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EXILE - Chapter Forty-four
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Okwudili had not been at peace with himself ever since the last quarrel he had with his brother, Okoli over a piece of land that their father had left for them to share. He moved from one side to another, in his room, as he thought of the way his father counselled him when he was worried about something.
"Okwi!" His father would say, "what troubles your mind and has kept you in distress?"
In those days, Okwudili would shook his head and tell his father not to bother himself. He would assure his father that he was fine. It was his own way of letting his father know that he was a grown up man.
Okwudili wondered how quickly time passed. He wondered how the unity he had once shared with his brothers had totally crumbled into a piece of regrets and malice. He knew that as one grew older, things changed. But the way things were happening in his life right now, he knew that the change that was taken place was neither for his go
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Shading Black EXILE - Chapter Forty-five
Okwudili was amazed at all the things Ezeugo had told him. They stuck deeply in his mind as he tried to make sense of all he had just heard. Although Ezeugo was sound asleep, he could still feel the movements of his lips as he poured out his heart to him. The story that Ezeugo had told him was a tale that could easily pass as an illusion than a reality. No man in his right mind wouldn't call Ezeugo a fool after listening to all he had just said about his journey.Deep down, Okwudili could remember that he had heard a lot of stories about the magical powers that the diviners of Umuoku possessed but none of them had even come close to the diviner that Ezeugo had just told him about. Even Osisisiakalaka would feel a threat to his supremacy if he ever heard of such a man who could do a wonderful miracle that was only reserved for the high god, Chukwu.As Okwudili pondered about what he had just heard. The only reasonable concept he could come up
Shading Black EXILE - Chapter Forty-six
The hoarse voice of a troubled mind came out from nowhere, startling Okwudili. A simple answer was all it demanded."Who is lying?"Okwudili shifted from one side of the bamboo bed to another as he wondered who had spoken to him. The room was empty except for him and his dark, lifeless shadow that was cast on the wall by the palm oil lamp that was almost dead. He grabbed the lamp and walked towards the window to see who had dared to come into his compound at midnight. He saw nothing. He staggered back to his bed, trying to assure himself that it was just his own thoughts deceiving him."If you don't tell me who is lying at this moment, I will make sure that you are beaten properly."Okwudili got up from his bed again. He was alert. He could ignore a man playing around with his pride anywhere in the village but he couldn't manage a man who would come to his own compound to threaten him with words. He
Shading Black EXILE - Chapter Forty-seven
Ezeugo could not believe what had happened to him. He had woken up with a stubborn head ache that prevented him from thinking properly. His cheeks were hurt from the slaps that Okwudili had given to him. He sat down on an old cane chair that was owned by their father. A personal gift to Okwudili for being the last son. As he chewed the kola nuts that Isioma had brought for him, slowly, while watching his teeth get stained by its brown particles, he looked at Okwudili with a feeling of irritation."I cannot believe that you slapped me on both cheeks," Ezeugo said."That was the best way to lure you away from whatever that was possessing your body," Okwudili replied."Why didn't you pour me cold water or try to wake me up? Must it be slaps? Must you always succumb to violence at every opportunity you are presented?""I was not trying to be violent," Okwudili fired. "I was trying to save the life of my
Shading Black EXILE - Chapter Forty-eight
The two children murdered on the day of Ibekwe's adoption ceremony were the sons of Akwaudo's sister, Chinelo. Their bodies were found lying without hope in the centre of the village town square by a small girl who was on her way to the stream to fetch water. Dead.All eyes went to Okoli's family because it was the day after a ceremony was done in honor of their family but those staunch eyes were quickly averted when Osisiakalaka came to the scene and declared in front of everyone that the children had died a good death and Chinelo shouldn't cry but rejoice because they were with the high god, Chukwu and having a better life that she would never provide for them.The only person that knew what had happened to the children of Chinelo was Nnadi. He was the only one present when the children were taken away by a masked man on the day of Ibekwe's adoption. He was the last law-abiding indigene of Umuise to set eyes on the children before they dre
Shading Black EXILE - Chapter Forty-nine
