CHAPTER 13

It would have been a frosty night if the sound of the ikoro had not beaten down the serenity and dethroned it from its place. Not even the people dancing around the fire could tell the maturity of the cold night. They had forgotten their wine calabash, for the first time in history. These men who love palm wine more than they loved their lives, had left their wine on the bench all because they were dancing. Unbelievable.

Jidenna smiled as his almond eyes darted away from the gyrating men to the boys who knelt in front of the Dibia. The palm leaf that lined their lips made them look like an agent of death. Even though they looked tough and held a gaze that was stone cold, he couldn't count any of the five who hadn't fallen under his prey. Those bulging muscles that lined their skin were intimidating, but the boys were weaklings and would do anything to keep their reputation and ego.

Jidenna yawned but covered his mouth when he caught the expression on his father's face. They were cold and...

He swallowed and looked away. The last time he had stared into the dark eyes of his father, he had ended up seeing them in his dream. It wasn't a pleasing sight if you were wondering.

The Dibia opened a small bottle and was spraying the white content on the men. If the whitish substance was meant to do anything, the men did not show, for they seemed unfazed by the Dibia's gestures.

"Igwurube, okala Mmadu okala mmuo (igwurube the demigod)" The Dibia said. His hoarse voice rumbled like the voice of a stormy weather, almost shaking the village square.

What am I doing here? Jidenna shifted on his small stool. The answer hit him again for what seemed to be the hundredth time that night. He should have been in bed right now, cleaving to that wondrous journey to the dreamland. But his father had dragged him to this useless ceremony. Transition into adulthood, it was so-called. A name that would not make his age shift from seven to twenty in the next ten years.

He hissed under his teeth, as the dibia squeezed the neck of the white hen and sprayed the blood on the heads of the men, kneeling before his shrine

This Transition ceremony, in Umuwa, was for men. Women were not allowed to see or hear about it. Their only role was to make the food and stay indoor while the boys transcend into adults as if the girls in the house would remain babies forever. Well, as long as he was concerned, the ceremony was just another way the Dibia was using to collect more chicken and yam tubers from the people.

Jidenna yawned widely again, this time not bothering to cover his mouth. His eyes were becoming heavy and he could feel the sleep knocking on his door. If only his father would let him retire home. This was the best time to transcend into the wonderland. His mates were all at home, enjoying their sleep. While was he the only one to suffer this wickedness?

"How many times will I tell you to always apply the mosquitoes repellant cream? I na anukwa nti?" Maduka asked.

"I don't like the smell, papa. It gives me a running stomach," Jidenna said, but continued to scratch the itching spot on his lap.

"Running stomach," The man grunted and shifted on his small stool, "Remind me what that means again, because I have been applying that cream since I was just your age, yet I haven't woken up any day to chase my stomach."

"That's not what I mean papa," Jidenna said, struggling with himself to keep down the amusement. It would be perceived as disrespect if he laughs at his father. Not that his father cared, but they were in the public, and the village councilmen were sitting just some paces away from them.

"What then does it mean, Jidennaya? Well, suffer the wrath of the mosquitoes, I would punish you severely if you eventually fall sick."

Jidenna swallowed. That was not an empty threat. His father does not make jokes about punishing him. He had underestimated those words once, and his back had suffered the consequences. He was not ready to experience that again.

"Where are you going?" the skin on Maduka's forehead folded inwards as they studied Jide. His eyes were so narrow and dark that they sucked into his skull, and Jidenna could have sworn that his father's eyes were missing.

"Going home, Papa. To get the cream."

"Alright, my boy." The man smiled and adjusted his weight comfortably.

His eyes are still there. Jidenna heaved when the fire flickered, revealing the brown features of his father's eyes, which always hides under his skull whenever there was no light.

"Hurry, I don't want you to miss a thing. The ceremony is just about to begin."

"In the name of the white queen. About to begin? We have been sitting here for hours."

"We just arrived. Now, hurry and meet me here. Tell your mother to give you my money pouch, I need to pay my dues."

Jidenna nodded but said nothing. He walked away from the village square into the cold fingers of the night. Their house was near to the village square so his father was not afraid to send him out alone, despite the stories lurking around the village about some evil spirits that haunt the souls of young children.

