Sex, death and a snake in the grass: 19 linked short stories, fiction for the Internet. Read in narrative sequence using the left-hand menu or follow characters through the in-page links
9
They had walked along the dusty road together, the man and the boy. A little way behind came the others, Dan's three companions and a loose knot of laughing children.
H-, the boy, wore a torn replica football shirt. The soles of his shoeless feet were pink and calloused.
Dan's feet were sweating in his sandals. Despite himself, the sun was getting under his skin. He felt lighter, looser. H- was a charming, intelligent boy, who seemed to have taken a shine to Dan. They chatted about football. Not something Dan knew much about, but H- was a walking encyclopedia, especially when it came to African players.
Back at the village the four Europeans were surrounded by the women and invited to look over the local produce. Meanwhile their menfolk watched incuriously from the shade.
After a minute, Dan excused himself, saying he had to go to the loo. On his way back from the tiny, stinking hut, he found H- standing in his path, holding out his hand.
'Mister Dan, I need money to go to school,' said H- sadly.
Dan groaned inwardly. They'd been warned about this back at the hotel. 'No, H-,' Dan,' he said, obeying the script. 'I'm not giving you any money.'
'But Mister Dan'!'
'No, H-,' Dan said, miserably.
H-'s handsome face screwed up in frustration. 'You must. You must,' he shouted. Then the spirit seemed to desert him. His shoulders slumped. Mute and furious, he turned and stalked away.
The others were already sitting in the Land Cruiser. Fiona was clutching a wooden bowl in her lap. She smiled up at Dan and he sat beside her, taking her hand. Looking back as they drove away he saw the women and children waving happily in farewell. H- stood apart, under the trees. Their eyes met briefly, and Dan found out then what the word shame really means.
