NEW LIFE - Chapter Eighty-one

Ibekwe dropped the pot of water in the backyard of Akwaudo's hut. Ifeme was behind him, staring at a roosting chick that had been born some minutes ago. He was pouring the water he had fetched from the stream on a large clay pot when he heard Akwaudo's scream. Mistakenly, he released his hands from the pot and it fell and smashed into pieces as it hit the ground. He entered the hut, passed the room he shared with Ifeme and stopped dead when he reached Akwaudo's room. He saw Okoli sitting on the floor and holding her firmly on her shoulders. There was blood in the floor.

"Your mother is not well," Okoli said. He bent Akwaudo's wrist for Ibekwe to see. She was helpless and stiff as if she had lost her sense of movements. "Go and get Ifeme quickly and bring a piece of cloth you will use to get rid of the blood on the floor."

Ibekwe did not move. He stared at the thick blood that was flowing from Akwaudo's face. Her face was swollen, larger than normal and her eyes were cl