Anthills of the Savannah

Начало книги

'You're wasting everybody's time, Mr. Commissioner for Information. I will not go to Abazon. Finish! Kabisa! Any other business?'

'As Your Excellency wishes. But…'

'But me no buts, Mr. Oriko! The matter is closed, I said. How many times, for God's sake, am I expected to repeat it? Why do you find it so difficult to swallow my ruling. On anything?'

'I am sorry, Your Excellency. But I have no difficulty swallowing and digesting your rulings.'

For a full minute or so the fury of his eyes lay on me. Briefly our eyes had been locked in combat. Then I had lowered mine to the shiny table-top in ceremonial capitulation. Long silence. But he was not appeased. Rather he was making the silence itself grow rapidly into its own kind of contest, like the eyewink duel of children. I conceded victory there as well. Without raising my eyes I said again: 'I am very sorry, Your Excellency.' A year ago I would never have said it again that second time — without doing grave violence to myself. Now I did it like a casual favour to him. It meant nothing at all to me — no inconvenience whatever — and yet everything to him.

Читать дальше →