THE DIVINER ( A STORY BY EGURIASE S. M. OKAKA)

THE DIVINER

(A STORY)

BY

EGURIASE S. M. OKAKA

Once upon a time in the village of Edel, things were booming, life was fair to the formers and the entire villagers. The rains were falling as at when due. The villagers were all happy and friendly with each other. The King and his elders in council were having a good time; as tubes of yams, bush meats, and other items were coming in great quantum.  But suddenly there appears a DROUGHT in the land. What happened? Some say it was the handiwork of the devil. Others said the monkey has just given birth to a human being. Well, this is an unusual occurrence that needs explanation.

The rains ceased as the heavens withheld its showers. What went wrong nobody knows not even me telling the story. The villagers did not know what to do. Plants cannot grow as crops were dying off because of the drought. They were patient and expectant for two seasons. All the grasses became desert, this made the animals grow thinner and thinner and finally, they all died. And it entered the once happy people of Edel, as they died of malnutrition. The king’s households were not spared out for the gods are no respecter of persons.

King:                      Bring me the Diviner! He summoned angrily. (His messenger goes away and a few minutes later he returns with the Diviner.)

Diviner:                Long may you live my king! Your reign belongs on the throne of your fathers! May epilepsy be bedmates of those who seek your hurt? Edel kingdom shall live because of you! (He sits down with his divination apparatus and starts divining.) Abomination! (He yelled to the king’s surprise) An abominable art has been committed in the land. Open my eyes let me see clearly said the diviner. ’Um…. Um….. Um! The land has been defied. The goddess of fertility is angry. It was she who stopped the heavens from bringing down rains. The drought and death we are experiencing is her making.

King:                      What then shall we do?

Diviner:                Appeasement my king that should be our approach now before any other action. Meanwhile, my king, gather all the people together before the sun goes to a bed today. I shall be with you then. (He leaves) 

King                       Summon the Town-crier at once!

                       Soon the message got to the villagers and they all gathered before the Throne. Let us wait a while for the diviner before the king finishes speaking the diviner enters with a revelation from the gods.

Diviner:                My king the culprits are here. Where is Ebi?  Fum! (Pause) Where is Ebiba?

Ebi & Ebiba:        We are here, Eye of the gods!  

Diviner:                You brought this calamity on us. You have offended the goddess of fertility by your lustful desires. Hence this drought.

Villagers:              yeeee!

Diviner:                Tell the king and the people what you did on the farmland. (They both fell on their        knees pleading to the amazement of all)

Ebi:                        She tempted me.

Ebiba:                    He tempted me.

Ebi:                         No! she did when she asked me to help her tie her loosed wrapper around her waist. She then bends her waist and I saw some qualities which made me marry her in the first instance. She demanded that I touch her waist and crash a particular place when I did, she fell on the ground and the man in me woke up and we made love on the farm.

Villagers:              Yeeee!

Ebi:                         From that day sadness and sorrows has been our companion

King:                      You know the traditions of our land and you still went ahead to disobey the gods. What is the verdict of the gods?

Diviner:                My king whosoever commits such shall be sacrificed to the goddess of fertility on the very spot where the deed was done to forestall the drought.

King:                      By the powers vested on me as the custodian of the customs and traditions of Edel kingdom, I so decreed.

Diviner:                Ebi and Ebiba leads the way.  They followed forcefully by the actions of the king’s guard accompanying them to the farm where the abomination was done. The villagers crying bitterly followed by too.. Getting there the Diviner chop-off their heads and pour their drops of blood on the spot. Immediately, the withered leaves began to grow again and the clouds began to get ready for the rains.  You can see happiness and smiles in the faces of the people once again.

THE END

BY

EGURIASE S.M. OKAKA