Chapter five

The night had gone far and the darkness was so thick. The moon had disappeared completely from the heavens. So the darkness was gross and intimidating. Yet Ereyei could not put on his generator. He had no strength or courage to seek for comfort. But he managed to put on the hurricane lantern.

Husband and wife could not talk to each other. There was cold peace. Ereyei could not touch her; he was ashamed; ashamed because he felt he had rejected her, he felt he had done an abominable thing; he felt he had wounded her spirit in the breach of trust.

Ebiotu felt extremely dejected. She controlled her emotions and the urgency of loving to go out of the world drastically reduced. But she had no desire to talk to Ereyei. Suddenly she stood up from the bed and looked at his face sternly. Ereyei stretched his fat hands to reach her, but she quietly and gently pushed them away, saying nothing. A faint smile came upon him, but within a twinkle of an eye, Ebiotu was on white and her mouth foamed. Ereyei shouted for help. Nobody heard him. His house was quite detached from the village. He felt it was more dangerous for him to leave her and ran to the village for help. Then he made up his mind to face the battle. Since he knew nothing that could be done to save her, he knelt down by her and stretched forth his two hands to heaven and cried to God to deliver him from the present calamity. Ereyei literally cried out! Suddenly a wisdom came to him; he bit one of the big toes of her legs. She screamed and then he called her. "Ebiotu, Ebiotu" yes, yes, I am alive, I am not dead", she answered clearly. He held her hand and she got up. She did not stagger, but she stood firm, and put up a strange broad smile. Ereyei was not still very sure, if the state of coma, was over. He called her loudly for more assurance. "There is nothing wrong with me, I am alright" she assured him. Ereyei made water for her and she had a clean bath. Having taken a very rich cup of tea, she slept again. Ereyei himself felt into a deep sleep. Later in the night, Ebiotu got up and woke Ereyei up. 'My love, there is no problem. I have understood our plight; you are actually alone. Something has to be done quickly. I can't stop you from getting a second wife. If she gives you a child I

think it will be good for both of us. So I no longer raise objection to your second wife agenda. But my love, watch before you go in. please watch" Ereyei jumped up, laughed broadly and hugged her and a beautiful night was spent.