she ran away to save her life. Her two children belong to Uzowulu. We do not dispute it,
but they are too young to leave their mother. If, in the other hand, Uzowulu should
recover from his madness and come in the proper way to beg his wife to return she will
do so on the understanding that if he ever beats her again we shall cut off his genitals for
him."
The crowd roared with laughter. Evil Forest rose to his feet and order was
immediately restored. A stea dy cloud of smoke rose from his head. He sat down again
and called two witnesses. They were both Uzowulu's neighbours, and they agreed about
the beating. Evil Forest then stood up, pulled out his staff and thrust it into the earth
again. He ran a few steps in the direction of the women,- they all fled in terror, only to
return to their places almost immediately. The nine egwugwu then went away to consult
together in their house. They were silent for a long time. Then the metal gong sounded
and the flute was blown. The egwugwu had emerged once again from their underground
home. They saluted one another and then reappeared on the ilo.
"Umuofia kwenu!" roared Evil Forest, facing the elders and grandees of the clan.
"Yaa!" replied the thunderous crowd,- then silence descended from the sky and
swallowed the noise.
Evil Forest began to speak and all the while he spoke everyone was silent. The
eight other egwugwu were as still as statues.
"We have heard both sides of the case," said Evil Forest. "Our duty is not to
blame this man or to praise that, but to settle the dispute." He turned to Uzowulu's group
and allowed a short pause.
"Uzowulu's body, I salute you," he said.
"Our father, my hand has touched the ground," replied Uzowulu, touching the
earth.
"Uzowulu's body, do you know me?"