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NEW LIFE - Chapter Eighty-nine
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2024-10-29 19:42:56You are welcome," Okoli said. "What can I do for you?"
Nnadi shook his head and sat down. "A lot of things are going bad in Umuise. The gods must rise up from their slumber and fight their battle."
"What battle will the gods fight?"
"The battle against the white man who dwells in our midst."
Okoli hissed and drank his palm wine. "The white man has brought a disease but instead of Osisiakalaka to admit it was a disease, he decided to accept the disease and force us to welcome it." He paused. "If by chance, the gods permit me to see that foolish diviner from Umudike and I have a stick with me, I will make sure I break his head with it."
"The gods forbid you from saying that," Nnadi retorted.
"The gods will only forbid people who don't follow their ways."
"How can you suggest breaking the head of a diviner? We are talking of a man that the gods have chosen to carry their message."
Okoli laughed loudly. "Nnadi! Sometimes I wonder w
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Okwudili was in his hut. His wife, Isioma was also there with him. Her hands were around Ojiugo's shoulders, comforting her as she cried. He could not go to Ezeugo's compound because of the fear of Okoli attacking him from anywhere. But, he had experienced greater fears that were worse than what he was imagining. One of them was the death of Ezeugo— a death he had predicted would come to pass.Many people who knew Okoli would be surprised if Okwudili told them he was yet to claim ownership of the land that caused a major dispute between them. But, somewhere in the lines of brotherhood and family, Okwudili knew Okoli was a man of patience who derived joy in inflicting pains on his victims or perhaps he was afraid that the powers that where involved in the death of his brother would haunt him down. Who knows?A shrill voice rang behind the door and it was followed by a bang. "is anyone at home?"The reply that followed next came from the lips of Isioma. "The
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here are situations in life that are at the same time ridiculous and comical. Kathleen Streamer always believed that life was composed of two irreplaceable elements; the tragedy arising from a totally unamusing situation and the comedy that the perpetrator feels. The attitude of her husband was expected. A broken man with a vague feeling of not being good enough could do anything to prove he was the perfect father of every child. But who said he was a bad father? Kathleen Streamer was in perfect ignorance of the whole affair. The short letter from the mission school was brief. Her husband, Richard Streamer had violated their school policy by destroying a property owned by the school. According to the letter, he had smashed a jar filled with holy water. How could he refute the school's judgement on his son when James had gone on his own accord? In the rage of that long night when he sat down and explained his plans of leaving for Africa, he had forgotten to tell her about the disaste
Shading Black NEW LIFE - Chapter Ninety-two
The people of Umuise often said that when a man rubs his foot on the ground, he leaves behind a footprint that can be washed away but when he speaks a word, it no longer ends there but lives forever in the heart of the person who listened. The words Okoli said to Ifeme had a strong effect on him. It made Ifeme to disapprove and condemn all his father's actions in front of Akwaudo and this did not come as a surprise because it was expected.The rage started the day after Okoli sent him out of his hut. At first, he started with a slow pace, trudging with sluggish steps in no particular order. It increased steadily and he started stomping around the compound, crushing anything that came on his way until Akwaudo came.The loneliness in Akwaudo's face weakened him. It made him feel bad as if he had the opportunity to do something about it but refused to not take it. So on that day when his father provoked him, he calmed down and explained to her what had transpired in Okoli
Shading Black NEW LIFE - Chapter Ninety-three
Efulefu was lost and he had to find a place to hide from his master that was chasing him from behind with a machete. If he failed to hide he would die. He was running down the middle of the path when the rope on his waist fell down and hit the sand. The path was clear and open. Every tree he passed was still where it had been in the beginning. Their branches were brown and leaves, green. His side hurt because he had been running for a long period of time but Osisiakalaka was in no haste to stop pursuing him.The sound of Osisiakalaka's footsteps behind him made him push himself further down the path. He knew what he had done was against the rules Osisiakalaka had set for him when he decided to be his companion."Pray that the gods don't allow you to fall as you are running so fast because if they do, I will make sure I seep the little life that is remaining in your body for having the bravery to steal my o
Shading Black NEW LIFE - Chapter Ninety-four
Okuata's hut was a sedate hut. It had different orange trees surrounding the compound with some shrubs scattered around by the corner of the hut. She had a small vegetable garden at the back of her hut where she planted tomatoes, cassava and some bitter leaves which she sold at the market place. In front of her hut, she kept three bamboo chairs were visitors sat down when they came to visit her.Ifeme sat on one of the bamboo chairs while Akwaudo sat on another bamboo chair beside her. She was nursing a small boy that was lying on her laps. She tied a thick wrapper that covered from her breast to her knees and constantly adjusted the wrapper when her son pulled it downwards. Her daughter whose name was Ngozi was sitting quietly in the threshold, fanning hot African pear that were spread in a small woven mat. Small logs of firewood that had been lopped off leaned on the wall close to Ngozi. The were black at the ends as if they had been used before to cook food tha
Shading Black NEW LIFE - Chapter Ninety-five
About fifty years ago when the grey boxes covered the sky and blocked out the sun with their mass, the services of a diviner was greatly needed in a village suffering from lack of rain. The name of the village was Umuoku and their chief priest who solved these kind of problems had recently passed away, making it impossible for them to communicate with the gods without the help of a potent diviner. A meeting was called in the village square and elders were invited to share their thoughts on the issue. The grandfather of Ibekwe was also invited and he came with his wife Ihuoma.When the meeting started, Ofu was given the privilege to address the crowd and he took the opportunity by walking straight to the top of the podium."Great people of Umuoku," Ofu bellowed, "Wonderful people of this great village I greet you all.""Yaa!" The people responded."Everyone seated today in this gathering is aware that I a
Shading Black NEW LIFE - Chapter Ninety-six
nSilence had engulfed the hut of Okwudili since the fight he had with Okoli. The small laughter that followed after the death of Ezeugo was not there again. The moon and the sun seemed to be natural enemies now since the moon cursed the sun for shinning when Okwudili fought Okoli and the sun cursed the moon for not shinning when Ezeugo died. Movements had also been reduced, and an unseen boundary had been set in Okwudili's threshold, prohibiting anyone from going in and coming out. There was also another great desire that had left them. It was food. He no longer had the appetite to taste anything nor the strength to walk towards the kitchen and lit the firewood for cooking. His compound seemed to be housing the bringer of evil, Ekwensu or perhaps Ekwensu was living with them without being seen. Ojiugo pattern of coughing and shedding small tears after her husband's death had changed to rolling and filling her eyes with large amount of tears. Isioma on the other hand had beco
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
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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
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Shading Black NEW LIFE - Chapter One hundred and two
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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
