“Walk with me,” said Amira, taking Kendi by the hand.
The Capital Park was gorgeous at midmorning. It was right in the middle of the city, but barely a soul was there at that hour. Not a single idler was in the vicinity on pain of hefty fines or arrest. Everyone was either cooped up in their little cubicles in the high-rise office blocks, or holding business meetings in overpriced cafés, or running errands all around the city and its outskirts. They were busy building the nation, as it were. They could hardly spare a moment to enjoy the evergreens of the park, the manicured lawns, the crystal ponds, the soothing fountains…
Hell was not in the afterlife. It was the Chancellor’s office, watched at all times, no way out. Amira adored the Park, and escaped to it whenever she could, which wasn’t as often as she hoped. Half an hour in the Park was therapy.
Kendi walked quietly beside her boss, mind racing, weary of the drastic change of venue.
They sat on a cast iron bench. Amira revelled in the atmosphere; Kendi was stiff as a pole. She missed her Mini—it would have saved her from the awkwardness—but the Chancellor had insisted on leaving everything in the car, which was parked several streets away.
“Kate,” said Amira.
She never calls me Kate… Kendi swallowed down the panic.
“You are a vicious little bitch, which is why your job is perfect for you.”
Okay… thanks? thought Kendi, simultaneously offended and flattered.
“On the other hand,” continued Amira, “I abhor my job. You already know that, I’m sure. My little affairs have been keeping you on your toes. I don’t feel the need for discretion when you’re around. Well done, by the way.”
“Thank you.” I am losing my job, aren’t I?
Amira wasted no more time. “Now,” she said, “I believe that we can both make the best of the situation. I get my freedom, you get a promotion, everybody’s happy.”
Kendi saw the catch from a mile away and waited.
“Get me the Manifesto, and you get my job.”
Kendi was gobsmacked.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“You can stop the innocent act now, please. I know you and Omondi are thick as thieves. You probably knew about the print before I did.”
She’s kidding. No way.
Kendi observed the Chancellor.
“You’re serious.”
“I do appreciate humour, Kate, but when did I ever crack a joke?”
Kendi thought about it, and it was true. Amira could laugh at anything, she could go with a good pun, even appreciated pranks, but Kendi could not recall a single joke that her boss had ever made. She relaxed a little, but only just. Let’s see where this goes.
“Dad says Omondi is on top of it, and I’m sure the fucker is watching my every move, so my options are quite limited.”
The kibarua at the office… the no-tech demand for their meeting… The cogs were turning.
“Omondi will get the print and give it to Dad, who will destroy it. How soon, I’m not sure. It’s taken long enough already. They must be up to something. Anyhow, I need you to get the print for me.”
“But, Madam...”
“Maybe Dad will take the print to his study at home first, but I couldn’t go snooping in there. You know that room better than me—oh,...