that when such a spirit appeared. "What kind of lover sleeps with a pregnant woman?" There was a loud murmur of approbation from the crowd. When they were out of earshot.

And they began to shoot
And they began to shoot. They boast about victory over death. A sickly odor hung in the air wherever he went." He waved at his sons and daughters." Uzowulu bent down and touched the earth with his right hand as a sign of submission. to roast plantains for him. Neither of the other wives had. And immediately Okonkwo's eyes were opened and he saw the whole matter clearly. The first thing he would do would be to rebuild his compound on a more magnificent scale. Umuazu.As soon as his father walked in. It is the kind of action for which the goddess wipes out whole families. and each party brought with them a huge pot of palm-wine. and a girl. 'What did the mother of this chick do?' asked the old kite. They were among the best wrestlers in all the nine villages. He was called the Cat because his back would never touch the earth. In his anger he had forgotten that it was the Week of Peace." replied Okukwe." And after a pause she said: "Can I bring your chair for you?""No. That was a source of great sorrow to the leaders of the clan.

The inhabitants of Mbanta expected them all to be dead within four days." Okonkwo said. The goat was then led back to the inner compound. The hymn about brothers who sat in darkness and in fear seemed to answer a vague and persistent question that haunted his young soul??the question of the twins crying in the bush and the question of Ikemefuna who was killed. It was the fear of himself. Everybody was killed. It throbbed in the air.Before it was dusk Ezeani. He had an old rusty gun made by a clever blacksmith who had come to live in Umuofta long ago. As she knelt by her. one of them did something which no one could describe because it had been as quick as a flash. You. but offered to use his teeth. twenty years or more.Ezinma lay shivering on a mat beside a huge fire that her mother had kept burning all night. But two years later when a son was born he called him Nwofia??"Begotten in the Wilderness. And then after another lifetime these men opened the caves again and the locusts came to Umuofia. who had been talking. Without further argument Okonkwo gave her a sound beating and left her and her only daughter weeping. It was on the seventh day that he died." said one of the younger men.

I have cleared a farm but have no yams to sow. which should be a woman's crowning glory. But the song spread in Umuofia. or watched him as he tapped his palm tree for the evening wine. gazed at it a while and went away again??to the underworld. and she was notorious for her late cooking."I have heard. a good harvest and happiness."The village has outlawed us."Then I shall go back to the clan. Although he had felt uneasy at first. But Ekwefi could not see her.""Let them laugh. "before I kill you!" He seized a heavy stick that lay on the dwarf wall and hit him two or three savage blows."It was Wednesday in Holy Week and Mr.Having sworn that oath. "and yet he is full of sorrow because he has come to live in his motherland for a few years. The three women talked excitedly about the relations who had been invited."He said something. my child. But it would be impolite to rush him.

Nwoye had heard that twins were put in earthenware pots and thrown away in the forest. roots snapped below. She walked numbly along."Then listen to me."Uzowulu's body. His name was Uchendu. Some kinsmen ate it with egusi soup and others with bitter-leaf soup."Umuofia kwenu!""Yaa!""Umuofia kwenu!""Yaa!"Evil Forest then thrust the pointed end of his rattling staff into the earth. That was his fifth head and he was not an old man yet.Chielo's voice was now rising continuously. his head pointing to the earth and his legs skywards. their legs and feet. I also kill a cock at the shrine of Ifejioku. to sit with him in his obi.""Let them laugh. He hoped to get another four hundred yams from one of his father's friends at Isiuzo. Ekwefi picked her way carefully and quietly. this medicine stands on the market ground in the shape of an old woman with a fan. Okonkwo always asked his wives' relations. as she had accepted others??with listless resignation.Okonkwo was very happy to receive his friend.

and he never saw her again. Ekwefi was reassured. He had discerned a clear overtone of tragedy in the crier's voice. And when. "people should not talk when they are eating or pepper may go down the wrong way. He was a wealthy farmer and had two barns full of yams. decorating them with a colorful and plaintive tune. and the polite name for leprosy was "the white skin."Okonkwo never did things by halves. 1 know you will not despair. But it was momentary. Sometimes the sun shone through the rain and a light breeze blew. "The bell-man announced it last night.""That is true. He heard the blow. How old is she now?""She is about ten years old.In this way the moons and the seasons passed. He had lost the years in which he might have taken the highest titles in the clan. The moon had been rising later and later every night until now it was seen only at dawn. Obierika.' said Mother Kite to her daughter.

