MESSAGEFROMCHINUAACHEBE:

Africaisahugecontinentwithadiversityofculturesandlanguages.Africaisnotsimple–oftenpeoplewanttosimplifyit,generalizeit,stereotypeitspeople,butAfricaisverycomplex.TheworldisjuststartingtogettoknowAfrica.ThelastfivehundredyearsofEuropeancontactwithAfricaproducedabodyofliteraturethatpresentedAfricainaverybadlight,andnowthetimehascomeforAfricanstotelltheirownstories.

ThePenguinAfricanWritersSerieswillbringanewenergytothepublicationofAfricanliterature.PenguinBooksiscommittedtopublishingbothestablishedandnewvoicesfromallovertheAfricancontinenttoensureAfricanstoriesreachawiderglobalaudience.

ThisisreallywhatIpersonallywanttosee–writersfromalloverAfricacontributingtoadefinitionofthemselves,writingourselvesandourstoriesintohistory.Oneofthegreatestthingsliteraturedoesisallowustoimagine;toidentifywithsituationsandpeoplewholiveincompletelydifferentcircumstances,incountriesallovertheworld.Throughthisseries,thecreativeexplorationofthoseissuesandexperiencesthatareuniquetotheAfricanconsciousnesswillbegivenaplatform,notonlythroughoutAfrica,butalsototheworldbeyonditsshores.

Storytellingisacreativecomponentofhumanexperienceandinordertoshareourexperienceswiththeworld,weasAfricansneedtorecognizetheimportanceofourownstories.BystartingtheseriesonthesolidfoundationslaidbytherenownedHeinemannAfricanWritersSeries,IamhonoredtojoinPenguinininvitingyoungandupcomingwriterstoacceptthechallengepasseddownbycelebratedAfricanauthorsofearlierdecadesandtocontinuetoexplore,confront,andquestiontherealitiesoflifeinAfricathroughtheirwork;challengingAfrica’speopletolifthertoherrightfulplaceamongthenationsoftheworld.

OceanofPDF.com

PENGUIN CLASSICS

WEEPNOT,CHILD

NGUGIWATHIONG’OwasborninLimuru,Kenya,in1938.OneoftheleadingAfricanwritersandscholarsatworktoday,heistheauthorofWeepNot,Child;TheRiverBetween;AGrainofWheat;Homecoming;PetalsofBlood;DevilontheCross;Matigari;DecolonisingtheMind;MovingtheCentre;WritersinPolitics;andPenpoints,Gunpoints,andDreams,amongotherworks,whichincludenovels,shortstories,essays,amemoir,andplays.In1977,theyearhepublishedPetalsofBlood,Ngugi’splayIWillMarryWhenIWant(cowrittenwithNgugiwaMiriiandharshlycriticaloftheinjusticesofKenyansociety)wasperformed,andattheendoftheyearNgugiwasarrested.Hewasdetainedforayearwithouttrialatamaximum-securityprisoninKenya.Thetheaterwheretheplaywasperformedwasrazedbypolice1982.

Ngugi’snumeroushonorsincludetheEastAfricanNovelPrize;UNESCOFirstPrize;theLotusPrizeforLiterature;thePaulRobesonAwardforArtisticExcellence,PoliticalConscienceandIntegrity;theZoraNealeHurston-PaulRobesonAwardforArtisticandScholarlyAchievement;theFonlon-NicholsPrizeforArtisticExcellenceandHumanRights;theDistinguishedAfricanistAward;theGwendolynBrooksCenterContributorsAwardforsignificantcontributiontotheblackliteraryarts;andtheNoninoInternationalLiteraryPrizefortheItaliantranslationofhisbookMovingtheCentre.Ngugihasgivenmanydistinguishedlecturesincludingthe1984RobbLecturesatAucklandUniversity,NewZealand,andthe1996ClarendonLecturesinEnglishatOxfordUniversity.HereceivedtheMedalofthePresidencyoftheItalianCabinetfor“hisuncompromisingeffortstoassertthevaluesimplicitinthemulticulturalapproachembracingtheexperienceandaspirationsofalltheworld’sminorities.”HehastaughtinmanyuniversitiesincludingNairobi,Northwestern,andYale.HewasnamedNewYorkUniversity’sErichMariaRemarqueProfessorofLanguagesandwasprofessorofComparativeLiteratureandPerformanceStudies.In2003NgugiwaselectedasanhonorarymemberintheAmericanAcademyofArtsandLetters.CurrentlyheisDistinguishedProfessorofEnglishandComparativeLiteratureattheUniversityofCalifornia,Irvine.

BENOKRIwontheManBookerPrizein1991forhisnovelTheFamished

Road.HewasborninLagos,Nigeria,andlivesinLondon.

OceanofPDF.com

OceanofPDF.com

PENGUINBOOKSPublishedbythePenguinGroup

PenguinGroup(USA)Inc.,375HudsonStreet,NewYork,NewYork10014,USA

USA|Canada|UK|Ireland|Australia|NewZealand|India|SouthAfrica|ChinaPenguinBooksLtd,RegisteredOffices:80Strand,LondonWC2R0RL,England

FormoreinformationaboutthePenguinGroupvisitpenguin.com

FirstpublishedbyHeinemannEducationPublishers1964PublishedbyPenguinBooks(SouthAfrica)(Pty)Ltd2009

ThiseditionwithanewintroductionpublishedinPenguinBooks2012

Copyright©NgugiwaThiong'o,1964Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisproductmaybereproduced,scanned,ordistributedinanyprintedorelectronicformwithoutpermission.Pleasedonotparticipateinorencouragepiracyofcopyrighted

materialsinviolationoftheauthor’srights.Purchaseonlyauthorizededitions.

LIBRARYOFCONGRESSCATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATIONDATANgugiwaThiong'o,1938–

Weepnot,child/NgugiwaThiong'o.p.cm.—(Penguinclassics)ISBN:978-1-101-58484-2

1.Brothers—Fiction.2.Kenya—History—MauMauEmergency,1952–1960—Fiction.3.Domesticfiction.I.Title.

PR9381.9.N45W442012823’.914—dc232012006204

PUBLISHER’SNOTEThisisaworkoffiction.Names,characters,places,andincidentseitheraretheproductoftheauthor’simaginationorareusedfictitiously,andanyresemblancetoactualpersons,livingordead,businesses,

companies,events,orlocalesisentirelycoincidental.

Version_2

OceanofPDF.com

Contents

IntroductionbyBENOKRI

WEEPNOT,CHILD

Part1:TheWaningLight

1234567

Interlude

Part2:DarknessFalls

89101112131415161718

OceanofPDF.com

Introduction

TheliteratureofAfricaisfedbythreegreatrivers:theinvisible,thevisible,andtheoral—ormyth,reality,andtheoraltradition.ItcouldbesaidthattheinvisibleisthechiefsourceofAfricanliterature,whichisdefinedbythepresenceofmyth,andbyhowmythplaysagainstsocialreality.ThismysterioussourcerunsatthebackofAmosTutuola’sThePalm-WineDrinkard,ChinuaAchebe’sThingsFallApart,WoleSoyinka’sDeathandtheKing’sHorseman,CamaraLaye’sTheAfricanChild,andisfound,ofcourse,inallthetalesandmyths,thelegendsandsongsthatshapetheAfricanconsciousness.

Thewriterswhowereactiveinthefiftiesandsixtieshadtheirearstunedtotwokindsofmusic:avanishingworldoftraditionandmyth,andtheharshworldofcolonialism.Whentimesaregood,mansingsthesongsofthespirit.ModernAfricanliteraturedidnotemergeasaprotestagainstcolonialism.Rather,colonialismbroughtacertaininflection,acertainemphasis,tothenaturalprogressionoftheliteraturefromonemodetoanother.Whentimesarebad,mansingsofthebadtimes.Butthesongsofthebadtimesshouldnotbetakenasrepresentative.Forinthebadtimes,theself—itscelebration,itsjoys,itsfreedom,itsaesthetic—isstillpresent.

BoththesongsofthebadtimesandthesongsofthespiritareevidentinWeepNot,Child,oneofthesignalnovelstoemergefromanartistlisteningtoboththewelloftraditionandthetroubledoraclesofhistime.

AparadoxunderliesNgugiwaThiong'o’sbeginningsasawriter.Thereisaperceptionthatsomethingemblematicattendsthefirstnovelinawriter’scanon,thatthefirstnovelcontains,inembryo,thethemesthatwilloccupyhimfortherestofhiswritinglife.JaneAusten’sSenseandSensibilityorchestratesthemesofdichotomy,ofromance,ofclass,thatwouldrunthroughherwork.HemingwaybeganwithTheSunAlsoRises,anditsthemesofstoicism,violence,andnaturehaunthisoeuvre.Achebe’sThingsFallApartintroducedtheideasofculture,family,andtraditionthatdefinehisbodyofwork.Welooktobeginningsfortheseedsthatbecomethetreeorforestofthemes.InNgugi’scase,eventsmanagedadeception.

Ngugicametothewritinglifeinanunintended,evenmagicalway.Asa

youngmanatMakerereUniversity,heencounteredsomeonewhowaseditingamagazine.Ngugimentionedthathehadwrittensomeshortstories;interestwasshowninthem,andNgugi,whohadnotinfactwrittenanything,hadtowritethestories.Itisaclassiccaseofbluffingoneselfintoone’sdestiny.Ngugiwroteastory,itwaspublished,andsobeganhiswritinglife.

ItisinstructivethatNgugibeganwiththeshortstory,theperfectpracticinggroundforlongerfiction.Theshortstory,containingthematrixoftheartoffictioninminiature,trainsawriterinthecraftofnarration.Itisaformthatdemandsrigor,anditsrigorandclarityandbrevityshowinWeepNot,Child.Thenovelleadswithitsassurance,itspoise,itsmasteryofitsintentions,itsfirmandquiettone,anditsunswervingpurpose.Itisrarethatafirstnovelissoperfectlypitched—andNgugiwasonlytwenty-eightyearsoldwhenhepublishedit.WeepNot,ChildshowsNgugi’sbirthasawriter,hisleapintoliterature,fullyformed,likeAthenafromtheskullofZeus.

ButWeepNot,ChildwasnotinfactNgugi’sfirstnovel.Itwashissecond,butitwaspublishedfirst—andyetitisemblematicofhisbodyofworkinthewaywebelievefirstnovelstobe.BeforehewroteWeepNot,Child,Ngugihadalreadywrittenmanyshortstoriesandhadmetthechallengeofwritinganovel:ItiscalledTheRiverBetween,anditgaveWeepNot,Childtheassuranceofarehearsedperformance.WeepNot,ChildwastheperfectwayforNgugitobeginhiscareerasanovelist.Itcombinesthestoryofadolescencewithataleofpoliticalviolenceandanimpliedlovestory,anditbringstogether,atastroke,thekeythemesintheliteratureofthetimes.

WeepNot,ChildisalsothenovelNgugiwrotebeforehebecameNgugiwaThiong'o.HewroteitasJamesNgugi.Itisnotclearhowlongafteritspublicationhechangedhisname,butthespiritofchangewasalreadyinit.InwritingWeepNot,Child,itispossiblethathewaswritinghimselfintoNgugiwaThiong'o.InfacthewasJamesNgugifortwonovels,andonlywiththepublicationofAGrainofWheatwouldhebecomeNgugiwaThiong'ototheworld,renewedinconvictionandstature.ButhewasalwaysNgugiwaThiong'o,andWeepNot,Childisnowreadundertherubricofthatnewnomenclature.

InWeepNot,Child,Ngugi’sartisatitspurest.TomyminditisclassicNgugi,hisRomeoandJuliet,histaleofyounglovesetagainstthebackdropofopposingfamiliesandaworldseethingwithviolenceandinjustice.ItisyoungNgugi,closertothemoodofyouthitself.TheyearswouldbringotherNgugis—theMarxistconvert,theradical,thecampaigneragainstpoliticalinjustice,andthepoliticalprisoner.Theywouldalsobringarichbodyofwork,novelsofgreatscaleandpoliticalimportance—likeAGrainofWheat,whichmanyconsiderhismasterpiece,orPetalsofBlood,inwhich,inspiredbyhisvisittoRussia,heabsorbsthetraditionoftheRussiannovel,bringingtotheAfricannovelanewurgencyandpoliticalfury.InhisnovelWizardof

theCrow,heextendshisrange,fusingmagicalrealismwithhissignatureartisticandsocialconcerns.Ngugialsowrotemanyplaysandsignificantvolumesofessays,influentialintheircallforanewradicalisminAfricanliteratureandareturntoAfricanlanguagesastheprincipalmodeofcreativeexpression.Andin2010hebroughtoutthefirstvolumeofhisautobiography,DreamsinaTimeofWar.

TheyearswouldalsobringNgugiexilefollowinghisreleasefromprison.HewouldliveforatimeinLondonandsettleinAmerica,asprofessorofliteratureattheUniversityofCalifornia,Irvine.

ButWeepNot,Childprecedesallthis.Inasense,allthefutureNgugisareembryonicinthisnovel—theseedsofhisradicalism,hiscommunism,hiscampaignforAfricanlanguages.

WeepNot,Childisthestoryofayoungboy,Njoroge,growingupinthetimeoftheMauMauinsurgencythatsweptKenyainthefiftiesandearlysixtiesasanundergroundresistancetocolonialrepression,andofhisquestforeducationandhisloveforMwihaki,thedaughterofhisfamily’stormenter.Itisuniqueinmodernliteratureinitsfusingofgenres.ItisanovelofeducationandoneabouttheMauMau.Itisalsoanovelaboutthecrossroadsoftraditionandmodernity,aboutancientmythsconfrontedbymodernrealities.Manydichotomiesthreadthroughit—fathersandsons,richandpoor,blackandwhite,educationandapprenticeship,villageandtownship,homeandabroad,exileandrootedness,innocenceandexperience—andgiveititsmultilayeredcomplexity.

Thenovelisdisarminglysimpleanddirect.Barely150pages,ithasshortchapterstoo,andwithinthechaptersshortsubsections.Ifyoulistencarefullyyouwillhearacertainmusicalelementtotheflowoftheshortsubsections;theyfunctionascontrastsandcounterpoints,movingfromscenesofquietnesstoonesofdistress.

Thebrevityisalsointhesentences.Thewritingisclear,unpretentious,butshapedwiththenoblecadencesoftraditionalspeech.LanguagehaslongbeenanissueinAfricanliterature:ShouldtheAfricanwriteruseaEuropeanlanguagetoexpresshisreality,arealityreflectingaconsciousnesssaturatedintraditionalAfricanlanguages?Achebe’ssolutionwastheuseofIgboproverbs,songs,parables,andacertainunconsciousIgbocadenceinhisnovels.Tosomedegree,deliberatelyornot,Ngugiadoptedthisapproachandwaslaterfamouslytogofurther,declaringthatAfricanliteratureshouldbewritteninAfricanlanguages,thebetternotonlytokeepAfricanlanguagesalivebutalsotodevelopthemaslanguagescapableofexpressingprofoundandelevatedthought.Kikuyu,Igbo,Urhobo,Yoruba,Swahili,andBantu,tonameafew,awaittheirPushkins.

Butin1964,whenhepublishedWeepNot,Child,Ngugihadnothituponthissolution.HewouldlaterwritehisnovelsinKikuyuandtranslatethemhimself,buthewroteWeepNot,ChildinEnglish,andinityoucanhearanundercurrentoftheKikuyulanguage,itscadence,itsdirectnessintheformalprose—akindofmanifestationinEnglishofthereality,thetone,thecolorationofKikuyulife,aseepingthroughofonelanguageintoanother,givingthenovelitsrichAfricanfeeling.

TherearemanyinstancesinWeepNot,ChildoftheAfricanworldseepingthroughbywayofanalienlanguage.“Agroupofmenandwomenandchildrenwerestandinginthecourtyard.Someeyeswereturnedtohisfather’shut.Theotherswereturnedtowardsthemarketplace.Butwherewashismother?Hefoundherinsideherhut.Shesatonalowstoolandtwowomenofthevillagesatclosetoher.Theykeptdumb.Theireyeswereturnedtothecourtyard”(pages59–60).Ifyoulistenyou’llheartherhythmofthedirectionsthatthedifferenteyesareturnedtoward.Thereisaritualimplicationhere.Itisalmostlikedrama,likethestylizationofastillmomentintragictheater.Itisalsolikeamomentinawoodcut.Artandtheater,unitedbythesenseofritual,ahieraticmodeofbeing,issuggestedinthoseapparentlysimplelines.Itismorethanthetranslationofamode;itisanancestralpentimento,amoodorworldviewshowingthroughthesurfaceofNgugi’sEnglish.

WeepNot,Childisanovelaboutloss.Itmovesthroughmanylosses,beginningwiththelossofland.Butlandhereismorethanjusttheearthorsoil,forfarmingandharvest.Itisalsothecompactwithanancestraldeity.Itisafoundationplaceinthelongnarrativeofapeoplefromthecosmostotheirplaceonearth.Thelandisinfactthemythofthepeople—thepromisedcontract,whatanchorsthemonearthandinheaven.Infactthelandisthebodyoftheancestraldeity.Toloseitistoloseconnectionwiththegodsofthepeople,tobeunmooredandunhousedintime.Landherehasprofoundlydifferentmeaningstothecolonistandtothecolonized:Tooneitisasourceofpower,comparedtothebodyofawoman—ahaven,anescapefromhome,anewhomeland,andanactofconquest.Buttotheotheritislifeitself,lifeasitstreamsthroughthepathwaysofmyth,lifeasitisembodiedinallthatmakesonehuman.Thelossofland,therefore,isthesignofthebrokenaxisofapeople.Landcomestostandforlanguage,dignity,selfhood,independence,andfreedom.ItisthismysticalsenseofthelandthatisatthesymbolicheartofWeepNot,Child,thatgivesthenovelitsrootedness,itspoignancy,itsdepthoffeeling.

Thepowerofone’sattachmenttothelandisexpressedinthenovelbytheMauMau.WhiletheywerecalledterroristsbytheBritish,whousedthemost

appallingformsoftorturetoputthemdown,theywerealwaysperceivedasfreedomfighters.Theextentoftherepressionthatcostcountlessinnocentlivesbecamecleareronlyin2011,whentheLondonTimesreleasedofficialdocumentsdetailingthetortureandincarcerationofhundredsofinnocentpeople,andBritainmadethefirstmoveinmorethanfiftyyearsthatcouldpossiblyleadtosomekindofcompensation.ItisinthelightofsuchdisclosuresthatthedepthofNgugi’sgraspofthesituationatthetimebecomesapparent.

TheMauMauelementinWeepNot,ChildinsinuatesitswayintothenarrationwiththequietnesswithwhichthelovestorybetweenNjorogeandMwihakibegins.Withakindoftragicinevitability,theMauMauresistanceeatsitswayintoNjoroge’sfamily.Thisfreedomstruggle,withitsbrutalreprisalsagainstthecolonialstructure,isallthemoreforcefullyfeltinthenovelinitscontrastwiththehero’sinnocentandChristianpiety.Theinnocenceisthesolventinwhichthebackgroundviolenceisborne—theinnocenceofthetonealongsidethetoughdirectnessofthewriting.

TheMauMausituationhasrecededintothepast,butWeepNot,Childcarrieson,independentofitshistoricalcontext.Kenyahaswonitsindependence.Africanleadershavecomeandgone.Butsomethingsabide:ThestoryofNjorogelives.

Timechangesbooksinwonderfulways,iftheyarewrittenwiththeinkofart.ItisamarkofhowaccomplishedNgugiisasawriterthatWeepNot,Childre-createsinthemindtheatmosphere,themood,thetension,andthefeelingoftheMauMauera.Ithasalsocreateditsowntimeandhasthepowertomakeusfeelabidingrealities:thehopesoftheyoung,theimpossibilityoftheworld,thewayinwhichpoliticsaffectsourintimatelives,thenecessityofresistance,andthemeaningoffamily.

IfNgugihadpublishednothingotherthanWeepNot,Child,hestillwouldhaveearnedadistinctiveplaceintheAfricanliterarycanon.Hebelongstothetraditionoftheprotestnovelist—infact,theJomoKenyattawhoistheblackMosesofthenovelistheverysamewhoin1977committedNgugitoayear’simprisonmentandsolitaryconfinement.Assuch,WeepNot,ChildshouldbereadalongsideRichardWright’sBlackBoy,JamesBaldwin’sGoTellItontheMountain,AlanPaton’sCry,theBelovedCountry,JohnSteinbeck’sTheGrapesofWrath,andMaximGorky’sMyChildhood.

AttheendofWeepNot,Child,Njorogehassetoffintothenight.Heisinsomedangertohimself.Hismothercomesseekinghiminthedarkwithaglowingbrandoffirewood.That’swhataworkofartis—aglowingfirewoodinthedarknessofourdays,lightingtheway,seekingusout.It’sanimagethatcapturesthedualnatureofthenovel,howitdwellsintwoworlds:theworld

oftherealandtheworldoftherevealed.TherealitiesofKenyaareallinWeepNot,Child:thedivisionsinsociety,therootofbetrayals,theproblematicquestionoftheland,thenever-endingimplicationsofcolonialrule.Thenovel,asaworkofart,continuestodelightandengageourattentionthroughitsformalbeauty,itspowerfulstory,itsunflinchinggaze.

BENOKRI

OceanofPDF.com

forJasbirKalsi

OceanofPDF.com

Weepnot,childWeepnot,mydarlingWiththesekissesletmeremoveyourtears,Theraveningcloudsshallnotbelongvictorious,Theyshallnotlongpossessthesky…

WALTWHITMANONTHEBEACHATNIGHT

OceanofPDF.com

WeepNot,ChildOceanofPDF.com

PART1

THEWANINGLIGHTOceanofPDF.com

1

Nyokabicalledhim.Shewasasmall,blackwoman,withaboldbutgraveface.Onecouldtellbyhersmalleyesfulloflifeandwarmththatshehadoncebeenbeautiful.Buttimeandbadconditionsdonotfavourbeauty.Allthesame,Nyokabihadretainedherfullsmile–asmilethatlitupherdarkface.

‘Wouldyouliketogotoschool?’‘O,Mother!’Njorogegasped.Hehalffearedthatthewomanmight

withdrawherwords.Therewasalittlesilencetillshesaid,‘Wearepoor.Youknowthat.’‘Yes,Mother.’Hisheartpoundedagainsthisribsslightly.Hisvoicewas

shaky.‘Soyouwon’tbegettingamiddaymeallikeotherchildren.’‘Iunderstand.’‘Youwon’tbringshametomebyonedayrefusingtoattendschool?’O,Mother.I’llneverbringshametoyou.Justletmegetthere,justletme.

Thevisionofhischildhoodagainopenedbeforehim.Foratimehecontemplatedthevision.Helivedinitalone.Itwasjustthere,forhimself;abrightfuture…Aloudhesaid,‘Ilikeschool.’

Hesaidthisquietly.Hismotherunderstoodhim.‘Allright.You’llbeginonMonday.Assoonasyourfathergetshispay

we’llgototheshops.I’llbuyyouashirtandapairofshorts.’O,Mother,youareanangelofGod,youare,youare.Thenhewondered:

Hadshebeentoamagicworker?Orelsehowcouldshehavedivinedhischild’sunspokenwish,hisundivulgeddream?AndhereIamwithnothingbutapieceofcalicoonmybodyandsoonIshallhaveashirtandshortsforthefirsttime.

‘Ithankyou,Mother,verymuch.’Hewantedtosaymore.ButNjorogewasnotusedtoexpressingstrongfeelingsinwords.Howeverhiseyesspokeall.AgainNyokabiunderstood.Shewashappy.

WhenKamaucameintheevening,Njorogetookhimaside.‘Kamau,Ishallgotoschool.’‘School?’‘Yes.’‘Whosaidso?Father?’‘No.Itwasourmother.Hasoureldermothertoldyouthesamething?’‘No,brother.YouknowIambeingtrainedasacarpenter.Icannotdrop

theapprenticeship.ButIamgladyou’regoingtoschool.’‘Iam,oh,soglad.ButIwishyoutoowouldcome.’‘Don’tyouworryaboutme.Everythingwillbeallright.Geteducation,

I’llgetcarpentry.Thenweshall,inthefuture,beabletohaveanewandbetterhomeforthewholefamily.’

‘Yes,’Njorogesaidthoughtfully.‘That’swhatIwant.Andyouknow,IthinkJacoboisasrichasMrHowlandsbecausehegoteducation.Andthat’swhyeachtakeshischildrentoschoolbecauseofcoursetheyhavelearntthevalueofit.’

‘It’strue.Butsome,youknow,mustgetlearningandothersthisandthattrade.’

‘Well,yousee,IwasthinkingthatifbothofuscouldlearnandbecomelikeJohn,thebigsonofJacobo,itwouldbeagoodthing.PeoplesaythatbecausehehasfinishedallthelearninginKenya,hewillnowgofarawayto…’

‘England.’‘OrBurma.’‘EnglandandBurmaandBombayandIndiaareallthesameplaces.You

havetocrosstheseabeforeyoucanreachthere.’‘That’swhereMrHowlandscomesfrom?’‘Yes.’‘IwonderwhyheleftEngland,thehomeoflearning,andcamehere.He

mustbefoolish.’‘Idon’tknow.Youcannotunderstandawhiteman.’

Therewasonlyoneroadthatranrightacrosstheland.Itwaslongandbroadandshonewithblacktar,andwhenyoutravelledalongitonhotdaysyousawlittlelakesaheadofyou.Butwhenyouwentnear,thelakesvanished,toappearagainalittlefartherahead.Somepeoplecalledthemthedevil’swatersbecausetheydeceivedyouandmadeyoumorethirstyifyourthroatwasalreadydry.Andtheroadthatranacrossthelandandwaslongandbroadhadnobeginningandnoend.Atleast,fewpeopleknewofitsorigin.Onlyifyoufollowedititwouldtakeyoutothebigcityandleaveyoutherewhileitwentbeyondtotheunknown,perhapsjoiningthesea.Whomadetheroad?RumourhaditthatitcamewiththewhitemenandsomesaidthatitwasrebuiltbytheItalianprisonersduringthebigwarthatwasfoughtfarawayfromhere.Peopledidnotknowhowbigthewarhadbeenbecausemostofthemhadneverseenabigwarfoughtwithplanes,poison,fire,andbombs–bombsthatwouldfinishacountryjustlikethatwhentheyweredroppedfromtheair.ItwasindeedabigwarbecauseitmadetheBritishworryandprayandthoseblacksonsofthelandwhohadgonetofightsaiditwasabigwar.

Therewasonceanotherbigwar.ThefirstonewastodriveawaytheGermanswhohadthreatenedtoattackandreducetheblackpeopletoslavery.Orsothepeoplehadbeentold.Butthatwasfarawayandlongagoandonlyoldmenandmiddle-agedmencouldrememberit.Itwasnotasbigasthesecondbecausethentherewerenobombs,andblackpeopledidnotgotoEgyptandBurma.

TheItalianprisonerswhobuiltthelongtarmacroadhadleftanameforthemselvesbecausesomewentaboutwithblackwomenandtheblackwomenhadwhitechildren.OnlythechildrenbyblackmothersandItalianprisonerswhowerealsowhitemenwerenotreally‘white’intheusualway.Theywereuglyandsomegrewuptohavesmallwoundsalloverthebodyandespeciallyaroundthemouthsothatfliesfollowedthemallthetimeandatallplaces.Somepeoplesaidthatthiswasapunishment.Blackpeopleshouldnotsleepwithwhitemenwhoruledthemandtreatedthembadly.

Whyshouldthewhitemenhavefought?Aaa!Youcouldnevertellwhatthesepeoplewoulddo.Inspiteofthefactthattheywereallwhite,theykilledoneanotherwithpoison,fire,andbigbombsthatdestroyedtheland.Theyhadevencalledthepeopletohelptheminkillingoneanother.Itwaspuzzling.YoucouldnotreallyunderstandbecausealthoughtheysaidtheyfoughtHitler(ah!Hitler,thatbraveman,whomalltheBritishfeared,andhewasneverkilledyouknow,justvanishedlikethat),Hitlertoowasawhiteman.Thatdidnottakeyouveryfar.Itwasbettertogiveuptheattemptandbecontentwithknowingthelandyoulivedin,andthepeoplewholivednearyou.Andifthiswasnotenoughandyouwantedtoseemorepeopleandhearstoriesfromfarandwide–evenstoriesfromacrossthesea,Russia,England,Burma–youcouldavoidthevigilanceofyourwifeandgotothelocaltown,Kipanga.Youcould,forinstance,tellherthatyouweregoingtobuysomemeatforthefamily.Thatwassomething.

‘Allright!Goanddon’tloiterinthetowntoomuch.Iknowyoumen.Whenyouwanttoavoidworkyougotothetownanddrinkwhilewe,yourslaves,mustliveintoilandsweat.’

‘I’llcomebacksoon.’‘Seehowyouturnyoureyes.Youcannotevenlookatmeintheface

becauseyouknowyou’llgoandstaytherethewholeday…’‘Now,now,justyoutrustmetocomebacksoon.’‘Theideaoftrustingyou!’

ThereweremanywaysfromMahuavillagetoKipanga.Youcouldfollowthebigroad.Itpassednearthetown.Oryoucouldfollowatrackthatwentthroughavalleyintothetown.

Inacountryofridges,suchasKikuyuland,therearemanyvalleysand

smallplains.Eventhebigroadwentthroughavalleyontheoppositeside.Wherethetwomettheyhadasitwereembracedandwidenedthemselvesintoaplain.Theplain,moreorlessrectangularinshape,hadfourvalleysleadingintooroutofitatthecorners.ThefirsttwovalleyswentintotheCountryoftheBlackPeople.TheothertwodividedthelandoftheBlackPeoplefromthelandoftheWhitePeople.Thismeantthattherewerefourridgesthatstoodandwatchedoneanother.Twooftheridgesontheoppositesidesofthelongsidesoftheplainwerebroadandnearoneanother.Theothertwowerenarrowandhadpointedends.YoucouldtellthelandofBlackPeoplebecauseitwasred,rough,andsickly,whilethelandofthewhitesettlerswasgreenandwasnotlaceratedintosmallstrips.

Kipangatownwasbuiltinthisfield.Itwasnotabigtownlikethebigcity.However,therewasoneshoefactoryandmanyblackpeopleearnedtheirlivingthere.TheIndianshopsweremany.TheIndiantradersweresaidtobeveryrich.Theytooemployedsomeblackboyswhomtheytreatedasnothing.YoucouldneverliketheIndiansbecausetheircustomswerestrangeandfunnyinabadway.Buttheirshopswerebigandwellstockedwiththings.Whitesettlers,withtheirwivesandchildren,oftencametotherichIndiansandboughtalltheywanted.TheIndiansfearedEuropeansandifyouwenttobuyinashopandawhitemanfoundyou,theIndianwouldstopsellingtoyouand,tremblingallover,wouldbegintoservehim.ButsomesaidthatthiswasacunningwaytodeceivethewhitewomenbecausewhentheIndiantrembledandwasall‘Yes,please,Memsahib,anythingmore?’thewomenwouldbereadytopayanypricetheyweretoldbecausetheythoughtanIndianwhofearedthemdarednotcheataboutprices.

BlackpeopletooboughtthingsfromtheIndians.ButtheyalsoboughtintheAfricanshopsthatstoodaloneononesideofthetownnearthepostoffice.TheAfricanshadnotmanythingsintheirstoreandtheygenerallychargedhigherpricessothatalthoughtheIndianswerenotlikedandtheyabusedwomen,usingdirtywordstheyhadlearntinSwahili,peoplefounditwiserandmoreconvenienttobuyfromthem.Somepeoplesaidthatblackpeopleshouldsticktogetherandtaketradeonlytotheirblackbrethren.Andonedayanoldpoorwomansaid,‘LetAfricanssticktogetherandchargeverylowprices.Weareallblack.Ifthisbenotso,thenwhygrudgeapoorwomanthechancetobuyfromsomeone,behewhiteorred,whochargeslessmoneyforhisthings?’

IntheIndianbazaar,blackpeoplemingledwithwhitepeopleandIndians.YoudidnotknowwhattocalltheIndian.Washealsoawhiteman?DidhetoocomefromEngland?SomepeoplewhohadbeentoBurmasaidthatIndianswerepoorintheircountryandwerealsoruledbywhitemen.TherewasamaninIndiacalledGandhi.Thismanwasastrangeprophet.HealwaysfoughtfortheIndianfreedom.Hewasathinmanandwasalwaysdressed

poorlyincalicostretchedoverhisbonybody.WalkingalongtheshopsyoucouldseehisphotographineveryIndianbuilding.TheIndianscalledhimBabuanditwassaidtheBabuwasactuallytheirgod.HehadtoldthemnottogotowarsothatwhileblackpeoplehadbeenconscriptedintothearmytheIndianshadutterlyrefusedandhadbeenleftalone.ItwasrumouredthatthewhitemeninKenyadidnotlikethembecausetheyhadrefusedtogotowaragainstHitler.ThisshowedthattheIndianswerecowards.TheAfricanswereinclinedtoagreewiththisideaofIndiancowardice.

