Nairobi Heat

Page 1

HEAT MUKOMA WA NGUGI

MELVILLEHOUSE BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

ME LVI LLE I NTE R NATIONAL CR I ME

To Meja Mwangi and David Mailu for blurring the margins Acknowledgements

Without much discussion and constant critique a novel such as this would be all the poorer. So, thanks to Kristin Waller, Keenan Schofield, Megan Frantz and my wife Maureen Burke for their candid, useful and some might say merciless responses. Also thanks to Sophie Hoult at David Godwin Associates and Penguin South Africa for investing time, energy and resources in the project. And, finally, thanks to James Woodhouse for making the editing process not only painless but more importantly creative.

Nairobi Heat Š 2010 Mukoma Wa Ngugi First Melville House printing: August 2011 Melville House Publishing 145 Plymouth Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 www.mhpbooks.com isbn: 978-1-61219-007-5

$ %($87,) 8/ % /2 1' ( ,6 ' ( $ '

Â’ $ EHDXWLIXO \RXQJ EORQGH ZDV GHDG DQG WKH VXVSHFW P\ VXVSHFW ZDV DQ $IULFDQ PDOH , ZDV WUDYHOOLQJ WR $IULFD LQ VHDUFK RI KLV SDVW :KDW , IRXQG WKHUH ZRXOG HLWKHU FRQGHPQ RU VDYH KLP $V \RX FDQ LPDJLQH P\ EXVLQHVV ZDV XUJHQW +RZ PDQ\ WLPHV KDG , WKRXJKW RI $IULFD" 1RW PDQ\ ,·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² WKH SDVVHQJHUV WKH FUHZ DQG WKH SLORWV ,W ZDV HDUO\ 0D\ DQG , JDWKHUHG IURP WKH FRQYHUVDWLRQV DURXQG PH WKDW P\ IHOORZ SDVVHQJHUV ZHUH EXVLQHVV SHRSOH WRXULVWV DQG KXQWHUV IURP 7H[DV 7KH XVXDO , VXSSRVHG , ORRNHG RXWVLGH ZDWFKLQJ WKH IXOO PRRQ KRYHU LQ WKH VN\

EH\RQG WKH WLS RI WKH DHURSODQH ZLQJ FKLOGLVKO\ LPDJLQLQJ LW WR EH FDWFKLQJ D IUHH ULGH :H WUDYHOOHG IRU D ZKLOH OLNH WKDW WKH PRRQ VXUÀQJ RQ WKH ZLQJ XQWLO WKH SLORW ZDUQHG XV LQ WKDW SURSHU %ULWLVK DFFHQW WKDW ZH KDYH FRPH WR DVVRFLDWH ZLWK HIÀFLHQF\ WR SUHSDUH IRU ODQGLQJ 7KH PRRQ OHDSW EDFN LQWR WKH VN\ DV ZH SLHUFHG WKH FORXGV DQG EHORZ , VDZ ZKDW ORRNHG OLNH DQ LVODQG RI OLJKWV HQJXOIHG E\ SHUIHFW GDUNQHVV 7KHQ ZH ODQGHG DQG HYHU\RQH FODSSHG , ZDV WLUHG DQG D OLWWOH WLSV\ IURP WKH FRPSOLPHQWDU\ %XGZHLVHUV WKH FUHZ KDG RIIHUHG PH DQG VR LW ZDV WKDW D OLWWOH ELW GUXQN , WRRN P\ ÀUVW VWHSV LQ $IULFD

$W FXVWRPV , ÁDVKHG P\ SDVVSRUW DQG P\ EDGJH 7KH FOHUN GLGQ·W HYHQ JLYH P\ JXQ SHUPLW D VHFRQG ORRN MXVW VKRRN KLV KHDG DQG VDLG ¶<RX $PHULFDQV \RX UHDOO\ ORYH \RXU JXQV HK"· DV KH ZDYHG PH WKURXJK , GLGQ·W KDYH DQ\ OXJJDJH RWKHU WKDQ ZKDW , KDG FDUULHG RII WKH SODQH DQG VR VRRQ HQRXJK , IRXQG P\VHOI RXWVLGH WKH DLUSRUW LQ ZKDW IHOW OLNH D PDUNHW ² D ZDOO RI SHRSOH VKRXWLQJ DQG KHFNOLQJ VHOOLQJ QHZVSDSHUV SKRQH FDUGV HYHQ ERLOHG HJJV %ODFNQHVV VXGGHQO\ VXUURXQGHG PH DQG FRPLQJ IURP SODQH IXOO RI ZKLWHV , IHOW UHOLHI DQG SDQLF DW WKH VDPH WLPH ² LW ZDV DV LI , ZDV LQ FDPRXÁDJH EXW LW ZDV YHU\ SRRU FDPRXÁDJH EHFDXVH DW VL[ IRRW WKUHH DQG WZR KXQGUHG DQG WZHQW\ SRXQGV , WRZHUHG RYHU HYHU\ERG\ 3HRSOH KHUH ZHUH VKRUW DQG VSDUH DQG , IHOW IXOO RI XVHOHVV H[FHVV ² DV LI , KDG H[WUD ERG\ SDUWV %XW LW ZDVQ·W WKH SHRSOH WKDW VWRSSHG PH LQ P\ WUDFNV LW ZDV WKH KHDW 7KH KHDW PDGH 1HZ 2UOHDQV RQ D KRW VXPPHU GD\ IHHO OLNH VSULQJ +XPLG WKLFN DQG VDOW\ WR WDVWH WKDW ZDV

