Things Fall Apart

by Chinua Achebe

‘Once upon a time,’ she began, ‘all the birds were invited to a feast in the sky. They were very happy and began to prepare themselves for the great day. They painted their bodies with red cam wood and drew beautiful patterns on them with uli. ‘Tortoise saw all these preparations and soon discovered what it all meant. Nothing that happened in the world of the animals ever escaped his notice; he was full of cunning. As soon as he heard of the great feast in the sky his throat began to itch at the very thought. There was a famine in those days and Tortoise had not eaten a good meal for two moons. His body rattled like a piece of dry stick in his empty shell. So he began to plan how he would go to the sky.’ ‘But he had no wings,’ said Ezinma. ‘Be patient,’ replied her mother. ‘That is the story. Tortoise had no wings, but he went to the birds and asked to be allowed to go with them. ‘ “We know you too well,” said the birds when they had heard him. “You are full of cunning and you are ungrateful. If we allow you to come with us you will soon begin your mischief.” ‘ “You do not know me,” said Tortoise. “I am a changed man. I have learnt that a man who makes trouble for others is also making it for himself.” ‘Tortoise had a sweet tongue, and within a short time all the birds agreed that he was a changed man, and they each gave him a feather, with which he made two wings. ‘At last the great day came and Tortoise was the first to arrive at the meeting-place. When all the birds had...