Chapter 1 Summary

Set in 1973, in the rural area of Wedza, Rhodesia, the Chapter tells the story from two perspectives, Rutendo’s and Barry’s. Rutendo is a young, Shona girl, daughter to the Chief’s eldest son, Muchabaiwa. She is in a teacher training college in the town of Marandellas.

The chapter begins with her journey from college, where she is thinking of how she had never said yes to a man. She is cognisant of the fact that her childhood and her father’s homestead are receding from her. As she is deep in thought, she overhears people on the bus speaking of unrest in Zhanda village. Murders of people in possession of a dip card are happening. The Zhanda youths are destroying their homes. Because the youth are targeting the chiefs, the white government has dispatched soldiers to guard the chief’s homes.

When she disembarks, she learns that the Rhodesian soldiers are guarding her grandfather’s home. Her father who is waiting for her on the path into the village warns her about these soldiers. He tells her not to befriend them or speak English as it may put her in danger.

Once home, she goes about her daily chores and duties. She ignores the white soldiers who have set up base at the entrance to her home. Unbeknownst to her, the youngest white soldier has taken a liking to her. He finds her mesmerising. Every day, he uses his binoculars to follow her movements around the village.

Barry, who is a former bank teller, is doing his National Service in the army. His job is monotonous and too routine and he begins to resent that. Everyday he watches the village as it goes about its chores. When Rutendo arrives from school, he is taken in by her. Barry notices that she is different from everyone else in the village. In his conversations to elicit more about her from a fellow soldier John, and from Rutendo’s father Muchabaiwa, he asks about the girl. He also learns that the man has served the British in World War Two and yet has received nothing for his service.

Barry, fascinated by Rutendo, tracks her movements. One day he follows her to the garden which she and her siblings water every morning. Intrigued by the girl, he attempts to speak to her. Rutendo, however, heeds her father’s advice and does not speak English to the soldier. When Rutendo follows him to their tent to collect payment for the vegetables he has bought from her, he tells his colleague John that he likes the girl. He thinks that Rutendo does not understand the English language, which she does. Meanwhile, Barry has also followed the girls to the garden a few times too many, and Muchabaiwa notices the young soldier’s interest in his daughter. He bars her from the garden, leaving Rutendo’s sisters in sole charge of the garden.

One day, Barry goes in search of the girl and finds her in her bedroom. Before she gives him permission to enter the room, he enters. He finds her reading Animal Farm and realises she can hear and speak English. This confirms his suspicions that she is a “civilised” girl. He also learns that she is training to be a teacher before a frightened Rutendo shoos him out of their bedroom.

On learning of Barry’s visit to her daughters’ bedroom, Rutendo’s mother is alarmed. She cries and warns her daughter again of the danger of associating with the white men. Mother tells Rutendo of the wrath that the family will receive if she continues mingling with the white man, and how the village will react if she falls pregnant by him.

She tells her daughters of her own mother, Ngonya’s, dalliance with a white farm owner where she worked. Ngonya’s dalliance with Jan, the white farm owner ended up in pregnancy and in the birth of Uncle Jandris. Ngonya’s parents, upon realising that their daughter was pregnant with a white man, sent her away to Manicaland. But Jan had not taken Ngonya’s absence lightly, instead coming to the parents’ homestead with a gun, demanding to see Ngonya.

Chapter 2 Summary

Jan continues to terrorise Ngonya’s family, even after they have sent Ngonya to Manicaland. He continually begs for her return. One day Jan, together with a group of men, attacks her family. He heads off with herds of cattle from Ngonya’s parents’ kraal, and other villagers’ kraals. This affects the whole village, especially Ngonya’s parents. They had been expecting cattle at her betrothal but who have now lost everything. Both her parents cry out, lamenting at the ancestors’ failure to protect them. The village devises plans on how to attack Jan, but because they only have axes and similar weapons against Jan’s gun, they do not attack immediately.

After a month, they ambush Jan’s farm in the middle of the night and get away with twenty head of cattle. They flee their village in the midst of a four-day rain, confiscating the stolen livestock along the way, and settle in a new village. Ngonya returns with Jan’s son who is now a toddler. People are afraid of him and want to kill him because of the blemish he is going to bring to society.

