The Tenth Generation

CHAPTER FOUR-1

CHAPTER FOURThe market days were usually held on seven days intervals. Sixteen days later, Mazi Nduka thought it was the right time to go for the land he desired. He didn’t want to let the words of his mouth to go in vain. He also didn’t want Chika to think that he was a coward and feel that they were all still afraid of him like they had feared his father.

The farming season was drawing nearer and he really wanted to secure the land before it was too late. So he decided that he would pay Chika a visit and discuss the issue one more time, this would make the younger man know that he was serious.

Chika was just bringing in his cattle from the field when he heard the sound of somebody’s footstep behind him, he quickly turned around and saw Mazi Nduka. It was getting late into the evening and he didn’t like the old man’s visit. In fact, it made him feel more uncomfortable than he had initially thought, knowing what the outcome of his confrontation with Nduka might lead him to do.

“What do you want here Mazi Nduka, I don’t remember inviting you to my home. And I don’t think I have any business with you.”

“Is this how your father taught you to welcome visitors in your home? No salutation? Invite me in and offer me kola, I came here to discuss with you.”

“I think you should leave.” He wasn’t ready to allow the old fool into his house.

“Well, I will leave if that is what you want, I just wanted to tell you that come next market day, my family and I are going to clear the land we talked about the last time we chatted, we want to prepare it before the farming season comes. I won’t want us to argue over it.”

Chika gave scoffed, “Is that all? I will wait for you and your family and I will show you your doom. I will give you what you want. Now leave my house, I don’t want to see you around my home again!”

Nduka left the compound with a funny and confused smile on his face. What is this boy up to? Well, he was going to make a sacrifice of human blood to the great god. And that was the greatest sacrifice anyone could offer to the god. He was sure Chika hadn’t known about that yet. Even if he did, he would not have the courage to do it. But what has the boy got in mind? He had expected the young man to go on his knees and beg him. Maybe he was just trying to be brave, he must go ahead with his plans and he must get that land.

Chika was just sorry for the old fool; a big surprise awaited him if he continued with his threats. He had already heard about the threats Mazi Madu had been making; about his vow to get back his land, no matter what it took. Three days ago the village king had summoned him and asked him to let go of all the properties that his father had taken away from people. He had told the king that he should be given some time so that he could sort things out. He had already told himself that that would be the last time that he would answer such call.

Now he was just waiting for the right time to show all Durujians that they had more to fear than what they had experienced from his father.

A few days ago Chika had summoned up courage and had gone back to the shrine of Alaogbaga; he hadn’t been able to go on the appointed day he had promised to go. It had taken him three extra days to make up his mind. The chief priest had immediately smiled when Chika showed up and told him what he wanted. Just like his father, he had thought.

Sacrificing one’s life to Alaogbaga was just like one selling his soul to it. It would possess such an individual and use him to carry out its evil intents. The chief priest could not even understand why the god really appreciated this kind of sacrifice since there was no blood involved, knowing Alaogbaga as a blood loving deity. Maybe the fact that it allowed it to possess the individual had some important significance that was beyond his understanding.

“I am here so that I may make a life sacrifice to the great god of my father, great one. But great one, you alone can speak to it, I beg you to let him give me more time.” Chika was in a pleading mood. “You know my father was much older than I am when he made the sacrifice to the god of destruction. Tell him to give me fifteen more years before he takes my life instead of twelve like he gave my father for I have not yet seen my children.”

“I will have to speak to the great god about that. You must wait; I will be with you soonest.” The chief priest entered the inner chamber of the shrine. No worshipper had ever been invited in there. Chika could hear some strange sounds coming from the priest; he could not really understand what he was saying because he was not familiar with the incantatory language the man was speaking now. He was so tensed that he couldn’t wait for the whole ritual to be over so that he could forget about it.

After what seemed like a decade to Chika, the chief priest came out. He looked at Chika for some time and said, “The great one has accepted your plea. It is going to give you fifteen years. Are you ready now? If you are, we’d better begin for we have a long day ahead of us.”

Chika sighed loudly and said, “I am ready.”

“Alright, I will be with you in a moment, let me get the necessary items that will be used for the ritual.”

Once he was alone, Chika started to think again. This time, he was trying to console himself that fifteen years was still a long time and he would make sure that he made good use of the time. Durijians will see another side of Chika the son of Obi, he cheered himself up.

The chief priest came out with a black bowl made of clay. It contained a dark-coloured liquid with an unpleasant smell. “Take off your clothes.” the priest ordered and Chika immediately obeyed. He was washed with it and a sharp object was used to make some marks on the upper part of his body, another thick liquid was rubbed on his body and the chief priest made some incantation as he worked on Chika’s body, concentrating more on the parts that had been cut. A small amount of his blood was collected before he was asked to put on his clothes.