1DLUREL KHDW $ WD[L GULYHU GUHVVHG LQ GLUW\ ZKLWH VODFNV PDGH D JUDE DW P\ KDQG OXJJDJH ¶0]XQJX P]XQJX JRRG UDWH IRU WRXULVW · KH \HOOHG EXW , KHOG RQ WR P\ FDVH , GLGQ·W NQRZ PXFK .LVZDKLOL EXW , NQHZ IURP WKH JXLGH ERRN , KDG VWDUWHG UHDGLQJ RQ WKH SODQH WKDW KH ZDV FDOOLQJ PH D ZKLWH PDQ ,W ZDV D VWUDQJH LURQ\ WKDW , DQ $IULFDQ $PHULFDQ D EODFN $PHULFDQ ZDV EHLQJ FDOOHG D ZKLWH PDQ LQ $IULFD EXW , GLGQ·W PDNH PXFK RI LW , MXVW ODXJKHG DQG JHQWO\ SXVKHG KLP DZD\ , VKRXOG KDYH WROG KLP , ZDVQ·W KHUH WR VHH OLRQV DQG JLUDIIHV , FRQFOXGHG DV , ZDGHG WKURXJK WKH FURZG ZDUGLQJ RII DOO VRUWV RI DWWHPSWV WR JHW PH LQWR WKLV RU WKDW FDE XQWLO , KHDUG D GHHS YRLFH FDOOLQJ PH ¶,VKPDHO · 7XUQLQJ WR ÀQG WKH YRLFH , FDPH IDFH WR IDFH ZLWK RQH RI WKH EODFNHVW PHQ , KDG HYHU VHHQ , PHDQ ,·P EODFN EXW WKLV EURWKHU ZDV VR EODFN KH ORRNHG EOXH 6WDQGLQJ DURXQG VL[ IRRW KH ZDV OLNH HYHU\RQH HOVH RQ WKH VSDUH VLGH EXW XQOLNH HYHU\RQH HOVH KH ZDV GHVSLWH WKH KHDW GUHVVHG VPDUWO\ LQ D KHDY\ EURZQ OHDWKHU MDFNHW EODFN FRUGXUR\V DQG WRXJK ORRNLQJ OHDWKHU VDIDUL ERRWV ¶,VKPDHO , SUHVXPH · P\ .HQ\DQ FRXQWHUSDUW IURP WKH &ULPLQDO ,QYHVWLJDWLRQ 'HSDUWPHQW VDLG ERZLQJ VOLJKWO\ EHIRUH EUHDNLQJ LQWR ODXJKWHU ¶6WDQOH\ WR /LYLQJVWRQH 7KH H[SORUHUV 7KH\ VD\ WKH\ GLVFRYHUHG XV \RX NQRZ · ¶<HV · , VDLG EHJLQQLQJ WR VHH WKH KXPRXU ² RQH EODFN $PHULFDQ DQG RQH $IULFDQ SOD\LQJ H[SORUHU ¶0\ QDPH LV 'DYLG 'DYLG 2GKLDPER · KH FRQWLQXHG UHDFKLQJ RXW WR VKDNH P\ KDQG ¶0\ IULHQGV DQG HQHPLHV FDOO PH 2 · $V , VKRRN 2·V KDQG , UHDOLVHG WKDW , FRXOG QRW VHQVH