TheAfricanshopswerebuiltintworowsthatfacedoneanother.Theairwasfullofnoiseand,nearthemeatshops,therewasastrongstenchofburningflesh.Someyoungmenspentalltheirtimedoingnothingbutloiteringintheshops.Somecouldworkthewholedayforapoundofmeat.Theywerecalledthelazyboysandpeopleinthevillagesaidthatsuchmenwouldlaterturntostealingandcrime.Thisthoughtalwaysmadepeopleshudderbecausemurderincoldbloodwasafoulthing.Amanwhomurderedwasforeveracurseinheavenandearth.Onecouldrecognisesuchboysbecausetheyweretobeseenhangingaroundteashops,meatshops,andevenintheIndianbazaar,waitingforanyerrandthatmightearnthemaday’smeal.AttimestheycalledthemselvesyoungHitlers.

Thebarber’sshopwasafamousplace.Thebarberhimselfwasashortbrownmanwithhairverycarefullybrushed.Hewasveryfunnyandhecouldtellstoriesthatmadepeoplelaugh.Thebarberkneweverybodyandeverybodyknewhim.Hewasnotcalledbyanyothernameexceptthebarber.Ifyousaidthatyoudidnotknowwhothebarberwas,orwherehisshopwas,peopleatonceknewthatyouwereeitherastrangerorafool.Afool,inthetown’svocabulary,meantamanwhohadawifewhowouldnotlethimleaveherlapevenforasecond.HowcouldanyoneaffordnottocallonthebarberwhoknewhowtosinganddanceandcouldspeakEnglish?

‘Ilearntitduringthebigwar.’‘Anditwasallthatbig?’(Thebarberletshisclippersgoflick–lick–lick–lick.Everyonestands

expectantlybywaitingtohearaboutthebigwar.Thebarbertakeshistime.)‘Myman,youwouldnotaskthatifyouhadbeenthere.Whatwithbombs

andmachinegunsthatwentboom-crunch!Boom-crunch!Troo!Troo!Andgrenadesandpeoplecryinganddying!Aha,Iwishyouhadbeenthere.’

‘Maybeitwaslikethefirstwar?’‘Ha!ha!ha!Thatwasababy’swar.Itwasonlyfoughthere.Those

Africanswhowenttothatonewereonlyporters.Butthisone…(Turnyourheadthisway.No,thisway.Yes,that’sit.)thisone,wecarriedgunsandweshotwhitemen.’

‘Whitemen?’‘Y-e-e-e-s.Theyarenotthegodswehadthoughtthemtobe.Weeven

sleptwiththeirwomen.’‘Ha!Howarethey–?’‘Notdifferent.Notdifferent.Ilikeagoodfleshyblackbodywithsweat.

Buttheyare…youknow…sothin…withoutflesh…nothing.’‘Butitwaswonderfulto…’‘Well!Beforeyoustarted…youthought…itwaseh–ehwonderful.But

after…itwasnothing.Andyouhadtopaysomemoney?’‘Arethere–?’‘Many!Manywhowerewillingtosell.AndthatwasinJerusalemofall

places.’Peoplearoundbecameamazed.‘Youdon’tmeantosaythatthere’ssuchaplaceasJerusalem?’‘Ha,ha,ha!Youdon’tknow.Youdon’tknow.Wehaveseenthingsand

places.Therenow,you’reready.No!Waitaminute(flick–lick).That’sallrightnow.Youlooksmart.HadyoubeentoJerusalem–’

‘Itisgettinglate!’‘Imustgo.Imustbuysomethingforthoseathome.’‘Metoo.ToldmywomenthatIwouldcomeandbuymeatforthem.Now

it’salmostdark.’‘Thesewomen!’‘Oyes,women!’Andwiththesewords,Ngothomadehiswaythroughthecrowdintothe

open.Healwayslovedtolistentothebarber.SomehowthetalkremindedhimofhisowntravelsandtroublesintheFirstWorldWar.Asaboyhehadbeenconscriptedandmadetocarrythingsforthefightingwhitemen.Healsohadtocleardarkbushandmakeroads.Then,heandtheotherswerenotallowedtouseguns.Butinthebarber’swar!Ah,thatwassomething.Hisowntwosonshadalsogonetothisone.Onlyonehadreturned.Andtheonewhohadreturnednevertalkedmuchabouttheactualwar,excepttosaythatithadbeenaterriblewasteoflife.

Ngothoboughtfourpoundsofmeat.Buttheywereboundintotwobundleseachoftwopounds.Onebundlewasforhisfirstwife,Njeri,andtheotherforNyokabi,hissecondwife.Ahusbandhadtobewiseintheseaffairs,otherwiseasmallflaworapparentbiascouldeasilygenerateacivilwarinthefamily.NotthatNgothofearedthisverymuch.Heknewthathistwowiveslikedeachotherandweregoodcompanionsandfriends.Butyoucouldnotquitetrustwomen.Theywerefickleandveryjealous.Whenawomanwasangry,noamountofbeatingwouldpacifyher.Ngothodidnotbeathiswives

much.Onthecontrary,hishomewaswellknownforbeingaplaceofpeace.Allthesame,onehadtobecareful.

Hewentacrossthefields.Hedidnotwanttofollowthebigroadorthevalleybecausethesetwowerelong.HewonderedwhatNyokabiandNjeriwouldsay.Hehadnotkepthiswordtobebacksoon.Butthen,hehadnotintendedtocomehomesoon.Hiswivesweregoodwomen.Itwasnoteasytogetsuchwomenthesedays.Itwasquitetruewhatthebarberhadsaidaboutafleshy,blackbodywithsweat.LookatthatMemsahibinwhosehusband’semploymenthewas.ShewassothinthatNgothoattimeswonderedifthewomanhadfleshatall.Whatdidamanwantsuchawifefor?Amanwantedafatwoman.SuchawomanhehadinNjeriandNyokabi,especiallywhenhemarriedthem.Buttimehadchangedthem…Hewonderedifthebarberhadquitetoldthetruth–thatbitaboutgoingwithawhitewoman.WhocouldbelievethatawhitewomanlikeMrsHowlandscouldmakeherselfcheapenoughtogowithblackmenformoney?Yetonecouldbelieveanythingthesedays.HewonderedifhissonBorohaddonesuchathing.Ofcourse,itwassomethingtohaveasonwhohad–butthethoughtofbuyingwasnotatallnice.Andiftheyhadnothingextra,well,itwasbettertohaveablackwoman.

‘Howquickyou’vebeen!’Nyokabiwelcomedhim.‘Youknowmenarealwaysv-e-r-yquick,’addedNjeriinthesame

sarcastictone.Thetwowomenusuallystayedtogetherto‘hasten’or‘shorten’thenight.Ngothowasinwardlypleased.Heknewthatwhentheyadoptedthattonetheymeanttobefriendly.

‘Iwenttothebarber.’‘Asifwecouldnothaveusedarazorbladetoclearoffyourhair.’‘Well,timesarechanging.AsBwanaHowlandssays–’‘Youwanttobeamodernwhiteman.’‘Youaretwotroublesomewomen.Takethismeatfirst.’Nyokabitookhershare,andNjerihers.‘Nowit’stimeformetogoanddisturbtheyoungpeople,’saidNjeri.All

thesonsofNgothowithotheryoungmenandwomenfromMahuaridgewereinNjeri’shut.Theyusuallywenttheretoshortenthenight.AtsuchtimesNjeriwouldleavetheyoungpeopleandshewouldgotositwithNyokabi.WhentheywenttoNyokabi’shutshetoowoulddolikewise,leavethem,andgotovisitNjeri.Butsomenights,theyoungpeoplewantedtohearstoriesfromNgothoorfromthewomen.Atsuchtimestheyallwouldbeinthesameplace.

‘TellNjorogetocomeandshowhisnewclothestohisfather,NyokabitoldNjeriasthelatterleft.

Ngothowasproudthathissonwouldstartlearning.Whenanybodynowaskedhimwhetherhehadtakenanyofhissonstoschool,hewouldproudlysay,‘Yes!’ItmadehimfeelalmostequaltoJacobo.

‘Whenishebeginning?’‘OnMonday.’‘Doesheliketheidea?’‘Helookedhappy.’Shewasright.Njoroge’shearthadfeltlikeburstingwithhappinessand

gratitudewhenhehadknownthathe,likeMwihaki,thedaughterofJacobo,wouldstartlearninghowtoreadandwrite.

OceanofPDF.com

2

OnMonday,Njorogewenttoschool.Hedidnotquiteknowwhereitwas.Hehadnevergonethere,thoughheknewthedirectiontoit.Mwihakitookhimandshowedhimtheway.Mwihakiwasayounggirl.Njorogehadalwaysadmiredher.Oncesomeherd-boyshadquarrelledwithMwihaki’sbrothers.Theyhadthrownstonesandonehadstruckher.Thentheboyshadrunawayfollowedbyherbrothers.Shehadbeenleftalonecrying.Njoroge,whohadbeenwatchingthescenefromadistance,hadapproachedandfeltlikesoothingtheweepingchild.Nowshe,themoreexperienced,wastakinghimtoschool.

MwihakiwasadaughterofJacobo.JacoboownedthelandonwhichNgotholived.NgothowasaMuhoi.NjorogehadnevercometounderstandhowhisfatherhadbecomeaMuhoi.Maybeachilddidnotknowsuchmatters.Theyweretoodeepforhim.Jacobohadsmallboysandonebigsonandbigdaughter.Thebigdaughterwasateacher.HernamewasLucia.NjorogealwaysthoughtLuciaanicename.Allhissistershaduglynames.NotlikeLucia.

Theotherboyswererough.Theylaughedathimandmadecoarsejokesthatshockedhim.Hisformerhighregardofschoolboyswasshaken.Hethoughtthathewouldneverliketomakesuchjokes.Nyokabi,hismother,wouldbeangryifhedid.

Oneboytoldhim,‘YouareaNjuka.’‘No!IamnotaNju-u-ka,’hesaid.‘Whatareyou?’‘IamNjoroge.’Theylaughedheartily.Hefeltannoyed.Hadhesaidanythingfunny?Anotherboycommandedhim,‘Carrythisbag.You’reaNjuka.’Hewasgoingtotakeit.ButMwihakicametohisrescue.‘HeismyNjuka.Youcannottouchhim.’Somelaughed.Otherssneered.‘LeaveMwihaki’sNjukaalone.’‘HeisMwihaki’sboy.’‘He’llmakeagoodhusband.ANjukatobeahusbandofMwihaki.’‘ANjukaisaNjuka.Hemustcarrymybagforme.’AllthistalkembarrassedandconfusedNjoroge.Hedidnotknowwhatto

do.Mwihakiwasannoyed.Sheburstout,‘Yes,heismyNjuka.Letanyof

youtouchhim.’Silencefollowed.Njorogewasgrateful.Apparentlytheboysfearedher

becausehersisterwasateacherandMwihakimightreportthem.Theschoollookedastrangeplace.Butfascinating.Thechurchhugeand

hollow,attractedhim.Itlookedhaunted.HeknewitwastheHouseofGod.Butsomeboysshoutedwhiletheywereinthere.Thistooshockedhim.Hehadbeenbroughtuptorespectallholyplaces,likegraveyardsandthebusharoundfigtrees.

Theteacherworeawhiteblouseandagreenskirt.Njorogelikedthewhiteandgreenbecauseitwaslikeabloomingwhitefloweronagreenplant.Grassinthiscountrywasgreeninwetweatherandflowersbloomedwhiteallovertheland,especiallyinNjahiseason.Njoroge,however,fearedherwhentwodayslatershebeataboy,whack!whack!(‘Bringtheotherhand’)whack!whack!whack!Thestickbrokeintobits.Njorogecouldalmostfeelthepain.Itwasasifitwasbeingcommunicatedtohimwithoutphysicalcontact.Theteacherlookeduglywhileshepunished.Njorogehatedseeinganybodybeingthrashedandhewassorryfortheboy.ButheshouldnothavebulliedaNjuka.ItwasonthatdaythatNjorogelearntthatNjukawasthenamegiventoanewcomer.

Njorogeusuallykeptalone.Andhealwaysreachedhomeearlierthantheotherboysofthevillage.Hedidnotwanttoreachhomeinthedark.Badboyswalkedslowlyafterschool,foriftheyreachedhomeearlytheywouldbeaskedtohelpintheeveningchores.Whentheyreachedhometheysaid,‘TeacherLucia(orIsaac)keptuslate.’

Butsometimestheywerefoundoutandtheywerebeaten.Njorogedidnotlikebeingbeaten.

Afterthreeweekshemadehismotherangry.ItwasthefaultofMwihaki.Shehadaskedhimtowaitforhersotheymightgohometogether.Afterall,theirhomeswereneareachother.Besides,shesaid,shefearedcertainboys.Njorogewaspleased.Togethertheytooktheroadhomeslowly,chatting.Whentheyreachedthetopofthehillthatwasneartheirvillage,theysatthereandbeganplaying.Itwassweettoplaywithagirlandespeciallyifthatgirlcamefromafamilyhigherupthesocialscalethanone’sown.Shelookedmorepreciousbecauserare.Shewassmallanddelicate.HesoonforgotthatthesunwassinkingwhileheandMwihakicompetedinthrowingstonestoseewhocouldthrowthefarthest.Andthatwasthetimehismotherhadcomeandseenthem.Nyokabihadwatchedthesunslowlysinkhomewithouthersonappearing.Shehadbecomeworriedabouthimandwithananxiousheart

hadcometolookforhim.Njorogewasnotbeaten.Butheknewtoowellthatshewasannoyed.Shedidnotwanthersontoassociatewithafamilyoftherichbecauseitwouldnotbehealthyforhim.

NjorogethoughtitallMwihaki’sfault.Andhethoughtherabadgirlandpromisedhimselfthathewouldnotplaywithheranymore.Orevenwaitforher.

Hecamehomeonedayandfoundhismothershellingsomecastoroilseedsfromtheirpods.Sheoftendidthisandwhensheaccumulatedenoughafteranumberofmonthsshesoldthematthemarket.

‘Mother,letmehelpyou.’‘Goanddoyourschoolworkfirst.’Nyokabiwasproudofhavingasoninschool.Itmadehersoulhappyand

lightheartedwhenevershesawhimbendingdoubleoveraslateorrecountingtoherwhathehadseenatschool.Shefeltelatedwhensheorderedhersontogoanddosomereadingorsomesums.Itwastoherthegreatestrewardshewouldgetfromhermotherhoodifsheonedayfoundhersonwritingletters,doingarithmetic,andspeakingEnglish.ShetriedtoimaginewhattheHowlandswomanmusthavefelttohaveadaughterandasoninschool.Shewantedtobethesame.OrbelikeJuliana.JulianawasthewifeofJacoboandshemustsurelyhavefeltproudtohaveadaughterwhowasateacherandasonwhowouldprobablybeflyingtoforeignpartssoon.Thatwassomething.Thatwasreallife.Itdidnotmatterifanyonediedpoorprovidedheorshecouldonedaysay:‘Look,I’veasonasgoodandaswelleducatedasanyyoucanfindintheland!’

Youdidnotneedtobeeducatedtoknowthis.Hermother’sinstinctthatyearnedforsomethingbroaderthanthatwhichcouldbehadfromhersocialcircumstancesandconditionssawthis.ThatwaswhyshehadimpressedonherhusbandNgothotheneedforonesontobelearned.Herothersonhaddiedinthebigwar.Ithadhurthermuch.Whyshouldhehavediedinawhiteman’swar?Shedidnotwanttosacrificewhatwasherstootherpeople.IfNjorogecouldnowgetallthewhiteman’slearning,wouldNgothoevenworkforHowlandsandespeciallyasthewifewasreputedtobeahardwoman?Again,wouldtheyasafamilycontinuelivingasAhoiinanotherman’sland,amanwhoclearlyresentedtheirstay.Alotofmotiveshadindeedcombinedintoonedesire,thedesiretohaveasonwhohadacquiredallthelearningthattherewas.Thesedayssheeventhoughtthatifshehadmuchmoneyshewouldsendhermarrieddaughterstoschool.AllwouldthenhaveaschoolingthatwouldatleastenablethemtospeakEnglish.

‘Mother,youmusttellmeallthosestoriesagain,’heimploredashekneltdowntohelpinspiteofherrejectionofhisoffer.

‘Hmmmm,’shemurmuredassheblewsomerubbishawayfromtheseedsshehadinherhands.Shepausedforamomentandsmiled.

‘Youcunningyoungman.Isthatwhyyouofferedtohelp,eh?’‘Mother,youmust,’hesaidearnestly.‘WhymustI?’sheaskedcarelesslyassheresumedherwork.‘Iwastoldtotellastorytoday.ThestoryyoutoldusabouttheIrimu

cametomind.ButwhenIstoodinfrontoftheclassandalleyeswerefixedonme,Iwasafraid.’Hepaused.‘Ilostthestory.’Hefinisheddramaticallyinatragictoneasifsuchincidentsrarelyhappened.

‘Amanshouldneverbeafraid.Youshouldhavescratchedyourheadforanotherstory.Youhavemany.OrdoyourelderMotherandmyselfwasteourtimetellingyouallthosestoriesaboutthetribe?’

‘Itellyou,Mother,Iforgotallofthem.’HepleadedwithsuchgreatvigourthatNyokabiwasforcedtolaugh.Njorogecouldbeveryseriousaboutcertainthings.

Butnowhetoolaughed.Helovedhismothersowhenshelaughed.Shehadrichmilk-whiteteeth,whichtimehaddonenothingtoharm.

‘Niwega,allright.I’lltellyousomeintheevening…Oh,Iforgot.Yourmotherwantsyoutorunforyourbrother.Nowdothatatonce.’

Hewentintothehut,threwdownhisslate,andthenrushedout.‘Njoroge!Njoroge!’Hecameback.‘Don’tyoutakeoffyourschoolclothes?’Hefeltashamed.Heshouldnothaveforgotten.Hewentbacktothehut

andtookofftheschoolclothes.Heputontheoldpieceofcalico.Thistoohadbeenpartofthecontract.Itwasnecessarytopreservetheclothesintactforaslongaspossible.

ThepathhefollowedpassedjustbelowMwihaki’shome.Thehouseswerehiddenbyabighedgeofgrowingfirtreesthatsurroundedthehousehold.Youcouldseethecorrugatedironroofandthewoodenwallsoftheimposingbuildingthroughanopeningortwointhehedge.Njorogehadbeenthere,outinthecourtyard,anumberoftimeswhenheandotherswenttocollectmoneyforpickingpyrethrumflowersforJacobo.TheplacelookedlikeaEuropean’shouse,andNjorogewasalwaysoverawedbytheatmospherearoundthewholecompound.Hehadneverbeeninthebigbuildingandhewasalwayscurioustoknowwhattheinsidelookedlike.

Buthehadoncebeeninthekitchen.Thekitchenwasaseparatebuilding,around,mud-walled,grass-thatchedhutthatwasusedforallthecooling.Itwasalsowheretheservantsslept.HehadbeentothatkitchenonChristmasDaywhenmanychildrenwhousuallyworkedforJacobowereinvitedforapartybyJuliana.Shewasafatwoman,withabeautifulroundfaceandhaughtyeyes.Butshewaskindwithchildrenandonthatoccasionshehad

boughtmuchbread.Howappetisingitalllookedasitlayonatraynearby,formingasharp-pointedgleamingwhitehill!Njoroge’smouthhadwateredandhehadalotofdifficultyinswallowingthesalivaforfearofmakingsomeaudiblesoundatthethroatthatwouldbetrayhimtohishostessandherchildren.Butthetragicpartoftheday’sproceedingscamewhentheywerealltoldtoshuttheireyesforgrace.ItwasduringgracethatonechildhadmadeafunnysoundwhichhadatoncemadeNjorogegiggle.Butnosoonerdidhebegingigglingthanhewasjoinedbyanother,whogiggledevenmoreloudly,tillbothofthemnowburstoutinopenlaughter,whichinturncausedthelonggracetobecutshort.Thechildrenwerehungry.JulianawasannoyedandgaveNjorogeandallthechildrenthereassembledalonglecture.Ifthey(theunfortunatetwo)hadbeenherownchildrenwhohadmisbehaved,shesaidquiteclearlythattheywouldhavegonewithoutamealfortwodays.Butherchildrenwouldneverhavedonesuchathing.ShehadbroughtthemuptovalueUstaarabuandtherulesofgoodmanners.Shehadconcludedherspeechbysayingthatitwasherconsideredopinionthatallchildrenshouldbebroughtupasshedidhers.Becausepeople,however,didnotdothis,sheneverlikedherchildrentoassociatewithprimitivehomes.Njorogesensedthatthewayhehadbeenbroughtupwasbeingcriticised.ItwasonthatdaythatNjorogehadcometovalueMwihaki,forafterthelectureshehadtakengreaterinterestinhim,perhapstosoothehishurtfeelings.Allthiswasalongwayback.

BeforeNjorogewentveryfar,hesawhercomingalongthesamepathbutfromtheoppositedirection.Ifhewentonhewouldmeether.Suddenlyherealisedthathedidnotwanttomeetherwhilehehadonthatpieceofcalicowhich,whenblownbythewind,leftthelowerpartofhisbodywithoutcovering.Foratimehewasirresoluteandhatedhimselfforfeelingashedidabouttheclotheshehadon.Beforehehadstartedschool,infactevenwhilehemadethatcovenantwithhismother,hewouldneverhavethoughtthathewouldeverbeashamedofthecalico,theonlydresshehadeverknownsincebirth.

Heturnedtotheleftandfollowedanotherpath.AllaroundhimwastheslopingpyrethrumfieldthatbelongedtoJacobo.Below,aforest.FurtherdownstillweretheIndianandAfricanshops.Butonlyafewroofscouldbeseen.ThelandbelongingtoMrHowlandswasadjacenttooneofthesmaller,narrowridgesthatcouldbeseenontheright.ThatwaswhereNgotho,Njoroge’sfather,worked.Njorogealwayspassednearthereonhiswaytoschool.

Heleftthepyrethrumfield,tookanotherturntojointheroutehehadavoided,andthenwentintothenextfield.HecouldjustseeNganga’shousehold.Ngangawasthevillagecarpenter.Kamauwasapprenticedtohim.Ngothohadtopayahugefattenedhe-goatandahundredandfiftyshillings

ontop.Ngangawasrich.Hehadland.Anymanwhohadlandwasconsideredrich.Ifamanhadplentyofmoney,manymotorcars,butnoland,hecouldneverbecountedasrich.Amanwhowentwithtatteredclothesbuthadatleastanacreofredearthwasbetteroffthanthemanwithmoney.Ngangacouldaffordthreewives,althoughhewasyoungerthanNgotho.Hehadnotbeentothefirstorindeedthesecondwar.Buthewassaidtobeclever,althoughhewasalittlebitroughandnotquitehonest.Everybodyinthevillagetookapanga,ajembe,oraknifetohimfortherepairoftheirhandles.Healsorepairedbrokenfencesandmadetablesandbedsofallsorts.Andhecouldtellastory.Thiswasconsideredagoodthingforaman.

Njorogehadnotreachedthecourtyardwhenhesawhisbrothercoming.Kamauhadjustfinishedhisduties.Njorogewasgladwhenhesawhimfor,althoughKamauwasolder,theygotonwell.

‘Let’sgo,brother,’saidKamauashepulledNjorogebythehand.Helookedgloomy.

‘Today,you’relate.’‘Itisthisman!’Njorogethoughtthatsomethingwaswrong.Itwasnotoftenthathis

brotherwassoangry.‘Ishenotagoodman?’‘Goodman!IfIdidn’tknowthatFatherwouldbeannoyedafterpaying

allthatmoney,Iwouldstopcominghere.Ihavenowbeenwithhimforsixmonthsyetitwasonlyyesterdaythathefirstallowedmetohandleaplane.Heisalwaystellingme,“Holdhere!Holdthere!”andalwaysaskingmetowatchandnotecarefully.Howcanamanlearnbywatchingwithoutpractice?Surelynotbysweepingtheyardandtakingawaytherubbishandcarryingthetoolsforhim.ButifItouchsomething!Andyouknow,’andhereKamauspokeindisgust,‘hisyoungestwifeactuallymakesmeholdherchildjustasifshewasaEuropeanwomanandIherAyah.Ohdearme!Itissuchadirtylittlethingthatkeepsonhowlingand–!’

‘Whydon’tyoutellFather?’‘Youdon’tknow.FatherwouldobviouslytakeNganga’sside,especially

onthequestionofwatching,becausethisishowpeopleusedtolearntradesintheoldentimes.Theydon’trealisethatthingsarechanging!’

Theykeptsilentforawhileastheymadetheirwayhomeinthegatheringgloom,thepreludetodarkness.ThenNjoroge,asifhehadsuddenlythoughtupagreatquestion,asked,‘Butwhydoeshetreatyoulikethat?Heisablackman.’

‘Blacknessisnotallthatmakesaman,’Kamausaidbitterly.‘Therearesomepeople,betheyblackorwhite,whodon’twantotherstoriseabovethem.Theywanttobethesourceofallknowledgeandshareitpiecemealtootherslessendowed.Thatiswhat’swrongwithallthesecarpentersandmen

whohaveacertainknowledge.Itisthesamewithrichpeople.Arichmandoesnotwantotherstogetrichbecausehewantstobetheonlymanwithwealth.’

‘Probably,’Njorogesaid,impressed.HehadneverheardKamauspeaksomuchatlength.

‘…SomeEuropeansarebetterthanAfricans.’AgainNjorogewasimpressed.‘That’swhyyouattimeshearFathersaythathewouldratherworkfora

whiteman.Awhitemanisawhiteman.Butablackmantryingtobeawhitemanisbadandharsh.’

NjorogecouldnotquitefollowKamau.Buthepitiedhisbrotherandvowedthathehimselfwouldnotbecomeacarpenter.Theonlygoodthingwaseducation.Hetriedtochangethesubject.

‘Motherwilltellusastory.’‘Oh,willshe?’Bothlovedstories.Storytellingwasacommonentertainmentintheir

family.Kori,likeNgotho,wasagoodstorytellerandcouldkeepawholecompanylisteningandlaughing.Boro,whohadbeentothewar,didnotknowmanytribalstories.Hedrankalotandhewasalwayssadandwithdrawn.Henevertalkedmuchabouthiswarexperiencesexceptwhenhewasdrunkorwhenhewasinamoodofresentmentagainstthegovernmentandsettlers.

‘Wefoughtforthem,wefoughttosavethemfromthehandsoftheirwhitebrothers…’

Thenonsuchoccasions,hemighttalkjustalittleabouttheactualfighting.ButheveryrarelyalludedtoMwangi’sdeath.Itwascommonknowledgethattheyhadlovedeachotherverymuch.Beforethewar,ithadalwaysbeensaidthatsuchlovebetweenbrotherswasunnaturalandportendednogood.

Boro,Kori,andKamauwereallsonsofNjeri,Ngotho’seldestwife.Njoroge’sonlytruebrotherwasMwangiwhohaddiedinthewar.Buttheyallbehavedasiftheywereofonemother.KoriworkedinanAfricanteashopcalledGreenHotel.GreenHotelwasaverydirtyplace,fullofbuzzingflies,whilethestenchofdecayhungintheairlikeaheavycloud.Butitwasaverypopularplacebecausetherewasawirelessset.NjorogelookedforwardtoKori’shomecomingbecausehebroughtwithhimthetowngossipandwhatwashappeninginthecountry.Forinstance,whenJomocamefromBritain,itwasKoriwhobroughtthenewshome.Homewasespeciallyaniceplacewhenallthebrothersandmanyvillagegirlsandboyscameintheeveningand,sittingaroundthefireplaceinabigcircle,theywouldgossip,laugh,andplay.Njorogealwayslongedforthedayhewouldbeaman,forthenhewouldhavethefreedomtositwithbigcircumcisedgirlsandtouchthemashesawtheyoungmendo.

Butsometimeshisbrothersdidnotcome.Homethenwasdull.Butthemotherscouldtellstories.AndNgothotoo,whenhewasinthemood.

‘Oureldermotherwantedyou,’Njorogesaidwhentheyreachedhome.Itwasalreadydark.WhileNjeriwasalways‘our’or‘myeldermother’,Nyokabi,beingtheyoungerwife,wasalwaysjust‘Mother’.Itwasahabitobservedandacceptedbyall.

‘Whatdoesshewant?’‘Idon’tknow.’Kamaubegantomove.Njorogestoodandwatchedinsilence.Thenhe

raisedhisvoice.‘Remembertocomebacktoourhut.Yourememberthestory.’

‘Yes,’Kamaureplied.Hisvoicesoundedthininthedark.LaterintheeveningKamaucametoNyokabi’shut.‘Tellusthestory.’‘Now,now,don’tbetroublesome,’Nyokabisaid.‘Itisabadwomanthis.IfIhadbeenmyfather,Iwouldnothavemarried

her.’KamaulikedteasingNyokabi.Tonighthisteasingsoundedforced.Itdidnotprovokelaughter.

‘Oh!Buthecouldnotresistme.’‘Itisn’ttrue,’saidNgotho,whojustthenenteredthehut.‘Youshould

haveseenhowhappyshewaswhenIproposedtoher.Nobodycouldhavetakenher.SoIpitiedher.’

‘Irefusedalltheyoungmenthatwantedme.ButyourfatherwouldhavediedifIhadrefusedhim.’

‘Don’tyoubelieveawordshesays!’Ngothowasgivenfood.Hebegantoeatandforatimetherewasan

awkwardsilence.Thechildrencouldnotjokeintheirfather’spresence.Njorogebrokethesilence.

‘Tellusastory.Youpromised,youknow.’‘Youchildren!Youneveraskyourfathertotellyoustories.Tonighthe

willtellyou,’shesaidsmilinglytowardsherhusband.Shewashappy.‘IfyouallcometomyThingira,I’lltellyouoneortwo.’Njorogefearedhisfather.Butitalwaysmadehimfeelgoodtolistento

him.

‘…Therewaswindandrain.Andtherewasalsothunderandterriblelightning.TheearthandtheforestaroundKerinyagashook.TheanimalsoftheforestwhomtheCreatorhadrecentlyputtherewereafraid.Therewasnosunlight.Thiswentonformanydayssothatthewholelandwasindarkness.Becausetheanimalscouldnotmove,theyjustsatandmoanedwithwind.Theplantsandtreesremaineddumb.Itwas,ourelderstellus,alldeadexceptfor

thethunder,aviolencethatseemedtostranglelife.Itwasthisdarknightwhosedepthyoucouldnotmeasure,notyouorIcanconceiveofitssolidblackness,whichwouldnotletthesunpiercethroughit.

‘Butinthisdarkness,atthefootofKerinyaga,atreerose.Atfirstitwasasmalltreeandgrewup,findingawayeventhroughthedarkness.Itwantedtoreachthelight,andthesun.ThistreehadLife.Itwentup,up,sendingforththerichwarmthofablossomingtree–youknowaholytreeinthedarknightofthunderandmoaning.ThiswasMukuyu,God’stree.Now,youknowthatatthebeginningofthingstherewasonlyoneman(Gikuyu)andonewoman(Mumbi).ItwasunderthisMukuyuthathefirstputthem.Andimmediatelythesunrose,andthedarknightmeltedaway.Thesunshonewithawarmththatgavelifeandactivitytoallthings.Thewindandlightningandthunderstopped.Theanimalsstoppedwonderingandmoved.TheynolongermoanedbutgavehomagetotheCreatorandGikuyuandMumbi.AndtheCreatorwhoisalsocalledMurungutookGikuyuandMumbifromhisholymountain.HetookthemtothecountryofridgesnearSirianaandtherestoodthemonabigridgebeforehefinallytookthemtoMukuruwewaGathangaaboutwhichyouhaveheardsomuch.Buthehadshownthemalltheland–yes,children,GodshowedGikuyuandMumbiallthelandandtoldthem,

“ThislandIhandovertoyou.OManandwomanIt’syourstoruleandtillinserenitysacrificingOnlytome,yourGod,undermysacredtree…”’

TherewassomethingstrangeinNgotho’seyes.Helookedasifhehadforgottenallaboutthosewhowerepresent:Kamau,Njoroge,Boro,Kori,andmanyotheryoungmenandwomenwhohadcometomakethelonghoursofnightshorterbylisteningtostories.Itwasasifhewastellingasecretforthefirsttime,buttohimself.Borosatinacorner.Theexpressiononhisfacecouldnotbeseen.Hedidnotoncemovebutkeptonlookingpasthisfather.ItwasasifBoroandNgothoweretheonlytwowhowerethereatthebeginningwhenthesethingscametobe.Njorogetoocouldimaginethescene.Hesawthesunriseandshineonadarknight.Hesawfear,gloom,andterrorofthelivingthingsofthecreator,meltingaway,touchedbythewarmthoftheholytree.Itmusthavebeenanewworld.ThemanandwomanmusthavebeenblessedtowalkinthenewKingdomwithMurungu.HewishedhehadbeentheretostandnearHiminHisholyplaceandsurveyalltheland.Njorogecouldnothelpexclaiming,

‘Wheredidthelandgo?’Everyonelookedathim.

