CHAPTER 13

As soon as Ezinne finished talking to Ogadi, she hurriedly bathed and dressed up after which she went to Ejike's door and knocked.

Ejike stepped out, looking as fresh as one could when wearing the same clothes he was wearing yesterday.

“Let's go, quickly. Another sacrifice has been offered.” Ezinne said.

Ejike's eyes widened, “Are we too late?”

Ezinne threw her arms open, “I have no idea, but I do know we have to find Ekere now more than ever.”

Ejike nodded grimly and the duo set out, ignoring their host's offer of breakfast.

After warming up the engine, Ezinne drove them over to Alphonsus' house.

When they knocked, Alphonsus' wife, Jane opened the door.

“Good morning and welcome, would you like to join us for breakfast?” Jane greeted politely.

“Good morning. We don't have time for breakfast.” Ejike replied as they followed her into the house.

She led them past the sitting room and through a dark cluttered corridor.

She opened the door to one of the three rooms in the house, and they saw Alphonsus spoon-feeding an old man who lay in a hospital bed.

Alphonsus looked up at them and smiled, “Good morning.”

“Good morning,” Ejike and Ezinne replied simultaneously.

“Alpho, who are these people?” the old man asked weakly as his son brought a spoonful of oatmeal to his cracked lips.

“They are in need of the Ofo.” Alphonsus informed.

The man opened his mouth, and Alphonsus put the spoon in there. As he sucked the oatmeal off the spoon and unto his tongue, he stared openly at his guests, and Ezinne returned the favor.

Ichie Ogbuehi was like every old man his age, incredibly wrinkled. His bald head had black spots on it, and his skin was so fair from staying indoors all the time.

“What do you need the Ofo for?” he asked them, his piercing gaze going from Ejike to Ezinne.

“We have to swear on it to show that our reasons for asking for Zimuzo's aid are pure.” Ejike replied.

“I've known Zimuzo for a long time and he hasn't asked anyone to swear on the Ofo before. Why would he start now?” Ichie Ogbuehi asked suspiciously.

Ezinne lauded the man mentally. He might have been old, but his brain was still as sharp as a child's.

She told him everything that happened, from the murders to Ejike's involvement. When she was through, Ichie Ogbuehi's eyes were filled with respect.

“I never knew Ndi Nche still existed. Now, I know Dike Aru will fail once again.” He said to Ezinne.

“Thank you, Ichie. I would like you to play your part and give us the Ofo, so we may swear on it.” Ezinne said.

Ichie Ogbuehi nodded and whispered to Alphonsus, who nodded and left the room.

He returned bearing a regal wooden staff which was almost as tall as Ezinne. The staff had beautiful inscriptions on it and looked like it had been around for quite some time.

Ichie Ogbuehi took the Ofo from Alphonsus and turned it around in his skinny arms as he said, “This Ofo has been held by the Eze of this village for many generations. It is sad that these days, our leaders have forsaken our culture. It is sad that I hold this Ofo, instead of our king. But that does not mean that I will not be judicious in the use of the Ofo.

Come, let us go to Zimuzo's.”

Ejike and Ezinne were shocked. After a while, Ejike said carefully, “Is your presence really necessary? We could just take Alphonsus along so he can make sure the Ofo is safe at all times.”

Ichie Ogbuehi made a disagreeing noise at the back of his throat, “No way. I am the custodian of the Ofo, not Alphonsus. At least, not yet. I take my duty seriously. I will have eyes on the Ofo at all times.”

When he was through with his statement, he straightened up from the bed and Alphonsus put his hands underneath Ichie Ogbuehi, lifting him effortless as if he weighed no more than a cat.

“I hope you brought a car, I get heavy after a while,” Ichie Ogbuehi warned.

“I did,” Ezinne nodded.

Alphonsus strode out of the house bearing his father and Ejike helped him deposit the man in the back of the car. Alphonsus sat beside his father and helped him put on his seat belt.

When they were all settled in the car, Ezinne drove away, setting a straight course for Zimuzo's hovel.

* * *

When they arrived, Zimuzo was already waiting for them in the front of his house. Out in the sunlight, Ezinne noted he did not look as bad as she thought. Yes, his hair and beard were unkempt and his dentition was still nothing to write home about, but the grin he wore on his face actually made him look younger and less frightening.

Ejike and Alphonsus helped Ichie Ogbuehi out of the car and they made him lean on them.

Zimuzo said, “Welcome, Ichie Ogbuehi.”

“Why are you standing outside today? You never do that.” Ichie Ogbuehi asked in Igbo.

“It is not every day that the custodian of the Ofo visits me.” Zimuzo said warmly as he gave a little bow.

“So you saw I would visit you in a vision?” Ichie Ogbuehi queried.

“A vision is not needed to see something right in front of you. When these two came to visit me yesterday, I saw the raw determination in their eyes and knew they would actually bring the Ofo with them and knowing how seriously you take your job, I knew you would come along too.” Zimuzo explained with a shrug.

“Yes. This is the most exciting thing to happen to me in a long time.” Ichie Ogbuehi grinned.

“Father, at your age you want excitement?” Alphonsus asked with mock shock.