Ngonya marries Mudzingi who is wealthy and whose lobola, bride price, is enough to appease Ngonya’s parents. Where before they had seen her mistakes, now they saw her beauty. At Mudzingi’s house, Ngonya gives birth to Rutendo’s mother and passes away when Rutendo’s mother is only three. Raised by her stepmother, Rutendo’s mother grows up in such a harsh environment, it spills into her adulthood. Her children and husband then bear the wrath of her rudeness, harshness, and tantrums which are a result of her upbringing.

Mother finishes relating Ngonya’s story and tells the girls to prepare for the planting season. The next day, while in the fields, Rutendo thinks she is falling in love with Barry. She however restrains her heart. Knowing Ngonya’s history, she fears how her family will receive her feelings for the white soldier. Rutendo also knows how impossible it is for a black girl from a poor family to fall in love with a white man. She makes a vow to herself that she will not hold hands with Barry again.

One day, she overhears a conversation between the Chief and her father when she is delivering some herbal medicine to her grandfather. The Chief reiterates the need to protect the women from the white men and Rutendo wonders what the Chief knows. She is resentful of how her grandfather does not care about the womenfolk in his village, and how he has never learnt to say her name. She wonders how different her grandfather is from the white men because of he dismisses women in the same manner white people dismiss blacks. But her grandfather’s words strike a chord within her. Being with Barry and falling in love with him would be a mistake.

Chapter 3 Summary

Rutendo is still at home even though she has only a few weeks left before her holiday ends. At home, however, she has the burden of performing various tasks such as milking cows, fetching firewood, and cooking. As the eldest at home, these chores fall on her as her brother is working in the city. As she carries out her chores, Barry is a constant presence. He helps her to harness the cows before she milks them, and watches as she harnesses oxen to go to fetch firewood.

Barry castigates her for working too hard when he visits her after her chores. He implores her to rest for a while. As they sit together, the two feel drawn to each other, and they kiss. Barry confesses his love to her and even promises to marry her. However, the guilt of her actions continues to torment Rutendo. As they separate, Rutendo’s mother passes by the doorway, and Barry leaves. Rutendo’s feelings continue to confuse her even as she wonders if her mother has seen her. When she goes to prepare dinner for her family, the feelings of guilt persist. When she realises her mother did not notice anything, she feels relieved.

In the middle of the night, she wakes up to the barking. She goes to check the source of commotion outside, she sees Barry patrolling the yard. Her mind swirls with thoughts of how possible it is to fall in love with someone from another race and culture. She wonders where her loyalties lie, and whether she should be part of the youth league or if she should fall in love instead.

With no clear resolve, Rutendo avoids Barry in the following days, choosing instead to concentrate on her chores. However, he finds her in her grandmother’s hut. When he enters, he tries to speak to Ndavayava but fails because of the language barrier. Rutendo worries if her grandmother can sense the tension between her and Barry and hopes she does not. She prepares nuts for him and Ndavayava before she and Barry go to sit outside the hut.

Barry decides to tell her the story of a married white man who falls in love with a black girl. Rutendo asks why the married man wants a black girl. Barry responds that love knows no bounds and color. This further confuses Rutendo but she does not ask any further. As they part, Barry offers her a two-pound note which she refuses, but he shoves at her anyway.

When Rutendo goes to church the next morning, guilt is still consuming her. She finds it difficult to accept communion.

Chapter 4 Summary

Rutendo is coming from church with her friends when Media, a friend, questions her about the white men who are guarding her family and her homestead. Media asks whether the rumours about her and the white soldier being together are true. Rutendo denies that something is going on between her and Barry. She is, however, inwardly conflicted about her feelings towards the white man. She admits to herself that the relationship is doomed. Meanwhile, the other girls discuss how to avoid their boyfriends so that they are not victims of rape. Rutendo only thinks of how unfair life is for women as they cannot propose to men.

When they reach the township, they go into Mr. Chimombe’s shop where they meet a group of young men who are a part of the youth movement. As soon as they enter, Rutendo feels the hostility of the group towards her. She immediately understands that it is mainly because of the presence of white people at her home. When the youths verbally register their disgruntlement with Rutendo’s presence, Mr. Chimombe manages to calm them down. He lies to them that Rutendo had once been arrested while at school. This lie makes her a heroine in the movement. This allows the youth group to see her differently even though they are still sceptical about her presence and refuse to share their spoils with her.

While Rutendo ponders on what her role in the struggle is, and how education can change her life, the youth discuss the next steps that they will take in fighting for liberation.

