The Door of No Return

The terms of the treaty between Lower and Upper Kwanta are explained, including that there will be “perpetual peace” between the two sides (61). Upper Kwanta was given full governance of the river, but they give Lower Kwanta its fair distribution of gold each year. Lower Kwanta was allowed to plant and farm on their land too. Every year, they agreed to have a festival to celebrate this treaty. If either side ever broke it, they would be punished according to their culture’s laws.

Kofi’s cousin starts a dispute on the playground about how the people in the Lower tribe are wretched and lesser than them. Ama defends that they’re all the same tribe. The cousin rebukes that they have the gold, and that’s all that matters. Kids whisper about the Lower tribe making a fortress and planning to attack, but the cousin says his father has a gun. Kofi yells, like Ama, that they are all the same tribe.

Ama calls the cousin a fool, and everyone laughs. He gets so upset that he punches Kofi in the stomach.

Ama jumps in front of Kofi’s cousin, calling him an animal. He lifts her off the ground and kisses her, stating that she likes it. Kofi is shocked.

Kofi’s cousin is much taller and stronger than him. He marches around like a soldier, and chops wood with the men. Still, his strength and influence don’t matter because he disrespected Ama by kissing her. Kofi thinks this insult against Ama means war.

Kofi runs full speed into his cousin, catching him by surprise. He overcomes his cousin, who lies in the mud. Everyone around them is shocked. His cousin gets up and sings a war song, which the other kids chant.

Kofi’s cousin was born a week before him, and they’ve always been competitive. His cousin has always won their battles. Though their mothers will chastise them for fighting, his cousin wants his blood.

Kofi’s cousin hits him in the jaw. On the ground, he wraps his arms around Kofi’s neck, strangling him to near death. Kofi can’t breathe.

He tells Kofi that Ama will be his as he chokes him. Kofi remembers how he turns his head to Ama, then how he wants to tell Ebo that dying is much worse than imagined. He remembers the feeling of melting into the unknown, but then Kofi hears Mr. Phillip stop the fight, saving his life.

Mr. Phillip tells them they aren’t “savages.” He makes Kofi, his cousin, and Ama stay behind from lessons and read Henry VI by Shakespeare as punishment.

Mr. Phillip makes Kofi stay the longest, sweeping the classroom, organizing journals, and more. He tells Kofi he is a smart boy, full of ambition, and can one day leave this village, go to a missionary school, and explore the world. His intelligence will get him places, unlike his rough cousin. Kofi shares that he doesn’t want to leave Kwanta, since it’s their home. Mr. Phillip wants him to think bigger.

Kofi is released just in time to meet Ebo and other friends at the river. Ebo has a board made of timber, but Kofi just swims, feeling jealous of the board.

Kofi likes to swim to a big rock away from people, out where the water is clear and the stream steady. He goes there to think in solitude.

Kofi swings from the trees into the Offin River, floating toward his rock. He lays in the water until late, watching the sun set.

Kwasi yells at Kofi to get out of the water now because the sun is almost down.

Their mother doesn't want Kofi in the water at night, due to the curse the river supposedly has after sundown. Kofi argues that he’s a great swimmer, but his big brother tells him that strange beasts come out at night, beasts no one can escape, no matter how great they swim. Kofi is gullible until Kwasi laughs. When Kofi emerges from the river, Kwasi tells him that they are having yams to celebrate Kwasi that evening. Kwasi has chosen to represent Upper Kwanta in the upcoming wrestling contest.