“Well, let's get this over with.” Ezinne said, putting an end to the small talk. She just wanted to have Zimuzo's vision and get out. She still remembered how unconducive his hovel was.

“First of all, I would like to offer Ichie kola nut.” Zimuzo said and gestured for them to follow him into his dilapidated house.

Ichie Ogbuehi might be old, but he certainly didn't want to die anytime soon which was why he refused Zimuzo's offer of Kola nut vehemently albeit politely.

Zimuzo shrugged and said, “Then let's go to my sanctuary so you can convince me to help you.”

Ejike put a hand on him, “Could we do this outside? Just right here?”

Zimuzo shrugged off his hand and said sternly, “No. Let's go.”

They all shuffled into his dingy and mosquito-infested hovel and sat down on the floor.

Ichie Ogbuehi immediately started slapping various parts of his body, trying to dissuade the mosquitoes from feasting on his blood.

Zimuzo stared at Ejike unblinkingly, “You may swear on the Ofo.”

Ejike nodded and took the Ofo from Ichie Ogbuehi. He held the sacred staff reverently in his hands as he stood up.

He then swore in a loud and steady voice, “I, Ejike Uwakwe swear on the Ofo of Umuisi that I seek Zimuzo's aid for altruistic reasons only. If I am lying, or prevaricating, may I be struck dead by lightning.”

After his oath, he paused dramatically and waited for lightning. When none came, he looked Zimuzo in the eye as he said, “Once again Zimuzo, I'm sorry that I lied to you before. That was the old me. From here on out, I will be nothing more than honest with you.”

Zimuzo didn't reply. Instead, he turned to Ezinne, “It's your turn.”

Ejike passed the Ofo to her and she swore as swiftly and as solemnly as he did. When she was through and there was no lightning strike, she gave the Ofo back to Ichie Ogbuehi who said to Zimuzo, “It seems they were telling the truth all along.”

“You can never be too sure.” Zimuzo said as he moved to a corner of his hovel and brought out a sacred chalk, Nzu, and some kola nuts.

He took the Nzu and made a small but vivid circle on the floor. After that, he broke the kola nuts into little pieces and threw them in the circle, all the while muttering under his breath.

Ezinne knew he was asking the gods to show him where Ekere was, but she was impatient.

Surely, the gods could speed the process up knowing everything that was at stake?

Zimuzo stopped muttering as he studied the kola nuts, bringing close the ever-present kerosene lamp for further illumination.

He spoke some unintelligible words to himself, seeming to forget that he had an audience.

He craned his neck as he considered the kola nuts from various angles, after which he straightened up and said to Ejike and Ezinne, “The demon you seek is hiding where the water meets the clouds.”

They exchanged confused glances before Ezinne said, “I'm not trying to be rude or anything, but what is that supposed to mean?”

Zimuzo regarded her with undisguised amusement, “The gods only revealed that to me. You know they're rarely straightforward, always speaking in proverbs and parables.”

“So you mean to say they can't offer more clarity?” Ejike asked.

“No. They have done their parts. It's now up to you to do the rest yourselves.” Zimuzo proclaimed.

Ezinne wished for once in her life the gods would give them the exact location. What did they mean by where the water met the cloud? She wondered.

Not that sitting in a stuffy hovel would help her find out. She needed to get out, she realized. She stood up and said to Zimuzo and Ichie Ogbuehi, “Thank you for all the help you've rendered so far. Be certain you have played your part in helping us in the battle against Dike Aru.”

She motioned for Ejike to stand up so they might leave, then she turned to Alphonsus, “Let me give you a ride home.”

Zimuzo said to her, “Gate Keeper, do not be in a haste to leave. The gods aren't through with what they want to reveal to you just yet.”

At Zimuzo's words, Ezinne's heart soared with hope and joy. Who knows, maybe the gods wanted to reveal Ekere's location, she thought as she reclaimed her position on the floor and crossed her fingers.

Zimuzo peered at the kola nuts once more, looked at Ezinne with something akin to fear and returned his gaze to the floor.

“Are my eyes deceiving me?” He asked, rubbing his eyes with his hands.

Ezinne's heart began to beat rapidly, “What is it?” she asked with trepidation.

Zimuzo shushed her and began to mumble under his breath again. He closed his eyes as he picked up the kola nuts and threw them to the floor again.

When he opened his eyes and looked at the scattered kola nuts on the floor, he groaned out loud.

Although she knew better than to interrupt a seer when he was receiving messages, Ezinne felt she'd die out of curiosity if she didn't find out what Zimuzo in knots, “Zimuzo, please what do you see that distresses you so?”

Zimuzo looked up with distress in his eyes, “I've checked this from every angle possible, but it's still the same. For once, the gods have decided to deliver a simple message, and it isn't a good one.”

Ichie Ogbuehi was the one who spoke this time around, “Zimuzo, do not keep us in suspense. What did the gods say?”

Zimuzo scratched his beard and stared at the kerosene lamp as he said in a monotonous voice, “The gods say that a daughter of the earth shall bring about the reign of the underworld.”

Ezinne began to sweat as she heard the prophecy for the second time that day.

The first time she'd heard the words, she'd dismissed them as mere fallacy but hearing them now, she had a premonition that they would come to pass.