EJIMA

CHAPTER 33

Mmiri (water), yes, that's the word. The notorious word that has circulated the village since time immemorial. It has even become a swear word and used by angry parents to scare their children away from the claws of weakness. The reason was still a mystery to Ugo. Even though her mother has repeated the story countless times, it still did not make any sense. Live to fight another day. That was another side of the puzzle that appears not to fit. Yes, it made no sense, because the one man that had taken those words into action had been labeled a coward. The people had called him a fool for saving his life. His own life. Ah, what else is more precious than life itself? Honor? No, only the living speak of honor. The grave yearns and longs for the chaplet, but indeed, only the living are worthy enough to wear the festoon and perceive its marvelous fragrance. Well, here they are. According to her mother, it was twenty years since the incident. The 'blessed twenty', as mother always puts it. Such confusion and misconstruction by the village only made her father give up the sword and pick up the hole instead. And even with farm work, he still proves his worth and has become not only the best farmer in the land of Umudike but the richest. So it was indeed the 'blessed twenty'. A boon in disguise for the family.

Another bamboo fell, leaving the hollow sound hanging in the air as it met with the rest of the woods on the forest floor. Ugo's bright eyes widened as her father began the 'wind-bird dance of the nine moons'. It was a deadly skill and one which can only be used by a swordmaster.

A swordmaster? Ugo's lips parted with smiles. Her father was the master of all masters. She hasn't seen anyone in the village that can match his skill. Even though he had surrendered his weapons to the King and had picked up farm work from the dust, he still was the best. He will always be, despite the nickname, Mmiri (water), or whatever tag the village people have placed on him.

It was an urge, or perhaps adrenaline. Ugo could not tell for sure. All she knew was that as her father continued to dance with the wind, she mimicked his movement with the bamboo in her hands. Twisting and turning, and then thrusting the empty air only to bring her bambo up and down, as if cutting through the fog of nothing.

Another bamboo fell from her father's sword, making Ugo pause in her wake. Why didn't he finish it? Ugo panted.

"How many times will I warn you to stop peeping?"

Busted. Ugo swallowed as she tried with failed attempts to keep her running breath and heart at ease.

"The way of the sword is for men alone. You-"

"Belong to the kitchen," Ugo cut in and walked out of her hiding place.

"My words for you," The old man shook his head, but the intensity of the yellow in his brown eyes was becoming darker, "And the last word for you before I take my actions. Don't ever come here again."

"But papa" Ugo cleared her throat. She was fiddling with the bamboo in her hands now, hoping to find solace in their abode, "I really want to be a warrior. I hate cooking. I like wearing a sword the way you or Mazzi Maduka wears them. I want to be-"

"Enough"

Ugo gulped hard, this time, taking her weight away from her muscular father. She had stepped on the Rubicon without knowing it. Her father hated Maduka. And Jide especially. The Maduka's family has been nothing but good to them. But Ugo didn't know why her father hated them. She had tried asking her mother once, but the woman only fanned the flame of curiosity. She had said that some things were beyond the minds of little children. But she had promised to tell Ugomma everything she needs to know and that would be in the next four or five years, or whenever Ugomma crosses Sixteen years. From the time factor, four years from now was a very long time. Ugo has her guess, however. Her father's behavior towards the Maduka's family had changed after the incident in the palace about some months ago. Some of the elders had mocked her father, saying he was a coward for allowing Jide to insult him like a fool. Ugo did not know how true the rumors were. She had intended to ask Jide herself. But as it stands, Jide was nowhere to be seen. He has decided to remain indoors and has not come out to the village square to play like the rest of the children.