Whenever he slept, Jerry was trained to remain on guard and never to go to sleep.
Reason enough there was and to spare for Nalasu's infinite precaution.
The oldest of his three sons had slain one, Ao, in a quarrel.

Ao had been one of six brothers of the family of Anno which dwelt in one of the upper villages.

According to Somo law, the Anno family was privileged to collect the blood-debt from the Nalasu family, but had been balked of it by the deaths of Nalasu's three sons in the bush.

And, since the Somo code was a life for a life, and since Nalasu alone remained alive of his family, it was well known throughout the tribe that the Annos would never be content until they had taken the blind man's life.
But Nalasu had been famous as a great fighter, as well as having been the progenitor of three such warlike sons.

Twice had the Annos sought to collect, the first time while Nalasu still retained his eyesight.