Summary

While Chika is wandering in a Kano market, a riot breaks out. Amidst the chaos, a woman gets her attention, and leads her to an "empty store where they could hide" (1). Once inside, the woman notices that her necklace is missing. Chika says she dropped her oranges and her expensive handbag, too. Chika imagines the woman's necklace is just "plastic beads threaded on a piece of string" (2).

Based on the woman's accent and the scarf she is wearing, Chika can tell she is Hausa, and Muslim. Chika guesses the woman can tell from her appearance and her "silver finger rosary...that she is Igbo and Christian" (2).

Later, Chika will discover the reason for the riot: "Hausa Muslims are hacking down Igbo Christians with machetes" (2).

Suddenly, Chika thanks the woman for getting her attention and leading her away. The woman insists they are safe...