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.

PART 12


''What's your name?''

''Efehi''

Ibinabo looked her over carefully, ''your father is a titled man?''

''No,'' the look on the face of the maiden was one of humility or meekness

''What are you doing on the pathway to the riverbank?''

Her expression gave way to an expression of trepidation. she began to breathe heavily but said nothing. Ibinabo turned to address the two tradesmen that walked past them. She answered them in salute. On this cue the maiden began to edge away.

PART 11

She thought about it. These men cannot be trusted. But here was a uniformed man giving her money, she mused. Evil; the money was evil. But the money was a lot, enough to make such journeys six times to the other villages. She opened her left palm to look at the money and visually count it. she concluded the money was up to half a thousand; about four hundred and seventy.

''Take this, and pay for your boat ride,'' she gave the maiden a small part of the money.

The maiden who was not like her thanked her more profusely than she would have dreamed of thanking the soldiers.

PART 10

‘’Wait !’’ She said breathlessly, that was soldier Gani.

Ibinabo slowed down, when it was obvious they were no longer within the soldiers reach, She knew this soldier Gani. He was new, but he had been posted to the same village a few months earlier.

 

PART 09

‘’Where are you going?,’’ he asked as he looked through her bag. she hoped that he would not see the money she had tied together in the bag. Whether he saw the money or not she could not be sure, but then the senior officer did something rash. He reached into his pocket and took out some money and squeezed them into her hand.

She wanted to refuse. Instinctively she thought it was evil accepting money from such a man. But she said nothing, gripped the tightly the money and pushed passed the military man. Then she started running, softly at first, then very hard. But the men let her run. Before long the maiden was running alongside her.

PART 08

When some of the soldiers turned to see who spoke, the maiden who walked alongside Ibinabo cowered. she did not cower physically but a look of great fright showed on her face that it was obvious she cowered. Perhaps she thought the soldiers would hit them. Then one of the soldiers halted them and said, ‘’submit yourself for searching.’’

But the senior officer said, ‘’stand back officer.’’

He turned to Ibinabo who an indignant expression on her face he asked her, which was her village. and then he reached into her cloth bag, she cringed backwards as if she was about to be physically violated.

‘’What’s in the bag?’’

Ibinabo looked squarely at the senior officer,’’just clothes.’’

PART 07

It was understood. It would not come as a shock if the sage had a home in these other villages. Hence the reason the villagers consider it an issue of good omen for the sage to be around  and available in the village. Even the elders and the titled men of the village made it a priority to meet him during prolonged periods of his residence.

Ibinabo’s village is one of numerous villages proximate to the Ossiomo rivers. But for this fact, the village is near bordered on all sides by rain forests. Those who travel it’s routes must pass at some point along side the river or through one of it’s many rain forests. Going to the next village was often an event of elaborate preparation.

When she came very close, close enough to hear the swishing of their boots against the tall grasses, she spoke again. This time she said in English, ‘’Soldier go, soldier leave.’’