The following morning, he carried his very old bag and told Agumba to follow him. His son had wondered what kept his father in a bad mood. Even as they walked, he was not saying anything. He took him into the forest and showed him different leaves and roots, teaching him the uses they could be put to. He emphasised the potency of each one and highlighted their toxicity and the need for the users to keep to rules and regulations.
“These medicines have power. They are more powerful than man himself. With much strength, a man can converse with them and could not be harmed. I did not inherit any of these from my father but I learned them through hard work and co-operation of wizened men. You learn from others,” he told Agumba.
After spending some time with him, they started walking home slowly and still deep in their conversations. It was a delight to him to hear all these stories from his father. Stories he would commit to memory.
“But one more thing, Agumba Oyirinnaya. The greatest problem you will have is woman. A woman is a source of life and death, but also the only force working against the form of man, spirit and medicine. The moment you defile yourself, the spirits see your nakedness and will start fleeing. As I am, I was the man of myself until I got married to my first wife. I did not defile myself and that is why I am ever strong and can work fiercely despite my age,” Emenike said.
“A man prepares himself for war even before war is called. I am preparing you this day to know that life is not all about growing tall, huge, growing beards and enlarging your manhood with meat. A man hopes and eagerly looks up to something that will make his heart strong, so that his enemies will not gloat over his disappointment with ease. A man also struggles to come out from cheap defeat when he knows he left an answer. The people of the clan know how disappointed I am with your brothers. They are not blind and they know they are not men. My son, there is more to a man. He should be made to know the rules of the clan. He should be made to know what becomes of him at death. However, there are several kinds of deaths that are shameful, and in these circumstances no burial is provided at all. Women who die in labour, children who die before they have teeth, those who commit suicide and those who die in the sacred month – for these people, their funeral ceremony consists of being thrown into a bush. Try to avoid these kinds of death. It is not for the great, but a great man could die disgracefully if his chi deserts him.”
Agumba listened to his father intently, without uttering a word. He could have asked questions, but the circumstance he was in did not permit that. It was so tragic that he feared to ask. So he was nodding and was warring in his mind with the many words his father had spoken and their meaning. The most painful time in one’s life was the time of his death. He could say words that were too deep, things he never knew he could say.
For a long time, father and son looked steadily at each other in silence and many thoughts were transferred. Many things were better taught that way than openly said.
On their way home, Emenike stopped at the shadow of an akwu tree that stood on the way leading to his house. He unslung his goatskin bags and his sheathed machete, put them on the ground and sat down.
“I have asked you to come. No good father lies to his son. He could lie to his kinsmen, but could never to his son. If a father does that, he would be sure to see his children all die after him. Everything I am telling you is the truth I should tell a son I know I gave birth to. I am a son of the soil and you are too. Soon you will take a position of father like me. One who owns only one arrow does not shoot it far away. You are the only one who understands what it means for a man to stand and urinate while he watches for dangers around him. When one stands, thinks of his future, sees his future and carries responsibility. It is said that a mature eagle feather will ever remain pure. An indigent does not take the title of Omeokachie. One who starts with a good mind completes whatever he puts his hand to. While on top of the iroko tree, gather all the firewood you can because it is not every day that one scales the great iroko. I may not have time to tell you all this again. That is more reason you should pay attention. I am not crying, you know. That is not the way of men. A man at a certain time in his life eats his sorrow in his own heart. I shall not cry or behave like a woman in your presence, son. Besides, it is no time for that. There is this feeling in me I do not fully understand. It is like my days are numbered, but the gods have revealed nothing to me. I want to tell you many things about my lands that would be difficult for you to understand if they are not explained. Look at the left and the right of this place we are standing, it belongs to me. It was the land the elders gave me when I fought with the people of Okene and Mbata and took them captives for Umudi. Those people that lived near orieegbugbu were the victims of the war I fought when I was a man with only one wife. No matter any pleasure you may have, don’t relinquish this land to anyone, for it is a gifted land. It extends to the Onyia path from one end and Otiri forest by the right and then on the other side. I gave it Oduru, my cousin and you should not ask it back from him. Ikekwe leased out the other one at the far end to me, for twenty baskets of yam seedlings he borrowed from me the year his father died. He has not returned it. So use the land for more four planting seasons and give him back. Don’t ask for a payback. His father was a good man. He is a very poor man and if he could not pay up before he dies, leave them for his children. You have many remaining. A child reminds folks of his father. I want to be remembered because of you. If one keeps beating his hand on his chest, he shows the spirit where the life it is looking for is located. You should learn not to sleep long henceforth. A man does not sleep and forget his compound. Intruders may come and cut off his head without his knowing it and then his ancestors will wipe away his entire generation. If you are going to be of need in any emergency, do not sleep heavily and do not in event of being a married man stay longer with your wife in bed till morning. For now, no more words to say to you.”
They stood and walked home slowly. Agumba surveyed the whole area and nodded agreeably. That evening, Emenike poured his heart fully to his son.