“My　dearest　Shekure；　I　cannot　open　the　door　either；”　I　said。　“You　know　as

well as I that this would mean I’ve meddled in your affairs。 They’d bitterly

avenge　such　meddling。”

I　could　see　from　her　eyes　that　she　understood。　“Then　no　one　will　open　the

door；”　she　said。　“Let’s　wait　for　them　to　break　it　down　and　take　us　by　force。”

I knew at once this would be the best alternative for Shekure and her

children；　and　I　was　afraid。　“But　that　means　blood　will　be　spilled；”　I　said。　“If　the

judge　isn’t　involved　in　this　affair；　blood　will　flow；　and　a　blood　feud　will　last　for

years。　No　honorable　man　could　stand　by　and　watch　as　his　house　was　broken

into　and　raided　to　abduct　a　woman　residing　there。”

I once again understood regretfully how deceptive and calculating this

Shekure was as she embraced her two boys and wailed with all her being

rather　than　answer。　A　voice　was　telling　me　to　forget　everything　and　leave；　but　I

could　no　longer　walk　back　through　the　door；　which　was　being　battered　to　the

breaking　point。　Actually；　I　was　afraid　of　both　what　would　happen　if　they　broke

down the door and came through and what would happen if they didn’t； I

kept　thinking　that　Black’s　men；　who　trusted　in　me；　were　worried　about　going

too　far　and　might　retreat　at　any　moment；　which　would；　in　turn；　embolden　the

father…in…law。　When