‘And then they will sleep in our house,’ called Hasina forcefully from outside. ‘Till he is better, and Dedan is better.’ She entered and barred flight, hands on hips. ‘Aishia will take Grace and Joseph and keep them safe in her house.’
Carole gave her a grateful look. ‘It’s good of you and your sister, Bibi Hasina.’
Hasina sniffed. ‘I will be happy if the terrible clothes and the smell are going. And if the boy will stop arguing. He will get into more horrible trouble away from our eyes.’ She bent over and fussed at tucking the kanga round Collins, pushing him back to lie down, more than a match for his protests with a few vigorous words of her own.
Ally went outside. She couldn’t see Leli, just his mother rinsing bowls, stacking them to drain. He must still be at Mzee Shaibu’s house.
Less than an hour had passed, but it felt like a night. Everything in Ally was strung taut. A trickle of nerves ran up and down her stomach like an electric current. The commotion had woken the rest of the village. People were gathering. A murmur of question and answer filled the darkness. Rumours percolated along the paths from house to house. Two small boys battered and broken and dumped where they weren’t meant to be found: her mouth went dry, picturing their thin, stick-legged little bodies submerging helplessly in the swamp.
She shut it out, found another: Collins dodging through cars in Tundani yesterday. Something was happening right then, causing what happened later!
The thought shot a new spike of anxiety through her. Jack was crouching by the charcoal stove, and got up as she went over. The look he gave her struck her as an appeal, but she couldn’t think of anything useful to say.
She watched Carole leave Hasina and Saka’s house and go along the path to Mzee Shaibu’s. A greyness in the sky heralded first light; sea and sky merged in a shadowless flat gloom, only the palms standing out blackly above the roofs. And it was hot, oppressively hot, as if a storm brewed.
Sharply Jack said to her, ‘Can’t believe how stupid I’ve been! Getting little kids hurt. I never thought . . . It’s all this stuff!’ He made a gesture that took in the village, Kisiri, the bay.
Then they both swung round, because there was the rumble of a heavy engine nearing. At the back of the village the engine shut off and car doors slammed. Voices neared. Inspector Rutere and another policeman came into view.
‘I have received your aunt’s telephone message quickly,’ the inspector said, seeing them. ‘Explain, please.’
Inspector Rutere regarded their circle of faces – moving from Ally to Ben beside her, to Jack, to Carole. A few villagers gathered a little way off, watching, listening, their murmurs an uneasy chorus to the policeman’s interrogation.
The inspector removed his cap and mopped his forehead. The heat was building, even the stiffening breeze from the sea not helping.
To Ally he said crisply, ‘So, now tell me fully. Exactly. What have these boys said to you? We must be clear if there are discrepancies with the story they told us.’
‘They wouldn’t lie!’ Ally protested.
The inspector’s face was impassive.
She tried to think clearly. ‘Collins said they saw animals inside fences. Cages too. His English is muddled, and I don’t know Swahili—’
‘I know, I know! He also told me lots after!’ Ben interrupted. ‘They followed a car, and they walked for miles, and then they saw lions and things! But Carole said there aren’t lions near here.’
‘Indeed,’ acknowledged Rutere. ‘Any more?’
Ben screwed up his face with concentration.
‘No-o-o . . .’ Ally confirmed reluctantly.
Still Jack said nothing.
‘Haya,’ Inspector Rutere’s glance swept over them all. ‘This is what this boy says to us,’ he tapped his notes. ‘They saw something which made them curious. What it was, we cannot get clear. Collins is suspicious and resists giving any information. My sergeant gets only confusion from the younger one – truly, he is dumb with fright. We conclude that they followed a vehicle in Tundani which took a track inland. They asked a woman where this went and learned it leads to an empty place of hills and rocks. They followed the marks of the vehicles. They have no idea how far—’
‘Walking for hours and hours,’ Ben insisted.
Slowly, Ally made sense of something. ‘Into a hole . . . a big hole.’
