“Banish him and you make him a hero in your son’s eyes,” Kasisi said. “The same will happen if you give him a public execution. No, he must disappear. Suddenly and without a trace, do you understand?”

“But you’re talking murder!”

“I’m talking the salvation of the race! Death is a part of life, but we can influence our time of death by our chosen lifestyle. His was risky—very risky. He has lived much longer than he ought. We are correcting that oversight.”

“But Kasisi, Busara is my friend!”

“Busara is heading your son straight to hell! When he is separated forever from the blessed realm, he will curse your name through all eternity! He will say ‘My father did this to me!’”

“But murder him??”

“God will bless you for it, so it is not murder! I tell you Kinara, there are more in this troop that follow him. Those who are in danger. Like Makedde.”

“What about Makedde!”

Kasisi crossed his arms smugly. “You thought you had the goods on me! You thought you had me under your thumb, old friend? You do your duty before God or as sure as there is a God, I’ll denounce him to the council the way I should have long ago!”

“You do that and I’ll kill you!”

“Kill the Chief Priest for following his religion? Do you think that would help? Do you think you could get away with it? Do you think I haven’t told anyone else why I was coming here tonight?”

“Enough!” Kinara stood facing the trees for a moment, then slowly turned back around. “I don’t have to enjoy it as much as you do. But so be it.”

Kinara recalled his two trusted bodyguards. He grabbed Doya by the chin whiskers. “Listen well. Our Chief Scribe likes to contact the spirit world." He scowls darkly. "Very well. We must arrange it so Busara can spend all his time there, if you read my meaning.”

“Yes, sir.”

"Handle it discretely, but handle it by sunrise tomorrow. For if you fail me--" He patted Uwezo on the head. “No chance of that. You wouldn’t dare fail.”