asked himself. He stepped forward. that I am not afraid of blood and if anyone tells you that I am.

Amikwu and his people had taken palm-wine to the bride's kinsmen about two moons before Okonkwo's arrival in Mbanta
Amikwu and his people had taken palm-wine to the bride's kinsmen about two moons before Okonkwo's arrival in Mbanta.One of the men behind him cleared his throat." He laughed a mirthless laughter. "But I have also heard that Abame people were weak and foolish. her moments of depression when she would snap at everybody like an angry dog. Obierika sent word that the two huts had been built and Okonkwo began to prepare for his return." said Ezinma. None of his converts was a man whose word was heeded in ihe assembly of the people. Dazed with fear. His name was Uchendu."Yes. I shall break your jaw. who had begun to play a part in the affairs of his motherland. his heels hardly touched the ground and he seemed to walk on springs." He filled the first horn and gave to his father.

but the ekwe carried the news to all the nine villages and even beyond. There were five groups. They then set about painting themselves with cam wood and drawing beautiful black patterns on their stomachs and on their backs. They will serve you when I have eaten. But it was like beginning life anew without the vigor and enthusiasm of youth."You must watch the pot carefully. he made sacrifices of atonement and performed an expensive burial ceremony such as was done for a great man. whom she called "my daughter. But a few years later she ran away from her husband and came to live with Okonkwo.There were twelve men on each side and the challenge went from one side to the other. confident voice. Was it waiting to snap its teeth together? After passing and re-passing by the church. The white man has no sense. and it ended on the left." said Nwoye's mother.

But he now knew that they were for foolish women and children. It was not the mad logic of the Trinity that captivated him. and his children after him. She is called Ozoemena. The New Yam Festival seemed to him to be a much bigger event here than in his own village. The crowd then shouted with ainger and thirst for blood. carrying on their heads various sizes of pots suitable to their years. male and female. He fell and fell and fell until he began to fear that he would never stop falling. They usually stay if they do not die before the age of six. who clung to her.The two teams were ranged facing each other across the clear space."Don't be afraid. Surely the earth goddess would not visit the sins of the missionaries on the innocent villagers?But on one occasion the missionaries had tried to over step the bounds. stood immediately behind the only gate in the red walls.

"who will protect us from the anger of our neglected gods and ancestors?""Your gods are not alive and cannot do you any harm. Uchendu pulled gently at his gray beard and gnashed his teeth. But he was happy to leave his father. The moon was shining." the medicine man told Okonkwo in a cool. On Obierika's side were his two elder brothers and Maduka. leaving what we are cooking to burn in the fire. There were five groups. and he loved this season of the year. It was a very expensive ceremony and he was gathering all his resources together. and before they began to speak in low tones Nwoye and Ikemefuna were sent out. The law of the clan is that you should return her bride-price. who has promised everlasting life to all who believe in His holy name."He uncovered his second wife's dish and began to eat from it. And there were again only three.

and on her waist four or five rows of jigida. and he spoke as he performed them:"1 hope our in-laws will bring many pots of wine. years ago. persistent and unchanging. He threw down the gun and jumped into the barn and there lay the woman. The water began to boil. The men trod dry leaves on the sand. As the rains became heavier the women planted maize. But Chielo ignored what he was trying to say and went on shouting that Agbala wanted to see his daughter."Come along then and show me the spot. She is called Ozoemena."At last the party arrived in the sky and their hosts were very happy to see them. for he had no grave. "Whoever has a job in hand. smiling.

Mr. But that was only to be expected. and the elusive dance rose and fell with the wind."The birds gathered round to eat what was left and to peck at the bones he had thrown all about the floor. "They will put off Ndulue's funeral until his wife has been buried.The men then continued their drinking and talking. A man can now leave his father and his brothers. And if they could not help in digging up the yams. You may ask why I am saying all this.Mr. Uzowulu should recover from his madness and come in the proper way to beg his wife to return she will do so on the understanding that if he ever beats her again we shall cut off his genitals for him. They sang the latest song in the village:" If I hold her handShe says. A deep murmur went through the crowd when he said this. "What kind of lover sleeps with a pregnant woman?" There was a loud murmur of approbation from the crowd. He tried not to think about Ikemefuna.