The inspector inclined his head. ‘An area of rocky ravines some twelve miles from Tundani known as the Devil’s Kitchen. I am concluding this is where. They followed the tyre marks to a crater—’
‘Fences,’ interrupted Ally. ‘Collins said fences.’
‘High wire fences, yes. Another vehicle, and guards. With guns. The boys hid and watched. Many hours. Nothing happened till after dark. Then what they describe as crates, or cages, were taken from one vehicle into another. They saw little, all was by vehicle lights. But they claim they saw lion, leopard, cheetah – which they insist were sick. Drugged, I think, is the truth. Unfortunately, as the vehicles left, the boys were seen in the headlights, chased, Dedan tripped and when Collins went to help him, they were seized, beaten with sticks to near unconsciousness, carried in the back of one of the vehicles, and emptied into the swamp where the fishermen found them.’ He sighed. ‘I have no way of knowing if the boys tell all the truth, or what part is truth—’
‘But why would they lie?’ Ally burst out.
The policeman eyed her shrewdly. ‘It is an unhappy truth that children of the streets thieve and do many things to stay alive. Including telling elaborate lies if it will get them out of trouble! And they are often used to commit a crime for others. For the price of a meal, or shelter, or other benefit – to escape a beating, perhaps! Remember, not just ordinary people looking for work or honest hawkers come to places like the new Tundani Paradise. It is a magnet for anyone wanting to become rich from the tourists, also the more unpleasant people, with no conscience about using even the smallest and weakest and most vulnerable of children to help make a fat pot of money!’
‘Ally’s right, Inspector!’ Carole spoke forcefully. ‘These kids are not dishonest. Just destitute, and wary – understandably!’
The inspector looked from one to the other and made a ticking sound with his tongue against his teeth as if it helped him think. ‘Haya. Certainly it is strange for anyone to take the trouble to beat them so terribly. Indeed – even to worry about catching them – it would not be easy! So, it is not just a random assault on street children. And we have this story of big game animals where there should not be any! Haya, I will order a helicopter search. And what does any of this have to do with Shanza? Any ideas on this? Perhaps this connection is only in their minds . . .’
‘No!’ Jack broke in. ‘It’s our – I mean my fault. They went looking because we – I said to check out the hotel – the boats in the hotel – in case it’s connected – you know, with all that . . .’ He trailed off, waving a hand towards Kisiri.
‘So! An interesting code of honour in our young Collins Karanga. He says nothing of your request!’ The policeman tucked his notebook into his pocket. ‘Be very careful what new suggestions you make to these boys, please. If this nastiness is anything to do with the hotel, we will find out. These people are dangerous. With secrets to hide. No more private investigation. Clear?’
Mutely, Jack nodded. In the pause, the sudden crackle and words on the police radio were shockingly loud and the sergeant’s speed in handing it to the inspector gave Ally a sharp new twitch of alarm.
Inspector Rutere walked a little way off, alternately listening and speaking; then he halted, gave a rapid instruction to the sergeant, who charged off towards the voices raised in passionate discussion in Mzee Shaibu’s yard.
In the slump of the inspector’s shoulders, Ally saw his bleakness before he spoke. ‘I have an unpleasant duty – to speak to the Shanza village council straightaway. I have distu
rbing news. The D.O. is very shocked. I am very shocked . . .’
He seemed for a moment lost in thought.
‘What is it, Rutere? Please!’ Carole prompted.
Rutere sighed. ‘How do I tell them? How do I explain this? Someone has just bought Kisiri from the government! The new owners will take exclusive possession of the island within days!’
Into the appalled stillness that followed, he added, ‘The D.O. has gone to Ulima to demand explanations from the Minister.’
Ally managed to whisper, ‘Bought Kisiri? Can they?’
‘Ha! When money can be made, many holes can be found in the rules! And many pockets some distance from these places will grow fat. The D.O. expects difficulty in learning who the purchasers are. He has already been told that it is no one’s business except those who are part of the financial arrangements!’ The policeman laughed, but it was a harsh sound, without a trace of humour. ‘Clearly, there are some in high places who believe it is nothing whatsoever to do with those whose back yard is being stolen.’
