Chapter one

Ereama is one of the villages of Ebediotu clan. Going down the river Opoma, one would see Ereama, a village known for its fishing industry. It is located on the left hand side of Opoma if one is going to the Atlantic Ocean from the famous oil city Adoke near the ancient city of Agge.

Ereama has three quarters- Osamabiri, Arobiri and Ngbelebiri. The most popular and traditional of these three quarters is Ngbelebiri. Ngbelebiri is the home of strong men, the home of men of wealth, culture and traditions; the home of people who always stand against intimidation and oppression from strong villages like Adora.

These men of tradition are also the ones that protect Ereama from the vile activities of pirates and other criminals who keep the nearby villagers often awake in thick dark night. Ereyei could not sleep. His eyes were as the shining stars, his nerves, especially those of the forehead were visibly out as though they were marine ropes. He was restless and could not even mention a word to his wife, Ebiotu who was fast asleep. But when she suddenly woke up because of the wailing of a woman that broke the deep silence of the night, she could not see Ereyei, her well carved handsome husband "Daddy,! Daddy! She screamed. "Daddy,! Daddy' she screamed again. Ereyei did not answer. Smartly she got up. The house was in darkness, as the generator had been put off She managed to reach for matches and lit the hurricane lantern. Then she searched for Ereyei. "Where is this man? What is happening? Where has he gone this dark night?" She questioned curiously and quietly. She went into all the bedrooms. He was not in any.

Ereyei'shouse was a big house of five rooms. He was a man of comfort. In Ngbelebiri quarters, Ereyei's house was located by the water front which was lined with beautiful evergreen indian almond trees. Just by the trees, there was a rest-house in which Ereyei and his teachers sometimes, in very hot sultry days, rested for jokes, gossips and arguments occasioned by lavish drinking of beer and hot drinks. Ebiotu remembered that the rest house was a spot for her self-sufficient, happy, easy going husband.

She shook the main door of the house. Surprisingly, it was not locked. "Where will this mango?" She whispered and her heart panted. With the hurricane lantern in her hand, she moved out swiftly like a shooting star. While she was hurrying to the rest house, she felt the thick darkness of the night; she felt the wailing voice; she felt the twinkling fire -flies and an ominous atmosphere enveloped her. Her heart throbbed, her head ached, her legs were swift, but heavy "what has happened to this man?" she wailed inwardly. When finally she got to the rest- house, there was a being snoring with face down, looking like a gigantic hippopotamus. Courageously, she climbed, the steps and raised the lantern with trembling hands to see the intimidating object. It was Ereyei her husband, her only one, her heart, her body, her soul. "Daddy, daddy." She yelled shaking him violently. "Daddy what is the matter?" "Did you drink?" "Daddy why? Daddy why?" she shouted, visibly crying sobbing with trembling voice.

Sluggishly he got up; his eyes were heavy; the whole of his body was shaking; his breath was fast and he could not utter a word. Suddenly he opened his mouth and yawned wildly. Then he called her: "my lady, my Ebiotu don't worry" he calmed her nerves. "I am alive; very much alive" I forgot myself, my senses, and gradually I drifted into a deep sleep. I'll tell you something much later, my lady"