From the look of disbelief in the faces of the people of Umuise, Osisiakalaka could tell they weren't pleased with him declaring the death of Chinelo's children a good one but he didn't care. As was his usual practice after waking up in the morning, he offered appreciation to the gods for keeping him alive to see a new day and then he sat down and waited for people seeking his help to come and they did.Ever since Osisiakalaka had made a public announcement that he would be staying in Umuise for some days, no single hour of the day had passed without a visitor stepping inside the threshold of his shrine. Day by day, the crowd increased as the reports of his temporary stay reached new ears. Some of the people who came to seek his counsel were from neighbouring villages, others were from far villages, in puzzling circumstances that the few diviners in their villages were unable to solve.There was once an irregular visitor that stunned Osisiak
Shading Black EXILE - Chapter Fifty
"We should pay Okoli a visit," Ezeugo said."Yes we should," Okwudili replied.They stopped at Okoli's compound in the afternoon. Luckily, he was around, sitting quietly in his verandah and whistling slowly as he thought of his bet with Obisike.Akwaudo was the first to see them. Her huge smile filled the upper part of her cheek as she embraced them, separately. She welcomed them and told them to sit down."Thank you my wife," Ezeugo said as he sat down."Thank you my husband for visiting me," Akwaudo replied.Okoli stormed out in anger as Akwaudo informed him about his brothers visit. He tried to be patient as he thought of the best approach but all he could think about was his previous fight with Okwudili. When he saw them sitting comfortably in front of Akwaudo's hut, he stopped and pointed at Okwudili with constrained fingers."Okwudili! What are you doing in my compound?" He asked, wearing a stern face."Okoli, pleas
Shading Black EXILE - Chapter Fifty-one
Okoli was not torn apart when his brothers left his compound, left him alone. As far as he knew, they had tried their best to rebuild their bond and he had tried too. Admitting that they had all failed was the best way he could have a quiet evening without thinking too much about what he had done in the afternoon— sending his brother away from his compound. All that Okoli was bothered about was making sure that the quiet malice he was having with Nnadi was brought to an end.From what he could tell, Nnadi's sad face was slowly transforming everyday into a cheerful one. Even if he didn't know what had really caused the change, he knew that it was as a result of a new place he had discovered.Okoli knew that Nnadi had stopped going to the stream because he had checked there several times and at different parts of the day— morning, afternoon and evening. He wasn't there. He also knew that he wasn't going to the grave of the two children because Chinel
Shading Black EXILE - Chapter Fifty-two
Ibekwe did not follow Ifeme to the stream after the incident that occurred on the day that he made Okoli to believe that he was changing. The day that he left the stream without looking back to see if was following him. Since his arrival, Okoli had decided that it was best that they ate their meals on a long table, together, as family. Okoli felt that it was a good way of showing that they loved and cared for each other and he was very pleased with the thought of eating with all of them on the same table, watching them chew the pieces of yam or clench their teeth after a failed attempt to break a bone. The whole sharing a table idea felt different to Ibekwe, maybe strange, but it was a quiet, mouth moving ritual that he wasn't going to trade for anything in his new world.He cleared the dining table the following morning after forgetting to clean it the previous night. He removed the gourd that Okoli had used first, then the stew-smeared bowls, and finally he washed the bowls
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Shading Black About the Author
Chibuzor Victor Obih was born in the southern part of Nigeria. Delta State to be precise. His writing includes essays, poetry and short stories. He likes to play soccer, read, study and above all, write. He is currently a fourth year student of a renowned public university in Nigeria. The University of Port-Harcourt is where he is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. Shading Black is his first book and his first attempt to explore the beautiful world of a novelist. To stay connected with him and his works, you can follow him on Instagram using the account name: Chibuzor Victor Obih or follow him on Facebook using the account name: Author Chibuzor Victor Obih.
Shading Black Epilogue
The room was silent. The door swung open and James came inside, holding a book. Ibekwe stared at James and sighed. They looked at each other for a while before James sat down."I got some interesting information you might want to hear," James said."Tell me," Ibekwe said. He had been feeling guilty since the death of Ifeme."The same boy who killed Osisiakalaka confessed some of the diviner's sins to me. He gave some fascinating explanations about your history that still baffles me," James said, moving his fingers. "Is the name Isiewu familiar to you?" He asked."Not really. I have only heard my grandfather mention him once and that was when he told me to story of Umuolu's war."James reasoned with compressed lips. "Isiewu played a major role in destroying your family. According to Efulefu, the diviner slept with Agunwa, the daughter of a chief priest named Egwusinala. Does these names sounds familiar to you?""I think it does," Ibekwe said.