KLP 8VXDOO\ SHRSOH WULJJHU VRPHWKLQJ LQ PH ² VRPH VRUW RI HPRWLRQ IHDU DWWUDFWLRQ ZDUPWK ² EXW QRW 2 +H ZDV MXVW YDJXHO\ IDPLOLDU ,Q IDFW WKH RQO\ WKLQJ P\ VHQVHV GLG WHOO PH ZDV WKDW XQGHUQHDWK ZKDW ZDV XQPLVWDNDEO\ %UXW FRORJQH WKHUH ZDV D VKDUS XQGHUFXUUHQW RI PDULMXDQD ZKLFK H[SODLQHG KLV UHG H\HV ¶&RPH OHW·V JHW RXW RI WKLV PDGQHVV $UH \RX SDUNHG"· KH DVNHG DV KH UHDFKHG IRU P\ UXFNVDFN , ORRNHG DW KLP SX]]OHG +H RSHQHG XS KLV MDFNHW WR UHYHDO RQH RI WKRVH ROG V ² VRPHWKLQJ PDGH ORQJ EHIRUH HLWKHU RI XV KDG EHHQ ERUQ ¶,I \RX PHDQ SDFNLQJ WKHQ \HV , DP · , VDLG SXOOLQJ P\ MDFNHW RSHQ VOLJKWO\ VR WKDW KH FRXOG VHH P\ *ORFN ² OLJKW HDV\ WR XVH EXW GHDGO\ QRQHWKHOHVV ¶*RRG RWKHUZLVH , ZRXOG KDYH KDG WR ÀQG \RX RQH RI WKHVH EDG EDELHV · KH VDLG DQG ODXJKHG DJDLQ , FRXOGQ·W WHOO ZKHWKHU KH ZDV WU\LQJ WR VRXQG $PHULFDQ RU QRW ¶,V WKHUH VRPH SODFH DURXQG KHUH WKDW ZH FDQ JR IRU D EHHU DQG WDON"· , DVNHG ¶1RZ \RX·UH WDONLQJ P\ ODQJXDJH , NQRZ MXVW WKH SODFH IRU \RX · 2 VDLG DV ZH PDGH RXU ZD\ RXW WR WKH SDUNLQJ ORW DQG JRW LQWR D EHDWHQ XS /DQG 5RYHU

Â’ :H GURYH IRU D ZKLOH ZLWKRXW WDONLQJ , ZDV WLUHG DQG H[FLWHG DW WKH VDPH WLPH EXW RXW RI WKH PLOOLRQ OLWWOH FXULRVLWLHV WKDW FORXGHG P\ PLQG , FRXOG WKLQN RI QRWKLQJ WR DVN VR , OLVWHQHG WR 2 DV KH KXPPHG D .HQQ\ 5RJHUV VRQJ ² ¶7KH *DPEOHU· ² ZKLFK KH LQWHUUXSWHG HYHU\ QRZ DQG WKHQ ZLWK FXUVHV DV ZH GLSSHG LQ DQG RXW RI WKH SRWKROHV WKDW OLWWHUHG WKH URDG

6RRQ XS DKHDG , FRXOG VHH WKH FLW\ ¶1DLUREL"· , DVNHG MXVW WR PDNH FRQYHUVDWLRQ ¶1DLUREEHU\ · 2 DQVZHUHG ZLWK D ODXJK ¶7KDW LV ZKDW ZH FDOO LW EXW QR ZRUULHV DV ORQJ DV ZH DUH LQ WKLV · KH SDWWHG WKH GDVKERDUG ¶FULPLQDOV ZLOO NQRZ QRW WR PHVV ZLWK XV ·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¶7RPRUURZ , ZLOO WDNH \RX WR WKH UHDO +LOWRQ · 2 VDLG DV ZH FOLPEHG RXW RI WKH /DQG 5RYHU DQG PDGH RXU ZD\ WRZDUGV WKH ZRRGHQ VWUXFWXUH ¶EXW KHUH \RX JHW D WDVWH RI WKH UHDO $IULFD · ,QVLGH WKH EDU ZDV OLW E\ NHURVHQH ODPSV WKDW JDYH LW D VPHOO WKDW ZDV D FURVV EHWZHHQ JDVROLQH DQG EXUQLQJ FORWK ,Q WKH GXOO OLJKW WKH\ SURYLGHG , FRXOG VHH WKDW WKH ZDOOV ZHUH FRYHUHG ZLWK IDGLQJ PDJD]LQH SRVWHUV IRU DOO VRUWV RI WKLQJV ² 0DUOERUR &DPHO /LJKWV ([[RQ 0F'RQDOG·V 7KH ODPSV DOVR LOOXPLQDWHG WKH SDWURQV DQG , TXLFNO\ UHDOLVHG WKDW 7KH +LOWRQ ZDV IXOO RI WKH OLYLQJ GHDG ² VRPH PHQ SDVVHG RXW RQ WKH FRXQWHU RWKHUV VR GUXQN WKDW WKH\ ZHUH PXWWHULQJ WR WKHPVHOYHV ZLWKRXW PDNLQJ D VRXQG 2 DQG , IRXQG D WDEOH WKDW GLGQ·W KDYH D GUXQN RQ LW