‘…Iamoldnow.ButItoohaveaskedthatquestioninwakingandsleeping.I’vesaid,“Whathappened,OMurungu,tothelandthatyougavetous?Where,OCreator,wentourpromisedland?”AttimesI’vewantedtocryorharmmybodytodriveawaythecursethatremovedusfromtheancestrallands.Iask,“Haveyouleftyourchildrennaked,OMurungu?”

‘I’lltellyou.TherewasabigdroughtsenttothelandbyeviloneswhomusthavebeenjealousoftheprosperityofthechildrenoftheGreatOne.ButmaybealsothechildrenofMumbiforgottoburnasacrificetoMurungu.SohedidnotshedHisblessedtearsthatmakecropsgrow.Thesunburntfreely.Plaguecametotheland.Cattlediedandpeopleshrankinsize.ThencamethewhitemanashadlongbeenprophesiedbyMugowaKibiro,thatGikuyuseerofold.Hecamefromthecountryofridges,farawayfromhere.Mugohadtoldthepeopleofthecomingofthewhiteman.Hehadwarnedthetribe.Sothewhitemancameandtooktheland.Butatfirstnotthewholeofit.

‘Thencamethewar.Itwasthefirstbigwar.Iwasthenyoung,amereboy,althoughcircumcised.Allofusweretakenbyforce.Wemaderoadsandclearedtheforesttomakeitpossibleforthewarringwhitemantomovemorequickly.Thewarended.Wewerealltired.Wecamehomeworn-outbutveryreadyforwhatevertheBritishmightgiveusasareward.But,morethanthis,wewantedtogobacktothesoilandcourtittoyield,tocreate,nottodestroy.ButNg’o!Thelandwasgone.Myfatherandmanyothershadbeenmovedfromourancestrallands.Hediedlonely,apoormanwaitingforthewhitemantogo.Mugohadsaidthiswouldcometobe.ThewhitemandidnotgoandhediedaMuhoionthisveryland.ItthenbelongedtoChahirabeforehesoldittoJacobo.Igrewuphere,butworking…(hereNgotholookedallaroundthesilentfacesandthencontinued)…workingonthelandthatbelongedtoourancestors…’

‘YoumeanthelandthatHowlandsfarms?’Boro’svoicewascracked,butclear.

‘Yes.Thesameland.Myfathershoweditalltome.Ihaveworkedtheretoo,waitingfortheprophecytobefulfilled.’

‘Anddoyouthinkitwilleverbefulfilled?’ItwasKoriwhoaskedthistobreakthesilencethatfollowedNgotho’sreply.

‘Idon’tknow.Onceinthecountryoftheridgeswherethehillsandridgeslietogetherlikelions,amanrose.Peoplethoughtthathewasthemanwhohadbeensenttodriveawaythewhiteman.Buthewaskilledbywickedpeoplebecausehesaidpeopleshouldstandtogether.I’vewaitedfortheprophecy.Itmaynotbefulfilledinmylifetime…butO,Murungu,Iwishitcould.’

Someonecoughed.Thensilence.Fromacorner,ayoungmantriedtomakeajokeaboutthecomingofthewhitemanandwhatpeoplethoughtofhisskin.Nobodyheededhim.Helaughedaloneandthenstopped.For

Njorogeitwasasurprisingrevelation,thisknowledgethatthelandoccupiedbyMrHowlandsoriginallybelongedtothem.

Borothoughtofhisfatherwhohadfoughtinthewaronlytobedispossessed.Hetoohadgonetowar,againstHitler.HehadgonetoEgypt,Jerusalem,andBurma.Hehadseenthings.Hehadoftenescapeddeathnarrowly.Butthethinghecouldnotforgetwasthedeathofhisstepbrother,Mwangi.Forwhomorforwhathadhedied?

Whenthewarcametoanend,Borohadcomehome,nolongeraboybutamanwithexperienceandideas,onlytofindthatforhimtherewastobenoemployment.Therewasnolandonwhichhecouldsettle,evenifhehadbeenabletodoso.Ashelistenedtothisstory,allthesethingscameintohismindwithagrowinganger.Howcouldthesepeoplehaveletthewhitemanoccupythelandwithoutacting?Andwhatwasallthissuperstitiousbeliefinaprophecy?

Inawhisperthatsoundedlikeashout,hesaid,‘Tohellwiththeprophecy.’

Yes,thiswasnothingmorethanawhisper.Tohisfather,hesaid,‘Howcanyoucontinueworkingforamanwhohastakenyourland?Howcanyougoonservinghim?’

Hewalkedout,withoutwaitingforananswer.

OceanofPDF.com

3

Ngotholeftearlyforwork.Hedidnotgothroughthefieldsaswashisusualcustom.Ngotholovedtherainyseasonswheneverythingwasgreenandthecropsinflower,andthemorningdewhungontheleaves.Butthetrackwherehehaddisturbedtheplantsandmadethewaterrunoffmadehimfeelasif,throughhisownfault,hehadlostsomething.Therewasonetimewhenhehadfeltadesiretotouchthedewdropsoropenoneandseewhatitheldhiddeninside.Hehadtrembledlikeachildbut,afterhehadtouchedthedropsandtheyhadquicklylostshapemeltingintowetness,hefeltashamedandmovedon.AttimeshewasthankfultoMurungufornoapparentreasonashewentthroughthesecultivatedfieldsallalonewhilethewholecountryhadastillness.Almostlikethestillnessofdeath.

Thismorninghewalkedalongtheroad–thebigtarmacroadthatwaslongandbroadandhadnobeginningandnoendexceptthatitwentintothecity.Motorcarspassedhim.Menandwomen,goingtowork,someinthesettledareaandsomeintheshoefactory,chatteredalong.ButNgothowasnotawareofanythingthatwentbyhim.Whyhadhebehavedlikethatinfrontofallthosechildren?ThevoiceofBorohadcutdeepintohim,cutintoallthelonelyyearsofwaiting.Perhapsheandothershadwaitedfortoolongandnowhefearedthatthiswasbeingtakenasanexcuseforinactivity,orworse,abetrayal.

HecametotheIndianshops.Yearsago,hehadworkedhere.Thatwaslongbeforethesecondwar.HehadworkedforanIndianwhohadalwaysowedhimamonth’spay.Thiswasdeliberate.ItwasmeanttobeacompellingdevicetokeepNgothointheIndian’semploymentpermanently.Forifheleft,hewouldloseamonth’spay.Intheend,hehadtoloseit.ThatwasthetimehewenttoworkforMrHowlands–asaShambaboy.Butatfirsthedideverythingfromworkingintheteaplantationstocleaningthebighouseandcarryingfirewood.HepassedthroughtheAfricanshops,nearthebarber’sshop,andwenton,ontothesameplacewherehehadnowbeenforyears,evenbeforethesecondbigwartookhistwosonsawaytokilloneandchangetheother.

MrHowlandswasup.Heneversleptmuch.NotlikeMemsahibwhosometimesremainedinbeduntilteno’clock.Shehadnotmuchelsetodo.TherewassomethinginHowlands,almostaflickerofmystery,thatNgothocouldneverfathom.

‘Goodmorning,Ngotho.’‘Goodmorning,Bwana.’‘Hadagoodnight?’‘NdioBwana.’NgothowastheonlymanMrHowlandsgreetedinthisfashion–afashion

thatnevervaried.Hespokeintheusualabstractmannerasifhismindwaspreoccupiedwithsomethingbig.Itwasatanyratesomethingthattookallhisattention.Hismindwasalwaysdirectedtowardstheshamba.Hislifeandsoulwereintheshamba.Everythingelsewithhimcountedonlyinsofarasitwasrelatedtotheshamba.Evenhiswifematteredonlyinsofarasshemadeitpossibleforhimtoworkinitmoreefficientlywithoutaworryabouthome.Forheleftthemanagementofhometoherandknewnothingaboutwhathappenedthere.Ifheemployedsomeoneinthehouse,itwasonlybecausehiswifehadaskedforanextra‘boy’.Andifshelaterbeatthe‘boy’andwantedhimsacked,well,whatdiditmatter?Itwasnotjustthattheboyshadblackskins.Thequestionofwantingtoknowmoreabouthisservantsjustnevercrossedhismind.

TheonlymanhehadresistedtheeffortsofhiswifetohavesackedwasNgotho.NotthatMrHowlandsstoppedtoanalysehisfeelingstowardshim.HejustlovedtoseeNgothoworkinginthefarm;thewaytheoldmantouchedthesoil,almostfondling,andthewayhetendedtheyoungteaplantsasiftheywerehisown…Ngothowastoomuchapartofthefarmtobeseparatedfromit.Somethingelse.Hecouldmanagethefarmlabourersasnootherpersoncould.Ngothohadcometohimatatimewhenhismoneypositionwasbad.ButwiththecomingofNgotho,thingsandhisfortuneimproved.

MrHowlandswastall,heavilybuilt,withanoval-shapedfacethatendedinadoublechinandabigstomach.Inphysicalappearanceatleast,hewasatypicalKenyasettler.HewasaproductoftheFirstWorldWar.Afteryearsofsecurityathome,hehadbeensuddenlycalledtoarmsandhehadgonetothewarwiththefireofyouththatimagineswaraglory.Butafterfouryearsofbloodandterribledestruction,likemanyotheryoungmenhewasutterlydisillusionedbythe‘peace’.Hehadtoescape.EastAfricawasagoodplace.Herewasabigtraceofwildcountrytoconquer.

ForalongtimeEnglandremainedacountryfaraway.Hedidnotwanttogobackbecauseofwhatheremembered.Buthesoonfoundthathewantedawife.Hecouldnotgoaboutwiththenativesassomehaddone.Hewentback‘home’,astranger,andpickedthefirstwomanhecouldget.Suzannahwasa

goodgirl–neitherbeautifulnorugly.ShetoowasboredwithlifeinEngland.Butshehadneverknownwhatshewantedtodo.Africasoundedquiteaniceplacesoshehadwillinglyfollowedthismanwhowouldgiveherachange.ButshehadnotknownthatAfricameanthardshipandcompletebreakwithEurope.Sheagainbecamebored.MrHowlandswasobliviousofherboredom.Hebelievedherwhenshehadtoldhim,outinEngland,thatshecouldfacethelifeinthebush.

Butshesoonhadawoman’sconsolation.Shehadherfirstchild,ason.Sheturnedherattentiontothechildandtheservantsathome.Shecouldnowaffordtostaythereallthedaylongplayingwiththechildandtalkingtohim.Shefoundsweetpleasureinscoldingandbeatingherservants.Theboy,Peter,wasfollowedbyagirl.Foratime,thethree–mother,daughter,andson–madehome,thefatherappearingonlyintheevening.ItwasluckythattheirhomewasnearNairobi.Thechildrencouldgotoschoolthere.Herpridewasinwatchingthemgrowtogetherlovingeachother.Theyintheirwaylovedher.ButPetersoontooktohisfather.MrHowlandsgrewtolikehissonandthetwowalkedthroughthefieldstogether.NotthatMrHowlandswasdemonstrative.Butthethoughtthathewouldhavesomeonetowhomhecouldleavetheshambagavehimaglowinhisheart.Eachdayhebecamemoreandmoreofafamilymanand,asyearswentby,seemedevenreconciledtothatEnglandfromwhichhehadrunaway.Hesentbothchildrenbackforstudies.ThenEuropeancivilisationcaughtupwithhimagain.Hissonhadtogotowar.

MrHowlandslostallfaith–eventhefewshredsthathadbeguntoreturn.Hewouldagainhavedestroyedhimself,butagainhisgod,land,cametotherescue.Heturnedallhiseffortsandenergyintoit.Heseemedtoworshipthesoil.Attimeshewentonfordayswithnothingbutafewcupsoftea.Hisonepleasurewasincontemplatingandplanningthelandtowhichhehadnowgivenallhislife.Suzannahwasleftalone.Shebeatandsackedservantafterservant.ButGodwaskindtoher.Shehadanotherboy,Stephen.Hewasnowanonlyson.ThedaughterhadturnedmissionaryafterPeter’sdeathinthewar.

Theywentfromplacetoplace,awhitemanandablackman.Nowandthentheywouldstophereandthere,examinealuxuriantgreenteaplant,orpulloutaweed.Bothmenadmiredthisshamba.ForNgothofeltresponsibleforwhateverhappenedtothisland.Heowedittothedead,theliving,andtheunbornofhisline,tokeepguardoverthisshamba.MrHowlandsalwaysfeltacertainamountofvictorywheneverhewalkedthroughitall.Healonewasresponsiblefortamingthisunoccupiedwildness.Theycametoaraisedpieceofgroundandstopped.Thelandslopedgentlytoriseagainintothenextridge

andthenext.Beyond,NgothocouldseetheAfricanReserve.‘Youlikeallthis?’MrHowlandsaskedabsentmindedly.Hewasabsorbed

inadmiringthelandbeforehim.‘Itisthebestlandinallthecountry,’Ngothosaidemphatically.Hemeant

it.MrHowlandssighed.HewaswonderingifStephenwouldevermanageit

afterhim.‘Idon’tknowwhowillmanageitafterme…’Ngotho’sheartjumped.Hetoowasthinkingofhischildren.Wouldthe

prophecybefulfilledsoon?‘KwaniniBwana.Areyougoingbackto–?’‘No,’MrHowlandssaid,unnecessarilyloudly.‘…Yourhome,home…’‘Myhomeishere!’Ngothowaspuzzled.Wouldthesepeoplenevergo?Buthadnottheold

Gikuyuseersaidthattheywouldeventuallyreturnthewaytheyhadcome?AndMrHowlandswasthinking,wouldStephenreallydo?Hewasnot

liketheotherone.Hefeltthehurtandthepainofloss.‘Thewartookhimaway.’Ngothohadneverknownwheretheothersonhadgoneto.Nowhe

understood.Hewantedtotellofhisownson:helongedtosay,‘Youtookhimawayfromme’.Buthekeptquiet.OnlyhethoughtMrHowlandsshouldnotcomplain.Ithadbeenhiswar.

OceanofPDF.com

4

AtschoolNjorogeprovedgoodatreading.Healwaysrememberedhisfirstlesson.Theteacherhadstoodinfront.Hewasashortmanwithasmallmoustachethathewasfondoftouchingandfondling.TheycalledhimIsaka.ThiswashisChristianname,acorruptionofIsaac.Thechildrenrarelyknewateacher’ssurname.ManystorieswentaroundaboutIsaka.SomesaidthathewasnotagoodChristian.Thismeantthathedrankandsmokedandwentaboutwithwomen,athingthatnoteacherintheirschoolwasexpectedtodo.ButIsakawasajovialmanandchildrenlovedhim.Njorogeadmiredhismoustache.ItwasclaimedthatIsakafoldedhismoustachemischievouslywheneverhewastalkingwiththewomenteachers.Itwasasourceofconstantgossiptotheboyswhenevertheywerealoneingroups.

Whentheteacherhadcomeinhemadeastrangemarkontheboard.‘A’.ThiswasmeaninglesstoNjorogeandothers.

Teacher SayAh.Class Aaaaa.TeacherAgain.Class Aaaaa.

Onefeltthecorrugatedironroofwouldcrack.

Teacher (makinganothermarkontheboard)SayEee.Class Eeeeeeee.

Thatsoundedniceandfamiliar.Whenachildcriedhesaid,Eeeee,Eeeee.

Teacher I.Class Iiiiiii.TeacherAgain.Class Iiiiiii.Teacher That’stheoldGikuyuwayofsaying‘Hodi’,‘mayIcomein?’

Thechildrenlaughed.Itwassofunnythewayhesaidthis.Hemadeyet

anothermarkontheboard.Njoroge’sheartbeatfast.Toknowthathewasactuallylearning!Hewouldhavealottotellhismother.

TeacherOh.Class Ooooo.TeacherAgain.Class Ooooo.

Anotherletter:

TeacherU.Class Uuu.TeacherWhatdoesawomansaywhensheseesdanger?Class (theboyslookingtriumphantlyatthegirls)Uuuuuuu.

Therewaslaughter.

Teacher SayU-u-u-u-u.Class U-u-u-u-u-u-u-u.TeacherWhatanimalsaysthis?

Aboyshotuphisarm.Butbeforehecouldanswer,theclasshadburstout‘adog’.Againtherewaslaughterandalittleconfusedmurmuring.

TeacherWhatdoesadogdo?

Heretherewasdisagreement.Someshoutedthatitsaid,U-u-u-u-u,whileotherssimplydeclaredthatadogbarked.

TeacherAdogbarks.Class Adogbarks.TeacherWhatdoesadogsaywhenitbarks?Class U-u-u-u-u-u.

Fromthatdaytheteacher’snamehadbecomeU-u.Njorogelovedthesereadingpractices,especiallythepartofblabbering

andlaughingandshoutingasoneliked.Atfirstwhenhereachedhome,hehadtriedtoteachKamau.ButKamauresentedthis,andNjorogehadtogiveuptheidea.

Mwihakisaidtohim,‘Whydoyoukeepalone–toavoidme?’Njorogefeltashamed.Hestillrememberedthatdayhismothermetthem

bothplayingonthehill.Shehadnotrebukedhim.Butamother’ssilenceistheworstformofpunishmentforitislefttoone’simaginationtoconjureupwhatisinhermind.Njoroge,however,wantedtoappearrespectableanddignifiedintheeyesofMwihaki.

‘Youalwayscomeoutlate,’heatlastsaid,rathertimidly.Theywentontogether.Schoolwasjustoverfortheday.Astheywalked,theysawbirdsflyingacrossthefields.Shebrokethesilence.

‘No,Idon’tcomeoutlate.It’syou.Youtrytoavoidme.’‘Doyourparentsbeatyou?’sheaskedafteranothersilence.‘No.Notoften,onlywhenIdowrong.’Mwihakiwonderedhowthisboycoulddowrong.Njorogeappearedso

docile,withdrawn,andalwayswenthomeintime.‘Whydoyouask?’Njorogecontinued.‘Well,Iwasthinkingthatiftheydon’tbeatyou,thatwouldexplainwhy

youarenotafraidofthem.’‘Doyoursbeatyou?’heaskedsympathetically.Shelookedsoft,small,

anddelicate.Perhapsallgirlswerenaughty.‘Yes–sometimes.Andwhenmotherdoesnotbeatme,sheusesbad

languagethathurtsmemorethanbeating.Ifearher.’‘Itoofearmyparents.’Hedidnotwanttocriticisetheminfrontofher.

HealwaysrememberedanIndianboywhooncegavehimasweet,wantingtobefriendly.Njorogehadthenbeenwithhismother.HewassurprisedbythisactofkindnessfromanIndianboybecausehehadneverthoughtthatanIndianwascapableofsuch.Hetookthesweet.Hewasgoingtoputitintohismouthwhenhismotherturnedonhimandshouted,‘Isitthatyouhavenoteatenanythingforawholeyear?Areyoutobegreedilytakinganythingyou’regivenbyanyone,evenbyadirtylittleIndian?’

Njorogethrewitaway.Butithadhurthimbecausetheboysawhimdothis.Hebothachedandfearedtogobackandtellhimsomething.Buthedidnotthengo.Dayslaterhewenttothesameplace.Theboywasnotthere.

‘Doyouthinkparentsarealwaysright?’‘Ithinkso.Idon’tknow.Butyousometimesfeelyouknowsomething

insidehere…Don’tyoufeelthatwaysometimes?’‘Ido!’hesaid,notwishingtoappearignorant.Theysoonforgottheirparentsandlaughed.Sometimestheyplayed.

Njorogewasratherreserved.ButMwihakiwasmoreplayful.Shepickedflowersandthrewthemathim.Helikedthisandwantedtoretaliatebuthedidnotlikepluckingaflowerinbloombecauseitlostcolour.Hesaid,‘Let’snotplaywithflowers.’

‘Oh,butIloveflowers.’

TheypassednearMrHowlands’house.Itwashugeandimposing.ItwasmoregrandthanthatwhichbelongedtoMwihaki’sfather.

‘Myfatherworkshere.’‘ThisplacebelongstoMrHowlands.’‘Youknowhim?’‘No.Butmyfathertalksabouthim.Myfathervisitshimandsaysthathe

isthebestfarmerinalltheland.’‘Aretheyfriends?’‘Idon’tknow.Idon’tthinkso.Europeanscannotbefriendswithblack

people.Theyaresohigh.’‘Haveyoubeenheretohisfarm?’‘No!’‘IhaveoftencomeheretoseeFather.Thereisaboyaboutmyheight.His

skinissoverywhite.IthinkheisthesonofMrHowlands.Ididnotlikethewayheclungtohismother’sskirt,afrightenedthing.Yethiseyeswerefixedonme.Abitcurious.Thesecondtimehewasalone.Whenhesawme,heroseandwalkedinmydirection.IwasfrightenedbecauseIdidnotknowwhathewanted.Iran.Hestoodstillandwatchedme.Thenhewalkedback.WheneverIgothereImakesureIamnearmyfather.’

‘Didhewanttospeaktoyou?’‘Well,Idon’tknow.Hemayhavewantedtoquarrelwithme.Heislike

hisfather.Andyouknow–’NjorogerememberedthestoryNgothohadtoldthem.Hecouldnottell

Mwihakiofthis.Thiswastobehisownsecret.‘Allthislandbelongstoblackpeople.’‘Y-e-e-s.I’veheardFathersayso.Hesaysthatifpeoplehadhad

education,thewhitemanwouldnothavetakenalltheland.Iwonderwhyouroldfolk,thedeadoldfolk,hadnolearningwhenthewhitemancame?’

‘TherewasnobodytoteachthemEnglish.’‘Y-e-s.Thatcouldbeit,’shesaiddoubtfully.‘IsyourclasstaughtEnglish?’‘Oh,no.ItisonlyStandardIVthatistaughtEnglish.’‘DoesyourfatherknowhowtospeakEnglish?’‘Ithinkso.’‘Wheredidhelearnit?’‘Inthemissionplace…Siriana.’‘You’lllearnEnglishbeforeme.’‘Why?’‘You’reaclassaheadofme.’Sheconsideredthisforafewminutes.Thenshesuddenlybrightenedup

andsaid,‘I’llbeteachingyou…’Njorogedidnotlikethis.Buthedidnotsayso.

Atthebeginningofnextyearhewaspromotedtothethirdclass.ItwascalledStandardI,fortheothertwowerejustpreparatory–beginners’classes.Thesecondbeginners’classwasfoundunnecessaryforhim.StandardIwastheclassthatMwihakitoowouldattend.Njorogehadcaughtupwithher.Hewasglad.Beforetheschoolopenedforthenewyear,NjorogewenttoaforestwithKamau.

Afterafruitlesssearchforantelopes,heasked,‘Whydon’tyoureallystartschool?’

‘Youarealwaysaskingthis.’Kamaulaughed.ButNjorogeremainedserious.Healwaysthoughtthatschoolingwastheverybestthataboycouldhave.Itwastheendofallliving.Andhewantedeveryonetogotoschool.

‘No!’Kamaucontinued,asheshookhishead.‘Why?’‘Now,don’tyoupretendthatyoudon’tknowtheanswer.Can’tyousee

home?Amanwithoutlandmustlearntotrade.Fatherhasnothing.SowhatIamdoingisimportant.IfNgangawasnotselfish,Iwouldsoonmakeagoodcarpenter.Icouldberichandthenwecouldallhelpyouinschool.Yourlearningisforallofus.Fathersaysthesamething.Heisanxiousthatyougoon,soyoumightbringlighttoourhome.EducationisthelightofKenya.That’swhatJomosays.’

NjorogehadheardofJomo.Whenhecamefromacrossthesea,manypeoplehadgonetomeethiminNairobi.NjorogethoughtthathewouldliketolearnlikeJomoandeventuallycrosstheseatothelandofthewhiteman.Mwihaki’sbrotherwastogotheresoon.

Intheevening,NgothoglancedupatNjoroge.‘Whenwillyoustartschool?’‘OnMonday.’‘Aaaaa,’Ngothosighed.Henowlookedpasthisson.Nyokabiwas

preparingIrio.‘Educationiseverything,’Ngothosaid.Yethedoubtedthisbecauseheknewdeepinsidehisheartthatlandwaseverything.Educationwasgoodonlybecauseitwouldleadtotherecoveryofthelostlands.

‘Youmustlearntoescapetheconditionsunderwhichwelive.Itisahardway.Itisnotmuchthatamancandowithoutapieceofland.’

Ngothorarelycomplained.Hehadallhislifelivedunderthebeliefthatsomethingbigwouldhappen.Thatwaswhyhedidnotwanttobeawayfromthelandthatbelongedtohisancestors.ThatwasreallywhyhehadfaithfullyworkedforMrHowlands,tendingthesoilcarefullyandeverythingthatwasinit.HissonhadcomeandwithonestrokehadmadehimdoubtthatveryallegiancetoMrHowlandsandthesoil.Andwiththisdoubthadnowcome

anoldman’sfearofhisson.Borohadchanged.Thiswasallbecauseofthewar.Ngothofeltthewarhaddealtillwithhim.Ithadkilledoneson!Andtheotherwasaccusinghim.

‘ThewayHowlandslooksatthefarm!’hesaidslowlytohimself.NgothocouldnotquiteunderstandMrHowlands’devotiontothesoil.Attimeshelookedsolostinitasifinescapefromsomethingelse.

Njorogelistenedtohisfather.Heinstinctivelyknewthatanindefinabledemandwasbeingmadeonhim,eventhoughhewassoyoung.Heknewthatforhimeducationwouldbethefulfilmentofawiderandmoresignificantvision–avisionthatembracedthedemandmadeonhim,notonlybyhisfather,butalsobyhismother,hisbrothers,andeventhevillage.Hesawhimselfdestinedforsomethingbig,andthismadehisheartglow.

OceanofPDF.com

5

Afairlylarge‘hill’stoodoutsideNgotho’shousehold.Yearsofaccumulatingrubbishhadbroughtthisintobeing.Ifyoustoodthereinthedaytime,youcouldmoreorlessseethewholeofthelandofJacobo.Itwasverybig–asbigasasettler’sfarm.Thelandwasfullofpyrethrumflowersandforestsofblackwattletrees.JacobowasluckybecausehehadformanyyearsbeentheonlyAfricanallowedtogrowpyrethrum.Itwassaidthathehadstoodinthewayofsimilarpermitsbeinggiventootherpeople.WhitefarmerswhoplanteditalsodidnotwantmanyAfricanstobeallowedtogrowanycashcroplikepyrethrumbecausethiswouldlowerthestandardsandqualityofproduction.

Njorogeusuallystoodonthishillwheneverhewantedtoseehismotherorbrothercomingfromadistance.Ifhesawanyofthemheranandhelpedthemcarrywhatevertheyhad.ItdidnotmatterifitwasNjerioranyofhersons.ThefeelingofonenesswasathingthatmostdistinguishedNgotho’shouseholdfrommanyotherpolygamousfamilies.NjeriandNyokabiwenttotheshambaormarkettogether.Sometimestheyagreedamongthemselvesthatwhileonedidthatjobtheotherwoulddothisone.ThiswasattributedtoNgotho,thecentreofthehome.Forifyouhaveastablecentre,thenthefamilywillhold.

Itwasadarknight.NjorogeandKamaustoodonthe‘hill’.Afewstarstwinkledabove.Theylookedlikehumaneyes.NyokabihadoncetoldNjorogethatthoseweresmallholesthroughwhichonesawthelightedfireofGod.Hehadnotquitebelievedit.

‘Doyouseethosedistantlights?’‘Yes.’‘That’sNairobi,isn’tit?’Njoroge’svoicetrembledslightly.‘Yes,’Kamauanswereddreamily.Njorogepeeredthroughthedarknessandlookedbeyond.Farawaya

multitudeoflightscouldbeseen.Abovethehostoflightswasthegreyhazeofthesky.Njorogelethiseyesdwellonthescene.Nairobi,thebigcity,wasaplaceofmysterythathadatlastcalledawayhisbrothersfromthefamilycircle.Theattractionofthisstrangecitythatwasnearandyetfarweakenedhim.Hesighed.Hecouldnotyetunderstandwhyhisbrothershadjust

decidedtogo.Likethat.‘Doyouthinkthatthey’vefoundjobs?’‘Korisaidthatjobsthereareplenty.’‘Isee.’‘Itisabigcity…’‘Yes–it–is–a–big–city.’‘MrHowlandsoftengoesthere.’‘AndJacobotoo…Doyouthinkthey’llforgethome?’‘I’msuretheywon’t.Nonecanforgethome.’‘Whycouldn’ttheyworkhere?’‘Doyouthinktheydidn’twantto?Youknowthisplace.Eventherewhere

theygo,theywilllearnthatmeresalarywithoutapieceoflandtocultivateisnothing.LookatHowlands.Heisnotemployedbyanybody.Yetheisveryrichandhappy.It’sbecausehehasland.OrlookatJacobo.He’slikethatbecausehehasland…Borohasnoland.Hecouldnotgetemployment.YouknowhowbitterheiswithFatherbecausehesaysthatitwasthroughthestupidityofourfathersthatthelandhadbeentaken.Doyouthinkhecouldstayhere?Boroisnotofthisplace.’

Njorogeponderedthisandwishedhehadbeeninapositiontorightthesituation.Perhapseducation…

‘Yes.Borowasstrange.’‘Hewasoftenangry.’‘WithFather?’‘Andalltheoldgeneration.Andyettheytried.’‘Togettheland?’‘Yes.Fathersaidthatpeoplebeganpressingfortheirrightsalongwhile

back.SomewentinaprocessiontoNairobisoonaftertheendofthefirstwartodemandthereleaseoftheirleaderwhohadbeenarrested.Peoplewereshotandthreeofthemdied.Yousee,peoplehadthoughtthattheyoungleaderwastheonewhowouldmakethewhitemango.’

‘Fathersaidthis?’‘Yes.IfoundhimtellingBoro.YouknowFathersortoffearsBoro.’‘WhatdidBorosay?’‘Nothing.Hejustsattherethinkingorbroodingoversomething.Borois

queer.Oureldermothersaysthatitwasthewarthatchangedhim.Somepeoplesayhoweverthatitissomethingtodowithourotherbrother,thedeadone.’

‘Mwangi?’‘Yes.TheysayitistheBritishwhokilledhim.Butwhetheritwasthe

Britishornot,itwasawhitemanwhodidit.’‘Yes.’TheystillpeeredthroughthedarknesstothecitythatnowheldBoroand

Kori.KamauandNjorogefearedthattheothertwomightbelostthere.Thiswouldendtheeveninggatheringofyoungmenandwomen.ButKorihadclearlysaidthattheywouldbecominghomefromtimetotime.

‘Itoowouldliketoleavethisplace!’‘Why?’Njorogequicklyasked.Njoroge’strainofthoughtofwhathe

woulddoforhisfamilywhenhehadmoneyandlearningwasinterrupted.‘Justafeeling.ButfirstImuststopworkingforNganga.’‘Youhavenotfinishedthecourse.’‘IthinkIknowenoughcarpentrytokeepmegoing.Icannowmakea

chair,abed,andthingslikethat.’‘Andwherewillyougo?’‘Tothesettledarea.OrtoNairobi.’NjorogefeltastrongdesiretodetainKamau.Hewouldmisshimgreatly.‘Youmaynotgetajob.’‘Iwill.’‘Buthaveyouforgottenaboutthestrike?’‘Oh.’‘Yes.YouknowtheintendedstrikethatFatherisalwaystalkingabout.’‘Idon’tknow.Ithinkstrikesareforpeoplelikemyfather.’‘ButFathersaysthatthestrikeisforallpeoplewhowantthefreedomof

theblackpeople.’‘Maybe.Icannottell.’TheyheardNjericalling.Theywentdownthe‘hill’.Astheywentalong,

Njorogerememberedsomethinghehadwantedtoaskaboutland.‘Doyouthinkit’struewhatFathersays,thatallthelandbelongstoblack

people?’‘Yes.Blackpeoplehavetheirlandinthecountryofblackpeople.White

menhavetheirlandintheirowncountry.Itissimple.IthinkitwasGod’splan.’

‘ArethereblackpeopleinEngland?’‘No.Englandisforwhitepeopleonly.’‘Andtheyalllefttheircountrytocomeandrobusofacresofwhatwe

have?’‘Yes.Theyarerobbers.’‘Allofthem?’‘Yes.EvenMrHowlands.’‘MrHowlands…Idon’tlikehim.Ididnotlikethewayhissonfollowed

meonce.’‘Alambtakesafteritsmother.’Somethingoccurredtohim.‘Jacoboisabadman.DoyouthinkMwi–’Hestopped.Thenhequickly

changedthesubjectandasked,‘WhoisJomo?’

