Ezenwanyi finished all that she had for Shaba around 7.30 p.m. The village was already dark and covered in misty dews and Shaba had to beat the grasses and sticks that struck out on the footpath to maintain a clear path. The creatures she saw at the shrine reflected and goose pimples enveloped her body. At last she hit the major slippery red-muddy road. She turned and ran. The major tarred road was not far. The persons she met on her way could not catch a glimpse of her face. They must not. She always hid it. Greetings were far from escaping her mouth lest the person she would greet turn out to be her mother or any of her relations and friends. Without stopping to enter her mother’s compound, she took a last bus back to Ajita. Her mother had waited by the door for her return but when i