DQG WKH EDUWHQGHU ² D \RXQJ ZRPDQ GUHVVHG LQ D UDLQERZ FRORXUHG ZUDS ² FDPH WR WDNH RXU RUGHU ¶$UH \RX KXQJU\"· 2 DVNHG , QRGGHG DQG ZDWFKHG DV 2 RUGHUHG VRPH EHHU DQG WZR NLORV RI URDVW PHDW 7KHUH DUH WZR WKLQJV WKDW .HQ\DQ PHQ WUHDVXUH EH\RQG OLIH LWVHOI , ZDV WR OHDUQ WKHLU 7XVNHU EHHU DQG URDVW PHDW Q\DPD FKRPD 7XVNHU PRWR ² KRW 7XVNHU ² DQG Q\DPD FKRPD LV WKH IDVWHVW ZD\ WR JHW LQIRUPDWLRQ VD\ WKDQN \RX PDNH DQG FORVH D GHDO H[SUHVV IULHQGVKLS RU PDNH SHDFH ¶,VKPDHO ZHOFRPH WR $IULFD · 2 VDLG DV VRRQ DV RXU EHHUV DUULYHG +H UDLVHG KLV 7XVNHU IRU D WRDVW VLSSHG DQG OHDQHG EDFN LQ KLV FKDLU ¶6R WHOO PH ZKDW FDQ , GR \RX IRU"· , WROG KLP P\ VWRU\

Â’ $ \RXQJ EORQGH ZRPDQ IRXQG PXUGHUHG RQ WKH GRRUVWHS RI D EODFN PDQ ² DQ $IULFDQ 2I FRXUVH LW ZDV JRLQJ WR EH WKH VWRU\ RI WKH \HDU ,I , ZDV WR JLYH DGYLFH WR EODFN FULPLQDOV , ZRXOG WHOO WKHP WKLV GR QRW FRPPLW FULPHV DJDLQVW ZKLWH SHRSOH EHFDXVH WKH VWDWH ZLOO QRW UHVW XQWLO \RX DUH FDXJKW , PHDQ LI D FULPH LV QRW VROYHG ZLWKLQ WKH ÀUVW IRUW\ HLJKW KRXUV LW KDV DOO EXW RIÀFLDOO\ JRQH FROG %XW D EODFN RQ ZKLWH FULPH GRHV QRW JR FROG $ EHDXWLIXO EORQGH JLUO LV GHDG DQG D ZHHN ODWHU ,·P FKDVLQJ DIWHU JKRVWV LQ $IULFD +DG LW EHHQ D EODFN YLFWLP , FHUWDLQO\ ZRXOGQ·W KDYH EHHQ UDFNLQJ XS RYHUWLPH LQ 1DLUREL 7KH FDOO FDPH DW WZR LQ WKH PRUQLQJ , MXPSHG RXW RI EHG VXUSULVHG RQO\ E\ WKH DGGUHVV ² 6SDLJKW $YHQXH 0DSOH %OXII ² DQG ÀYH PLQXWHV ODWHU GUHVVHG LQ EODFN SDQWV D ZKLWH GUHVV VKLUW DQG D VPDUW EODFN MDFNHW , ZDV RQ WKH URDG ,

FRPEHG P\ KDLU RQ P\ ZD\ WKHUH ² VLUHQ EODULQJ GRLQJ QLQHW\ PLOHV DQ KRXU <RX GRQ·W VKRZ XS LQ 0DSOH %OXII ORRNLQJ DV LI \RX KDYH MXVW ZRNHQ XS %\ WKH WLPH , JRW WR WKH VFHQH WKH SDUDPHGLFV DQG FRSV IURP WKH 0DSOH %OXII 3ROLFH 'HSDUWPHQW KDG DOUHDG\ DUULYHG 7KH UHVLGHQWV RI WKLV OLWWOH WD[ KDYHQ HYHQ KDG WKHLU RZQ SROLFH DQG ÀUH GHSDUWPHQWV 1R GHWHFWLYHV WKRXJK DQG WKDW·V ZK\ ,·G EHHQ FDOOHG LQ PRVW SUREDEO\ RQ ORDQ 0\ GHSDUWPHQW PDNHV WKRXVDQGV ² DQG LI OXFN\ , JHW SDLG RYHUWLPH 7KH XQLIRUPV ZHUH MXVW VWDQGLQJ DURXQG ZDWFKLQJ DV WKH SDUDPHGLFV ² ZKR KDG MXVW JLYHQ XS WU\LQJ WR UHYLYH WKH JLUO ² UHWXUQHG WKHLU HTXLSPHQW WR WKH DPEXODQFH 1HLJKERXUV H[WUHPHO\ ZKLWH DQG GUHVVHG LQ WKRVH H[SHQVLYH VKLQ\ S\MDPDV ZHUH ORRNLQJ RQ WRR , DVNHG WKHP WR JR EDFN LQWR WKHLU KRPHV ² ZH ZRXOG EH NQRFNLQJ RQ WKHLU GRRUV VRRQ HQRXJK 7KH JLUO ZDV O\LQJ RQ WKH VWDLUV KHU ORQJ EORQGH KDLU VWUHZQ DURXQG KHU WKH EULJKW SRUFK OLJKW EHDPLQJ GRZQ DV LI VKH ZDV RQ D WKHDWUH VWDJH 6KH ORRNHG WR EH VRPHZKHUH EHWZHHQ HLJKWHHQ DQG WZHQW\ +HU ZKLWH VKLUW KDG EHHQ ULSSHG RSHQ ² E\ WKH SDUDPHGLFV , ODWHU OHDUQHG ² H[SRVLQJ D IXOO EUDOHVV FKHVW 6KH ZDV ZHDULQJ D VKRUW SOHDWHG VNLUW OLNH D FKHHUOHDGHU·V NQHH OHQJWK ZKLWH VRFNV DQG ZKLWH WHQQLV VKRHV 7KH ÀUVW WKRXJKW WKDW FDPH WR PLQG ZDV KRZ EHDXWLIXO VKH ZDV ² WKH UHG SROLVK RQ KHU QDLOV ZDV ÁDZOHVV KHU KDLU WKRXJK PHVV\ IURP WKH SDUDPHGLFV WU\LQJ WR VKRFN KHU EDFN WR OLIH ZDV VWLOO D JOLWWHU\ EORQGH KHU H\HV ZHUH FORVHG DQG KHU IDFH FDOP 6KH GLGQ·W HYHQ ORRN OLIHOHVV DQG , H[SHFWHG KHU WR JHW XS DW DQ\ PRPHQW IRU WKH ÀQDO FXUWDLQ FDOO 6WHSSLQJ EDFN , DVNHG WKH XQLIRUPV ZKHUH WKH RZQHU RI

