconscious
suddenly. You fainted, that's all. I shouted, I screamed,
I did all I could, but you wouldn't come round. I and the
security man, and David, brought you here.

REV. HOSEA: (Pondering) I just fainted…?

MRS HOSEA: The doctor said you have high blood pressure.

REV. HOSEA: (Dazed) Me…? High-blood pressure?

MRS HOSEA: (Wipes her wet eyes) The doctor said he is still
going to run some other tests.

REV. HOSEA: (Solemnly) Where is David?

MRS HOSEA: He just left the room now. He's likely sitting in
the reception area. How are you feeling now?

REV. HOSEA: I have a headache.

 blood on 245
the altar

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 74

(Pastor Anjola's house. Pastors Wilson, Anjola and his wife are all in the
living room looking deeply worried and dejected; the atmosphere is
solemn).

WILSON: No, that's too soon. (Pacing about restlessly) He can't

die. His death will not be to the advantage of anybody.
We have prayed, the Lord will spare his life.

MRS ANJOLA: When did the woman say he was taken to

hospital?

WILSON: She said yesterday evening. She said he was praying,

when he fainted and became unconscious. (His phone
rings, he looks at the screen). It's Mrs. Hosea again. Hello,
ma… Hello… (Mrs. Hosea is outside the ward; she controls
her tears as she speaks).

MRS HOSEA: Pastor Wilson, it's me again.

WILSON: Yes, I know, ma. How is he faring?

 blood on
246 the altar

MRS HOSEA: He's beginning to ask after some people. He

particularly asks that you come to him urgently.

WILSON: (Afraid) Ah…!

MRS HOSEA: (Tearfully) Pastor Wilson. I heard yesterday,

when those words of knowledge were coming out of
your mouth. I heard it when he was told that he would
die today… But, can't you pray with me that he will not
die? He has confessed and asked the Lord for
forgiveness and mercy. Join your faith with mine… I
don't want this man to die!

WILSON: All right, ma. I will be there shortly. (In the hospital,
Mrs. Hosea leaves the passage of the ward and enters the room
again. Hosea, in groans and eyes full of tears turns his head to
his wife).

REV. HOSEA: Please... check Mr. Clement Owese's number

for me.
MRS HOSEA: (Surprised) Tumi's husband?

REV. HOSEA: Yes. Call his number for me. I need to confess
to him too.

MRS HOSEA: Will he be able to bear it?

REV. HOSEA: I have a duty to fulfil. I must smooth all the

rough edges. I need to confess to him… Call his
number.

MRS HOSEA: (Looks at him hesitantly) It's ringing.

REV. HOSEA: (Weakly) Good. Tell him.

 blood on 247
the altar

MRS HOSEA: Tell him what?

REV. HOSEA: Everything. No, bring the phone. Let me tell

him myself. (Incredulous, with hesitation, she hands the phone
to him). Hello… Is that Mr Clement Owese?

(Mr. Owese is seen stepping out of an office building to a parking lot).

CLEMENT: Yes, who is this?

HOSEA: I am Reverend Atilade Hosea, calling from Lagos.

CLEMENT: (Pleasantly) Ah, good afternoon, sir. It's nice to

hear your voice, sir. How is mammy?

REV. HOSEA: (Soberly) I have a confession to make.

CLEMENT: Confession? Which confession?

REV. HOSEA: I admit it was a terrible thing that is never

expected from someone like me. But the enemy
overtook me and I fell for his trap.

CLEMENT: What is going on?

REV. HOSEA: I have hurt you deeply and inflicted a life-long

wound on your heart. But only one thing I ask from
you. Please, find a place in your heart to forgive me.

CLEMENT: What did you do to me?

REV. HOSEA: I was responsible for the pregnancy of your

wife….(Shock. Clement cuts off the phone instantly, transfixed
as if in a dream, his mouth open and eyes glazed over, absolutely
dumbfounded). Hello…Hello…!
 blood on
248 the altar

MRS HOSEA: (Wipes his wet eyes) What?

