"Agbala do-o-o-o!... Agbala ekeneo-o-o-o!..." Ekwefi trudged behind, neither
getting too near nor keeping too far back. She thought they must be going towards the
sacred cave. Now that she walked slowly she had time to think. What would she do
when they got to the cave? She would not dare to enter. She would wait at the mouth, all
alone in that fearful place. She thought of all the terrors of the night. She remembered
that night, long ago, when she had seen Ogbu-agali-odu, one of those evil essences
loosed upon the world by the potent "medicines" which the tribe had made in the distant
past against its enemies but had now forgotten how to control. Ekwefi had been
returning from the stream with her mother on a dark night like this when they saw its
glow as it flew in their direction. They had thrown down their water-pots and lain by the
roadside expecting the sinister light to descend on them and kill them. That was the only
time Ekwefi e ver saw Ogbu-agali-odu. But although it had happened so long ago, her
blood still ran cold whenever she remembered that night.
The priestess' voice came at longer intervals now, but its vigour was
undiminished. The air was cool and damp with dew. Ezinma sneezed. Ekwefi muttered,
"Life to you." At the same time the priestess also said, "Life to you, my daughter."
Ezinma's voice from the darkness warmed her mother's heart. She trudged
slowly along.
And then the priestess screamed. "Somebody is walking behind me!" she said.
"Whether you are spirit or man, may Agbala shave your head with a blunt razor! May
he twist your neck until you see your heels!"
Ekwefi stood rooted to the spot. One mind said to her: "Woman, go home before
Agbala does you harm." But she could not. She stood until Chielo had increased the
distance between them and she began to follow again. She had already walked so long
that she began to feel a slight numbness in the limbs and in the head. Then it occurred to
her that they could not have been heading for the cave. They must have bypassed it long
ago,- they must be going towards Umuachi, the farthest village in the clan. Chielo's
voice now came after long intervals.