killed I would neither dispute it nor be the one to do it. The sickness was an abomination to the earth.

" said Obierika
" said Obierika. Do not bear a hand in his death. and brought back a duckling. You know as well as I do that our forefathers ordained that before we plant any crops in the earth we should observe a week in which a man does not say a harsh word to his neighbor. and he never saw her again. They were the harbingers sent to survey the land. Okonkwo sprang to his feet and quickly sat down again. Many years ago another egwugwu had dared to stand his ground before him and had been transfixed to the spot for two days."Nwoye always wondered who Nnadi was and why he should live all by himself. drank a little and handed back the horn."It is near that orange tree. If you think you are the greatest sufferer in the world ask my daughter. like a solitary walker at night who passes an evil spirit an the way. and even in the trees.'"None of the birds had heard of this custom but they knew that Tortoise. A great evil has come upon their land as the Oracle had warned.' And so Daughter Kite returned the duckling and took a chick instead." he said. And in fairness to Umuofia it should be recorded that it never went to war unless its case was clear and just and was accepted as such by its Oracle - the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves. They sympathized with their neighbors with much shaking of the head.The world was silent except for the shrill cry of insects.

also had a basket of plantains and coco-yams and a small pot of palm-oil." said Obierika. You have committed a great evil. a place which was already becoming remote and vague in his imagination. Some were great farmers. he took with him his flute. But as the dog said. Ezinma took it to him in his obi. hungry to do harm to the living. living in a special area of the village. It was not external but lay deep within himself. so that even when it was said that a ceremony would begin "after the midday meal" everyone understood that it would begin a long time later. Sometimes when he went to big village meetings or communal ancestral feasts he allowed Ikemefuna to accompany him. Every man rose in order of years and took a share. where he built his headquarters and from where he paid regular visits to Mr."I am Evil Forest. He called his son. And that was how he came to look after the doomed lad who was sacrificed to the village of Umuofia by their neighbors to avoid war and bloodshed." said Obierika. The glowing logs only served to light up vaguely the dark figure of the priestess.Umuofia was feared by all its neighbors.

and the sands felt like live coals to the feet.At last they took a turning and began to head for the caves. when he saw Nwoye among the Christians. Two years after her marriage to Anene she could bear it no longer and she ran away to Okonkwo."It is here. Near the barn was a small house. A man belongs to his fatherland when things are good and life is sweet."I cannot understand why you refused to come with us to kill that boy. The men stood outside the circle."Obiako has always been a strange one. beans and cassava.Large crowds began to gather on the village ilo as soon as the edge had worn off the sun's heat and it was no longer painful on the body." said Okonkwo." Ezinma offered. The clan was like a lizard. Each of them carried a long cane basket. but he did not answer. Sometimes it was not necessary to dig. He held up a piece of chalk. A snake was never called by its name at night. like the snapping of a tightened bow.

"and leave the child alone. They should have armed themselves with their guns and their machetes even when they went to market. She will bear you nine sons like the mother of our town. yellow and dark green."Unoka was like that in his last days. Okafo was swept off his feet by his supporters and carried home shoulder high."Father. Sometimes when he went to big village meetings or communal ancestral feasts he allowed Ikemefuna to accompany him. "Umuofia kwenu. It was as if water had been poured on the tightened skin of a drum. But the song spread in Umuofia. But before he could answer. blew into it to remove any dust that might be there. "How man men have lain with you since my brother first expressed his desire to marry you?""None." they said.Nwoye struggled to free himself from the choking grip. The priestess. He had lost the years in which he might have taken the highest titles in the clan. the Evil Forest was a fit home for such undesirable people. They have said so. Tortoise stood up in his many-colored plumage and thanked them for their invitation.

Because he had taken titles. And it was not too hot either. watching. This was before the planting season began. Only the really great men in the clan were able to do this.- then silence descended from the sky and swallowed the noise. Okoye. talking was the next best. and the man growled at him to go on and not stand looking back. It is a bad custom because it always leads to a quarrel.The night was impenetrably dark. Even the smell of gunpowder was swallowed in the sickly smell that now filled the air."You know what it is. in your obi or in her own hut?" asked the medicine man.The two teams were ranged facing each other across the clear space. It was even heard in the surrounding villages. a loud cheer rose from the crowd. "But they will understand when they go to their plot of land tomorrow morning. He had a large compound enclosed by a thick wall of red earth. Nwoye's mother was very kind to him and treated him as one of her own children. who said he should die.

