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Exploring the moorlands around Mount Guna.

One Year Africa: The Stolen Book

Maarten de Boeck
2006-05-01 17:02:47

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meaning 'thief'. I showed them some notes, thirty birr altogether. The lure was money, the keystone of my opportunistic plan. Soon I met a boy speaking some English, he must have been about 14 years of age. I made clear what I wanted and what would be the reward. I persuaded him to ask to anyone about my book. On our way down a rumour arose about my book being in the village. Maybe..., according to one of the shepherds. I sent the boy to the village, which was on a mountain slope, part of the greater village I had gone through on my way up. I urged him to say to the one who had taken it there would be money in return for the book. While he ran off I began to hope.

I waited, together with his comrades, killing the time chatting with these fellows. Half an hour passed by, impatiently I kept on waiting. Another 10 minutes, another five. Then he returned. Under his arm he had something, a book. 'Do you have it?' I asked. 'No', he nodded. I couldn't see which book it was, because they had covered it, but as he opened it I saw it was mine. He didn't seem keen to hand it over to me, but that changed when I took the money I promised him. Thirty birr, about four USD. Later I wondered whether that was a fair amount. Should I have given more? The boy had really helped me a lot, but on the other hand they shouldn't have stolen it in the first place. Now I had to give money for a book that was actually mine. And of course, these boys who had been waiting with me also demanded their share. I refused. They had done nothing more than sitting with me. I explained I could only reward the one who had done the work.

Quickly I put the book in my backpack and off I went. I felt relieved and happy to have back my book. Getting it back felt a bit like a victory. In a way I had overcome what had happened to me, but at the same time there remained a sour feeling because I had hoped to have a joyful encounter with the people, but due to what happened I had only haggled with them.

That night I had run out of food, people offered me potatoes and honey. The next morning I carried on to Kimbir Dingaye. It was the end of my journey to Mount Guna.

* 'faranj' means foreigner