Night of Knives

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Night of Knives Page 37

by Jon Evans


  He glances to the southeast corner of their property.

  "Wherever you think is best," she says. "Were you a farmer?"

  "When I was young," Rukungu says quietly.

  He walks away to the southeast. Veronica watches as he kneels and begins to dig with his hands, crumble the dirt between his fingers, inspect the soil. She still knows very little about Rukungu's past; she hasn't wanted to ask, and he hasn't wanted to tell. Maybe one day.

  She enters the ablution block to wash her hands, and catches sight of herself in the mirror above the sink. She sees lines on her face around the corners of her mouth, the beginnings of wrinkles. Well, at least they're smile lines. There are far worse fates. She of all people ought to know.

  Veronica walks outside and sees a familiar figure appear on one of the several bushtrails that lead onto their property. He holds a bulging jute sack. She jogs up to him and kisses him.

  "You're back already," Lovemore says, smiling. He reaches down, picks her up, continues with Veronica in his arms.

  "Did they have everything?" she asks.

  He nods to the sack dangling beneath her. "Pineapples, pocho, and Mrs. Katumba's hot sauce. I don't know why you want to serve this to our guests, we can get chicken or beef in Jinja –"

  "Oh, they'll get a kick out of it," she reassures him. "Trust me."

  As Lovemore carries back towards their home, Veronica looks around at their land, at their school, tries to imagine it through Tom and Judy's eyes, as if she is seeing it for the first time. She is not disappointed.

  "I like this," she says thoughtfully. "This is a good place. I like it here. I like who I am here. Do you know what I mean?"

  He nods.

  "Good. Then let's stay forever."

  Lovemore raises his eyebrows. "Forever is a long time."

  Veronica smiles. "We'll see," she says. "We'll just see."

  From the same author on Feedbooks

  Beasts of New York: A children's book for grown-ups (2007)

  An urban fantasy about the wildlife of New York City, starring a squirrel protagonist who has to find his way from exile in Staten Island back to his home in Central Park.

  http://www.beastsofnewyork.com/

  www.feedbooks.com

  Food for the mind

  Table of Contents

  Title

  Part 1 - Congo

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Part 2 - Uganda

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Part 3 - Zimbabwe

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Epilogue

  From the same author

 

 

 


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