gathered round to eat what was left and to peck at the bones he had thrown all about the floor.

But it was really not true that Okonkwo's palm-kernels had been cracked for him by a benevolent spirit
But it was really not true that Okonkwo's palm-kernels had been cracked for him by a benevolent spirit. And if anybody was so foolhardy as to pass by the shrine after dusk he was sure to see the old woman hopping about." And he arranged the requisite rites and sacrifices.The women had gone to the bush to collect firewood. Di-go-go-di-go-di-di-go-go floated in the message-laden night air. "What we are eating is finished. that is a boy's job. calabashes and wooden bowls were thoroughly washed. He heaved a heavy sigh and went away with the gun. She remembered that night. and then he continued: "Each group there represents a debt to someone. The women and children sent up a great shout and took to their heels." replied Uzowulu. Who else among his children could have read his thoughts so well? With two beautiful grown-up daughters his return to Umuofia would attract considerable attention.""That is why the drum has not been beaten to tell Umuofla.

to the boys and they passed it round the wooden stays and then back to him." They laughed and agreed. for he had no grave.""Do you think a thief can do that kind of thing single-handed?" asked Nwankwo."Who killed this banana tree?" he asked." said Machi. "Beware. then. "She must have broken her waterpot. How old is she now?""She is about ten years old."Before God. One of those things was gentleness and another was idleness. But the third created a big sensation even among the elders who did not usually show their excitement so openly.The contest began with boys of fifteen or sixteen. as usual.

"It is an ozo dance.""It is indeed true.He sent for the five sons and they came and sat in his obi. How could she know that Ekwefi's bitterness did not flow outwards to others but inwards into her own soul. Although he had felt uneasy at first. I have learned that a man who makes trouble for others is also making it for himself."None. He neither inherited a barn nor a title.Okonkwo was well received by his mother's kinsmen in Mbanta. None of them was a man of title. How old is she now?""She is about ten years old. He had been a great and fearless warrior in his time. that the girl should go to Ogbuefi Udo to replace his murdered wife. who has promised everlasting life to all who believe in His holy name. Sometimes Okonkwo gave them a few yams each to prepare.

Okonkwo. Had she been running too? How could she go so fast with Ezinma on her back? Although the night was cool. But the Hills and the Caves were as silent as death. If a man dies at this time he is not buried but cast into the Evil Forest."As they spoke Ezinma emerged from the hut." said the joker. Obierika. 1 owe them no cocoyams.""And have you never seen them?" asked Machi. The men brought their goatskin mats." and Okoye saw groups of short perpendicular lines drawn in chalk. Ikemefuna called him father. He stepped forward. taking their bride home to spend seven market weeks with her suitor's family. He had no patience with unsuccessful men.

"Ekwefi!" a voice called from one of the other huts. and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.As these things went through her mind she did not realize how close they were to the cave mouth.""Ee-e-e!""Prosperous men and great warriors. And he was already beginning to know some of the simple stories they told. as the saying goes."Who killed this banana tree?" he asked. "All the gods you have named are not gods at all. They were all fully dressed as if they were going to a big clan meeting or to pay a visit to a neighboring village.' And so Daughter Kite returned the duckling and took a chick instead. And then it became known that the white man's fetish had unbelievable power. Some of these prisoners were men of title who should be above such mean occupation. The air. Okonkwo walked behind him. Neither of the other wives had. Such a thing could never happen in his fatherland."Ekwefi turned the hen over in the mortar and began to pluck the feathers. He had a slight stammer and whenever he was angry and could not get his words out quickly enough." said Nwakibie."Okonkwo bit his lips as anger welled up within him. neither early nor late." said Okonkwo. He had cracked them himself. who was the oldest man in the village."Yaa!" replied the thunderous crowd. His visitor was amazed.

'You have done very well. "Somebody is walking behind me!" she said.""Nna ayi. "one would think he never sucked at his mother's breast."We shall be going.Even in his first year in exile he had begun to plan for his return. But in absence of work. or "Mother is Supreme?" We all know that a man is the head of the family and his wives do his bidding. On ordinary days young women who desired children came to sit under its shade. I would not have believed. and thank Okonkwo for having looked after him so well and for bringing him back. Where are the young suckers that will grow when the old banana tree dies? If Ezinma had been a boy I would have been happier.There were seven drums and they were arranged according to their sizes in a long wooden basket.Okonkwo returned from the bush carrying on his left shoulder a large bundle of grasses and leaves.Ezinma was still sleeping when everyone else was astir.The woman with whom she talked was called Chielo. Obierika. and stake them when the young tendrils appear. The eight other egwugwu were as still as statues. the village playground. who had lived about two hundred years before.""And have you never seen them?" asked Machi.- instead of thirty there were now only fifteen."Yam pottage was served first because it was lighter than foo-foo and because yam always came first. I am Fire-that-burns-without-faggots. which.

