Chapter Four

Egwuatu fully prepared by Nwa Akpuda, took a last gulp from the mixture of anunuebe root in a small  earthen pot and set out in pursuit of Gustavo. As he made his way through dense forests and across vast plains, he encountered Okoro Egbe, a renowned hunter known for his sharp instincts and unmatched skill. One of the first to own a gun in the whole of Ọdịda Anyanwụ. However, Okoro Egbe was marked for death by the fearsome Agbai Ikenga, following an altercation that took the life of a head hunter. 

Egwuatu, with his imposing frame and resolute eyes, warned him of the impending danger and persuaded him to join the quest. Moved by the nobility and urgency of the mission, Okoro Egbe agreed, his eyes glinting with a newfound determination.

Their journey brought them to a bustling marketplace in the heart of Ịkọrọ Ekpe, where they sought out provisions. Among the throngs of people, they encountered Uko Kamalu, a formidable mercenary warrior. With his broad shoulders, scarred face, and fierce gaze, Uko was initially reluctant to join them. Known for his disdain of head hunters, he was a man of few words but immense strength. Despite his mercenary nature, he was moved by Egwuatu’s passion and integrity. After a brief, intense negotiation, Uko Kamalu agreed to lend his strength to the mission, his resolve hardening as he recognized the greater good in their cause.

Together, they navigated treacherous paths, dense with foliage and teeming with hidden dangers. Their journey led them to Usaka, a small yet vibrant village known for its famous palm wine market. Egwuatu decided to rest and refresh himself with a drink. The market was alive with the sounds of laughter and the clinking of calabashes, a brief respite from their arduous journey.

As Egwuatu and his companions sat beneath a sprawling palm tree, savoring the sweet, potent palm wine, they noticed a disheveled figure staggering towards them. It was Ogwo, his clothes torn and his face etched with exhaustion. He had been tirelessly chasing Gustavo and his daughter, driven by a desperation that mirrored their own. Ogwo’s eyes lit up with a flicker of hope upon seeing Egwuatu and his formidable companions. 

Through labored breaths, he explained his plight. Gustavo had taken his daughter, and he was willing to do anything to save her. The group, now bound by a shared purpose, vowed to bring back Gustavo's head and that of his men. They hoped this would appease Agbai Ikenga and plead for the lives of Ogwo and Ulari.

The resolve in their eyes was unwavering as they prepared for the final leg of their perilous journey, united by a common cause and a deep-seated determination to see justice served.

Okoro Egbe made a fire to roast a rodent he had caught for supper. As the flames danced in the night, casting flickering shadows on their faces, Egwuatu and his companions sat in a circle, sharing their tales of survival and enmity. The air was thick with tension and the smell of burning wood and flesh, and the name Agbai Ikenga hung heavily in the air, a common enemy that united them all.

To be cont'd