A Court Of Fowls: Episode 70
We
each celebrated with a Fanta drink. The crew had had these chilling
in a box of ice which was also keeping some red snapper nice and
fresh for the next day’s supper. At home we were still not keen on
fishing inshore. As the wind filled our sail, we all whooped with delight.
Chapter 24
Faith and Patience (continued)
STRICTLY FOR THE MANAGER’S ATTENTION
Dear Mr Manager of the Malindi Branch of KCB,
I understand you have been in touch with Charles Muranga of Ndugu,
Njoroge and Kwatch Associates regarding settlement in the sum of euros
250,000 owing to a party based in Somalia. Under arrangements agreed with
them, your branch will be holding this sum in safekeeping, awaiting collection.
The holder of the letter is carrying details of our account number and a special
code which must be read in tandem with our account details.
You will have been
briefed that the two numbers together constitute the only authorisation necessary
for clearing the account. You now have these.
Follow these procedures to the letter. Do not deviate from them. You are being
observed (perhaps by a customer, perhaps by a paid informant from within your
staff complement).
1. Ask the boy for his rucksack (into which you will place the money);
2. Do NOT speak further to the boy or to any of your colleagues, or use a
telephone. If you do, we will consider the arrangement compromised;
3. Sign and stamp a hand written affidavit that the full sum is being released
to the boy. Put the affidavit in the rucksack with the money;
4. Take no more than four minutes to complete steps 1-3.
5. Give the boy his rucksack (with the money of course). When this is done,
take a seat in the reception area of the bank (by the window please). Remain
there for five more minutes, reading a copy of the morning newspaper (which we
note customarily rests on the coffee table). During this time, you will continue to
remain silent.
If for any reason you fail to act according to these instructions, be it upon
your own head.
Have a Nice Day,
Amina Abdullahi
Somali Ocean Salvation Corp
**
The boy played his part perfectly. He snatched up his substitute
rucksack which had been sitting by my feet, and he trotted out of
the restaurant only two minutes after he had entered. I watched him
walk out, and as instructed, disappear up a nearby side street which
served as a daily market. There he would have opened his new bag
and found inside a Chelsea Football Club vest, a new pair of denim
jeans and a baseball cap, all of which we’d asked him to slip on behind
one of the stalls. Should anyone official have been looking for
him, the youngster in the school uniform would have effectively vanished.
I paid for my coffee and chocolate cake (luxury) and calmly left
The Old Man and the Sea. Nimrod and I made our way separately back
to the bus station where we waited only half an hour for our transport
to leave for Lamu. The bus was packed to the gills. During the
entire long journey Nimrod gripped that rucksack as if his life depended
on it.
We arrived in Lamu just after sunset. It would have been nice to
linger but we felt it best to set sail immediately for Kaambooni. Only
when we were safely out to sea did I fully grasp that we’d done it. We
each celebrated with a Fanta drink. The crew had had these chilling
in a box of ice which was also keeping some red snapper nice and
fresh for the next day’s supper. At home we were still not keen on
fishing inshore. As the wind filled our sail, we all whooped with delight.
Another day and we’d be home.
As the sun started to fall, I drew Nimrod aside.
‘You know that we have earned ourselves a measure of notoriety
now, my man,’ I began.
‘Yes. Of course. More you than me, Amina. As our spokesperson.’
‘Well that’s what I want to tell you about. Did you know that our
picture has been in the international press. Annie told me that she
has seen us in The Times of London.’
‘So, do you like to be famous?’
‘Ha! Infamous, if you please. Anyway, whether I like it or not, it
has had a consequence which I was not expecting. Long ago, I met a
man in Mogadishu ............’
