Where the Dead Brides Gather by Nuzo Onoh

Author:Nuzo Onoh
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781835410622
Publisher: Titan Books
Published: 2024-06-28T00:00:00+00:00

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Night-time was rapidly drawing close as we walked past lamp-lit houses and deserted, dusty paths. I could hear the noisy barks of dogs and the noisier scolding of mothers, coupled with the happy squeals of children inside the numerous compounds we passed. There was a cosiness to the sounds that filled me with yearning and I would have given anything just then to be back at Ibaja-La with my friends and their delicious foods.

“We’re almost home.” Papa’s quiet voice broke into my morose thoughts. “You’ll soon see your mother and siblings. They should be back from the wedding by now.” Instantly, my heart started to thud as sudden panic gripped me—What if they see me and scream and run away from me because of my eyes and speech? What if they all hate me, these people that are my own family? Oh my bad luck! If only I had a mirror so I could see my eyes and what it is about them that’s made my father and Dibia uneasy.

A deep soul-weariness descended on me. I inhaled deeply—Huh? I inhaled again, deeper, longer.

My heart exploded with joy, little slivers of bliss dousing my flesh in goosebumps—I recognise this smell! I know this place! I’m home! I’ve come back to my village! I remember everything! I quickly turned to look at the tall man holding tightly to my hand—Papa! It’s Papa!

“Papa! Papa!” I shouted his name, tugging his hand as I came to a sudden halt. “Papa! I remember! I remember everything now!” I beamed him a wide smile as I wrapped my arms around his waist. He gave me a startled look. Then his lips stretched in an uncertain smile.

“Akuabata, you’re happy that I’m taking you home now, yes?” he asked in his familiar deep voice, his eyes looking down at me with a nervous kind of affection.

Disappointment descended on me, shrouding my heart with dull resignation—He still doesn’t understand my speech! Papa still thinks I’m a ghost. Oh please, Big Momma Mmuọ-Ka-Mmuọ; please give me back my speech and my eyes. I don’t want to be a ghost when I meet Mama! Please let Mama love me; please let Ọla and Ada and Ejima and my cousins like me as before. Don’t let them run away from me… please…

“Papa…” As the word left my lips, an icy fist gripped my heart—Huh? What is this evil I hear?

For the first time, my ears opened themselves to human sounds and I finally heard what Papa and Dibia had heard, the chorus of voices that spoke the single word ‘Papa’. It sounded as if ten Ghost-Brides from the cursed realm spoke the word simultaneously from my lips in their different voices, some raging, some loud, some shrill, others hollow, just like an empty drum. I was speaking in Mmuọ-Ka-Mmuọ’s multiple voices. The sound filled me with sudden dread and when Papa looked askance at me, I shook my head and stayed silent, fighting the tightness behind my throat.

In that instant, I knew that I would never again open my mouth in speech till I recovered my human voice.

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