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92 Two Kenyan Parables 1. Parable of Babu, the Dhow Captain of Lamu Island from loudspeakers the muezzin call out the call to prayer, carried on cool wind, the monsoon wind that blew in the devout and the devourers, that helped them find then found this island city where mangrove and ivory and rhino horn and slaves especially were traded. Quiet love is in the eyes of Babu, who believes in Allah and in fate. He speaks of how one day his son falls from the steps and cracks his skull and dies. Now Babu shifts the dhow into the breeze, ties off the rope and tacks. “We all are slaves to death,” he says. “i have three kids alive, all blowing toward the grave.” 2. Parable of Farid and the Elephants farid stands at the stern end of the dhow while Babu steers with one foot on the rudder. He smiles and shouts, “Remember, Babu, how when we were seven, elephants crossed over from Manda island?” “Yes,” says Babu, rolls a cigarette with one hand, lights it, smokes, and shifts his foot and waits while farid tells the tale. “You should’ve seen how frightened folks were then! They screamed and ran with heads turned back and fell and broke a hand or crushed an arm 93 and then the elephants screamed back, and oh they went insane, smashed boats. When they attack, you have to shoot them dead. They cause such harm.” “And did you eat the beasts?” i ask. “No, no,” farid says, laughing. “We don’t eat such meat. Now hippo meat is good. Now that, i eat.” ...

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