An alert comes from the youths who have been sent outside to guard the shop that there is a stranger amongst them. They crank up the volume of the radio. People begin to dance, pretending that they have been dancing all along. When Mr. John enters the shop, he does so with an air of superiority, making the air tense. As soon as he leaves, people begin preparations for the next meeting. When the meeting ends, people then watch the bioscope and leave. As Rutendo walks home with her friends, all she can think about is Barry and what she feels for him.

Chapter 5 Summary

After the meeting at the township, Rutendo is still uneasy and this is made worse when her period begins and she is in pain. When she refuses to cook because of the pain, her mother scolds her. She tells Rutendo that women should not feel pain, as there are other greater pains that a woman should bear. Instead, she ignores her mother and goes on to make herself a cup of traditional zumbane tea.

As she sips her tea, she meets Barry, and again the chemistry flares between them. She makes him a similar cup, and because she is unwell, she struggles to communicate with him, snapping at him in anger. However, she is still very aware of the strong feelings between the two of them. When Barry confesses to her that she is all he thinks about, she tells him that a relationship between the two of them is impossible because he is white, married, and a soldier for the enemy camp. When they finally part ways, Barry asks her if she is part of the youth “terrorist” group as John the other white soldier had seen her in the township. She vehemently denies any involvement with the group even though it is a lie.

When she wakes up the following day she is feeling better. She goes to participate in the field chores, going to the garden to plough with her cousin Wonder. When she is done and bathed, she meets Barry on her way home. They hold hands and kiss again before going their separate ways. They meet again just as she finishes her lunch and is sipping tea under her bedroom window while listening to the radio. When Jim Reeves’s song, “Waltzing on Top of the World” plays, she and Barry stand and begin to waltz. As the song ends and she opens her eyes, she realises the whole village has been watching. She immediately feels ashamed as the tension around her increases.

She and Wonder however leave and go back to plough the fields. Her mind is however in a state where she wonders what people will say. She knows her parents are displeased. Her father has already wished she were a man. However, Wonder seems keen to understand the relationship between her and Barry and keeps asking her. When she denies the existence of a personal relationship, Wonder is a bit disappointed. He notes how much a relationship between Barry and the white man would elevate the family name.

Chapter 6 Summary

Rutendo knows she is in trouble with her grandmother and avoids Ndavayava’s hut. She also avoids Barry as she is afraid of what the constant encounters between them will do to her heart and reputation. Instead, she does her chores as always and wanders into the forest occasionally to look for some fruit to eat. She is sitting in a tree one afternoon when Barry finds her. Looking at him, she realises how much she loves the man. She also realises how difficult it is to pursue something with him because of the racial divide.

When Barry asks her to accompany him on a short trip, which he will sponsor, to Marandellas, she refuses. She knows it will be impossible for her to be with him alone, both culturally and individually. She knows that when he goes, she will miss him.

They meet up again in her bedroom at night and Barry promises to bring her gifts from town. Barry also tells her of the mission he is on to arrest the “brats”, that is the youths, who are meeting up at the shops. Rutendo is alarmed, but she is consoled by the fact that there is no scheduled youth meeting for the night. When Barry leaves for the shops, he tells Rutendo that her father is spying on them, and when Rutendo notices her father’s presence in the darkness she appreciates it.

After Barry has left, she waits in the darkness for his return and notices happily that he made no arrests. In the morning, her father brings the young headmaster from the local school into the homestead. Muchabaiwa introduces the headmaster to Rutendo. He offers her the teacher-in-training place to practice her studies and lessons at the school. Rutendo graciously refuses but also becomes aware of Barry’s presence. Rutendo’s attention becomes divided as she knows she has to be polite to the visitor while her mind longs to concentrate on Barry. When she goes back to her chores of harnessing the oxen, she injures her finger, and both Barry and the headmaster step forward to help her.

Chapter 7 Summary

Ndavayava summons Rutendo to her hut, and Rutendo goes with trepidation. She already understands the gravity of the matter at hand. Ndavayava does not waste time registering her displeasure with Rutendo and almost physically abuses her with a burning log. She also verbally abuses her grandchild, calling her a dog for getting so close to a white man. When Rutendo mentions that Barry is a friend to her, Ndavayava takes offense, quickly telling her granddaughter that there is no friendship between a man and a woman. Ndavayava tells her that there is something deeper going on between Rutendo and the white man. The grandmother then tells Rutendo that they will go for virginity testing to ensure that Rutendo has not had a sexual relationship with the white soldier.