Shading Black NEW LIFE - Chapter One hundred and three
When James Streamer and his father arrived at Osisiakalaka's shrine with some of the people of Umuise who had converted to Christianity he was shocked to find a large crowd of men and women sitting tiredly in front of the shrine. He asked a young woman to explain what was going on in the shrine and she obeyed without hesitation."A great man has fallen in Umuise," she said with tears in her eyes."Who is the man that has attracted everyone in this village to Osisiakalaka's shrine?" James asked."The man is not here. He is far away from this village.""What do you mean by that?""His body is lying in the shrine but his spirit has departed," the woman replied slowly."What is the name of the man that has caused so much tears to flow in your eyes?"The young woman turned and pointed at the door of the shrine."Osisiakalaka," she said. "Maybe you will be able to tell us why your god has sent his messenger to kill the greatest
Shading Black NEW LIFE - Chapter One hundred and two
"What is happening to the family of Okoli? The news of death has become a common thing in Umuise." Chima said as the elders gathered in the village square.There were many men and women sprawled on the ground. None of them brought stools along with them. It was a day of mourning."What will the ancestors of Okoli say when they hear that his family lineage was wiped out within a week?" Chima asked but no one replied.The women sprayed ashes on their heads as if they were mourning the death of a chief priest. The children covered their bodies with sand as they wept and called Ifeme's name.After Chima sat down, the next elder who spoke was Ekwensi. He did not salute the crowd."Great people of Umuise, our gods have been offended. They have been desecrated and now they seek justice for the blood of Okoli. People of Umuise, we have sinned against our gods by sending a man that did not deserve death an
Shading Black NEW LIFE - Chapter One hundred and one
Ibekwe was thinking about Richard Streamer and what James had told him about his father as he approached Okoli's compound. He brushed the thoughts aside as he remembered that him and Ifeme were yet to bury Okoli. Now, that Ezeugo, Okwudili and Okoli were gone, it was the duty for the next of kin to inherit all their properties while ensuring they had normal burials. Ezeugo's body was almost rotten by now in his compound. Okwudili's body was wrapped with cloth and still left unburied. Okoli on the other hand was in the village square with his head uprooted from his neck. He was beheaded after being found guilty by Osisiakalaka.Ibekwe wondered how Ifeme would deal with the whole family situation as he passed a cherry tree. He had already decided to help him in the best way he could and James and his sister had also offered to help him too.He stopped when he reached Okoli's compound and took a deep breath.As he entered Okoli's hut, he looked through the du
Shading Black NEW LIFE - Chapter One hundred
Osisiakalaka came to Umuise as soon as he was able to leave Umudike. By his side were Efulefu and the young lad that was sent to deliver him the message of the elders. As he reached the village square, he drew two straight lines on the ground with a chalk and stepped on it. He gave the chalk to Efulefu who broke it and threw it in the direction of Okoli."May the gods be praised," Osisiakalaka yelled. "Let those who stand with evil fall. Let the men who invite the bringer of evil into their midst perish."As soon as Osisiakalaka was done, Okoli picked the chalk from the ground and started chewing slowly. In Umuise, it was a law for an accused person to chew the white chalk before spitting on the ground. It was a way of acknowledging the presence of the gods.Osisiakalaka ordered Efulefu to bring some sand after Okoli was done with chewing and spitting the white chalk. He took the sand from Efulefu and pou
Shading Black NEW LIFE - Chapter Ninety-nine
When the first palm wine entered Okoli's throat, it dawned on him that his death was near and there was nothing anyone could do about it including himself.Outside the window of his small hut, a full moon had risen, dazzling and vivid, blotting out all other celestial bodies. Okoli gazed at his two sons that he had condemned, lost in his thoughts of all that had happened in the village square.He knew that he didn't deserve the love and comfort that his sons were showing him and he felt bad for not appreciating their efforts even when they tried their best to be the perfect children that a parent could have.As Ibekwe and Ifeme left him for the white man's hut, Okoli thought of what was going to happen to him when Osisiakalaka finally decides his fate. Would he be killed? Would he be thrown into the forest? Would he be banished?Outside the window of his hut, a pair of stars were dancing, lifting their voices and slowly making it to fade away. Some moment
Shading Black NEW LIFE - Chapter Ninety-eight
Okwudili's body was brought to the village square a day after he was murdered in his compound by a masked man. By his side, was the lifeless body of Akwaudo. She was found dead in Okoli's compound the same night that Okwudili's life came to an end.Life means considerably more than just waking up in the morning and going through the motions of living in Umuise and for the first time in nearly a century, two people who were related to each other were brutally assassinated in the same night. A year after the death of a man whose passage into his ancestral abode was yet to be considered fair and devoid from foul play.It did not take up to a week after the shock of the two deaths had been accepted and managed before words started running from one end of the village to another, each bearing a tale with Okoli as the subject. It was difficult for any irrational man in their time to deny his involvements in the death of his wife and brother."Let us reason like one ent
Shading Black NEW LIFE - Chapter Ninety-seven
The sad day was friday for a man who feared he had lost his children even though he hadn't. Rain fell slowly and the town was calm as the water poured over the roofs. It was a lively evening and everywhere was dazzling as fathers who had returned from work came together to celebrate the last day of labour for the week by having special dinners in quality restaurants with their children but that was not the case of the man who had not been able to sleep well since the day he heard his son was gone— taken away from him and sailing without his permission to Africa.Richard Streamer sat at the Billy Landy bar, remembering the night he had told Kathleen he was going to Africa. It was almost two weeks now and he was still in England sharing a bottle of beer with some couple of friends, and each of them bragging about their personal achievements as they ordered more drinks.He took a rumpled letter from his pocket. He had planned to send the letter to his