‘BorocalledhimtheblackMoses.’‘IntheBible?’‘Idon’tknow.’‘IthinkI’veheardaboutthatintheBible.’Njeri’svoicerangthroughthedarkness.Therewasnomoretalk.ThatnightNjorogestayedinbedforalittlewhilebeforesleeping.Njorogedidnotwanttobelikehisfatherworkingforawhitemanor,

worse,foranIndian.Fatherhadsaidthattheworkwashardandhadaskedhimtoescapefromthesameconditions.Yes,hewould.Hewouldbedifferent.Andhewouldhelpallhisbrothers.Beforehewenttosleepheprayed,‘Lord,letmegetlearning.Iwanttohelpmyfatherandmothers.AndKamauandallmyotherbrothers.IaskyouallthisthroughJesusChrist,ourLord.Amen.’

Herememberedsomethingelse.‘…AndhelpmeGodsothatMwihakimaynotbeatmeinclass.And

God…’HefellasleepanddreamedofeducationinEngland.

MwihakiwasalwayspleasedwithNjoroge.Shefeltmoresecurewithhimthanshefeltwithherbrotherswhodidnotcaremuchabouther.Sheconfidedinhimandlikedwalkinghomewithhim.Shewasquitecleverandheldherownevenamongboys.AndnowthatNjorogewasinherclassshecouldaskhimquestionsaboutclasswork.ItwasinStandardIVthattheybegantolearnEnglish.

Lucia,Mwihaki’ssister,taughtthem.Theyallsatexpectantlyattheirdeskwitheyesontheboard.AknowledgeofEnglishwasthecriterionofaman’slearning.

Stand= Rugama.Teacher Iamstanding.WhatamIdoing?Class Youarestandingup.Teacher Again.Class Youarestandingup.Teacher (pointingwithafinger)You–no–you–yes.What’s

yourname?Pupil Njoroge.Teacher Njoroge,standup.

Hestoodup.LearningEnglishwasallrightbutnotwhenhestoodupforalleyestowatchandmaybemakefacesathim.

TeacherWhatareyoudoing?Njoroge (thinly)Youarestandingup.Teacher (slightlycross)Whatareyoudoing?Njoroge (clearshisthroat,voicethinnerstill)Youarestandingup.Teacher No,no!(totheclass)Comeon.Whatareyou,youdoing?

Njorogewasveryconfused.Handswereraisedupallaroundhim.Hefeltmoreandmorefoolishsothatintheendhegaveuptheveryattempttoanswer.

Teacher (pointingtoMwihaki)Standup.Whatareyoudoing?Mwihaki (headbentontooneshoulder)Iamstandingup.Teacher Good.Now,Njoroge.Whatisshedoing?Njoroge Iamstandingup.

Theclassgiggled.

Teacher (veryannoyed)Class,whatisshedoing?Class (singing)Youarestandingup.Teacher (stillmoreangry)Iamaskingyou…Whatisshedoing?Class (afraid,quietlysinging)Youarestandingup.Teacher Lookhereyoustupidandlazyfools.Howlongdoyoutaketo

catchthings?Didn’twegooverallthisyesterday?IfIcometomorrowandfindthatyoumakeasinglemistake,I’llpunishyouallseverely.

Withthissharplydeliveredthreat,shewalkedout.Njoroge,annoyedwithhimselfathispoorshowing,couldnowbeheardtryingtoreestablishhimselfbytellingthemwhattheyoughttohaveanswered.‘Sheisstandingup.’Butoneboy(themoststupidintheclass)rebukedhim.‘Whydidn’tyouspeakupwhenshewashere,ifyou’resoclever?’

Aftersomemoreweeksofangerandthreatsthechildrenmanagedtolearnsomethingofwhichtheywereveryproud.Njorogecouldnowsing,

Iamstandingup.Youarestandingup.Sheisstandingup.Wearestandingup.Youarestandingup.Theyarestandingup.

Whereareyougoing?Iamgoingtothedoor.Wearegoingtothedoor.Pointtotheblackboard.Whatareyoudoing?Iampointingtotheblackboard.

Whenateachercameintotheclass,hegreetedtheminEnglish.

TeacherGoodmorning,children.Class (standingup,singingtheanswer)Goodmorning,Sir.

OnedayaEuropeanwomancametotheschool.Asshewasexpected,theschoolhadbeencleanedupandputingoodorder.Thechildrenhadbeentoldandshownhowtobehave.NjorogehadnotseenmanyEuropeansatveryclosequarters.Hewasnowquiteoverawedbythewhitenessandtendernessofthiswoman’sskin.Hewondered,whatwouldIfeelifItouchedherskin?Whensheentered,thewholeclassstoodupatattention.Somehadalreadyopenedtheirmouthstoanswertheexpectedgreeting.

‘Goodafternoon,children.’‘Goodmorning,Sir.’Luciafeltlikecrying.Hadshenottaughtthemthecorrectthingoverand

overagain?Shehadbeenletdown.Thevisitorwasexplainingthatsinceitwasafterlunch,aftertwelveo’clock,theyshouldtalkof‘afternoon’,andsinceshewasawomantheyshouldcallher‘Madam’.

‘Allright?’‘Yes,Sir!’‘Madam!’shoutedLuciaalmosthysterically.Shecouldhavekilled

someone.‘Yes,Madam.’‘Goodafternoon.’‘Goodafternoon,Madam.’Butsomestillclungto‘Sir’.Ithadcometobepartoftheirwayof

greeting.Evenwhenonepupilgreetedanother,‘Sir’accompaniedtheanswer.WhentheEuropeanwentaway,thechildrenregrettedtheincident.Lucia

beatthemtocoolherrageandshame.Inthefuturetheyweretoknowthedifferencebetween‘amorning’and‘anafternoon’andthatbetween‘aSir’and‘aMadam’.

‘Yes,Madam.’Astheywenthome,NjorogesaidtoMwihaki,‘Youknow,Ihadafeeling

thatI’veseenthatwomansomewhere.’‘Haveyou?Where?’‘Idon’tknow.Itwasjustafeeling.’

TheycametotheplacewhereNgothoworked.Shesaid,‘Doyoustillseetheboy?’

‘No!Ithinkhehasgonetoschool.’‘Didheevertrytospeaktoyouagain?’‘No.I’vealwaysavoidedhim.Butheisalwayssoalone.’‘Perhapshehasnobrothersandsisters.’‘Hecangoandplaywithotherchildren.’‘Where?’TheyhadgoneonlyafewyardswhenNjorogeexclaimed,‘Iknow.’‘What?’‘WhereIhaveseenthatwoman.IhaveseenheronceortwiceinMr

Howlands’place.Ithinkit’stheirdaughter.Fathersayssheisamissionwoman.’

‘Oh,yes.I’veheardFathersaythesamething.’‘Iwonderwhysheturnedmissionary.Sheisasettler’sdaughter.’‘Perhapsshe’sdifferent.’‘Alambtakesafteritsmother.’Kamau’sproverbhadjustcomeintohis

mind.Hefeltclever.

KamauleftNgangaandtookajobwithanothercarpenterattheAfricanshops.HedidnotgotoNairobiorthesettledareaashehadintimated.Njorogehadwon.ButhesawthatKamauwasgrowingintoabigKihii,nowreadyforcircumcision.Njorogewatchedhimwithfear.WhenKamauwasinitiated,hewouldprobablywalkwithmenofhisRika.Butthiswasnotjustwhathefeared.Afterall,evennowtheywerenotverymuchtogether.WhathefearedwasthatonedayKamaumightbedrawnintothecity.Theotherbrothershadbeencalled.Thoughtheycamehomequiteregularly,theywerechanging.ThiswasespeciallytrueofKori.Kamau’sgoingwouldleadtoafinalfamilybreakupandruinthecosysecuritythatonefeltinthinkingofhome.Kamauwasthemanofhome.Heseemedtocarrythefamilydumblyonhisshoulders.NjorogesometimeswenttotheAfricanshopstoseehim.Theplacewasalwaysthesame;menofallsortshangingaroundtheteashopsandslaughterhouses,idlingawaythehours.Thedrudgeryofsuchalifemadehimfearafuturethatheldinstoresuchpurposelesslivingandweariness.Heclungtobooksandwhatevertheschoolhadtooffer.Njorogewasnowfairlytall,black-haired,andbrown-skinned,withclearlargeeyes.Hisfeatureswereclearandwelldefined–butperhapstoosetforaboyofhisage.

Educationforhim,asformanyboysofhisgeneration,heldthekeytothefuture.AshecouldnotfindcompanionshipwithJacobo’schildren(exceptMwihaki),forthesebelongedtothemiddleclassthatwasrisingandbeginningtobeconsciousofitselfassuch,heturnedtoreading.Heread

anythingthatcamehisway.TheBiblewashisfavouritebook.HelikedthestoriesintheOldTestament.HelovedandadmiredDavid,oftenidentifyinghimselfwiththishero.TheBookofJobattractedhimthoughitoftengaverisetoapainfulstirringinhisheart.IntheNewTestament,helikedthestoryoftheyoungJesusandtheSermonontheMount.

NjorogecametoplacefaithintheBibleandwithhisvisionofaneducatedlifeinthefuturewasblendedabeliefintherighteousnessofGod.Equityandjusticewerethereintheworld.IfyoudidwellandremainedfaithfultoyourGod,theKingdomofHeavenwouldbeyours.AgoodmanwouldgetarewardfromGod;abadmanwouldharvestbadfruits.Thetribalstoriestoldtohimbyhismotherhadstrengthenedthisbeliefinthevirtueoftoilandperseverance.

HisbeliefinafutureforhisfamilyandthevillagerestedthennotonlyonahopeforsoundeducationbutalsoonabeliefinaGodofloveandmercy,wholongagowalkedonthisearthwithGikuyuandMumbi,orAdamandEve.ItdidnotmakemuchdifferencethathehadcometoidentifyGikuyuwithAdamandMumbiwithEve.TothisGod,allmenandwomenwereunitedbyonestrongbondofbrotherhood.Andwithallthis,therewasgrowingupinhisheartafeelingthattheGikuyupeople,whoselandhadbeentakenbywhitemen,werenootherthanthechildrenofIsraelaboutwhomhereadintheBible.Soalthoughallmenwerebrothers,theblackpeoplehadaspecialmissiontotheworldbecausetheywerethechosenpeopleofGod.Thisexplainedhisbrother’sremarkthatJomowastheblackMoses.WheneverhewaswithMwihaki,helongedtoimpartsomeofthesethingstoher.Yetwhenhetriedtodefinetheminwords,hefailed.Sohekeptthemalltohimself,walkingaloneinthefieldsandsometimesfindingcompanionshipwiththenights.

OceanofPDF.com

6

Sometimesmencametoseehisfather.EversinceNjorogewasachild,hehadseenNgothoasthecentreofeverything.Aslongashelived,nothingcouldgowrong.AndsoNjorogegrewup,fearinghisfather,andyetputtingimplicitfaithinhim.

ThemenwhocametoseeNgothousuallywenttohisThingira.ButsometimestheywenttoNyokabi’sorNjeri’shut.ThispleasedNjoroge,forhelovedtolistentothematuretalkofmen.Thesemenweretheeldersofthevillage.Theytalkedaboutaffairsoftheland.KoriandBorotoobroughtmenatweekends,butthesemenweredifferentfromtheyoungmenofthevillage.Theyoungmenofthevillageusuallyallowedtheelderstoleadtalkswhiletheylistened.ButtheseotherswhocamewithKoriandBorofromthebigcityseemedtoknowalotofthings.Theyusuallydominatedthetalks.Andbecausemostofthemhadbeentothewar,theywereabletocomparetheaffairsofthelandwiththelandstowhichtheyhadbeen.Theydidnotjokeandlaughasyoungmenusuallydid,buttheirfacesweregrave,astheytalkedoftheforeignlands,thewar,theircountry,thebigunemployment,andthestolenlands.

NjorogelistenedkeenlyastheytalkedofJomo.Alreadyhefeltintimatewiththisman.ForNjorogewassurethathehadreadabouthimintheOldTestament.MoseshadledthechildrenofIsraelfromMisritothePromisedLand.AndbecauseblackpeoplewerereallythechildrenofIsrael,MoseswasnootherthanJomohimself.Itwasobvious.

Themenalsotalkedofthestrike.Allmenwhoworkedforwhitemenandtheserikali(thegovernment)wouldcomeoutonstrike.Thegovernmentandthesettlershadtobeshownthatblackpeoplewerenotcowardsandslaves.Theytoohadchildrentofeedandtoeducate.Howcouldpeoplegoonsweatingforthechildrenofthewhitementobewell-fed,well-clothed,andwell-educated?Kiarie,ashortmanwithablackbeard,wasagood,compellingspeaker.HeusuallywalkedtogetherwithBoro.HiswordsstirredNjorogestrangely.

Amanasked,‘Butdoyouthinkitwillsucceed?’‘Yes!Everybodywillgoonstrike.Everyblackmaneverywhere.Even

thoseinthepoliceandthearmywillsitdowntoo.’‘ShallwereallygetthesamepayasIndiansandEuropeans?’‘Yes!’Kiarieexplainedwithaconfidentnodofhishead.‘Alltheblack

peoplewillstopworking.Allbusinessinthecountrywillcometoastandstillbecauseallthecountrydependsonoursweat.Thegovernmentandthesettlerswillcallusback.Butweshallsay,No,no.Giveusmoremoneyfirst.Oursweatandbloodarenotsocheap.Wetooarehumanbeings.Wecannotliveonfifteenshillingsamonth…’

Theoldmenandvillagefolklistenedwithdeepinterest.Theydidnotknowmuchaboutstrikes,butifthismeantmoremoney,thenitwasagoodidea.ThesolemnvoiceofKiariehadconvictionandquietassurancethat,Njorogefelt,gavecourageandfaithtoallthosearound.

‘Whataboutthoseemployedbyblackpeople?’‘Wemustconcentrateonthegovernmentandthewhitepeople.Weblack

peoplearebrothers.’Ngothoknewofoneortwowhowerecertainlynotbrothers.Buthedid

notsayso.WhenNjorogewenttobed,heprayedthatthestrikebeasuccess.He

hopeditwouldcomesoon.Ifhisfatherhadmuchmoney,hecouldbuyalorrylikethatoneofJacobo.Hesleptanddreamedofthehappymomentofwealthandpleasureafterthestrike.

MrHowlandscalledallhismen.Thiswasunusual.Buthehadnotmuchtosaybecausehedidnotwanttowastetime.Hejustwarnedthemthatifanymanwentonstrikehewouldinstantlylosehisjob.Howcouldheallowadamnedstriketointerferewithanypartofhisfarm?Eventhegovernmentcouldnotinterferewiththis.Theblackscouldaskandagitateforanything.Suchthingswereclearlyaffairsofthegovernmentthatstoodoutsidehisshamba.Andyetparadoxically,asthestrikeapproached,hewantedastronggovernmentaction–anactionthatwouldteachtheselabourerstheirrightfulplaces.

Ngotholistenedtothewarningwithoutapparentemotion.Hisfacedidnotchangeandsoyoucouldnottellwhathewasreallythinking.

Hecouldnotquitemakeuphismindaboutthestrike.Hedoubtedifthestrikewouldbeasuccess.Ifitfailed,thenhewouldloseajobandthatwouldkeephimawayfromthelandsofhisancestors.Thiswaswrong,forthelandwashis.Nonecouldtenditashecould.

Ngothowenthomeunsure.HewentthroughtheAfricanshops.Thebarberwasstillathisjob.Thesedayshemostlytalkedaboutthestrike.Ngothodidnotgothere.Hewentstraighthome.

Njorogehadneverseenhisfatherquarrellingwithhiswives.Whenevertherewasaquarrelthechildrenwereneverallowedtoknowaboutit.SowhenNjorogecamefromschoolandfoundNyokabicrying,hewasshocked.Hecouldremembervaguelyonlyonetimewhenhismothercried.Itwas

probablyduringthefamineofcassavaorearlier.Thatwasnowadream.Butthiswasnotadream.Njorogestoodstock-still,toofrightenedtoenterthehouse.Ngotho,tall,masculineinspiteofage,stoodinfrontofher.Njorogecouldnotseehisface.Buthecouldseethetear-washedfaceofNyokabi.Feargrippedhimashewitnessedrealdiscordinthehomethathadhithertobeensosecure.

‘Imustbeamaninmyownhouse.’‘Yes–beamanandloseajob.’‘IshalldowhateverIlike.Ihavenevertakenordersfromawoman.’‘Weshallstarve…’‘Youstarve!Thisstrikeisimportantfortheblackpeople.Weshallget

biggersalaries.’‘What’sblackpeopletouswhenwestarve?’‘Shutthatmouth.HowlongdoyouthinkIcanendurethisdrudgeryfor

thesakeofawhitemanandhischildren?’‘Buthe’spayingyoumoney.Whatifthestrikefails?’‘Don’twomanme!’heshoutedhysterically.Thispossibilitywaswhathe

fearedmost.Shesensedthisnoteofuncertaintyandfearandseizeduponit.‘Whatifthestrikefails,tellmethat!’Ngothocouldbearitnolonger.Shewasdrivinghimmad.Heslappedher

onthefaceandraisedhishandagain.ButNjorogenowfoundhisvoice.Heranforwardandcriedfrantically,

‘Please,Father.’Ngothostopped.Helookedathisson.Herantowardshimandgrabbed

himbytheshoulder.Njorogefeltthegripandwincedwithfear.Ngothogrowledsomethinginaudible.Thenhesuddenlyreleasedtheboyandturnedhiseyesaway.Hewalkedout.

‘Mother!’NjorogewhisperedtoNyokabi.‘Whyhavetheybewitchedhim?Mymanischanged…’‘Please,Mother!’Butshewentonsobbing.Njorogefeltlonely.Somethingheavyandcoldoppressedhiminthe

stomach.Eventhestarsthatlatershoneinthenightgavehimnocomfort.Hewalkedacrossthecourtyard,notafraidofthedarkness.HewishedthatMwihakiwaswithhim.Thenhemighthaveconfidedinher.Inthedistance,thegleaminglightsofthecitywherethecallforthestrikehadbeenbornbeckonedtohim.Hedidnotrespond.Hejustwantedtobelostinthedarkness,forhecouldnotjudgebetweenafatherandmother.

Inhisbed,hekneltdownandprayed.‘Godforgiveme,forIamwicked.Perhapsitismewhohasbroughtuncleanlinessintoourhome.Forgivememysins.Helpmyfatherandmother.O,GodofAbraham,Isaac,andJacob,

helpThychildren.Forgiveusall.Amen.‘Lord,doyouthinkthestrikewillbeasuccess?’Hewantedanassurance.Hewantedaforetasteofthefuturebeforeit

came.IntheOldTestament,GodspoketoHispeople.SurelyHecoulddothesamethingnow.SoNjorogelistened,seriouslyandquietly.Hewasstilllisteningwhenhefellasleep.

OceanofPDF.com

7

Itwasatthebeginningofthenewyear.Theroomwaspacked,forthewholeclasshadcometoknowwhethertheyhadpassedornot.Njorogesatinacorner,silent.Mwihakitoowasthere.Shewasgrowingintoquiteabiggirl;certainlyshewasnotthesamepersonwhofiveyearsbackhadtakenNjorogetoschool.Thetwohadsharedeachother’shopesandfears,andhefeltakintoher.Healwayswishedshehadbeenhissister.Aboychatteredandshoutedinacorner,buthisfrienddidnotwanttoplay.Theboysatdownagainwhilethetwoothersregardedhimcoldly.Oneortwootherslaughed.Butthelaughterwasrathersubdued.Thoughtheysatingroups,eachwasalone.Thatwasall.

TeacherIsakacameinwithalongsheetofpaper.Everybodykeptquiet.Njorogehadpreparedhimselfforthismoment.Hehadmanytimestoldhimselfthathewouldnotchangeevenifhefailed.Hehadtriedhisbest.Butnowwhentheteacherbegantolookatthelongwhitesheet,hewantedtogoandhideunderthedesk.Andthenheheardhisname.Itwastoppingthelist.Mwihakitoohadpassed.

Togethertheyranhomewardslinkingtheirhands.Theydidnottalk.Eachwantedtoreachhomeandtelltheirparentsthegoodnews.Njorogewantedhismothertoknowthathersonhadnotfailed.Hewouldnowgotoanintermediateschool.TheycamenearMwihaki’shouseandtherestoodforamomentholdingeachother’shands.Thentheyletgoofthehandsandeachnowranonadifferentpathtowardshome.

Mwihakireachedhomeearlier.Shefoundhermotherandalltheotherchildrenofthefamilycrowdedtogether.Shedidnotseeanythingstrangeinthisbecauseshewasveryexcited.

‘Mother!Mother!’‘Whatisit?’Shestopped.Thevoiceofhermotherwascold,sad,and

distant;JulianalookedpastMwihakiandthen,almostinahostileandimpatientmannercontinued,‘Whatelsehashappened?Speak!Orwhydoyoucomehomerushingso?’

‘Nothing,’Mwihakisaidquietly,‘onlythatIhavepassed.’Therewasnoprideofachievementinhervoice.

‘Isthatall?IsyoursisterLuciaatschool?’ThenJulianaburstoutsobbing,speakingtoherself.‘Ihavealwayssaid

thatsuchAhoiweredangerous.Butamanwillneverheedthevoiceofawomanuntilitistoolate.Itoldhimnottogo.Buthewouldnotlisten!’

‘Whathashappened,mother?’Mwihakiaskedanxiously.‘O,wellmayyouask.I’vealwayssaidthatyourfatherwillendupby

beingmurdered!’‘Ishedead?’Mwihakiburstoutcrying.Nobodyreassuredher.

MeanwhileNjorogehadreachedhome.Agroupofmenandwomenandchildrenwerestandinginthecourtyard.Someeyeswereturnedtohisfather’shut.Theotherswereturnedtowardsthemarketplace.Butwherewashismother?Hefoundherinsideherhut.Shesatonalowstoolandtwowomenofthevillagesatclosetoher.Theykeptdumb.Theireyeswereturnedtothecourtyard.Nyokabi’sfacewasdark,andnowandthensobsshookher.Njoroge’sjoyofavictorioushomecomingfaded.

‘Whatisit,Mother?’Hefearedthatsomeonehaddied.Hismotherlookedupandsawhim.Njorogetrembled.Outsidemoremen

andwomenstreamedintothecourtyard.Somespokeinlowvoices.‘It’sthestrike!’Awomantoldhim.Andthen,ofcourse,Njoroge

remembered.Todaywasthegreatdayofthestrike–thestrikethatwasmeanttoparalysethewholecountry.

Manypeoplehadgonetothemeetingthatwasbeingheldonthefirstdayofthestrike.Theyhadstreamedintothemeetinggroundlikesafariants.Allknewthatthiswasagreatdayfortheblackpeople.Ngothotoohadgonetothemeeting.Whocouldtellbutthatthemeetingmightopenthedoortobetterthings?AndwouldithavepaidtohavebeeninHowlands’employmentwhenthetimeforthesettlementofthingscame?ThatwashowhecomfortedhimselfbecauseNyokabi’swordswerestillinhismind.Thebarbercameandsatnexttohim.Allthetime,thebarberkeptupanincessantchatterthatmadepeoplelaugh.ThespeakershadcomefromNairobiandamongthemwereBoroandKiarie.BorohadnotfoundapermanentjobinNairobibuthadgoneintopolitics.Ngothofeltacertainprideinseeinghissonsittingwithsuchbigfolk.Hewasnowgladthathehadcome.

Kiariespokefirst,inalow,sadvoice,andrecountedhistory.Allthelandbelongedtothepeople–blackpeople.TheyhadbeengivenitbyGod.Foreveryracehadtheircountry.TheIndianshadIndia.EuropeanshadEurope.AndAfricanshadAfrica,thelandoftheblackpeople.(Applause)WhodidnotknowthatallthesoilinthispartofthecountryhadbeengiventoGikuyuandMumbiandtheirposterity?(Moreapplause)Hetoldthemhowthelandhadbeentakenaway,throughtheBibleandthesword.‘Yes,that’showyourlandwastakenaway.TheBiblepavedthewayforthesword.’Forthis,heblamedthefoolishgenerosityoftheirforefatherswhopitiedthestrangerandwelcomedhimwithopenarmsintotheirfold.

‘Later,ourfathersweretakencaptiveinthefirstbigwartohelpinawarwhosecausetheyneverknew.Andwhentheycameback?Theirlandhadbeentakenawayforasettlementofthewhitesoldiers.Wasthatfair?(No!)Ourpeopleweretakenandforcedtoworkforthesesettlers.Howcouldtheyhavedoneotherwisewhentheirlandhadbeentakenandtheyandtheirwiveswererequiredtopayheavytaxestoagovernmentthatwasnottheirs?Whenpeoplerosetodemandtheirrights,theywereshotdown.Butstilltheserikaliandsettlerswerenotsatisfied.WhenthesecondbigwarcameweweretakentofightHitler–Hitlerwhohadnotwrongedus.Wewerekilled,weshedbloodtosavetheBritishEmpirefromdefeatandcollapse.’

Godhadnowheardtheircriesandtribulations.TherewasamansentfromGodwhosenamewasJomo.HewastheblackMosesempoweredbyGodtotellthewhitePharaoh‘Letmypeoplego!’

‘Andthat’swhatwehavegatheredheretotelltheBritish.Today,we,withonevoice,mustriseandshout:“Thetimehascome.LetmyPeoplego.LetmyPeoplego!Wewantbackourland!Now!”’(Hystericalapplause)

Ngothohadfeltahollowstrifeinhisstomach.Itfixedhimtothegroundsothathecouldnotapplaud.Helookedfromthegroundandsawtheshoutingandapplaudingfigures.Buthesaweverythinginamist.Hesawblurredimages.Washecrying?Theimagesaroundtransformedthemselvesfromsomethinggreytoblueandthentototalblack.Theywereblacksweaters.Heclearedhiseyes.Theblacksweatersremainedthere,nowapproaching.Andthenhesaw.Hewasnotinadream.Thepolicehadsurroundedthewholemeeting.

Kiariewasnowspeakinginaloudvoice–‘Remember,thismustbeapeacefulstrike.Wemustgetmorepay.

Becauserightisonoursideweshalltriumph.Iftoday,you’rehit,don’thitback…’

Awhitepoliceinspectorhadgotupontotheplatform.Andwithhim–Jacobo!AtfirstNgothocouldnotunderstand.Itwasallstrange.ItwasonlywhenJacobohadbeguntospeakandwasurgingpeopletogobacktoworkandnotlistentosomepeoplefromNairobiwhohadnothingtoloseifpeoplelosttheirjobsthatNgothounderstood.Jacobo,therichestmaninallthelandaround,hadbeenbroughttopacifythepeople.Everyonelistenedtohiminsilence.ButsomethingunusualhappenedtoNgotho.ForonesinglemomentJacobocrystallisedintoaconcretebetrayalofthepeople.Hebecamethephysicalpersonificationofthelongyearsofwaitingandsuffering–Jacobowasatraitor.Ngothorose.Hemadehiswaytowardstheplatformwhileeveryonewatched,wonderingwhatwashappening.HewasnownearJacobo.Thebattlewasnowbetweenthesetwo–Jacoboonthesideofthewhitepeople,andheonthesideoftheblackpeople.

Allthishappenedquicklyandtookthepeoplebysurprise.Andthenallof

asudden,asifledbyNgotho,thecrowdroseandrushedtowardsJacobo.Atoncethepoliceacted,throwingtear-gasbombsandfiringintothecrowd,andtwomenfellasthepanic-strickenmobscattered.Ngotho’scouragenowfailedhim.Hewaslostinthecrowd.Soheranblindly,notknowingwhither.Hewantedonlytosavehislife.Apolicemanstruckathisfacewithabatonanddrewblood.Buthedidnotstop.Hewasnotreallyawareoftheblood,hefeltitonlyassomethingwarm.Franticallyheranuntilhewasintheclear,thenstumbledforwardandfell,losingconsciousness.Thatwaswherepeoplefromhisvillagefoundhim,theheroofthehour,andtookhimhome.

‘Ishegoingtodie?’NjorogeaskedKamauafterhearingthestory.‘No!Itisnotveryserious.ButIthinkhelostmuchblood.’‘Whydidhedoit,Imean,attackJacobo?’‘Idon’tknow.WejustsawhimriseandwhennearJacobo,heturned

roundandshoutedtoallofus“Arise”.Ithinkhewasmadwithemotion.Butthensowereweall.Ididn’tknowthatFathercouldhavesuchavoice.’

Asmallsilencefellbetweenthem.Kamauseemedtobere-collectingthescene.Somemenandwomenwerebeginningtomovefromthecourtyard.

‘WhydidJacobodothat?’‘Heisanenemyoftheblackpeople.Hedoesn’twantotherstobeasrich

asheis.’HowhadJacobobecomeinvolved?Thatwasaquestionthatfewcould

answerwithmuchcertainty.Fewknewthattothegovernmentandthesettlersaround,Jacobo,beingarichman,hadalotofinfluenceonthepeople.Jacobohadofcourseimpressedthisonthelocalwhitecommunity,includingMrHowlands,whohadnottakenhimseriouslyuntilthehourofneed.Jacobowasaconvenientman.ThepolicehadcalledhimtotheiraidandJacobocouldnothaverefused.Foratimehehadthoughthimselfsuccessful.ThenthisdamnedNgothohadcomeandspoilteverything.

Jacobowasnotseriouslyhurt.Thepolicehadactedintime.Otherwisehewouldhavebeentorntopieces.Whileitlasted,ithadbeenlikedeathitself.Hewishedhehadlistenedtothevoiceofhiswife.

Atthebarber’sshopwasalargecrowdofpeople.ThebarberwhohadsatnexttoNgothowasretellingthewholeincident.Thiswasafewdaysaftertheaffair.

‘Theoldmanisbrave.’‘Heisthat,tobesure.’‘Washebadlyhurt?’‘No,exceptthatmuchbloodcameout.’

‘Whydidhedoit?Hisactioncausedthedeathoftwomen.’‘Ah,whocouldnothavedoneashedid!Isatnexttohim,andIwould

havedonethesamething.Itwouldhavebeenallrightifithadbeenawhiteman,butablackman–likeyouandme!Itshowsthatweblackpeoplewillneverbeunited.Theremustalwaysbeatraitorinourmidst.’

‘That’strue,that’strue!’severalvoicesagreed.‘Therebesomepeopleeverywherewhodon’twanttoseeothersrise–’the

youngmanwhowasbeingtrimmedputin.Thenthebarbertookup,‘Youhavesaidthetruth,Jacoboisrich.Youall

knowthathewasthefirstblackmantobeallowedtogrowpyrethrum.Doyouthinkhewouldliketoseeanotheronenearhim?Andhow,anyway,doyouthinkhewasallowedwhathadbeendeniedtherest?’Noonecouldanswer.Thenthebarberstoppedthemachineforawhile.Inawisemanner,hedeclared,‘It’sbecausehepromisedthemtosellus.’

‘Yes!Yes!’Againseveralvoicesagreed.Amiddle-agedmanwithabaldheadsadlyshookhisheadandsaid,‘All

thesame,it’ssadwhathashappenedtoNgotho.HehasbeentoldtoleaveJacobo’sland.’

‘LeaveJacobo’sland?’‘Y-e-e-s!’‘ButJacobofoundhimtherewhenheboughtthelandfromtheprevious

owner.’‘Itishisland.Hecandowhathelikeswithit.’Themanwhosaidthiswasamodernyoungmanwhohadjustjoinedthe

group.Peopleturnedonhimangrily.‘Butisitnotagainstthecustom?Besides,thepreviousownernever

actuallysoldthesitestoJacobo…’Apolicemanwasseeninthedistance.Thecrowdquicklydispersed.The

barberwasleftalone.Bynowmanypeopleknewthatthestrikehadfailed.

NgothowasgivenaplacetobuildbyNganga.ItwasthenthatNjorogerealisedthattheman’sroughexteriorandapparentlackofscrupleconcealedawarmheart.HisoldhatredofNgangavanished.EvenKamaucouldnowspeakofhimwithenthusiasm.

ButallthiswasahardperiodforNjoroge.NewhutsmeantmoremoneybeingspentandNgothohadlosthisjobinthesettledarea.FeeshadrisenforthosewhowenttoStandardVinthenewschool.Besides,therewasthebuildingfundtobepaid.Thenewschoolwouldsoonbebuiltwithstone.Njorogehadnomoney.Mwihakihadgonetoaboardingschoolforgirlsfaraway.Shewouldgoonwithlearning,buthe,Njoroge,wouldstop.Thishurthim.Daybyday,heprayed.Whatwouldhedotorealisehisvision?Onthe

Mondayofthethirdweek,hewassenthome.Onthewayhecried.Godheardhisprayers.Kamau’swageshadbeenraisedtothirtyshillings.

