African Designs
|
|
It was also a period of intensive personal training, a learning experience which was quite different from almost anything I had be required to do at school. Quite frankly, I fund most school lessons both easy and boring - I felt there must be more to mathematics than rote arithmetic, for example - and the few subjects in which I did not do well - music and singing, mostly - I soon determined that my voice was naturally maladapted to tuneful music. As an adult, then, it was something of a shock to be confronted with topics which were both complex and challenging. Mister Montague said that I would from time to time receive invitations to visit one establishment or another in various parts of Mombasa and its surroundings, or requests for a person to visit me in my own home. Wherever possible, he strongly recommended, I should accept these invitations and requests and be open-minded about the conversations that might ensue. I feel it is appropriate to omit to mention the exact nature of these sessions, although it is probably fair to report that I returned home physically or mentally exhausted - sometimes both - after many long hours on a frequent basis. I should certainly thank those gentlemen and, yes, a few ladies too, who gave generously of their time and experience; their lessons have served me well over the years. Even so, I cannot resist relating my first encounter with the redoubtable Madame Liu. She was a tiny Chinese woman who, I was soon to learn, habitually dressed in those loose and baggy clothes I knew as pyjamas. Her place of business was a low square building separated from the road and its neighbours by high walls and railings, thereby ensuring a high degree of privacy. The building seemed to consist of a single large room and, most usually, the entire floor appeared to be covered by quilted mattresses. Madame Liu welcomed me politely in accented but understandable English, then bade me stand in the centre of the floor. "Now, Miss Elizabeth,” she said, her face an emotionless mask as far as I could see, "I want you to strike me, as hard as you can manage." "Strike you!" I exclaimed, "Why would I wish to strike you?" "I am sure you would not," she replied calmly, "But please indulge me, for the sake of today's lesson." Recalling Mister Montague's admonishment about keeping an open mind, I stepped forward smartly and aimed a blow at her shoulder. Suddenly, and quite literally, my whole world was turned upside-down. I found myself sitting on the mattresses, quite unharmed - I now understood what the quilted floor-covering was for - but distinctly shocked. Madame Liu regarded me coolly. "Today's lesson, and others in the future, will teach you how to throw anybody, no matter how big, who is so ungentlemanly as to try and assault you." I grinned widely. This was the kind of skill I would not have imagined being taught in an English finishing school, although I could see how such an ability might be useful. "Now, stand up and bow," Madame Liu commanded, "And we will begin properly." I complied immediately; this was going to be fun, even if it did involve a few bruises along the way. Of course there were many, shall we say, less serious adventures during this time. One of my new acquaintances persuaded me to try Sea Bathing, taking one of the numerous Bathing Machines to be found on Nyali Beach. This daring experience was of course preceded by an expedition to purchase suitable bathing garments, to preserve modesty even under the screens and hood. I found the experience entirely exhilarating, and I was disappointed when the attendant informed me that the hire time had expired. I hear that the men are allowed to bathe entirely naked, although it seems rather daring for me to even mention the subject; in the privacy of my bathing machine, perhaps I shall try this too, next time. I took tea and dinner at many houses; it seemed the local social circle was keen to include me in their midst or at least question me closely as to my morals and financial prospects. I was also entertained, rather more privately, at various restaurants, most often in the company of Mister Augustus Montague. One memorable and, dare I say it, romantic evening we spent at the Tamarind Tree restaurant, watching the sunset from under the boughs of an immense tamarind tree and eating, I have to admit, dishes with rather more exotic ingredients and spices than my palate was hitherto familiar with, including the essences extracted from the pods taken from the very tree above our heads. Despite the exotic location and the undoubtedly charming company, the real reason that the evening at the Tamarind Tree restaurant was so memorable was the conversation I had with Augustus - I had already allowed the use of his Christian name, at least in private conversation - after the many delicious courses of our meal had been consumed and coffee was being served. "Augustus, I have a concern I would like to share with you," I began. He put down his coffee cup and smiled at me in that reassuring way he had. "My dear, I am sure I can help with whatever it is that is troubling you," he replied. Unusually, Mister Montague did not smoke, not even cigars, and drank of the wine with extreme moderation; I am quite certain that he was entirely in charge of his own faculties. "I believe I am being followed," I said calmly. His lack of reaction was, even at the time, remarkable. He smiled benevolently in my direction, a smile which by now I recognised as one of slight superiority. "Really?" he replied calmly, "Can you tell me anything about them?" I was suddenly determined to show him that I really did notice what was going on around me. "There might be ten or so different people - all men, all black men - which I have seen following me," I said promptly, "With access, sometimes, to steam cars or other fast means of transport - although mostly they seem to favour bicycles. Perhaps any two of which I might expect to be behind me at any one time." I paused, then added: "There appear to be two different groups. They seem to be unaware of each other, even when they are hurrying almost side by side on their bicycles. They hand over their task from one to another from their team, very smoothly, I thought. Well-trained, for the most part."
|
Part 1