Chapter 9 Summary

Finally the muvuki, the wise doctor, will see the family. They dress in the most special clothes they have and prepare meticulously for their visit. Great ceremony is involved in greeting the muvuki and getting ready. The muvuki uses sticks called hakata to make his "diagnosis." The sticks help him determine what is true and what is not true. He makes his diagnosis: the dead spirit of the man Nhamo's father killed wants restitution. Grandmother says she paid for it, with two cows when the family demanded ten. The muvuki says the spirit demands payment.

Aunt Chipo suddenly starts talking as if she is channeling the spirit, demanding payment, demanding that Nhamo be the payment. When she is done, the muvuki determines that Nhamo shall be sent to be a junior bride of the brother of the dead man, and that really she...