ThishegavetoNjoroge.TherestwasmadeupbyKori.Njorogewasglad.Hewouldgoonwithlearning.

OceanofPDF.com

INTERLUDE

Exactlytwoandahalfyearslater,onacertainhilloverlookingNairobi,therestoodadisillusionedgovernmentofficial.Hewasallalone,lookingatthecountryhewouldsoonbeleaving.

Whydoyoustandthereamazed?Ididnotknowthatthiswouldcometobe.Butyousawthesigns?No.Ididn’t.Youdid.Ididn’t!But–ItellyouIdidn’t.Wetriedourbest.Hewalkedaway,stampinghisfeetangrilyontheground.‘Andtothinkofallwedidforthem,’hesaid.Thedumbcityheandothers

ofhiskindhadhelpedtocreatelookedathim.Therewasnocomfortfromthatcorner,theverycentreofthetrouble.

‘Haveyouheard,brother?’‘No!’‘Butyouhavenotaskedmewhat.’‘Mychildrencryforfood.’‘Butdon’tyouwanttohearwhathappenedinMurang’a?’‘Oh,Murang’a.That’sfaraway…’‘Achiefhasbeenkilled.’‘Oh!Isthatall?Mywifeiswaitingforme.’‘Butit’sallinteresting–’‘I’llcome,then,intheeveningforthestory.’‘Allright.Do.Otherpeoplearecoming.Ihaveawirelessset.’‘Mywifecalls.Stayinpeace.’‘Goinpeace.’

‘Hewasabigchief.’‘LikeJacobo?’

‘No.Bigger.Heusedtoeatwiththegovernor.’‘Washeactuallykilledindaylight?’‘Yes.Themenwereverydaring.’‘Tellusitallagain.’‘Woman,addmorewoodtothefireandlightthelantern,fordarkness

falls…Now,thechiefwasabigmanwithmuchland.Thegovernorhadgivenitalltohim,sohemightsellouttheblackpeople.Themenwereinacar.Thechiefwasalsoinacar.ThetwomenfollowedhimallthewayfromNairobi.Whentheyreachedthecountryside,themendroveaheadandwavedthechieftostop.Hestopped.“Who’sthechief?”“Iam.”“Thentakethatandthat.Andthattoo.”Theyshothimdeadanddroveaway–’

‘Indaylight?’‘Indaylight.Themanonthewirelesssaidso.’‘Thisgeneration.’‘Verydaring.Theyhavelearntthetrickfromthewhiteman.’‘It’salmosttimefornews.Let’shearwhatthemanwillsay–’‘Hush!’

OnenightpeopleheardthatJomoandalltheleadersofthelandwerearrested.Astateofemergencyhadbeendeclared.

‘ButtheycannotarrestJomo,’saidthebarber.‘Theycannot.’‘Theywanttoleavethepeoplewithoutaleader.’‘Yes.Theyareafteroppressingus,’saidthebarber.Hedidnotspeakwith

theusuallivelytone.‘What’sastateofemergency?’amanasked.‘Oh,don’taskafoolishquestion.Haven’tyouheardaboutMalaya?’‘Whataboutit?’‘Therewasastateofemergency.’

NjorogewasalittleannoyedwhenheheardaboutJomo’sarrest.HehadcherishedtheideaofseeingthismanwhohadbecomefamousalloverKenya.HecouldstillrememberameetingarrangedinthemarketplacebyKenyaAfricanUnion(KAU).Itwasmanymonthsafterthestrikethatfailed.KAUwasthesocietyofblackpeoplewhowantedWiyathiandthereturnofthestolenlands.Thesocietyalsowantedbiggersalariesforblackpeopleandtheabolitionofcolourbar.NjorogehadheardaboutthecolourbarfromhisbrothersinNairobi.Hedidnotknowwhatitwasreally.Butheknewthatthestrikehadfailedbecauseofthecolourbar.Blackpeoplehadnolandbecauseofcolourbar,andtheycouldnoteatinhotelsbecauseofcolourbar.Colour

barwaseverywhere.RichAfricanscouldalsopractisecolourbaronthepoorerAfricans…

Njorogehadgoneearlytothemarketplace.Buthehadfoundthatmanypeoplehadalreadyreachedtheplaceandblockedhisview.Allright,hewouldseehimnexttime.

ButnowJomohadbeenarrested.

OceanofPDF.com

PART2

DARKNESSFALLSOceanofPDF.com

8

OneheardstoriesaboutwhatwashappeninginNyeriandMurang’a.NyeriandMurang’awerefarfromNjoroge’shome.Thestoriesthatheheardwereinterestingandsomeboyscouldtellthemwell.NjorogelistenedcarefullyandwonderedhowboyslikeKaranjahadcometoknowsomanystories.

‘Tellusmore.’‘Yes.Whathappenednext?’‘Yousee,hehadwrittenalettertothepolicestationatNyeri.“I,Dedan

Kimathi,LeaderoftheAfricanFreedomArmy,willcometovisityouat10.30a.m.onSunday.”ManymorepolicewerecalledfromNairobitostrengthentheforceatNyeri.Curfewwasextendedtodaytimesothatnoonecouldleavehishome.EverysoldierwasonthealertsothatwhenDedancamehecouldeasilybearrested.At10.30then,onthatverySunday,awhitepoliceinspectoronabigoldmotorbikecametothepolicepost.Hewastall,smartlydressed,butveryfierce-looking.Everypolicemanstoodatattention.HeinspectedthemallandwishedthemgoodluckincatchingDedan.Afterhehadfinished,hetoldthemthathismotorbikewasnotworkingwell.CouldtheygivehimanotheroneashewasinahurrytogetdowntoNairobi?Theydid.Herodeawayonanewmotorbike.ThepolicestillwaitedforDedan.’

‘Didhecome?’‘Don’tinterrupt.Please,Karanja,goon,’severalvoicescried.‘Well,theydidnotseeanyoneelsethatSunday.Theywereallannoyed.

Onthefollowingday,theygotaletterthatwasactuallydroppedbyaflyingaeroplane.’

‘Whatwasintheletter?’Karanjalookedatthemallinalordly,knowingmanner.Thenheslowly

said,‘ThelettercamefromDedan.’‘Haaa!’‘Inithethankedthepolicebecausetheyhadwaitedforhimandhadgiven

himabettermotorbike.’‘YoumeanthepoliceinspectorhadactuallybeenDedanhimself?’‘Yes.’‘Butthatonewaswhite?’‘That’sthepoint.Dedancanchangehimselfintoanything-awhiteman,

abird,oratree.Hecanalsoturnhimselfintoanaeroplane.Helearntallthisinthebigwar.’

Njorogeleftschool.Hehadnowbeeninthisnewschoolfortwoyears.Inspiteofdifficultiesathomehehadmanagedtogoon.Withequalgoodluckhewouldeventuallygetwhathewanted.HewenthomethinkingaboutKaranja’sstory.Heknewthatitwasexaggeratedbutstilltheremightbeanelementoftruthinit.Strangerthingshadbeensaidtohappen.HehadheardhisfatherandKamausaythatKimathicoulddoverywonderfulthings.Hemustsurelybeagreatmantoeludeallthekeenvigilanceofthewhiteman.

Hereachedhome.Thethreehutsputuphurriedlystoodbeforehim.Thiswashisnewhome–hishomesincetheywereaskedtoquitJacobo’sland.TheyhadbeenyearsofstrugglewithNgothowithoutajobandBoromuchmorechangedandwithdrawnthanever.HaditnotbeenforKoriandKamauhedidnotknowwhattheycouldhavedone.Jacobohadnowbeenmadeachief.Hemovedwithoneortwopolicemenalwaysbyhisside,carryinggunstoprotecthimagainsttheIhiiciamutitu(FreedomBoysoftheForest).Thechiefwentfromonehuttothenextcheckingandpatrolling.Sometimeshewentaroundwiththenewdistrictofficer.ThenewDOwasactuallyMrHowlandshimself.

Asmallbushhidthecourtyardfromimmediateview.BehindhimthelandofNganga,theirnewlandlord,slopedgently,mergingwithsometallgumtreesfartherdown.Njorogewastired,forhisnewschoolwasfivemilesawayfromhome.Andhehadtodoallthatjourneyonfoot.Thiswaswhateducationmeanttothousandsofboysandgirlsinalltheland.Schoolswerescarceandverywidelyspaced.IndependentandKikuyuKaring’aschools,whichhadbeenbuiltbythepeopleafterabreakwiththemissions,hadbeenclosedbythegovernment,andthismadethesituationworse.

Therewasnobodyinthecourtyard.Thesunhadalreadysetandtheusualeveningbreezethatcamebetweensunsetandtotaldarknesswasabsent.Thewholelandlookeddeceptivelycalm.Njorogestoodforamoment,madeuneasybythisquietatmospherethatprecededdarkness.Atfirsthedidnothearanything.ThenhestrainedhisearsandheardamurmurofvoicesinNjeri’shut.Itwasverycoldanddark.Therewasnosignoffoodanywhere,andhebecamecolderandmorehungry.

HewenttoNjeri’shut.Thewholefamilywasgatheredthere.Njorogesawthedarkfaceofhis

father.Hisfacealwaysworesomethingakintoafrowneversincethatstrike.BehindhimwasKamau,whostoodleaningagainstapost.Furtheron,hiddeninashadowycornerandsittingonabed,werehistwomothers.Njorogewentrightinandthegloomintheroomcaughthimatonce.

‘Sitdown!’Ngothoquietlyorderedhim.ItwasunnecessaryforNjorogewasalreadypreparingtositdown.Ashe

satheturnedhiseyestotheleft.There,hiddenbyashadowfromthesmall

wallthatpartitionedthehut,washisbrother,Boro.FormanymonthsBorohadnotbeenseenathome.

‘Oh,I’msorry.Howisitwithyou?’‘It’swell,brother.Howisschool?’Borohadalwaysshownamarked

interestinNjoroge’sprogressatschool.‘It’sallwell.How’sNairobi?IhopeyouleftKoriinpeace.’‘O,dearchild,wehopehe’swell!’Itwashisfatherwhoansweredhim.

NjorogefearfullylookedatBoro.Therewassilence.Njerisaid,‘Doyouthinkheissafe?’‘Idon’tknow.Heisnotalone.Therearemanymorewithhim.’‘Soyoudon’tknowwheretheothersweretaken…’‘That’sright.’Hekeptonlookingatthegroundandthenroseup

unsteadily.Hewasalittleexcited.Thenhesatdownagainandalmostinacryingvoicesaid.‘Iftheyshould,oh,if–’

NjorogethoughtBorowasmad.Butjustatthatmoment.thedooropenedandKoristaggeredin.Heworeahaggard,hauntedlook.Healmostfelldown.

‘Whatisit?’thetwowomenspoketogether.‘Waterandfood,’hegasped.Afterawhileherelatedhisstorytohis

surprisedaudience.Buthefirstlaughed.‘Many,manywillbeinprison.Whatawaste!’Thenheturnedtohis

brother.‘Soyouareoneofthethreewhoescaped?’‘Wewerefive.’‘Theysaidyouwereterrorists.’‘Howdidyou–?’‘Aftertheytookustothefield,Ilostyou.Thenyouescaped,andthe

policebecamemorevigilantandevenbeatsomepeople.Beforedaybreak,wewereputintotrucks.Wedidnotknowwherewewerebeingtaken.Ifearedthatwemightbekilled.ThisfeelingbecamestrongerwhenwecametoaforestandthetruckinwhichIwassloweddown.IimmediatelygottheideathatIshouldjump,whichIdid.Theyweretakenbysurpriseandbeforetheycouldfire,Ihadvanishedintotheforest.Lookatmyknee–’

Theycrowdedaroundhim–allexceptBorowhoremainedwrappedinthought.Thekneewastiedwithadirtypieceofclothandwhenheremovedit,theycouldseewherethesandshadeatenin.

‘Ha,ha!I’venoideaiftheywenttolookforme.FordaysI’vebeentravellinglikeyou,onlyIgotaliftbyalorrydriver.’

‘Whydotheyoppresstheblackpeople?’Njeriaskedbitterly.Shewasgrowingold.Herdaysofpovertyandhardshipwerebeingmadeheavierbythisanxiety.Butjustnowherheartwasalittlelighter.

Theytalkedinwhispersfarintothenight.‘TheywanttooppresspeoplebeforeJomocomesout.Theyknowhe’ll

winthecase.That’swhytheyareafraid,’Koriwasexplaining.

‘Willtheyletallthoseindetentionfreeifhewins?’‘Oh,yes.Allofthem.AndWiyathiwillcome.’Ngothodidnotspeakmuch.HesatinhisowncornerandNjorogecould

nottellifhewaslisteningtowhatwasgoingon.Ngothowaschanging.SoonafterthestrikeBoroquarrelledmuchwiththeoldman.HeaccusedhimofhavingspoilteverythingbyhisrashactioninspiteofKiarie’swarning.BoroclearlyhadcontemptforNgotho.Buthehadneverexpresseditinwordsexceptonthosetwooccasions.Sincethen,hehadbecomemorecriticalofNgotho.Ngotho,asaresult,haddiminishedinstature,oftenassumingadefensivesecondaryplacewhenevertalkingwithhissonsandtheirfriends.Formonthshehadremainedinthisposition,oftensubmittingunflinchinglytohisson.AndthenBorothoughtthathecouldmaketheoldmansubmittohiswill.ButNgothomadeadeterminedresistance.HewouldnottaketheMauMauoathathisson’shandsorinstruction.TherehadbeenabitterquarrelandBorohadstayedforalongtimewithoutcominghome.

OceanofPDF.com

9

EveryoneknewthatJomowouldwin.GodwouldnotletHispeoplealone.ThechildrenofIsraelmustwin.Manypeopleputalltheirhopesonthiseventualvictory.Ifhelost,thentheblackpeopleofKenyahadlost.SomeofhislawyershadevencomefromEngland.

MuchrainfellatKipangaandthecountryaroundontheeveofthejudgementday.Peoplewerehappyinalltheland.Therainwasagoodomen.Blackfolkwereontrial.ThespiritofblackfolkfromDeminaMathathiwasontrial.Woulditbevictorious?Itwasthegrowinguncertaintyoftheanswerthatmadepeoplebeafraidandassertmoreandmoreaggressivelythatavictorywouldsurelyfollow.

Atschoolalittleargumentensued.ItwasbegunbyKaranja.KaranjacamefromNdeiyanexttotheMasaicountry.Hesaid,‘Jomois

boundtowin.Europeansfearhim.’‘No.Hecan’twin.Myfathersaidsolastnight.’‘Yourfatherisahomeguard,’anotherboyretorted.Thetwoboysbeganaquarrel.Anotherdiscussionarosesomewhereelse.‘Thehomeguardswiththeirwhitemasters.TheyareasbadasMauMau.’‘No.MauMauisnotbad.TheFreedomBoysarefightingagainstwhite

settlers.Isitbadtofightforone’sland?Tellmethat.’‘Buttheycutblackmen’sthroats.’‘Thosekilledarethetraitors!Blackwhitesettlers.’‘What’sMauMau?’Njorogeasked.Hehadneverknownwhatitwasand

hiscuriosityovercamehisfearofbeingthoughtignorant.Karanja,whohadjustjoinedthegroup,said,‘ItisasecretKiama.You

“drink”theoath.Youbecomeamember.TheKiamahasitsownsoldierswhoarefightingfortheland.Kimathiistheleader.’

‘NotJomo?’asmallboywithonebadeyeasked.‘Idon’tknow,’Karanjacontinued.‘ButfathersaysthatKimathiisthe

leaderoftheFreedomArmyandJomoistheleaderofKAU.IlikeKAUandfearMauMau.’

‘Buttheyareallthesame.Fightingforthefreedomoftheblackpeople.’Thiswassaidbyatallbutweakboy.Thenwithadistantlookinhiseyes,‘Iwouldliketofightintheforest.’

Alleyeswereturnedonhim.Heseemedtohavesaidaveryprofoundthing.Orseemedtohaveputinwordswhatmostofthemfelt.Asolemnair

hungoverallthegroup.Thenoneotherboybrokethesilencebysaying,‘Itoowouldliketofight.IwouldlovetocarryabiggunlikemyfatherusedtodointhebigwarwhenhefoughtfortheBritish.NowIwouldbefightingfortheblackfolk–’

‘Hurrahandvictoryfortheblackfolk!’‘HurrahandvictoryforJomo–’‘Itrainedlastnight.’Thebellwent,thegroupdispersed.Theyrushedbackfortheirevening

classes.ThatnightNjorogelearntthatJomolost.Hisspiritfellandhefelt

somethingqueerinhisstomach.Hedidnotknowwhattothink.‘Butitwasallarranged,’Koriexplained.TheyallgatheredinNjeri’shut,nowtogetheronlyforcomfort.Inthe

morningpeoplewouldnotsayKwaHeri(good-bye)atpartingforfearofcontemplatingwhatsuchafarewellmightimply.Itmightmean‘Forever,farewell’.NgothohimselflivedinfearforhisfamilybecauseJacobowhohadnowbecomethemostpowerfulmaninthelandhadneverforgivenhim.Heknewthatsoonerorlaterthechiefwouldretaliate.Perhapshewasbidinghistime.

Whatdidhelivefornow?Hisdayswerefullofweariness.Hehadnolongerthewaitingtosustainhim.Thefulfilmentoftheprophecyseemedtobeimpossible.Perhapshehadblunderedingoingonstrike.Forhehadnowlosteverycontactwithhisancestralland.Thecommunionwiththespiritswhohadgonebeforehimhadgivenhimvitality.Butwhatcouldhehavedone?Hehadtogoonstrike.Hehadnotwantedtobeaccusedbyasonanymore,becausewhenamanwasaccusedbytheeyesofhissonwhohadbeentowarandhadwitnessedthedeathofabrother,hefeltguilty.ButNgothohadalwayswantedtobegentlewithBorobecauseheknewthatthesonmusthavebeensorelytriedinthewar.ThesomethingthathadurgedhimtofightagainstJacobocertainlyhadnologic.ButitalienatedBorofurtherstill.

Ngothooftenwonderedifhehadreallydonewellbyhissons.Ifheandhisgenerationhadfailed,hewasreadytosufferforit…ButwhateverNgothohadbeenpreparedtodotoredeemhimselfintheeyesofhischildren,hewouldnotbeorderedbyasontotaketheoath.Notthatheobjectedtoitinprinciple.Afterall,oath-takingasameansofbindingapersontoapromisewasanormalfeatureoftriballife.Buttobegivenbyason!Thatwouldhaveunderminedhisstandingasafather.Aleadinthatdirectioncouldcomeonlyfromhim,theheadofthefamily.Notfromason;notevenifhehadbeentomanyplacesandknewmanythings.Thatgavehimnorighttoreversethecustomandtraditionforwhichheandthoseofhisgenerationstood.AndyethefeltthelossofthelandevenmorekeenlythanBoro,fortohimitwasa

spiritualloss.Whenamanwasseveredfromthelandofhisancestors,wherewouldhesacrificetotheCreator?Howcouldhecomeintocontactwiththefoundersofthetribe,GikuyuandMumbi?WhatdidBoroknowofoaths,ofancientrites,ofthespiritsoftheancestors?StilltheestrangementcutdeeperanddeeperintoNgotho’slife,emaciatinghimdaily.

Tohim,too,Jomohadbeenhishope.NgothohadcometothinkthatitwasJomowhowoulddriveawaythewhitemen.TohimJomostoodforcustomandtraditionpurifiedbygraceoflearningandmuchtravel.Butnowhewasdefeated.Thingshadclearlygoneagainsthiminhisoldage;Jacobo,achief,andHowlands,aDO.Andhewasalsoestrangedfromasonofhisownskinandblood.Couldhenowputhisfaithintheyoungestofthesons?ButdidNjorogeunderstandwhatwashappening?Butthenwhounderstoodanythinganyway?

Againthatnighttheyspokeinwhispers.Borosatinhisowncornerandseemedmorewithdrawnthanever.

‘Itwastobeexpected,’Korisaidagain.Nyokabisaid,‘Iknewhewouldlose.Ialwayssaidthatallwhitemenare

thesame.Hislawyersmusthavebeenbribed.’‘Itismorethanthat,’saidNjeri.‘AndalthoughIamawomanandcannot

explainit,itseemsallclearasdaylight.Thewhitemanmakesalaworarule.Throughthatruleorlaworwhateveryoumaycallit,hetakesawaythelandandthenimposesmanylawsonthepeopleconcerningthatlandandmanyotherthings,allwithoutpeopleagreeingfirstasintheolddaysofthetribe.Nowamanrisesandopposesthatlawwhichmaderightthetakingawayofland.Nowthatmanistakenbythesamepeoplewhomadethelawsagainstwhichthatmanwasfighting.Heistriedunderthosealienrules.NowtellmewhoisthatmanwhocanwineveniftheangelsofGodwerehislawyers…Imean.’

Njeriwaspanting.Njorogehadneverheardherspeakforsuchalongtime.Yetthereseemedtobesomethinginwhatshehadsaid.Everyonelookedather.Tearswereonherface.Borowasnowspeaking.Butitwasalamentation.

‘…Allwhitepeoplesticktogether.Butweblackpeopleareverydivided.Andbecausetheysticktogether,they’veimprisonedJomo,theonlyhopewehad.Nowthey’llmakeusslaves.Theytookustotheirwarsandtheykilledallthatwasofvaluetous…’

Njorogeconvulsivelyclutchedtheseatmorefirmlywithhishands.AllthewrongdonetothepeoplewasconcentratedintheplaintivevoiceofBoro.Njorogefeltreadytodoanythingtorightthosewrongs.Butinsidehimselfhewasafraid.

Allofasudden,Borostoodandalmostshouted,‘Never!never!Blackpeoplemustriseupandfight.’

Njoroge’seyesdilated.NyokabiheldherbreathwhileNjeriturnedhereyesfearfullytowardsthedoor.

OceanofPDF.com

10

Theofficewasasmallrectangularbuildingwitharoofofredtiles.Butaroundthemainofficewereotherbuildings,somemadeofstoneandcorrugatedironroofs.Asmallvillageofhutsbuiltofgrassthatchedroofsandwhitewashedmudwallscompletedthewholepolicegarrison.Aroundthegarrisonwasafenceofbarbedwire.

MrHowlandssatintheofficewithhisleftelbowonthetablewiththepalmofthehandsupportinghishead.Heheldapencilinhisrighthandwithwhichhekeptontappingthetablewhilehegazedoutthroughthesmallopenglasswindowwithastrainedexpression.Lookingathim,onewouldhavethoughtthathewasgazingatthehutsthatmadethepolicequarters.Hismindwasfarawaybackintohischildhood,inthesmallrectangularhedgeoutsidehishomeandtheboyswithwhomheusedtoplay.Thejoys,fears,andhopesofchildhoodweregrandintheirownway.Thelittlequarrelshehadhad;thefatherwhomhehadfearedandrevered;thegentlemotherinwhosearmshecouldalwaysfindsolaceandcomfort–alltheseattimesassaultedhismemory,especiallyinthesetroubledtimes.Andyetthesewerethethingshehadallalongwantedtoshutfromhislife.

Hestoodandwalkedacrosstheoffice,wrappedinthought.Henowknewmaybetherewasnoescape.ThepresentthathadmadehimaDOreflectedapastfromwhichhehadtriedtorunaway.Thatpasthadfollowedhimeventhoughhehadtriedtoavoidpolitics,government,andanythingelsethatmightremindhimofthatbetrayal.Buthissonhadbeentakenaway…ItwasnogoodcallingonthenameofGod,forhe,Howlands,didnotbelieveinGod.Therewasonlyonegodforhim–andthatwasthefarmhehadcreated,thelandhehadtamed.AndwhoweretheseMauMauwhowerenowclaimingthatland,hisgod?Ha,ha!Hecouldhavelaughedatthewholeludicrousideabutforthefactthattheyhadforcedhimintotheotherlife,thelifehehadtriedtoavoid.Hehadbeencalledupontotakeupatemporaryappointmentasadistrictofficer.Hehadagreed.Butonlybecausethismeantdefendinghisgod.IfMauMauclaimedtheonlythinghebelievedin,theywouldsee!

DidtheywanttodrivehimbacktoEngland,theforgottenland?Theyweremistaken.WhowereblackmenandMauMauanyway,heaskedforthethousandthtime.Meresavages!Aniceword–savages.Previouslyhehadnotthoughtofthemassavagesorotherwise,simplybecausehehadnotthought

ofthematall,exceptasapartofthefarm–thewayonethoughtofdonkeysorhorsesinhisfarmexceptthatinthecaseofdonkeysandhorsesonehadtothinkoftheirfoodandaplaceforthemtosleep.

ThestrikethathadmadehimloseNgothoandnowbroughtabouttheemergencyhadforcedhimtothinktomoveoutofhisshell.Buttheyallwouldpayforthis!Yes,hewouldwringfromeverysinglemanthelastdroptilltheyhadallbeenreducedtonothingness,tillhehadwonavictoryforhisgod.TheMauMauhadcometosymboliseallthatwhichhehadtriedtoputasideinlife.Toconqueritwouldgivehimaspiritualsatisfaction,thesamesortofsatisfactionhehadgotfromtheconquestofhisland.Hewaslikealionthatwassuddenlywokenfromhislair.

Helookedathiswatch.Itlookedsmallonhiswrist.Hewasexpectingthechief.MrHowlandsdespisedJacobobecausehewasasavage.Buthewouldusehim.Theveryabilitytosetthesepeoplefightingamongthemselvesinsteadoffightingwiththewhitemengavehimanamusedsatisfaction.

Hesatdownagainandbegantothinkofhome–hishome.HewonderedwhathewoulddowithhissonStephen.HedidnotwanttosendhimtothatEngland,eventhoughhiswifewasdailyurginghimtoletthemgotillthingswerenormalagain.TosubmittohiswifewastolistentothevoiceofEngland.No.HewouldnotgiveintoeitherMauMauorhiswife.Hewouldreduceeverythingtohiswill.Thatwasthesettlers’way.

ItwasoddthatheshouldthinkonlyofhiswifeandchildStephen.Thetruthwasthathisdaughterdidnotquiteexistforhim.Shehadthwartedhiswillanddesireandhadgonetobeamissionary.Whatdidshewanttobeamissionaryfor?Eventheattempttoexplainonhisdaughter’ssidehadservedonlytoexasperatehimthemore.ShehadgivenherselfwhollytoGodandtoHiseternalservice.

Therewasaknockatthedoor.Jacobo,guninhand,camein.Heremovedhishatandfoldeditrespectfully.TherewasabiggrinwhichHowlandshated.Hehadknownhimforquitealongtime.Jacobohadoccasionallycometohimforadvice.Howlandshadalwaysgivenitwhilehetalkedofwhathehaddoneandwhathewoulddowiththelandhehadtamed.HowlandshadinfacthelpedJacobotogetpermissiontogrowpyrethrum.Inturn,Jacobohadhelpedhimtorecruitlabourandgavehimadviceonhowtogethardworkfromthem.However,allthishadbeenapartofthefarm.DutyhadnowthrownthemtogetherandhecouldnowseeJacoboinanewlight.

‘Sitdown,Jacobo.’‘Thankyou,Sir.’‘Whatdidyouwanttoseemefor?’‘Well,Sir,it’salongaffair.’

‘Makeitshort.’‘Yes,Sir.AsIwastellingyoutheotherday,Ikeepaneyeoneverybody

inthevillage.NowthismanNgotho,asyouknow,isabadman.Averyterribleman.Hehastakenmanyoaths.’ItlookedasifHowlandswasnotattendingsoJacobopausedforawhile.Thenhebeamed.‘Youknowheistheonewholedthestrike.’

‘Iknow,’Howlandscutin.‘Whathashedone?’‘Well,asIwastellingyou,itisalongaffair.Youknowthismanhassons.

Thesesonsofhishadbeenawayfromthevillageforquitealongtime.Ithinktheyarebringingtroubleinthevillage…IamverysuspiciousaboutBoro,theeldestson.Nowthisman,Sir,hadbeentowarandIthink,Sir,hewasconnectedwiththestrike–’

‘Yes!yes!Whathavetheydone?’‘I,well,Sir,nothing,butyouseethesepeopleworkinsecret.Iwasjust

thinkingthatweshouldsortofremovethemfromthevillage…sendthemtooneofthedetentioncamps…Now,ifweleavethemalone,there’llflareupbig,bigtroubleinthevillage.TheirdetentionwouldmakeiteasiertokeepaneyeonthisNgothobecauseasIwastellingyouhemaybetherealleaderofMauMau.’

‘Allright.Justkeepaneyeonthesons.Arrestthemforanything–curfew,tax,youknowwhat.’

‘Yes,Sir.’‘Anythingelse?’‘Nothing,Sir.’‘Allright.Youcango.’‘Thankyou,Sir,thankyou.IthinkthisMauMauwillbebeaten.’Howlandsdidnotanswer.‘Good-bye,Sir.’‘Allright,’Howlandssaidroughlyashestoodupasiftoshowthechief

out.MrHowlandswatchedhimgoout.Thenhebangedthedoorandstoodby

thesmallwindow.HehadneverforgottenNgotho.

NgothoandhisfamilysatinNyokabi’shut.Thesedayspeoplesatlateonlyinfamilies.Twoweremissingfromthefamilygroup.KamauwasintheAfricanmarket.Hepreferredstayingandevensleepingthere.Hefeltitsaferthatway.Borowasnotin.Hewouldprobablybelate.Theysatindarkness.Lightshadtobeputoutearly.Andtheyspokeinwhispers,althoughtheydidnotspeakmuch.Theyhadlittletosayexceptmakeirrelevantremarkshereandajokethereatwhichnobodylaughed.Theyknewthedarknightwouldbelong.BoroandKorikepttheirbedsinNjeri’shut.Herhutwasafewyardsaway

fromNyokabi’s.NjeriandKoriwaitedforBorototurnupbutwhenhefailedtheyroseuptogo.PerhapsBorowouldcomelaterinthenightorhecouldsleepwhereverhewas.Whowoulddaretogohomeonsuchanight,andtherebeingcurfeworderforeveryonetobeinbysixo’clock?Theywentout.Nogoodnight.Theothersremained.Allofasuddentherewasashoutthatsplitthenight–

‘Halt!’Njorogetrembled.Hewouldnotgotothedoorwherehisfatherand

motherstoodlookingatwhateverwashappeningoutside.Heremainedrootedtotheseat.HisfathercamebackfromthedoorandsatheavilyonthestoolhehadquicklyvacatedwhenhehadheardtheorderforNjeri,hiswife,andKori,hisson,tostop.Nyokabilatercamein.ShelitthelanternandseeingthefaceofNgothoputitoutagain.Silencereigned.

‘Theyhavetakenthemaway,’Nyokabisobbed.Njorogefeltasifthereweresomeinvisibledarkshapesinthehut.AtlastNgothosaid,‘Yeees…’Hisvoicewasunsteady.Hefeltlikecrying,

butthehumiliationandpainhefelthadastunningeffect.Washeamananylonger,hewhohadwatchedhiswifeandsontakenawaybecauseofbreakingthecurfewwithoutawordofprotest?Wasthiscowardice?Itwascowardice,cowardiceoftheworstsort.Hestoodupandrushedtothedoorlikeamadman.Itwastoolate.Hecamebacktohisseat,adefeatedman,amanwhocursedhimselfforbeingamanwithalostmanhood.Henowknewthateventhatwaitinghadbeenaformofcowardice,puttingoffofaction.

Henowquietlysaid,‘IknowitisJacobo.’AgainNjorogeheldontoastooltokeephimselfsteady.Itwasthefirst

timethatanymemberofhisfamilyhadbeencaughtbythenewlaws,althoughBoro,Kori,andKamauhadalwayshadnarrowescapes,especiallyduringthepoliceoperations.WhatwasnowhappeningtohisfatherandwhatwouldhappentoKoriandNjeri?

‘Jacobowantstoruinme.Hewantstodestroythishouse.Hewilldoit.’Itwasakindofdefiantlamentationthatwasworsethanaviolentoutburst

ofanger.AtthatminuteBoroentered.AgainsilencereignedtillBorobrokeitby

askingwhatwaswrong.‘Theyhavetakenyourmotherandbrotheraway,’Ngothosaid,hishead

stillbowed.‘Theyhavetakenmymotherandbrotheraway!’Boroslowlyrepeated.‘Yes.Curfew,’Nyokabisaid.ShehastilystoleaglanceatBoro.Shewas

gladthatthehutwasdark.‘Curfew…Curfew…’AndthenturninghisvoicetoNgotho,‘Andyou

againdidnothing?’Ngothofeltthislikeapinpressedintohisflesh.Hewasreadytoaccept

everything,butnotthis.‘Listen,myson.’ButBorohadgoneout.Ngothohadnobodytowhomhecouldexplain.