Ndavayava then goes on to castigate everything that Barry is and everything that represents white people. She warns Rutendo from sharing traditional knowledge with the white man as the white man keeps his knowledge to himself. Ndavayava castigates white men’s taxation, healthcare, environmental, and educational systems and notes how these systems will disadvantage black people. Rutendo tries to interject and fight for the advantages that colonialism has had on African people, but Ndavayava maintains that black people’s ways are actually superior to those handed down to them by white people.

When Ndavayava has emptied her anger, the conversation becomes more amicable. The two women discuss the good old ways and the changes that are being experienced. Ndavayava tells Rutendo that relationships between men and women were amicable in the past compared to now where there is so much friction that has been brought about by the oppressor. When Rutendo turns to leave, Ndavayava stops her and tells her she will not accept a relationship between her and Barry under any circumstances.

Chapter 8 Summary

Rutendo goes to deliver some of Muchabaiwa’s bananas to Mr. Chimombe. These bananas a for resale in Marandellas. Rutendo goes to the shops with Wonder and there she learns of the new liberation party called ZANU. She learns how people will be sent to train in other countries so that they can come back to fight for their country. In exchange for this information, Rutendo tells Mr Chimombe of the white people’s ploy to ambush the youths during their Friday meeting and then have them arrested for terrorist activities. The meeting is therefore restructured to reduce people’s chances of being caught.

Before they leave the shop, Mr Chimombe instructs Wonder to spread the news regarding the change in the meeting’s structure. He gives Rutendo and Wonder a brochure detailing what the structure of ZANU will look like. However, on their way home, they spy a white man likely looking for information on terrorist activities. Rutendo also loses the brochure. She later learns from Wonder that the paper was picked by the white spy who had begun asking Wonder who the people on the paper were.

On Friday afternoon, the meeting takes place under the guise of an afternoon party and a busy shop, and Mr Chimombe relays to the youth the changes in the party structure. He tells the youths that some may have to go and train. When the boys ask if the girls will go too, Mr Chimombe says yes as everyone has a role to play in the country’s liberation. Rutendo also expresses her desire to join the war effort. Even though Mr Chimombe opines that she should remain in school, he acknowledges her strength of spirit. At that night’s bioscope, there is a heavy white soldier presence, but the bioscope goes well even though Barry keeps sending Wonder to look for and bring Rutendo back, while Rutendo refuses.

When the next day she slips off to go and see Mr Chimombe, she does not find him. On her way back, she overhears a conversation between John and Barry, with John telling Barry that his girl is part of the terrorist group. John goes to report Rutendo’s shenanigans to Rutendo’s father, alleging that Rutendo will not be in the homestead, but she responds when her father calls, proving John wrong.

That night, Barry comes to visit her telling her that he divorced his wife and that he wants to be with Rutendo now. However, while Rutendo seems moved by this, she recognises it is the heartbreak talking in Barry. However, they still dance and kiss, and Barry tells her how lucky he is he will marry a Chief’s granddaughter. Rutendo is not happy with the statement and comments that Chiefs are no longer important because white people stripped away their role in the community. She mentions that she is going to fight for her country’s freedom. However, when Barry tells her that black people are incapacitated to work for themselves, she castigates him. She tells him that blacks still survived before the white men came.

Chapter 9 Summary

Rutendo realises how hard she has fallen for Barry and pronounces the love she has for him to him. The presents he brings her from Salisbury overwhelm her. But she knows that the presents will not buy her an open love. In her last days, before she returns to college, she tries as much as she can to avoid him, but she revels in their few moments together. All she can think of is Barry and this distracts her from her chores. Meanwhile, Barry is always present and helps Rutendo’s father around the house as a way of getting closer to Rutendo.

Barry’s love manifests in jealousy, insecurities, and possessiveness. When Mr Zvenyika, the headmaster, visits Rutendo’s home, Barry tries as much as possible to drive a wedge between the two of them. He tells the headmaster that Rutendo will not come to collect books as she is busy. He disrupts their conversations telling them to speak in English rather than Shona as Shona is the terrorists’ language. His behaviour towards the headmaster appals Rutendo who flees and hides from him.

