53 Okemmiri

Not long after, just before the sun appeared in the sky, Okemmiri arrived. He was well greeted by Ego even in her grief. Wasting no time, he told Ego he already knew the reason behind his summon and for them to speedily catch the thief, everyone residing in the compound must be made to drink from the Mmiri Ezioku.

In minutes, everyone queued up and a calabash decorated with a red cloth with the mixture of its content unknown to those about to drink from it was placed in front of the queue. One after the other they are to come and take a sip from the calabash. Once in front, Okemmiri inquires from the individual for the last time whether he or she was the one that tampered with Ego's bird and so far no one has fallen under the spell or said otherwise.

It continued like that until it got to the turn of Obinwa. He came forth, was asked the question by the Dibia and he responded "I have never entered the room, talk more of playing with a bird. I don't even know the room they are talking about". He then took a sip from the calabash like others and stood still with eyes shut tight like he was about to fall under something, but gradually he opened his eyes and walked away. Ego was disappointed, she had prayed it would be him, so it won't be Oluchukwu her friend. Two more persons drank from the calabash, nothing happened and finally, it was Oluchukwu's turn; she was the last person in the compound.

She was in front, the whole compound had their eyes pinned on her. "She certainly has to be the one" most people were whispering. They were all waiting with worry written on their faces. She came before Okemmiri; he asked her "Are you the one?"

"No great one, I am not" she replied.

Seeing her responses, Ego stepped in "Oluchukwu, you know I love you. Please, I am begging you just say the truth; I will forgive you and we will continue as nothing happened. It doesn't have to end like this. Remember there is no turning back once you drink that".

"Nda, you know I will do anything for you?" she asked staring at Ego who didn't respond as tears had gathered in her eyes. She just could not believe that she would rather die than tell the truth. She asked again "You know I will do anything for you right?" this time she nodded as the hot tears stream down her cheeks; she is about to lose one of the only true friends she has since Nnanna left.

"It is enough!" Okemmiri yelled. "She is claiming to be innocent but we can't take her words for it, she must drink to prove herself innocent," he said offering her the calabash to drink from. With trembling hands and streams of tears, she took it from him and took a sip from it. Before she could give back the calabash she staggered that the Dibia had to lend a helping hand as she held her stomach with her other hand; pain evident in her face. Most people shouted "Ewoo!" Some saying among them "She is the one oh". "I can't believe Oluchukwu of all people would do such a thing" Akidi who had already gone through the test was telling people around him. "Didn't I tell you, people, there is something off about that girl. I warned Ego but she didn't heed my advice. Now see what it has cost her".

He would have kept blabbing if not for the thundering "Keep quiet!" from Okemmiri. For some strange reasons best known to him, he doesn't seem surprised. It is now obvious she is innocent as she stood back gallant. Ego stormed out "But it can't be possible. Someone here tampered with my bird".

"I never said we are done" he responded.

"But everyone in the compound has taken the test?"

"Who said everyone has?" He said with a weird smile.

"How do you mean?" she asked looking confused.

"Well, that young man behind you hasn't taken a sip," he said softly while pointing his index finger at Ndubisi.

Ego was shocked "That's my …" she just could not find the right word, so she continued "He can't do that to me".

"Then he wouldn't find it difficult," he said still smiling.

"No, he can't. I don't want him to. It doesn't feel right. It feels like I'm betraying his trust" she cried out.

Ndubisi stepped in, asked her not to worry that he would take the oath to prove her right about him. "Let's begin" he arrogantly referred to the wise one.

Okemmiri wasted no time in offering him the concoction. He took a sip, the squeeze on his face showed it was not tasty. He stood still with eyes closed for a moment and then began staggering. Everyone present was watching with keen interest, expecting him to start confessing the next moment when suddenly he burst into serious loud laughter. Everyone was greatly pained by his attitude, no one found it funny not even Ego. When he was done laughing, he asked Okemmiri "Are you satisfied?"

For the first time since he arrived at the compound, there was confusion on his face. He just couldn't believe it. The gods can't be wrong, they have never been. Immediately he stepped into the compound they revealed to him the problem and told him the culprit was among them. Something is wrong somewhere. If he does not fish out the culprit right away, it would certainly ruin his reputation as one of the greatest Dibia the face of the earth has seen.