WKH KRXVH ZDV DQG WKH\ SRLQWHG LQVLGH , ZRXOG KDYH H[SHFWHG KLP RU KHU WR EH WULSSLQJ DOO RYHU WKH SODFH WU\LQJ WR KHOS RU EH KRYHULQJ DW WKH GRRU EHVLGH WKHPVHOYHV ZLWK ZRUU\ EXW ZKRHYHU RZQHG WKH KRXVH REYLRXVO\ IHOW GLIIHUHQWO\ :DONLQJ DURXQG WKH JLUO , VWHSSHG XS RQWR WKH SRUFK IURP WKH VLGH +RPH ,V :KHUH 7KH +HDUW ,V , UHDG DV , ZLSHG P\ VKRHV RQ WKH PDW DQG NQRFNHG RQ WKH GRRU 7KHUH ZDV QR DQVZHU EXW WKH GRRU ZDVQ·W ORFNHG DQG VR , OHW P\VHOI LQ ,QVLGH WKH KDOOZD\ ZDV OLW RQO\ E\ WKH ÁDVKLQJ OLJKWV RI WKH DPEXODQFHV DQG SROLFH FDUV VWDQGLQJ RXWVLGH $OO P\ LQVWLQFWV WROG PH WR GUDZ P\ JXQ VR , GLG VWHDG\LQJ P\ ÁDVKOLJKW LQ P\ OHIW KDQG DV , ZDONHG GRZQ D ORQJ SDVVDJHZD\ DQG LQWR WKH VLWWLQJ URRP ¶, WHOO WKHP JLUO LV GHDG · D GHHS YRLFH VDLG LQ WKH GDUN , ZKLUOHG DURXQG SRLQWLQJ WKH ÁDVKOLJKW LQ WKH GLUHFWLRQ RI WKH YRLFH ¶:K\ WKH\ PLVWUHDW KHU ERG\"· 7KHUH ZDV D PDQ VLWWLQJ LQ D OHDWKHU ORYHUV· VHDW DEVHQWO\ WZLUOLQJ DQ HPSW\ ZLQH JODVV E\ LWV VWHP DQG DV , ZDWFKHG KH UHDFKHG RYHU DQG WXUQHG RQ D WDEOH ODPS E\ KLV VLGH ,Q WKH VXGGHQ EULJKWQHVV , VDZ WKDW KH ZDV LPPDFXODWHO\ GUHVVHG ² D EODFN DQG ZKLWH SLQVWULSHG VXLW DQG D WKLQ UHG WLH H[SHQVLYH EURZQ SDWHQW OHDWKHU VKRHV ZLWKRXW VRFNV ¶<RX IRXQG KHU"· , DVNHG KLP EXW LW ZDV PRUH RI D VWDWHPHQW ¶<HV , ÀQG KHU OLNH WKDW , ZDV RXW ZLWK IULHQGV IRU FRFN WDLOV 6DPP\·V /RXQJH · $V , SXW P\ JXQ DZD\ WKH PDQ VWRRG XS ² KH ZDV EODFN YHU\ WDOO PXFK WDOOHU WKDQ PH DQG VR WKLQ WKDW KLV KHDG VHHPHG WR EH JURZLQJ IURP KLV VKRXOGHUV +H VWUHWFKHG RXW

