Chapter 4

Nna Awor looked around the house in a taut face. While Asinya’s expression worried her, Ntone’s vague stare however terrified her. Without waiting for assistance, she dropped the sack of cocoyams to a heap at a corner of the little room that both served as their sitting room and bedroom.

“Akunjor, what brings you to my hut?” Nna Awor asked. Her eyes were fixed on the oldest man in the group. He met her gaze with a smile that was meant to disarm. The smile however failed to produce the desired effect for Nna Awor seemed to be on the verge of explosion.

“Relax Nna Awor. We have come with good tidings.” He said, pointing wrinkled hands towards the cartons of assorted drinks in front of him. Nna Awor’s expression remained grim.

“My sister’s son here who lives in Calabar has seen a beautiful flower in your house in the person of your daughter Ntone. We have come to ask for her hand in marriage.”

“Me?” Ntone puffed, placing her right palm firmly on her chest. “I am not marrying your sister’s son. I have my dreams to pursue.”

“Will you shut up? Haven’t you enough common sense to know that it is wrong to speak that way to elders? You aren’t even supposed to speak at all.” Asinya shouted, standing upright to buttress her point. She was already thirty years old and still unmarried. Her sudden interest in the younger girl getting married was quite ironical.

“Oh, so this is your plan,” Nna Awor replied, pointing her forefinger at her stepdaughter.

Ntone’s gaze shifted to the man they had brought to marry her. He looked old enough to sire her. She deliberately brought her gaze to study every detail of his. He was completely bald and sustained a scar firmly plastered a little distance away from his right eye which caused her to suspect that it was the product of a brawl. His small black eyes were a big contrast to the wide mouth that underlined them and his bulging cheeks gave him the appearance of a sissy. His shoulders were broad and even though he was seated she suspected him to be of average height. From the oblivious look that adorned his face, anyone could easily conclude that he would rather be somewhere else.

“We come in peace. We just need your consent to marry your daughter. Our son here is a successful business man. He has built two houses here in Edor and one in Calabar. He has two cars and a cocoa plantation. You have no doubt seen the cars outside. Your daughter and entire family would be well cared for.” Another middle-aged man among them spoke, flashing a set of grubby teeth.

Nna Awor’s response was as swift as lightning. The man who had spoken instantly regretted speaking at all. With surprising strength and agility, she carried all the cartons of drinks outside. When she returned inside, the confused guests had already risen to their feet. That was when Ntone confirmed the height of the surly looking suitor. He was truly of average height.

“Woman, what are you doing?” the oldest man who was obviously the leader of the delegation bellowed, his neck veins bulging out.

“I told you, a woman shouldn’t be approached concerning such matters. We should have gone to a senior male relative since the girl’s father is not in the picture.” The middle-aged man spoke forgetting too soon that it was his straw that had broken the camel’s back in the first place.

Nna Awor sneered at his comment.

“Get out of my house. Go and look for someone else to buy for your son. Leave my daughter alone.”

“We will come back. A woman has no say in these matters and you have no right to change our custom.” The middle-aged man said as he found his way outside the house.

“Think about it.” The leader shouted, pointing his staff at the enraged woman who stood at the doorway as if to ensure that they completely left the compound.

“You will regret this.” Asinya hissed, running towards the group, no doubt, to placate them.

Ntone stood beside her mother watching the silent exchange between her stepsister and the unwelcomed guests. The crowd of onlookers outside had increased. Ntone instantly knew, that in a short while, the entire village would be talking about her.

Her eyes strayed once more to the group. They had carted away the cartons of drinks that her mother had thrown outside. Her stepsister seemed to be assuring them of something as depicted by their nods of approval and satisfied smiles. It was crystal clear that Asinya was up to something that was really not good. Ntone followed her mother inside the house when the neighbours began to ask questions. She knew them too well. They only wanted additional information to spice up what their eyes had seen.

“You will prove to them that you are not an ordinary girl.” Her mother pointed out as they emptied the cocoyams from the sack.

Ntone knew that this wasn’t a mere statement. It was another order.

Just then, the smiling face of Nkoro poked through the doorway causing mother and daughter to cast quick glances in his direction.

“Mama, please tell me that the Governor happened to stop by,” he drawled, his eyes gleaming in delight. He had stayed behind after the close of school for the press club meeting. He was the president of the junior press club.

“You saw the cars?” Ntone raised an eyebrow.

“They were leaving when I walked into the compound. I even saw sister Asinya waving at them.” Ntone eyed her brother but was unable to tell if he was serious.

“Your stepsister brought a man to ask for your sister’s hand in marriage; a man old enough to be your father.” Their mother replied, while her eyes searched for something.

A look of revulsion suddenly found its way to Nkoro’s face. Lines of worry etched his forehead, causing him to look a lot older than his age. Ntone couldn’t help wondering why her brother who usually laughed over such matters didn’t find this particular one funny. Afterwards, when Asinya finally walked inside the hut, a sinister look that threatened to destroy anything that crossed her path flashed in her eyes. It was then that Ntone understood her brother’s worry.

She indeed had every reason to tread cautiously.

