The Child of Thunder 10
By
Ifeoma Isabella Okeke
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People were not aware he was actually Amadioha in disguise.
When he had committed that sacrilege; by nearly wiping off the existence of creatures his father Olisa (Chukwu) had created, he couldn’t face his father and rather left their abode, coming down into the human world.
For thousand years, he moved round the earth. Hearing of great and evil things Ikenga was doing in his absence. At first, Ikenga took his right as the first child and led many people to serve him.
Njoku ji, their last brother watched with utmost dismay at what Ikenga was doing and distanced himself from Ikenga. He went to live in his abode awaiting the day Amadioha would return.
Everyone worshipped Ikenga and forgot there is a god called Amadioha, who seemed to have gone into oblivion. With time his memory was erased from the surface of the earth. The only two people who had always remembered him was his brother, Njoku ji and his father Olisa (Chuckwu).
One day he came across a small village called Udum and decided to stay in the village for the time being.
He wandered alone, aimlessly round the earth for so many years that he nearly forgot who he was until the day he came across Alaolisa.
Amadioha had once met the princess of Ogbanje whose name was Alaolisa.
Alaolisa (Ogbanje) and her maidens had gone for a walk when they met Amadioha. When their eyes contacted, Alaolisa and Amadioha fell for each other. And there their love story started. She taught him a lot of things and showed him the beauty of the human world, and Amadioha once again became himself.
They got married in Alaolisa kingdom.
But Alaolisa’s love for the human was so much that she pleaded with her kingdom and Amadioha, her husband to grant her permission to dwell amongst the human.
The Child of Thunder 10
After much pleading, Amadioha pleaded with the Ogbanje queen mother to let his wife, Alaolisa, dwell with the humans. Her mother hearing from Amadioha granted Alaolisa permission to dwell with the human but with a condition. Alaolisa would never remember who she was until the day she departs from the human world.
Amadioha decided to go with his Alaolisa to the human world to keep her company and look after her since she would have a loss memories about her past life. Alaolisa entered the womb of Chidinmma (Ogbanje’s late mother) while Amadioha entered the womb of Nnenna (Ebuka’s Mother). Unlike Alaolisa who doesn’t remembers a thing, Amadioha on the other hand did. So from their tender age, he became friend with Ogbanje knowing fully well that Ogbanje would someday grow to love him as she once did in her kingdom.
Ebuka slept off dreaming of him and his Alaolisa together.
Only time will tell what would become of them but for now he has to protect his Alaolisa from every harm especially now her stepmother had gone to acquire more powers from his brother, Ikenga. He knew what Ikenga was up to but was he ready to reveal himself to his brother? Njoku ji had told him to be patient to see what Ikenga was really up too. He will have to wait to see what Ikenga is up too.
He also knew of the old woman Ogbanje usually help, the Eze Nawyi. He had sometimes accompanied Ogbanje to the old woman’s hut to help out with her chores. He was only waiting for the opportunity to open her eyes to see who the old woman was. He knew one day the cat will be let out of the bag.
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“My beloved daughter I thought I told you that the water you had fetched the previous night for me would be enough for me to use till the next Eke market day? Ka nke a แป bแปฅghแป ihe m gwara gแป nwa m?- Or is that not what I told you my daughter?” The old lady whom Ogbanje usually help almost everyday asked her when she saw Ogbanje in her hut the following day. She was surprised on seeing Ogbanje.
“I know that mama. I only came here to see if you needed anything, like preparing food for you”. Ogbanje answered cheerfully as she stared at the old woman.
“Oh Nwa m nwanyi a huru n’anya – my beloved daughter, don’t worry about that Ada. Even if I am that old I can make a little food for myself”.
“Okay then mama. I will check on you in three days time, Na-elekแปta onwe gแป mama- Take care of yourself mama”. Ogbanje said and left the old woman hut.
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“Do you think Adaku would come back to her senses before it get too late for her?” One of the coven witches, Ijeoma, asked the Eze Nwayi as they had converged for their usual meetings.
“I can’t say Ijeoma. But all I know is that Adaku is gradually digging her grave little by little with her knowing”. The Eze Nwayi said. “Only the snail that wants to commit suicide eats salt.” She added.
“But what about the gods she spoke off?”
“Aku is a god who carries out the orders of Ikenga just like the way we are at Aku’s beck and call . Let’s leave Adaku for now and carry on with our meeting. Who is the next member to sacrifice her own flesh and blood?”.
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“Who are you and what brought you to this place?” Ogbanje asked the stranger in front of her compound. The stranger was sweeping the compound. She had woken up early that morning to do all her house chores so which will afford her the opportunity to visit Ebuka. But was surprised when she saw a handsome dark masculine and vibrant young man sweeping in her father’s compound. Although she wouldn’t deny that the unknown young man was handsome but she quickly chased away that thought in her mind.
“As you can see my beautiful Ada, I am sweeping for you”. The unknown man replied.
“And who are you if I may ask. In fact who sent you to sweep my compound for me, Ka m gwara gแป na agbaji แปฅkwแปฅ na ogwe aka m?- Or did I tell you that my legs and arms are broken? Or you no longer know the way to your hut again Okwia?” Ogbanje threw all at once at the stranger.
The Child of Thunder 10
“Ada mu, Ada Mmarama. I left my home, my village to come here and sweep for you…”
Ogbanje quickly interrupted him, “But did I ask you to sweep the compound for me eh? Ana m arแปแป gแป?- Did I beg you?” Ogbanje said but came to a halt from her rants when what the stranger said digested very well inside her ears. “Chere oh- Wait oh, did you just said you left your village, your own village to come here to sweep what I did not ask you to do. Does it mean you are not from this village?” Ogbanje asked with surprised.
“Exactly, I came from the neighbouring village, Umueze. I have heard about you, how you rejected the proposal of Obinwanne”.
“Alright, so what is your name stranger?”
“Oh, I am Ikemefuna”. The stranger replied.
“Okay Ikemefuna, you can now go”.
“What did I do now eh, why are you chasing me? I only came here to help you out and maybe be your friend is that bad?”
“Yes, I don’t want to alert anyone here. If you don’t want trouble do yourself good and leave this compound before I shout and announced to the whole village that we now have a rapist in our midst and mind you my voice is longer than an ogene own”
“It hasn’t gotten to that extent Ada mu. Alright, I will go but be rest assured you will be seeing me from now henceforth. Let me start going before you shout Olamu”. Ikemefuna said and left the compound, weaving at Ogbanje who stood transfixed and confused.
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Ebuka felt the presence of Ikenga amongst the people of Udum. He held a look of confusion as he pondered.
‘What is he doing here?’
‘Has he suspected that I am now living in the mortal world and has come down to investigate?’
“Mbanu, I hid my scent very well that even my father can not sniff me out. He came down for something and I am going to find out what exactly it is”. Ebuka told himself.
Nothing can ever bring his brother to earth away from his abode except he had pick an interest on something. He is determined to find out.
His question that was left hanging and unanswered was:
What could that be?
To Be Continued….
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