Chapter 37: Dangerous mission

Ije went to bed without food. All the efforts made by her grandmother to make sure she took something yielded no result. Uzo joined her on the bed and cling to her as she slept. It was as if letting her go would cause the child to disappear.

Mazi Ileka understood his grandchild more than anybody in the family. He knew Ije would love to leave without bothering anyone, so he gave her all the necessary advice a father would give to her daughter.

Uzo woke up from time to time to make sure Ije was still there with her. She wished she could go with her. However, Ije had earlier told them that anyone who tried to go with her would be killed by Ajonwa deity because it may seem as though the person was trying to abscond with her. The mission was solely hers and the gods.

Uzo thought about the child's mother who traveled to Uzofia community to see her friend Uzoma, whose husband fell from a palm tree and died. It had been eight market days since Anine left the community. No one had heard