Chapter 7 -Wembu

It was dark already but Odunze's companions continued to chatter. They sat together in his tent in the midst of his earthen palace. There was a calabash of the best palm wine placed in their midst. While they chattered uncontrollably, Odunze felt extremely uncomfortable like he was coming down with something.
Anayo just kept laughing at anything. Then there was 'Wembu', (That was what he was called) the white slave dealer and his interpreter. Anayo was so busy trying to impress the white man that he didn't notice Odunze struggling with a terrible migraine. The pain made it impossible for Odunze to hear anything. The interpreter, 'Ari' was having a hard time keeping up with the translations but Anayo didn't even care.
Odunze tried to fix his eyes on one of the oil lamps on the four corners of the tent. He had always been secretive but the guards had gone home so he didn't have to worry about anyone gossiping about the meeting. As for the slave trade, for him, the juice was no longer worth the squeeze. He had lost too much to get into the slave trade business. His two brothers, his peace of mind and now the presence of this white man was making him come down with something.
" ....we will find her soon. How fast can she be? Very beautiful I tell you" said Anayo referring to Nkoli. Nkoli had escaped in the midst of the turmoil of Umukabia, leaving Oke behind.
" Our men are fast like lightening." He boasted but when he noticed the discomfort on Odunze's face, he stopped. He observed that Odunze hadn't spoken a single word throughout the meeting.
" Ari where are you from? You are one of us and you speak like a true son of the soil" He asked trying to change the discussion.
" I am from Umuofia" Ari replied with a grin. Anayo chuckled " That is really far!" he remarked. There was a silent tension in the tent. Wembu was feeling a bit uneasy. Anayo told Ari to inform Wembu that they were pursuing a very beautiful maiden to sell. Ari did. Wembu just smiled in courtsey. He seemed bored. Only Anayo and Ari seemed to be enjoying themselves. Then he took his whip and started playing around with it.
Odunze shut his eyes. A sharp pain rocked his head everytime he heard the sound of that whip. It was the second time he would meet a white man but he was disappointed to see that the man was no god and his skin was not white. It was reddish. Odunze told Anayo to ask the man to stop in a very low voice.
" Eh?What did you say? I can't hear you clearly" Anayo asked.
"Stop it" Odunze whispered. Anayo still didn't hear. Odunze stood abruptly with the rage of a mad dog on his face. He jumped on Wembu grabbed his neck and threw him on the floor. Ari and Anayo tried to restrain him but were too slow for him. He then grabbed a stone and cracked the man's head with three knocks. Ari took to his heels as the blood spattered everywhere. Anayo just stood there in shock.
" Odunze Noooo!" He screamed as Odunze stood...