Whatever the sights of Sawang and its inhabitants, Lilly Loveless’ mind was firmly on her fate. She was full of anecdotes about the unpredictability of this land of Mimbo, and it appeared the Mimbo people themselves made no secret of the attribute, as they would proudly proclaim: “Nothing is impossible in Mimboland.”
Lilly Loveless couldn’t contain her joy when the taxi man, after an hour and a half of countless contours and detours, eventually stopped at the entrance to the university still under active construction. A white banner held together by wooden poles and scaffolding had “University of Mimbo” inscribed in bold black letters, followed by “The Place to Be” in a much, much smaller font, almost impossible to read from any distance. She made a mental note of the contrast. She would ask Dr Wiseman Lovemore if there was more to the inscription than met the eye, although she had read somewhere that young Mimbolanders were reluctant to study at home, preoccupied as they were with dreams of seeking authentic qualifications from Muzunguland. A tall fence was being constructed around the university campus. This also she made a mental note of. She had read that this twenty-year-old university was one of the youngest in Mimboland, but she didn’t know it was this fledging, if her eyes and first impressions were to be trusted.
The plainclothes, casually dressed security guard in rubber sandals inspected the documents of the taxi man but would not touch the passport Lilly Loveless instinctively tendered him. “No need,” he smiled, and let them through.
“Dis na university, farm for book people,” said the taxi man, half serious, half mocking.
Lilly Loveless smiled comfortably for the first time since the airport.
“Whosai you wan maka drop you?”
“Department of Social Work,” she said, fidgeting with her trousers to untie her money belt.
The guard indicated the way and the taxi man proceeded to the Faculty of Social Sciences. “Ma road end for ya,” he announced, stretching out his hand.
Lilly Loveless handed him Mim$20,000, a stiff look in her eyes.
He got the message, thanked her, and drove away, a broad smile on his face. Even without the bonus he had hoped for, he was satisfied to have met a client who paid generously. Neither his wife nor his girlfriend would call him “Japanese handbrake” today. But first, he would head for the nearest kiosk to place his bet and hope on his favourite Muzunguland horse, and then prepare himself to watch the race on TV, sponsored by Pari Mutuel Urbain Mimbolandais.
It didn’t take Lilly Loveless long to locate Dr Wiseman Lovemore. He was quite well known – a solid presence on campus à la Dustbin. The first person she asked was able to take her right to his office, where he was explaining to a female student behind closed doors aspects of a lecture she had either missed or not understood, or had insisted on having as a private tutorial.
This would never happen in Muzunguland, a lecturer alone with a female student in his office, with the door closed, the thought crossed Lilly Loveless’ mind as she introduced herself.
Short, thick, big-headed, almost neck-less, and with eyes like a butterfly in a flower garden, Dr Wiseman Lovemore welcomed his guest with a smile, his mind at work – a hunter contemplating his tools in the face of game. He fumbled between an offer of tea and a seat, as he dismissed the student, mumbling something about continuing the exercise later.
Lilly Loveless was keener on sorting things out right away, so she declined the tea, which normally she would have loved, as the weather was chilly and tea with her was a way of life.
“Sorry we missed each other at the airport,” Dr Wiseman Lovemore shook hands with her warmly, slightly uncomfortable with her height and sharp, blue eyes that seemed to absorb everything they settled on. “I thought you were not on the flight, since I waited and waited…”
“I was delayed at immigration and customs, details of which I won’t bore you with.”
“Hope you didn’t have any problem finding a taxi...”
“Let’s not talk about the taxi either. Can you believe it? I get into one and ask to be taken to the University of Mimbo. The taxi man has no clue where this is, but insists on taking me, only to drive round and round. Luckily we asked someone who showed him the way at last.”
“Thank God he brought you here in one piece. It could be worse.”
“I’m not complaining.”
“I see you are married,”remarked Dr Wiseman Lovemore, abruptly.
Lilly Loveless looked at the gold ring on her finger and smiled, but said nothing. She didn’t know how to begin to tell him her mother had insisted upon the ring as a way of keeping prying and preying African men at bay.
“I know you must be tired. A quick tour of the department and the faculty, then we go,” said Dr Wiseman Lovemore, picking up his bag and leading the way.
He did a quick round of introductions in the building that housed the Department of Social Work and Faculty of Social Sciences before taking her in his car to drive round the expansive, impressive but very underdeveloped campus of the University of Mimbo.
Again, the fence under construction caught Lilly Loveless’ attention.
“This is a long and expensive fence in the making you’ve got here,” she remarked.
“Yes, and a controversial one too.”
“What do you mean?”
“Opinion is divided and there’s lots of tension in the air,” he whispered. “That’s all I can say for now. More when we are out of here.”
Lilly Loveless nodded. Dustbin hadn’t mentioned a thing about how paranoid Mimbolanders were. Or was Dr Wiseman Lovemore being overly dramatic and mysterious about the fence?
They drove back, packed his car “because petrol is damn expensive, and there is too little of it in the car. I’m just a poor lecturer.”
She smiled knowingly this time. Dustbin and others had already prepared her for this and a lot more.
“Financially, how we survive here at UM is difficult to say,” Dr Wiseman Lovemore unfolded his poverty. “All I know is that we beat Christ when it comes to miracles.”
Lilly Loveless took the cue. She would have to babysit him financially, if they were to socialise.
They both jumped into a taxi, with Lilly Loveless stating upfront that she would pay, which slightly wounded Dr Wiseman Lovemore’s ego, but he didn’t protest. They headed for Mountain View Hotel, where he had reserved a room for her for the first few days of her fieldwork.
The girl at the reception was fair in complexion and youthful. She had a sweet face and her dimples were merry. Lilly Loveless noticed her lips as well, poised gently and firmly, one luscious lip on the other, together they spoke even when no words moved them. Covered in a creamy gloss that let their deep natural glowing brown colour show, the girl’s lips warmed you just by looking. One turned up at an impressive angle and the other sharply down, accentuating the line that separated and brought them together.
The girl herself seemed unaware of the arresting power of those prominent lips proudly protruding. She introduced herself as Britney, part-time receptionist and full-time student, studying during the day and working evenings. “You are welcome to Mountain View.” She handed Lilly Loveless a form. “You can stay as long as you like. We are not expensive and there aren’t many customers in any case.”
Lilly Loveless smiled to herself, wondering if her employer would keep her if he heard her.
Dr Wiseman Lovemore helped Lilly Loveless to her room with her luggage and returned to wait in the dingy reception lounge while she showered.
When she came back downstairs, she looked fresh and had changed into a pair of jeans and a white shirt. She was carrying a sweater.