Ojongtambia and Eposi immediately made for the bushes, leaving behind their gear. Ewohna had warned that it would slow them down. He had said it was already too late. “Run straight, keep below the trees till you cross the Kaja stream. Don’t stop for anything or anyone. Not even me.” It was then that the girls understood that Ewohna meant to sacrifice himself for them.
He must have realized that even if he escaped, he would be unable to live with himself. Despite what the Ejele had said, he still blamed himself for the death of his family members. …show more content…
He gathered a handful of dust and rubbed it carelessly against is bleeding chest. He cried. He tried to stand up. But the guard smashed him on his back. The guard raised his blade, it caught a blinding lustre from the rising sun, and he aimed another swing at the crawling Ewohna who quickly turned around with a parry. Their blades clashed. Ewohna kicked him in the groin.
He fell back. Regaining his balance, he picked the machete of his fallen comrade. He plunged forward. Ewohna jumped to his feet and the guard’s blades met the ground.
Ewohna left a gash on the guard’s arm. He turned furiously and slashed at Ewohna’s chest—again. Another slash poured blood from his chest. The boy felt his strength leaving him, his life leaving him.
Memory haunted him. He had failed. Images seared his mind like hot iron—images of his papa, his mama, Agda, Banda, Suru, Arrey and Egbe. Images of their deaths. He dropped to the ground. His heart failing him. Telling him there was nothing left to live for. Telling him, to die.
He crept on his elbows to the hut. Toward a calabash. He grabbed it, as if to drink. The guard loomed over. He held his blades aloft.
At that moment, Ewohna remembered what papa used to say about the content of the calabash, “Don’t expose it to the sun. It is fire oil and will burn you.” He smiled at the