Under The Full Moon

There are one thousand and one reasons why life in the twenty-first century is better than that of this era. But then, one must affirm there is a reason why it is referred to as "the good old days". Well, that's because it had its own advantages and benefits. If Ego was to become an overnight millionaire this day, the government would have picked her up for rigorous questioning, her account frozen till she could give a detailed account of the discovery of her trove.

The reverse was the case in this era, nobody questioned because it really wasn't anybody's business; so far nobody has lost his money or something like that. Words on the street though had it that "She found a buried treasure her late husband left for her". Some even went to the extent of saying that "Nnanna buried the treasure beneath their hut, and had appeared to Ego in the dream instructing her to burn down the hut"; and they often end the gossip with this "Which other way would you explain just after few weeks her hut was burnt to the ground by a mysterious fire, she rose and became very rich, throwing money around". It didn't exactly take long for her to discover what was being said about her newfound wealth. She neither refuted nor accepted people's account of her wealth; instead, she let people believe what they would.

It was a beautiful morning; the sun was yet to appear in the sky. It has been almost three months since Ego encountered the old lady in the evil forest. She was busy watering some of her flowers when one of her workers came running to inform her that her presence was urgently needed in the farm. She hurriedly concluded her transaction and headed for the farm.

On arriving, she met Akidi her chief farmer – he was a very good yam farmer though not tall. He was portly, potbellied and had a white goatee like that of a he-goat and will occasionally stroke the goatee as he spoke. He was the one that harvested the largest tuber of yam last farming season for his former employer as he had no farm of his own. He is said to be favored by Ahianjoku and that whenever he touches the ground, yams of enormous sizes springs up.

He was questioning a young lady of about 18 years, who was in a bad shape; she was tattered and unkempt and she had this hungry look like she had had nothing to eat for days. Her wrapper was in ruins and face pale white, like that of a ghost. "This girl must have been through hell" Ego thought within. She quickly ordered them to provide the young lady with something to eat and drink. When she had eaten to her satisfaction, Ego took her away from the men and intending to quiz her.

Akidi tried preventing Ego from taking in the girl saying "Nda, you shouldn't take this girl in until we are sure of what she is. She could be anything, a witch, an osu or maybe a spy that has been sent to take you down".

Ego cut him short "Hey! Akidi it is enough, it is really none of your business who I decide to take in or not. This is my decision to make and I've made up my mind, I'll seek your opinion when I need it, thank you".

"Nda, I get that you are a good person that wants to do some good; but you have to be very careful so your good doesn't get you killed," he said, trying to convince her.

"I will be careful; I'll also consider your advice"

"Okay then, I better get back to work now". The man responded slowly going back to work as Ego pulled the strange girl away from them to a place concealed from prying eyes. When she was convinced she was in a safe distance, she started her inquisitions.

"Young woman, what is your name and what are you doing in my fields?"

"Oluchukwu" she said with her eyes pinned on Ego.

"Oluchukwu, where are you from?"

"Orlu!" she responded with more confidence.

"That's like three days walk from here".

She nodded and after a pause, she added, "But it took me four days. I really had to get away from home".

Ego was blown out of the water by her response; she knew only two things would make a girl of that age trek such long distance – either she is desperately getting away from something or she is heading for one.

"Why did you run away from home?

"I just can't get married to Mazi Obiora" she responded shaking her head slowly.

"Why don't you want to marry him? What did he do to you?" Ego further asked to clear the air.

"It is not because of what he did to me but what he did to Chidera". She said almost in tears as her voice reduced.

"Oluchukwu, I want to help you, and I can't do that if you don't explain to me what happened?"

She nodded then said "Yes".

"Good, now who is Chidera?

Looking down at her fingers and removing dirt that was not visible to any other person she replied: "She is my elder sister".

"Alright, what did Obiora do to her?"

"He married her claiming to love her. We all encouraged her to marry him since he seemed really sincere. Unknown to us, it was as part-payment for the debt my father owed him. Some years into the marriage, he began maltreating and abusing Chidera simply because she didn't give birth to a son; she only had two beautiful daughters with him. Mazi Obiora wasted no time in getting another wife; who also gave birth to two more daughters. In his desperate search for an heir, he came to ask for my own hand in marriage using the remaining part of the debt as leverage.