and there was no hurry to decide his fate." and Okoye saw groups of short perpendicular lines drawn in chalk. But let us ostracize these men. Temporary cooking tripods were erected on every available space by bringing together three blocks of sun-dried earth and making a fire in their midst. On her arms were red and yellow bangles. She often called her Ezigbo.""That is very true. They did not stay very long."Yes. He would be very much happier working on his farm."As they spoke Ezinma emerged from the hut. It looked like an equal match. And as he told them of the past they sat in darkness or the dim glow of logs. who had given much money to the white man's messengers and interpreter. Okonkwo worked on the outside of the wall and the boys worked from within. which was shaved in places. "When I think that it is only eighteen months since the Seed was first sown among you. and for protection against their enemies. he was repentant."It is iba. And as if they had been waiting for that.

On receiving such a message through a younger brother or sister. lest he strike you in his anger." said Ekwefi. relaxed again. And they were all gay. And so he is bowed with grief. A child cannot pay for its mother's milk. It was clear from his twinkling eyes that he had important news. She was called Crystal of Beauty. who drank a cup or two each. But it was a resilient spirit. solid drops of frozen water which the people called "the nuts of the water of heaven. The white man had gone back to Umuofia. was the wife of Ogbuefi Udo. May all you took out return again tenfold. sang for mercy. "Okoli told me himself that it was false.As for the boy himself. So he began to plan how he would go to the sky."Thank you. If your in-law brings wine to you.

" He paused. with Ezinma sleeping on ugg sale outlether back. the sun is shining." said Obierika sadly. She could hear the priestess' voice. "In Abame and Aninta the title is worth less than two cowries. Unoka was. Her basket was balanced on her head. she has told me about it. The two voices disappeared into the thick darkness. unlike the deep and liquid rumbling of the rainy season." continued Odukwe. had said to him during that terrible harvest month: "Do not despair. let him follow Nwoye now while I am alive so that I can curse him. his three wives and eight children. and others who could think of nowhere else open to escape. When the pot fell down and broke she burst out laughing. And then it became known that the white man's fetish had unbelievable power. for whom is it well? There is no one for whom it is well. They do not decide bride-price as we do. that man was okonkwo.

He was in fact an outcast.The first cock had not crowed. The rainbow was called the python of the sky."Okonkwo was very lucky in his daughters." Umuofia obodo dike! Umuofia obodo dike! It said this over and over again. If the clan had disobeyed the Oracle they would surely have been beaten. They stood round in a huge circle leaving the center of the playground free."He sprang to his feet."That woman standing there is my wife." said his eldest brother. Nwoye would feign annoyance and grumble aloud about women and their troubles. Okonkwo. burning forehead. Fortunately. He made him feel grown-up. i have only a short while to live."He took down the pot from the fire and placed it in front of the stool. She knelt on her knees and hands at the threshold and called her husband. And supporting his mother also meant supporting his father.""Yes. Okonkwo wondered what was amiss.

Suddenly Okagbue sprang to the surface with the agility of a leopard." said Uchendu. Obierika." he said. And so when Okonkwo of Umuofia arrived at Mbaino as the proud and imperious emissary of war. She stood until Chielo had increased the distance between them and she began to follow again. He would return with a flourish.A hush fell on the compound immediately. so heavy and persistent that even the village rain-maker no longer claimed to be able to intervene. and from the very first seemed to have kindled a new fire in the younger boy."Just then Obierika's son.Umuofia had indeed changed during the seven years Okonkwo had been in exile. to inquire what was amiss." said Mr. But you are still a child. He was greatly shocked and swore to beat Ekwefi if she dared to give the child eggs again.Just then the distant beating of drums began to reach them. they set off in a body. went into an inner room and came back with a kola nut. Ekwefi hurried to the main footpath and turned left in the direction of the voice. The pots of wine stood in their midst.

it is play'. it said. If you had been a coward. impotent ash. After the pot-bearers came Ibe. with a start." said Ogbuefi Ezeudu. She was Okonkwo's second wife Ekwefi. and Odukwe bent down and touched the earth. I implore you. or rather held out her hand to be shaken. and the elders of his family. folded her arms across her breast and sighed."The village has outlawed us." said Ekwefi. They too sat just in front of the huge circle of spectators. He knew it must be Ekwefi. Men and women.The priestess' voice was already growing faint in the distance. Spirits always addressed humans as "bodies."They would have gone on arguing had Ofoedu not come in just then.

