"How can I know you, father? You are beyond our knowledge," Uzowulu
replied.
"I am Evil Forest. I kill a man on the day that his life is sweetest to him."
"That is true," replied Uzowulu.
"Go to your in-laws with a pot of wine and beg your wife to return to you. It is
not bravery when a man fights with a woman." He turned to Odukwe, and allowed a
brief pause.
"Odukwe's body, I greet you," he said.
"My hand is on the ground," replied Okukwe.
"Do you know me?"
"No man can know you," replied Odukwe.
"I am Evil Forest, I am Dry-meat-that-fills-the-mouth, I am Fire-that-burnswithout-faggots. If your in-law brings wine to you, let your sister go with him. I salute
you." He pulled his staff from the hard earth and thrust it back.
"Umuofia kwenu!" he roared, and the crowd answered.
"I don't know why such a trifle should come before the said one elder to another.
"Don't you know what kind of man Uzowulu is? He will not listen to any other
decision," replied the other.
As they spoke two other groups of people had replaced the first before the
egwugwu, and a great land case began.