names of some of those who helped me. I cannot tell you, even though I trust you, the names of those I do know, for fear that somehow that simple naming will bring about their deaths. But here I am, alive today because of their bravery. You may know of a similar organisation in the days of slavery - I see some of you nodding - which was known as the Underground Railway? So is the English system known, in honour of its American predecessors. It was that railway that brought me here, and I hope and trust that if members of that railway company ever need a new home, a new land to live in, I hope they will be welcome here, even in this village, and stand under this noble tree as I stand here today in the place where my father once stood.'
He finished speaking, and there was silence, a long, shocked silence. He looked at his mother; she nodded slowly as if to show she understood the message her son had given to his audience.
He asked if there were any questions. Normally there would have been a flood of enquiries; people would have offered solutions, made speeches of their own. But not on this occasion. There was silence; some wept quietly, realising they might never see their loved ones again. The Imam stood. He led the prayers, asking again for God to grant them wisdom. The crowd dispersed, melting into the evening as quietly as sand drifts along a beach.
Mother and son walked silently home. Ebou was brewing Atayah and smiled.
'I hear you are to move into your father's house?' Ed looked at his mother.
'It has been waiting for you, and is ready now. You may sleep there tonight if you wish. Binta has made everything ready. I have put clean clothes for you, as once I did for your father. You will eat with us until you have made your own arrangements for a housekeeper. Do not worry about finance. My husband has made a suggestion that you are employed at the school as an advisor, and that you also receive a salary as a tutor in the adult learning department. I do not suppose that any of your finances from England will find their way here!'
'If you have other plans do not allow our modest proposals to hinder them' Ebou said. Ed-Lamin shook his head.
'No. No, I have no other plans. Your kindness is more than I deserve. I left here with hopes of what might be a better life and I found a living hell. At first everything was wonderful, and I will remember the happiness of being with Jane for, I hoped, the rest of my life. I still cannot believe that we will never meet again. I wake every morning and think she has just got out of bed before me.' His mother nodded, but said nothing. 'I am grateful, Ebou to you and my mother and to Binta. I will do my best to deserve your kindness.'
'Return to us, live with us, work with us. You are not a stranger here. Who knows the future? Only God. Sleep well. Perhaps your mother will show you the arrangements in your new house.'
17
Theresa and Grant were deep in conversation when he arrived in the kitchen. He paused outside the door and listened.
'He's found the camera, the bastard. He put on an act and then dragged me to my room and raped me.'
'Well, we expected him to do both, didn't we? He's a smart guy. It's not like you to be prissy, is it?'
'He buggered me. You were supposed to look after me. He really hurt me, the sod. Pretended to be upset that I was in his wife's bedroom and then...'
'And then what did I do?' Geoff walked into the now silent room. 'Come on, I'm sure Grant wants to know all about it. What is he? Your father? Your uncle? One of your lovers?'
'He's my stepfather. He looks after me. All Senior Watchmen have to be checked out. I was just doing my job, sir.'
Senior Watchman Bibby smiled and walked out of the house. He reached the end of the gravel drive and made a phone call.
'Frank? It's Geoff. I need a little favour and you need a little promotion. Send me two of your lads, any two with a bit of muscle, soon as you can.
He finished speaking, and there was silence, a long, shocked silence. He looked at his mother; she nodded slowly as if to show she understood the message her son had given to his audience.
He asked if there were any questions. Normally there would have been a flood of enquiries; people would have offered solutions, made speeches of their own. But not on this occasion. There was silence; some wept quietly, realising they might never see their loved ones again. The Imam stood. He led the prayers, asking again for God to grant them wisdom. The crowd dispersed, melting into the evening as quietly as sand drifts along a beach.
Mother and son walked silently home. Ebou was brewing Atayah and smiled.
'I hear you are to move into your father's house?' Ed looked at his mother.
'It has been waiting for you, and is ready now. You may sleep there tonight if you wish. Binta has made everything ready. I have put clean clothes for you, as once I did for your father. You will eat with us until you have made your own arrangements for a housekeeper. Do not worry about finance. My husband has made a suggestion that you are employed at the school as an advisor, and that you also receive a salary as a tutor in the adult learning department. I do not suppose that any of your finances from England will find their way here!'
'If you have other plans do not allow our modest proposals to hinder them' Ebou said. Ed-Lamin shook his head.
'No. No, I have no other plans. Your kindness is more than I deserve. I left here with hopes of what might be a better life and I found a living hell. At first everything was wonderful, and I will remember the happiness of being with Jane for, I hoped, the rest of my life. I still cannot believe that we will never meet again. I wake every morning and think she has just got out of bed before me.' His mother nodded, but said nothing. 'I am grateful, Ebou to you and my mother and to Binta. I will do my best to deserve your kindness.'
'Return to us, live with us, work with us. You are not a stranger here. Who knows the future? Only God. Sleep well. Perhaps your mother will show you the arrangements in your new house.'
17
Theresa and Grant were deep in conversation when he arrived in the kitchen. He paused outside the door and listened.
'He's found the camera, the bastard. He put on an act and then dragged me to my room and raped me.'
'Well, we expected him to do both, didn't we? He's a smart guy. It's not like you to be prissy, is it?'
'He buggered me. You were supposed to look after me. He really hurt me, the sod. Pretended to be upset that I was in his wife's bedroom and then...'
'And then what did I do?' Geoff walked into the now silent room. 'Come on, I'm sure Grant wants to know all about it. What is he? Your father? Your uncle? One of your lovers?'
'He's my stepfather. He looks after me. All Senior Watchmen have to be checked out. I was just doing my job, sir.'
Senior Watchman Bibby smiled and walked out of the house. He reached the end of the gravel drive and made a phone call.
'Frank? It's Geoff. I need a little favour and you need a little promotion. Send me two of your lads, any two with a bit of muscle, soon as you can.
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