Thabiti watched Pearl leave Dormans as another lady arrived, someone Pearl would once have described as ‘letting herself go’. She had curly hair, with wisps of grey, and she peered around the courtyard through round glasses.
She approached their table and queried, “It’s Marina, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Marina replied, pushing back the heavy bench and standing to greet the new arrival. She looked at Thabiti and, with a slight inclination of her head, indicated that he should move over.
Instead he stood, and with his hands in his pockets, said, “If you’re OK, I’ll go to the bank.”
Marina nodded, and she and Stella sat down.
Thabiti looked up and down the dusty street, but there was no sign of Pearl. He wandered past the tall concrete casino building and approached Barclays Bank, where he waited in line to use the cash machine.
As he returned to Dormans, he bought a newspaper from a street seller and settled down at the far end of the long wooden table to read it. He also ordered a coffee.
Five or ten minutes later, he wasn’t sure how long he had been sitting there, Stella and Marina stood and shook hands. As Stella left, he shuffled up the bench and joined Marina. He retrieved his coffee and asked, “So how did that go? Did she offer you a position?”
Marina bit her lip and answered, “Yes, at the camp Chris told us about in Turkana. The one with all the refugees from Somalia and Ethiopia. But it sounds really tough. I think I’ll enjoy helping to distribute food and aid, and I’ll also be teaching some of the younger children.”
Marina twisted her hands on top of the table and continued, “But part of my role is walking around and inspecting the camp to make sure that nobody is dying, or is badly injured or has been abandoned. Apparently, it’s really difficult to distribute the aid evenly and fairly, and some families, especially those with a single parent who is ill or weak, or with elderly grandparents, often miss out.”
Thabiti reached across and took one of her hands, “So are you going to accept it?”
She looked up at him and said, “I’m not sure. What do you think?”
He held her gaze. He knew she desperately wanted to prove herself, and to be acknowledged and respected by others. He’d witnessed how her extended family had treated her at the Rhino Charge the previous month.
It was as if being a woman, her only role was as a wife. And because she was refusing to comply with custom, and marry a man of her father’s choice, she was only fit to do the bidding of other family members and look after their children.
Thabiti said, “I think you should give it a go, and if it doesn’t work out, then at least you know you’ve tried. Otherwise I think you’ll always regret not seizing the opportunity.”
Marina smiled faintly and replied, “Thank you. I will.”
“Marina,” an elderly male voice cried. “There you are. We’ve been looking all over for you.”
Marina pulled back quickly and stood, knocking against the heavy wooden bench. She grabbed hold of the table to steady herself and exclaimed, “Baba, what are you doing here?”
Marina’s father was an elderly Indian man who walked with a slight stoop. He explained, “Your mother and I came to Nanyuki to talk to you.”
An Indian woman, in a bright red and blue sari, stepped out from behind Marina’s father and smiled kindly at them.
Marina extracted herself and hugged her mother. “It’s lovely to see you.”
Marina’s mother giggled. “This is quite an adventure, isn’t it? I was so surprised when your father announced we were driving to Nanyuki to find you.” She looked serious and held Marina by the shoulders. “He’s been very worried, you know, and fretting that we hadn’t heard from you and that you were lying dead in a ditch.”
Marina pushed the heavy bench out and invited her parents to sit down. Thabiti shuffled along his bench and wondered whether he should leave or move to the far end of the table.
“It’s Thabiti, isn’t it?” Marina’s father asked as he sat down and extended his hand towards Thabiti. Nervously, Thabiti shook it.
Marina blurted, “I’m so sorry I didn’t call. We were really busy and … well I just wasn’t sure what to say.”
Marina’s father tapped his fingers on the table. “I was annoyed with you, daughter, and upset that you ran away to Nanyuki and refused to meet Manu. He’s a nice Indian boy and …”
“Uttamer,” chided Marina’s mother in a soft voice, but her husband must have noted the steely edge as he pressed his lips together and leaned back. “We promised not to talk about that. I’ve explained to you that Marina is a modern woman and does not want us to arrange a husband for her. Besides, she has this lovely young man looking after her.”
Thabiti felt his mouth open and shut like a wooden puppet as everyone looked at him.
“You’re right, Gita.” Marina’s father bowed his head in her direction. “I’m sorry.”
There was an uncomfortable silence, and then Marina’s mother asked in a falsely bright voice, “So what have you both been doing?”
“We’re been managing a new lodge on Borana Conservancy.”
“That sounds fun,” her mother replied.
“Not really,” said Marina glumly as she rested her chin in her hands on the table. “One of the guests died.”
“Why? What did you do?” her father asked sharply.
“I, we, didn’t do anything. We were just the pawns in a game of chess. A husband and his,” she paused and shrugged, “Lover, killed his wife.”
“How awful, my dear,” said Marina’s mother, pulling Marina to her.
Thabiti thought that Marina had been hugged a lot this morning. He felt uncomfortable until he remembered their embrace at the lodge and then he felt the blood rise to his face.
“Thabiti, are you OK?” asked Marina.
“Fine,” he stammered. He looked at Marina’s mother and then back at the table as he said, “But Marina’s been offered another position. A very interesting job.”
“Oh, yes?” enquired her father.
“It’s not actually paid work,” admitted Marina. “But I have been offered a voluntary position, by an international charity, to work in their base at Kakuma Refugee Camp.”
Her mother clasped her hands and cried, “But won’t that be dangerous?”
“It will certainly be tough,” her father announced. “We send supplies up twice a month and I once made the long trip north. All that poverty and despair. It really upset me.”
“So are you going to accept the position?” her mother asked.
“I think so. Thabiti suggested that I at least try it, and if it’s not for me, well, then I know and can look for something else to do.”
“Or get …” Marina’s father started, but hastily stopped when his wife glared at him.
“That’s a very sensible suggestion,” agreed Marina’s mother.
“Yes,” muttered her father. “But make sure you look after yourself.”
Marina’s mother asked, “Are you going as well, Thabiti?”
“Oh, no. I have things to do in Nanyuki. Maybe later.”
He looked at Marina who raised her eyebrows.
“Well, you never know,” he admitted.