Everyone knew then that she would live because her bond with the world of ogbanje had been broken. they set off in a body."The birds gathered round to eat what was left and to peck at the bones he had thrown all about the floor. She wore a black necklace which hung down in three coils just above her full. rumbling like thunder in the rainy season. so she cupped her right hand to shelter the flame. Every man can see it in his own compound. She is called Ozoemena. Their fathers had never dared to stand before our ancestors." said one of the converts. they became the lords of the land. and at his death there were only three men in the whole clan who were older. Later in the day he called Ikemefuna and told him that he was to be taken home the next day. He had lost the chance to lead his warlike clan against the new religion." said Obierika's eldest brother. His yams grew abundantly. He sat down again and called two witnesses. At the end. and through these Okonkwo passed the rope.""It is true. and they no longer spent the evenings in his mother's hut while she cooked.

Once she tripped up and fell. Uchendu. That had been his life-spring." said Obierika. a long and thin strip of cloth wound round the waist like a belt and then passed between the legs to be fastened to the belt behind. palm-oil and pepper for the soup. guttural and awesome." replied Okonkwo." said Okagbue. is a beast. and he was not afraid of war. All the grass had long been scorched brown. But he was not the man to go about telling his neighbors that he was in error. and then. skirting round the subject and then hitting it finally. That was the only time Ekwefi ever saw Ogbu-agali-odu. who clung to her."Ekwefi did as she was asked. But if they thought these things they kept them within themselves. Uchendu ground his teeth together audibly. lest he strike you in his anger.

Ekwefi and her daughter.That was the kind of story that Nwoye loved. The story was told in Umuofia.But some of the egwugwu were quite harmless. as was the custom. neither early nor late. Each of Uchendu's five sons contributed three hundred seed-yams to enable their cousin to plant a farm. had died ten years ago.Okonkwo knew these things." said Nwoye's mother. On her arms were red and yellow bangles."Umezulike."Then I shall go back to the clan." he mocked." said Okonkwo as he took his machete and went into the bush to collect the leaves and grasses and barks of trees that went into making the medicine for iba. white dregs and said.Nwoye's younger brothers were about to tell their mother the true story of the accident when Ikemefuna looked at them sternly and they held their peace. living in a special area of the village. He then installed his personal god and the symbols of his departed fathers. She cut the yams into small pieces and began to prepare a pottage. A sickly odor hung in the air wherever he went.

Kiaga's congregation at Mbanta. and at the end of it beat his instrument again. Old men and children would then sit round log fires. You do not know what it is to speak with one voice. one of these women went to Ozoemena's hut and told her.But Ezinma's iyi-uwa had looked real enough. "We shall give them a piece of land. and the little children to visit their playmates in the neighboring compounds. He was greatly shocked and swore to beat Ekwefi if she dared to give the child eggs again. And such was the deep fear that their enemies had for Umuofia that they treated Okonkwo like a king and brought him a virgin who was given to Udo as wife.; "Did he die?" asked Ezinma. stood near the edge of the pit because he wanted to take in all that happened. 1 owe them no cocoyams. "Three or four of us should stay behind. He heard the blow. When he thought he had waited long enough he again returned to the shrine. In the morning he went back to his farm and saw the withering tendrils. When they carried him away. Nothing wouldhappen to Ezinma. Guns fired the last salute and the cannon rent the sky. The daughters of Uehuiona were also there.

greeted Okonkwo and turned towards the compound. As Idigo had said."As they spoke Ezinma emerged from the hut. The suitor was a young man of about twenty-five. He told them that the true God lived on high and that all men when they died went before Him for judgment. It was the time for treading red earth with which to build walls. Nwayieke lived four compounds away. but he went to the birds and asked to be allowed to go with them."Father. suddenly changed his mind and agreed to take the message. Ikezue strove to dig in his right heel behind Okafo so as to pitch him backwards in the clever ege style. Ezinma was crying loudly now. Here we say he cannot climb the tall tree but he can tap the short ones standing on the ground. You yourselves took her. You do not know what it is to speak with one voice. Okonkwo said yes very strongly." said Okonkwo. Nwoye passed and repassed the little red-earth and thatch building without summoning enough courage to enter. having enough in his barn to feed the ancestors with regular sacrifices." And he took another pinch of snuff. Okonkwo was among them.

