10 CHAPTER EIGHT A TALE OF THE PAST 3

That was not what he was expecting to hear. "But don't, you think you should be thinking about getting married" Bibi scratched her threaded head "Well I haven't found a suitor yet" the Chief hummed and nodded his head "what kind of trade do you plan to do'' her face brightened. ''I plan to sell the vegetable growing in my father's compound" "very good then, I will help you set a stall" Bibi was beyond happy, she thanked the chief when she was done with her greetings, she decided to leave but collided with her brat friend at the entrance, she is the niece of the Chief's first wife. "finally" the girl said as she placed her hands on her waist fuming in anger, Bibi realized what she did and caught her tongue between her teeth "am sorry, I totally forgot" "no time for explanation let's go" she dragged Bibi the two of them headed into beautiful, peaceful village which filled with different plant, grasses, beautiful colourful flowers, fruits and trees, the huts are scattered around the village. "look who it is, Bibi the village beauty" she sneered at them, she proudly walked over to them. "well I have an announcement to make" "and what does it have to do with us" Adoebe threw her a vicious look at the young lady known as Adora "well Alawo asked for my hand in marriage, looks like the girl considered the flower of Uma have started to wither" she flashed them a taunting smile, Adoebe started laughing, she almost fell down she covered her mouth and looked at the twerp in front of her "really is that what you think" Adoebe continued laughing Adora looked confused "have started running mad or what" she said with a smog look on her face "OK I will tell you the truth, you see your Alawo asked Bibi for hand in marriage but she turned him down, ahhhh, that's why he turned to his second choice". Adora's eyes twitched, she dug her nails into her palm, "at least am not almost nineteen and still unmarried" she stumped her feet and left. Bibi held her friend's hand to comfort her "let's go" she said with a smile but her eyes shows that she was still in pain.

Fishes wriggled inside the large bowl and more were poured from the net and into the large bowl, a lot of the market women from the village and neighboring villages came to buy fishes, the place was crowded and noisy, children running and playing around with the smooth golden brown sand. Bibi and Adoebe made their way to an old-looking man, he was short, skinny, his skin was dry and his dark in skin complexion, Adoebe was just a bit lighter in complexion than her father, she is also short, has wide hips, big lips, she was not pretty like the other girls In the village. They stood in front of the man, who looked riled up "what took you so long" Adoebe didn't raise her head and kept staring at the sand, "bring the bowl that has a net in it" she quickly brought the bowl she opened the net and he turns the life fishes that are still wriggling as their life is about to end, she tied the net in the bowl containing the fishes. Ahhhhhhhh!, they heard people screaming. The man looked at the girl's panic visible on his face "Run", he shouted and the girls jolted back to reality, they started running. The Udos are here they heard someone shout and fear crept into them. Many women and men carried their children and started running, large scary looking men with a symbol of the sun drawn with white powder on their chest, they slashed the men they came across with their cutlass and they held the women captive, Adoebe and Bibi ran towards the village panting as fear ran through their body. The village warriors were alerted so they took their weapons and went in the direction of the river bank. Adoebe and Bibi were stopped by some Udo warriors, " Look what we have here" An ugly black man licked his lips he hungrily stared at them. Bibi felt irritated and tightly held Adoebe's hand who was shivering "let us go" Bibi demanded but the men laughed, how about we have some fun first.

MINI DRAMA

Belle stared at the endless abyss of nothingness,

Belle: I wonder how the queen is doing without me (she sobs)

The other mermaids were rejoicing although there was an empty large space, they were happy.

Belle: Ohi, if I ever find my way out of here I will come for you.

Ohi sneezed,

Ewatomi: are you ok

Ohi: yeah, I think someone is talking about me, well time to go back to training (he started gathering his energy the breeze started blowing Ewatomi was waiting to see the amazing thing he will do next. She was dumbfounded when she saw a small stone floating instead of the huge rock in his front, she sigh in disappointment, while Ohi slouched and fell on the floor breathing heavily.

Obatala was watching from above

Obatala: well humanity is surely doomed.