Adaora stared at the thatched roof over her head, the thoughts flooding her heart having robbed her of her sleep. Obianujunwa her half younger sister with whom she lay on the mat, stirred beside her. She adjusted her sleeping position, raised her leg and threw it on Adaora.
“Osifo, please can I play your flute?” The 6years old mumbled in her sleep. Adaora smiled as she took Uju’s leg off her. That would be the horn Osifo her half younger brother got from the goat that was slaughtered in the last new yam festival. The little girl lying next to her was the most adorable thing she has ever seen. The kids were so much in contrast to their mother, she was glad they took after their father in character, the sweet little kids will always run to her for comfort at all times especially when in trouble, that often, against Uloma’s wish. She being 12 years older than Uju and 8years older than Osifo would often take up the big sister role for them.
After Adaora’s mother’s death, her poor father had mourned her mother for 3 years before moving on to marry Uloma after much persuasion by his family. The subsequent years since then have been quite intolerable. Uloma has always considered her a threat and a competition. Hence, she was always doing all she could to present Adaora as bad to her father who would never find his daughter with a fault. The poor man always tried his best to be just by never taking sides. Well, that was in the beginning. Now her father never really pays attention in other to avoid chaos and that really has been the beginning of chaos.
Adaora had been coping really fine until recently. At her age, it is expected that she should be married already or at least have a suitor. Adaora does have a love, but he is somebody her father strongly refuses to give consent to. Meeting Afamefuna had been by a twist of a fate. He had been hired by her father temporarily to work on his farm. The young man was cultured, kind and very proper. She would often accompany her father on his visits to the farm which was on the outskirts of the village, she enjoyed the tours. She met Afamefuna on one of such visits and the rest has since been history. They had fallen in love and started a relationship, secretly at first. When they decided to make it open, her father had strongly refused. There was no way his eldest daughter was getting married to a mere labourer.
“He is not a mere labourer.” she had tried arguing with her father, “he is a hardworking young man.” She didn’t seem to get anywhere with the argument, her father’s mind was made but so was hers.
Adaora smiled upon remembering Afamefuna, his smile that has become cosmetic on his face and his strong arms that appear to be created for holding her.
The smile suddenly faded as she remembered the event that was taking place in the morning. It was the formal traditional introduction between her family and the family her step mother got for her. Uloma was desperate to see her out of the house. So since Adaora had tarried before bringing home a suitor, Uloma had taken it upon herself to do the match making business. There was no way Adaora was going to agree to be wed to a man who doesn’t know the value of a woman. Maduka was a man whose father owns large hectares of farmland which covered a vast area of the village and he has a lot of servants at his disposal. He is the heir to his father’s wealth. Maduka’s father, Chief Ogbonna has many wives and children living in a large compound together and as his first son, if she eventually got married to him, they were going to live in that compound. Adaora doesn’t like the idea. Asides that, Maduka was a womanizer who only wants to get married in other to satisfy his father. Afamefuna has an escape plan, she did not like the idea, but right now that appeared to be the most sensible thing to do.
Adaora stared at her two half siblings as they slept, she is sure they’d be fine without her. They have a great father; she was not too sure about their mother though. But she is sure she won’t hurt her own children. She would miss them greatly though. Afamefuna had said “let’s meet at the market square tonight, if you reconsider.”
Prior to that, Ada had vehemently refused to elope with Afamefuna. Even though she was not sure what life would be without Afamefuna, the thoughts of how devastated her father would be further restrained her. But now, the thought of how miserable her life would be in Maduka’s house set her legs on the wheel, she could only hope her father would forgive her. Adaora stood up and located where her belongings were. She packed as fast as she could and left the house in a hurry. Once outside, she looked at the house one last time before scuttling off.
Afamefuna sat quietly at the back of the orange tree just before the market square, anticipating Ada’s arrival. He could only hope Adaora would show up. The decision felt selfish, but he couldn’t watch the love of his life being married off in that manner. With or without Adaora he was leaving though. Not showing up meant she has agreed to marry Maduka and he could not bear to see her with another man, so he was going to leave anyway.
Afamefuna was about giving up, it was far past their set meeting time and Ada was yet to show up. Suddenly he heard a rustling in the bush followed by a familiar soft whistling. It was that of Adaora. Even in the dark, her shiny black skin never seemed to lose its radiance.
“I was scared you’ll never come” Afamefuna whispered into Adaora’s ear as he held her close
Ada stood speechless as she leaned on him
“I’m glad I came” she said when she finally found her voice
Leonard and Pepper waited patiently at the river bank for the next and final prey, at least for this tour. The villagers were starting to dread the river, so they hadn’t gotten much people recently. Destitutes and abandoned fellows who didn’t care much about life were the ones who often go through the river to the next village now. Pepper was already tired of their stay in the village. He will be getting married to Rose in few months and if they don’t set on the sail to Europe already, he might miss his own wedding. The thought of that made him laugh. Rick had insisted that the ship could accommodate a few more persons and so here they were waiting.
Leonard heard voices suddenly and so halted, signaling to Pepper to keep quiet. He gave a wicked smile as they got set for their mission
Ada and Afam walked further and came to the river popularly known as the river of abomination. The river was rumoured to kill anyone who goes over it. But the route was their shortest way out of the village if they didn’t want to get caught.
“Are you sure you don’t want us to look for another route? I’m scared.” Adaora quivered
“It’s the only way, Adaora.” He said looking into her eyes. “once we are out, we will be free to live our life the way we want without disturbances”
Adaora sighed “okay, may the gods see us safely through”
“they will. I’ll go first.” Afam said
She pulled him back “Afam, be careful please”
“I’m the son of the soil, the river can’t refuse me passage. I’ll come back for you when I find it safe at the other side.”
“Okay…” She said panting heavily, “Just be careful.”
He dipped one leg into it, then the second and so slowly began to find his way to the other part of the river.
Afamefuna, glad he finally made it across, scanned the bush to be sure it was safe and some gods were not there to eat him up. Contented it was clear, he turned back to go and bring along his love. But suddenly, the gods appeared, the famous gods that swallow up people who go through the path. He saw the gods but might never be able to tell anyone, not even his love. They were gods, the two white men, he fell dizzy as they overpowered him. He got weak from the powder they blew at him, slowly he closed his eyes and fell.
Pepper moved close to the river and poured the custom red powder that made the water look like blood into the river. They started to bounded up Afam, their mission was complete, Afam would wake up on a ship to Europe.
Ada waited and waited but she didn’t see him, it was starting to get to the times when villagers who had businesses in nearby villages, or those who had farms on the outskirts travel. Someone would soon notice her, she panicked. She moved close to the river trying to get glimpse of him, when she didn’t she started to move close to the river, she decided to go find out whatever was happening there herself. The moon light fell suddenly on the river. It was then she saw the blood. Adaora was confused and shocked, fear gripped her. The gods have taken Afam, her love was dead? “No!” she screamed
The gods that took Afamefuna must take her too, and at that she jumped into the river and walked her way through. She ran into the bush and started to skim the place. It was dark at first due to the trees and bushes, then she could see clearly, the two white men bounding up Afam, she screamed and fainted.
The scream alerted Leonard and Pepper. Pepper turned around and moved close. He found her on the floor unconscious. He looked at Leonard and gave a knowing smile.
Leonard nodded and said “the ship can accommodate an extra slave”
Off to Europe they went.
pen name:inspired360
This story was inspired by the river of abomination during the slave trade era. The river was believed to kill anyone who goes over it, leaving trails of blood. Unknown to the people then, the blood was a make believe scheme by the Kidnappers who sell off those who they kidnap to slavery.
