Early the next morning, Mary was dressed for a meeting with her superiors and other missionaries that had traveled down with her.
"Sister Mary, what brings you here so early in the morning?", Father John asked her. He was an elderly man in his late sixties. Father John was known to be very strong as he still worked for the church, sending missionaries to different parts of West Africa to propagate the gospel and introduce Western Education. he was very gentle and listened to the complaints and pleas of every one of his subordinates.
Mary knew that she had the right boss that would assist and support her in what she was about to do. Mary was aware that this wouldn't be an easy task, but she just couldn't keep quiet and do nothing about it.
"Good morning, Father John. I apologize for bringing you out of your bed so early in the morning, but there is a sin going on in this land".
"Sin?". Father John knew Mary to have a balanced head on her shoulders. She wasn't one to raise a false alarm or anything of the sort. He took every word from her seriously. "What do you mean, Sister Mary?". She had his full attention.
"There is a tradition against twins in this land. Any couple that gives birth, upon finding out that they have birthed twins, throw them into a forest, and leave the poor children to die there".
Mary's bottom lip quivered and the next moment, bulging veins appeared on her neck as she said; "I went into the forest to pray, only to find so many little skeletons lying there. Can you imagine that, Father?"
Father John stared at Mary, his eyelids not blinking.
Mary understood exactly how he felt. But she was starting to get worried. Given the man's age, anything can happen as a result of shock. "Father? Father John!". She reached over the table, placed a hand on his, and shook him.
"Oh my God. But they are just babies. What is the reason for this?"
Mary let out a breath of relief and continued, "It is seen as an offense on the land. The goddesses frown upon it. They say it is an abomination"
"That is pure ignorance!"
"My thought exactly, Father"
"So, what do you want to do? I told the other missionaries to wait in the hall because I wanted to hear what you had to say first. Let us meet them, so you share what you have just shared with me. We can all rub minds together, to come up with ideas on how to tackle the matter"
That was why she liked to work with Father John. Mary was elated. "Thank you, Father".
He ushered her into the hall where the others sat, waiting.
* * *
One of Effiong's workers didn't report to the plantation that day for work.
"Where is Idom?", Effiong asked the overseer of his workers.
"Ha, Chief Effiong, he didn't come today. Something happened in his house. Idom's wife gave birth to alu", the overseer said.
('Alu' is their native tongue for 'Abomination')
Effiong looked at the man. In his mind, he had given Ubem a tight slap. "None of you should call any human being alu. Let me not hear it again. Do you hear me, Ubem?"
"Yes, Chief. I hear you". Ubem was a very traditional man who had several idols in his house. Ubem and the workers knew that Chief Effiong wasn't the typical traditional man. He didn't give any sacrifice on their market days. One day, Ubem had approached him and said; "Chief, if we don't sacrifice to the god of farms, we will not harvest."
"Leave that thing, Ubem. If you plant, with a good mind and at the right time, you will harvest. When you do, make sure you give to the poor. Help people. That one is better than bowing before things you made with your own hands." That was Effiong's reasoning.
Just be good to people, love the other human just like you love yourself. Do not plan evil for people. Effiong took that as his own religion. It is what his father had taught him. It worked for Edet Edet, and Effiong discovered that it worked for him as well.
Now, he left Ubem wondering what kind of person he worked for.
Effiong was going to visit Idom and his family. He knew what was required of them in this situation. "They must be full of grief right now", Effiong said.
* * *
*Knock Knock*
A man came to the door and gasped.
"Why are you surprised? Let me in"
"Welcome, Chief Effiong. I am shocked to see you. Never expected to see you in my house."
"I heard what happened", Effiong said.
Idom dragged his feet as Effiong brought up the matter. "Please sit, Chief"
"Thank you. Where is your wife?"
"Aret is inside. She has not stopped crying for two days now," Idom said.
The next question on Effiong's mind to ask was hard to come out of his mouth. "Eh, w-where are the c-children?"
Idom burst into tears.
Effiong's mouth fell open.
It was hard to see a man cry. They believed that women were emotional beings but whatever made a man cry was otherworldly.
He allowed Idom to let it all out, and when Idom composed himself, Effiong asked again, "Who did it?"
"Who else, Chief? I took them to Forest Afo last night. Why did the gods do this to us? We have been looking for a child since... and now they gave us this alu"
"It is nothing bad. Do not call the product of your loins, alu. They are children too. Do you think you can get them back? I can help you hide them till they are old enough to travel. Then you can go to another land where they are not seen as alu. I will help you, Idom", Effiong said.