The five-thousand-naira retainer was an earthquake in the small economy of Elian's life. It was a leap of faith that echoed much more powerfully than its monetary value. He splurged on one lone, calculated extravagance: a sturdy second-hand wooden chair and desk set, placed in the corner of his bedroom. It was a declaration. Elian Athen was no longer just keeping his head above water; he was back in business.
His earliest and most passionate supporter was Alabi Mbeki. The simple rearranging of the printing press had already cost him thousands, and he preached Elian's "uncanny eye for patterns" to every connection in his network that would listen. Small business owners, the foundation of the local economy, began approaching Elian with their own problematic issues—a leaking inventory, a dif