ForalongtimetheywerenottoseeBoro’sface.Breakingthecurfeworderwasnotaveryseriouscrime.Itmeantafixed

fineforeveryone–youngandoldalike.Butinthiscasewhenthemoneyforthefinehadbeentaken,onlyNjeriwasreleased.Koriwouldbesenttoadetentioncamp,withouttrial.Ngotho’sprophecywasmaterialising.Butthereinthehomeguardpost,thechiefwasdisappointedbecausetheonehewasreallyafterhadnotbeencaught.Buthedidnotlosehope.

OnedayNjorogewenttoschoolearly.HeknewthatsomethinghadhappenedtoNgotho,whonolongerlookedanybodystraightintheface;notevenhiswives.NjorogewassurethatifachildhitNgotho,hewouldprobablysubmit.Hewasnolongerthemanwhoseabilitytokeephometogetherhadresoundedfromridgetoridge.ButNjorogestillbelievedinhimandfeltsecurewhenNgothowasnear.

Ngotho’shomenowwasaplacewherestorieswerenolongertold,aplacewherenoyoungmenandwomenfromthevillagegathered.

Throughallthis,Njorogewasstillsustainedbyhisloveforandbeliefineducationandhisownrolewhenthetimecame.Andthedifficultiesofhomeseemedtohavesharpenedthisappetite.Onlyeducationcouldmakesomethingoutofthiswreckage.Hebecamemorefaithfultohisstudies.Hewouldonedayuseallhislearningtofightthewhiteman,forhewouldcontinuetheworkthathisfatherhadstarted.Whenthesemomentscaughthim,heactuallysawhimselfasapossiblesaviourofthewholeGod’scountry.Justlethimgetlearning.Letthattimecomewhenhe…

WhenNjorogereachedschool,hefoundtheotherboysinastateofexcitement.Asmallcrowdofboyshadgatheredaroundthewallofthechurch.Theywerereadingalettertotheheadmaster,fixedtothewall.Everyboywhocamerushedthereshoutingandthenwouldcomeoutofthecrowdquietwithachangedexpression.Njorogemadehiswaythroughthecrowd.Hereadtheletter.Hisvisionvanishedatonce.Thefearthathadcaughtthewholegroupattackedhimtoo.Foratimetherewastensionintheatmosphere.

Oneboysaid,‘TheyhavedonethesameinNyeri.’‘AndFortHall.’‘Yes.Imustnotcomebacktothisschool.’Theheadmastercame.Hewasshowntheletter.Atfirsthesmiled

carelesslyandreassuringlytotheboys.Butashereadtheletterhislipsfell.Gingerly,hetookoutarazorandremovedit,holdingitonlyattheedges.Hishandsbetrayedhim.

‘Hasanyofyoutouchedit?’‘Nobody,Sir,’theheadboysaid.‘Whocameheretheearliest?’‘ItisI,Sir.’Asmallboycameoutfromthecrowd.‘Didyoufindtheletterhere?’‘Ididnot,Sir.Ididnotlook.It’sKamauwhosawit.’‘Kamau,didyoucomeafterNjuguna?’‘Yes,Sir.Yousee,Sir,Iwasgoingtoputmypangaagainstthewall.Then

Ilookedup.Isawtheletter.AtfirstIdidnot–’‘Allright,Kamau.Njuguna,didyoumeetanybodyonthewayasyou

werecomingtoschool?’‘No,Sir.’Thequestioninthemindsofmostboyswas:HowhadKimathicometo

theirschool?Andthatdaytherewasanunusualairofgravityintheschool.Intheevening,Njorogerelatedthewholeincidenttohismother.‘Thelettersaidthattheheadoftheheadmasterplustheheadsofforty

childrenwouldbecutoffiftheschooldidnotinstantlyclosedown.ItwassignedwithKimathi’sname.’

‘Myson,you’llnotgotothatschoolanymore.Educationisnotlife.’Njorogefeltahurtcomfort.‘IthoughtMauMauwasonthesideoftheblackpeople.’‘Sh!Sh!’Nyokabicautionedhim.‘Don’tyoumentionthattonight.Walls

haveears.’ButKamautoldhimadifferentthing.‘You’llbefoolishtoleaveschool.Thelettermaynotbegenuine.Besides

doyoureallythinkyou’llbesaferathome?Itellyouthere’snosafetyanywhere.There’snohidinginthisnakedland.’

Njorogedidnotleaveschool.

OceanofPDF.com

11

Conditionswentfrombadtoworse.Noonecouldtellwhenhemightbearrestedforbreakingthecurfew.Youcouldnotevenmoveacrossthecourtyardatnight.Fireswereputoutearlyforfearthatanylightwouldattracttheattentionofthosewhomightbelurkingoutside.ItwassaidthatsomeEuropeansoldierswerecatchingpeopleatnight,andhavingtakenthemtotheforestwouldreleasethemandaskthemtofindtheirwaybackhome.Butwhentheirbackswereturnedtheywouldbeshotdeadincoldblood.ThenextdaythiswouldbeannouncedasavictoryoverMauMau.

Theboystoolivedinfear.Theydidnotknowwhentheschoolwouldbeattacked.Mostofthemhadnotheededthewarningoftheletter.LikeNjoroge,theyhadcontinuedgoingtoschool.Njorogewasnowabigboy,almostayoungman.Thefullforceofthechaosthathadcomeoverthelandwasjustbeginningtobeclearinhismind.Allhisbrothers,exceptthelonelyKamau,werenolongerathome.Whenthetimeforcircumcisioncame,itwasKamauwhometthecost.Itwashewhokeptthehometogether,buyingfoodandclothesandpayingfeesforNjoroge.Butherarelycametosleepathome.

Njorogestillhadafather,abrother,andtwomothers,andsoheclungtohisvisionofboyhood.Withonlyayeartogobeforehisexaminationforentrancetoasecondaryschool,heworkedhardathisbooksandhislessons.

NjorogehadnotmetMwihakisinceshewenttotheboardingschoolforgirls.Thiswasnotanaccident.Evenbeforetheemergencyhehadtriedtoavoidher.Howcouldhehavemetherwhenherfatherandhiswereenemiesinpublic?Healmostfeltthepainshemusthavefeltwhenshehadheardthatherfatherhadbeenattacked.AlthoughNjorogecouldnotbringhimselftocondemnhisfather,yethefeltguiltyandwishedMwihakihadbeenhisownsisterandnotthedaughterofJacobo.Theirlasthappymoment,whentheyhadstoodholdinghandsbeforetheywenttohearall,stilllingeredinNjoroge’smind.Ithurthim.Throughouttheemergency,thefactthatherfatherwasachiefandaleaderofthehomeguardshadmadehimfeelevenmoreacutelytheneedforatotalseparation.Yetattimeshehungeredforhercompany,forherdelicatebrownhandsandclearinnocenteyes.

OneSaturday,NjorogefollowedthelongandbroadroadtotheAfricanshopswhereKamauworked.Njorogewaslonelyandwantedtofind

companionship.Healwaysadmiredthebig,strongmusclesofKamauasheheldthesaw,orthehammer,orthesmoothingplane.Helookedsureashehammeredinanailhereandsawedapieceofwoodthere…Njorogeoftenwonderedwhetherhehimselfcouldeverhavebeenlikethis.ThistimeNjorogefoundKamaunotworking.Therewasanuneasycalmoverthewholetown.

‘Isitwellwithyou,brother?’‘It’sjustwell!Howishome?’‘Everythingingoodcondition.Whyareyouallsograve?’KamaulookedatNjoroge.‘Haven’tyouheardthatthebarberand–and–?Sixinallweretakenfrom

theirhousesthreenightsago.Theyhavebeendiscovereddeadintheforest.’‘Dead!’‘Yes!’‘Thebarberdead?Buthecutmyhaironly–Oh,dead?’‘It’sasadbusiness.Youknowthemall.OnewasNganga.’‘Ngangaonwhoselandwehavebuilt?’‘Yes!’NjorogerememberedthatNganga’swiveshadgonefromonehomeguard

posttothenextaskingtobeallowedtoseetheirhusbandwhomtheysaidhadbeencalledfrombedbyawhiteman.

‘Whokilledthemreally,thewhitemen?’‘Whocantellthesedayswhokillswho?’‘Ngangareallydead!’‘Yes.Andthebarber.’Itwasalmostridiculoustothinkthatonewouldneverseethesixmen

again.Fourofthemhadbeensomeoftherichestpeopleandquiteinfluentialinalltheland.NjorogewonderediftheseweretheMauMau.Foronlythatcouldexplainwhythegovernmentpeoplehadslaughteredthemincoldblood.Wouldhishomebenext?Borowassaidtohavegonetotheforest.Njorogeshudderedtothinkaboutit.

Twodayslater.Hewasonhiswayhomefromthemarketplace.Hecutacrossthefieldashedidnotwanttofollowthetarmacroad.Thedeathsofthesixmenhadcreatedakindofchargedstillnessinthevillage.Althoughtherehadbeenseveraldeportationsfromthevillageandafewdeaths,thiswasthefirstbigdirectblowbyeitherMauMauorserikalitothevillagecommunity.Njorogecouldnowrememberthecarpenterwhomatchildhoodhedetestedandwhohadbefriendedthematthehouroftheirtroublewithstrongeraffectionthanhehadeverfeltwhenthecarpenterwasalive.

‘Njoroge!’

Hedidnothearitandwouldhavegoneonexceptthatnowshewascomingtowardshim.Mwihakiwastall,slim,withsmallpointedbreasts.Hersoftdarkeyeslookedburninglyalive.Thefeaturesofherfacewerenowwelldefinedwhileherglossymassofdeepblackhairhadbeendressedinapeculiarmanner,alientothevillage.ThisimmediatelyremindedNjorogeofLucia,Mwihaki’ssister,whowasnowmarriedwithtwochildren.

Hehimselfwastallwithratherrough,hardenedfeatures,whichmadehimlookmoreofanadultthanheactuallywas.Hehadalwayshadabouthimacertainwarmreservethatmadehimattractiveandmysterious.Atfirsthewasshockedintoapleasantsensationandthenlaterwasembarrassedbytheself-possessionandassuranceofthisgirl.HowcouldshebeJacobo’sdaughter?

‘Iamsorry.I’dhavepassedyou.Youhavechangedmuch.’Thatwashowheratherhesitantlyexcusedhimselfaftertheusualgreetings.

‘HaveI?Youhavechangedtoo.’Hervoicewasstillsoft.‘LastweekwhenIpassednearyourhomeIdidnotseeyou.’

Againhefeltembarrassed.Whilehehadforyearsbeendeliberatelyavoidingameetingwithher,shehadatlasttakentheinitiativetoseekhimout.

‘It’salongtimesincewelastmet,’hesaid.‘Yes.Andmuchhashappenedinbetween–muchmorethanyouandI

couldeverhavedreamedof.’‘Muchhashappened…’heechoedherwords.Thenheasked,‘How’s

boardingschool?’‘Nice.Thereyouareinakindofcloister.’‘Andthecountry?’‘Bad.Likehere.’Hethoughthewouldchangethesubject.‘Well,Ihopeyou’llenjoyyourholidays,’hesaid,preparingtogo.‘Imust

gonow.Imustnotdelayyou.’Shedidnotanswer.Njorogelookedupather.‘I’msolonelyhere,’sheatlastsaid,withafrank,almostchildishlyhurt

voice.‘Everyoneavoidsme.’Hisheartbeattom-tom.Hissenseofgallantrymadehimsay,‘Let’smeet

onSunday.’‘Where?’Hepausedtothinkofasuitableplace.‘Inthechurch.’Thatwaswhereeveryonewentthesetroubleddays.‘No!Let’sgotheretogether.Itwouldbeliketheolddays.’Hedidnotresistthesuggestion.‘Allright.Ishallbewaitingforyounearmyhome.Whenyoucome,we

shallgotogether.Myhomeisontheway.’‘Goinpeace.’‘Goinpeace.’

Njorogefeltasmallawarenessstirringinhim.Andyetashewenthomeheblamedhimselfforacceptingthisarrangement.Healmostturnedroundtocallherbackandcancelthewholething.

Heputonhisbest,acheapnylonshirtandawell-pressedcleanpairofkhakishorts.Withkhakistockingsandbrownshoesmadefromthefactorynearhishometown,helookedverysmart.ButnowthathehadsleptofftheexcitementofmeetingMwihaki,hewasafraid.Hekeptonsaying,‘I’mafool,Iamafool.’Buthervoice,softandclear,rangappealingly.Iamsolonelyhere.WhocouldhavethoughtofMwihakifromherphysicalappearanceasbeinglonelyortroubledatheart?Hepreparedhimselfearlyandwenttostrollonthepathnearhishome.Thenshecame.Herwhite,low-neckedblouseandpleatedlightbrownskirtmadehimfeelashamedofhisclothes.Theymovedoninsilence.Onlywhenshetalkedtherewasalittlesuppressedexcitementinhervoice.

ItwasalongtimesinceshehadmetNjoroge.Thememoryoftheirhourstogetheratschoolwerestillfreshinhermind.Mwihakiwasnotonetoforgetasmallkindness,evenifrenderedsoearlyinchildhood.Thedumbconsolationthisboyhadtriedtogivehersoearlyinherlifehadmadeanindelibleimpressiononher.Again,Njorogewasdifferentfromtheotherboys.Hehadalwaysheldafascinationforher.Hegaveherpeaceandassurance.Muchhadhappenedbetweentheirtwofamilies.Sheknewthatherfather,atleast,hatedNgotho.Hedidnotcaretohidethefact.Hisopenhatred,sheknew,hadstemmedfromNgotho’spublichumiliationofJacobo.Mwihakicouldnevertelltherightsandwrongsoftheaffair.Onthewhole,sheknewthatherfathermustberightandNgothohadbehavedbadlytowardshisbenefactor.ButshesawthisonlyasaJacobo-NgothoaffairthathadnothingtodowithherrelationshipwithNjoroge.HerworldandNjoroge’sworldstoodsomewhereoutsidepettyprejudices,hatreds,andclassdifferences.ShethoughtthatNjorogewasofthesamemindaboutthesethingsandsohadnevercometorealisethattheirmanyyearsofseparationwerenotallthataccidental.Thedeclarationofemergencyhadnotmeantmuchtoher.YetastheyearswentandsheheardstoriesofMauMauandhowtheycouldslashtheiropponentsintopieceswithpangas,shebecameafraid.ShehadheardthatBoro,Njoroge’sbrother,hadgoneintotheforest,butshecouldnotquitebelievethis.Toher,theMauMauwerepeoplewhodidnotbelongtothevillageandcertainlywerenotamongthecircleofheracquaintances.

Theoldpreacherwasinthepulpit.HespokeofthecalamitythathadbefallentheGikuyupeople,atribethatlongagowalkedwithGod,atribethathadbeenchosenbyGodhimselfwhohadgivenitabeautifulland.Yetnow

bloodflowedtherefreely,coveringthelandwithdeep,redsin.Hetalkedoftheyoungmenandwomenwhowouldneverbeseenanymore.Hisfacewasdarkashetalkedofthemanywhowerelyinginthedetentioncamps.Whywasthisso?ItwasbecausepeoplehaddisobeyedtheCreator,theGiverofLife.ThechildrenofIsraelhadrefusedtohearkenuntothevoiceofJehovah.Theywouldbedestroyedinthedesertwheretheywouldbemadetowanderforfortyyears.

‘Ourpeople,whatshallwedotoescapethegreaterplaguethatistocome?WemustturntoGod.Wemustgoonourkneesandbeholdtheanimalhungonthetreeyonder.Thenallourwoundswillhealatonce.WeshallbewashedbythebloodoftheLamb.Ourpeople,whatissaidintheHolyScripturesiswhatIwilltellyounow…

‘Let’spray…’Theyallkneltdownandprayedfortheland.Somecried–cryingfor

thosewhomtheywouldseenomore.Ashortmanwentontothepulpit.Njorogelookedathimclosely.Hisface

seemedfamiliar.Themanbegantospeak.AndthenNjorogeremembered.ThiswastheworldlyteachertheyusedtocallUuu.Hismoustachewasnotthere.TeacherIsakahadgonetoNyeritheyearNjorogefinishedthefirstschool.Sincethen,Njorogehadnotheardofhim.Isakanowlookeddistinctlyholy.ThiswaswhatitmeanttobeaRevivalist.

‘TurntotheGospelaccordingtoStMatthew,chapter24,andbegintoreadfromline4.’

Therewasashuffleofleaves.‘Let’sbegin…’‘AndJesusansweredandsaiduntothem.Takeheedthatnomandeceive

you.‘FormanyshallcomeinMyname,saying,IamChrist;andshalldeceive

many.‘Andyeshallhearofwarsandrumoursofwars:seethatyebenot

troubled:forallthesethingsmustcometopass,buttheendisnotyet.‘Fornationshallriseagainstnation,andkingdomagainstkingdom:and

thereshallbefamines,andpestilences,andearthquakes,indiverseplaces.‘Allthesearethebeginningofsorrows.Thenshalltheydeliveryouupto

beafflicted,andshallkillyou:andyeshallbehatedofallnationsforMyname’ssake.

‘Andthenshallmanybeoffended,andshallbetrayoneanother,andshallhateoneanother.

‘Andmanyfalseprophetsshallrise,andshalldeceivemany.‘Andbecauseiniquityshallabound,theloveofmanyshallwaxcold.‘Buthethatshallendureuntotheend,thesameshallbesaved…’Hereadon.Butwhenhecametoverse33,hestoppedandstaredatallthe

peopleinthechurch.Thenheraisedhisvoiceandwenton:‘VerilyIsayuntoyou.Thisgenerationshallnotpasstillallthesethings

befulfilled…’Itwasasifdarknesstoohadfallenintothebuildingandtherewasnoone

tolighttheway.

Theywentalonginsilence.Itwaslateintheday,fortheservicehadtakenmanyhours.ItwasMwihakiwhoquicklywhispered,‘Let’sfollowtheoldpath.’

Njorogeagreed.Theoldpathwastheonetheyusedtofollowontheirwayfromschool.

‘Doyouthinkwhathesaidwastrue?’‘What?Hesaidmanythings.’‘ThatJesuswillcomesoon?’Njorogestarted.Hetoowasthinkingaboutwhattheiroldteacher

predictedabouttheworld.Hehadbeenimpressedbecauseitalllookedsotrue.War,diseases,pestilence,insecurity,betrayal,familydisintegrations–Njorogehadseenallthese.Oh,yes,hewasinclinedtoagreewiththeteacher.Buthedidnotliketheteacher’svoiceashecried,hysterically,‘Repentyouknow.FortheKingdomofGodisnear.’

Hadthecountryreallybeenreducedtothis?WouldtheSecondComingseetothedestructionofalllifeinthisworld?’

‘Idon’tknow,’heatlastsaid.‘DearJesus,’shemurmuredtoherself.Theycamenearherhome.Shesaid,‘Let’sgoin.’Njorogeprotested.Herfacedarkened.Quietly,almostinaudibly,shesaid,

‘Iknow.It’sbecausefatherisachief.’‘Please–’Heknewhewasbeaten.Shehadseenintohisheart.Theywentin.

Jacobo’shomewasnotasawesomeasitusedtobe.LongagowhenNjorogeandtheotherchildrenoftheridgeusedtoworkforJacobopickingpyrethrumflowershehadalwaysfeltaweightinhisstomachwheneverhecamenearthishouse.HedidnotlikelookingatitforalongtimebecausehehadalwaysfearedthatJacoboorJulianamightcomeoutonlytoseehimstaringattheirEuropeanhousehold.Butevennowthewholeplacewasquiteimpressive.NjorogehopedthatJacobowouldnotbethere.Thechiefwasrarelyseen.Andwhensomeonesawhimapproachhishome,heautomaticallyknewthatsomethingwaswrong.Thenameofthechiefwasbecomingaterrorintheland.Njorogecouldrememberhowheoncesawthreewomendashintoabushastheywerecomingfromthemarket.Njorogehadwonderedwhy.Butonlookinginfronthesawthechief.Hetoohadfeared,butithadbeentoo

lateforhimtodisappear.WhenMwihakiwentintothekitchenhestoodupandlookedatthe

photographsthatwerehungallaroundtheroom.TherewasLuciaasachild,asateacher,andtwotakenatherwedding.Therewasherbrother,John,whohadgoneoverseas.WherewasMwihaki?Helongedtoseehowshelookedinaphotograph.Thentherewasasoundoffeetatthedoor.Njorogeturned.Jacobo,hiswife,Juliana,andthreehomeguardswithrifleswereenteringthehouse.Njoroge,stilllookingatthem,wenttohischairandsatontheedgewithhislefthandontheseatwhilewithhisrighthandheplayedwithabutton.

‘How’sschool?’Jacoboasked,afterheandhishomeguardshadfoundseats.Julianahadgonetothekitchen.Jacobolookedtired.Hewasnottheproudfarmerofold.

‘’Tisallright.’‘Inwhichclassareyounow?’‘StandardVIII.I’mdoingKAPEthisyear.’‘Thenyou’llgotohighschool?’‘Yes,ifIpass.’NowNjorogefeltalittlebraveandsatonthechairsquarely.Jacobo’sface

wasalittlewrinkled.Therewasachangeinhisvoiceashesaid,‘Ihopeyoudowell.Itissuchasyouwhomustworkhardandrebuildthe

country.’Njorogefeltsomethingjumpinhim.Hesawhimselfrebuildingthewhole

country.Foramomentheglowedwiththatpossibility…Hestoleaglanceatthehomeguards.Hefoundthemlookingathim.Their

redjerseysremindedhimofthedeadbarber.

Theywenttoahill.Itwasneartheirhome.Shelayonthegrassonherleftsideandfacedhim.Hesatuprightandlookedattheplainbelow.Theplainwasusuallyfullofwater,especiallyduringtherainyseason.Nowitwasdry.Mwihakiplayedwiththebuttononhisbackpocket.Thenshesatuprightandalsolookedattheplain.

Shesaid,‘Iwasafraid.’‘Youshouldnotbeafraid,’Njorogesaid.‘ButIwas–whentheteachersaidtheworldwouldsooncometoanend.’Njorogeturnedtoherandlookedatherforamoment.Hetriedtosmile

indulgentlybuthefailed.Hisfaceremainedcontractedintosmallcreasesasifhewererecallingsomething.

‘Itisveryhardtoimagineeverythingdestroyed–Imeanflattenedoutintoaplainlikethisone.Youimaginethebloodandthebonesofallpeople,whiteandblack,mineandyours,all…’

‘Stop!’Sheshuthereyesasifshedidnotwanttoseethesightofalakeofbloodandaplainofbones.

‘Iseeyouareafraid,’hesaid,againtryingtosmileindulgently.Hetrulyfeltbravebecauseshewasafraid,andshewasonlyawoman,agirl.

‘Yousee,’shesaidwhenshehadrecovered,‘itfrightenedmetothinkthatImaygotobedonenightandwakeuptofindeverythinggone–alldestroyed.’

‘Butyouwouldbedestroyedtoo,soyouwon’tseeanything.’‘Don’tlaugh.’‘Iamnotlaughing.’Thiswastrueforhetoowasthinkingofthepossibilityofwhatshehad

said.Whatifallpeopleweredestroyedandhealonewasleft?Whatcouldhedowithhislearningthathehadhopedtouseinrescuingthecountryfromruin?Thenhethought:Whatifitwasonlyhisfamilythatwouldbede-stroyed?Heshiveredinthestomach.Hequicklyasked,‘Whenareyougoingback?’

‘Nextweek.’‘Sosoon?’Shedidn’thear.‘Njoroge,doyouthinkallthiswasactuallyprophesiedbyIsaiahandall

theotherprophets?’‘ItisintheBible.’‘BecauseIwasthinkingthatifJesusknew,reallyknew,aboutthisthingin

ourcountry,Hecouldhavestoppedit.Don’tyouthinkso?’NjorogebelievedintherighteousnessofGod.Thereforehethoughtall

thiswouldworkoutwellintheend.AndhefeltabitawedtoimaginethatGodmayhavechosenhimtobetheinstrumentofHisDivineService.Sohejustsaid,‘Godworksinamysteriousway.’

‘Youknowwhatreallyworriesmeisthis.Itismyfather.Heusedtobesokindandgentle,especiallywithme.Heannoyedmesometimesofcoursebutthatwasnothing.HealwayscametomysidewhenMotherscoldedme.IenjoyedhissmileandthoughtIwouldlikeahusbandwithteethlikehis…’Shestopped,andthoughtforamoment.Thenshelookeddownasifshewaspuzzledbysomething.‘Butnowheisuncommunicative.Thegunandthepistolhecarriesmakehimastrangertome.Oh,ifonlyIwasbiggerandreallystrong,Iwoulddosomething…Perhapsyoudon’tbelieveit,but–’

‘Itisthesameeverywhere,’hesaidirrelevantly.Allthingswouldchange.OnlypeoplehadtobelieveinandtrustGod.

Shewenton,notseeingthathewasnotreallyattending.‘Ihatetothinkthathemayhavekilledsomemanbecauseatnighthewakesandsaysthatheheardsomepeopletalkingofhisowndeath.Andpeopleyouknowarealwaysavoidingme,evengirlsmyage.Itis,oh–’

Sheburstintotears.Njorogewashorrifiedtoseethetearsofabiggirl.Allgirlswerelikethis,hethought.YethewouldnothavebelievedthisofMwihaki.Hepulledabladeofgrassandchewedit.AndMwihakitookherhandkerchiefandwipedhereyes.Njorogelookedaway.Theplainbelowwasquietandbig.ForatimeNjorogeforgotMwihaki;hewaslostinspeculationsabouthisvitalroleinthecountry.HerememberedDavidrescuingawholecountryfromthecurseofGoliath.

‘Youmustthinkmeasillyweakgirl,butyouknowIthinkthepeoplehavesinned.’

Hefeltashehadfeltwhentheoldpreachertalkedaboutsin.IfGikuyupeoplehadsinned,thenhemightbesenttothembyGod.HerememberedSamuelandmanyotherprophets.Buthesaid,‘Isitpossibleforawholenationtosin?’

‘Onemansins,Godpunishesall.’Hethought:Sheisright.GodhaddonethisoftentothechildrenofIsrael.

ButHealwayssentsomebodytorescuethem.‘…andthesincouldbecommittedbyanyone,youorI…’Hewasstartledoutofthisvision.Hehadattimesfeltlikethis.For

instance,thatdayhismotherquarrelledwithhisfather.Hehadfeltguiltyasifhehadbeenresponsible.HesuppressedthisandlookingatMwihakisaidfirmly,‘Peaceshallcometothisland!’Histaskofcomfortingpeoplehadbegun.

‘Oh,Njoroge,doyoureallythinkso?’shesaid,creepingnearhimasifhewasthecomforthimself.

‘Yes.Sunshinealwaysfollowsadarknight.Wesleepknowingandtrustingthatthesunwillrisetomorrow.’Helikedthispieceofreasoning.

Buthewasratherannoyedwhenshelaughinglysaid,‘Tomorrow.Tomorrownevercomes.Iwouldratherthinkoftoday.’Buthereyesdilatedlikeachild’sasshelookedhopefullyathim.Anideacametoher.SheheldNjorogebytheneckandshookhimexcitedly.

‘Whatisit?’askedNjoroge,startled.‘Something.SupposeyouandIgofromheresothatwecomebackwhen

thedarknightisover…’‘But–’‘IcouldbesuchanicesistertoyouandIcouldcookyouverytastyfood

and–’‘Justaminute.’‘Itisagoodidea,isn’tit?’Njorogewasveryserious.Hesawhisvisionwreckedbysuchaplan.And

whatwouldGodthinkifhedesertedhismissionlikethis?‘No.No.Howcanweleaveourparentsalone?’‘Wecould–’

‘Andtellmewherewouldwegoandwhatcouldweeat?’Shelookeddisappointed,butsheeasilylaugheditoff.Shesaid,‘Don’tbe

soserious.Iwasonlyjoking.’Njorogewaspuzzledandfeltslightirritationagainstthisgirl.Hecould

neverunderstandher.Buthetootriedtolaughandsaid,‘OfcourseIknew.’Shethoughtthathewasannoyedandsoothedhim.‘Butweshallremainfriendsandalwaystrusteachother.’‘Wearefriends,’hesaid.‘Butyounevercometoseemewhen–’Hebecameatonceawareofthedifferencebetweenthem.‘Wedon’tseeeachother.’‘WhenIcomeback,youwillnotletmealone?’sheappealed,againher

eyesdilating.Shewassittingclosetohim.Shetouchedthecollarofhisshirtandthenrubbedoffaninsectthatwaswalkingalongit.Helookedatherinabrotherlyfashion.Hehadnowquicklyforgottentheirdifferences.Tohimshewasagirlwhomighthaveeasilybeenhissister.

Hesaid,‘Whenyoucomeback,Ishallbewithyou.’‘Itisapromise?’‘Ofcourse.’Theymovedtogether,soasnotbecaughtbythedarkness.Abirdcried.

Andthenanother.Andthesetwo,aboyandagirl,wentforward,eachlostintheirownworld,foratimeobliviousofthebiggerdarknessoverthewholeland.

OceanofPDF.com

12

MrHowlandsfeltacertaingratifyingpleasure.Themachinehehadsetinmotionwasworking.Theblacksweredestroyingtheblacks.Theywoulddestroythemselvestotheend.Whatdiditmatterwithhimiftheblacksintheforestdestroyedawholevillage?Whatindeeddiditmatterexceptforthefactthatlabourwoulddiminish?Letthemdestroythemselves.Letthemfightagainsteachother.Thefewwhoremainedwouldbesatisfiedwiththereservationthewhitemanhadsetasideforthem.Yes,MrHowlandswascomingtoenjoyhiswork.

Atthebeginningoftheemergency,whenhehadbeencalledfromthefarm,hehadbeenangry.Hehadattimeslongedtogobacktothelifeofafarmer.Butastheyearspassed,theassertivedesiretoreducetheblackstoobediencehadconquered,enablinghimtodohisworkwithathoroughnessthatwouldnothavebeenpossiblewithmanyofhisage.HelookedupatChiefJacobo.Awickedsmilelithisface.Thedesiretokickthechiefwasuppermostinhismind.Thechiefwasgrinning.

‘Areyousureit’sBorowhoisleadingthegang?’‘Well,onecan’tbequitesure,but–’‘What?’‘Thisman,asyouareaware,isknowntobedangerous.Itoldyouso

whenyouandItalkedtogetherbeforeheranaway.Well,Ithink,Imeantherearerumoursthatheprobablycomeshome…butevenifthisisnotthecase,Ngothosurelyknowshisson’shidingplace.’

‘Haven’tyouplantedmentowatchNgotho’smovementsandreportonthem?’

MrHowlandsalwaysfeltthatsoonhewouldcometogripswithNgotho.Ngothowashisfoe.ButMrHowlandscouldnotexplaintohimselfwhyhealwayswaivedplanstobringNgothotoasubmissivehumiliation.Yetthiswaswhathewanted.Thiswouldbethecrowninggloryofhiscareerbeforehistriumphalreturntofarminglife.MeanwhilehewouldresistallJacobo’smovestohaveNgothoarrestedjustnow.Hehadoftenresistedthisjustasmuchashehadresistedhiswife’srequeststhatsheandStephenshouldgobacktoEnglandforthistimebeing.StephenwasnowinthehighschoolforEuropeans,whichwasafewmilesfromSiriana.

Jacobowaslonginanswering.‘Ihave,Sir,butthere’ssomethingelse.Ididn’t,youknow,wanttotell

you,butafewdaysagoIreceivedthisnoteinanenvelopedroppedatmydoor.’

ThechieffumbledintheinnerpocketsofhiscoatandtookoutahandwrittennotewhichhehandedtothecuriousHowlands:

STOPYOURMURDEROUSACTIVITIES.ORELSEWESHALLCOMEFORYOURHEAD.THISISOURLASTWARNING.

‘Why!Haveyoureceivedmore?’‘Yes–two.But–’‘Whatdidyoudowiththem,youfool?’MrHowlandswasfurious.He

stoodup.Jacobomovedafewstepsbacktothedoor.Howlandscouldnever

understandsuchignorance.Toreceivetwonotesofwarningandkeepquiet!Afteratimehecooleddown.‘Allright,leavethisonewithme.Wheredoyouthinktheycomefrom?’‘FromNgotho.’‘Howdoyouknow?’‘Whoelsecouldeasilycometomyhouse?Afewmonthsago,his

youngestsonwasatmyhouse–’‘Doingwhat?’‘Well,he’sreallyaschoolboy,and,hehad,eh,Imean,mydaughter–’MrHowlandscouldnotunderstandallthis.Jacobomustbemad.‘Allright.Leavethiswithme.Youcanhavemorehomeguardsifyou

want.Youmustnotleaveyourhousewithoutaguard.WatchNgotho’severystep.’

‘Yes,Sir.’‘Andbytheway,whenthenewhomeguardpostisready,youandyour

familybettermovethere.’‘Yes,Sir.’

