The Marine Power
6 Chapter 6: The Marine Power
"She's pregnant. I'd like to lock her womb so she won't give birth until three years from now."
"Your wish shall be granted," said the great one.
The great one swam to a small house built beside them and returned with a padlock and its keys.
"Come and take the padlock from my hand," she instructed.
Mrs. Gillo collected the padlock and returned to her position.
"This padlock represents the womb of the person you saw in the mirror. You can lock her womb now," the great one explained.
Mrs. Gillo held the padlock and declared, "I lock up the womb Angelina today for the next three years, So shall it be." Then She locked the padlock instantly.
All the mermaids proclaimed together, "By the power and authority of the marine, your wish is granted." And they all laughed together.
Mrs. Gillo then threw away the padlock and the key in her hand.
********
Three months after Mr. Gillo had thrown his wife out of the house, his work had become dull.
He couldn't find any customers to call him for work. He had been borrowing money to feed himself and his child at home for the past three months.
Mr. Gillo thought about possible solutions to his problem and decided to consult a native doctor.
When he arrived, he explained his situation to the man, who then consulted the oracle.
"Where is your wife?" the native doctor asked.
"I chased her out because she cheated on me," Mr. Gillo replied.
"Well, the oracle said that if you want things to improve, you must call your wife back home and apologize to her."
"You mean I should apologize to her?"
"Yes, do as I instructed you and everything will change for better.
"Okay, thanks so much," Mr. Gillo said and left.
On his way home, he tried calling his wife, but her phone was unreachable.
He tried again when he arrived home, but she didn't pick it. Over the next three days, he repeatedly dialed her number, but she never picked up.
On the third day, in the afternoon, he used another person's number to call her number, and she finally reached for it
"Hello," she said.
"Hello, good afternoon," he greeted.
"Good afternoon."
"I've been trying to reach you for the past three days, but you haven't picked up."
She Recognized her husband's voice.
"Yes, what do you want from me? You chased me out of the house because of my client who I was discussing business with at the hotel, and now you're calling me?" She asked and hung up the phone.
Mr. Gillo tried her number again, and this time, she answered.
"Hello, please don't be angry with me. I realize my mistake in not listening to you. I'm sorry for chasing you out. I want you to come back home."
"Home? You want me to come back home?" she asked in surprise. Sorry It's too late. I've decided go with someone else."
"Please don't do that. I'm sorry."
"You're sorry? I never thought you'd do that to me. You left me hanging, when I should've been home taking care of my child. You've done the worst thing you shouldn't have."
"Yes, I know. Please come back. I'm sorry for what I did. Forgive me."
"Alright. For the sake of my child, I'll come back home."
"Thank you. I'm expecting you."
"Okay, bye."
Later that evening, around 8:00 PM, Mrs. Gillo arrived home with her luggage. She found her husband in the sitting room.
As soon as she entered, her husband received a notification for a three million naira deposit. His phone rang after checking the notification and he reached for it.
"Hello, I've sent you the money we agreed upon. As you mentioned, the work will take two weeks, and I don't want to be disappointed."
"Okay, sir. I'll go buy materials and start the work tomorrow."
"Alright, bye." He hung up his phone.
"Wow, thank God. Welcome home, my wife." He said as he helped her with her luggage and brought it to their room.
Mrs. Gillo followed him.
"Who called you?" she asked.
"It was a client who just gave me a contract."
"Really?"
"Yes. Tomorrow, I'll send you one hundred thousand naira. Use eighty thousand naira to buy foodstuffs at the market."
"Okay."
"You can use the remaining twenty thousand naira to buy anything you like."
"Thank you. I'm really grateful."
"You're welcome."
****
In the middle of the night, around 3:00 AM, Mrs. Gillo woke up and got out of bed.
She instantly transformed into a mermaid and disappeared into the ocean.
She found other mermaids in the ocean, who welcomed her.
They were waiting for only two more mermaids for their meeting.
After a brief wait, the remaining two mermaids appeared among them.
The great one sat on a high chair, and the others surrounded her.
They began the meeting with singing and dancing. A magic drum in their midst played a rhythmic beat as if someone were hitting it.
After the songs, they honored their gods and the great one. Then, the great one asked, "Does anyone have something to share?"
Mrs. Gillo raised her hand and was given permission to speak.
"My husband has called me back home and apologized. And He has received a significant contract for his business. I want to thank the great one for making this contract possible. He was even fed up with being alone."
"As you've returned, I see more blessings coming. But When he chased you out, an agent of poverty came in," the great one said.
"Yes, he told me he hadn't received any contracts since I left, but now he's found favor," Mrs. Gillo confirmed.
"Let's thank the Almighty for empowering us. Now, is there anyone else with something to say?" the great one asked.
No one responded, and the meeting came to an end.
*******
Ten months after Angelina became pregnant, Mr. Jack noticed that she should have given birth by now.
They discussed the issue and decided to visit a hospital for a checkup.
The next morning, they went to the hospital. And he Doctor attended to them he said that Angelina needed an operation, costing five hundred thousand naira.
They left the hospital with anxiety, thinking on how they would get the money for the operation.
As twelve months passed, Angelina's pregnancy continued, causing them further distress.
A friend suggested visiting a native doctor for a solution.
They agreed and were taken to the native doctor.
And the native doctor consulted the oracle and he informed them that a sacrifice to the gods was needed, specifically a ram.
Mr. Jack obtained a ram, presented it for sacrifice, and followed the native doctor's instructions to take the sacrifice to a roundabout area.
The native doctor advised them to remain patient, assuring them that Angelina would soon give birth to a baby girl.
They believed in his words, andnwent home.
Two weeks later, they were invited to a church revival. And they went to the program.
During the prayer session, the prophet that was leading the prayer asked Mr. Jack and Angelina to see him after the service.
At the end of the service, Mr. Jack and his wife went to meet the Prophet in the church office.
The prophet asked them to sat down and they sitted in front of the prophet.
And the Prophet asked her, "woman, How many months were you in pregnancy."
"it had been over a year."
"I saw that they have bond your womb." the Prophet said and urged Angelina to recall any woman she might have offended.
Angelina remembered her actions against Mrs. Gillo and informed the prophet.
And He advised her to seek forgiveness.
"Thank you so much sir, I will go to her tomorrow and asked for forgiveness."
"Alright, may the Lord touch her heart."
"Amen." They said together.
The prophet prayed for them and after the prayer they left.
The next day, Angelina attempted to visit Mrs. Gillo but when she got to their compound she discovered that she had moved, with no one knowing her new location.