It was so sunny that Otika and Anochiam, popularly known as Ojiofor, had to hand-cut some young branches of an Ububara tree to cover their heads against the scotching rays of the sun. The road was very busy and this gave Ojiofor some confidence, since it looked like the journey was no longer a journey of two people as they were walking. The reason was not farfetched.
Walking past other road users who were going and returning from different places since he didn't understand the conversation Otika had with Obilo, was indeed reassuring for his life. Whether it meant getting him killed or kidnapped, Ojiofor had only those worries buried in his heart. Here he was made to think less because of the pedestrians using Eke-Uga Road.
Otika and their Uba family had made a name for themselves in the blacksmithing business across the length and breath of the surrounding communities. Because of this, most of the people they were meeting as they journeyed back to Ndi Ikpa were exchanging pleasantries and greeting with him. His products became so unique and popular that he supplied Nkwerre, people who were well known in the business of craft skills. He would dream and wake up to create exactly the same thing he saw in his dream. He was a very dangerous man of war even when he had not had the opportunity to be called a warrior in his lifetime. These pleasantries and greetings were becoming too much for Ojiofor, whose heart was fixated on his expected palm wine from Udeozor, the palm wine tapper.
''Otika, the way I see it today, you had no plan for our return. Every human being had either greeted you today or you had equally devoted the same time to responding and greeting back. I now wait to see your ancestors and all the spirits that use this road, to offer their greeting to you while I move. After all, the sun I see is in its setting state, and the breeze smells of Ndi Ikpa now.'' Ojiofor said, humorously.
''Hahahaha, I never thought you noticed that''. Otika responded, jokingly. ''How would I have noticed? Am I no longer a blind man? Aren't these earlobes no longer mere leaves? Ojiofor asked, comically. ''Anochiam, it is easier for me to avoid the friends I courted myself, but not ones your parents brought to you'' Otika enthused. ''That's true. Ubas are known for what they do. But we must go home today. We had no intention of sleeping over. How would I have agreed to sleep over when I had a palm wine to sell at Orie Obom market square, tomorrow? Or you don't remember that tomorrow is Orie market day?'' Ojiofor asked. ''Ichie- chief, don't say that, I remember. Don't worry, we are almost at home. We are in Okwa village already. In a few hours we shall be at home'' Otika replied, assuredly. ''O, yes. Don't mind me, we are doing a great walk already'' Ojiofor admitted.
It was around 8:pm in Ntu village. The sound of chaos and screaming of what looked like an ambush had happened was raging. The noise was coming from all the corners of the village. Ojiofor Anochiam, whose village was a few metres away from Ntu, was more jittery than Otika, who was entirely a stranger in the entire Amaide country, which covered Ndi Ikpa, Uru, Okwa, Osi, Ntu, Eshi and others.
The age grades of Ntu village were spotted a few metres away with their flaring Ederi- local candlelight as they made sharp scratching of their machetes against the bare ground of Ntu village road. A young man from Nkwerre was said to have been ambushed and murdered by a terrifying man of size, at Nkoro-udeagha, a borderline that connected Nkwerre, Ntu and Ndi Ikpa. This news was spread to Ntu village by returning farmers who saw the gruesome murder of young Akaraka who was on his way to Ntu village, his maternal home. The tension was rife for these two friends to continue their journey home.
''Today meant so much pain in my heart, Otika. It has been from one problem to the other. Look at my father's house, a stone-throw away from here, but I can't just go in. With which side of my body did I wake up from sleep today? Ojiofor angrily asked. Otika, who was still trying to understand what was happening, held his friend back further, to take some breather before deciding what step to take. ''There are certain things I don't really expect you to say on a day like this. What misfortune have you had today since we started this journey? Has anybody told you your wife lost her ten-month-old pregnancy? Has the journey not been a successful one? Or did your dead father die again today?'' Otika asked while stunningly looking at the front where youths were singing war songs in demonstration.
''Chukwu ekwena- God forbid. How could you say a thing like that? My father is not dead. My father has come back to me. He is my last child, Aruma'' Ojiofor replied abruptly as he dangled around in deep fear. ''I gave him back his former name to remind him I still remember all the good he did for me during his former life'' he continued. ''I hear your voice clearly, but your heart does not speak like a warrior today. You are so jittery. Your hand I am holding here shivers like an epileptic foot. But here you are now, talking about your father as if this fight I see ahead of us is his to fight on our behalf. Has Aruma, your son seen or fought one before?'' Otika asked, humorously.
''Forget that Otika, we fight differently'' Ojiofor responded, rebuffing Otika's assertion. ''Yes, you are right, except, too, we die differently. Some die on war fronts, and others, on top of their women, sweating like dog's nostrils. We bury them anyway. But one thing is clear, sometimes we don't see the dead bodies of warriors, while often times we see dead bodies of women without breasts who love to fight at home standing in-between the legs of women'' Otika teased. That got Ojiofor smiling. ''Hahahaha, a foolish man, you had better create something with your blacksmithing head to help us escape from this danger. I can't remember telling you my mother is from Ntu village. This is night; they might end up killing who they would still end up burying tomorrow morning. Echi eteka- tomorrow is very far'' Ojiofor said, expressing his concern.
They continued their journey into the heart of Ntu. As they journeyed, it looked as though the war song was heading closer to Ndi Ikpa. ''I told you, today doesn't mean well for me. Even the moonlight we were supposed to enjoy this night has been seized against us. I can't hear the voices of children doing their moonlight plays. Otika, where is this omen coming from, me or you? The problem is, you look unperturbed as if your mother first got married here and gave birth to the entire Ntu village before marrying an Uga man, your father. I, myself, whose father's maternal home is in Ekwe kindred, here in Ntu, look worried about our lives. But here, look at you, a stranger in the entire Amaide country, blink no eye for the misfortunes this night has for us'' Ojiofor said disgustingly. ''O, you are even a grandchild here, why should we be worried again?'' Otika asked, while dragging Ojiofor Anochiam harder on.
''Leave my hand, you should have asked how the marriage ended. You should ask about the second Oguno war and the cause. Otika, please, this is night, all the walls are listening. I don't know if they have forgiven Ndi Ikpa, my village, for that brutal war my grandfather played a vital role in. War is no good. Otika, sometimes I thank Chukwu- Almighty God, that my sons were all born with albinism. Who will ask them to join warriors to fight? Ayari- one with albinism, on the war front? Hahahaha. That will mean disaster. They have to first see the land they tread on, see their enemies clearly, before raising an ube- spear, to throw at them'' Ojiofor replied in a hushed down voice.
''Yes, I was told that your grandfather was onye uru ogu- a war criminal, as poisonous as a viper, but never touched a spear in any war. He must have betrayed his in-laws and was instrumental in annihilating them'' Otika said, comically. Ojiofor hastily used his left palm to cover Otika's mouth, to stop him from talking further. ''Hush, please say no more. That was exactly what happened. Bury this topic here, Otika. Please, say no more'' Ojiofor said, pleadingly.