WEEK 27: THE SLAUGHTER OF THE GOAT, Part 3 of 5

Wife Number Two is busy in her hut
Her nine girls about her all mending cloth
The sudden sound of noise comes from without
Rousing them all to rush to the door

While in her hut, Wife Number Three
Surrounded by her girls takes a peek outside
To see Number One busy at the hearth
Confusion furrows Number Three's forehead

She thinks, what's the meaning in this flurry?
The evening meals have long since cooled
But there's Number One going about anew
Amaka must query, I'll send her, hurry!

Wife Number Three looks among her girls
Is annoyed to find young Amaka missing
"Where is Amaka!" she asks the room at large
And is met by silence from her six other girls

"Mother!" Uzo calls, Number Three's first girl
"Father strides heavily towards Little Mom's
Big Mother, therefore, must have failed."
Wife Number Three finds herself smiling

Obi disappears into Fourth Wife's hut
Even as his family ambushes the yard
Everyone pretends to be busy outside
Even as their ears train towards him

Darkness checks Obi at the door-mouth
He fails to see to advance one foot
He hears a sudden sharp intake of breath
"Light this space now!" he suddenly bellows

A sudden flare of light illumines his vision
Is revealed to be held in Ifegi-oku's hand
Behind her stands Wife Number Four
Shrunken and pale against the far wall

The light, just as suddenly, burns right out
Pitching the space in impenetrable dark
The light sparks again, still in her hands
Although this time, high on a lantern

Ifegi-oku's eyes is as dark as the hut
She stares intensely at Obi at the door
Wife Number Four slides further back
Disappearing entirely into the safe dark

"Are you fully certain you are only seven?"
"I'm sure not know what my father is asking.
He knows as well as I the year of my birth."
He regards her coolly from his stance at the door

"Yet, I'm not surprised to find you hither."
Ifegi-oku responds by raising the light higher
"Get away, little girl, I lose my patience."
"Will my father promise not to beat little mom?"

With one quick step, Obi bounds right in
He stoops to her level, face-to-face
"I promise nothing! Do you hear me, girl?
What now will you do to save your last mom?"

(to be continued) )

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