PART 13

The riverbank as often as it was, was teeming with more persons than boats to ferry them to the other side. At one time these boats that acted as ferry vehicles, were fishing men's vessels going to and fro laden with fishing nets and the day's catch of fishes and shrimps. But now, those same nets had been hung in favour of ferrying men and women across the river.

Efehi sauntered nimbly,her petite frame moving in an undulating manner between haggling men and women and wares heaped on the ground. Ibinabo stood and stretched as tall as she could to see as much of the place as she possibly could. But still she missed Efehi. She felt responsible for the maiden; she was probably too young to travel alone. It was best they traveled together, if they were heading in the same direction, which she surmised they probably were.

''You too want to use Daigo's boat?,'' this was one of the two tradesmen who had greeted Ibinabo earlier on.