"Let me help you, Idom. You have been looking for a child, now two have come here and you condemned them to death", Effiong said.
It was stupid to him, that children who hadn't even seen the world were already considered evil... or an abomination to the land. They said those kinds of children would bring famine and disaster. [HOW?], Effiong wondered.
Effiong Edet noticed that the man was reluctant. "What is wrong with you? Give me an answer this instant. Let us act before it is too late", Effiong said.
Idom scratched his bald head and looked around to see if anyone had been listening in to their discussion.
"Chief Effiong..."
"Yes? Talk!", Effiong commanded, already getting angry with what he perceived was going to come out of Idom's mouth.
"They must have been eaten by evil spirits already. Even though, it is not me that wants to have such a thing in my house."
"Such a thing, you say? Is it not you that put the children in your wife's womb? You are being stupid, Idom"
"My wife's womb is cursed. I am taking another wife"
Effiong's mouth fell open. He had seen many foolishness go on in Ufas, but this one right here blew his mind.
"So, when you take another wife, what will happen to this one that you have thrown away her children, eh?", his voice rising.
"I- I don't know. It is her fault"
"...". Effiong was lost. [If this man is this stupid...], he thought, then said, "Do not come back to the plantation. Find somewhere else to work with the brain you refuse to use. Have you heard me?". Effiong didn't wait for an answer... he darted out of Idom's house.
Idom was dazed. He didn't see that coming. By the time he processed what had just happened, Effiong was long gone.
He ran out of his house, calling after the chief... "Chief Effiong! I don't understand! Wait! Wait, chief!"
(No response).
Idom kept running after him... until Effiong got to his own house.
Effiong had constructed a wooden structure to serve as a gate for his compound, (only rich people could afford to do something like that), so as he entered, Uduak, his maid came running to attend to him.
"Do not allow that man in," he told her and walked into his house.
He regretted having wasted his time and energy. Effiong laughed at himself.
[Oh my! I even wanted to risk everything and help the fool. Calling his children abominations.]
Item Edet, Effiong's mother was sitting in the general room. "Son, what is the matter? You are laughing at your thoughts. Should we get a rope?", she asked with a smirk on her face.
Effiong sat down on one of the chairs opposite her... shook his head and said; "A rope, Mama? I am not running mad, don't worry. It is just a matter I went to address. Children, mama... they have condemned another set of children. You know the type..."
Item knew exactly what her son was talking about. "Who had them? You knew the parents?"
They heard Uduak shout, "They said you should not enter!"
Idom said to her, "I will remain here..."
"Should I bring a wrapper for you? In case you want to sleep. My master said you should go. Please, do not put me in trouble," Uduak said to Idom.
"See this little girl. You are lucky that this wood is between us, I would have twisted that sharp mouth for you today," Idom hissed and walked away.
"Thank the gods."
Effiong and Item laughed at the drama that had just gone down at their entrance. They resumed their conversation.
The item said; "What were you saying, son?"
"The man that just left now... his wife gave birth to the children that look the same and they did the usual"
Item gasped, closing her face with her palms.
They could never get used to the monstrous act.
Effiong continued; "I told him to get the children back because it hasn't been long since he left them in the forest. I said I would hide them until he and his wife could travel to another land where they do not do such to children. Do you know what the fool said, Mama?"
Item removed her hands from her face. Tears dampened her dark, oval face. "He refused?"
"Yes. Said the evil spirits would have taken them by now. He also called his wife's womb cursed"
"He is foolish"
"I know. How will we stop this practice, Mama?"
"My son, I do not know and I want you to be careful. Like I have said, I do not want to lose you too..."
"You will not, Mama. Stop saying that," Effiong said with a serious tone as he turned and walked away.
Much later, as Effiong walked around his plantation, he heard a town crier shout a message to the hearing of everyone around that vicinity.
"There is to be a meeting in four days in the Obong's palace!" the town crier said in a loud voice. Then, he hit the gong-like instrument that he was holding underneath his left arm.
The message and drumming were repeated about five times before he moved on to another place to shout out the same news.
* * *
Now, Father John had sent a messenger to the chiefs for a small meeting and they had replied, agreeing to give an audience to the strangers, even though a minority of the Ufik elders opposed to it.
Mary Hutchison knew that the meeting wasn't going to be easygoing but she was grateful that Father John had some faith in her. Mary knew that what she had in mind to propose to the chiefs could cause a situation akin to a battle. She was aware that she had attracted the attention of certain people -- people who were suspicious of her motives and intentions -- people who were rigid and loathed the slightest idea of change.
But Mary didn't care.