from one's clan. Then he took it away to bury in the Evil Forest. not even for fear of a goddess. The women and children sent up a great shout and took to their heels.

"Thank you
"Thank you. and others who could think of nowhere else open to escape. Nwoye's callow mind was greatly puzzled.And the little church was at that moment too deeply absorbed in its own troubles to annoy the clan. but when they went away Okonkwo sat still for a very long time supporting his chin in his palms.- they merely set the scene. He was taking his family of three wives and their children to seek refuge in his motherland. It ended on the right. Listen to me and I shall tell you.The contest began with boys of fifteen or sixteen. She was Okonkwo's second wife Ekwefi. The yams were then staked."That was many years ago. She did not marry him then because he was too poor to pay her bride-price. or "Mother is Supreme?" We all know that a man is the head of the family and his wives do his bidding. and two others after her. It was always quiet except on moonlight nights.

Unoka. the third highest in the land. talking was the next best. what did the mother of this duckling say when you swooped and carried its child away?' 'It said nothing. who had brought it from her mother's hut. one hen. "it is this eyelid. Ukegbu. A steady cloud of smoke rose from his head. Although he had prospered in his motherland Okonkwo knew that he would have prospered even more in Umuofia. "You will bring to the shrine of Ani tomorrow one she-goat. The conversation at once centered on him." resumed Obierika. I shall give you twice four hundred yams. my daughter. the people of the sky set before their guests the most delectable dishes Tortoise had even seen or dreamed of."I am Evil Forest.

whom they had asked to leave them for a while so that they might "whisper together. for although nobody else knew it. and filled the village with excitement."Five women stayed behind to look after the cooking-pots. Every man rose in order of years and took a share. When they had all taken."She will bring her back soon. "1 want Okonkwo to answer me. like splitting wood. And as he told them of the past they sat in darkness or the dim glow of logs. Their church stood on a circular clearing that looked like the open mouth of the Evil Forest. "It is a strange and terrible story. whose eyes. "Who will drink the dregs?" he asked. 'When mother-cow is chewing grass its young ones watch its mouth. And so they each took a new name. She gave the dish to her father's eldest brother and then shook hands.

You are a great family. women and children. A sickly odor hung in the air wherever he went. and at the end he had been taken out and handed over to a stranger. But that was only to be expected. She prepared it the way he liked??with slices of oil-bean and fish. one of these women went to Ozoemena's hut and told her. smiling.When the rain finally came."We shall be late for the wrestling.The night was impenetrably dark. Now Ekwefi was a woman of forty-five who had suffered a great deal in her time."Ezinma ran in the direction of the barn and brought back two yams from the dwarf wall. in the other hand. It all began over the question of admitting outcasts. He had an old rusty gun made by a clever blacksmith who had come to live in Umuofta long ago.Ekwefi ladled her husband's share of the pottage into a bowl and covered it.

They said that some young men had chased them away from the stream with whips." he said. They were the lazy easy-going ones who always put off clearing their farms as long as they could." He filled the first horn and gave to his father. younger men gave way and the tumult subsided. Was it waiting to snap its teeth together? After passing and re-passing by the church. He hoped to get another four hundred yams from one of his father's friends at Isiuzo. Maduka. but that they had many children to feed." he said. "Use the fan. as you know. 'Ogbuefi Ndulue. "You are our teacher. suddenly found an outlet. but inwardly they were happy for what they took to be their own foresight." He got up painfully.

but when they went away Okonkwo sat still for a very long time supporting his chin in his palms. There were many women.- instead of thirty there were now only fifteen. who was Okonkwo's father. Her name was Nneka. My mother's people have been good to me and 1 must show my gratitude.As they trooped through Okonkwo's obi he asked: "Who will prepare my afternoon meal?""I shall return to do it.""I think it is good that our clan holds the ozo title in high esteem. they said to themselves. Okonkwo came after her. They had not thought about that. "They are thirty?" he asked. Any wonder then that his son Okonkwo was ashamed of him? Fortunately." He waved his arm where most of the young men sat.' And so Daughter Kite returned the duckling and took a chick instead. On her arms were red and yellow bangles. After that they began to eat and to drink the wine.

Only the word of our God is true."Agbala do-o-o-o! Agbala ekeneo-o-o-o-o. and Ezinma brought his goatskin bag from the far end of the hut."It is near that orange tree. But he was struck. as usual. 'It just walked away. And that could not be. to Obierika's compound. and he knew it was due to Ikemefuna. could not shelter under his roof. and they began to go back the way they had come. She broke them into little pieces across the sole of her foot and began to build a fire. Unoka. The harvest was over. He then adjusted his cloth. more terrible and more sinister than the anger.

A razor was taboo to him.""All their customs are upside-down. What discount uggs bootsshe had seen was the shape of a man climbing a palm tree. and she put all her being into it. It was a very good wine and powerful. it was true. A bowl of pounded yams can throw him in a wrestling match.Low voices. "But if the Oracle said that my son should be killed I would neither dispute it nor be the one to do it. Somewhere a man was taking one of the titles of his clan. when Mr. At an early age he had achieved fame as the greatest wrestler in all the land. Chielo never ceased in her chanting. Spirits always addressed humans as "bodies. How a woman could carry a child of that size so easily and for so long was a miracle. And so excitement mounted in the village as the seventh week approached since the impudent missionaries buill their church in the Evil Forest. Her basket was balanced on her head.

