"The Orisa can mount our mind and body, almost like a rider mounts a
horse. Ogun wants to displace Derin's spirit and become the force that
rules him. But Derin's self must first leave before Ogun can enter,
since it's not possible to be both man and god at once. His own spirit
is trying to resist, to ward off the god. Sometimes it can be
terrifying to watch." He studied the men a few moments in silence.
"Yes, Derin's body will be the one honored tonight. He's the youngest
and strongest here; it's only natural that Ogun would choose him. Don't
be surprised now by what you see. And Dara"--his voice grew stern--"you
must not try to help him, no matter what may happen."
At that instant the young warrior's left leg seemed to freeze to the
ground, and he pitched forward, forfeiting his centering and balance.
He began to tremble convulsively, his eyes terror-stricken and
unfocused, his body reeling from a progression of unseen blows against
the back of his neck. He was still trying to sustain the ritual cadence
as he pitched backward against the mill.
Now the drums grew louder, more forceful, and his entire body seemed to
flinch with each stroke of Obewole's mallet. His eyes rolled back into
his head, showing only a crescent of each pupil, while his arms flailed
as though trying to push away some invisible net that had encircled his
shoulders. He staggered across the floor, a long gash in his shoulder
where the teeth of the mill had ripped the flesh, and began to emit
barking cries, almost screams, as he struggled to regain his balance.
"You've got to stop it!" She started pulling herself to her feet. But
before she could rise, Atiba seized her wrist and silently forced her
down. None of the other men appeared to take notice of Derin's
convulsions. Several were, in fact, themselves now beginning to stumble
and lose their balance. But they all continued the solemn dance, as
though determined to resist the force wanting to seize their bodies.
At that moment the measured booms of the large iya Hu drum switched to
a rapid, syncopated beat, a knowing trick by Obewole intended to throw
the dancers off their centering. The sudden shift in drumming caused
Derin to lose the last of his control. He staggered toward the
drummers, shouted something blindly, then stiffened and revolved to
face Atiba.