Summary

Chapter Eighteen. “After a long period of silent preparation,” narration comments, “Ezeulu finally revealed that he intended to hit Umuaro at its most vulnerable point – the Feast of the New Yam” (201). Narration goes on to describe how this particular feast was tied to the harvest of the yam crop, and that Ezuelu, as High Priest, had ultimate authority as to when the Feast would take place – in conjunction with a particular new moon. But the arrival of the new moon passes, and Ezeulu does not schedule the feast, leading to anxious visits from Umuaro’s elders, asking him to schedule the feast so that the crops do not rot. Ezulu explains that because he still had some sacred yams left from the last harvest, the new harvest could not go ahead. The elders urge him to eat the yams, which would...