REV. HOSEA: He disconnected the line. He must have been

too shocked.

MRS. HOSEA: Ah...! (Back to Clement who remains in the same

position, utterly confounded. With a sense of doubt, he calls the
number again). The phone is ringing… bring it. (He
gives her the phone. She looks at the caller). It's him… It's
him.

REV. HOSEA: (Calmly) Give it back to me. (He takes the phone)
Yes, this is Reverend Atilade Hosea.

CLEMENT: You said you were responsible for the pregnancy

Tumi aborted?

REV. HOSEA: You have every right to be angry with me. But,
please, forgive me!

CLEMENT: Ah…! (He switches off the phone again)

REV. HOSEA: Hello… Mr Clement. (To his wife) He is off

again.

MRS. HOSEA: (Tearfully) That's all. You've told him. Give me

the phone. You need to rest now.

REV. HOSEA: No. I need to inform the house of God too.

Take the phone. (She takes it from him) Get Reverend
(Dr). Billy Vincents for me, I need to talk to him.

MRS. HOSEA: No. That's enough. You want to tell the

President of the Pentecostal Ministers' Association?
 blood on
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REV. HOSEA: I want to tell him to call a press conference and

announce my expulsion from the Pentecostal
Association.

MRS HOSEA: (Crying) No-o. Why are you saying all that?
Dear, you've repented! No, I won't!

REV. HOSEA: Get him for me. I'm acting under instructions.
Let him begin to make a public announcement of all
those ministers of the altar who drag the name of the
Lord in the mud. Get him for me! (Crying, she begins to
search for the number in the phone).
 250 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 75

(Later on the same day in Calabar, inside the house of Clements's Pastor.
The elderly couple is at the dining table. The woman is serving food when
Clement bursts into the living room in anger. The couple get jolted as they
see him).

PASTOR: Brother Clement, what is the matter?

CLEMENT: (boiling) I've found him!

PASTOR: (Wonders) Who?

CLEMENT: The murderer! The man who impregnated my

wife and pushed her into abortion to cover up his
misdeed!

(Confused, they both leave the table to meet Clement in the living room
where he is standing).

WIFE: Who is the man?

CLEMENT: Reverend Hosea. Atilade Hosea.

 blood on
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PASTOR: (Pondering) Reverend Hosea?

WIFE: Reverend Hosea? Of the Pentecostal Association in

Lagos?

CLEMENT: (Angrily) I don't know which association he

belongs to! But he just called me to confess now.

PASTOR: (Confounded) I can't believe this.

CLEMENT: (Emotionally) You see my predicament? I pushed

my wife out of my home because of a strange woman,
not knowing that I had pushed her into the hands of a
strange man! You see my life?

WIFE: Calm down, Brother Clement.

CLEMENT: This is strange! Can you imagine this happening

in the house of God? When I heard that my wife was
working in a church office with a man of God I was
relieved, thinking she was in a place safe from the usual
madness of the world. I never knew that the devil's
agent had employed her! Pastor, he slept with my wife,
got her pregnant, then persuaded her to go for an
abortion, and she died in the process! This evil man was
right there in the hospital with me when I was crying
pitifully! When I took custody of my son, I went to his
house to thank him for all his support. He saw me in
agony and he kept mute! Can you imagine the level of
hypocrisy now existing in the church? I never knew the
devil himself now lives in the church!

PASTOR: No. Brother Clement, don't say that. Be calm.

CLEMENT: (Angrily) No! I will say it! I will tell the whole
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world how a man of God has ruined my life. I'm going to

call my boss in Lagos! I will get him arrested! I'm going
to sue him in court and have him jailed for this!

PASTOR: Brother Clement, let the Lord handle this!

CLEMENT: No. Keep the Lord out of this! I will handle it

myself! And I will handle it my own way. Don't you
know what he has done? He has made me a widower
and made my son motherless! I will blow this matter up!
Everybody will hear what evil a supposed man of God
has done!

