Who Fears Death

Things remain tense between Mwita and Onye. As they walk, Luyu privately demands that Onye tell her what’s going on so that she can share some of the burden. Onye reveals that her headaches are an effect of knowing how she dies—she feels the stones hitting her, “ghosts of the future” (187). She also tells her that the prophecy was wrong, and Luyu guesses that it is to be an Ewu woman instead, which “makes more sense now” (187).

Although the tension between Mwita and Onye persists, at night their physical needs outweigh their tension and their concern that she will become pregnant. They try to remain quiet but find it difficult to do so. Soon, the others grow frustrated at the way she and Mwita “flaunt” their ability to have sex, as the others are still unable to do so. “If you’ve mastered all this sorcery, why don’t you cure us,” Diti asks.

Before she can answer, a pack of wild animals charges toward them. Onye tells them to run, then gets Mwita. The animals ransack their camp, taking what they want, then depart. Onye observes that they’ve been working together like that for some time.