43 Ndu Nkita (1/2)

”That's great to know, really impressing. Someone made yam porridge from the yams the gods kept throwing at him. Someone has made something out of the little that this forest has provided him”.

”Nda! Sorry to interrupt you, but one of the men found this beside the hut” Onumara said presenting Ego with a little stem that contained some green leaves. She took a good look at this strange stem that was supposed to mean something but nothing came to mind.

”What has this got to do with the disappearance of the old lady? She asked looking surprised and pointing at the stem.

”Did you in any time come in contact with it?” Onumara asked.

”You really expect me to remember that?”

Onumara nodded to symbolize a yes.

”Well, I don't remember. Is it dangerous?” she responded.

”This plant has been responsible for keeping people lost for hours, sometimes even days without them being able to locate their way home. If one comes in contact with it, it causes delusion. Making them see things and people that are not really there. It can make one hallucinate for days and sometimes just hours; it has a different range of effect on individuals. If they are not found by other people and resuscitated by screaming out the person's name. It could lead to severe accidents, sickness, and starvation which can result in untimely death” Onumara explained.

”My fathers!” She exclaimed, ”That means this is the Ndu Nkita?”

”Yes, it is. So you have heard of it before? Onumara asked.

”Of course, I have but I am not familiar with it. Have not even seen it before” She said.

”So you didn't touch any plant like this on your way into the forest that particular day? Ndubisi asked making his first contribution.

”How am I to remember that? It is like asking someone who just emerged from a stream to point at the fish that beat him on the buttocks”. She replied to him with a weak smile.

”It is not like that, everyone I have seen that came in contact with the leaf remembered when they touched it and how. You can't be an exception. So slowly in your head, examine your journey right from when you entered the

forest to when you met the said old woman. I'm sure you will recall something” Onumara advised.

She took a deep breath, driving out the growing tension. Then slowly took a walk down the memory lane in search of when she probably touched the said leaf that Onumara was dangling in front of her. After a couple of seconds, it all came hitting her like rushing wind.

”Oh, I can remember” she shouted, hesitated then continued ”I first came in contact with the leaf when I found Nti Ngbada. It was there beside it. I must have accidentally touched it when plucking the other leaf. It was after I touched it that I began hearing footsteps behind me which turned out to be a dog”.