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| Don't Rock the Cradle - Episode XIII (Joshua Ziregbe) |
NB: The comic reads right to left like traditional Japanese manga.
Previous Episodes
Voice: Ahhhhhhhhhh!
The screaming is loud but Omalicha can see Uzo pulling through, he was the last to be hit with the ogu that knocked the three of them out.
Uzo is still feeling the effects but is trying to pull himself together. The sound of the screaming is hitting his ears but isn't really registering. He opens his eyes and his vision is a blur, so he closes them again and shakes his head a little, slowly, then re-opens. Immediately, it hits! This is Dotun's voice!! He remembers what happened, his head jerks backwards... but something is wrong. Why is he looking straight up at the sky? Why do his hands and feet feel so tight?
Uzo is still feeling the effects but is trying to pull himself together. The sound of the screaming is hitting his ears but isn't really registering. He opens his eyes and his vision is a blur, so he closes them again and shakes his head a little, slowly, then re-opens. Immediately, it hits! This is Dotun's voice!! He remembers what happened, his head jerks backwards... but something is wrong. Why is he looking straight up at the sky? Why do his hands and feet feel so tight?
Voice 2: Mechi'onu! Amoosu!
*Smack!*
Uzo realises he is hanging upside down with his hands and feet bound to a branch. He looks up ahead and it's the same for Dotun who is being carried between the shoulders of two of the smellers. He turns back, Omalicha's hands are bound but she is walking on her own feet. She gives an awkward smile as if to say, "It's not my fault" but Uzo scoffs and throws his face forward.
The leader of this group of smellers is Anyanwu. He is walking like a man on a mission, a man with something to prove. The other smellers do not come across as experienced, they are probably still in training, but the boy on dreads, Omalicha can tell that there's something about him. His expression is bitter and his eyes tell that there is definitely more.
Dotun: Ouucchhhh! ...but I'm hungry!
Uzo shakes his head. Is that why he has been shouting? They are tied up and are being carted to a place that none of them has ever been but all he is bothered about is food?? The boy needs to see a dibia to check his head.
Anyanwu: We are here.
The leader of this group of smellers is Anyanwu. He is walking like a man on a mission, a man with something to prove. The other smellers do not come across as experienced, they are probably still in training, but the boy on dreads, Omalicha can tell that there's something about him. His expression is bitter and his eyes tell that there is definitely more.
Dotun: Ouucchhhh! ...but I'm hungry!
Uzo shakes his head. Is that why he has been shouting? They are tied up and are being carted to a place that none of them has ever been but all he is bothered about is food?? The boy needs to see a dibia to check his head.
Anyanwu: We are here.
Dotun: ehn!? Where?
*Smack!*
Someone slaps Dotun again on the back of his head.
Dotun: Ouucchhhh!
Dotun: Ouucchhhh!
Voice 3: They said mechi'onu!! Amoosu!
Omalicha: Stop hitting him!
Ezinne turns back, the dark expression still on her face, she has been walking behind her father all this while, right beside the boy with the dreads. She smiles a disturbing smile and says in the most caring voice that Omalicha has ever heard:
Ezinne: Don't worry, you will all be fine, soon.
Omalicha thinks to herself, "This girl must be a psychopath"
Anyanwu gestures to three of his apprentices then throws out his hand with his palm spread wide to the ground and all fingers pointing out.
Anyanwu: Go and bring the other two and announce to the good people of Udi as you pass through that they should assemble at the village square. Another cleansing ceremony will begin shortly.
He clenches his fist which he has now brought to his face. There is a glint of excitement in his eyes and Uzo has a bad feeling about this. The boy on dreads let's out a fraction of a smile from the corner of his lips, and now Uzo has a really bad feeling about this.
The smellers and their captives are in the heart of Udi and as they pass by people and houses, the apprentices echo...
Apprentices: Bia nu! Bia nu! Anyanwu e nwudo go amoosu ozo o!
They are announcing that their boss has caught more witches and the people are coming out in droves to see who and what Anyanwu has caught. The number following them is growing and jeers and heckling are coming from every side. The people are hissing and cursing, things are flying.
*Splat!*
Omalicha quickly ducks as eba flies through the air in her direction, it hits the smeller to the left. He didn't see it coming.
Dotun: Hahahahaha
*Smack!!*
Dotun: Ouuchhhh!
Crowd: Ekwensu! Alusi!! Amoosu!!!
The parade reaches the village square where there is an even larger crowd and the chanting of "Devils! Demons!! Witches!!!", continues. The apprentices that Anyanwu sent ahead are here as well and it appears that Anyanwu knowingly took a much longer route to allow for theatrics.
Omalicha gets it now, all three of them do. They can see the other two people that Anyanwu ordered be brought. One is an old woman, at least in her late 60s, she is quiet and the crowd is pelting her with all sorts of things, from pebbles to rocks to left over food. No one seems to care. The other is a little girl, "Chi'm o!" Omalicha exclaims in here mind. What crime has a girl so young committed to deserve this? A woman in the crowd is screaming, wailing at the top of her lungs and rolling around on the ground, tears pouring profusely from her eyes.
