Pounds of Filth

By Promise Iwuchukwu

It is said that man is born equal and free; to a degree the world disagree. What use is a dead elephant over a living ant? Pounds of Filth explores transition from African values, norms and tradition to the reality of living in a challenging world of uncertainties.

It unveils life, adventures and time, portraying the struggles between man and existence, man and divinity, man and destiny, and man versus his fellow man. Gender, fate; are issues explored in this novel.

If diamond go through rigorous process to be refined, then how good is a pound found in filth?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Feb 28, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483602677

Promise Iwuchukwu

Promise Chisom Iwuchukwu is a freelance writer , poet and author of Pounds of Filth. Her latest project is Pixels an anthology she is compiling that will be published next year. Born in the eastern part of Nigerian, where she attended high school and college. After receiving a B.A. in English and Literature, she is inspired to write for young people to share her experiences and offer insights .

Book preview

Copyright © 2013 by Promise Iwuchukwu.

ISBN:

   Softcover   978-1-4836-0266-0

   Ebook       978-1-4836-0267-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 02/28/2013

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

0-800-644-6988

www.xlibrispublishing.co.uk

[e-mail]

305764

Contents

Chapter One:   The Rain

Chapter Two:   Dawn

Chapter Three:   The Sun

Chapter Four:   Sunset

Chapter Five:   The Storm

Chapter Six:   The Wind

Chapter Seven:   The Cloud

Chapter Eight:   The Rain

Chapter Nine:   The Thunder

Index

Chapter One

The Rain

It had begun to rain; the clouds were dark, as rain dropped on the earth. The drops were like sticks flogging the earth for rejecting its benevolence. The ground was so wet, slippery and muddy.

Nwaudo ran into a brick house with broken walls and thatched roof, as water leaked through the broken walls and the damaged roof. She looked down on herself, fixing her gaze on her torn cloth—the only possession she had.

‘um’ she gasped ‘I will survive’

The rain dropped heavily, as wild wind blew leaves and dust, Nwaudo became frightened, as her fingers and toes turned white, her face looked pale and her hair so unkept. She moved to the other side of the abandoned house, there she saw an old wrapper and quickly used it to cover herself, as the cold increased. She felt helpless, the prestigious daughter of Umuaro helpless in an abandoned house?

It all began eighteen years back in the noble village of Umuaro. It was noble because it was occupied by respected and brave men. Umuaro was a pace-setter, it was known for riches, peace, brevity and other activities like agriculture, fishing, and hunting. Whatever concerns Umuaro was treated by other villages with caution, respect and awe.

Mazi Awuzie, popularly called Mazi by the younger generation, and Awuzie by his age grade was a strong and intelligent man. He was known for his prowess in wrestling, farming and hunting, which accord him the name The Python. There were no decision taken without Mazi’s consultation; he counseled with much wisdom and understanding.

Mazi had been unlucky with women, He had married eight wives, who died mysteriously, after what looked like a setback in his life, and he was advised by his friend Dike to take a ninth wife. After much pressure, He decided to marry Ugonma, whom he called ‘Oyim’, because she was the woman of his old age.

Mazi’s compound was one of the biggest in Umuaro,