It was Afọr market day, the day Umudi titled me agreed to meet men and to look into Asika and Uwanuakwa’s land case. It was to be the final day just as Uwanukwa had come to answer the itummanya made to him by Asika.
The land belonged to Asika and everyone knew it. It was some years ago, his father Okoye when he was young was coming back from the market and saw Nnajiafọr a very old man going back home from the gathering of the elders. Nnajiafọr’s wife and children were killed by thunderstorm and he could not remarry because of his age. He lived his remaining life with the help of his kinsmen and friends.
On his way home one day from the gathering of the elders, Okoye stopped at his side and gave him formal greetings.
As the old man was going his way, Okoye stopped and ran back to the man who stood waiting for him to talk.
“Nna,” he called, “I would want to visit your farm and to stake your yam for you. I passed from that farm today and noticed that it has outgrown the little agbara for it and now it needs longer and larger ones. Rain is not good for yam this time. More so, I have gotten three able-bodied men that will help me to remove that old thatch and to keep the red earth of your house in order,” he told Nnajiafọr.
Okoye’s word to Nnajiofor was the true talk of young men in those days. Nobody cared to ask for money when he worked for his fellow man. They lived communally in the way and nature of man, and showed great affection and sympathy to the old. As soon as they finished working in a man’s farm or house, they went back home to return in the evening. They would only feed well that night and look for another person to work for the next day. Those good deeds of Okoye led Nnajiofor to give him the land Uwanukwa was disputing on.
But now Uwanukwa was under the control of Obika who was nothing but a wealthy man in Umudi. All he needed was money and nothing but money. He loved amassing wealth more than protecting the interest of his people. He was impotent in thinking and nobody cared to beg him for a favor. Except Emenike, nobody in Umudi could compete with him in wealth. On one occasion, he made to compete with Emenike but took to his heels when he was told that Emenike could buy him and his entire household with a little part of his wealth.
He invited Uwanukwa to his house and told him that if he would get the land from Umudi, that he would help him build a house for himself and they would share the land equally. That was the only thing he could do well. He did not go where there was peace.
During those periods, he sponsored the wine for the case and pushed Uwanukwa further to gain victory over Okoye.
The night before the Afọr day was the time of the full moon. The voice of children was heard; they had filled the designated village arena, running and shouting the names of other children on top of their voices. But few men were found discussing with their children. Emenike’s children had all gone to bed except Agumba whom the father urged to stay with him until Uwanukwa and his friend who had sent a message that they would call. Emenike told Agumba many stories that night to relieve himself of the emotional threat the dream was giving him. Though they conversed, their voice was not heard by anybody.
Shortly, two men came in quietly and greeted him. They were the men he had been waiting for. Emenike asked his son to excuse them, as it was purely a discussion for the elders. Agumba sensed danger in their visit because the night had eaten deep except for the usual shrills of insects. The children had all gone to their sleep.
They talked but in whispers, for their voices were not heard.
“Nna anyi, as the case will come up next tomorrow, we want you to give us the judgment we deserve, and that is declaring that the land belongs to me. We have come with this ego ayoro; it is very big money. You can use it to buy yourself yams for this planting season. If you will give us that which we ask you, we will give you anything you ask. We know you are the only person who can bravely tell who the land belongs to,” the men assured him.
Emenike did not say a word, but signalled them to go. It was no time to give details.
Emenike slept very little that night and frequently woke up and sat on his bed thinking. The bag of cowry was still left at the place it was covered. As he lay on his bamboo bed, he remembered Okoye was just like a son his father left in his care and had remembered how good his father had been to him when he was alive. He brought him home from his sister’s home, brought twelve full baskets of yam to him to begin his life as a man and helped him build his first house. He also married him his first wife. The man did many things for him of which he could not easily forget. He had committed himself to the gods and to man.
“But I have committed myself,” he sighed.