Chapter26

#Chapter26

They move down a narrow passage towards the room at the back of the house, a blanket hangs from the empty door frame, cutting the room off from the rest of the world, the pastor pushes it to one side, and they enter the room. The figure lying on the bed shocks Veronica, the eyes are sunken into his skull, the once muscular frame has now been reduced to skin and bone, the man she once knew has been ravaged by age and the sickness and she knows that he hasn’t got long to go.

/"Dada, the woman is here./"

The old man’s head turns in the direction of the voice; a skeletal arm moves out from underneath the blanket and reaches out in her direction. Veronica realizes with shock that not only is he dying, but he’s blind as well, and gently takes his hand in hers.

/"Mossie, it’s I, Veronica, I need your help, my old friend, as one who walked in Malawi now walks here./" The voice that comes from the old man is still strong and clear.