The Constant Gardener

A. I really don't want to go on with this.

Q. What was the drug called?

A. Why didn't they test it more? It's not the Kenyans' fault. You can't ask, if you're a Third World country. You have to take what you're given.

Q. Was it Dypraxa?

A. (unintelligible)

Q. Ghita, calm down please and just tell us. What's the drug called, what's it for and who makes it?

A. Africa's got eighty-five percent of the world's AIDS cases, did you know that? How many of those have access to medication? One percent! It's not a human problem anymore! It's an economic one! The men can't work. The women can't work! It's a heterosexual disease, which is why there are so many orphans! They can't feed their families! Nothing gets done! They just die!

Q. So is this an AIDS drug we're talking about?

A. Not while Arnold is alive!… It's associated. Where there's tuberculosis, you suspect AIDS… Not always but usually… That's what Arnold said.

Q. Was Wanza suffering from this drug?

A. (unintelligible)

Q. Did Wanza die of this drug?

A. Not while Arnold is alive! Yes. Dypraxa. Now get out.

Q. Why were they heading for Leakey's place?

A. I don't know! Get out!

Q. What was behind their trip to Lokichoggio? Apart from women's awareness groups?

A. Nothing! Stop it!

Q. Who's Lorbeer?

A. (unintelligible)

RECOMMENDATION

That a formal request is made of the High Commission that the witness be offered protection in exchange for a full statement. She should be given assurances that any information she provides regarding the activities of Bluhm and the deceased will not be used in a way that might place Bluhm in jeopardy, assuming he is alive.

RECOMMENDATION REJECTED ON SECURITY GROUNDS. F. Gridley (superintendent)

Chin in hand Justin gazed at the wall. Memories of Ghita, the second most beautiful woman in Nairobi. Tessa's self-appointed disciple who dreams only of bringing standards of common decency to a wicked world. Ghita is me without the bad bits, Tessa likes to say.

Ghita the last of the innocents, head to head over green tea with very pregnant Tessa, solving the world's problems in the garden in Nairobi while Justin the absurdly happy skeptic and father-to-be in a straw hat, clips, weeds and prunes his way through the flower beds, tying and watering and playing the middle-aged English bloody fool.

"Watch your feet, please, Justin," they would call to him anxiously. They were warning him against the safari ants that marched out of the ground in columns after rain, and could kill a dog or a small child by sheer force of their generalship and numbers. In late pregnancy, Tessa feared that safari ants might mistake his watering for an unseasonable shower.

Ghita permanently shocked by everything and everyone, from Roman Catholics who oppose Third World birth control and demonstratively burn condoms in Nyayo Stadium, to American tobacco companies who spike their cigarettes in order to create child addicts, to Somali warlords who drop cluster bombs on undefended villages and the arms companies that manufacture the cluster bombs.

"Who are these people, Tessa?" she would whisper earnestly. "What is their mentality, tell me, please? Is this original sin we are talking about? If you ask me, it is something much worse than that. To original sin belongs in my opinion some notion of innocence. But where is innocence today, Tessa?"

And if Arnold dropped by, which at weekends he frequently did, the conversation would take a more specific turn. Their three heads would draw together, their expressions tighten, and if Justin out of mischief watered too close for their comfort, they would make ostentatious small talk till he had removed himself to a more remote flower bed.

* * *

Police officers' report of meeting with representatives of House of ThreeBees, Nairobi:

We had sought an interview with Sir Kenneth Curtiss and had been given to understand he would receive us. On arrival at House of ThreeBees' headquarters, we were told that Sir Kenneth had been summoned to an audience with President Moi after which he was obliged to fly to Basel for policy discussions with Karel Vita Hudson (KVH). It was then suggested to us that we should address any questions we had to House of ThreeBees pharmaceutical marketing manager, a Ms. Y. Rampuri. In the event, Ms. Rampuri was attending to family matters and was not available. We were then advised to seek an interview with Sir Kenneth or Ms. Rampuri at a later date. When we explained the limitations of our time frame, we were eventually offered an interview with "senior staff members" and after an hour's delay were eventually received by a Ms. V. Eber and a Mr. D. J. Crick, both of Customer Relations. Also present, a Mr. P. R. Oakey who described himself as a "lawyer for the London end who happened to be visiting Nairobi on other business."

Ms. Vivian Eber is a tall attractive African woman in her late twenties and has a business affairs degree from an American university.