D ERQ\ KDQG WKDW VHHPHG WR JURZ IURP WKH VXLW DQG JUDVSHG PLQH ÀUPO\ ¶7KHLU QDPHV"· +H JDYH PH IRXU QDPHV ² , FRXOG ORRN WKHP XS DW WKH XQLYHUVLW\ KH VDLG 7KH\ ZRXOG YRXFK IRU KLP +H ZDV YHU\ FRPSRVHG QR EXOJLQJ FDURWLG VKLIW\ H\HV RU VZHDW\ SDOPV 1RQH RI WKH WHOOWDOHV WKDW ZH DUH WUDLQHG WR ORRN IRU ¶$QG ZKDW WLPH GLG \RX OHDYH 6DPP\·V /RXQJH"· ¶$ERXW WZHOYH WKLUW\ , ZDON , OLNH ZDON WR ZDVK ZKLVNH\ RXW RI P\ EORRG +DOI DQ KRXU 0D\EH PRUH PD\EH OHVV , JHW KHUH , FDOO QLQH RQH RQH ZKHQ , ÀQG KHU · ¶'LG \RX XVH \RXU FHOOSKRQH"· +H KDQGHG LW RYHU WR PH +H KDG FDOOHG WKH SROLFH DW RQH WKLUW\ WKUHH DP , SRLQWHG LW RXW WR KLP EXW KH MXVW VKUXJJHG ¶<RXU DFFHQW :KHUH DUH \RX IURP"· , DVNHG ¶0\ IULHQG HYHU\RQH KDV DFFHQW PLQH MXVW PHDQ , VSHDN WZR ODQJXDJHV )UHQFK DQG .LQ\DUZDQGD , DP IURP 5ZDQGD DQG .HQ\D 0\ QDPH LV -RVKXD +DNL]LPDQD $QG \RXUV 'HWHFWLYH"· ¶<RX FDQ FDOO PH ,VKPDHO ERUQ DQG EUHG KHUH LQ 0DGLVRQ :LVFRQVLQ · , UHSOLHG IHHOLQJ YHU\ PXFK OLNH WKH YLOODJH LGLRW LQ WKH IDFH RI KLV FODVV DQG SRLVH ¶9HU\ YHU\ VRUU\ WR KHDU WKDW · KH VDLG ZLWK D VKRUW ODXJK DQG SRLQWHG WR D FKDLU IRU PH WR VLW ¶, WHDFK DW XQLYHUVLW\ , DP WHDFKHU RI *HQRFLGH DQG DOVR 7HVWLPRQ\ <RX NQRZ ZKDW KDSSHQ LQ "· ¶:DV VKH RQH RI \RXU VWXGHQWV"· , LQWHUUXSWHG , GLGQ·W QHHG D KLVWRU\ OHVVRQ ¶1R QHYHU VHHQ KHU 1RW W\SH WKDW WDNH P\ FODVV · +H VRXQGHG GLVPLVVLYH

¶:KDW W\SH LV WKDW"· ¶%RKHPLDQV DQG 3HDFH &RUSV W\SHV :KDW \RX $PHULFDQV FDOO WUXVW IXQG EDELHV QR"· +H EURNH LQWR D VKRUW ODXJK ([FHSW IRU KLV XQVHWWOLQJ FDOPQHVV WKHUH ZDV QRWKLQJ WR DURXVH VXVSLFLRQ :KDWHYHU FOXHV WKHUH ZHUH ZRXOG EH ZLWK WKH JLUO 2QO\ DQ DXWRSV\ ZRXOG WHOO XV DERXW KHU ODVW KRXUV $IWHU WKDW ZH ZRXOG KDYH WR LQWHUYLHZ WKH QHLJKERXUV WUDZO WKH ORFDO EDUV IRU VRPHRQH ZKR PLJKW UHPHPEHU KHU JR WKURXJK WKH ODVW VL[ RU VR \HDUV RI XQLYHUVLW\ HQUROPHQWV DQG PLVVLQJ SHUVRQV ÀOHV DQG KRSH ZH JRW D OXFN\ EUHDN , DVNHG -RVKXD LI , FRXOG ORRN DURXQG DQG KH DJUHHG , OHIW KLP DQG ZDQGHUHG RII E\ P\VHOI VZLWFKLQJ RQ WKH OLJKWV DV , ZHQW 7KH SODFH ZDV KXJH EXW LW ZDV WKH EHGURRP WKDW LQWHUHVWHG PH 3HUKDSV WKLV ZKROH PHVV ZDV MXVW D ORYHU·V TXDUUHO JRQH WRR IDU ² VRPHWLPHV WKLQJV DUH WKDW VLPSOH 6KH ZDV D VWXGHQW RI KLV DQG ZDQWHG WR EUHDN LW RII 2U KH ZDQWHG WR EUHDN LW RII DQG VKH KDG WKUHDWHQHG WR H[SRVH KLP WR WKH XQLYHUVLW\ DXWKRULWLHV , ÀQDOO\ IRXQG LW 7KHUH ZDV RQO\ D KXJH EHG LPPDFXODWHO\ PDGH XS DQG D QLJKWVWDQG ZLWK QRWKLQJ RQ LW H[FHSW D ODPS , RSHQHG WKH FORVHW DQG IRXQG URZV DQG URZV RI VXLWV HDFK UHDG\ ZLWK D EODFN VKLUW DQG PDWFKLQJ VKRHV EHQHDWK LW ,Q WKH DGMRLQLQJ EDWKURRP WKHUH ZDV D VLQJOH WRRWKEUXVK RQ WKH VLQN QH[W WR D WXEH RI RUJDQLF WRRWKSDVWH 7KH PHGLFLQH FDELQHW ZDV HPSW\ ,W GLGQ·W ORRN OLNH , ZDV JRLQJ WR ÀQG DQ\WKLQJ XVHIXO VR , ZHQW EDFN GRZQVWDLUV WR ÀQG KLP VLWWLQJ LQ WKH VDPH SRVLWLRQ ZLWK KLV ZLQH JODVV QRZ KDOI IXOO , SRLQWHG WR KLV VKRHV DQG DVNHG DERXW WKH VRFNV ¶6RPHWLPHV , IRUJHW P\VHOI $EVHQW PLQGHG SURIHVVRU