Nineteen
‘Something’ll happen! I know it will!’ Ally protested to Carole. Through the door of Hasina’s house, she saw Inspector Rutere returning to the police vehicle from Mzee Shaibu’s yard. ‘Please, don’t send me back to the house now, Carole! I’ll just be hanging about wondering!’
‘Ally, Ally, people have enough on their minds without us in the way. You should all go back to the house together.’ Carole lowered her voice. ‘You’ve been up for hours – what about breakfast? People here don’t have enough food for you too.’
‘It is good, good!’ Hasina hurried towards them carrying a pan. ‘See, here is chakula for them! I will be sure to know your family is comfortable. Do not worry your head. Go, go to the hospital with the small ones!’ Her voice rose emphatically. ‘You help, Dr Carole, I help. It is all the same things. Ally and Ben and Jack will take tea and ugali.’ Pointedly she dumped the pot of maize porridge in Ally’s hands and tossed her head towards the brazier. She pushed Carole’s shoulder gently. ‘You come back when it is finished, the hospital.’
‘Bibi Hasina,’ Carole grasped the woman’s hand warmly, ‘I’ll bring in more supplies for you—’
‘I should stay with those two,’ Jack interrupted, white-faced, strained. ‘Or they’ll run away, or something . . .’
Ally glanced at Dedan, asleep, and Collins struggling to stay watchful. He looked shrunken. Exhausted fury had left behind only a very small boy enveloped in a purple kanga bearing the words Kweli na asubuhi . . . the rest wrapped out of sight behind his body. Carole had told her it meant Truth and morning become light with time. The word for truth – kweli – sat across Collins’ chest like a banner. What ‘something’ does Jack mean – whoever’s beaten them coming for them if they find where the boys are?
It hadn’t crossed her mind before. Now she guessed that it crossed her aunt’s too, for as they went out Carole checked for the sergeant. He was visible in Mzee Shaibu’s yard, mug of tea in one hand, police radio in the other, listening to the debate amongst the Elders raging since Inspector Rutere broke the news of Kisiri’s sale.
‘At least there’s instant contact with the outer world now,’ Carole said. ‘OK, Jack, let’s get help carrying Dedan and Collins into the car? Ally, keep a firm eye on Ben, you know the way he is, he’ll disappear somewhere. I’ll let you know of any developments through the sergeant. We’ll be back as fast as we can.’
‘OK, and I’ll look for Leli.’
A small frown creased her aunt’s forehead. ‘Ally . . .’ She hesitated. ‘Look . . . go easy?’
‘I’ll just help, won’t get in the way, promise. Leli—’
‘Ally . . .’ Suddenly awkward, Carole began again, ‘Look, I know I’m not your mother, but . . . well . . .’
Ally’d only been half concentrating, spotting Leli coming towards her. Her attention snapped to her aunt.
‘. . . be careful,’ Carole finished.
‘About what?’
An imperceptible sigh. ‘Leli,’ Carole said flatly. ‘Don’t—’
Heat flooded Ally’s face. All the sideways looks from her aunt bunched in her memory.
‘Don’t what?’
‘Don’t get me wrong, but . . .’
‘But what?’ Ally spoke tightly, clenched against what might come next.
‘Just go easy.’
‘What do you mean “go easy”?’
‘Well—’
‘Are you saying we can’t be friends?’
‘No! But friends is one thing . . .’
‘And?’ her heart beginning to hammer, her look at Carole deliberately obtuse.
‘You’re getting – well, too involved. It’s . . . it’s just not wise!’
‘Why? What’s too involved? You mean because he’s African!’
‘Course not, Ally! Just – there’s so much room for misunderstandings. Different cultures – different signals. Expectations – you know what I mean! You’re here for a few weeks, then off you go home. It’s easy when you just visit a place – a wonderful place like this – to just see the magical moment and not think about when it’s over. There’s always . . . you know . . . consequences . . .’
‘What consequences?’ She was dangerously close to yelling – panic now, because she knew her aunt well enough to know that underneath her easy-going big-sister style there was a core of steel.