ItwasahotJanuarymorning.Twoyoungmenwalkedalonganarrowcattlepath,carelesslyclutchingtheirBiblesandhymnbooks.Behindthemwereagroupofmenandwomen,alsoholdingBiblesandhymnbooks.TheywerediscussingthesavingpowerofChrist.FartherbehindstillwerewomengailydressedinSundaybest.Theywerejoyouslysinging.

Nitugu-u-kugocaJe-e-JesuJesuGa-a-tuurumeKaNgai,Jesu,Thakameyakuiithera-agiamehiaNdakugo-o-caMwathani.

WepraiseyouJesusJesustheLambofGod,Jesus,ThybloodcleansawaymysinsIpraiseyou,OLord.

AllofthemweregoingtoaChristiangatheringafewmilesawayfromthetown.

‘Arewenearlythere?’Njorogeaskedtheotheryoungman.HisnamewasMucatha.

‘No.WehavenotyetcometothewoodItoldyouabout.’‘Itisfar,then?’‘Notveryfar.I’vebeenthereonfootmanytimes.’‘Willtherebemanypeople?’‘Yes.Manywomen.’‘Whywomen?’‘Wherearethemen?’‘Whywe?’‘Twoonly.’‘Thereareothers.’‘Maybe.’Theybothlaughedandquicklyfellsilent.Njorogethoughthowwonderful

itwouldallhavebeenifMwihakihadbeenwiththem.Butonthisvacationshehadnotcomehome.ShehadgonetostaywithLucia.Njorogealwaysenjoyedreadingherletters.Duringthesecond-termholidaystheyhadmetquiteoften.Onlyheneverrepeatedthevisittoherhome.Theyhadfoundanumberofthingstotalkabout.Hecouldstillrememberherwordsthathadalwaysencouragedhimwhenconfrontedwithadifficulty:‘Njoroge,Iknowyou’lldowell.’Hehadgonetotheexamroomwiththem.Hewouldalwaysbegratefultohismother,whohadfirstsenthimtoschool,andtoMwihaki.Yetwhatifhefailed?Thatwouldbetheendofall.Whatwasafuturewithouteducation?However,hetrustedtoGodtocarryhimthrough.

‘Therenow!Thisisthewood.’‘Oh!It’ssothick,itfrightensme.’Theystoodonarock.‘Doyouseeoverthere?’‘Beyondthedarkwood?’‘Yes.Beyond,totheleftofthathill.’Njorogecouldseeasmallhillinthedistance.‘Isee.’‘That’swherethemeetingisgoingtobe.’Theymoveddown.TeacherIsakaandtheotherswerenearer.Theywere

stillabsorbedintheirtalkofsalvation.Thecattlepathwidenedandwound

throughthedensewood.Suddenly,Njorogeheardavoice.‘Stop!’Bothstopped.Frightgrippedthem.Forthere,standinginfrontofthem,

wasawhitemilitaryofficer.‘Mikonojuu.’TheyputuptheirhandssothattheirBiblesandhymnbookswereinthe

airasiftheyweredisplayingthewordofGodforalltosee.‘Kujahapa.’Theywentnearer.Apistolwaspointedatthem.Soonthegroupofmen

whohadbeenbehindcame.TheywentthroughthesameprocessandlinedupbehindNjorogeandMucatha.Thewomencame,sawthescene,andthesingingdiedwiththeirsteps.Thewomenwerefirstinterrogated.Theywerethenallowedtocontinuetheirjourney.ItwasthenthatNjorogelookedaroundandsawthattheyweresurroundedbymanysoldierswholayhiddeninthebush,withmachinegunsmenacinglypointedtotheroad.NjorogeclutchedtheBiblemorefirmly.

Theywereallmadetosquatandproducetheirdocuments.Fortunately,NjorogeandMucathahadlettersfromtheformerheadmasterwhichindicatedthattheywereschoolboys.Themenatthebackwerenotsolucky.Oneofthemwasbeatensomuchthatheurinatedonhislegs.Buthedidnotpleadformercy.Theonlythingheconstantlysaidwas‘Jesus’.

Isakasquattedandcalmlywatchedthescene.Hehadnodocuments.Whenthewhitesoldiershoutedathim,Isakaansweredinacalm,almostresignedtone.Wherehadheleftthedocuments?Satanhadmadehimforgetthemathome.Butthewhitesoldierknewbetter.IsakawasaMauMau.AgainIsakarepliedthatJesushadsavedhimandhecouldnotexchangeJesuswithMauMau.Theofficerlookedathimwithreddeningeyes.Yethedidnottouchhim.NjorogewonderedifhewasafraidofIsaka.Therewassomethingstrangeintheteacher’scalm.Whentheotherswereallowedtogo,Isakawasmadetoremain.Hedidnotprotest.

‘Comethiswayandwe’llseewhatJesuswilldoforyou.’Hewasledintothethickdarkwood.Beforetheothershadgoneveryfar,theyheardonehorriblescreamthatrangacrosstheforest.Theydarednotturntheirheads.Njorogetriedtoholdhisbreathsothathisstomachwastaut.Theywentafewmoresteps.Suddenlytherewasoneotherscreamwhichwasswallowedbyadeafeningreportofmachineguns.Thensilence.

‘Theyhavekilledhim,’oneofthemensaidsometimeafterthereport.Njorogesuddenlyfeltsick,sickofeverything.ItwastohimpainfullyunbelievablethathewouldseeIsaka,theworldlyteachertheyusedtocallUuu,nomore.

‘Don’tyoubelieveinanything?’‘No.Nothing.Exceptrevenge.’‘Returnofthelands?’‘Thelostlandwillcomebacktousmaybe.ButI’velosttoomanyof

thosewhomIlovedforlandtomeanmuchtome.Itwouldbeacheapvictory.’

Borowasabitmorecommunicativeashesatwithhislieutenantonalookoutafewmilesfromtheirnewhideout.TheoldhideouthadbeeninthewoodwhereIsakahadbeensummarilyexecutedintonothing.ThepatrolhadbeenafterthegroupthatwasledbyBoro.

Borohadnowbeenintheforestforaconsiderabletime.Hisowndaredevilaction,forhedidnotcarewhathappenedtohimpersonally,hadmadehimaleaderoftheotherfreedomfighters.Theripehourofhisyouthhadbeenspentinbloodshedinthebigwar.Thiswastheonlythinghecoulddoefficiently.

Borohadalwaystoldhimselfthattherealreasonforhisflighttotheforestwasadesiretofightforfreedom.Butthisfervourhadsoonwornoff.Hismissionbecameamissionofrevenge.Thiswastheonlythingthatcouldnowgivehimfireandboldness.Ifhekilledasinglewhiteman,hewasexactingavengeanceforabrotherkilled.

‘Andfreedom?’thelieutenantcontinued.‘Anillusion.Whatfreedomisthereforyouandme?’‘Whythendowefight?’‘Tokill.Unlessyoukill,you’llbekilled.Soyougoonkillingand

destroying.It’salawofnature.Thewhitemantoofightsandkillswithgas,bombs,andeverything.’

‘Butdon’tyouthinkthere’ssomethingwronginfightingandkillingunlessyou’redoingsoforagreatcauselikeours?’

‘Whatgreatcauseisours?’‘Why,freedomandthereturnofourlostheritage.’‘Maybethere’ssomethinginthat.Butforme,freedomismeaningless

unlessitcanbringbackabrotherIlost.Becauseitcan’tdothat,theonlythinglefttomeistofight,tokillandrejoiceatanywhofallsundermysword.Butenough.ChiefJacobomustdie.’

‘Yes.Youhavesaidthismanytimes.’‘Ihavesaidsomanytimes,’Bororepeatedquietly.‘Andyoudelay.’‘IwonderwhyIdelay.Youknowsometimesyoufeelsomethinghere.But

itcannotbehelped.Hehasnotheededanyoneofthewarningswe’vesenthim.LookatthewayhetreatedmanyofthesquatterswhoweresentawayfromtheRiftValley.’

‘Yes.’

‘Andwithhim,Howlands.’‘Heisadangerousman.’‘Jacobomustbeshotalone.Wedon’twantmoredeathsjustnow.’ThelieutenantcouldneverunderstandBoro.Inonebreathhewouldtalk

ofkillingandkillingasthelawoftheland,andtheninthenextbreathwouldcautioncare.

‘Who’sgoingtodoit?’‘Iwill.’‘No!Wecannotletyougo.Wecannotdowithoutyou.’‘IfI’mcaught,you’lltakeover.I’veshownyoueverything.’‘No,no!Oneofuswill–’‘Thisismypersonalaffair.’‘ButIthinkweshouldcastlots.’‘Weshallsee.’Theywentbacktotheirhideout.

OceanofPDF.com

13

‘Njorogeisgoingtohighschool.’‘Highschool!’‘Yes.HehasgonethroughKAPE.’Ngothowaspleased.AndNyokabiandNjeriwerefullofjoyatthenews.

ForthefirsttimeformanyyearssomethinglikeaglimmeroflightshoneinNgotho’seyes.Hecouldevenbeseenmakinganefforttowalkupright.Hereatlastwasasonwhomightbeacredittothefamily.HerewasasonwhomighteventuallybeamatchfortheHowlandsandtheJacobosandanyotherswhoatalldespisedhim.Kamautoowaspleased.HehopedhecouldgoonhelpingNjoroge.Njorogemightdosomethingforthefamily.

Njorogewashappy.HisfirstimpulsewhenhelearntthathehadpassedwastokneeldownandthankGodforallHehaddoneforhim.‘GivememoreandmorelearningandmakemetheinstrumentofThylightandpeace.’Togotosecondaryschool,thebigmissionschoolatSiriana,wasnosmallachievement.

Hewastolearnlaterthathehadbeentheonlyboyinallthatareawhowouldgotohighschool.Mwihakitoohadpassed.Butbecauseshehadnotdoneverywell,shewouldonlybegoingtoateachertrainingschoolafewmilesfromherboardingschool.NjorogewasatfirstoverjoyedtoseehehadbeatenthedaughterofJacobo,butthenfeltsorrythatshehadnotbeenabletocontinue.

Thenewsofhissuccesspassedfromhilltohill.Inspiteofthetroubledtime,peoplestillretainedagenuineinterestineducation.Whatevertheirdifferences,interestinknowledgeandbooklearningwastheonemeetingpointbetweenpeoplesuchasBoro,Jacobo,andNgotho.SomehowtheGikuyupeoplealwayssawtheirdeliveranceasembodiedineducation.WhenthetimeforNjorogetoleavecamenear,manypeoplecontributedmoneysothathecouldgo.HewasnolongerthesonofNgothobutthesonoftheland.

OnthelastSundayhemetMwihaki.Theywenttothesamehill.Njorogehadnowanewfeelingofprideandpower,foratlasthiswayseemedclear.Thelandneededhim,andGodhadgivenhimanopeningsothathemightcomebackandsavehisfamilyandthewholecountry.ItwasayearnowsinceheandMwihakihadbeentothesamehill.Mwihakihadnotchangedmuch.Shenowatebladeafterbladeofgrass.Shedidnotsitsoveryclosetohimasshehaddonethefirsttime.Theytalkedaboutmanythings,butnothingwas

saidabouttheonethingthatwasforemostintheirownhearts.Thensheaskedhim,‘Whenwillyougo?’‘Earlynextmonth.’‘Sirianaisagoodschool.’‘Oh,yes!’‘Whenpeoplegoaway,theytendtoforgetthosethattheyleavebehind.’‘Dothey?’Shewashurt.Butshesaid,‘Yes.Whatwillyoudoafterallyourlearning?

Iamsureyouwillbeabigman.’‘Asamatteroffact,Ihavenotthoughtoutmyplans.ButIwould

probablyliketogotoMakerereorBritainlikeyourbrother.’‘MybrotherwenttoAmerica,notBritain.’‘Well,itdoesn’tmatter,’hesaid,movingclosetoherasifhewasawareof

herpresenceforthefirsttime.Shewaslookingatthegroundwhereshewastryingtodrawsomethingonamouldofsoil–mole’ssoil.Hewonderedwhyshewasnotlookingathim.Couldshebefeelingjealous?

‘Andafterthat?’Hebecameseriousandalittledistant.Hewasagaininhisvision.‘Ourcountryhasgreatneedofus.’‘Doyouthinkthecountryreallyneedsyou?’‘Yes,’hesaidratherirritably.Wasshedoubtinghim?‘Thecountryneeds

me.Itneedsyou.Andtheremnant.Wemustgettogetherandrebuildthecountry.ThatwaswhatyourfathertoldmethedaythatIwasatyourhome.’

‘Thecountryissodarknow,’shewhisperedtoherself.‘Thesunwillrisetomorrow,’hesaidtriumphantly,lookingatherasifhe

wouldtellherthathewouldneverlosefaith,knowingashedidthatGodhadasecretplan.

‘Youarealwaystalkingabouttomorrow,tomorrow.Youarealwaystalkingaboutthecountryandthepeople.Whatistomorrow?AndwhatarethePeopleandtheCountrytoyou?’

Shehadsuddenlystoppedwhatshehadbeendoingandwaslookingathimwithblazingeyes.Njorogesawthisandwasafraid.Hedidnotwanttomakeherangry.Hewaspained.Helookedatherandthenattheplain,thecountrybeyondstretchingon,ontothedistanthillsshroudedinthemist.

‘Don’tbeangry,Mwihaki.ForwhatcanIsaynow?YouandIcanonlyputfaithinhope.Juststopforamoment,Mwihaki,andimagine.Ifyouknewthatallyourdayslifewillalwaysbelikethiswithbloodflowingdailyandmendyingintheforest,whileothersdailycryformercy;ifyouknewevenforonemomentthatthiswouldgoonforever,thenlifewouldbemeaninglessunlessbloodshedanddeathwereameaning.Surelythisdarknessandterrorwillnotgoonforever.Surelytherewillbeasunnyday,awarmsweetdayafterallthistribulation,whenwecanbreathethewarmthandpurityof

God…’Shelayquietlynowwithherheadnearhim.Hereyesdilatedwitha

pleasurethatwaswarmtoher.Shewantedtoheartheboygoontalking,preachinghope.Shecouldnowtrusthim.Shecouldseethesunnydaytomorrowandthiscouldmakeherforgetthepresenttroubles.IfeverymancametobreathethewarmthandthepurityofGod,thenhatredand–

‘Areyousleeping?’‘No!no!’shesaidquickly.‘Thesungoesdown.Weshouldgohome.’Theyrosetogo.Whenpartingshelookedathimandfirmlysaid,‘You

willdowell.’Njorogefeltaheavinessinhisheartandforatimewasashamedofhaving

thoughtMwihakijealous.Hesaid,‘Thankyou,Mwihaki.Youhavebeenlikeatruesistertome.’

Shewhispered,‘Thankyou’.Shewatchedhimgoandthenturnedawayherhead.Shetookoutherhandkerchiefandrubbedsomethingwetonhercheekswhilesherantowardsherhomefasterandfaster.

OceanofPDF.com

14

SirianaSecondarySchoolwasawell-knowncentreoflearning.Beingoneoftheearliestschoolstobestartedinthecolony,ithadexpandedmuchduemainlytotheeffortsofitsmissionaryfounders.

ToNjoroge,comingherewasnearlytherealisationofhisdreams.Hewouldforthefirsttimebetaughtbywhitemen.Andthiswaswhatconfusedhim.Thoughhehadnevercomeintorealcontactwithwhitemen,ifonehadmethimandhadabusedhimortriedtoputhiminhisplace,Njorogewouldhaveunderstood.Hewouldhaveevenknownhowtoreact.Butnotwhenhemetsomewhocouldsmileandlaugh.NotwhenhemetsomewhomadefriendswithhimandtriedtohelphiminhisChristianprogress.

Hereagain,hemetboysfrommanytribes.Again,iftheseboyshadmethimandhadtriedtopractisedangerouswitchcraftonhim,hewouldhaveunderstood.Butinsteadhemetboysfromotherblackcommunitieswhowerelikehimineveryway.HemadefriendsandworkedwithNandi,Luo,Wakamba,andGiriama.Theywereboyswhohadhopesandfears,lovesandhatreds.Ifhequarrelledwithanyorifhehatedany,hedidsoashewouldhavedonewithanyotherboyfromhisvillage.

Theschoolitselfwasanabodeofpeaceinaturbulentcountry.HereitwaspossibletomeetwithGod,notonlyinthecoolshelterofthechapel,wherehespentmanyhours,butalsointhequietnessofthelibrary.Forthefirsttimehefelthewouldescapethewatchfuleyesofmiseryandhardshipthathadforalongtimestaredathiminhishome.Herehewouldzorganisehisthoughtsandmakedefiniteplansforthefuture.Hewassurethat,withpatienceandhardwork,hisdesiretohavelearningwouldbefulfilled.Maybethesunwouldsoonrisetoannounceanewday.

SirianaSecondarySchooltookpartininterschoolsportsmeetingsatwhichsomeAsianandEuropeanschoolstookpart.TheHillSchoolwasafamousschoolforEuropeanboys.

TheHillSchoolsentateamofboystoSirianaforfootball.Itwasfouro’clock.Alongwiththeelevenplayersweresomewhoweremerespectators.Njorogedidnotplayfootballandithappenedthathefellintoconversationwithoneofthevisitorsnotactivelyengagedinplaying.ButassoonasNjorogespoketotheboy,hefeltthathemusthaveseenhimsomewhereelse.

Theboywastall,withlongbrownhairthatkeptonbeingblownintohisfacebythewind.Hehadtokeeponswinginghisheadtomakethethreadsofhairreturntotheirproperplaces.

‘IthinkI’veseenyoubefore,’Njorogeatlastsaidashetooktheboyround.

‘Haveyou?’TheboylookedupatNjorogefullintheeyes.Atfirstheseemedpuzzled.Thenhisfacebrightenedup.Hesaid,‘Oh,doyoucomefromKipanga?’

‘Yes.That’swhereI’veseenyoubefore.’‘Iremember.YouarethesonofNgothowho–’Theboysuddenlystopped.

‘MynameisStephen.StephenHowlands.’‘IamNjoroge.’Theywalkedoninsilence.NjorogesawhewasnotafraidofStephen.

HereinschoolStephenwasaboy.Njorogecouldnotbeafraidofaboy.‘Whendidyoucomehere?’‘Atthebeginningofthisyear.Andyou?’‘BeeninHillSchoolfortwoyears.’‘Whichschooldidyougotobeforeyoucamehere?’‘Nairobi.Whataboutyou?’‘IwenttoKamahouIntermediateSchool.’‘Isthattheschoolyouwenttowhenyoupassednearourhome?’‘No.ThatonewasKamaePrimarySchoolandwentuptoStandardIV.

Didyouseeme?’‘Yes.’Stephencouldeasilyrecallthemanytimeshehadhiddeninthe

hedgenearhishomewiththeobjectofspeakingtoNjorogeoranyotherofthechildren.Yetwhenevertheycamenear,hefeltafraid.

‘Wedidn’tseeyou.’‘Iusedtohideneartheroad.Iwantedtospeakwithsomeofyou.’

Stephenwaslosinghisshyness.‘Whydidn’tyou?’‘Iwasafraid.’‘Afraid?’‘Yes.Iwasafraidthatyoumightnotspeaktomeoryoumightnotneed

mycompany.’‘Wasitallthatbad?’‘Notsomuch.’Hedidnotwantsympathy.‘IamsorryIranawayfromyou.Itoowasafraid.’‘Afraid?’ItwasStephen’sturntowonder.‘Yes.Itoowasafraidofyou.’‘ButImeantnoharm.’‘Allthesame,Iwas.HowcouldItellwhatyoumeanttodo?’‘Strange.’

‘Yes.It’sstrange.It’sstrangehowyoudofearsomethingbecauseyourheartisalreadypreparedtofearbecausemaybeyouwerebroughtuptofearthatsomething,orsimplybecauseyoufoundothersfearing…That’showit’swithme.WhenmybrotherswenttoNairobiandwalkedinthestreets,theycamehomeandsaidthattheydidn’tlikethewayEuropeanslookedatthem.’

‘Isupposeit’sthesameeverywhere.Ihaveheardmanyfriendssaytheydidn’tlikethewayAfricanslookedatthem.AndwhenyouarewalkinginNairobiorinthecountry,thoughtheskymaybeclearandthesunissmiling,youarestillnotfreetoenjoythefriendlinessoftheskybecauseyouareawareofanelectrictensionintheair…Youcannottouchit…youcannotseeit…butyouareawareofitallthetime.’

‘Yes.Tillsometimesitcanbemaddening.Youareafraidofit,andifyoutrytorunawayfromit,youknowit’sallfutilebecausewhereveryougoit’stherebeforeyou.’

‘It’sbad.’‘It’sbad,’agreedNjoroge.Theyfeltclosetogether,unitedbyacommonexperienceofinsecurityand

fearnoonecouldescape.‘Yesthecountryissocoolandsoabsorbing…’‘It’salandofsunshineandrainandwind,mountainsandvalleysand

plains.Oh–butthesunshine–’‘Butsodarknow.’‘Yes–sodark,butthingswillbeallright.’Njorogestillbelievedinthefuture.Hopeofabetterdaywastheonly

comforthecouldgivetoaweepingchild.Hedidnotknowthatthisfaithinthefuturecouldbeaformofescapefromtherealityofthepresent.

Thetwohadmovedawayfromthecrowdandwerestandingtogetherunderablackwattletree.

‘I’llbeawayfromhomesoon.’‘Wherewillyougo?’‘ToEngland.’‘Butthat’syourhome?’‘No.Itisn’t.IwasbornhereandIhaveneverbeentoEngland.Idon’t

evenwanttogothere.’‘Doyouhavetogo?’‘Yes.Fatherdidnotwantto,butmymotherwantedustogo.’‘Whenwillyougo.’‘Nextmonth.’‘Ihopeyou’llcomeback.’Awaveofpityforthisyoungmanwhohadtodowhathedidnotwantto

dofilledNjoroge.Atleasthe,Njoroge,wouldriseandfallwithhiscountry.Hehadnowhereelsetogo.

‘Iwanttocomeback.’‘Isyourfathergoingwithyou?’‘No.He’llremainhere.But–but–yousometimesgetafeelingthat

you’regoingawayfromsomeoneforever…That’showIfeel,andthat’swhatmakesitallsoawful.’

Againsilencesettledbetweenthem.Njorogewantedtochangethesubject.

‘Theyhavechangedsides.’‘Let’sgoandcheer.’Thetwomovedbacktothefield,againshywitheachother.Theymoved

intotwodifferentdirectionsasiftheywereafraidofanothercontact.

Mwihakiwrotefrequently.Njorogecouldrememberherfirstletterjustbeforeshewenttotheteachertrainingschool.

DearNjoroge,Youdon’tknowhowmuchImissyou.ForthelastfewdaysIhavebeenthinkingofnothingbutyou.Theknowledgethatyou’resofarfrommemakesthethoughtsverypainful.ButIknowwhatyouaredoingthere.Iknowyou’lldowellbecauseyou’vegotdetermination.Itrustyou.

Iamgoingtothetrainingschoolnextweek.Livingherehasbeenhellforme.Fatherhaschangedmuch.Heseemstobefearingsomething.EverydaytherehavebeensomenewarrestsandsomehousesburntdownbyMauMau.YesterdayIfoundsomepeoplebeingbeatenandtheywerecrying,ohsohorribly,beggingformercy.Idon’tknowwhat’shappening.Fearintheair.Notafearofdeath–it’safearofliving.

IamcaughtinitandifthisgoesonIfeelasifIcouldgomad…I’mtellingallthistoshowyouhowgladIamattheprospectsofescapingawayfromitall…

Njorogewonderedwhatchangeshewouldfindathomewhentheendoftheyearcame.Didhereallywanttogohome?Ifhewent,miserywouldgnawathispeaceofmind.Hedidnotwanttogoback.Hethoughtitwouldbeamoreworthwhilehomecomingifhestayedheretillhehadequippedhimselfwithlearning.

OceanofPDF.com

15

ItwasacoldMondaymorning.Njorogehadgonethroughthefirsttwotermsandnowwasinhisthird.Itwouldsoonend.Hewokeupasusual,saidhisprayersandpreparedhimselfforthemorningparade.Itwassuchapleasantmorninginspiteofthecold.AftertherollcallhewenttothechapelforacommunionwithGodandthentothedininghallforbreakfast;thatwasalwaysthedailyroutine.Heatehisbreakfastquicklyforhehadnotyetfinishedthepreparationforthepreviousnight.

ThefirstclasswasEnglish.NjorogelovedEnglishliterature.‘Why,youlookhappytoday,’aboyteasedhim.‘ButI’malwayshappy,’hesaid.‘Notwhenwe’redoingmaths,’anotherboyputin.Theylaughed.Njoroge’slaughterrangintheclass.Thefirstboywhohad

spokensaid,‘See,seehowhe’slaughing.HeishappybecausethisisanEnglishclass.’

‘Doyouwantmetocry?’Njorogeasked.Hefeltbuoyant.‘No.It’sonlythatmymothertellsmethatamanshouldnotbetoohappy

inthemorning.It’sanillomen.’‘Don’tbesuperstitious.’YetNjorogedidnotlikethelastobservation.Allthroughtheweekthat

hadpassedhehadbeenassailedbybaddreams.ThedreamshadaffectedhimsomuchthathehadbeenunabletowritetoMwihaki.Tonight,however,hewouldwritetoher.HewantedtotellherthatStephenhadgonebacktoEnglandandhissisterhadaccompaniedthem.Shewouldhowevercomebacktocontinuehermissionarywork.WhenhefirstmetStephenhehadwrittentoher,tellingherabouthisownimpressionofStephen.‘Helookedlonelyandsad’hehadfinished.

Therewasalotofshoutingintheroom.Thenoneboywhispered:‘Teacher.Hush!’Therewassilenceintheroom.Theteachercamein.Hewasalwaysontime.Njorogewasoftensurprisedbythesemissionaries’apparentdevotiontotheirwork.Onemighthavethoughtthatteachingwastothemlifeanddeath.Yettheywerewhitemen.Theynevertalkedofcolour;theynevertalkeddowntoAfricans;andtheycouldworkclosely,joke,andlaughwiththeirblackcolleagueswhocamefromdifferenttribes.Njorogeattimeswishedthewholecountrywaslikethis.Thisseemedalittlelikeparadise,aparadisewherechildrenfromallwalksoflifeandofdifferentreligiousfaiths

couldworktogetherwithoutanyconsciousness.Manypeoplebelievedtheharmonyintheschoolcamebecausethe

headmasterwasastrangemanwhowasseverewitheveryone,blackandwhitealike.Ifhewasquicktopraisewhatwasgood,hewasequallyquicktosuppresswhathethoughtwasevil.Hetriedtobringoutthegoodqualitiesinall,makingthemworkforthegoodnameoftheschool.Buthebelievedthatthebest,thereallyexcellent,couldcomeonlyfromthewhiteman.Hebroughtuphisboystocopyandcherishthewhiteman’scivilisationastheonlyhopeofmankindandespeciallyoftheblackraces.Hewasautomaticallyagainstallblackpoliticianswhoinanywaymadepeoplefeeldiscontentedwiththewhiteman’sruleandcivilisingmission.

Njorogewasinthemiddleofansweringaquestionwhentheheadmastercametothedoor.Theteacherwentouttoseewhattheheadmasterwanted.Whenhecameback,helookedatNjorogeandtoldhimthathewaswantedoutside.

Hisheartbeathard.Hedidnotknowwhattheheadmastercouldhavetosaytohim.Ablackcarstoodoutsidetheoffice.ButitwasonlywhenNjorogeenteredtheofficeandsawtwopoliceofficersthatheknewthatthecaroutsidehadsomethingtodowithhim.Njoroge’sheartpoundedwithfear.

Theheadmastersaidsomethingtothetwoofficerswhoimmediatelywithdrew.

‘Sitdown,myboy.’Njoroge,whosekneeshadalreadyfailedhim,gladlysankintothechair.Theheadmasterlookedathimwithcompassionateeyes.Hecontinued,

‘I’msorrytohearthisaboutyourfamily.’Njorogewatchedthemissionary’sfaceandlips.Hisownfacedidnot

change,butNjorogelistenedkeenlywithclenchedteeth.‘You’rewantedathome.It’sasadbusiness…butwhateveryourfamily

mayhavemadeyoudoorvowinthepast,rememberChrististhereatthedoor,knocking,waitingtobeadmitted.That’sthepathwe’vetriedtomakeyoufollow.Wehopeyou’llnotdisappointus.’Theheadmastersoundedasifhewouldcry.

ButwhenNjorogewenttothecar,herealisedthattheheadmasterhadnotgivenhimaclueastowhathisfamilyhaddone.HiswordsofcomforthadservedonlytoincreaseNjoroge’storment.

Hewouldneverforgethisexperienceinthepost.ThatparticularhomeguardpostwaspopularlyknownastheHouseofPain.Thedayfollowinghisarrivalintheposthewascalledintoasmallroom.TwoEuropeanofficerswerepresent.Onehadaredbeard.

‘What’syourname?’theredbeardasked,whilethegreyeyeslookedathimferociously.

‘Njo-ro-ge.’

‘Howoldareyou?’‘Ithinknineteenorthereabouts.’‘Semaaffande!’oneofthehomeguardsoutsidethesmallroomshouted.‘Affande.’‘Haveyoutakentheoath?’‘No!’‘Semaaffende!’barkedthesamehomeguard.‘No.Affendi.’‘Howmanyhaveyoutaken?’‘Isaidnoneaffendi!’Theblowwasswift.Itblindedhimsothathesawdarkness.Hehadnot

seenthegreyeyesrise.‘Haveyoutakentheoath?’‘I-am-a-schoolboy-affendi,’hesaid,automaticallyliftinghishandstohis

face.‘Howmanyoathshaveyoutaken?’‘None,Sir.’Anotherblow.Tearsrolleddownhischeeksinspiteofhimself.He

rememberedtheserenityofhisschool.Itwasalostparadise.‘DoyouknowBoro?’‘He’smy–brother–’‘Whereishe?’‘I–don’t–know–’Njorogelayonthedustyfloor.Thefaceofthegreyeyeshadturnedred.

HeneveroncespokeexcepttocallhimBloodyMauMau.AfewsecondslaterNjorogewastakenoutbythetwohomeguardsatthedoor.Hewassenseless.Hewascoveredwithbloodwherethehobnailedshoesofthegreyeyeshaddonetheirwork.

Hewokeupfromthecomalateinthenight.Heheardawomanscreaminginahutnotfarfromtheoneinwhichhelay.CoulditbeNjeri?OrNyokabi?Heshudderedtothinkaboutit.Helongedtoseethemallonceagainbeforehedied.Forhethoughtthiswastheend.Perhapsdeathwasnotbadatall.Itsentyouintoabigsleepfromwhichyouneverawoketothelivingfears,thedyinghopes,thelostvisions.

Theyhadnotfinishedwithhim.Hewasintheroomthenextday.Whatwouldhedoiftheyaskedhimthesamequestionsagain?Tellalie?Wouldtheyleavehimaloneifhesaidyestoeveryquestion?Hedoubtedit.Hisbodywasswollenallover.Buttheworstthingforhimwasthefacthewasstillinthedarkaboutallthisaffair.

‘YouareNjoroge?’‘y-e-e-e-s.’‘Haveyoutakentheoath?’Alleyesturnedtohim.Njorogehesitatedfora

moment.HenoticedthatMrHowlandswasalsopresent.Thegreyeyestookthemomentaryhesitationandsaid,‘Mark,youtellusthetruth.Ifyoutellthetruth,weshallletyougo.’

ThepaininhisbodycameandaskedhimtosayYes.ButheinstinctivelysaidNo,withdrawingafewstepstothedoor.Nobodytouchedhim.

‘WhomurderedJacobo?’MrHowlandsaskedforthefirsttime.Foratime,Njorogewasshakenallover.Hethoughthewasgoingtobe

sick.‘Murdered?’hehoarselywhisperedinutterdisbelief.Andallofasudden

astrongdesiretoknowifMwihakiwassafecaughthim.Heforamomentforgotthathewasaddressinghisenemies.

Thewhitemencloselywatchedhim.‘Yes.Murdered.’‘Bywhom?’‘You’lltellusthat.’‘Me,Sir?But–’‘Yes.You’lltellus.’MrHowlandsroseandcametoNjoroge.Hewasterribletolookat.He

said,‘I’llshowyou.’HeheldNjoroge’sprivatepartswithapairofpincersandstartedtopresstentatively.

‘You’llbecastratedlikeyourfather.’Njorogescreamed.‘Tellus.WhoreallysentyoutocollectinformationinJacobo’shouse

about…?’Njorogecouldnothear;thepainwassobad.Andyetthemanwas

speaking.Andwheneverheaskedaquestion,hepressedharder.‘YouknowyourfathersayshemurderedJacobo.’Hestillscreamed.MrHowlandswatchedhim.Thenhesawtheboyraise

hiseyesandarmsasifinsupplicationbeforehebecamelimpandcollapsedontheground.MrHowlandslookeddownontheboyandthenattheofficersandwalkedout.Theredbeardandthegreyeyeslaughedderisively.

