What a loss to Emenike who before now never thought that the gods could be crazy and greedy! It was a loss of all comfort. He would lose a great son and friend who had confided his heart. No matter the pain, it was to be done. No one crunched happily over the development. He was still a young man who was only finding his own. On that last night he had his last meal with Ndirim, he felt a deep cut in his heart. He was a free young boy, free in heart and mind. What was his offence? Was it wrong to be young? He could have made him see a woman’s nakedness. But that would be too early. The child could die through other means. He had been in view of the gods and anyone who did anything to stop it would suffer for it. But for having known his father for his short life, he could tell a little of him, which he knew well. He had noticed an unusual quietness and guilt on his face. His eyes were so dull that he never wanted to say much.
“Enyi,” he called.
“Nnam,” he answered, looking at his father.
“You will accompany me with few elders to Alaigwe to see some men.”
“Will other young boys go with us?”
“No, just one small girl. She will go with us and be your playmate,” he answered.
“What are we going there to do?”
“When we go, you will see.”
For some time, both did not eat. They looked up and met themselves, eyeball to eyeball. The young boy was at a loss, but somehow, he knew his father would not be a trick.
For some time the father watched the son. He would be gone forever any moment. He looked at him, prayed silently in his heart and thought of how he would continue without him, his first son, who survived after many losses, who was his resemblance for the rest of his life. It was purely against his will. He could not have done a thing like that. It was the sacrifice he must make for being a man and for choosing bravery. He washed his hands and walked away to the barn to ease his mood.
The innocent boy was at loss. Among his many mates, no one was chosen but him. He would be great. That was another thought. The only one the gods spotted. His father could make a company, when the gods would see him and crown him king of boys and the leader in strength and wisdom. He knew that with his father in their company, no harm would occur. He could believe his father in everything.
For the three days, they were ready, waiting for the coming of the elders. The silence of Emenike and his unnaturalness was something that kept everyone in the house thinking. The elders came finally on the third day. In their company was Asiegbu, three able-bodied men, a young beautiful girl and two old men fully armed and well dressed for a great outing. That girl was from Ndioke. He knew her. They had met at the stream. So they eyed each other. She was a perfect match for play. They greeted with the eyes. The young boy and his father dressed up and joined the people that had come for the journey. His mother and few others in the compound bade him a fond good bye. It never occurred to their mind that they would never see him again.
As they waited for formalities between son and friend who would soon leave them, the waiting men involved themselves in little discussions to ease the whisper of what was about to happen. Emenike withdrew to the rear and shook his head persistently. It was bad he knew that the young boy left that way, his own son. The gods never lied. They knew better. Sometimes they gave man tasks too difficult to test his strength and manliness.
They walked silently and sometimes spoke on few things which could never be neglected. They answered greetings, urinated and took kola or alligator pepper into their mouth. The journey continued and soon, they were at the great shrine. It was not far now. The hearts were full of tears and distance was never counted. Many short cuts were taken to see it go. Every blink of the eyes brought the existence of the two young children down, little children dying for the cause of others.
It was a painful sight, so much emotion, so much thoughts. It was hard to make a decision on anything. It would be seen as a betrayal. No one would want to.