Jide whistled the 'moon on the garden' song his mother had taught him as he continued his way home. It was a song of some little bird that had found its way home after it went missing for two days. Since he hadn't learned the lyrics properly, whistling and humming them seem not to hurt. Especially in nights like this.

A few more meters away from the village square and something hit his nose, making his stomach rumble. The aroma made his mouth watered; it was impossible to resist. It was impossible not to look at the direction.

There, at the left anchor of the road, sat a small hut. There were torches standing end to end at the doorpost, revealing the red mate on the doorway. A skull was drawn on the wall too, with a chalk, to keep intruders away. This was the Dibia's house. The house of the gods.

Don't give in to the temptation. A voice said in Jide's head, but his nose urged his feet forward. It wouldn't hurt if he checks what was cooking and then continue his journey back home. Just a glimpse was all he was going to do. Who knows, the wives of the gods might be the ones making such delicacies.

One sniff had enticed him. The aroma was just so inviting and Jide followed the sweet whiff as if in a trance.

There was a cloud of smoke, but it was not coming from the village square, instead, it was emanating from the Dibia's kitchen, which was made from a palm leaf in a secluded area.

Jidenna was tiptoeing now and his mouth continued to water when he saw the naked animal which glittered with oil as if passed through a jelly.

"The gods have blessed this night," He whispered and picked the roasting animal. The first bite was a testimony that the meat had not been releasing an empty aroma. It tasted just as his nose had detected, though much sweeter.

"Taa," Someone shouted and Jidenna jumped, hiding the skewed chicken behind.

"Izu, why are you shouting as if you just saw a ghost?" He asked the boy who was almost the same age as he.

"Jide," The boy said and pointed accusingly. "You are eating the sacrifice of the gods."

"Why not? If I don't eat the burnt offerings, who will?"

"This is sacrilege. If the Dibia catches you, he will hang your spirit on a spike,"

"That's the word, Izu, if the Dibia catches me. But who will tell the Dibia?" Jidenna asked and took another bite from the chicken. From the corner of his eye, he saw Izu, gulping the saliva. "This meat is so delicious, want a bite?"

Izu gulped. The ember glow of the fire was dancing in his coppery bright eyes now as he stared at the roasted animal.

"Here, just take a bite." Jidenna walked towards the black boy who was still struggling to keep himself from swallowing. "I know the Dibia had been eating all the sacrifices alone and had deceived the people into thinking that the gods were the ones accepting the offerings."

"But what if he catches us?" Izu asked as he collected the meat from Jidenna.

That question was left unanswered when the Dibia walked into the kitchen.

"Amadiaoha!!" The older man exclaimed. "How dare you?"

"Not me," Jidenna frowned and pointed, "I was just passing by and I saw Izu eating the chicken,"

"That's a lie, wise one," Izu said in defense, "He was the one who gave the chicken to me and had pleaded with me not to tell you"

"Liar," Jidenna shouted, but the Dibia would not hear.

"That's enough. Jidenna." The man said. "I have been with Izu for the past few months and I trust him, he doesn't steal from me."

"That's why he is all bones and no flesh." Jide scowl.

"Shut your rotten mouth before I send Amadioha to descend upon you. Izu can never steal, but you on the other hand is too notorious to be trusted. I have known you since you were born. You are nothing but trouble. I will report you to your father and the elders."

Jidenna shifted his weight. The man could report him to ten-thousand village councilmen for all he cared, but his father...

"Report me." Jidenna lifted his eyes to meet the man.

"What did you say?"

"I said you should report me. But get ready to explain to the village how you have been consuming all their offerings in the name of the gods. Do you notice how fat your neck has become?"

It was the Dibia's turn to shift his footings. Jidenna scoffed when he did not reply. He collected the remaining roasted meat from Izu and took a long, slow bite.

"Hmm. This is delicious, I will come and be your apprentice"

"Get out from here, you troublesome child."

"I will," Jidenna licked his fingers and lips, "This place is becoming stuffy. Thank you for the meat, wise one. We hope for more"