●

It was cold outside. Asinya gently closed the door and was careful not to make a noise. She adjusted the wrapper that draped her face and was certain that no one would recognise her in the dark. Although she had taken care to dress in a long sleeved blouse and wrapper, the cold stung her like soldier ants bite. Dawn was still a few hours away. She crossed the main road and followed the bush path that led to Nta Egede’s house. She thought of the talks about Nta Egede that went round the village. The villagers said that only the brave could pass through the mysterious bush that terminated in front of the medicine man’s shrine. As Asinya trudged the path oblivious to the fearful sound of owls hooting in the bush, she thought differently. In her opinion, only those who were desperate would have the courage to tread the bush path. She sighed and was grateful that she had worn a thick blouse. The long grass stalks had the morning dew on them, and since she had to find her way through the overgrown bush, her clothes were dampened by the dew. She couldn’t help wondering if it was really true that the ghosts of the people killed by Nta Egede haunted the path. Her eyes surveyed the thick darkness, half-expecting to see a mysterious form appear in the dark. When she didn’t see any shapes appear before her, her imagination shifted to that of ghosts touching her.

Her thoughts continued to torment her until she found herself at the doorstep of the medicine man. She knocked and waited, her heart pounding furiously. “Who is there?” a gruff voice called out from inside the thatched room.

“A client,” Asinya responded, folding both arms in an attempt to drive away the cold.

“Spirit or human?” the voice asked further.

The question drew an inaudible gasp from Asinya. “Did spirits patronise the medicine man too?” She asked rhetorically.

“I’m a human being.” She replied shakily.

“The door is open.”

She gently pushed the wooden door and walked in. Inside was completely dark, and for a while, the darkness blinded her.

“Asinya, you have come to destroy your stepsister. Drop your consultation fee inside the calabash in front of you.”

Asinya thought that she was going to drop dead from the shock waves that revolted against her. “The weird stories the villagers told about Nta Egede were probably true.” She thought. He was no human being. How else could he have known her name and motive without telling him? She was already beginning to worry about how she would find the calabash in the blinding darkness when the glow of an oil lamp suddenly illuminated the room. She took in the display of human skulls and blood in a fearful glance before dropping her gaze to the calabash placed a little distance away from her. She dropped a fee of five hundred naira note and waited. The blood stained curtain before her suddenly parted and when Nta Egede stepped out, she couldn’t conceal a horrified stare. Now, she believed everything the villagers said about the medicine man. They also said that he changed into different forms. Sometimes, he took the appearance of a giant and at other times, he was of average build. Asinya was shocked when a dwarf form emerged before her. His lower trunk was covered with a wrapper while his chest was left bare. His right eye was circled in white chalk. Asinya watched him perform a mysterious dance before her, panic gripping her as he burst into laughter.

“Nta Egede rules over the land of humans as well as spirits. Nta Egede has never lost a battle. Some wicked spirits decided to waylay me on my way to the forest,” he paused, and nodded his head after a quick moment of reminiscence. “I passed them on the way and even greeted them. They replied, not knowing that it was me. I picked the leaves that destroy spirits and when I passed again, they were still waiting for me. I put the leaves in my mouth and greeted them again. They replied not knowing that they had inhaled the leaves of death from my mouth. That was how I finished them.”

Asinya listened, praying to be out of the medicine’s man sight as quickly as possible. If he destroyed spirits, she reasoned that he could change his mind and destroy her even there. The dwarf must have read her mind.

“Don’t be afraid. I don’t destroy clients except those who think that they are too smart and do not pay after my services.”

“Who in his right mind would think of cheating this mysterious being?” Asinya wondered, trembling visibly. She watched Nta Egede produce a mirror from the same calabash that she had dropped the consultation fee. She could almost swear that a while ago, when she dropped the money inside the calabash, the mirror wasn’t there. He looked at the mirror, at the same time, shaking his baldhead.

“That girl has a very bright future. You have to tread cautiously.”

“Nta, does that mean that she cannot be destroyed?” Asinya was surprised that she could still utter a sound.

The transformation in the medicine man’s feature was swift.

“Are you saying that she is too strong for my powers?” the dwarf roared. “You dare undermine my powers?”

Her trembling increased as a deadly look clouded his face.

“No, I didn’t mean that.” she begged, dropping to her knees.

“I will help you.” He said after a moment’s hesitation. “Your fee is only two thousand naira.” “That’s okay.” She stammered.

He pulled out a bottle containing a powdery substance from the calabash.

“Spray this powder on her school uniform and any house wear of hers that you choose. Then, she will become even more stupid than a hen.”

“Thank you very much.” Asinya said, gently tying the small bottle inside the knotted end of her wrapper. She wanted to scream in excitement. The little ‘witch’ who thought that she was bigger than the entire village would soon become a derelict, stupid enough to marry a mad man.

“Do I have to pay now or later?” She asked, suddenly feeling very enthusiastic.

“Later.”

Dawn was slowly creeping in when Asinya found her way to the hut. The mother and her children were still fast asleep. She smiled in the dark and determined to execute the evil deed as quickly as possible. Shortly, Ntone’s clothes were drenched in an invisible powder. Having carefully followed the instructions of Nta Egede, Asinya stretched wearily on the bamboo bed. It wasn’t long before she began to snore-the effect of long and tiring hours of scheming.