TORTURE (A struggle Between Deities And Humans)

*THIRD PAGE*

By the time kemi was done narrating the oil incident to grandma Sali, The old woman was in shock— kemi are you sure of what you're saying? the woman asked. 'Maybe it just black water." She added, finding it hard to believe that oil actually existed in that same plot they've been farming for years. Kemi told grandma Sali that she was not wrong that she herself was in shock, when emeka had told her it was oil. "Grandma this could be a blessing to us' she muttered "Or a curse" grandma chipped in. confusing kemi who stared at her with a straight face. The old woman only kept shaking her head not saying anything else as they night gradually growed thicker.

The next day, emeka came to kemi house as promised. He was in high spirit, as he discussed how much kemi will be making from owning the well. The two left for the palace after grandma Sali told them to be careful, and wished them luck.

On getting to the palace, the king and his cabinets members were holding an important meeting: so they had to wait outside till they where done. Having been granted audience emeka spoke first " my chiefs I greet all of you, pls I have not come here to waste your time as you might think I will, but I have come for a very important reason." He stated his face depicting excitement, "speak my child" the king urged him on. Emeka gave a nod and continued "yesterday my friend here kemi discovered oil in her father's land" Emeka said but was cut short by an "ehyyyyyyye" chorus answer by the chief "you don't mean it "chief Ubi spoke first.

" I swear on my late mother's grave that I am not lying, my elders" emeka defended himself. The king had to calm the situation before it escalated, he suggested an investigation which they all agreed to— he sent two royal guards with kemi to go bring evidence of the oil in a plate. While emeka and the other chiefs waited patiently in the palace. They came back with a plate of black liquid, the king could not contain it; All the cabinets members were left in shock.

They sent kemi and Emeka home promising to get back to them after much deliberation, kemi was not comfortable with the idea but Emeka insisted she let them do thier thing.

Weeks passed, on the third week they where both summoned to the palace by the king and his cabinets once again to discuss about it.

The king was skeptical at first, but later broke the message. Stating that kemi had to let the land go to the community, since she was a female and had no legal rights to ownership of property, that the only property she could hers was her husbands. Kemi was stunned. "How dare you old men try to take what is mine." Her voice thundered in agony, "Oh! now I have no legal rights to the property because oil was found on it ahbi? She asked them in her outburst, they all kept quiet. She smiled bitterly — "you will walk over my corpse, before you take that land from me." She swore and left the palace in anger, followed by Emeka who was confused too about the cabinet conclusion.

On getting back home, she complained bitterly to grandma Sali who had expected all this. "Please my daughter, let this land not be taken at the expense of your life." Grandma Sali warned but kemi was ready for war. "Mama I don't care, when we were suffering did anyone bother about that land? Now that I discovered oil on that peices of land: everyone knows am not a male child but a female one; Who has no rights to Ownership of her father land, mama it will not stand I swear with my full chest it will never stand." Kemi vowed and entered inside.

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Emeka was still in deep thoughts when he arrived home: " Why do the high and mighty keep oppressing the small? Was the question that rang in his head continuously. He had hardly sat down when a loud noise startled him, he glanced at the direction of the noise: it was a car, a flashy car followed by a crowd heading towards his home. He was dumbfounded at first as he marvelled at what visitor he might have that had such a car, afterall he seldom had visitors.

The car drove into the compound and took and parked, he walked up to look, he had never seen such a wonder in the entire village only about three people had cars. Just then a majestic figure stepped out of the car dressed in a flowing white gown and a red cap, two men who seemed to be guards stepped up to his side, he was wearing black shades and looked fat. Emeka mouth dropped wide open as realization hit him when the person pulled off his glasses, " Uncle Gbenga." He exclaimed, shock evidently written on his face: "it's me son!" Gbenga said turning around to showcase his majestic figure; "it really you uncle, it's really you" Emeka shouted and ran into his arms in a tight hug.

Tears of joy kept falling from his eyes, he thought he had losed everything that ever mattered to him, he had always felt alone if not for the company of kemi. He had long written off uncle Gbenga as dead, but here he was so full of life and he holding unto him like a little puppy in need of it's parent breast.

After the hug ended, they both entered inside the house to discuss, not long the whole compound was flooded by visitors who came to see Gbenga, the news had travelled like wild fire of his wealth and new status. Gbenga who was very happy to be home, filled them in on surprises by spraying new naira notes on them.

Kemi sat at the back of the old hut, her heart heavy, just now the emotions she had buried all over the years came pulling back at her in torrents, the pain of growing up without parents, the constant reminder that she was a witch, her childhood been ripped from her: the torment, the loneliness, the suffering; just everything kept pouring back at her. She could not help but sob bitterly, So grandma Sali won't hear. Surviving has been war for her, every food she had eaten came with sweats, every cloth that covered her body had come from blisters on her hand, every smile had come after a toil under the sun.

She had always swallowed this all up and accepted her fate, but today a group of old men that had red caps on thier head had called her fatherless to her face: she won't back —down no matter all it took she will not let them take the oil, even if she doesn't know how to process it; still they won't take it.

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"Emeka! You have been so quiet since I came back, you don't seem genuinely happy: what is the problem? Or is it because I left you alone in the village? Gbenga asked his little cousin, he had losed his own parents they same way as Emeka and since he was older he should have been they one to stay back and take care of the young boy, but he left him and went in search of a brighter future in the city. Emeka sighed "it's not about you uncle, am happy you came back! And am also happy you did not come back empty: my worries is about a friend of mine who had been a companion right from childhood till this very day." Emeka replied: "who is that? And what happened that gets you so worried? Gbenga probed further.

"Her name is kemi, we found oil in her land." Emeka replied "Oil." Gbenga shouted standing up from his chair in shock his eyes wide open, Emeka was shocked at the reaction but noded in affirmation. "Money! That is money." Gbenga quickly chipped in, "yes uncle but the community chiefs wants to take away the land from her, owning to the fact she is a female child and holds no right to inheritance." Gbenga sighed solemnly "now I understand, dont worry: I will go see the chiefs myself" Gbenga added with a shoulder pat, to cheer him up.

Emeka face lit up immediately with a smile, "You will do this for me? He asked, "Yes" Gbenga affirmed, emeka could only thank gbenga soulfully on his knees.

Kemi was surprised by Emeka sudden visit and smiling face, "what is making you so happy? She questioned him; "well I have found a solution to our problem" he stated, and explained what had transpired between him and his uncle and the fact that his uncle left so early to go talk to the chief's, kemi was so happy she jumped up and hug Emeka so tight thanking him profusely for everything.

At the Chief's palace, his cabinet members had gathered already, patiently awaiting the reason why Gbenga had called the meeting. Gbenga who had no time to waste was quick to greet the elders respectfully and to state his reasons for coming. " So according to what you just said, you want to develop the oil, so it will profit us and the community rights" the king asked him "yes my king" Gbenga affirmed, the cabinet deliberated and after seeing they had nothing to lose: coupled with the free palm wine at Gbenga expense, they gave him thier support: "you have the land." they king finally spoke up. He smiled "I have brought gifts for each one of you, he added; also what about kemi? He asked, the king snorted "she is not an issue, leave her to us just go ahead with your plans we will take care of that orphan girl."

T.b.c.

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@Dregpenwrites.