“You have just been washed with the water from a dead man’s body, and Alaogbaga will be at your service henceforth.” The Chief Priest started, “He will give you maximum protection and answer your call faster than all the other worshippers. You will enjoy so many more other advantages than others. And through its fierce nature, your desires shall be granted unto you. Your enemies will be crushed whenever you call on your god and all shall fear you. But have this at the back of your mind; you will deliver your life to Alaogbaga after fifteen years. Do not allow yourself to be persuaded; do not run so that the wrath of the god shall not be passed to your family. I will be there to remind you when the time draws near. Keep these rules and your life will be taken peacefully. Disobey them; you and your whole family shall meet the most miserable death. The god expects you to make a sacrifice of thanksgiving tomorrow. Go in peace.”

For the next three days, Chika suffered from a feeling of ambivalence about the new turn of his life. He became quieter than he used to, not sure if he had made the right decision by making the life sacrifice. Well, he thought, the deed had been done; from now on he would not spare any fool who came to tempt him and anyone who made any attempt to stop him from getting what he wanted.

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Chima enjoyed hanging out with his friends at the village hall. These friends always met in the mornings and evenings to make plan for the next day. They spent the most of the day hunting bush animals. Whenever they got more than enough, they would sell some to those who ran bars and take the rest home for themselves. Chima was well-loved and respected among his peers, even though he did nothing to instigate fear in them like his father and brother. Earlier in his childhood days, the villagers used to be scared of him due to the information they heard about his father. But in the process of socializing with him, they found out that he was a very different person from his father. He could be ambitious and tough, but did not oppress them in any way. He could be very motivating, most times proving to be a very good leader with an atmosphere of tenderness in everything he did.

They came to understand that he didn’t like the way his father terrorized the villagers. Left to him he would have given all that his father had forcefully taken from the people back to them, but he knew that his brother who was just like his father was not ready to allow him to do that. But Chima felt very free among members of his community, he visited any home he wished and was welcomed. Through his lifestyle, it was obvious that he wasn’t in support of what his father and brother did.

The arrival of the rainy season reduced the time Chima and his friends hung out, since everybody was forced to go to the farm always. The first rain had just come and the villagers usually used that period to clear their farmlands and get ready for farming. Therefore Chima had remained at home using most of his time to prepare his farming tools.

Chima noticed the change in his brother’s behavior. He noticed that Chika had suddenly become quieter than before. Recently, he would be very lost in thought, unaware of all that was happening in his environment. And he seemed to look more evil than normal, something Chima could not explain. In his eyes, one could easily tell that behind the dark corners of his mind lurked evil intentions. Chima would wonder what was wrong with brother, what might be the cause of this sudden change in him? He could only hope that his brother had not involved himself in something dangerous and was not planning to hurt anybody.

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Nkechi couldn’t also help noticing the change that had suddenly taken over her husband’s mien. She noticed that for the past five market days he talked less and seemed to keep to himself, lost in his own world. Another scary fact was that his appearance had suddenly changed into something strange; he was always looking as if he could murder someone and this made her very scared of him.

That night, after taking his dinner, he, in his quiet mood, said, “Tomorrow, Chima and I will go to that big plot of land near Madu’s big iroko tree since Nduka is planning on taking it from me. I will have to start farming on it before he makes any move.” He sounded very ambitious. He then looked at his wife and his voice became tender, “I will like you to have lots of rest throughout this period; don’t want anything bad happening to my baby.”

“Don’t worry about that, my husband; nothing will happen to your baby, I will be very careful.” Then she changed the topic. “But what if Mazi Nduka comes to fight you on that land while you are working with Chima? What are you going to do? I don’t want anything to happen to you, I don’t want to be a widow.”

“Hmm... the poor old fool is playing with his life, I wish he comes there to make trouble with me, I am well prepared for him. He would be surprised at what I would do to him.” He looked at his wife in an assuring manner, “Don’t worry about that, I have everything under control, the god of my father will protect and fight for me.”

She wanted to ask him what had been bothering him in the last few days but decided against it. Maybe with time he would come back to his old self. She excused herself before going to bed.

Very early the next morning, Chika and his brother set off for the big plot of land. They meant to finish clearing the land before the end of the day so that they would be able to burn the grasses before the next rainfall.

The farmland wasn’t very far from their home; in no time they were already there and without wasting anytime they began working. Both Chika and Chima were very hardworking; farming was the basic means of livelihood among Durujians and so every child was brought up in a way that they had to dedicate themselves to it. From the way the two brothers were working it was certain that they would finish with the clearing earlier than they had even anticipated.