‘Oh, I’m not dealing with this well, am I? Don’t you see, Ally, people misread things—’
‘You’re saying something bad about Leli,’ Ally persisted fiercely. ‘There’s nothing bad about him!’
‘It’s absolutely, absolutely, absolutely not what I’m saying. Unfortunately, I’m saying something much more complicated . . . Look, let me get the kids to the hospital . . . and maybe you should come back to the house for now, after all – I’ll drop you off.’
‘No, please!’ Ally said, suddenly frantic. ‘You don’t understand. I need to stay—’
‘I do understand, Ally. I’m not so far beyond remembering,’ Carole said, obscurely. She looked away, looked around, looked back at Ally. ‘There’s so much going on, Ally, and people are worried about all kinds of things, and they might misunderstand. You won’t know the way people are reading you, believe me.’
‘You are talking about Leli!’
‘Look, it’s all too easy to sail into people’s lives and then sail off again, not worrying about the wake you leave behind. Different worlds . . . you need to be very careful not to offend or hurt. Leli’s mother, Mzee Shaibu . . . you may think that doesn’t matter, but when you’ve gone, the fall-out is still with Leli, and that might not be very good for him—’
‘I’m not going to offend anyone!’
‘You might not know you have! Don’t you see, all this stuff going on – it’s making people frightened of – well, lots! The future – change can be frightening. You do come from very, very different worlds!’
The words dropped between them like ice. Ally couldn’t look at Carole. She felt her aunt’s gaze. She heard her say briskly, ‘OK, Ally, later, we’ll talk properly. I must get the kids to hospital first. Find Ben and stay together, then, stay with people, no wandering off, OK? No more unpleasant surprises, for anyone, hey? I’m trusting you, Ally, I know you’re sensible— Oh, Makena!’ she broke off, catching sight of someone behind Ally. ‘Have you moved to Shanza now?’
‘Oh, I am here by chance,’ came the welcome sound of the archaeologist’s voice. ‘I come to continue an interesting conversation I am having with Mzee Kitwana. I did not know of these horrible events! The little boys are bad?’ She looked through Hasina’s door, and let out a whistle at the sight of them. ‘This, and the bad, bad news about Kisiri! I will not detain you – to the hospital, quickly!’
She shook her head as Carole drove away, and turned to Ally. �
�My young friend, I do not wish to intrude, but I detect sharp words from your auntie to you. Do not dwell too much on them. You have a good heart. Trust it. Trust it. You look very pale and very tired. I hear you have been here since early, early! Just go and rest. Things will look different, after, and you will know what to do.’
She put her hand lightly under Ally’s chin and looked in her eyes. ‘You will, you will! And I have not forgotten to bring that interesting thing for you. Here, read it in a peaceful moment, when you are not troubled.’ She took a folded paper from her pocket. ‘It is from something recently come to light. In Portugal!’ With a flourish, she handed it over. ‘Only a little piece translated, but more to come! Very old. Very mysterious! Very, very! I am interested to have the view of your young mind brought to bear on it. I will look for you another day! Now is also no time for idle conversations with Mzee Kitwana.’
She turned away and clicked her tongue against her teeth, speaking almost to herself, observing the island. ‘Now the question for us is how to delay this theft! What ammunition against the new invaders? How, how?’ She was still mumbling as she went, giving Ally no time to reply. Just the tumult Carole had left in her head and the paper Makena’d left in her hand.
She unfolded it. A typed printout – just three lines. English.
I walk the paths of the forest.
I seek Hope, a flame of life in the dark.
In my dream I find Her. In my dream I speak to Her.
‘Ally?’
Leli’s voice.
‘You are not well? You are sick?’
But she was anchored in a different place: trees murmured, shadows rippled, clustered, words flowed and ebbed, unseen eyes touched . . .
She struggled to return.
Leli took the paper from her hands and framed the words silently with his lips.
‘It is from a book?’
‘Makena gave it to me – it’s about the forest . . . See, Leli!’
Song Beneath the Tides Page 16