It was the first time for many years that a man had broken the sacred peace. and was punished. I would sooner strangle him with my own hands. It was not very easy getting the men of high title and the elders together after the excitement of the first day. or Evil Spirit. His mother and sisters worked hard enough. She would die with her. They then set about painting themselves with cam wood and drawing beautiful black patterns on their stomachs and on their backs. and at the end of three years he had become very distant indeed. and they knocked against each other as he searched. We put our fingers into our ears to stop us hearing." said Obierika. who said he should die. and for protection against their enemies.' But my wife's brothers said they had nothing to tell me. who was a prosperous farmer. It descended on him again. You see. Okonkwo said he was sorry for what he had said. but they looked on from the fringe like outsiders. Okonkwo said yes very strongly.

They settled on every tree and on every blade of grass. When he walked. A man could not rise beyond the destiny of his chi.Suddenly Okagbue sprang to the surface with the agility of a leopard.The world was silent except for the shrill cry of insects. An evil forest was where the clan buried all those who died of the really evil diseases. but six. It was like the pulsation of its heart."Who killed this tree? Or are you all deaf and dumb?"As a matter of fact the tree was very much alive. as usual. now said"You told us with your own mouth that there was only one god. The hearing then began. now said"You told us with your own mouth that there was only one god. He could not do anything without telling her. Uzowulu. The blazing sun returned. He would now have to make a bigger farm. but that they had many children to feed. the interpreter. he was terribly afraid."Is Anasi not in?" he asked them.

" said Obierika. but that year-had been enough to break the heart of a lion. An evil forest was where the clan buried all those who died of the really evil diseases." he said."When they had cut the goats' throats and collected the blood in a bowl. I cannot yet find a mouth with which to tell the story. But it went from day to day without a pause.She did not know how long she waited. had gone to consult the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves to find out why he always had a miserable harvest. And they all knew Ekwefi and her daughter very well. They went outside again. So much of it was cooked that. They had built their church there. The hearing then began.""That is so. and Ekwefi asked Nwoye's mother and Ojiugo to explain to Obierika's wife that she would be late." Ezinma said. She would wait at the mouth. There were also pots of yam pottage.It was well known among the people of Mbanta that their gods and ancestors were sometimes long-suffering and would deliberately allow a man to go on defying them." said the joker.

deeply. his mother was alive. Ezinma had not wanted to cooperate with him at first. or Evil Spirit. Maduka. Evil Forest addressed the two groups of people facing them. It was like a man wondering in broad daylight why a dream had appeared so terrible to him at night." said Okonkwo. roots snapped below. She slowed down her pace so as to increase the distance between them. Chielo. palm-oil and pepper for the soup."My in-law has told you that we went to his house. Okafo raised his right leg and swung it over his rival's head. I clear the bush and set fire to it when it is dry. Only the really great men in the clan were able to do this. "Blessed is he who forsakes his father and his mother for my sake. It was then that the one-handed spirit came. and soon the children were chasing one of their cocks. leaving what we are cooking to burn in the fire. From then on.

whom she called her daughter.As the palm-wine was drunk one of the oldest members of the umunna rose to thank Okonkwo:"If I say that we did not expect such a big feast I will be suggesting that we did not know how openhanded our son. How else could they say that Ani and Amadiora were harmless? And Idemili and Ogwugwu too? And some of them began to go away. They also said I would die if I built my church on this ground. but Ezeani seemed to pay no attention. So he waited impatiently for the dry season to come." he said and cleared his throat. Her eyes were useless to her in the darkness." she called. They had not thought about that." asked another man. "that I shall bring many iron horses when we have settled down among them."He was not an albino. But the drought continued for eight market weeks and the yams were killed. It was not done earlier because the rains were too heavy and would have washed away the heap of trodden earth. Kiaga. Okonkwo wanted his son to be a great farmer and a great man. unhappily. It was said that when such a spirit appeared. "What kind of lover sleeps with a pregnant woman?" There was a loud murmur of approbation from the crowd. When they were out of earshot.