In the moments that Barry and Rutendo meet and are alone, they play games, dance, and chat amongst themselves. When Rutendo reprimands Barry for his actions, and he threatens her with being reported for terrorist activities, she retaliates and fearlessly tells him that she is prepared to go and fight for the country after she finishes school.

When they resolve this conflict, Barry tells her about the visit to Salisbury and the conversation he had with his sister about falling for a black girl. He tells her that even though it was difficult for his sister to accept the relationship with the black girl, she finally relented. He tells Rutendo that he defended her by saying people are all people regardless of their race.

In the meantime, Rutendo continues her visits to the township where she relays any worthwhile news to Mr Chimombe, and listens to what he says about the war. She continues to ask Mr Chimombe to include him in the group of people leaving the country to fight in the guerrilla war. But even as she asks, she is still thinking about Barry and how participation in the war would ruin what she has with him.

In her final days, before she leaves for school, she spends the majority of her time with Barry in the mountains taking pictures of each other. When Barry offers to drive her halfway to school, she refuses. He then gives her a lot of money to spend at school. She knows she will miss Barry.

Chapter 10 Summary

Rutendo arrives at school with several new things she could not afford. This raises questions among her friends but she chooses to ignore them. She reminisces about her first days at school when she had few friends. Because she didn’t associate with others, people thought she had demons. In those early days, she had constantly been in fights and had gotten into fights with two boys. One had been drunk and sexually harassed her and another decided to challenge her. She won both fights, sending one of the boys to hospital, and became famous for challenging males.

When one of the school leaders, Sister Consolata, calls her to reprimand her, Rutendo explains to her why she had fought the boys. With Sister Consolata’s convincing, the boy in the hospital apologises to Rutendo. This becomes the beginning of a friendship between Rutendo and Patrick.

Now back at school, Rutendo manages to keep her relationship with Barry a secret. However, her grades are dropping and everyone senses that she is in love. She finally shares her secret with her best friend Regina. She fears Regina will tell authority. However, Regina keeps the secret.

One day, Sister Consolata calls Rutendo to the office. Scared, Rutendo thinks that Regina has leaked the relationship to the headmistress. Instead, Sister Consolata asks Rutendo if she is considering becoming a nun. This is because Sister Consolata has noticed that Rutendo distances herself from the boys at the college, and therefore she might not be interested in a relationship with a man. Relieved that her relationship with Barry is still under wraps, Rutendo tells her that it is not something she has thought of. Inwardly though, she laughs as she knows that a nun’s calling is not what she wants.

Chapter 11 Summary

Rutendo is already in full swing at school, and in her spare time, she hangs out with Patrick a lot. However, despite Patrick’s several advances, Rutendo still does not feel anything for him. All she thinks of is the love she has for Barry. To dissuade Patrick from pursuing her, she tells him of Sister Consolata’s conversation where Rutendo was encouraged to join the nunnery.

She is overjoyed when she receives correspondence from home and a letter from Barry. Rutendo wonders what she and Barry can do to make their relationship work since it is a legally forbidden relationship in Rhodesia. She realises the unfairness of war and how innocent people get roped up in it and are unable to pursue their lives in the best way they know how. She also responds to the headmaster’s letter, telling him how impossible it would be for both of them to pursue a relationship.

The letter she receives from Mr Chimombe leaves her conflicted. He has already written her name down for her to be enlisted into the army. She doesn’t know whether to pursue her career or go and be a part of the war effort. She also wonders how her participation in the war will affect her relationship with Barry.

Patrick finds her as she finishes responding to her letters. He tells her he has something important to say to her. Knowing that he intends to tell her that he has fallen in love with her, she tries to change the subject. When Patrick asks her to accompany him to the bush in search of mazhanje, she is sceptical, remembering how in the first days they had fought and how this walk could be an ambush. However, she inwardly resolves to invite her friend Regina to accompany her so that they go together with Patrick to the bush.

Chapter 12 Summary

Rutendo continues to wonder why Patrick wants to see her in the bushes. This restlessness continues to plague her dreams and follows her into the day of the appointment. On Saturday morning, she does her chores as usual but takes extra care with her hair. Her friends wonder if she is going to Salisbury, the capital city. However, she continues to resent people’s interest in her life. She and her two friends who are accompanying her on the journey into the bush with Patrick dress nicely. She skimps through breakfast, unsettled. When she is done, she then goes back to her bed where she looks over her and Barry’s pictures while waiting for the appointed time.

