Read Online Burn My Heart by Beverley Naidoo - Free Book Online

clear that they had seen Bwana Grayson and his car. Baba persisted. He told them how the bwana had specially brought them to the location and that this same bwana would return at four o’clock.
    ‘You can ask Bwana Grayson yourself. He will tell you that we work for him. He will be upset that you did not let us in.’
    Mugo saw the guards’ eyes begin to waver. They would not like a problem with a bwana.
    ‘Come with me to my sister’s house,’ Baba continued. ‘You will see that I am telling the truth.’
    Mugo marvelled at his father’s assurance. Suddenly the second guard, who hadn’t spoken so far, pointed to the bulge in each of Mugo’s trouser pockets.
    ‘What have you got there?’
    Mugo swallowed hard. He had heard about guards who helped themselves to things they liked. He put a hand in each pocket and reluctantly pulled out two little wooden elephants. Each had outstretched ears and a raised trunk as if ready to charge.
    ‘Where did you get these?’ The man’s eyes narrowed.
    ‘They are mine.’
    ‘They are very well made. Perhaps you stole them?’
    ‘I made them myself!’ Mugo heard his voice rise. ‘They are for –’
    Baba cut him short. ‘My son is good at carving. When the bwana comes you can ask him.’
    The reminder about Bwana Grayson worked. With an abrupt wave, the second guard signalled to the first to let Baba and Mugo through. Mugo slipped the elephants back into his pockets. Baba’s smartness had got them on their way.
    A few days earlier Baba had received a message that his sister was ill and she wanted him to come. But when Baba had asked for a day off work, Bwana Grayson said he must wait until Saturday. The bwana had added that he would be driving into town himself and would give Baba a lift. There had been no choice… and the lift certainly saved hours of walking. Mugo had begged Baba to ask the bwana to let him come too. He had been dying to give the newly carved elephants to his brother Gitau and his cousin Karanja. These days Gitau rarely came home when not at school. He preferred to stay with Baba’s sister in the location and to earn a little money by working for one of the Asian shopkeepers in town. He had not even come home over Christmas. Mami had especially missed him and given Mugo a message. ‘
Tell your brother I hopehe is well. He must come before he goes back to school. I am waiting for him.
’ Mugo was also longing to see his brother although he knew that Gitau might be out working. If so, he would ask his cousin Karanja to pass on his present and the message.
    Mugo followed Baba through the maze of narrow alleys between the cramped mud and wooden houses. There was always much to see here. Some people sat outside their doorways, making sandals from old tyres, belts and bags from leather, baskets from reeds, boxes and buckets from tin, and items Mugo had never seen before. In almost every alley, someone stocked a few shelves of tinned food, oil, maize meal and sugar while someone else would spread out a few vegetables or pieces of meat to sell. Even the prison fence had not stopped the bustle of activity.
    Karanja greeted them solemnly at the door. He was only a little older than Mugo and in the past had always given him a special greeting. Today, there was not even a quick grin or a wink as he led them to the small yard at the back. Mugo had expected to find Karanja’s mother in bed, but she was on her knees, scrubbing clothes in a tin tub. She was normally a cheerful person and much livelier than Baba, her older brother. But now, when she looked up to greet them, her eyes seemed lifeless. She remained on her knees.
    ‘What is wrong?’ Baba asked. ‘We heard that you were sick!’
    ‘Ndio! My heart is very sick! I couldn’t tell you in the message, brother. The wazungu have taken Karanja’s father. They came with so many guards. They beat him even in front of our own eyes. I asked them, “
Why? Why are you doing this
?” I begged them to stop but