18

It was during the service that Vinjinia recalled who Dove was and started shaking so much that she could hardly follow what Bishop Kanogori was saying at the altar. Thank you, Lord, thank you, Jesus, she heard herself say in silent prayer. Nyawlra was still alive! Her guilt was assuaged, and she realized that she had been deceiving herself in imagining that she had successfully repressed all thoughts of Nyawlra. But where was she? And how did Maritha, Mariko, and Nyawlra come to know one another so well that she could trust them with such a message to Vinjinia?

She recalled the many rumors provoked by the couple’s declaration of victory over Satan. Some gossipers had claimed that Maritha and Mariko may have visited the shrine of the Wizard of the Crow, where they got a magic potion that rekindled their love to a level that rivaled that of their youth. But soon anxiety replaced Vinjinia’s initial relief and curiosity. What was the content of Dove’s message? What did Nyawlra want from her?

Did she want to give herself up? The recently appointed national hostess—what’s her name, Yunique Immaculate McKenzie—was she not at one time an advocate of bad politics? When she gave herself up, the Buler forgave her and even gave her a job. Maybe Nyawlra had read about McKenzies appointment and had seen the light and was now willing to kneel at the feet of the Buler. Maybe she wants me to take her to him.

But what would the consequences be of her being associated with Nyawlra? Should she, the wife of the governor of the Central Bank, be encouraging contact with an enemy of the State? After the service she could simply avoid the usual crowd of well-wishers and favor seekers and go straight to her car and drive away. That would send a clear message to Nyawlra that Vinjinia did not want to renew their relationship. But she decided that she should first hear the content of the message before settling on a course of action. After all, she could be wrong about the dove’s identity and intent.

As soon as the service was over, Vinjinia got out and hurried to her car. Maritha and Mariko were already there. She asked them to get in the car, drove some distance away, and stopped. Caution was of utmost importance. Maritha went straight to the point. She had been sent to tell Vinjinia this story.

Once upon a time, there was a person who used to give Dove a nest and some castor seeds to eat, and now Dove heard that the person was in a place where no eyes of an ordinary citizen could reach him. Dove was hungry and wanted Vinjinia to find out everything she could about the person, where he was, how he was, things like that. Vinjinia should try to tell the person that Dove’s nest had caught fire but Dove was fine and was now breathing the same air as all other citizen birds. Maritha ended by telling Vinjinia that if she had any castor oil seeds that she wanted delivered to Dove, she should bring them to All Saints Cathedral on any Sunday and Maritha would make sure that Dove got them.

When she finished the story and without waiting for a reply, Maritha tugged Mariko’s sleeve and they got out of the car. They danced away, singing loudly:

Dove sent me on a mission, mmh It needs a bigger beak, mmh …

As she drove away, Vinjinia thought about Dove’s message. Nyawlra wanted to know about the Wizard of the Crow.

For a week or so, Vinjinia thought of nothing else but Nyawlra and her message. What a time for Nyawlra to intrude, just when her life with Tajirika was beginning to be good! Nyawlra wanted her to glean information from her husband, but how could she engage in such underhandedness? Tajirika was now an esteemed player in the government. Nyawlra was a reviled enemy of the State. How could she collude with an enemy of her husband?

She felt pulled in two different directions. She recalled her last meeting with Nyawlra and how her heart had so welled up with gratitude that she told Nyawlra that if she was ever in need she should call on her. A promise was a contract of sorts, and she should not break it. But then, she would argue, nobody was obliged to keep a promise destructive to herself and those around her.

She went so far as to consider finding Nyawlra’s whereabouts and turning her in, to her husband’s advantage. But opportunity knocked. Her husband had asked her to look for a sorcerer to heal the Wizard of the Crow. Who could do that better than the other Wizard of the Crow? She would help Nyawlra, and Nyawlra would help her. Then she would betray her, or rather let Tajirika do it, and that way Tajirika would rise in the government and might even succeed the Buler. Her husband would be bound to her in eternal gratitude.

The following morning Tajirika rushed to the State House to confer with the Buler. And on the next Sunday Vinjinia rushed to All Saints to see Maritha and Mariko.

Wizard of the Crow
Thio_9780307493316_epub_cvi_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_tp_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_toc_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_b01_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_col1_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_col2_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_col3_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_ded_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_col4_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c01_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c02_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c03_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c04_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c05_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c06_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c07_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c08_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c09_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c10_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c11_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c12_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c13_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c14_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c15_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_b02_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_p01_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c16_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c17_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c18_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c19_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c20_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c21_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c22_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c23_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c24_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c25_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c26_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c27_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c28_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c29_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c30_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c31_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c32_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c33_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_p02_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c34_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c35_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c36_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c37_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c38_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c39_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c40_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c41_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c42_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c43_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c44_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c45_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c46_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c47_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c48_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c49_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c50_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c51_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c52_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c53_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c54_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c55_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_p03_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c56_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c57_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c58_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c59_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c60_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c61_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c62_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c63_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c64_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c65_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c66_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c67_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c68_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c69_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c70_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c71_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_b03_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_p04_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c72_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c73_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c74_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c75_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c76_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c77_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c78_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c79_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c80_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c81_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c82_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c83_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c84_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c85_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c86_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c87_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c88_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c89_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c90_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_p05_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c91_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c92_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c93_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c94_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c95_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c96_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c97_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c98_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c99_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c100_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c101_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c102_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c103_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c104_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c105_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c106_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c107_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c108_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c109_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c110_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c111_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c112_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c113_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c114_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_p06_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c115_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c116_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c117_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c118_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c119_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c120_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c121_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c122_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c123_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c124_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c125_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c126_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c127_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c128_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c129_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c130_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c131_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_b04_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_p07_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c132_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c133_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c134_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c135_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c136_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c137_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c138_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c139_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c140_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c141_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c142_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c143_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c144_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c145_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c146_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c147_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c148_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c149_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c150_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c151_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c152_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c153_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c154_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c155_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c156_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c157_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_p08_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c158_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c159_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c160_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c161_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c162_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c163_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c164_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c165_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c166_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c167_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c168_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c169_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c170_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c171_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c172_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c173_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c174_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c175_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c176_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c177_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c178_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c179_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_p09_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c180_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c181_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c182_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c183_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c184_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c185_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c186_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c187_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c188_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c189_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c190_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c191_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c192_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c193_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c194_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c195_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c196_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c197_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c198_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c199_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c200_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c201_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c202_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c203_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c204_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c205_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_b05_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_p10_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c206_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c207_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c208_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c209_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c210_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c211_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c212_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c213_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c214_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c215_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c216_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c217_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c218_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c219_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c220_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c221_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c222_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c223_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c224_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c225_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c226_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c227_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c228_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c229_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c230_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c231_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c232_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c233_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c234_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c235_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_p11_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c236_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c237_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c238_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c239_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c240_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c241_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c242_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c243_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c244_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c245_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c246_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c247_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c248_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_p12_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c249_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c250_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c251_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_b06_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c252_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c253_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c254_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c255_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c256_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c257_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c258_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c259_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c260_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c261_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c262_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c263_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c264_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_c265_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_ack_r1.htm
Thio_9780307493316_epub_cop_r1.htm