Not long after, just before the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon, Okemmiri arrived.
Despite the anguish that weighed heavily on her heart, Ego welcomed him with the respect due to a man of his standing. He returned the greeting, then wasted no time with pleasantries.
"I already know why you summoned me," he said. "If we want to identify the person who tampered with your bird quickly, everyone living in this compound must drink from the Mmiri Eziokwu."
Ego nodded.
Within minutes, everyone in the compound was assembled.
A calabash wrapped with red cloth was placed before the queue. Whatever mixture it contained was known only to Okemmiri. One after another, everyone would step forward, answer the Dibia's question, and take a sip.
"If you are the person who tampered with Ego's bird," Okemmiri would ask each individual, "tell the truth now."
So far, everyone had denied having anything to do with the bird.
One after another, they drank.
Nothing happened.
Then came Obinwa's turn.
He stepped forward.
Okemmiri stared into his eyes.
"Are you the one who entered the room and tampered with Ego's bird?"
"I have never entered that room; talk less of playing with any bird. I don't even know which room you are talking about."
He took the calabash and drank.
For several seconds, he stood completely still with his eyes tightly shut, as though waiting for something terrible to happen.
Nothing did.
Slowly, he opened his eyes and walked away.
Ego's heart sank.
Deep inside, she had been praying that Obinwa would be exposed. It would have been easier to accept him as the culprit than Oluchukwu.
Two more people drank from the calabash.
Nothing happened.
Finally, it was Oluchukwu's turn.
She was the last person in the compound.
Every eye turned toward her.
Whispers travelled through the crowd.
"She must be the one."
"I always suspected her."
"Why else would she be the last?"
Oluchukwu ignored them.
She walked slowly toward Okemmiri.
He looked at her for a long moment before asking,
"Are you the one?"
"No, Great One. I am not."
Ego could no longer bear it.
"Oluchukwu…"
The young woman turned toward her.
"You know I love you," Ego said, her voice trembling. "Please, I'm begging you. Just tell me the truth. I will forgive you. We can forget that this ever happened and continue as though nothing happened."
Tears began gathering in Ego's eyes.
"It doesn't have to end like this. Remember, once you drink that, there is no turning back."
Oluchukwu stared at her.
"Nda, you know I will do anything for you?"
Ego could not answer.
The tears had already begun rolling down her cheeks.
Oluchukwu repeated herself.
"You know I will do anything for you, right?"
Ego nodded.
That was all the answer Oluchukwu needed.
She looked at the calabash.
Then at Ego.
Then back at Okemmiri.
"It is enough!" the Dibia thundered.
"She claims she is innocent, but words alone cannot prove innocence. She must drink."
He extended the calabash toward her.
Oluchukwu's hands trembled as she took it.
She lifted it to her lips.
Took a sip.
Before she could return the calabash, her body jerked.
She staggered.
Okemmiri immediately reached out and caught her.
Oluchukwu clutched her stomach with one hand.
Pain twisted her face.
"Ewoo!"
The compound erupted.
"She is the one!"
"I knew it!"
"I can't believe Oluchukwu of all people!"
Akidi, who had already taken his own sip, turned toward the people around him.
"Didn't I warn you?" he said. "I told all of you there was something strange about that girl. I warned Ego, but she refused to listen. Now look at what it has cost her."
He would have continued had Okemmiri not thundered:
"Keep quiet!"
The entire compound fell silent.
Something about the Dibia's expression was strange.
He didn't look surprised.
Oluchukwu slowly straightened herself.
The pain disappeared.
She stood upright, breathing heavily but otherwise completely fine.
Ego stared at her in disbelief.
"But… that can't be possible."
She turned toward Okemmiri.
"Someone here tampered with my bird!"
"I never said we were finished."
"But everyone in the compound has taken the test!"
"Who said everyone has?"
Ego frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Okemmiri slowly raised his hand and pointed behind her.
"That young man hasn't taken a sip."
Ego turned.
Ndubisi stood quietly among the crowd.
Her heart stopped.
"That's my…"
The words refused to come.
"My what?" Okemmiri asked with a faint smile.
Ego shook her head.
"He can't do that to me."
"Then he shouldn't find it difficult to prove his innocence."
"No."
She stepped between them.
"No, he can't. I don't want him to."
Her voice cracked.
"It doesn't feel right. It feels like I'm betraying his trust."
Ndubisi stepped forward.
"Nne, don't worry."
He looked at Okemmiri.
"I will drink it."
He turned toward Ego and gave her a reassuring smile.
"I'll prove you right about me."
Then he faced the Dibia.
"Let's begin, Great One."
There was an arrogance in his voice that made several people exchange glances.
Okemmiri handed him the calabash.
Ndubisi took it without hesitation.
He drank.
The bitter taste immediately twisted his face.
He swallowed and lowered the calabash.
For several seconds, he stood with his eyes closed.
Then his body began to sway.
A murmur travelled through the crowd.
"He is going to confess."
"Look at him!"
"Wait…"
Ndubisi staggered once.
Twice.
Then suddenly—
He burst into loud laughter.
Not a nervous laugh.
Not a nervous chuckle.
A deep, uncontrollable laughter that echoed across the compound.
Nobody laughed with him.
Not even Ego.
When he finally stopped, he wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and looked directly at Okemmiri.
"Are you satisfied?"
The Dibia didn't answer.
For the first time since he had entered the compound, confusion appeared on his face.
His eyes moved from Ndubisi to the calabash and then toward the rest of the household.
This was impossible.
The gods could not be wrong.
They had never been wrong.
The moment Okemmiri entered the compound, the spirits had revealed to him that the culprit was among those living there.
Yet everyone had now taken the Mmiri Eziokwu.
And no one had confessed.
Something was terribly wrong.
If he could not solve this mystery, his reputation as one of the most powerful Dibias in the land would be dragged through the mud.
Okemmiri slowly tightened his grip around the calabash.
Someone was lying.
But who?