made up her mind. who laughed uneasily because. The other wives drank in the same way. the matter lies between him and the god. 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. "How dare you. The palm fronds were helpless in keeping them back. into a healthy. but Okonkwo was as slippery as a fish in water." Okonkwo was specially fond of Ezinma. Okonkwo's son. like a mother and her daughter. Kiaga." replied Okonkwo. My mother's people have been good to me and 1 must show my gratitude. She called her by her name. but she must wait for Ezinma to wake."Every year.""He was indeed.""But they are beating the drums. He was afraid of being thought weak.

silence returned to the world. A man could not rise beyond the destiny of his chi. She thought of all the terrors of the night. Obierika. It seemed as if the world had gone mad. Kiaga. "I have heard that many years ago. Ezeudu was to be buried after dark with only a glowing brand to light the sacred ceremony. We do not dispute it. Although he had prospered in his motherland Okonkwo knew that he would have prospered even more in Umuofia. but they were really talking at the top of their voices." she replied. Okonkwo's youngest wife. the god who cut a man down when his life was sweetest to him. bending very low at the eaves." he asked." he said. and the sound of wooden mortar and pestle as Nwayieke pounded her foo-foo. But it was really a woman's ceremony and the central figures were the bride and her mother. But Ekwefi and Ezinma had heard the noise and run out to see what it was.""But they are beating the drums.

Ekwefi was the only person in the happy company who went about with a cloud on her brow."I was coming over to see you as soon as I finished that thatch. and when he got home he went straight to Okonkwo's hut and told him what he had seen. It was indeed the shrine of a great god.After the death of Ekwefi's second child."He died this morning. perhaps even quicker. the tumult increased tenfold. You know his first wife who walks with a stick?""Yes. But she had grown so bitter about her own chi that she could not rejoice with others over their good fortune. calabashes and wooden bowls were thoroughly washed. the top one."Swear on this staff of my fathers."Two years ago. Kiaga. Nwoye's mother and Okonkwo's youngest wife were ready to set out for Obierika's compound with all their children. But on further thought he told himself that Nwoye was not worth fighting for. the interpreter. Her husband and his family were already becoming highly critical of such a woman and were not unduly perturbed when they found she had fled to join the Christians. She was very friendly with Ekwefi and they shared a common shed in the market." said the young man Who had been sent by Obierika to buy the giant goat "There are so many people on it that if you threw up a grain of sand it would not find a way to fall to earth again.

Okoye said the next half a dozen sentences in proverbs. Even the oldest men could only remember one or two other occasions somewhere in the dim past. He searched in it for his snuff-bottle. Even Mgbafo took to her heels and had to be restrained by her brothers. Its most potent war-medicine was as old as the clan itself." replied Okonkwo. Uchendu before her. It was not the mad logic of the Trinity that captivated him. Nwayieke lived four compounds away. from Umuofia to Mbaino.Okonkwo sprang from his bed. Her mother consoled her and promised to buy her her another pot. Ikezue strove to dig in his right heel behind Okafo so as to pitch him backwards in the clever ege style. as was the custom. and so they stood waiting. Because of her size she made her way through trees and creepers more quickly than her followers. pointing at the far wall of his hut. It was said that when such a spirit appeared."Go and bring me some cold water." said Machi. An oil lamp was lit and Okonkwo tasted from each bowl.

for that was his father's name. She rubbed each string downwards with her palms until it passed the buttocks and slipped down to the floor around her feet. As the smoke rose into the sky kites appeared from different directions and hovered over the burning field in silent valediction. "He seemed to speak through his nose. Nwoye remembered this period very vividly till the end of his life. you and me and all of us. These moods descended on her suddenly and for no apparent reason. It had to be done slowly and carefully. We did not see it. and two or three pieces of land on which tofarm during the coming planting season. away from the gates of God and from the tender shepherd's care." and was allowed to go wherever it chose." he said." they said to the women."At last the great day came and Tortoise was the first to arrive at the meeting place. But after a while this custom was stopped because it spoiled the peace which it was meant to preserve. He remembered the story she often told of the quarrel between Earth and Sky long ago.He was by nature a very lively boy and he gradually became popular in Okonkwo's household. slanting showers through sunshine and quiet breeze." he said to Okonkwo. Now and again the cannon boomed.

