Amara stood up quickly, wiping her tears. She moved to the corner of the hut to prepare some hot pap for Nene.
But deep inside her heart, Amara was afraid. She knew that Mama Jadeeka would come back, and if she found out about the mermaid, the whole village would hear about it. She also knew the hunters would soon realize the mermaid was missing and would begin searching every house.
Amara did not know how long she could keep Nene safe in her hut. But she knew she would try, because deep in her heart she felt this was not just an ordinary mermaid. This was something bigger, something spiritual, something connected to the destiny of her family.
The sun was already high in the sky when Amara finished washing her children’s clothes and sweeping the compound. She was trying to act normal, but inside she was terrified. She kept remembering how she had hidden Nene, the pregnant mermaid, in her hut, and how her son Chijioke had promised not to tell anyone.
But deep inside, she knew the hunters would come looking.
And they did.
Hours later, three hunters with guns and angry faces entered the village. They were asking everyone they met on the road who had gone to the river early that morning to fetch water. They said the person had left a clay pot there, but no one knew whose it was. The hunters even described the pot and where it had been found, but no one had any idea.
The hunters themselves had not seen Amara’s face that morning, so they could not describe her. They went from house to house, knocking on doors and asking people, “Did you see who went to the river early this morning?”
Everyone said no.
The hunters were becoming angry. They felt someone in the village was hiding something.
Finally, they arrived at Amara’s small mud house.
Amara was pounding cassava in a mortar when she heard a loud knock on the door. Her heart jumped. She wiped the sweat from her face with her wrapper and went to open the door.
The three hunters were standing there, looking angry and tired.
“Good afternoon,” Amara greeted them, trying to smile.
“Good afternoon,” one of the hunters replied coldly. “We are looking for the woman who went to the river early this morning to fetch water. She left her pot there.”
He looked directly into Amara’s eyes.
Amara’s heart was beating very fast, but she controlled herself. She took a deep breath and replied calmly, “I do not know who went to the river this morning. I have been here since early morning, pounding cassava.”
The hunters looked inside the small hut, but saw nothing suspicious. Amara stood firmly, praying silently that they would leave.
After a few seconds, the hunters shrugged and turned away, leaving Amara’s compound.