As she is getting ready, she receives a message that Sister Consolata wants to see her. When she goes to the office, however, she realises there is a visitor for her and the visitor is Barry. Even though she is taken aback by his presence, she is also happy to see her lover. Sister Consolata introduces her to Barry, extolling Rutendo’s exemplary behaviour to Barry. Barry joins in, also praising her studiousness from what he experienced of her in the village. They both make Rutendo feel uncomfortable.

Barry proceeds to concoct a lie at Rutendo’s school. He says a youth liberation movement has been so active that they are questioning all youths about their involvement in the movement. Rutendo has to go to Salisbury for questioning. Barry is here to take her with him. Sister Consolata believes him and tells Rutendo to wear her uniform so that the police will know she is a student. Rutendo knows she will not like to be in uniform while with her lover, and therefore lies that her clothes are wet. As the Sister walks away Barry hands her a gift and she rushes off to her dorm to shower. There, she asks her friends to excuse her from the appointment with Patrick.

Once in the car, Barry confesses his lie. The two lovers laugh it off and kiss while driving to Salisbury for a rendezvous. Rutendo is however uncomfortable and tells him she might be seen with a white man and get into trouble. He is offended and tells her that there are so many coloured children which means that relationships between black and white people are not uncommon.

When they get to Salisbury, Rutendo refuses to disembark from the car. She is scared that she might meet any relative or her brother who lives in Salisbury thus making things awkward for her. Barry then decides to go and shop himself. Left alone in the car, Rutendo looks at lovers walking hand in hand and envies them. She tries to read the paper but fails because the news is too white for her.

When Barry comes back, he drives them to a secluded spot where they set out for a picnic. However, at the picnic, they have disagreements as to who should be fighting for Rhodesia. They both claim they are Rhodesian by birth and therefore liable to fight for the country. The conversation hurts Rutendo who realises the unjustness of the laws and how they have to be fought to ensure more than just order. She also has an epiphany about the role she has to play in liberating the country. However, she does not voice her feelings and opinions.

A big black snake appears from nowhere and is moving towards Barry. However, Barry shoots it before it does any harm. He realises that the sound of gunfire might rouse neighbouring farmers, and they pack their picnic bags and leave. As they drive off, Rutendo is glad that Barry did not make any sexual advances toward her.

Chapter 13 Summary

Barry goes to leave Rutendo at school and the two lovers are still bound in their love. He explains to Sister Consolata that everything went well in Salisbury. After he has left, Sr. Consolata wonders aloud if indeed Rutendo was not involved in the terrorist party considering how ruthless Rutendo can be. At the dormitory, Rutendo shows her friends what she has brought from Salisbury and though they are excited, Rutendo tries to ensure that the excitement does not arouse the curiosity of the other girls.

The next morning she goes to apologise to Patrick for not showing up at their date and she then tells him about Barry and how they met and fell in love. Patrick is concerned about the relationship as Barry is white, but he does not take it any further. The rest of the term goes quickly and they write exams. Before they leave school, Rutendo tells Patrick that he is considering becoming a priest, and this is surprising to Rutendo.

Back at home, Rutendo’s family celebrates her degree, pleased that she did not fall pregnant and disgrace them. Correspondence between her and Barry is still flowing and Barry has been sending Rutendo so much money, more money than her salary even. He has even sent some money to Rutendo’s father and Muchabaiwa accepts the money with scepticism.

When Rutendo visits Mr Chimombe to enquire about joining the army, he tries to dissuade her from leaving the country, but she is adamant. He then outlines their itinerary, telling her she will have to leave separately from others including Wonder and Media who have already enlisted so that they do not arouse suspicion. Before she leaves, she uses the money that she has to pay fees for her sisters. She also gives her parents money. Rutendo then goes to the old haunts that she and Barry used to visit, reminiscing about the lovely times that they had, and bids farewell to her family and friends.

She departs for Salisbury and gets to meet the other comrades who have enlisted. While she is the most educated girl on the team, there are also other people with degrees and diplomas amongst them. She chooses a war name, Shungu, which means determination.

In the evening before they depart, she escapes from the bustle of the house where they are stationed and finds a spot underneath a tower light. Here she looks at her pictures with Barry. Her heart torn, she remembers the love she has for him. She also remembers the love she has for her nation, and in the end, she chooses her country.

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