Sarge's Story

Everybody who passes the main gate of the Abraham Adesyan Estate passes Mallam Garba's window. The gate officers call him Sarge. The residents call him when they need water, fever syrup or the truth. He is a retired soldier from Kano with many wives, many children, a big farm and plenty of opinions, all of them a long way north, which is exactly how he likes it.

These three chapters follow Sarge from the parade ground to the snack counter, through one ordinary day at the window, and to the night an old acquaintance rolled up to the gate in a convoy.