Early that morning, the village men began their search for Wani while the women and Lodu's company headed to the riverside to collect the coffin box, as instructed by the gods the day before. Upon arrival, the gods' fury struck, and they barred the men from approaching the coffin, afflicting them with blindness that lasted the whole day. The women's fear surged as they watched the men turn blind, and they quickly retreated alongside them. The few police officers accompanying them also withdrew, leaving no choice but to return home. However, the parent of the deceased refused to retreat, determined to see the ritual through.
Meanwhile, the villagers had arranged to comb through every village and bring Wani to justice. As the search continued, Wani, after two days without food, surrendered to a village woman in the neighbouring village of Okelu. She hid him in a hole she had dug inside her house, which stood in an isolated trench used to punish the village's criminals and serve as a shrine for their rituals.
As the search persisted, Kenyi, the chief, and his aides arrived in Okelu and met with Chief Willit, the local leader. Chief Willit listened to their story, was shocked, and promised to help them. "Let's meet our king," he said. "He will assist us." They went to the trench, where they found the isolated woman and asked if she had seen a visitor. She denied it. Chief Willit stepped closer to the trench, gazing into its darkness, and chanted to the gods.
"Oh, our Majesty, our visitors have lost their precious one and seek your assistance," Chief Willit lamented. "Prove to them that you exist in this land, and we are your beneficiaries." A voice responded, "I know your problems, and I've been waiting for this moment. I heard blood crying out for rescue. The woman who denied having seen a visitor hides a stranger in her house. Dig in her house, and you'll find an escapee surrounded by blood." The voice faded away, leaving the villagers filled with anticipation.
In the ensuing moments, Wani, realising he had no way out, jumped out of his hiding hole and cried loudly, pleading for a pardon. Those accompanying the chiefs stumbled with anger and attacked Wani mercilessly, hitting him with sticks. Others wanted to take his life, but the chiefs stopped them because the gods wanted him alive. They tied him up, and two strong village warriors offered to carry him back. Kenyi and his chief thanked Chief Willit for his majestic cooperation and divine intervention.
As they began their journey back, Kenyi and his chief
were joined by their village mate, who danced in jubilation. While they were a
short distance away, their songs echoed through the forests and were reflected
by the gods on the riverside, making them sound loud enough to be heard by the
village women, who were struggling with the nightmares of the men's blindness.
When they joined the lyrics, along with the blind men, their eyes opened, and
they ran to meet their village mates along the way. Miraculously, the parent of
the deceased was also able to collect the coffin as it was lowered to their
knees. Everyone in the different settings was celebrating as they converged
together at Kenyi's home, but Wani, however, was already in danger.
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