WIFE: Brother Clement…!

CLEMENT: (Sharply) Sorry, Ma. I'm not Brother Clement! I

am a Naval Officer. Lt. Commander Clement Owese.
Good day! (Furiously, he turns his back and walks out of the
house. The Pastor and his wife look on dumbfounded).
 blood on 253
the altar

BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 76

(Back in the hospital ward. Some men are now gathered around the bed
of Rev. Hosea. They are Pastors Wilson and Anjola; Rev. (Dr). Billy
Vincent, the President of the Pentecostal Ministers' Association and Rev.
Odia, the General Secretary of the Association. Mrs. Hosea is sitting on a
stool at a corner of the room, soaked in tears. The men are all sorrowful,
apart from Revs. Vincent and Odia, who are both astonished at the
happenings).

REV. HOSEA: (Talking weakly) Don't bother to pray for me and

don't worry about me, I know my end, only that it isn't in
the Lord's intention for the ministry to end this way. It is
all of my making, Rev. (Dr). Vincent.

VINCENT: (Still very sad and astonished) Yes.

REV. HOSEA: (In tears) I made a confession that I have delayed

for so long. I have told you everything! Now I have no
ministry any more and the labour of thirty years has all
become rubbish through one moment of sin. I am guilty
of adultery and abortion, and the murder of a lady who
ran away from a marital crisis to take shelter under the
ministry the Lord had given to me. I have called her
 254 blood on
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husband and opened up to him. I've asked him to

pardon me for the deliberate evil!

VINCENT: (Still wonders) Ah…! How will people feel when

they hear this?

REV. HOSEA: Reverend Vincent, I tried to cover up these

sins, it never worked, so it will not work for whoever
would try to cover it! The Lord says the time has come
that He will begin to purge His church and begin to
prepare her for His coming. So, He will begin to judge
the Priests of His house that have desecrated His holy
altars! He will begin to bring them to justice. He will
begin to beat them with the rod of affliction. “It is
time”, says the Lord “that I will raise up against all those
who profess religion and relation to God but have given
my enemies reasons for reproach and blasphemy. The
time has come”, says the Lord, “that those who soil My
altar shall bear the shame of it”. Thank you, Lord! So,
Reverend Vincent, call a press Conference, tell the
world I'm sorry but don't forget to tell them the Lord
has forgiven me this great evil. I have laboured in His
Vineyard for thirty years, but all the works are burnt and
I'm going back to Him with the ashes of the thirty-year
labour.

MRS HOSEA: (Cries aloud) Oh… God! (The men stand

stupefied).

REV. HOSEA: (Feebly) The Lord in His mercy has said He

would make my wife and son escape through this
sorrowful and embarrassing moment. I leave them in
His care. Thank you all...

(Outside the ward, in the hospital compound, a police car arrives speedily
 blood on
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and halts at the parking lot. Clement comes out of the car, followed by two
police officers. A male doctor meets them at the entrance).

DOCTOR: Excuse me, officers, may I be of help?

OFFICER I: We are reliably informed that a suspect is hiding in

this hospital.

DOCTOR: No suspect is hiding in this hospital.

OFFICER II: He is a suspect pretending to be a patient in your

hospital.

CLEMENT: Listen, Doctor. These officers have come to

arrest Reverend Hosea. He knows his secrets have
leaked out, so he pretended to be sick in order to avert
judgement.

DOCTOR: (Surprised) No, he was rushed here last night after

fainting during a prayer session. I tested him afterwards
and found out he has high blood pressure. So, he has
been admitted.

CLEMENT: You've been fooled, doctor.

OFFICER I: Can we see him?

DOCTOR: Sure. Please come and see him.

(They follow the doctor inside the building and straight to the ward. The
men are still standing solemnly. Rev. Hosea lies on the bed still. His wife
is still where she is sobbing quietly. As the police officers enter the room, the
men look startled. Mrs. Hosea sees Clement and rises up instantly).

MRS HOSEA: Ah. Brother Clement.

