Chapter 20 twenty

Seven years is a long time to be away from one's own clan.A man's position is not always there waiting for him.Once he leaves, someone else rises up to fill his place.A clan is like a lizard.If the original tail is broken, it will grow another tail immediately. Okonkwo knew all this.He knew that he had lost his place as one of the nine ancestral spirits enforcing the clan's laws, the chance to lead his warrior clan against the new religion.He was told that the power of this new religion had taken hold.He also lost seven years that would have allowed him to take the highest title in the clan.However, some losses are not irreparable.He made up his mind to make his return visible.He will return to his hometown with a flamboyant attitude to make up for the wasted seven years.

During his first year in exile, he had already begun to formulate plans for his return.The first thing he did was rebuild his yard, and on a grander scale.He was going to build a bigger storehouse, and he was going to build a hut for each of his two new wives.Then the title of Ozo was to be taken for his son to show his wealth.Only those who are truly capable in the clan can do this.He saw clearly how he would be revered, how he would take the highest titles of his native land. Year after year of exile passed, and it seemed to him that his patron saint was making up for his past misfortunes.His cassava crops are abundant every year, not only in his mother's hometown, but also in Umm Ofia, where his friends rent out to tenants to plant on his behalf.

Then came the tragedy of his eldest son.At first, the incident hit him too hard, but the spirit was resilient, and Okonkwo finally overcame his pain.He also has five sons whom he will raise in the traditional spirit of the clan. He sent for his five sons, and they sat down in his main room.The youngest of them was only four years old. You all saw the most shameful behavior of your brother.He is no longer my son, nor is he your brother.I only have a son like this: a manly man who can hold his head high among our people.If any of you wants to be a woman, walk Nwoye's way while I'm alive, and I can curse you.If you betray me after my death, then I will come to you and break your necks.

Fortunately, Okonkwo's daughters are very up-to-date.Ekinma was not a boy, he always regretted it.Of all his children, only she understood his temper best.Year after year, the bond between father and daughter grows stronger. Ekinma grew up during his father's exile and became one of the most beautiful girls in Nbunta.She was called Crystal Beautiful, as her mother had been in her youth.The weak and sickly little girl who had caused her mother heartache and pain was transformed almost overnight into a healthy and lively young girl.Of course, she had moments of melancholy, when she was like a dog in a tantrum and bit everyone.The mood came suddenly, for no apparent reason.But this bad mood is rare and short-lived.At such times she had no patience with anyone but her father.Many young men and wealthy middle-aged men in Nbunta proposed to her, but she refused.Because his father called her to her one night and said to her: There are many good and accomplished people here, but I would like you to wait until we go back to Umm Ophelia before you get married.

That's what her father said.But the hidden meaning behind these words, Ekinma is very clear.She agreed. Your sister Obi Arjiri won't understand me, Okonkwo said, you can explain it to her. Although they were around the same age, Ekinma had a great influence on her younger sister.She explained to Obi Ajiri why they should not get married yet, and Obi Ajiri agreed.Both of them rejected all marriage proposals from the Embunta people. I really wish she was a boy.Okonkwo thought to himself.She is so sensible.Among his children, who else could understand his mind so clearly?With two beautiful grown daughters, he will attract much attention when he returns to Umm Ofiah.His future son-in-law will be an authoritative man in the clan.Those who are poor and nameless dare not come.

During Okonkwo's seven years in exile, Umm Ofia had indeed changed a lot.The church came here and led many astray.Not only ordinary people and untouchables of humble birth, but also some people of good standing attended the church.Ogbu Effie.Ugonna is such a man, he has won two titles, but like a madman, he throws away the anklet that marks the title and believes in Christianity.The white missionaries were proud of him.He was one of the first to take part in the Eucharist of Umm Ofia; in Igbo parlance, called the Holy Feast.Ogbu Effie.Ugonna thought that this kind of banquet was just eating and drinking, which was a little more sacred than the singing and dancing banquet in the village, so he put the animal horn cup for drinking in a sheepskin bag when he went there.

In addition to the church, the white man brought a government.They set up a tribunal to try various cases under an ignorant magistrate.He assigned a number of court officials to be in charge of bringing people to him for trial.Many of the messengers came from Umru along the great river, where the whites first arrived many years ago and established their religious, commercial and administrative center.The Umuofia hated these out-of-town, rude and unreasonable servants so much that they called them Kotma, and they also nicknamed them Gray Butts because they wore gray shorts.The prisons they guarded were filled with violators of the white man's law, either for throwing away twins, or for hindering Christians.Prisoners were beaten by Kotma in the prison, and they were forced to work every morning, cleaning government buildings and collecting firewood for the white administrator and court servants.Some prisoners have titles, and they should not have done such a low thing; this insult pains them.They mourn over the deserted fields.When they mowed the grass in the morning, the young man swung his machete and sang:

Grey-bottomed Kotma, he deserves nothing more than a slave. The white man has no brains, he is only worthy of being a slave. Court clerks who didn't like to be called Gray Butts beat these guys, but the song went all over Umm Ofiah. Okonkwo listened to Obierika's story and bowed his head in grief and indignation. Maybe I've been away too long, Okonkwo seemed to be talking to himself, but I don't understand the things you're telling me.What is it with our people?Why did they lose their strength to fight? Haven't you heard how the whites wiped out Abam?asked Obierika.

I've heard it, said Okonkwo, but I've also heard about the weakness and stupidity of the Abam people.Why didn't they resist?Don't they have guns?It would be too cowardly for us to compare ourselves with the Abamites.Their fathers never dared to stand before our ancestors.We must fight these people and drive them out. It was too late, Obierica said sadly, our own, our son, had joined the stranger.They embraced his religion and helped establish his government.If we just wanted to drive away the white people who came to Umm Ofia, that would be easy.They are just two people.But what about our own people who follow them and have gained power?They will go to Umru and bring soldiers, then we will be like Abam.He paused for a long time, then said: Last time I was in Embunta, I told you how they hanged Anaido.

What happened to the land where the dispute arose?Okonkwo asked. The white man's court awarded the land to the Ennama family, who gave a lot of money to the white man's messengers and interpreters. Do white people understand our customs in dealing with land issues? He can't even speak our words, how can he understand?But he says our customs are bad, and our own brethren who have adopted his religion say our customs are bad.Our own brothers have betrayed us, how can we fight, you think?White people are cunning.He came with his religion, quietly and pleasingly.We just thought he was ridiculously ignorant and let him stay.Now that he has won our brothers, our clan can no longer act as one.He's cut through what unites us, and we've fallen apart.

How did they capture Anida and hang him?Okonkwo asked. After he hacked Aldushe to death in order to fight for the land, he fled to Aninta to avoid the wrath of the Earth Mother.It was eight days after the incident, because Aldusher did not succumb to his injuries immediately.He did not die until the seventh day.But everyone knew that he was going to die sooner or later, so Anaido packed his things and was ready to run away at any time.But Christian told the white man about it.He sent Cotema to arrest Anetto and imprison him with the leaders of his family.Finally, Aldushe finally died, and Anetuo was taken to Umru and hanged.Others were released, but until now, no one has been able to tell what happened to them.Afterwards, the two sat for a long time in relative silence.