The Book of Secrets by M.G. Vassanji

Author:M.G. Vassanji [Vassanji, M.G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
ISBN: 978-1-55199-710-0
Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
Published: 1997-10-11T04:00:00+00:00

He went down the hill from the ADC’s residence, turned past the little mbuyu into the street of shops and houses. It looked like a normal day, except somewhat busier with all the military activity in the area. The number of layabouts was greater, which was a matter of concern. Baruti’s tea shack on the other street was bustling; it was there that the latest news about the war would be available — what exactly had transpired at Salaita Hill, how strong the Germans were. He entered his home through the front door, whose main panel was open — but Mariamu would not have opened the store because everything had been turned over and inside out by the Fisi and his men in their search the previous night.

He saw her almost immediately. She looked dead. She was in a sitting posture on the floor against the wall, her head lolling sideways towards her right shoulder. Her eyes were open. Catching his breath, emitting a choking sound, he went over to her slowly and with tenderness picked up one of her hands. He felt her forehead, caressed strands of hair, and with the back of his hand touched her neck where the line of blood ran. He pulled the hem of her frock down so that she was decent, and dropped her hand gently to her lap. Then he ran to the mukhi.

Jamali walked hurriedly back with him. The baby, he said, had been brought earlier to their home by his wife, to relieve Mariamu. He was safe, playing, being fed — what was wrong with Mariamu? Pipa beside him, pulling him by the sleeve, was breathing fast, in large, audible gulps that might have seized and choked him.

“Oh, God!” gasped the mukhi when he saw the sight. “Oh, God and the Prophet …”

She had been violated, but there was no point in broadcasting that. All these foreigners about — brutal and shameless — Africans from all over, Punjabis and Baluchis and Rajputs, it could have been any one of those depraved men. Poor innocent, they all said when they buried her, who could have wished this for her, and why?

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