There were twelve men on each side and the challenge went from one side to the other. At first the bride was not among them. Guns fired the last salute and the cannon rent the sky. Once she tripped up and fell. It was indeed the shrine of a great god."Okonkwo thanked him again and again and went home feeling happy. and the others to the chalk quarry. they have killed me!" as he ran towards him. and although ailing she seemed determined to live."Let me make the fire for you." said Uchendu. But that was only to be expected." Okonkwo was specially fond of Ezinma. the twins still remained where they had been thrown away. We do not dispute it. neither early nor late. "They will put off Ndulue's funeral until his wife has been buried.

The priestess bent down on one knee and Ezinma climbed on her back. do you know me?" asked the spirit. He is an exile. Darkness held a vague terror for these people. And then the locusts came. "We have men of high title and the chief priests and the elders. Unoka. She walked numbly along. who had lived about two hundred years before. They also said I would die if I built my church on this ground. Nothing that happened in the world of the animals ever escaped his notice. You know as well as I do that our forefathers ordained that before we plant any crops in the earth we should observe a week in which a man does not say a harsh word to his neighbor. He was greatly shocked and swore to beat Ekwefi if she dared to give the child eggs again. It was like pouring grains of corn into a bag full of holes.""The Earth cannot punish me for obeying her messenger. But on further thought he told himself that Nwoye was not worth fighting for. should he.

He heard the blow. The suitor just goes on bringing bags of cowries until his in-laws tell him to stop." said Obierika. He had never been fond of his real father. It was difficult to say which the people enjoyed more. His words may also be good. its sullenness over. whereupon Ear fell on the floor in uncontrollable laughter.""Not before you have had your breakfast. whose name was Ibe. "They have that custom in Obodoani.Uchendu had been told by one of his grandchildren that three strangers had come to Okonkwo's house. Umuofia. but he did not say it. When everything had been set before the guests.When she had shaken hands. "Beware.

Nothing wouldhappen to Ezinma. but not overmuch."Where have you been?" he stammered. 1 know more about the world than any of you. The oldest man present said sternly that those whose palm-kernels were cracked for them by a benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble. Only the word of our God is true. He called his son. Those men of Abame were fools. They have said so."They say that Okoli killed the sacred python. you wicked daughter of Akalogoli?" Okonkwo swore furiously. She was about sixteen and just ripe for marriage." said Obierika. No woman ever asked questions about the most powerful and the most secret cult in the clan. He had an old rusty gun made by a clever blacksmith who had come to live in Umuofta long ago." said Obierika. but achievement was revered.

without serious danger to his own health. But I can tell you."The body of Odukwe. and our own brothers who have taken up his religion also say that our customs are bad. He took the first of the empty stools and the eight other egwugwu began to sit in order of seniority after him. Brown. It was like pouring grains of corn into a bag full of holes." he said. What did they know about the man?" He ground his teeth again and told a story to illustrate his point. There were only four titles in the clan. like a son. "Tortoise and Cat went to wrestle against Yams??no. Okonkwo and his wife followed at a respectful distance. 'If I fall down for you and you fall down for me." said Okonkwo.""How did they get hold of Ancto to hang him?" asked Okonkwo." said Okonkwo.

therefore." he said. The wave struck the women and children and there was a backward stampede. she sat down on a stony ledge and waited. "So he must have a wife and all of them must have buttocks. it is for you. he fled to Aninta to escape the wrath of the earth."He died this morning. Nwoye. into a healthy."Father. because there was no humanity there. I fear for you. It was an angry. At the end they decided. If he had killed Ikemefuna during the busy planting season or harvesting it would not have been so bad. But I want you to have nothing to do with it.

In his anger he had forgotten that it was the Week of Peace. but its vigor was undiminished. Ekwefi's mind went back to the days when they were young. Ezinma went with her and helped in preparing the vegetables. And as he told them of the past they sat in darkness or the dim glow of logs. We put our fingers into our ears to stop us hearing. Ekwefi could now discern the figure of the priestess and her burden. Then he burst out:"Never kill a man who says nothing." As he looked into the log fire he recalled the name. Her mother consoled her and promised to buy her her another pot. As long as they lasted. You have committed a great evil. But they dared not complain openly. and nodded their heads in approval of all he said. These court messengers were greatly hated in Umuofia because they were foreigners and also arrogant and high-handed. Let her go and stay with her people. And if you stand staring at me like that.

"The world has no end." Okonkwo said. "I planted the farm nearly two years ago. and although it had not yet appeared on the sky its light had already melted down the darkness. There were only three such boys in each team. Okonkwo had clearly washed his hands and so he ate with kings and elders. The nine egwugwu then went away to consult together in their house. some alligator pepper and a lump of white chalk."Umuofia kwenu!" he roared. Eneke the bird says that since men have learned to shoot without missing. which had been dutifully eating yam peelings. He had a slight stammer and whenever he was angry and could not get his words out quickly enough. He broke the nut saying: We shall all live." said his eldest brother. before they finally left for their village.Okonkwo and his family worked very hard to plant a new farm.""In future call her into your obi.

he immediately bought gourds of palm-wine. After all the toil one only got a third of the harvest.""That is why the drum has not been beaten to tell Umuofla.As they spoke two other groups of people had replaced the first before the egwugwu. That is why Tortoise's shell is not smooth. The earth burned like hot coals and roasted all the yams that had been sown.Gradually the rains became lighter and less frequent."Come and shake hands with me. Okonkwo's first son."Yes. And whenever the moon forsook evening and rose at cock-crow the nights were as black as charcoal." Okonkwo was surprised. Then he poured out for the others.Seven years was a long time to be away from one's clan. Then he took it away to bury in the Evil Forest. not even for fear of a goddess. The women and children sent up a great shout and took to their heels.