Unoka prayed to their ancestors for life and health.'"None of the birds had heard of this custom but they knew that Tortoise. Amalinze was the great wrestler who for seven years was unbeaten."Who is that?" he growled." And he told him what an osu was. Their church stood on a circular clearing that looked like the open mouth of the Evil Forest. He was poor and his wife and children had barely enough to eat. but not overmuch. As the Ibo say: "When the moon is shining the cripple becomes hungry for a walk." The crowd agreed. He had a bad chi or personal god. She was going to the stream to fetch water. will not understand me. the twins still remained where they had been thrown away. An ultimatum was immediately dispatched to Mbaino asking them to choose between war - on the one hand. In fact he had not killed a rat with his gun. and they." said Obierika. And he was afraid to look back. There was the story of a very stubborn man who staggered back to his house and had to be carried again to the forest and tied to a tree. his harvest will be good or bad according to the strength of his arm.

why it is that one of the commonest names we give our children is Nneka. but nothing like this had ever happened."Where is Mgbogo?" asked one of them. "Ozoemena was. with which he carried the brown snuff to his nostrils. the son of Obierika. All others stood except those who came early enough to secure places on the few stands which had been built by placing smooth logs on forked pillars. Because he had taken titles. It was quiet and confident. he had stalked his victim. A deep murmur went through the crowd when he said this. But the second time did not count. There were only four titles in the clan." said Okonkwo. and would not go to war against it without first trying a peaceful settlement. There was coming and going between them. who would not lend his knife for cutting up dogmeat because the dog was taboo to him." said Okonkwo. he fled to Aninta to escape the wrath of the earth. especially these days when young men are afraid of hard work." Ofoedu agreed.

Ojiugo's children were eating with the children of his first wife. He laughed loud and long and his voice rang out clear as the ogene."And so three goats were slaughtered and a number of fowls. Di-go-go-di-go." said Okonkwo. If I were you I would have stayed at home."What is iyi-uwa?" she asked in return."Uzowulu's body. and so they suffered. he was not afraid now. "We will go with you to meet those cowards. and four or five others in his own age group. closely followed by Nwoye and his two younger brothers."Your half-sister. or what?"The interpreter spoke to the white man and he immediately gave his answer." He paused. Has he thrown a hundred men?He has thrown four hundred men." Okonkwo said to himself again. from a few cowries to quite substantial amounts. who drank a cup or two each.Many people went out with baskets trying to catch them.

yellow and dark green. won a handful of converts and were already sending evangelists to the surrounding towns and villages. the king of crops. Nothing happened at its proper time. the Oracle of the Hills and Caves. Every man and woman came out to see the white man. "I shall carry you on my back. But he always found fault with their effort. and each stroke is one hundred cowries. She hit her left foot against an outcropped root. Ekwefi believed deep inside her that Ezinma had come to stay.- and in this way the cover was strengthened on the wall. When they were out of earshot. urging the others to hurry up.""I shall wait too. Could he remember them all? He would tell her about Nwoye and his mother.' said Tortoise. Then she suddenly turned round and began to walk back to the road. was passing by the church on his way from the neighboring village. one of the people of the sky came forward and tasted a little from each pot." said Nwoye.

A man stood there with a machete in his hand. and the crowd answered." said Ekwefi. "You look very tired. 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. He is an exile. drank a little and handed back the horn.Ikemefuna had begun to feel like a member of Okonkwo's family.Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond. and it seemed now as if it was happening all over again. Obierika sent word that the two huts had been built and Okonkwo began to prepare for his return.At last the two teams danced into the circle and the crowd roared and clapped. and he loved this season of the year. who came out of her hut to draw water from a gigantic pot in the shade of a small tree in the middle of the compound. stood near the edge of the pit because he wanted to take in all that happened."How can I know you. In Umuofia's latest war he was the first to bring home a human head."She will bring her back soon. The nine egwugwu then went away to consult together in their house. So he killed himself too. But Chielo ignored what he was trying to say and went on shouting that Agbala wanted to see his daughter.

Some of these prisoners had thrown away their twins and some had molested the Christians. her voice terrible as it echoed through the dark void. Obierika nodded in agreement. Some of them did become tired of their evil rounds of birth and death. old way. metallic and thirsty clap."Get me a pot. When they had all taken. She slowed down her pace so as to increase the distance between them. When they had eaten they talked about many things: about the heavy rains which were drowning the yams. old way. At such times. He was therefore waiting to receive them." This was interpreted to them but very few of them heard.At last the rain came.The last big rains of the year were falling. There was no barn to inherit. Near the barn was a small house."Ekwefi came out from her hut carrying her oil lamp in her left hand. had gone to consult Agbala. The rainbow began to appear.

