Chapter one

CHAPTER ONE

It had been a while since the first hardworking white Christian couple, Mr. Williams and Mrs Evelyn, who also had a very successful fishing operation. Mr. Williams caught fish in the well-known Ugbo river. The catches of Mrs Evelyn's husband were sold. Together, they earned enough money to construct an opulent mud home that became known to locals as Obi Maazi.

Mr. Williams cherished his wife dearly. Mr. Williams never gave his wife, Mrs. Evelyn, a reason to question his love for her starting on the day he married her and they moved in together. She had a bright and endearing personality and was a very hardworking woman. She was a remarkable woman who made a significant contribution to Itanga's advancement as well as her husband's overall achievement..

The success of Mr. Williams as a fisherman spread beyond the confines of his neighborhood. Most people thought his exceptional success was the result of certain fishing techniques he knew. Each time he went fishing, he was nearly always likely to bring home a large number of fish. He caught some pretty large fish. His achievement quickly gave rise to tales that he had made a vow with the goddess of the large Ugbo River, a river that the locals had named Mmuo mmiri. Others, on the other hand, thought he possessed some strong charm that gave him the ability to comprehend fishes' behavior and language. How else would one be able to explain his extraordinary achievement in this?

The popularity and goodwill Mr. Williams and his wife received among the public did not sit well with everyone. They would also discover the secret to Mr. Williams' success in the fishing industry.

So they swore to solve the riddle, whatever it was, and committed themselves to doing so. They were so intensely preoccupied with this idea that they made the decision to snoop after Mr. Williams when he was out fishing.

The day actually arrived. In the presence of his seasoned fishing buddy, Gabriel, Mr. Williams paddled his canoe to his favourite fishing location as per usual. He joyfully floated his canoe into the tranquil afternoon river, unaware that several curious villagers had surreptitiously paddled off after him in their canoes. Their only goal was to learn his secret.

They made the decision to imitate him. They were adamant on copying his every move. As a result, they followed him as he threw his net into the river. Amazingly, Mr. Williams' hauls would frequently come dangerously close to bursting the net. But for his critics, it was always the other way around. The fact that they were able to capture anything at all was even more.

He could hear someone calling, "Mr. Williams, mighty man!" behind him. He had a start.

Once Mr. Williams recognized his caller's proper direction, the voice echoed, "Mr. Williams!" He quickly recognized the voice as that of the known troublemaker in the community, Joe

"What kind of magic fingers do you have?" He fired very belligerently as The Williams Family was able to see the canoe he and his accomplices were in. Mr. Williams was able to clearly hear him. He clasped his hands to emphasize his point and said, "I can see that the fishes simply sniff your magical net once and 'kpam', they make a furious dash for it. His damaged face had a malicious smirk that made it clear what he was up to.

Sensing malice in his tone, Mr. Williams chose to respond cautiously.

Joe, my kinsman, I was born with it, he said in reply.

He observed joe's behavior for a time before deciding it was okay to go on.

Have you forgotten that my late father, Daniel, was formerly one of our village's most renowned fishermen? I was just a young lad when he first taught me how to fish. Everyone in Itanga is familiar with this element of my story. My abilities naturally expanded alongside me," he said.

"Mr. Williams, I don't believe you," Joe yelled at him as his rage started to build by this point. He was there. He might suddenly erupt for the most trivial of causes.

"You're concealing something from us," he said.

"Ha-ha-ha! Joe, what would that be? Mr. Williams chuckled and briefly turned his gaze away from him. A full net was pulling at his arms and requiring all of his focus, and he could feel it. The expressions on Joe's friends' faces were really nasty. They removed theirs as well to bring in some skinny-appearing crabs and fries, turning them green with jealousy. They felt defeated.

"Never assume that this is over for good. We'll find out your secret one day," Joe yelled aggressively. Mr. Williams simply laughed while keeping an eye on his exploding net.

Many of the communities around Itanga were supplied by the Nkwo-itanga market. On Nkwo market days was the sole time for trading. Nkwo-Itanga was unlike any other market in the community in terms of the quantity of customers and the amount of business being transacted. One could only compare it, at best, to the annual festival held in the city each year to celebrate both his coronation and his subjects' mock burial.

Every market day saw an incredible amount of attendees. On Nkwo market days, it appeared as though there was an unseen force pulling masses of people to buy, sell, or perhaps do both. However, there was always a tiny fraction who made neither purchases nor sales. They were a natural component of a crowded market like Nkwo-Itanga. .

At Nkwo-Itanga, vendors delightedly marketed their wares and services. The commotion that surrounded all the commercial activity was impressive in and of itself. People would go back and forth between the ends of the market as if propelled by an invisible force.

At times, people were astounded by the enormous crowds that gathered each market day. This has given rise to many rumors.

Many superstitious people thought spirits also visited Nkwo-Itanga, according to others. In this manner, the market had diverse meanings for many individuals. That served as evidence of its significance in the socioeconomic lives of Itanga residents generally, regardless of whether they transacted business there, made purchases there, or simply went there to sightsee. Everyone left for home at the conclusion of the day with tales or rumors to spread over the following four days. There were just enough morsels for everyone to share many times over.

Mrs. Evelyn, Mr. Williams' wife, was well-known throughout Itanga and the neighborhood for her work as a fishmonger. In a manner, the Nkwo-Itanga market's center of activity was her stall. She was adored for her distinctive style as well as her gentle friendliness. Every market day, women from nearby and far-off communities competed for the large, fresh fish she brought to sell. While some of her fellow fishmongers would spend the entire day trying to sell the few fish on their stall tables, she would finish her sale in a matter of minutes. Mrs. Evelyn was so well-liked by the wealthy housewives that some of them would place orders for her fish store weeks in advance.

Mrs. Evelyn never let their success influence her thoughts.

Despite their successes, she maintained her modesty, insisting that lord, the all-powerful God, had only given her such wealth as a special favor. It was a credo that lessened the likelihood of hostility and envy, especially among women. Not that some ardent supporters still harbored animosity for her.

The Williamses were fortunate to have three great daughters. No dad could be more pleased with his girls. Mrs. Evelyn and her three daughters wore expensive, exquisite clothing. They wore beautiful jewelry and decorations. She was said to never wear the same dress twice due to her extensive wardrobe. She became the patron of the youngest age group in Itanga, and as a result, they wrote the song highlighting the boundless abundance from which she received all a heart could wish. She wore magnificent jewelry and ornaments, and among the elder women there was rumor that they had been sent to her from English land, a faraway country. She earned the moniker Morning star, which is only appropriate for a queen, as a result of her distinctive style and vibrant way of life..

If it weren't for the fact that they didn't have a son, Mrs. Evelyn and her husband would have been an incredibly happy pair. They considered their three lovely children, Linda, Jane, and Helen, to be pearls. Helen's name had been shortened by Mr. Williams to Hele. Mr. Williams loved the way the name Hele sounded. She was her father's favorite since she often brought to mind his beloved late mother, with whom he had a close relationship while she was still alive. Despite this, the three ladies taken together did not constitute a son in their culture. The pottery lump contained only that one grain..

The lack of a male child in the household had begun to rob the couple of a great deal of tranquility. They had begun to be the subject of jokes.

Even their children's playmates have begun criticizing them for the blatant truth.

Their youngest child, Helen, was now seven years old. Mrs. Evelyn has been unable to become pregnant again since the birth of her daughter. That appeared to start the gradual pressure that would later show a potentially dangerous crack in their long-standing marriage.