Akunna’s death stunned the whole village because it had never been heard that a man slept in another man’s house for the first time and died on that same day. A lot of accusing fingers were pointed at Echi. The signs were clear on the wall. Akunna had died from food poisoning. The only way the people of Umuolu could know the truth about the nightmare that had occurred in Echi’s compound was to consult the chief priest of their land, Isiewu. Once again, duty called. The villagers quickly summoned Isiewu to investigate the cause of Akunna’s death. He answered the call with his son by his side and promptly set to work. By noon, Isiewu finally announced to the village after peaceful hours of silence, that Akunna had died an evil death and needs to be buried inside the evil forest as soon as possible. This shocking news sent shivers to the bodies and minds of the people of Umuolu because no one could remember when last any

A wave is like a trembling man suffering from an unending seizure a panic attack with a glowing beam. Isiewu came the next day when the moon was taking a long stride and leaping beyond the boundaries of Umuolu to another part of the world. His footsteps sounded loudly, followed by a rattling sound caused by the staff he held in his hand. He struck his stick several times on the ground as he got closer to Echi’s compound. His movements were slow and steady. Precise. It was often said that when Isiewu walked in a hurry, he was being chased by his personal god for disobeying the task given to him, but when he walked slowly, especially when he wore his dreaded raffia cloth stained with blood in its centre, he was believed to be under the influence of Igweka-ala’s reserved spirit. Beliefs were essential to the people of Umuolu. They were the foundation of their existence. “Greetings to the eyes of the gods. You are welcome,&rdqu

Many years had passed since Olanna walked through the surface of the earth with a gleaming smile that struck the heart of Echi. But nothing changed much. Echi and his three sons still managed to live through the years of her absence, still managed to cope with their daily lives with the absence of a woman in their household, still managed to go to farm, laugh, eat and sleep as if everything was normal. The only thing that was different and strange to Echi were the eyes of his sons. Eyes that asked about a mother who they only saw once during their birth. Echi was sitting alone in his room after breakfast, remembering how he had brought the body of Olanna to Okezie alone, in the same night she died. He remembered how he had wrapped her body in their marriage wrapper and fled with her corpse away from Umuolu before the village drums would be rolled to announce the death of another villager. That was the night when for the first and last time, he saw the face of hi

In the evening, new, fresh palm fronds were passed around the whole village, signifying a new war. Weak men ran inside their homes, gathered their wives and children, and started a meeting on how they would successfully run away from the village without being seen. It was the next day, as early as the cock crowed that Echi got hold of his own palm frond. The dark greenish leaf disintegrated into different parts. As Echi observed the edges of the leaves, he knew his death was near. The death he had longed for and waited for many years was finally at his doorsteps. The passage to his dear Olanna was finally in his own hands. He strained his eyes to see the small drop of blood that was on one of the leaves. It was the smallest drop of blood he had seen on a leaf since he started receiving the palm fronds of war on his threshold. The thirteen emissaries sent to Umunsogbu returned in the afternoon with their leader, Chika leading the way with the message of Egwu

The journey from Umuolu to Umuoku was a tough one for Echi’s young children, who he had purposely left. They were lucky enough to hide in a bush when the warriors of Umunsogbu came looking for them and burnt Umuolu to the ground. If not for a bird that whistled past them, they would have been caught and driven to slavery like the rest of the children.Ofu came back from urinating, moving like a fallen warrior. He squinted, searching around and looking for any sign that would spark a run, but there was none. There was no strange figure looming around or any warrior setting a trap for them. He stretched his hands and sat on the wrapper that was lying on the grass, with his eyes still watching for any dangerous movements. Still, there were none. A slight cough startled him. It came from Abuo. He moved towards Abuo and covered his mouth as quickly as possible with a cupped palm to prevent him from coughing.“Remove your hands from