Shadow dove

ere by their young so

others stood except

es on the few stands

th logs on f

t there yet and the d

ont of the huge circle

s the big and ancient

good children lived in

ys young women who d

under i

s and they were arran

n basket. Three men b

from one drum to

the spirit

pt order on these oc

emselves and with t

re still outside the ci

oung men carrying pal

rowd back by beating

were stubborn, th

danced into the circ

ums rose to a frenz

n who kept order flew

en nodded to the b

en they wrestled to it

boys of fifteen or si

ch team. They were no

ene. Within a short ti

ird created a big sen

ally show their excite

icker. But very fewpeople had ever seen th

ne of them did someth

d been as quick as a f

The crowd roared and c

d drums. Okonkwo sp

ain. Three young me

rd, carried him shou

g crowd. Everybody

as Maduka, the

for a brief rest be

th sweat, and they to

lso drank water from s

rdinary human being

elves and with other

en stretched taut wit

ter had been poured on

ked around, perhaps f

stood or sat

as you," Ekwefi said

oulder with her sinc

tc

said the woman. "I h

. Is it true that Oko

his

dear friend. I cannot

tell th

h awake, my friend. A

in

ll for some time now.

nk she has. How

bout ten

. They usually stay if

ge of

s," said Ekwefi

she talked was calle

the Oracle of the H

was a widow with two

and they shared a com

fond of Ekwefi's on

aughter." Quite often

e to take home to E

ife would hardly bel

d when the spirit of

their sticks and the

e a tight

anged facing each ot

om one team danced ac

ted at whomever he

center together a

n on each side and t

. Two judges walked a

y were equally matche

way. But the really

. The huge voice of t

irection. It was even

was between the leader

lers in all the nine

hrow the other this

hers said he was not t

had thrown the other

st to go on longer th

d one saw the other's

pen again

proaching when thei

he crowds also. They

d into the circle.

n keeping

ght hand. Okafo seized

. Ikezue strove to dig

im backwards in the cl

her was thinking. Th

e drummers, whose f

odied sound but the

op

ow almost still in e

and their thighs and o

ed like an equal matc

ward to separate t

quickly on one knee i

er his head. It was

of Amadiora, Okafo ra

al's head. The crowd

off his feet by his

They sang his praise

d thei

e?Okafo will wrestle for our vil

undred men. Has he t

ndred Cats. Then send

s