QR"· KH VDLG ZLWK PRFN VDGQHVV DV KH VWRRG XS WR ZDON PH WR WKH GRRU ¶+RZ GLG \RX NQRZ WKH JLUO ZDV GHDG"· , DVNHG DV , JDYH KLP P\ FDUG ¶'HWHFWLYH ZKHUH , FRPH IURP GHDWK LV D FRPSDQLRQ OLNH ORYHU RU JRRG IULHQG $OZD\V WKHUH · KH VDLG DV , VWHSSHG RXWVLGH ¶:H IRXQG WKLV RYHU WKHUH · RQH RI WKH 0%3' FRSV VDLG WR PH SRLQWLQJ WR WKH IHQFH DV , PDGH P\ ZD\ RII WKH SRUFK ,W ZDV D QHHGOH KDOI IXOO RI ZKDW , NQHZ WR EH KHURLQ , ORRNHG FORVHO\ DW WKH JLUO·V DUPV DQG HDVLO\ IRXQG WKH VLQJOH QHHGOH PDUN VOLJKWO\ EORRG\ 2Q WKH IDFH RI LW LW ORRNHG OLNH DQ RYHUGRVH RU D VXLFLGH EXW QRW D PXUGHU 7KLV ZDV 0DSOH %OXII DIWHU DOO ² D FDW XS WKH WUHH VWROHQ VWRS VLJQV DQ RFFDVLRQDO GUXQN DQG XQUXO\ JUDQGPRWKHU YLVLWLQJ IURP XS FRXQWU\ SHUKDSV EXW QRW PXUGHU 7KHUH ZDV QRWKLQJ PRUH IRU PH WR GR WKDW QLJKW VR , ZHQW KRPH WR ZULWH XS P\ UHSRUW 7KDQN *RG IRU WHFKQRORJ\ ² , FRXOG GR LW DOO RQOLQH ZLWK D FROG EHHU DQG VOLFH RI SL]]D %DFN LQ WKH GD\ , ZRXOG·YH EHHQ XS WR P\ QHFN LQ SDSHUZRUN %XW DV , ZDV W\SLQJ OLWWOH GHWDLOV EHJDQ WR ERWKHU PH 7KH ZDOOV RI WKH KRXVH IRU H[DPSOH KDG EHHQ HPSW\ ² QR SDLQWLQJV QR SKRWRJUDSKV ,W KDG EHHQ OLNH EHLQJ LQ RQH KXJH KRWHO URRP LPSHUVRQDO \HW LQKDELWHG +RZ FRXOG KH OLYH LQ WKDW KRXVH ZLWKRXW OHDYLQJ D WUDFH RI KLPVHOI" %XW WKDW ZDVQ·W D FULPH , WROG P\VHOI $QG SHUKDSV WKH KRXVH ZDVQ·W KRPH IRU KLP SHUKDSV VRPHZKHUH LQ $IULFD ZDV D KRXVH IXOO RI SKRWRV RI D VPLOLQJ ZLIH NLGV DQG D OLWWOH GRJ FDOOHG 6LPED WKDW RQO\ DWH FURFRGLOH PHDW %XW HYHQ LI WKDW ZDV WKH FDVH KRZ FRXOG D FROOHJH SURIHVVRU DIIRUG D KRPH LQ 0DSOH %OXII" 7KH WD[HV

