Chapter three

Oliver's mother was a childhood friend of Mrs. Evelyn's who married into the same kindred family as Evelyn's husband. Mrs. Evelyn used to tease her by calling her by her full first name, Catharine. She was the ninth and final child of her parents. When they were newly married, they spent precious time together and confided in one another. Back then, they didn't understand how men behaved as husbands. Even so, they did find a brief moment to catch up on each other's most recent learnings as they traveled together to the Nkwo-Itanga. How frequently women made light fun of their husbands back then.

Cathy was seated beside the mango tree. Three white ants that were bothering her had just been dispatched. From the mango tree's leaves, the poor ants had fallen. She was fond of sitting under that specific mango tree. From there, she could easily spy on guests as they came closer, even though they were some ways away. She could also see her husband approaching their homestead at the peak of the hill from that location.

She noticed an approaching figure in the distance and correctly identified it as Mrs. Evelyn as she waited for her husband, who had gone to consult a herbalist. Her movements still gave away that she was a young spinster dancer. She possessed poise.

Even though she appeared to be in a rush, it was clear that she was still practicing a long-forgotten technique.

Catharine was getting ready for a nice gossip when she was shocked to see Evelyn's unkempt appearance. Catharine was worried by the way Mrs. Evelyn appeared to be a shadow of herself. Evelyn didn't typically leave the house with her hair in a messy bun. She anticipated the worst.

She didn't wait for Mrs. Evelyn to calm down before she started asking questions.

Is everything okay, my love? How are the members of your family doing? She reached for anything she could recall or had a suspicion about. She just kept talking until Mrs. Evelyn cut her off.

"Cathrine, my dear friend, as my very dear friend, I have come to ask your assistance."

She told her pal about her current problems without any further ado.

"It took you a while after you married Mr. Gibson before you became pregnant. If I remember correctly, you sought out a tough witch doctor who paved the way for you. Now I have to get pregnant as soon as I can with a boy. Mr. Williams, my husband, has broken under the strain of not having a son.

That is all I have to say at this time," she said succinctly. Despite having her eyes fixed on the wall designs, she was not paying attention to them. She was trapped in a nightmare of mental anguish.

Is that it?" Is it the reason you appear to have seen a ghost? Is it the reason your wrapper is tied incorrectly? Is there a compelling reason for you to see me at this hour and endanger your life? If Mrs. Evelyn hadn't interrupted, she could have proceeded.

"Catharine, save me from your lesson on kindness. I could care less. Are you prepared to assist me or not? She had undoubtedly reached the end of the line.

Are you certain you want to travel in this direction? Catharine asked her a question.

And what does that imply? Ms. Evelyn enquired.

Are you sure you want to go in this direction? Catharine repeated her question.

I don't get where you're coming from, Catherine.

Finally, Mrs. Evelyn ran out of tolerance.

"My wonderful buddy, all that glitters is not gold, even when the route looks alluring and promises rapid ease. She made a fairly enigmatic revelation to her obstinately steadfast buddy, who was willing to bear or endure anything rather than continue to be male-childless: "There is more to it than meets the eye.

"My dear friend Mrs. Evelyn, everything worth having comes at a cost.

Everything, trust me," she said somberly. Mrs. Evelyn either missed the melancholy in her voice or likely decided to ignore it. She could have spared herself a lifetime of unnecessary suffering if she had.

Catharine shook her head and said, "Everything worth having has a price," multiple times. The proverbial fly that becomes trapped in the coffin because it did not trust the good intentions of those who constantly chase it away from the dead is a good example of how destiny overpriced something for us when we had to have it at any cost.

My dear buddy, anguish and final heart heaviness are the price destiny exacts from those who insist on getting their way. She took a quick glimpse at Mrs. Evelyn, who appeared to be listening intently to everything she said.

"Everything we so desperately desire in life comes with a high price. For what they offer, some items cost more money.

Many people nowadays possess a wide variety of possessions, yet they seldom ever disclose the costs associated with obtaining these goods. To see if she could spot any signs of uncertainty, she turned her attention to Mrs. Evelyn. The sight stunned her. She was confronted by a deadpan expression that was prepared to pay any price.

Although Catharine wanted to confide in her, something inside told her not to just yet. And in this way, they decided to leave on a specific day to take care of that annoying issue.

It had just past midnight. On the bank of the Ugbo River, Mrs. Evelyn, Catharine, her friend, and the chief priest—the most well-known witch doctor in that area—were present. The movement was slow and soft. Every time Mrs. Evelyn noticed ripples, she pondered whether the river goddess was trying to surface. She had heard a great deal about the goddess and her generosity to childless people.

The chief priest carried an unpleasant sour with him throughout the day and sported a flowing blood-red garment. He carried a raffia bag that appeared to have been neglected for many years. Strange items rattled inside of it. Some of the noises seemed like living things trying to get away. Evelyn was particularly drawn to one sound since it appeared to be the sound of something metallic.

The chief priest knelt and appeared to be listening to an earthly voice.

He then swiftly emptied his raffia bag onto the ground on the river's edge. Then, to be sure that the bag had been empty of all items inside, he removed the inside pouch and shook it.

Only seven items, much to Mrs. Evelyn's surprise, came tumbling out of the suddenly empty bag. They included a chewing stick, four cowries, an alligator pepper pod, and a piece of white calico fabric. The metallic sound she was certain she had heard earlier could not have been coming from the bag. She was perplexed by the metallic noise and wondered where it was coming from. She was positive that the noise coming from inside the bag was that of a terrified day-old chick. She was considering these when she suddenly noticed the empty, lifeless raffia bag moving in an odd, bizarre manner. The empty raffia bag appeared to be wriggling in a snake-like manner. Her entire face was covered in an unseen mask of horror.

She was very shaken and clung to Catharine closely.

She was disregarded by the chief priest. He was busily mumbling some phrases that the two women had no chance of understanding. On random occasions, he would chuckle and smile while occasionally nodding to no one in particular. It was all strange. Even his voice had a sinister quality to it. Mrs. Evelyn was now utterly terrified.

"'Oliver's mother, you wait for us here,"

The chief priest addressed Catherine. He appeared to have changed into a stranger at that precise instant. He had mysteriously transformed into a different creature.

He nonchalantly told Catharine matter-of-factly, "We will go into the river; I and Linda's mother."

Mrs. Evelyn feared the worst. She cast a terrified gaze his way and questioned whether he was human after all. She was convinced he had turned into a ghost for all the right reasons. She also thought about the notion that the chief priest might have been a ghost who had mixed with people to trick them into listening to his advice.

She did not budge from where she was standing since she was lost in thinking.

She suddenly snapped out of her reverie when she heard the chief priest continuing to speak. His voice was now preternatural at this point.

He gripped Mrs. Evelyn's hand like a vice and said, "You need to take your purification bath," before stepping into the river.

Mrs. Evelyn was the most terrified person living at that very time. Mrs. Evelyn Meets the River-Goddess also describes a rough drop into the river. She only just started to understand what Catharine had been trying so hard to express to her. She recalled what she had said:

"Everything we so desperately desire in life comes with a high price. For what they offer, some items cost more money.