Nwoye turned round to walk into the inner compound when his father. Yam. Nothing happened at its proper time. which had been dutifully eating yam peelings. Mighty tree branches broke away under them." He got up painfully. And to their greatest amazement the missionaries thanked them and burst into song. The thick dregs of palm-wine were supposed to be good for men who were going in to their wives. It was an ill omen. the Creator of all the world and all the men and women. The saying of the elders was not true??that if a man said yea his chi also affirmed. The clan was like a lizard.That was many years ago."Five women stayed behind to look after the cooking-pots. The way he said it sent cold fear down Ikemefuna's back." answered one of Obierika's companions. So I shall ask you to come again the way you came before. Why is that? Your mother was brought home to me and buried with my people. as you know. Obierika sent word that the two huts had been built and Okonkwo began to prepare for his return. But he threw himself into it like one possessed. and a girl. 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. They had built their church there."Okonkwo brought the wine and they began to drink."It is very near now.

He held a short staff in his hand which he brought down on the floor UGG Classic Short Bootsto emphasize his points. who lived near the udala tree.""That is why the drum has not been beaten to tell Umuofla. "she will bring you back very soon. pushed back the bolt on his door and ran into Ekwefi's hut. The drums and the dancing began again and reached fever-heat."The white man's court has decided that it should belong to Nnama's family."The court messengers did not like to be called Ashy-Buttocks. may Agbala shave your head with a blunt razor! May he twist your neck until you see your heels!"Ekwefi stood rooted to the spot. that was how it looked to his father. She hit her left foot against an outcropped root." roared Okonkwo. And that is why we say that mother is supreme. The rainbow was called the python of the sky. into a healthy." said Ezinma.Then the tragedy of his first son had occurred.The night was very quiet. The crowd followed her silently. sat near the fireplace waiting for the water in the pot to boil. The young ailing girl who had caused her mother so much heartache had been transformed. An evil forest was where the clan buried all those who died of the really evil diseases. "Tortoise and Cat went to wrestle against Yams??no.At last they took a turning and began to head for the caves. When they had gone round the circle they settled down in the center. meanwhile.

Some of them were not at home and only four came in. And so he regretted every day of his exile. He addressed Nwakibie. Ikemefuna looked back. seeing that the new religion welcomed twins and such abominations."Agbala do-o-o-o! Agbala ekeneo-o-o-o-o. But whenever they came to preach in the open marketplace or the village playground. Eneke the bird says that since men have learned to shoot without missing. He called his son. As for his converts. The drums beat the unmistakable wrestling dance - quick. wiping the foam of wine from his mustache with the back of his left hand. that my children do not resemble me. had crawled out of the shrine on her belly like a snake." the others replied. Ogbuefi Ezeugo was a powerful orator and was always chosen to speak on such occasions. The priestess in those days was a woman called Chika. My mother's people have been good to me and 1 must show my gratitude."In her hut. I have come to pay you my respects and also to ask a favor. saluted the spirits and began his story. Okonkwo wanted his son to be a great farmer and a great man. What she had seen was the shape of a man climbing a palm tree." As he looked into the log fire he recalled the name. I want you to be there. who sat next to him.

Okonkwo and the two boys were working on the red outer walls of the compound. He did not cry. and as if in sympathy the smoldering log also sighed.Mr.""Do you think a thief can do that kind of thing single-handed?" asked Nwankwo. Palm trees swayed as the wind combed their leaves into flying crests like strange and fantastic coiffure. He had court messengers who brought men to him for trial."Tufia-al" the priestess cursed. The yams put on luxuriant green leaves. The kola nut was given him to break." he said. facing the elders and grandees of the clan.During the planting season Okonkwo worked daily on his farms from cock-crow until the chickens went to roost. Sometimes it was not necessary to dig. Unoka. Women and children returning from the stream with pots of water on their heads wondered what was happening until they saw Okagbue and guessed that it must be something to do with ogbanje. which was shaved in places.""Does the white man understand our custom about land?""How can he when he does not even speak our tongue? But he says that our customs are bad. He had lost the chance to lead his warlike clan against the new religion. Neither of the other wives dared to interfere beyond an occasional and tentative. a length of cloth and a hundred cowries. And not only his chi but his clan too." said Ezinma at last. to help them in their cooking." pleaded from a reasonable distance. I salute you.

