Episode 9

It was getting darker and darker as the sun
hides it’s smiling face in the atmosphere
depicting the sign of dusk. Anochie sat down in front of their hut on a long bench holding his
flute in his hand with some many unspeakable
thoughts in his mind. He thought for a while
and began to blow his flute. His mother came
out, looked at him and ascertained the
moment to ask him several questions about
what has been happening around him

“Anochie My Son” Mrs. Nworie called from
behind and Anochie stopped playing the flute
aand turned to her

“Mama, you are still awake?” He asked
“Yes My Son, I want to ask you something” She said sitting down with a serious face
“Questions about what Nne?” Anochie asked

“Just answer me well and tell me the truth”
Mrs. Nworie said holding him which made
Anochie a bit confused but he listened to the
question

“My Son, have you been going to another god
apart from Osimmili the Mother of
Umuanyanwu?” Mrs. Nworie asked and Anochie was surprised

“Why are you asking Mother” Anochie replied with a question

“Eerhhm.. The happenings and incidents both
with the Prince and the Guards still baffles my
imaginations” Mrs. Nworie said

“Aah.. Mama, why do you think of such. The god of the innocent always protects the poor and Innoocent Nne, I do not serve any other god.

They got the wrath of the gods upon
themselves” Anochie said looking straight into the eyes of his mother

“Hmm, alright My Son, if you say so” Mrs.
Nworie said and stood up

“I will go to bed now” She added and tried to leave but Anochie called her back

“Nne” Anochie called
“Yes My Son” She replied

“You still have not told me much about my
Father, anytime I ask you about it you
procrastinate the reply” Anochie said and Mrs. Nworie stood shocked and a bit speechless

“You have to go to bed now” She later said
“No Mama, this is all you always say keeping
me in the pool of Ignorance” Anochie said in a bit loud voice standing up from the bench he
sat on

“Alright, your father died when you were 7
years old. What else do you want to hear. Why
do you like reminding me of the pains of my
past” Mrs. Nworie said forming out tears
pretending to be crying which melted the heart of Anochie

“Nne, I’m sorry, I didn’t know that it will hurt you this way” Anochie said moving close to his mother

“It’s alright my Son. Good Night” She said and went inside the hut leaving Anochie who gazed at the stars with his hands on his waist. Later on, he went in and la!d in slumber. As he slept his legs made a slow melodic movement
depicting his spirit in wonderland
*

Anochies_Dream…

“What is all this??” Anochie asked himsel as he walked down the bushy path of Umuanyanwu that leads to the Igwe’s palace seeing dead animals all over the place, both fowls, goats and sheeps where all over the area lifeless

“Chim ooh!!” Anochie screamed and ran as fast as he could. When he got tired, he stopped but surprisingly he began to see dead humans that looks familiar to him all laying dead.

Tears rolled down his eyes as he viewed them closer.

“Cheiii!!.. I must meet the Priestess” He yelled in tears. On running to the Shrine he met Priestess Osimmili standing like a tree with no movement and her eyes looking above.

Anochie called her severally, even touched her
but no sign of life in her

“What is happening in Umuanyanwu eeh!!” He exclaimed as he ran to the palace in quest to seek solace there. Through all the roads and bushes he passed, he met no one showing that he was the only one still breathing, all he saw was dead bodies and animals. As he ran into the palace, everywhere was filled with blood,
he stopped and looked around to see if he
could find someone. Suddenly, he heard a
laugh so loud that he covered his ears, the
ground began to shake and a figure appeared
sitting on the throne. He tried comprehending
the image, but the quake of the earth couldn’t allow him. Just then, the image disappeared and great thunder struck the throne into pieces…

“Nooo!!” Anochie screamed…
*

Reality

Anochie was sweating profusely as he jumped
up from the bed shouting “No”, his breathe
became heavier and his heart pumped faster.
His Mother ran in immediately and held him
close to her chest

“Nwa m (My Son), take it easy, it’s just a
dream” Mrs. Nworie said understanding that
only a bad dream could cause such physical
drainage.

“Tell me about it my son” She added raising his head up but Anochie said nothing looking at her.

This motion took few seconds before he
spoke up

“Dead Animals, dead bodies, immoveable
Priestess, destroyed throne” He said throwing away his ace as these were the only words that could escape his mouth and his mother became confused

“Nne, I see evil befalling Umuanyanwu!” He
concluded and they looked at each other…