As they emerged into the open village from the narrow forest track the darkness was softened and it became possible to see the vague shape of trees. Hisspeech was so eloquent that all the birds were glad they had brought him." urged the other women"None?" asked Njide. If we were all afraid of blood. he was not afraid now.She walked up to her husband and accepted the horn from him. and none of them died. the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves. Would he recognize her now? She must have grown quite big. "You will bring to the shrine of Ani tomorrow one she-goat. That was the way people answered calls from outside. A toad does not run in the daytime for nothing. Some of it also went to the bride and her attendant maidens.The contest began with boys of fifteen or sixteen." replied Ekwefi.

suddenly changed his mind and agreed to take the message. As soon as Unoka understood what his friend was driving at. Evil Forest then stood up. who has promised everlasting life to all who believe in His holy name."We have now built a church. rubbing off the grains of sand that clung to his thighs. And what was more. it is for you. And so he killed her. fifth and sixth years." said Obiageli." the others replied. and they each gave him a feather. "We have been sent by this great God to ask you to leave your wicked ways and false gods and turn to Him so that you may be saved when you die. Okonkwo brought out kola nut and placed it before the priest.

the messenger of earth. Then send him word to fight for us."It is here.He sent for the five sons and they came and sat in his obi. For how else could he explain his great misfortune and exile and now his despicable son's behavior? Now that he had time to think of it. it is play'. my friend.He is fit to be a slave. and he gave to Vulture rain wrapped in leaves of coco-yam. Why did they not fight back? Had they no guns and machetes? We would be cowards lo compare ourselves with the men of Abame. There is only one true God and He has the earth. In that way she will elude her wicked tormentor and break its evil cycle of birth and death. "honest men and thieves. Like all good farmers. "The children are still very young.

When they saw it they drove it back to its owner. Now you talk about his son. called him by his name and went back to her hut. For although locusts had not visited Umuofia for many years. They did not stay very long. Elumelu. Never make an early morning appointment with a man who has just married a new wife." replied Okukwe."I shall return very soon." said Ekwefi."Sometimes I wish I had not taken the ozo title. fantastic figures that dissolved under her steady gaze and then formed again in new shapes."I am following Chielo.A hush fell on the compound immediately. There was so much food and drink that many kinsmen whistled in surprise.

but every farmer knew that without sunshine the tubers would not grow. not even for fear of a goddess. also carrying an oil lamp. and then turning to his brother and his son he said: "Let us go out and whisper together. and on her waist four or five rows of jigida. It was this man that Okonkwo threw in a fight which the old men agreed was one of the fiercest since the founder of their town engaged a spirit of the wild for seven days and seven nights. I shall pay you. I shall give you some fish to eat. when she had seen Ogbu-agali-odu."Do you know me?""No man can know you. Yam." she began." he said. Okonkwo was not a man of thought but of action. Uchendu ground his teeth together audibly.

"Go into that room. But they have cast you out like lepers. "So he must have a wife and all of them must have buttocks.When the women retired.He brought with him two young men. No punishment was prescribed for a man who killed the python knowingly. But good men who worshipped the true God lived forever in His happy kingdom. He always said that whenever he saw a dead man's mouth he saw the folly of not eating what one had in one's lifetime. He knew the names of all the birds and could set clever traps for the little bush rodents. The thick mat was thrown over both. Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down.The Feast of the New Yam was held every year before the harvest began. He was very good on his flute. It is a poor soil and that is why the tubers are so small. Go ahead and prepare your farm.

his mind would have been centered on his work."Evil Forest then turned to the other group and addressed the eldest of the three brothers. She ran faster." replied her mother.Go-di-di-go-go-di-go. it is play'. self-assured and confident. The eight other egwugwu were as still as statues.He sent for the five sons and they came and sat in his obi. But no one who had ever crawled into his awful shrine had come out without the fear of his power. "How man men have lain with you since my brother first expressed his desire to marry you?""None. succulent breasts."Obiageli broke her pot today." He laughed a mirthless laughter. Now Ekwefi was a woman of forty-five who had suffered a great deal in her time.

The medicine man ignored him. I have come to pay you my respects and also to ask a favor. When everything had been set before the guests. 'If I fall down for you and you fall down for me. that my children do not resemble me." replied the other." he said. He lelt a relief within as the hymn poured into his parched soul. The white man had gone back to Umuofia. There must have been about ten thousand men there. the anger on his face was gone. It was slow and painful."It has not always been so. when they came." said Uchendu to his peers when they consulted among themselves.

it was true.Ekwefi rose early on the following morning and went to her farm with her daughter. That was why Okonkwo had been Chosen by the nine villages to carry a message of war to their enemies unless they agreed to give up a young man and a virgin to atone for the murder of Udo's wife."Has Nweke married a wife?" asked Okonkwo. Once she tripped up and fell. a large crowd of men from Ezeudu's quarter stormed Okonkwo's compound. 'There is nothing to fear from someone who shouts. but he had not expected he would be so generous. The women weeded the farm three times at definite periods in the life of the yams. Once she tripped up and fell. To show affection was a sign of weakness. "The evil you have done can ruin the whole clan." Okonkwo asked himself. He stepped forward. that I am not afraid of blood and if anyone tells you that I am.