Rolling up the gods

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Ezedibia kept up the pace at which he started out from the shrine about an hour ago, the message from the deity was loud and clear and the ultimatum was very short; The household of Ikedieze must make a sacrifice to the gods of the sacred python or face total annihilation, total and concise. As he made his way through the narrow pathway that leads to the village, his mind kept wondering at the turn of event in the community. Since the arrival of the people of the new religion who called themselves Christians, the village has taken a different turn, most people no longer have regard for the gods of the land, they tend to say all sort of profane things about the deities and treat their symbols as evil.
“This new religion has brought so much madness and false audacity to the village”, Ezedibia thought aloud, “else how can one explain this recent abominable act committed by Ozondu, the last son of Ikedieze who had caught the sacred python, made it into a roll then flung it into the air, leading to the subsequent fall and injury of the sacred python”.
As he entered the village, the people was met him on the way knew all was far from well, Ezedibia looks grim and the force at which he shook his metal staff affixed with lots of bells and shackles that jingle and made a lot of noise spoke of the severity of his entry.
“When a man presents his head to be used in cracking coconut, he has decided not to partake in the eating of it!” Ezedibia shouted.
“The cockroach that is bent on proving his dancing prowess in front of the fowl, is accepting an invitation from death!” he pressed on.
When he got to the entrance of Ikedieze’s compound, he stood still, drove his metallic staff into the ground and let it rattle on as if it has a life of it own.
“The rat that accompanies the lizard on a swimming expedition should not complain of a wet body!” Ikedieze! I salute you!” Ezedibia shouted from the entrance to the compound.
Ikedieze and his first son, Akubo went out to meet him. They knew all was far from well and they were not surprised. Ozondu’s recent act was an abomination to the deity and they knew the gods will soon make know their demand for atonement.
“Ezedibia! The one who stands on two different realms! The one who wine and dine with the gods and departed fathers! I greet you. Please come inside let me offer you kola”. Ikedieze said to him, motioning with his hands.
“I have not come here to feast with your household, Ikedieze. I was sent by the gods to tell you what their stance is on your son who has decided to test the depth of a river with both legs!” Ezedibia said and struck his staff to the earth to emphasis his point.
“The gods have asked you to make a sacrifice of five bulls, three rams, one white cock, twenty large kola nuts, three rolls of tobacco and ten yards of white clothes to them before the next two market weeks or be ready for their wrath. The chick that says it is too big to hide under it mother’s wing will grace the talons of the hawk! The gods have spoken!’’ Ezedibia shouted these orders as if his listeners are hard of hearing.
Ikedieze had listened with rapt attention to the request of the gods and he found the atonement requirements too much.
“Please, plead with the gods on my behalf, these items are too much for one man’s head, please!” Ikedieze pleaded.
“He who wants to swallow the udara seed should first of all check the size of his anus! Your son has bitten more than he can chew and it is now choking him! He has used a sharp stick to scratch his eyes and now is the time for tears! I have given you the demands of the gods! Ezedibia said and he shook his staff in a circle to loosen it from the earth before pulling it out. It sharply turned a perfect circle and made his way back to his shrine at the outskirt of the village.
Ikedieze and his son slowly made their way back into his compound and into his courtyard. His head was slightly bowed as if he was visibly carrying the weight of the problem on his head. Immediately he stepped into his house, he sent Akubo to go and call his younger brother, Ozondu. When Ozondu came in, he could tell from the look on his father’s face that all was far from and he guessed what it was.
“I wonder what evil spirit made you saw the sacred python as a climber that you can roll into whatever shape you like and fling into the air! You see what calamity you are bringing on the family? The gods have set their eyes of anger on this family and I wonder how we can get out of it in one piece!” Ikedieze said between clenched teeth.
“Papa! Ozondu called softly but firmly. “The gods are powerless and dead. They cannot harm even a fowl in this household. I serve a God who is greater than them and they have no command over our lives. They are dead and impotent!” Ozondu said with conviction.
“I am now regretting why I sent to you to the school of the white man. See where it has gotten this family into!” Ikedieze said sadly.
“Papa! Tomorrow we will prove to you that the gods are mere idols and powerless! My church will show the whole village that we have been worshipping dead woods and stones all these years. We are breaking forth tomorrow. It is time for total freedom from darkness!” Ozondu said and he turned and went out of the room.
A week later, Ikedieze knew his son meant what he said when just before sun down, he saw the smoke rising up to the sky as the shrine of the deities was set ablaze and the whole village broke forth in a fit of jubilation.