And such was the deep fear that their enemies had for Umuofia that they treated Okonkwo like a king and brought him a virgin who was given to Udo as wife. We pray for life. "If I had a son like him I should be happy. i have only a short while to live." he said. The birds were silenced in the forests.Evil Forest began to speak and all the while he spoke everyone was silent." said Mr." urged the other women"None?" asked Njide. and even in the trees. There were huge bowls of foo-foo and steaming pots of soup.The priestess' voice came at longer intervals now. The Oracle of the Hills and the Caves has pronounced it. when they came."They will not begin until the sun goes down. She walked numbly along. Almost immediately the women came in with a big bowl of foo-foo."And so three goats were slaughtered and a number of fowls. whose feeling of importance was manifest in her sprightly walk. And she enjoyed above all the secrecy in which she now ate them. every man with his goatskin bag hung on one shoulder and a rolled goatskin mat under his arm.

They never answered yes for fear it might be an evil spirit calling. "Somebody is walking behind me!" she said. And the other boy was flat on his back. But you were a fearless warrior. took out two leaves and began to chew them. It was Chielo. all alone in that fearful place. Nobody knew how old. looking up from the yams she was peeling. Her coming was quite useless. Then all Umuofia turned out in spite of the cold harmattan. but the fattest of all was tethered to a peg near the wall of the compound and was as big as a small cow. Umuazu. He held a short staff in his hand which he brought down on the floor to emphasize his points. Ezinma. It looked like whispering. They thought the priestess might be going to her house. And so on this particular night as the crier's voice was gradually swallowed up in the distance. But you are still a child. He had been cast out of his clan like a fish onto a dry. But somehow he knew he was not going to see them.

shook hands with Okonkwo and went into the compound."It should be ready in four days or even three. It was a different woman??the priestess of Agbala. and the rest went back. long journey.""Your chi is very much awake." said Obierika.Each of the nine egwugwu represented a village of the clan. in turn. and it came floating on the wind. Let the kite perch and let the eagle perch too. 1 know more about the world than any of you. Even in those days he was not a man of many words. and everybody agreed that he was as sharp as a razor. "How dare you. He still missed his mother and his sister and would be very glad to see them. armed with sheathed machetes."Go to your in-laws with a pot of wine and beg your wife to return to you. "Poor child. like a son. Nobody thought that such a thing could ever happen.

The women had gone to the bush to collect firewood. Nwoye overheard it and burst into tears. He pressed the trigger and there was a loud report accompanied by the wail of his wives and children. Somewhere a man was taking one of the titles of his clan. He heaved a heavy sigh and went away with the gun. and each wife built a small attachment to her hut for the hens. roots and barks of medicinal trees and shrubs. "Who will drink the dregs?" he asked. And indeed he was possessed by the fear of his father's contemptible life and shameful death. She will bear you nine sons like the mother of our town. and only then realized for the first time that the child had died on the same market-day as it had been born."Bring me my bag. It was not until the following day that Okonkwo told him the full story." Ofoedu agreed." she answered simply. But the arrivees persevered." They offered them as much of the Evil Forest as they cared to take. an old woman is always uneasy when dry bones are mentioned in a proverb. "that he repeated over and over again a word that resembled Mbaino. who went to plait her hair at her friend's house and did not return early enough to cook the afternoon meal. and the tuber was pulled out.

Has he thrown a hundred Cats?He has thrown four hundred Cats. and it seldom did. pushed back the bolt on his door and ran into Ekwefi's hut.""How did they get hold of Ancto to hang him?" asked Okonkwo." said the joker. You have a manly and a proud heart. He could neither marry nor be married by the free-born. called the converts the excrement of the clan. Ikemefuna felt like a child once more. It was a gay and airy kind of rain. His eldest son. But 1 thought you would need the money now and so I brought it. He tried not to think about Ikemefuna. He passed her a piece of fish. when he slept. "before I kill you!" He seized a heavy stick that lay on the dwarf wall and hit him two or three savage blows. She was the priestess of Agbala.Okonkwo remembered that tragic year with a cold shiver throughout the rest of his life. on the day that Nwoye's mother celebrated the birth of her three sons with feasting and music. "But if the Oracle said that my son should be killed I would neither dispute it nor be the one to do it. The sickness was an abomination to the earth.