Thisbookdidnotperhapsprovidethecrisis, , SirHenryCurtis, CaptainGood, and, aboveall, theancientwitchGagool, wouldIat19havestudiedtheappointmentslistoftheColonialOffice, andverynearlypickedontheNigerianNavyforacareer? Andlater, whensurelyIoughttohaveknownbetter, theoddAfricanfixationremained.In1935IfoundmyselfsickwithfeveronacampbedinaLiberiannative’’tittheincurablefascinationofGagoolwithherbareyellowskull, thewrinkledscalpthatmovedandcontractedlikethehoodofacobra, thatledmetoworkallthrough1942inalittlestuffyofficeinFreetown, SierraLeone? ThereisnotmuchincommonbetweenthelandoftheKukuanas, behindthedesertandthemountainrangeofSheba’sBreast, andatin-roofedhouseonabitofswampwherethevulturesmovedlikedomesticturkeysandthepi-dogskeptmeawakeonmoonlightnightswiththeirwailing, andthewhitewomendrovebytotheclub, butthetwobelongedatanyratetothesamecontinent, and, howeverdistantly, tothesameregionoftheimagination—theregionofuncertainty, , onenightinZigitaontheLiberiansideofftheFrenchGuineaborder, whenmyservantssatintheirshutteredhutwiththeirhandsovertheireyesandsomeonebeatadrumandawholetownstayedbehindcloseddoorswhilethebigbushdevil—whomitwouldmeanblindnesstosee—movedbetweenthehuts.
ButKingSolomon’—didn’tshewaitformeindreamseverynightinthepassagebythelinencupboard, nearthenurserydoor? Shecontinuestowait, whenthemindissickortired, thoughnowsheisdressedinthetheologicalgarmentsofDespairandspeaksinSpenser’saccents:
Thelongerlife, Iwrotethegreatersin.
Thegreatersin, thegreaterpunishment.