Njorogewasnottouchedagain,andwhenhebecamewellafewdayslater,heandhistwomotherswerereleased.

Thehutinwhichhehadbeenputwasdark.Ngothocouldnottelldayornight.Forhim,darknessandlightwerethesamethingandtimewasasuccessionofnothingness.Hetriedtosleeponhissidesbutonlyhisbuttocksweresafe.Sofromdaytodayheremainedinthesamesittingposture.Butthensleepwouldnotcometorelievehim.Hewantedtoforgethislife.Forbehindhim,hewasconsciousonlyoffailure.

Theawarenessthathehadfailedhischildrenhadalwaysshadowedhim.

Evenbeforethiscalamitybefellhim,lifeforhimhadbecomemeaningless,divorcedashehadbeenfromwhathevalued.

Inspiteofhispain,however,heneverregrettedthedeathofJacobo.Infact,immediatelyafterJacobo’sdeath,Ngothofeltgrateful.Thiswasanactofdivinejustice.ForadayortwohehadwalkeduprightonlylatertohearthathissonKamauwasarrestedinconnectionwiththemurder.Foradayandahalfhehadremainedirresolute.Butatnightheknewwhattodo.TheGikuyussay,‘Weshallnotgivethehyenatwice.’Nowsincethewhitemanhadreversedthetriballawandcried,‘Atoothforatooth’,itwasbetterforNgothotoofferhisoldtooththathadfailedtobitedeepintoanything.ButNgothocouldnevertellwherehehadfoundcouragetowalkintotheDO’sofficeandadmitthathehadkilledJacobo.Itwasaconfessionthathadshockedthewholevillage.

AndNgothohadnowfordaysbeentorturedinallmannerofways,yetwouldtellnothingbeyondthefactthathehadkilledJacobo.

MrHowlandshad,aswastheusualpracticewithgovernmentagentsandwhitemen,takenthelawintohisownhands.Hewasdeterminedtoelicitalltheinformationfromtheman.SohehadNgothobeatenfromdaytoday.ForMrHowlandswasdeterminedtoconquerandreduceNgothotosubmission.

Ngotho,whohadworkedforhimandhadthwartedhiswill,wouldnotnowescapefromhim.ForNgothohadbecomeforhimasymbolofevilthatnowstoodinhispath.

AndindeedhebecamemadwhereNgothowasconcerned.EventhehomeguardswhoworkedwithhimfearedtobepresentwhentheDOwaselicitinginformationfromthisman.

ButNgothohadstucktohisstory.

Njorogehadalwaysbeenadreamer,avisionarywhoconsoledhimselffacedbythedifficultiesofthemomentbyalookatabetterdaytocome.Beforehestartedschool,hehadoncebeenlenttohisdistantuncletohelphiminlookingaftercattle.Thecattlehadtroubledhimmuch.Butinsteadofcryinglikeotherchildren,hehadsatonatreeandwishedhehadbeenatschool.Forthatwouldendsuchtroubles.Andforanhourhehadseenhimselfgrownupandatschool.Meanwhilethecattlehadeatenagoodportionofashambaandhisunclehadtosendhimhomeimmediately.

ButalltheseexperiencesnowcametoNjorogeasshocksthatshowedhimadifferentworldfromthathehadbelievedhimselflivingin.Forthesetroublesseemedtohavenoend,tohavenocure.Atfirstthesehadanumbingeffectsothathedidnotseemtofeel.Allheknewwasthathisfatherandhisnowonlybrotherwereintroubleandhehimselfwasnotatschool.

Butevenwhenhismindbecameclear,theoldfearcamebackandhaunted

him.Hisfamilywasabouttobreakandhewaspowerlesstoarrestthefall.Sohedidnotwanttocontemplatethefactthathisfathercouldhavecommittedthemurder.HedidnoteventalkwithNyokabiorNjeriaboutit.Andtheyperhapsunderstoodhimbecausetheynevertriedtoforceitonhim.Onlyoneeveningwheneveryfirehadgoneoutandvoicesinthevillagehaddieddidhismothertrytospeaktohim.

‘Njoroge.’Thevoicedidnotsoundlikehers.‘Yes,Mother.’Hefearedhernextwordasheslightlyheldhisbreath.But

shecouldnotproceed.NjorogecouldhearconstantsniffsasifNyokabiwasunsuccessfullytryingtosuppresssobbing.Helethisbreathgo.Hefeltapainfulrelief.

However,hecouldnotallthetimeholdhimselffromthinking.Theimageofthemurderedchiefashehadseenhiminhishomecametohismind.Everybodyandeverythingforhimhadastampedimageofthechief.Andthisimagecametorepresentthatwhichhadrobbedhimofvictorywhenthedoortosuccesshadbeenopened.

OnlyoncedidhethinkofMwihaki.Thatwasthenighthismotherhadtriedtotellhimsomething.Buthethoughtofherwithguilt.Hefeltasifitwashisconnectionwithherthathadsomehowbroughtallthisillluck.Hewantedtoshouttohismotheracrossthenight,It’sIwhohavebroughtallthisontoyou.Hehatedhimselfwithoutknowingwhyandthenhatedthechiefallthemore.

Laterthisfeelingbecamesooppressivethatonenighthelefthome.Itwasaquietnightandeveryonehadgonetosleep.Njorogewaslongaftertowonderhowthiscouragehadcometohim.Hewalkedtowardstheoldhouseofthechief,clenchinghisfistsasifreadytofight.Theghostofthechiefwastheretoleadtheway.Andhefolloweditbecausehewantedtoputanendtothisoppression.Hewouldrevengehimselfonthechiefandstrikeablowforhisfamily.Butwhenhereachedthedesertedhousehold,theghosthadtransformeditselfintoMwihaki.Hetriedtohitherbutsoonrealisedthatwhathewantedwastoholdherandtogetherescapefromthecalamityaround.Shewashislasthope.AndthenNjorogewokeupfromwhathethoughtwasafrighteningdream.Heheardthesoundoffeetbeyondthehedgethatsurroundedthehouse.Hehadforgottenthatthedesertedplacewasstillguarded.

Hequietlyretracedhissteps.Inthemorninghedidnotwanttolookhismotherinthefacebecauseeventohimthetruthofhispositionwasfrightening.

Thatday,forthefirsttime,heweptwithfearandguilt.Andhedidnotpray.

OceanofPDF.com

16

NyokabiandNjerisatinacorner.Njorogecouldseetearsflowingdowntheircheeks.Itdepressedhimbecauseasachildhehadbeentoldthatifwomenweptwhenamanwasillitshowedthatthepatienthadnohope.ButevenasNjorogelookedatthedistortedfaceofhisfather,hehadnostrengthtostoporsoothetheweepingwomen.ForthefirsttimeNjorogewasfacetofacewithaproblemtowhich‘tomorrow’wasnoanswer.Itwasthisrealisationthatmadehimfeelweakandseetheemergencyinanewlight.

Ngothostruggledtoonesideandforthefirsttimeopenedhiseyes.NyokabiandNjeriquicklymovednearerthebed.Ngotho’seyesroamedaroundthehut.Theyrestedoneachofthewomeninturn,Njerifirst.Heopenedhismouthasiftospeak.Insteadaroundtearrolleddownhisface.Hewantedtorubitaway.Butashecouldnotlifthishand,heletthetearrundownunchecked.TwoothersfollowedandNgothoturnedhiseyesandrestedthemonNjoroge.Heseemedtostrugglewithhismemory.Hethenmadeanefforttospeak.

‘Youarehere…’‘Yes,Father.’ThisrekindledhopeinNjoroge.Hefeltacoldsecuritywhenhesawthat

hisfatherwasstillincommand.ThiswasNgotho’sfirstspeechsincetheymovedhimfromthehomeguard

post,fourdaysbefore.Njorogewaslongtoremembertheday.Ngothohadtobesupportedbyamanateitherside.Hisfacehadbeendeformedbysmallwoundsandscars.Hisnosewascleftintotwoandhislegscouldonlybedragged.Forfourdaysnowhismouthandeyeshadremainedshut.

‘Youcomefromschool–’‘Yes,Father.’‘Toseeme–’‘Yes,’helied.‘Didtheybeatyouthere?’‘No,Father.’‘Then–you–cometolaughatme.Tolaughatyourownfather.I’llgo

home,don’tworry.’‘Don’tsaythat,Father.Weoweyoueverything.O,Father,whatcouldwe

dowithoutyou?’Njorogebithislowerlip.Ngothowenton,‘Yourbrothersareallaway?’

‘They’llcomeback,Father.’‘Ha!Atmydeath.Toburyme.Where’sKamau?’Njorogehesitated.Ngothocontinued,‘Perhapsthey’llkillhim.Didn’t

theytakehimtothehomeguardpost?Butwhydo–theydon’twantanoldman’sblood.Now,don’task,DidIkillJacobo?DidIshoothim?Idon’tknow.Amandoesn’tknowwhenhekills.Ijudgedhimalongtimeagoandexecutedhim.Ha!Lethimcomeagain.Lethimdare…Oh,yes,Iknow–Oh!They–want–the–young–blood.Lookthere,there–ah,theyhavetakenMwangi–Washenotyoung?’

Ngothorambledon.AllthetimehiseyeswerefixedonNjoroge.‘Iamgladyouareacquiringlearning.Getallofit.Theydarenottouch

you.YetIwishallmysonswerehere…Imeant,ha,ha,ha!todosomething.Ha!Whathappened?Who’sknockingatthedoor?Iknow.It’sMrHowlands.Hewantstogetatmyheart…’

Ngotho’slaughterwascold.Itleftsomethingtightandtenseintheair.Bynowdarknesshadcreptintothehut.Nyokabilitthelanternasiftofightitaway.Grotesqueshadowsmockedherastheyflittedonthewalls.Whatwasaman’slifeifhecouldbereducedtothis?AndNjorogethought:Couldthisbethefatherhehadsecretlyadoredandfeared?Njoroge’smindreeled.Theworldhadturnedupsidedown.Ngothowasspeaking.Exceptforhislaughter,hiswordsweresurprisinglyclear.

‘Borowentaway.Hefoundmeout–auselessfather.ButIalwaysknewthattheywouldchangehim.Hedidn’tknowmewhenhecame…Yousee…’

Njorogeturnedhishead.Hewasawareofanotherpresenceintheroom.Borowasstandingatthedoor.Njorogehadseenhimenter.Hishairwaslongandunkempt.Njorogeinstinctivelyshrankfromhim.Borowentnearer,falteringly,asifhewouldturnawayfromthelight.Thewomenremainedrootedtotheirplace.TheysawBorokneelbythebedwhereNgotholay.Andatonce,longbeforeBorobegantospeak,thetruthcametoNjoroge.Hecouldonlyholdhisbreath.

NgothocouldnotatfirstrecogniseBoro.Heseemedtohesitate.Thenhiseyesseemedtocomealiveagain.

‘Forgiveme,Father–Ididn’tknow–oh,Ithought–’Boroturnedhishead.

Thewordscameoutflatly,falteringly.‘It’snothing.Ha,ha,ha!Youtoohavecomeback–tolaughatme?Wouldyoulaughatyourfather?No.Ha!Imeantonlygoodforyouall.Ididn’twantyoutogoaway–’

‘Ihadtofight.’‘Oh,there–Now–Don’tyouevergoawayagain.’‘Ican’tstay.Ican’t,’Borocriedinahollowvoice.AchangecameoverNgotho.Foratimehelookedlikethemanhehad

been,firm,commanding–thecentreofhishousehold.

‘Youmust.’‘No,Father.Justforgiveme.’Ngothoexertedhimselfandsatupinbed.Heliftedhishandwithaneffort

andputitonBoro’shead.Borolookedlikeachild.‘Allright.Fightwell.TurnyoureyestoMurunguandRuriri.Peacetoyou

all–Ha!What?Njorogelook…lookto–your–moth–’Hiseyeswerestillaglowashesankbackintothebed.Foramoment

therewassilenceinthehut.ThenBorostoodupandwhispered,‘Ishouldhavecomeearlier…’

Heranquicklyout,awayfromthelightintothenight.ItwasonlywhentheyturnedtheireyestoNgothothattheyknewthathetoowouldneverreturn.Nobodycried.

OceanofPDF.com

17

TheoneroadthatranacrossthelandpassedneartheIndianshops.Afewhumanvoicesmingledwithanoccasionalhootingofapassinglorryoracar.Thewomencametotheshops,sawhimandsuddenlystoppedconversation.

‘Iwantthatdress.’‘Andthatbrightone.’‘Aren’tyouselling?’Theytalkedatonce,shoutingacrossthecounterasiftheyweretalkingto

someonewhowasfaraway,someonewhowouldnevercomeback.Onewomanwhisperedtoherneighbour,‘Don’tbehardontheboy!Youknowwhathehasgonethrough…’

Buthercompanionshoutedallthemore.‘Don’tyouhear?’Njorogerousedhimself.Hisvoicewasweary.Hiseyesweredull.He

draggedhisfeettoacornerandbroughtthedressthewomenwanted.Hedidnotwanttolookattheminthefacebecausehethoughttheywouldseethedreamsofhisboyhoodandlaughathim.TheIndiansatinhisowncornermunchingsomegreenbeansorgroundnuts.Njorogewasdisgustedwiththemunchingsound…O,Iwishhecouldstop.

‘Howmuch?’‘Threeayard.’‘I’llgiveyoutwo.’Hehatedbeingdrivenonlikethis.Hehadlostthewilltofightevenina

bargain,andhewastiredofthisgame.Lifetooseemedlikeabigliewherepeoplebargainedwithforcesthatonecouldnotsee.

‘Thereisnootherprice.’‘Don’tlie!’thesamewomanshoutedwithrealindignation.‘Whydoyou

treatusasifyouwereanIndian?’Njorogeflinchedunderthisattack.Ashewatchedthemgoout,he

groanedinside.HehadbeenmadetoworkfortheIndianbysheernecessity.TheIndianlefthiscornerandcalledthewomenback.Hequicklysold

themanotherdressofthesamequalityforfourshillingsayard.Njorogedidnotstir.

Asthewomenfinallyleft,twoofthemstoppedalittleandturnedtheireyesasiftosympathisewithhim.Njorogewantedtohide.Forheknewthatthey–theoneshehadthoughthewouldcometosave–wouldgoon

discussinghimandhisfamily.Fivemonthsandpeoplestilltalkedaboutit.ItwasasifthedeathofMr

HowlandsonthesamenightthatNgothohaddiedwasofagreaterconsequencethanallthedeathsofthosewhohadgonebefore.Butthiscasewasmorestrikingbecauseallofonefamilywasinvolved.BoroandKamauwerefacingmurdercharges.

IthadallhappenedonthedaythatNgothodied.MrHowlandshadbeeninhissittingroom,allalone.Occasionallyhelookedattheceilingandthentappedthetable.Abottleofbeerstoodemptyatacornerwithahalf-fullglassinfront.MrHowlandshaddefiantlyreturnedandstucktohishomeinthedyingfarm.Hecouldnevergetawayfromit.Forthefarmwasthewomanwhomhehadwooedandconquered.Hehadtokeepaneyeonherlestsheshouldbepossessedbysomeoneelse.

Thatnighthewasangry.HedidnotknowwhathadhappenedtohimsincehesawsomethingintheeyesofNgotho’sson.Hehadrememberedhimselfasaboy,thatdaysolongagowhenhehadsatoutsidehisparents’homeanddreamedofaworldthatneededhim,onlytobebroughtfacetofacewiththeharshrealityoflifeintheFirstWorldWar…MrHowlandscouldnowrememberdrinkingonlytomakehimselfforget.Hecursedhorribly.

AndthisNgotho.Hehadlethimgohomemoredeadthanalive.Butstillhehadlethimgo.MrHowlandshadnotgotthesatisfactionhehadhopedfor.Theonlythinglefttohimwashatred.WhathadmadehimreleaseNgothowasanotebookthathadbeenfoundbehindthelavatoryfromwhereapparentlyJacobohadbeenshot.ThenotebookhadBoro’sname.AtfirstMrHowlandshadbeenunabletounderstand.ButgraduallyherealisedthatNgothohadbeentellingalieinordertoshieldBoro.ButBorowasintheforest?Slowlyhearrivedatthetruth.NgothotoohadthoughtthatitwasKamauwhohaddonethemurder.Hehadtakenontheguilttosaveason.AtthisMrHowlands’hatredofNgothohadbeensogreatthathehadtrembledthewholenight.Hehaddrunk,itchingtogetatNgothobutinthemorningrealisedthathecouldnotdowhathehadcontemplated.

Helookedatthedoor.Hewasexpectingsomepolicemenandhomeguardswithwhomhewentonnightpatrols.Atlasthestoodupandbegantowalkacrosstheroom.Hedidnotknowwhyhenowmissedhiswife.Hewonderedifhewouldgoandgettheblackwomanhehadtakenthenightbefore.Hehaddiscoveredthatblackwomencouldbeagoodrelief.

ThenightlypatrolshadalwaysbeenaspecialpleasureforMrHowlands.Theygavehimafeelingofpowerandstrength.

Thedooropened.MrHowlandshadnotboltedthedoor.Heglancedathiswatchandthenturnedround.Apistolwasaimedathishead.

‘Youmove–youaredead.’MrHowlandslookedlikeacagedanimal.

‘Putupyourhands.’Heobeyed.Wherewashishabitualguardedness?Hehadletamomentof

reflectionunarmhim.‘IkilledJacobo.’‘Iknow.’‘Hebetrayedblackpeople.Together,youkilledmanysonsoftheland.

Yourapedourwomen.Andfinally,youkilledmyfather.Haveyouanythingtosayinyourdefence?’

Boro’svoicewasflat.Nocolourofhatred,anger,ortriumph.Nosympathy.

‘Nothing.’‘Nothing.Nowyousaynothing.Butwhenyoutookourancestrallands–’‘Thisismyland.’MrHowlandssaidthisasamanwouldsay,Thisismy

woman.‘Yourland!Then,youwhitedog,you’lldieonyourland.’MrHowlandsthoughthimmad.Fearoverwhelmedhimandhetriedto

clingtolifewithallhismight.ButbeforehecouldreachBoro,thegunwentoff.BorohadlearnttobeagoodmarksmanduringtheSecondWorldWar.

Thewhiteman’strunkstooddefiantforafewseconds.Thenitfelldown.Bororushedout.Hefeltnothing–notriumph.Hehaddonehisduty.Outside,hefireddesperatelyatthepolicehomeguardswhobarredhisway.Butatlasthegaveup.Nowforthefirsttimehefeltexultant.

‘He’sdead,’hetoldthem.

Childrencametotheshop.Theywerecomingfromschool.Njorogesawtheirhopefulfaces.Hetoohadoncebeenlikethiswhenhehadseentheworldasaplacewhereamanwithlearningwouldrisetopowerandglory.ThenhewouldneverhavethoughtthathewouldevenworkforanIndian.AndsuddenlyNjorogesawhimselfasanoldman–anoldmanoftwenty.

Thechildrenwerefrightenedbyhisblankstare.Theyscamperedawaybeforehecouldarousehimselftodoanything.TheIndianlefthiscorner.

‘Youarefired,’heshouted.Njorogehadworkedforlessthanamonth.Moneywasbadlyneededat

home.‘Allright,’hesaidashewearilywalkedtotheroadwonderinghowhe

wouldbreakthenewstoNjeriandNyokabi.AndheallatoncewishedthathehadbeenachildandMwihakiwasnearhimsohecouldpouroutallhistroublestoher.Andheknewthathehadtoseeher.

OceanofPDF.com

18

Saturday.Mwihakisatoutsidehernewhomeinthehomeguardpost.Herfacehadastrainedlook.Shestoodupandwentbehindthehouse.Shetookoutthesmallnoteandreadagain.Thestrongappealwasthereallright.Butnowthatshehadacceptedtomeethimshefelthesitantandguilty.Shewonderedwhatitwasthathesomuchwantedtotellher.ShehadpromisedherselfthatshewouldnotmeetNjorogeagain,whenshehadlearntaboutthepainfulmurderofherfather.ForshefeltbetrayedbyNjoroge.Ifwhathermotherhadtoldherwastrue,shewouldneverhaveanythingtodowiththeboy.

Shehadlearntaboutherfather’sdeathwhileatschool.Theheadmistresshadbrokenthenewstoher.Forashorttimeshehadbeenunabletobelievethatwhattheteacherwastellinghercouldhaveanythingtodowithherfather.Evenwhenshehadknownwithoutanydoubtthathewasdead,shehadbeenunabletocry.Atnightshethoughtaboutit.Butshedidnotfeelanything.Nopain.Itwasonlywhenshewasonherwayhomethatthefullmeaningofwhathadoccurredbrokeuponherlikearevelation.ThehorrorofthecalamitythathadbefallenKenyacamehometoherinanewlight.Shehadweptasshehadneverdonebefore.

Andnowthatshehadagreedtogoandmeetamemberofthefamilythathaddeprivedherofafather,shewassurprisedatherself.ButshewantedtomeethimbecauseattheveryheightofthecrisisinherfamilythewordsthathadmostcomfortedwerethosethatNjorogehadspokentoher.Shehadrepeatedthemtohermother,sayingfirmly,‘Thesunwillrisetomorrow.’So,farfromlosingfaithinGod,shehadputallhertrustinHim,hopingthatinheavenshewouldmaybemeetherfatheragain.

Njorogecametotheplace.Hewasgladthatshehadagreedtomeethim.Forthefearthatshemightignorehimwastheonethingthathadmadehimkeepawayfromherallthosemonths.Hedidnotknowwhathewouldtellher,fortheknowledgethatJacobohadbeenkilledbyhisbrotherweighedheavilyonhim.Butshenowmeanttohimmorethananythingelse.Itwaslateintheafternoonwhenhereachedthespot.Mwihakiwastherebeforehim,alittlefartherdownthantheplacewheretheyhadmetbefore.Hesawthatshehadgrownthinner.Herformersoftnessseemedtohavehardenedsothatsheappearedtohaveallofasuddengrownintoawoman.Mwihakilookedat

Njoroge.Shesawfrustrationanddespairandbewildermentinhiseyes.Butshewasdeterminedtohavenopity.Soshejusteyedhim.

Njorogelookeddownforamoment.Thenattheplainbelow.Thesilencebetweenthemwasembarrassing.Hedidnotknowhowtobeginorevenwhattosay.

‘Ihavecome,’wereherfirstwords.‘Can’twesitdown?’‘Youcantellmewhatyouwanttosaywhilewearestanding.’When,

however,hewentandsatdown,shefollowedhimbutsatfarfromhim.Hetookapieceofdrystickandbrokeit.Shewatchedhimstonilyandthenallofasuddenatearrandownherface.Shequicklyrubbedit.Hedidnotsee.

‘Mwihaki,itisstrangethatyouandIshouldmeetunderthesecircumstances.’Henowraisedhiseyesandfacedherboldly.‘IhaveknownyouforallthoseyearswhenIwasyoungandfoolishandthoughtofwhatIcoulddoformyfamily,myvillage,andthecountry.Ihavenowlostall–myeducation,myfaith,andmyfamily.It’sonlynowthatIdorealisehowmuchyouhadmeanttomeandhowyoutookaninterestinmyprogress.Becauseofthisitmakesitallthemorepainfulwhatmypeoplehavedonetoyou.I,alone,amleft.Hencetheguiltismine.IwantedtomeetyouandsaythatIamsorry.’

‘Don’tlietome,Njoroge,surelyyoucouldhavedroppedmeatleastawarning–’

‘IsayIamguilty.ButGod–he–Iknewnomoreaboutyourfather’sdeaththanyoudid.’

‘Doyouwanttotellmethatyou–No!’Sheknewfullwellthatithadbeenshewhohadaskedhimtogowithhertoherhome.

Shekeptquiet.Helookedaway.‘Mwihaki,Idon’twanttopretendthatIwouldhavewarnedyouifIhad

knownaboutit.ButIassureyouthatIamdeeplysorry.PleaseacceptwhatIamtellingyou,forIloveyou.’

Atlasthehadsaidit.Fornowheknewthatshewashislasthope.Hedidnotturnroundtofaceherevenwhenshehadstayedforquiteatimewithoutsayinganything.

‘Njoroge!’Hemovedhisheadslightly.Hereyeshadsoftened.Healmostbroke

down.‘Mwihaki,youaretheonedearthinglefttome.IfeelboundtoyouandI

knowthatIcanfullydependonyou.Ihavenohopeleftbutforyou,fornowIknowthatmytomorrowwasanillusion.’

Hestillspokeinanevenvoice.Hereyeshadadistantlookinthem.Njorogethoughtshewasignoringhimandlookedawayagain.

Itwasonlywhenshehadcalledhimagainandhesawtearsinhereyes

thathefeltencouraged.‘Iamsorryforhavingthoughtillofyou,’shesaid.‘No,Mwihaki,Imusttakeontheguiltandyouhaveallthecausetohate

me,’hesaid,movingnearertoher.Heheldherlefthandinhis.Shedidnotresisthim,andneitherdidsheresistthetearsthatnowflowedfreelydownherface.Shetriedtospeakbutsomethingchokedherthroat.Shestruggledwithinherself.Shemustnotlosecontrol.Yetitseemedhopelessbecauseshewantedhimtogoonholdingherbythehandandleadtheway.

‘Don’t!Don’t!’Sheatlaststruggledtosay.Sheknewthatshehadtostophimbeforehewentveryfar.Yetshefeltunequaltotheeffortandsheblamedherselfforhavingcome.

AndNjorogewentonwhisperingtoher,appealingtoherwithallhismight.‘Mwihaki,dear,Iloveyou.Savemeifyouwant.WithoutyouIamlost.’

Shewantedtosinkinhisarmsandfeelaman’sstrengtharoundherweakbody.Shewantedtotraveltheroadbacktoherchildhoodandgrowupwithhimagain.Butshewasnolongerachild.

‘Yes,wecangoawayfromhereasyouhadsuggestedwhen–’‘No!no!’shecried,inanagonyofdespair,interruptinghim.‘Youmust

saveme,pleaseNjoroge.Iloveyou.’Shecoveredherfacewithbothhandsandweptfreely,herbreastheaving.

Njorogefeltsweetpleasureandexcitedlysmoothedherdarkhair.‘Yes,wecangotoUgandaandlive–’‘No,no.’Shestruggledagain.‘Butwhy?’heasked,notunderstandingwhatshemeant.‘Don’tyouseethatwhatyousuggestistooeasyawayout?Weareno

longerchildren,’shesaidbetweenhersobs.‘That’swhywemustgoaway.Kenyaisnoplaceforus.Isitnotchildish

toremaininaholewhenyoucantakeyourselfout?’‘Butwecan’t.Wecan’t!’shecriedhopelessly.Againhewaspuzzled.AsachildMwihakihadseemedtobethemore

daring.Shesawthehesitancyinhim.Shepressedharder.‘Webetterwait.Youtoldmethatthesunwillrisetomorrow.Ithinkyou

wereright.’Helookedathertearsandwantedtowipethem.Shesatthere,alonetree

defyingthedarkness,tryingtoinstillnewlifeintohim.Buthedidnotwanttolive.Notthiskindoflife.Hefeltbetrayed.

‘Allthatwasadream.Wecanonlylivetoday.’‘Yes.Butwehaveaduty.Ourdutytootherpeopleisourbiggest

responsibilityasgrownmenandwomen.’‘Duty!Duty!’hecriedbitterly.‘Yes,Ihaveaduty,forinstance,tomymother.Please,dearNjoroge,we

cannotleaveheratthistimewhen–No!Njoroge.Let’swaitforanewday.’Shehadconquered.Sheknewnowthatshewouldnotsubmit.Butitwas

hardforher,andasshelefthimshewentonweeping,tearing,andwringingherheart.Thesunwassinkingdown.

Njoroge’slasthopehadvanished.Forthefirsttimeheknewthathewasintheworldallalonewithoutasoulonwhomhecouldlean.Theearthwentroundandround.Hesaweverythinginamist.Thenallofasudden,hefellontothegroundandcried,‘Mwihaki,ohMwihaki!’

Sunday.Njorogelefthistwomothersandwanderedalone.Nyokabiwatchedhimgoout.Shedidnotwanttoaskhimwherehewasgoing.AndsheandNjerididnotspeakabouthisgoingbecausetheyfeared…

Njoroge’strousersflutteredinthewind.Thepathwasfa-miliarandyetlongandstrange.Hedraggedhisfeetalong.Hemetwomen,somegoinghomefromtheirvariousplacesbeforedarknesscame.Njorogeavoidedtheircontact.Heavoidedtheirlooksbecausehedidnotwanttheirnever-endingsympathyandpity.Theywouldseeonlydespairinhiseyes.

Hekeptonsaying,‘Iwouldhavedoneit!Iwouldhavedoneit!’Buthehadwantedtoseethetwowomenandsleepunderthesameroofforthelasttime.HerecalledNgotho,dead.BorowouldsoonbeexecutedwhileKamauwouldbeinprisonforlife.NjorogedidnotknowwhatwouldhappentoKoriindetention.HemightbekilledlikethosewhohadbeenbeatentodeathatHolaCamp.O,God–ButwhydidhecallonGod?Godmeantlittletohimnow.ForNjorogehadnowlostfaithinallthethingshehadearlierbelievedin,likewealth,power,education,religion.Evenlove,hislasthope,hadfledfromhim.

Thelandstretchedon,unfoldingitsweirdplainnesstotheeye.Thereweremanywhowerenowbeyondthecalloftheland,thesun,andthemoon–Nganga,thebarber,Kiarie,andmanyothers…

Thepatheventuallyledhimtothebigandbroadroad.Hefollowedit.Thevoicewasstillurginghim:Goon!Hequickenedhisstepsasifthis

wouldhurrythevanishinghoursofday.Itwasnightthatwasnowwelcometohim.Thevoicebecamemore:Goon!

Buthesaid,‘Waitforthenight.’Hecametothebendoftheroadandinstinctivelylookedup.Itwasthere,

there,thatshehadlefthimafterdeclaringherlove.Theplainwasonhisright.Hemovedfromtheroadthathadnobeginningandnoendandwenttotheslopethatextendedfromtheroadtotheplain.Hesatonarock.Hetookoutofhispocketthecarefullyfoldedcord.Hefeltacertainpleasureinholdingit.Forthefirsttimehelaughedalone.Andhesattherewaitingfordarknesstocomeandcoverhim.

Heknewthetreewell.Hehadbeenthereanumberoftimes,forthevoicehadoftenspokentohimmanytimesafterhisfather’sdeath.TheonlythingthathadrestrainedhimwasthehopethathemightfindananchorinMwihaki…Hehadpreparedtherope.

‘Njoroge!’Hestopped.Helaughedtohimselfhysterically.Theropehungfromatree

andwasstillinhishands.Heheardagainthevoice,fullofanxiety.‘Njoroge!’Thistimethevoicewasclear.Andhetrembledwhenherecognisedits

owner.Hismotherwaslookingforhim.Foratimehestoodirresolute.Thencouragefailedhim.

Hewenttowardsher,stilltrembling.Andnowheagainseemedtofearmeetingher.Hesawthelightshewascarryingandfalteringlywenttowardsit.Itwasaglowingpieceofwoodthatshecarriedtolighttheway.

‘Mother.’Hefeltastrangerelief.‘Njoroge.’‘Iamhere.’Nyokabiclungtohim.Shedidnotaskanything.‘Let’sgohome,’shecommandedweakly.Hefollowedher,sayingnothing.Hewasconsciousonlythathehadfailed

herandofhisfather’slastwordswhenhehadtoldhimtolookafterthewomen.HehadfailedthevoiceofMwihakithathadaskedhimtowaitforanewday.

TheymetNjeriwhotoohadfollowedNyokabiinsearchofasoninspiteofthecurfewlaws.AgainNjorogedidnotspeaktoNjeributfeltonlyguilt,theguiltofamanwhohadavoidedhisresponsibilityforwhichhehadpreparedhimselfsincechildhood.

Butastheycamenearhomeandwhathadhappenedtohimcametomind,thevoiceagaincameandspoke,accusinghim:

Youareacoward.Youhavealwaysbeenacoward.Whydidn’tyoudoit?Andloudlyhesaid,‘Whydidn’tIdoit?’Thevoicesaid:Becauseyouareacoward.‘Yes,’hewhisperedtohimself,‘Iamacoward.’Andheranhomeandopenedthedoorforhistwomothers.

NorthcoteHallJuly1962

OceanofPDF.com

OceanofPDF.com

OceanofPDF.com

OceanofPDF.com

OceanofPDF.com

http://links.penguin.com/type/eBookLanding/isbn/9781101584842

OceanofPDF.com