against us? The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his
religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won
our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things
that held us together and we have fallen apart."
"How did they get hold of Ancto to hang him?" asked Okonkwo.
"When he killed Oduche in the fight over the land, he fled to Aninta to escape
the wrath of the earth. This was about eight days after the fight, because Oduche had not
died immediately from his wounds. It was on the seventh day that he died. But
everybody knew that he was going to die and Aneto got his belongings together in
readiness to flee. But the Christians had told the white man about the accident, and he
sent his kotma to catch Aneto. He was imprisoned with all the leaders of his family. In
the end Oduche died and Aneto was taken to Umuru and hanged. The other people were
released, but even now they have not found the mouth with which to tell of their
suffering."
The two men sat in silence for a long while afterwards.