When they were out of earshot. looked forward to the New Yam Festival because it began the season of plenty??the new year.' he thought as he looked at his ten-year-old daughter. and hung their goatskin bags and sheathed machetes over their left shoulders. went into an inner room and came back with a kola nut." A cold shiver ran down Okonkwo's back as he remembered the last time the old man had visited him."Agbala do-o-o-o! Umuachi! Agbala ekene unuo-o-ol" It was just as Ekwefi had thought. Some of them had been heavily whipped. The relationship between them was not only that of mother and child. Some kinsmen ate it with egusi soup and others with bitter-leaf soup. The priestess was now saluting the village of Umuachi. I began to own a farm at your age. That was the way people answered calls from outside. But let us ostracize these men. She pulled again and it came off. called her mother by her name. a light rain had fallen during the night and the soil would not be very hard. He does not belong here. Uchendu before her.When they had harvested a sizable heap they carried it down in two trips to the stream.""But he had no wings. buoyant maiden.When the mat was at last removed she was drenched in perspiration. It was also part of the night. living in a special area of the village. If they became more troublesome than they already were they would simply be driven out of the clan.

but offered to use his teeth. and very strong."Don't you see the pot is full of yams?" Ekwefi asked. But now she found the half-light of the incipient moon more terrifying than darkness.In the distance the drums continued to beat. The spirit of wars was upon them. Okonkwo ground his teeth in disgust.""Oho. to the boys and they passed it round the wooden stays and then back to him. Her brass anklets rattled as she danced and her body gleamed with cam wood in the soft yellow light. All that is true. But it was useless. A man stood there with a machete in his hand."Two years ago. mother is going. lasted only a brief moment. The drums rose to a frenzy. They do not decide bride-price as we do. It was a full gathering of umuada." said Okonkwo.There was a wealthy man in Okonkwo's village who had three huge barns. long way from home. Nwoye passed and repassed the little red-earth and thatch building without summoning enough courage to enter."Everybody thanked Okonkwo and the neighbors brought out their drinking horns from the goatskin bags they carried." said Mgbogo's next-door neighbor. or God's house.

Tortoise began to sniff aloud. Unoka. Evil Forest represented the village of Umueru."The body of Odukwe. and he was not afraid of war. no matter how heavily the family ate or how many friends and relatives they invited from neighboring villages. It said that other white men were on their way. Go and see if your father has brought out yams for the afternoon. because their dreaded agadi-nwayi would never fight what the Ibo call a fight of blame. the people of the sky set before their guests the most delectable dishes Tortoise had even seen or dreamed of. Every nerve and every muscle stood out on their arms. The children were also decorated. like the prospect of annihilation. You buried it in the ground somewhere so that you can die and return again to torment your mother. relaxed again. The rainy season was approaching when they would go away until the dry season returned. more fierce than it had ever been known. He had many friends here and came to see them quite often." he said. and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten. "We should do something. 'When people are invited to a great feast like this. cooking and eating. and gave it to Ibe to fill. who had begun to play a part in the affairs of his motherland. now desperate.

"How man men have lain with you since my brother first expressed his desire to marry you?""None. blowing it with her breath. She was rewarded by occasional spells of health during which Ezinma bubbled with energy like fresh palm-wine. too." said Obierika. I cannot yet find a mouth with which to tell the story. and Ikemefuna. Okonkwo.""We have seen it. and then turning to his brother and his son he said: "Let us go out and whisper together. The villagers were so certain about the doom that awaited these men that one or two converts thought it wise to suspend their allegiance to the new faith. She went back to the hut and brought her pot. Nwoye would feign annoyance and grumble aloud about women and their troubles. his mind would have been centered on his work. Akueni. Children were warned not to whistle at night for fear of evil spirits. She was. And how is my daughter. Okonkwo. all the same. who must taste his wine before anyone else.Umuofia had indeed changed during the seven years Okonkwo had been in exile." And he told him what an osu was. long ago. But he was always uncomfortable sitting around for days waiting for a feast or getting over it.""Have you heard.

and then he continued: "Each group there represents a debt to someone. her wrath was loosed on all the land and not just on the offender.At last the rain came." said Mr.""I do not. he was terribly afraid. Why is that? Your mother was brought home to me and buried with my people. They all have food in their own homes. but he did not know where to begin." Uzowulu replied. 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."Do you think you are cutting up yams for cooking?" he asked Nwoye. He was a wealthy farmer and had two barns full of yams. "Tortoise and Cat went to wrestle against Yams??no. he was asking Unoka to return the two hundred cowries he had borrowed from him more than two years before. he is not too young. The thick mat was thrown over both. They made single mounds of earth in straight lines all over the field and sowed the yams in them. It looked like an equal match. years ago. Even those which Nwoye knew already were told with a new freshness and the local flavor of a different clan. the fear of the forest. I salute you. which. No one had actually seen the man do it."The birds gathered round to eat what was left and to peck at the bones he had thrown all about the floor.