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DOCTOR: (To the police officers) As you can see, he is resting.

These are his people who have come to see him.

CLEMENT: Doctor, you will have to wake him up for him to

confirm what he confessed to me by phone.

DOCTOR: We can't wake him up. We will have to wait for him
to wake up.

MRS HOSEA: Brother Clement, you can ask me whatever

question you wish to ask him.

CLEMENT: No, these officers have to hear him speak. (The

doctor moves closer to his bed and taps him).

DOCTOR: Reverend. Hosea…! Reverend Hosea…! (He taps

him more firmly) Reverend… Reverend…(Then he gets
more worried, he removes his stethoscope from around his neck
and checks his heartbeat. More worried, he checks his pulse.
Then he stands frozen).

WILSON: What is it, doctor?

DOCTOR: (Amazed) What!

MRS. HOSEA: (crumbling emotionally) No. Don't tell me…

don't say it… My God!….

VINCENT: Doctor?

DOCTOR: And you were all here… you didn't know. I'm
sorry.

MRS HOSEA: (Wailing) Ah…! Ah…!

 blood on
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(The men remain shocked. The police officers stand confused. Outside
the ward, a bus of press crew has just arrived at the hospital compound.
Press men and ladies rush out of the bus with photo and video cameras. A
young lady and a cameraman move to a public area as the lady holds a
microphone for PTV television station, and positions herself before the
cameraman).

TV LADY: Good afternoon, viewers, here we are at the hospital

where the husband of the dead woman said the
Reverend has come to hide. We are now at the front of
the hospital, hoping to be able to eventually have the
Reverend's own side of the story. (Clement and the two
police officers come out of the building). Well viewers, the
police are already here and the husband of the dead
woman. As you can see, they are looking solemn,
probably the Reverend has been placed under arrest, but
we are yet to see him coming out with them. Let's hear
the police comment.

(All the journalists hurry to the police officers, who still look confused.
Clement also looks astounded, as he remains speechless, standing beside
the police car. The TV lady stands before the police officers).

OFFICER I: (Stammers) Well, as you can see, we were unable to

arrest the man. We got to his ward and found him
already dead.

TV LADY: Dead? Are you sure he's really dead, or is he faking it

to avoid being arrested?

OFFICER I: No. The doctor was there, he confirmed him

dead. His people were there too, absolutely amazed that
he had died.

TV LADY: This is amazing. Can you rule out the possibility of

suicide to escape embarrassment?
 blood on
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OFFICER I: Well, until an autopsy is carried out and further

investigation is made. Thank you.

(They move towards the car. The journalists all rush towards Clement,
who stands shocked by the car. At this time Rev. (Dr). Billy Vincent,
Rev. Odia and Pastor Anjola come out of the reception area. The press
men spot them, they rush to them, sticking up their microphones and
midget-recorders towards their mouths as they bombard them with
questions).

 Is it true Reverend Hosea is dead?

 Doesn't this incident cast doubt on the integrity and
reputation of the church?
 Isn't this just one out of many instances that are
happening in the church today?
 Will this affect the growth of the church?
 We still feel he committed suicide.

(The barrage of insensitive questions goes on and on and the men of God
are finding it difficult to respond. They are deeply sorrowful and
embarrassed as they try to answer some of the questions).
 blood on
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BLOOD ON THE ALTAR

Scene 77

(Next morning. At various intersections and throughout the city,

newspaper vendors display their newspapers conveying different
headlines:

* PASTOR DIED IN THE ACT

* REVEREND COMMITS SUICIDE
To Escape Shame.
* REV. HOSEA CRUMBLED
* 30 yrs of Ministry End In Shame
* RANDY PASTOR DIED IN SIN

(Vendors are blaring their horns to draw attention to the papers. In other
spots, pedestrians are converging to read the papers. Traffic is being held up
as cars are parked haphazardly, so that papers can be snatched up from
vendors who are having a field day selling their hot news. Other people
are going about their normal business).

THE END
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