Then the Obong fell ill. It got so bad that they even invited Mary to try using the foreign medications she had brought from Ocland to treat the king after much deliberations and arguments from the kinsmen. Their healers had tried everything within their power but to no avail.
It wasn't that they trusted Mary but they were out of options here. The Lolo, (the Obong's first wife and the queen), was the one who advocated that they bring in the stranger, and Mary had her trust for some reason. She gave the order to the chiefs and kinsmen that they should allow Mary to try her medicines on The Obong without disturbance or side talks.
Still, all Mary's efforts were futile. He wasn't showing any sign of improvement and it was causing more frustration that way.
* * *
Some women were discussing outside the tent Mary occupied.
"I know he was poisoned, " one of the women said. "And I know they poisoned him too," she finished.
"Shhh... close that your big mouth, how do you even know that?" another woman replied as she frantically looked around where they were to see if someone had heard what the former woman said.
"Is there sand in your eyes? Can't you see he is not getting better? I am sure they want him out of the way for a reason"
"But what would be the difference? His son will succeed him"
"His young son... with the culprit controlling him from behind the scenes. Use your brain, my sister, it is not for decoration"
"So, this was a conspiracy", Mary muttered to herself.
[Who could have poisoned their king?]... she was stunned that a coup could take place even among the locals.
[What was going on in that palace?]
Mary knew she had tried her best but the antibiotics and most drugs she had brought from home, didn't know what to cure in the Obong's body. It was something far more sinister and Mary didn't know.
* * *
Mary and Edidiong had been seeing each other every morning for the past month and Edidiong wondered what must have made her think she disliked Mary in the first place. She found the white stranger cheerful and full of life with bright blue eyes eager to learn new things.
They told each other about their different beliefs... "You say your god is up somewhere, right? So, how do you pray to him then? Please, please, I do not understand that Miss Mary", Edidiong had asked.
"Do you want to understand?", Mary asked.
The way Edidiong and the others spoke gave Mary a hard time even though she understood their language. They still had a way they spoke that she got lost in, trying to understand.
Still, she told Edidiong, "That is where faith comes in. You believe that he is there and that he hears you". She had said 'faith' in English and noticed how the confusion came over Edidiong's face.
"Okay... what do you say when you trust someone?", Mary asked. Edidiong told her, and Mary explained that that was what 'faith' meant.
"I can not understand that, Miss Mary. We pray to our gods that we made with our own hands. I know you have seen some of the idols, right? They used to be in front of people's homes. Don't worry Ms. Mary, I will tell you their various names one at a time", Edidiong promised.
[I have to get used to their tongue because the headache I am getting isn't funny], she smiled at Edidiong.
* * *
That day, she had been waiting in Mary's tent when Mary came in from the royal house.
"You can not do anything for him," Edidiong said to Mary.
"I suspect some form of poison... and a stubborn one at that", Mary didn't want to say that she had overheard some women talk about the Obong.
Edidiong looked around as if to check if anyone was listening to their conversation, "The Obong will not survive this curse. When he dies, there is going to be a tragedy in the land. Be ready for that, do not say I didn't warn you, and make sure you do not walk around during that period"
"How do you know he won't survive this?", Mary asked, not pleased with Edidiong's pessimism.
"Is the sun shining this afternoon?", it was a rhetorical question and Mary got the message.
"But what tragedy? What do you mean, Edidiong?", Mary was filled with worry and confusion.
"When the time comes, you will use your eyes to see it"
Edidiong continued, "It is part of our tradition. The Ufik people are already preparing themselves, warning their children to stay indoors, and even farmers are doing mass harvesting and storage now because no one wants to be found outside. Ah"
Mary Hutchison's head swirled.
* * *
Mary noticed that the people of Ufas counted their weeks and days in a particular manner. Their traditional calendar system had 13 months in a year, 7 weeks in a month, and 4 market days in a week.
Every word and every day seemed to have a deep meaning for the Ufik people.
"Why are there different market days with different names?", Mary asked Edidiong who was peeling oranges and throwing them into her fleshy mouth.
With a juice-filled mouth, she replied; "Ete market day is the first one in a fresh week-everybody knows it for its bad omen. Most people do not sell food on this day, it will bring bad luck to them... so it is mainly clothes, tie-and-dye fabric, and beads. Then the gold rings for the young women are also sold on this day..." she continued to chew the orange in an uncouth manner.
"The ones they put around their necks right? Did you ever wear that?" Mary asked her.
"Yes, Ms. Mary. When I was 14 years of age, and I started seeing my monthly blood, my mother put on the rings on me but me, I didn't like it then. You can see my body, I like food very well and they wanted to kill me... too tight please"
Mary had lots of things to digest but they were so interesting to her, that she couldn't wait to hear more.
"Leleleleleleleeleeee"... it was a loud, long shriek.
Mary's hand flew to her ears and she stood up from the mat she and Edidiong were sitting on.
"Where are you going?"
"Didn't you hear that shout? Shouldn't we find out what it is about?"
"Do not worry, stay here. Do not go out to that place, I can tell you why you are hearing shouting. If you go, your head might be the first to fall off, Edidiong warned.
[Why was she so nonchalant?]
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Which part? About your head? Ah... The Obong has just passed on to the afterlife and now, the killings will start"
"KILLINGS?!"
Edidiong looked at Mary wondering why she was so shocked. [How do they bury their kings in her land? Why is she doing it as if I told her a ghost is coming?], Edidiong thought as she continued sucking hard on her orange, not even a bit moved that the Obong had died.
[Now, I will rest], she thought hiding a smile on her lips.
* * *
"Did you hear that?", Ola said.
"Hear what? I just saw a rat pass between your legs, maybe that is what you are talking about, right? Please, help me lift my firewood", Mma replied.
"If I help you lift your own, who will put my own on my head?"
"Your own is lighter, you wicked somebody. It won't be a big deal", she hissed.
As Ola picked Mma's bundle of firewood to put on her head, there was no head for the firewood to stay on. It is an understatement to say Ola was shocked as urine ran down her legs with her trembling. She only saw Mma's body standing there... headless. After a few seconds, she heard a thump as the corpse realized it was headless and fell to the ground.
Shock filled her veins before she let out a scream..."AHHHHHH".
Then she noticed the four masked men and before she could take another breath, her head fell and rolled on the ground.
"Gather the heads, bury the bodies", said one of the faceless men.
* * *
In another part of Ufas, Enma was going to fetch water from the stream quite a distance from their house.
Her mother had warned her severally not to go alone, so she begged her brother to accompany her, but he refused.
"The water is for everybody and you don't want to follow me. I will tell mama, you'll see."
"My friends are coming over and we are going to tap palm wine from Papa's tree. Wait till we get back, then I will follow you"
She didn't want to wait because there was no water to prepare dinner and her mother had gone to the market. [If mama returns and doesn't find water at home, I am dead], Enma thought.
She quickly got up, and looked outside, "The sun has not set yet. I will hurry...even if it is just one bucket, we will manage till tomorrow morning"
She used the kitchen door behind and rushed down to the stream...
Alone.