Woman: Biko nu o!! Biko nu!!! My daughter is not a witch o! Biko ooooo! She is my only child ooo! Heiiii! Unu ge gbum taata!
It is taking two of the heftier apprentices to restrain the woman and prevent her from running to meet her daughter. The girl is besides herself with tears, hyperventilating.
Girl: Muh-muh-muuhmmmyyyyy!!! Please hee-lllppp me!!! Muh-muh-mumyyy pleaassssseee!
Omalicha, Uzo and Dotun understand, things just quickly went from bad to a place that is well beyond worse. All three of their faces are bare and emotionless as the view before their eyes registers.
Anyanwu turns to the boy on dreads
Anyanwu: Ikemefuna, prepare them.
In front of them are six tall, equally spaced stakes buried in the ground, each with enough firewood to cook for an entire wedding. One of the stakes still has the remains of yesterday's victim. The crowd continues.
Crowd: Ekwensu! Alusi!! Amoosu!!!Omalicha gets it now, all three of them do. They can see the other two people that Anyanwu ordered be brought. One is an old woman, at least in her late 60s, she is quiet and the crowd is pelting her with all sorts of things, from pebbles to rocks to left over food. No one seems to care. The other is a little girl, "Chi'm o!" Omalicha exclaims in here mind. What crime has a girl so young committed to deserve this? A woman in the crowd is screaming, wailing at the top of her lungs and rolling around on the ground, tears pouring profusely from her eyes.
Woman: Biko nu o!! Biko nu!!! My daughter is not a witch o! Biko ooooo! She is my only child ooo! Heiiii! Unu ge gbum taata!
It is taking two of the heftier apprentices to restrain the woman and prevent her from running to meet her daughter. The girl is besides herself with tears, hyperventilating.
Girl: Muh-muh-muuhmmmyyyyy!!! Please hee-lllppp me!!! Muh-muh-mumyyy pleaassssseee!
Omalicha, Uzo and Dotun understand, things just quickly went from bad to a place that is well beyond worse. All three of their faces are bare and emotionless as the view before their eyes registers.
Anyanwu turns to the boy on dreads
Anyanwu: Ikemefuna, prepare them.
In front of them are six tall, equally spaced stakes buried in the ground, each with enough firewood to cook for an entire wedding. One of the stakes still has the remains of yesterday's victim. The crowd continues.
The old woman and the young girl are already fastened to their stakes. Ezinne turns round and begins to laugh a wild uncontrolled laugh. Is this what she meant by fine? Is this what Anyanwu meant by cleansing?? They are planning to burn them all at the stake!
Dotun: I'm too young to die!!!
Uzo is quiet but his hands are shaking a little, he can't see a way out of this one. If only his brother were here, not even his father or his uncle, only his brother would handle this. In fact, if his aunt were to show up, all hell would break lose but he's here alone...
Omalicha has never considered being burnt alive but she is more relaxed than she would have imagined. Maybe it is the news of her already impending death that has brought her this level of inner peace.
They have now all been tied up and Ikemefuna is holding the torch, lit and read to begin, Anyanwu is giving his speech.
Anyanwu: Ndi Udi! You have called me because you knew that evil has been living among you! You have done well.
Crowd: Ise!
Anyanwu: Ndi Udi! We have just begun and you can see the results even before the market day has come around!
Crowd: Ise!
Anyanwu: I, Anyanwu, will personally ensure that Udi is free from witchcraft and wickedness! I will exterminate every evil! Even those like these three that choose to pass by Udi!
Crowd: Ise!!!
Anyanwu: Udi must know peace!
Crowd: Yes!
Anyanwu: Udi must know progress!
Crowd: Yes!!
Anyanwu: Udi must know prosperity!!!
Crowd: ISE!!!!!!!!!
Anyanwu: Ikemefuna! Set Udi free from these evil presences.
Ikemefuna lights the fire around the old woman and for the first time, her voice is heard. She lets out a flat sound that could scare even a dying animal. Omalicha can see the reflexion of the flames in the old woman's eyes, someone just threw another stone and this one hits her squarely on the head, she's bleeding. Ikemefuna is at the girl's stake now, he looks up at her and drops another sadistic smile, the torch is in his hand, the girl's mother slumps, he is about to light the little girl up...
*Crack!* *Strike!*
The evening sky was free from clouds but lightning has struck a nearby tree and peeled the bark right off. Dark clouds assemble and a sharp burst of rain dowses the torch in Ikemefuna's hands and even the fire burning around the old woman who at this point is shedding tears that pierce Omalicha's soul. She cannot help but feel her pain, this is one of the saddest scenes that she has ever seen and a tear drops as she blinks.
Ikemefuna sniffs twice.
Ikemefuna: They are here.
From the middle of a dark light, three hooded figures appear. From the crowd...
Voice: Ekwensu a bia o! (The devil is here!)
Chaos ensues! Many are running away but a good number remain.
Translation
Eba: a starchy local Nigerian dish used to eat soups
Ise: a chant of support or agreement in Igbo land generally meaning "so be it"
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