WKHPVHOYHV ZHUH HQRXJK WR IHHG DQG FORWKH D IDPLO\ RI VL[ 6RPHWKLQJ GLGQ·W DGG XS ² D EHDXWLIXO EORQGH JLUO GHDG RQ WKH GRRUVWHS RI DQ $IULFDQ SURIHVVRU $ VXLFLGH RU DQ DFFLGHQWDO RYHUGRVH RQ D VWUDQJHU·V IURQW SRUFK" 1R LW ZDV WRR UDQGRP WR EH UDQGRP $QG ,·YH VHHQ VRPH IXFNHG XS VKLW /LNH WKLV JX\ ZKR NLOOHG D PDQ DV KH IHWFKHG KLV PRUQLQJ :LVFRQVLQ 6WDWH -RXUQDO DQG OHIW D QRWH RQ KLP $ 675$1*(5 .,//6 $ 675$1*(5 21&( <28 :,// 1(9(5 &$7&+ 0( 6,*1(' 5$1'20 :LWK WRGD\·V IRUHQVLFV DV ORQJ DV WKH YLFWLP KDV HYHQ WKH VOLJKWHVW FRQQHFWLRQ WR WKH NLOOHU VRRQHU RU ODWHU ZH JHW WKH IXFNHU %XW WKH 5DQGRP .LOOHU FDVH ZDV GLIIHUHQW ² WKH YLFWLP DQG WKH NLOOHU ZHUH VWUDQJHUV FRQQHFWHG RQO\ E\ D WKHRU\ ZH EDUHO\ XQGHUVWRRG 7R FXW D ORQJ VWRU\ VKRUW WKH NLOOHU PDGH RQH IDWDO PLVWDNH ² KH KDG OHIW D SDUWLDO WKXPESULQW RQ WKH QRWH )LYH \HDUV ODWHU WKHUH ZDV D ÀUH LQ D KRWHO EDVHPHQW WKDW ZDV SXW RXW ZLWKRXW PXFK GDPDJH EXW EHFDXVH ZH VXVSHFWHG DUVRQ ZH ÀQJHUSULQWHG DOO WKH KRWHO JXHVWV DQG HPSOR\HHV DQG FURVV FKHFNHG WKH ÀQJHUSULQWV DJDLQVW RXU GDWDEDVH :H GLGQ·W FDWFK WKH DUVRQLVW EXW LW WXUQHG RXW WKDW RXU 5DQGRP .LOOHU KDG EHHQ KROHG XS LQ WKH KRWHO GRLQJ DOO VRUWV RI WKLQJV ZLWK D KRRNHU 1RWKLQJ PXFK WR KLP LQ WKH HQG MXVW D ORFDO SKDUPDFLVW ZLWK D ORYLQJ ZLIH DQG NLGV :KHQ KH ZDV EURXJKW LQ , ORRNHG KLP VWUDLJKW LQ WKH H\H DQG WROG KLP WKDW KH KDG IXFNHG XS $ SHUIHFW FULPH KDV QR PRWLYH $QG LI WKHUH LV QR PRWLYH WKHQ WKHUH·V QR FULPH" %XW KH MXVW ORRNHG XS DW PH ZLWK SLW\ LQ KLV H\HV ¶<RX DUH D IRRO · KH VDLG ¶'LG LW QRW RFFXU WR \RX 'HWHFWLYH WKDW , ZDV WU\LQJ WR SURYH WKDW FKDQFH LV QRW UDQGRP"· , GRQ·W NQRZ ZKDW WKH KHOO KH PHDQW E\ WKDW DQG KH

M U KO M A WA N G U G I was born in Illinois but raised in Kenya. The son of world-renowned African writer and Nobel finalist, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, his own poetry and fiction has been short-listed for the Caine Prize for African writing in 2009, and for the 2010 Penguin Prize for African Writing. He lives in Stamford, Connecticut.

M E LVI LLE I NTE R NATIONAL CR I M E Kismet Jakob Arjouni

He Died with His Eyes Open Derek Raymond

978-1-935554-23-3

978-1-935554-57-8

Happy Birthday, Turk! Jakob Arjouni

The Devil’s Home on Leave Derek Raymond

978-1-935554-20-2

978-1-935554-58-5

More Beer Jakob Arjouni

How the Dead Live Derek Raymond

978-1-935554-43-1

978-1-935554-59-2

One Man, One Murder Jakob Arjouni

I Was Dora Suarez Derek Raymond

978-1-935554-54-7

978-1-935554-60-8

The Craigslist Murders Brenda Cullerton

Dead Man Upright Derek Raymond

978-1-61219-019-8

978-1-61219-062-4

Death and the Penguin Andrey Kurkov

The Angst-Ridden Executive Manuel Vázquez Montalbán

978-1-935554-55-4

978-1-61219-038-9

Penguin Lost Andrey Kurkov

Murder in the Central Committee Manuel Vázquez Montalbán

978-1-935554-56-1

The Case of the General’s Thumb Andrey Kurkov

978-1-61219-036-5

The Buenos Aires Quintet Manuel Vázquez Montalbán

978-1-61219-060-0

978-1-61219-034-1

Nairobi Heat Mukoma Wa Ngugi

Off Side Manuel Vázquez Montalbán

978-1-935554-64-6

978-1-61219-115-7

Cut Throat Dog Joshua Sobol

Southern Seas Manuel Vázquez Montalbán

978-1-935554-21-9

978-1-61219-117-1

Brenner and God Wolf Haas 978-1-61219-113-3

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.