Her Father's Wife

chapter 5

Mazi Nwokeforo let out a loud scream,Noooooo, his voice, very loud and terror filled pierce the stillness of the morning. It can be heard through out the whole of Ngodo and the villages beyond it. His wife Obidiya sleeping by his side jumped up in panic. Nnanyi o gini? What is it, what is it? She asked in consternation, Her husband held her tight and shook her and called Nwaneri, Nwaneri, where you there when this happened? Where is Obidiya and my children? His two eyes were wide open, but he seems to be seeing what the wife cannot see. Obidiya tried to calm her own panic as she seeks to draw her husband from whatever nightmare he was in. Wake up, nnanyi wake up Obidiya entreated repeatedly as she shook him. Finally, he woke up fully. He heaved a sight of relief, Obim, he called, is it really you? What of the children? Go immediately and find out how they are whether they are alright. Yes nnanyi, Obidiya answered as she left the room. Tufiaaaa. What is the time? He asked nobody in particular, it should be the first or the second cock crow, he cannot really recollect,the sleep was a deep one, almost like death. And the nightmare, was it really a nightmare or did he die and wake up? Tufiaaaaa, he spat out a second time in anger. Anybody thirsting to use my head for sacrifice,will use his own. May evil never see us, on the day of evil, may out legs not be seen outside if per venture we go out, may we go and come back safe, iseeee, he concluded. I'll go and see Nwaneri first thing this morning. Obidiya over heard t her husband's prayer from the children's room and stood transfixed. Surely something is wrong. The loud scream and now this, she hastily went back to their own room. Nothing is wrong with the children Nnanyi. Did you have a bad dream? She asked, Obim, the husband answered, we need to talk but not now. First, I have to see Nwaneri. Nwaneri is her husband's best friend. They have been close since childhood. Her husband is the only male child in his family. They were seven in all, out of which two died in infant. out of the five remaining, four are female. They were overly protective of their brother when they were still at home. Now, they are all married, minding their various families. They still come to visit now and then, but, things can never be like it were when they were at home. Over the years, Nwaneri has become like the brother her husband never had. Obidiya has also come to regard him as such. One can barely see the palm of one's hand when Nwokeforo left the house. He only managed to wash his face with the water Obidiya brought out in a bowl for him. He turned down the chewing stick she offered with it and left to visit Nwaneri. Nwaneri does some palm wine tapping at times. Who knows when he will take it into his head to go and tap. Moreover, he Nwokeforo is afraid for the first time since he became an adult. He fears he may go mad if he did not quickly confide in somebody he can trust. Nna, are you at home? Nwokeforo greeted from the entrance of Nwaneri's compound. Did the people living in this house wake up today? He enquired a second time when nobody answered his first greeting. Is that Nwoke's voice I am hearing? It is me my brother, Nwokeforo answered, Come right in, Nwaneri answered from his bedroom. Are you a stranger? then he called out, Chiwike!, Chiwike! Papa, the boy answered. Go immediately to the Obi and make a fire there for me. Nwokeforo was making his way to the Obi, when Nwaneri came out to join him. He was still tying his wrapper round his waist as he comes out. He used the trailing part of the wrapper to clean one of the wooden chairs in the Obi and asked his visitor to sit down. Nwoke, I hope all is well? He asked as he observed the listless way Nwokeforo sat on the offered chair. How is Obidiya and the children? They are alright at least for today. It's tomorrow we don't know about. Oyirim, Oyirim, Agbomma! Nwaneri shouted louder when it seems the woman did not hear him, ooo nnanyi, she answered in a muddled voice. She was probably still sleeping, please bring kola nut for us! 'Don't disturb yourself on my account', Nwokeforo pleaded, in fact, I feel I will choke if I put anything in my mouth now. Is it like that Nwaneri asked? Nwokeforo nodded slowly. Leave the kola nut Agbomma, Nwaneri instructed the wife. He then gave all of his attention to his friend, now tell me Nwoke, what happened. Mazi Nwokeforo sighed and started narrating the dream he had last night. ' I was in the dream and I saw myself in this strange land. I seem to have been living there for a very long time. I neither remembered Obidiya nor the children while living there, and worst still, I did not even miss them, not even my favourite, Ona. After a long time, I decided to come back home, only to discover that my whole compound has become a thick forest. God forbid! Nwaneri interjected before his friend could finish his narration. I called out to both Obidiya and the children but they were nowhere to be found. At that moment, I panicked, I started calling you , miraculously you appeared and I was asking you whether you were there when it happened. I was still asking that question when Obidiya woke me up. Nwaneri was quiet when his friend finished narrating the dream. Nwoke, he called in a very serious voice, this dream is not to be taken with levity. We have to go to Afa to find out what the gods are saying. Nwokeforo was in support of his decision. They agreed to go very early the next day.