Chopchair

Chapter Five

Chapter Five T his was one of those typical mid-October days when the weather was most unpredictable. One whole week of fine weather had given way to another wee of rain. Grey clouds blanketed the sky day after day. Storms of continuous thunder,-like the rolling of stones down the topless hills that surrounded Betaranda, alternated with periods of monotonous drizzle and occasional sunshine like the on they were having on that fateful day. Fuo-Akendong’s temperament was as changeable as the weather in which they were living. As if a smile had never settled on it, his brows came together to form the usual frown, transforming his forehead into chevrons. He bit his right thumbnail until a piece stuck between his teeth. He pulled it out, spat and snarled in a tone that made the woman tremble with terror: “Two how?” “Ngwika has delivered twins. Two boys like this.” With her left hand she held her clenched right fist out to him as an indication of virility. She was a stranger to the palace and so was too excited with what she considered very good news to notice the bad effect that the news of two males had on the Chief. As if he had been openly insulted, Fuo-Akendong seized the calabash from Nkem-Fuo and flung it in the direction of the woman shattering it into smithereens. He ground his teeth, gnawed at his lower lip and began to breathe fast. Perspiration burst suddenly from his creased forehead. At the same time he pressed the mouth of the horn between his right thumb and index finger until the horn cracked, an incredible feat in itself. That was a bad sign. 18 Linus T. Asong *** Nkem-Fuo and Eshuo had served Fuo-Akendong for 11 years as his adviser and could read the Chief’s mind like one reads a book. Nkem-Fuo took just one look at FuoAkendong and immediately concluded that the news of two males rather than one had struck a distinct note of anger and disappointment. The scowl which he knew to be a permanent feature on Fuo-Akendong’s face deepened. His face seemed to sag. The age lines that ran like a pair of dividers from the outside of his nostrils into the comers of his mouth deepened into gorges. The old man immediately recalled some tales he had heard narrated by Fuo-Akendong himself about the vicious nature of twins. Their tradition feared and abhorred twins. It was common knowledge that twins were ghost children. Some said that many generations ago they were thrown into the river immediately they were delivered. A woman who delivered twins twice ran the risk of losing her life. Twins were said to bring much misery to families. From a purely economic standpoint, it was not easy to bring them up successfully. And it was universally believed that they could not be reared apart that whenever on fell sick the other was sure to follow suite. They were said to have supernatural power communicated with evil spirits and could bring such spirits along with much mishap to the families into which they were born. Two successors, each of whom will lay a claim to the throne, Fuo-Akendong sighed. He took in a long breath and throwing the damaged horn across the lawn he gave voice to his disappointment: “God gives you by the right and takes away by the left. I ask for a Chopchair, and instead of giving me one he gives two. So that they should fight and kill themselves over my property. Why twins, oh God? What have I done that you should punish me this way….?” He lifted his eyes and, looking at the woman he blasted: “Get out of my sight.” 19 Chopchair “But, Achiebio,” Nkem-Fuo tried to persuade him” Whatever God gives, we take with two hands…” “Enough!” the Chief shouted. “This is not the work of God. It is the work of Satan. God cannot allow you to gather your termites and then let the birds to feed on it. So shut up,” he ended up, stamping his foot so loudly that the dog barked outside. “When something pains me and I am vomiting, don’t hold my throat. A boil has burst in my throat, let me swallow the pus alone. One more word and nobody will ever know that you ever...