Half of a Yellow Sun Page #7

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'The war was going quite badly.

'In desperation, Ojukwu mobilised

the country's Boys' Brigade

'to raise morale by showing

a new generation was training

'to take its place at the front line. '

'Fight on, brave boys, fight on!

'Heroes of our fatherland

'pursue the enemy,

harass him, destroy the invader.

'March on, brave boys,

now that victory is in sight. '

You! Stop there! Stop there!

Stand up, stand up,

you bloody civilian!

Join them there. Join them there.

Inside the van!

My sister, hold your head,

be strong.

Ugwu has died.

Ugwu was with the field engineers,

and they suffered massive casualties.

Only a few came back.

Come with me. Bring Chiamaka.

Come and stay in Orlu. Olanna!

Have you drunk enough, eh?

Ugwu has died.

Do you hear me? Ugwu has died.

Drink and don't stop! Drink!

Ugwu has died!

Get the boxes.

Leave the clothes.

Ba by.

- Odenigbo.

- We'll take this one. OK.

Odenigbo!

Start walking!

I'll catch you up when the car starts.

If we are walking, we'll walk together!

Stop it! Stop it right now.

Leave him alone.

Leave him alone!

- He's a thief!

- He's not a thief. Do you hear me?

He is not a thief! He is a hungry soldier.

Have you come from the front?

Are you running?

Have you deserted?

Come. Come and have

somegarri before you go.

We're here

until we find a place to rent.

Harrison, bring some more

palm oil for Chiamaka.

What an interesting beard.

Are you trying to copy His Excellency?

I never try to copy anyone.

Of course.

I'd forgotten how original you are.

Harrison roasted a fantastic

bush rat for us last week.

But you would've thought

it was a rack of lamb

the way he went on about it.

'... border towns and

zones they've captured by treachery.

'Our people are determined

to fight to the last man,

'confident of eventual success.

'May God bless you all,

fellow Biafrans,

'and keep and protect Biafra. '

A convertible

would be lovely.

What do you think accounts

for the success

of the white man's mission in Africa,

Richard?

The success?

Yes, the success. I think in English.

Perhaps you should first account

for the failure of the black man

to curb the white man's mission.

Who brought racism into the world?

I don't see your point.

The white man brought racism

into the world.

He used it as the basis of conquest.

It's always easier to conquer

a more humane people.

So, when we conquer the Nigerians,

we will be less humane?

I've got some Nigerian coins.

I want to go to Ninth Mile

and see what I can buy.

If that goes well, I will sell some

of the things our people have made.

That's trading with the enemy.

It's trading with illiterate Nigerian

women who have what we need.

It's dangerous, Kainene.

That sector is free.

Our people are trading freely there.

- You're going too?

- No.

At least not tomorrow.

Maybe the next time Kainene goes.

- Tomorrow?

- Yes, Kainene is going tomorrow.

Yes.

But don't mind Olanna,

she will never come with me.

She's always been terribly frightened

of honest free enterprise.

Ninth Mile Road has been

occupied on and off.

- I don't think you should go.

- It's all decided.

I leave tomorrow morning,

and I'll be back by evening.

We need to eat.

You'll leave early won't you, Richard?

Those big men in Ahiara

- may be in the office just 30 minutes.

- I'll leave in an hour.

Just tell them I'm dying

and we desperately need

milk and corned beef

to keep me alive.

I will.

Go well.

Uncle Richard!

Uncle Richard, carry me!

You're a big girl now, Baby.

You're too heavy to be picked up.

Baby has grown wiser but she hasn't

grown taller since the war started.

Better wisdom than height.

- No luck at Ahiara?

- No, I tried everywhere.

The relief centres are empty.

Is Kainene at the camp?

She's still not back

from Ninth Mile.

- Is Kainene back?

- Not yet.

Excuse me?

- Have you seen this woman?

- No.

Hello.

Have you seen this woman?

Thank you.

Why are you crying?

Kainene is just stuck

on the other side for a few days.

Stop! Stop!

'In accord

with my own frequent affirmations

'that I would personally go anywhere

'to secure peace and security

for my people... '

'... I am now travelling out of Biafra

to explore with our friends

'all these proposals further and fully. '

Yes?

Right. Thank you.

Is it Kainene?

Has something happened?

- Ugwu is alive.

- Oh, God.

Oh, God.

They said I was dead, mah?

Your battalion thought you had died

during the operation.

Where's Auntie Kainene?

'General Ojukwu, who led

the Biafran cessation in Nigeria,

'is on his way to seek

political asylum in the Ivory Coast.

'He is said to have with him

3,000 pounds of luggage

'and his Mercedes-Benz car. '

'I, Major General Philip Effiong,

'officer administering the government

of The Republic of Biafra,

'now wish to make

the following declaration... '

- Did you find her?

- No.

Where's the car?

Did the soldiers take it?

The fuel finished on the road.

I will find fuel and go back and get it.

Thank God! War is over!

Peace is here!

'... we are loyal Nigerian citizens

'and accept that the Republic of Biafra

hereby ceases to exist. '

I'm going to find Kainene

in the towns outside Ninth Mile.

Wait until morning, Richard.

You have fuel?

Enough to get me to Ninth Mile

if I roll down slopes.

Kainene...

Excuse me,

have you seen this woman?

- Her name's, Kainene.

- No, I've not seen her.

Will Auntie Kainene

come to Nsukka?

Yes. Yes, my Baby.

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