Tefuga by Peter Dickinson Read Free Book Online

jumped a mile!
    â€œWhat is it?” I managed to say. In Hausa of course.
    â€œMadam go to Kiti this morning?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œMadam speak with Kama Boi?”
    (I’d better explain something. It doesn’t look fair, me making myself talk proper English and E. a sort of pidgin when we were both talking in Hausa and mine isn’t that hot either, but it was like that. The only Hausa he knows, almost, is about things like cleaning Ted’s boots and bringing our meals and so on, and even then he muddles in Kiti words. I made Kimjiri laugh yesterday when I used the Kiti word for “knife” which I’d picked up from Elongo—it was the best joke for years, a white woman talking bush African!)
    â€œI spoke to the Emir,” I said. I knew I ought to show him I thought it was cheek him not giving KB his proper title, but he was too serious to notice.
    â€œMadam see the women?”
    â€œI saw no women,” I said. There’d been quite a few in the market, actually, but I didn’t suppose he was talking about them. He stood still. I felt he was unhappy or frightened or something. I tried to help.
    â€œWhy do you ask?” I said.
    â€œMy sister is in the house of Kama Boi,” he said.
    â€œWe did not go close to the house of the Emir,” I said. He was still terribly worried, I was sure.
    â€œWhat is the matter?” I said. “Is your sister unhappy?”
    â€œI do not know. I do not hear my sister speak. Kama Boi takes her.”
    â€œTakes her? Do you say he stole her?”
    Of course they taught us the words for stealing almost first thing, but I don’t think Elongo understood. Ted says Africans are naturally honest until we let them into our houses. Anyway, poor Elongo just gave a deep unhappy sigh and bowed and glided away, leaving me wondering what to do.
    The obvious thing is to consult Ted, but I don’t think I shall—not yet, anyway. From what he told me this morning Ted doesn’t like hearing accusations about KB, and I really don’t want him to take against Elongo, who I think is absolutely perfect, so I’m going to keep quiet till at least I know a bit more. But I would like to do something …
    Idea! I’m going to go and paint Kiti—I’ve simply got to. Terribly exciting. There’s something about Africa. I mean I don’t really like it, it’s so uncomfy in such a lot of ways, but my eye and my hand love it! I don’t think I’ve ever painted so well as I’ve started doing now, and there’s lots and lots of subjects at Kiti. So when I go I’ll take Elongo with me to carry things and help, and I’ll get Ted to ask KB for permish for me to paint his palace, and then I might be able to get him to send some of his women out to pose in front or something. Can’t think of a way of making sure E’s sister is one of them. I really need to find out more.
    Second idea! I’m going to get Elongo to teach me Kiti! I’ll teach him English in exchange. Give me something to do all these long hours when Ted’s working, and it’s too hot to paint. Yes, that’s rather a good idea. The other one I’m not sure about, but I think I’ll give it a try.

Three
    â€œT he same spirit,” said Miss Tressider. “That’s really nice. Things like holding my head right are easy once you’ve got that. I hope there’ll be time for me to have a chat with the old billy-goat when we’ve finished.”
    She lolled naked on the bed of her small portable cabin—the “wholly separate accommodation” written into her contract. It and the three larger ones used by the unit formed a small encampment a few hundred yards downstream from the clearing in which the remains of The Warren stood. The hotel accommodation in New Kiti town had been judged for a number of reasons unsatisfactory.
    The air conditioner muttered away beneath the closed