Evil Forest then thrust the pointed end of his rattling staff into the earth. And it
began to shake and rattle, like something agitating with a metallic life. He took the first
of the empty stools and the eight other egwugwu began to sit in order of seniority after
him.
Okonkwo's wives, and perhaps other women as well, might have noticed that the
second egwugwu had the springy walk of Okonkwo. And they might also have noticed
that Okonkwo was not among the titled men and elders who sat behind the row of
egwugwu. But if they thought these things they kept them within themselves. The
egwugwu with the springy walk was one of the dead fathers of the clan. He looked
terrible with the smoked raffia "body, a huge wooden face painted white except for the
round hollow eyes and the charred teeth that were as big as a man's fingers. On his head
were two powerful horns.
When all the egwugwu had sat down and the sound of the many tiny bells and
rattles on their bodies had subsided, Evil Forest addressed the two groups of people
facing them.
"Uzowulu's body, I salute you," he said. Spirits always addressed humans as
"bodies." Uzowulu bent down and touched the earth with his right hand as a sign of
submission.
"Our father, my hand has touched the ground," he said.
"Uzowulu's body, do you know me?" asked the spirit.
"How can I know you, father? You are beyond our knowledge."
Evil Forest then turned to the other group and addressed the eldest of the three
brothers.
"The body of Odukwe, I greet you," he said, and Odukwe bent down and
touched the earth. The hearing then began.
Uzowulu stepped forward and presented his case.