A Girl Named Disaster

Nhamo tells Mother a story about a farmer who lives in the forest with baboons (203). Afterward, she lies awake worrying about the baboons, the elephants, and the upcoming rainy season.

Nhamo tends to her meat instead of working on the boat. She goes in search of the remaining antelope carcass but discovers the leopard has already dragged it away. Meanwhile, the baboons jump around in a panic. A storm is coming. Nhamo tries to extinguish her fire, pack up her camp, and get to safety. The wind blows Mother’s photo onto the coals, burning it up.

Nhamo lies in her hut feeling discouraged—Mother and Crocodile Guts abandoned her (209). She decides to stay where she is until she dies. Then one night, the spirit girls return. Nhamo suddenly wants to live again.

In the morning, Nhamo goes in search of food and water. She returns to her boat project, discovering the branches bursting with buds. The rainy season is coming. She lies down, unsure what to do. She won’t be able to return to the lake in the storms.

Nhamo decides to leave the island. However, she’s worried her log won’t float. Then she realizes how much she’s taught herself already. She mends Crocodile Guts’s boat and returns to the water. She rows until she sees smoke in the forest. On shore, she finds a group of village women. She greets them, introduces herself, and asks after Proud. The women act strangely when Nhamo tells them her story. She realizes they think she’s a witch. They give her some food and send her out on the road.

Nhamo walks and walks, unsure where she’s going. A storm blows in. She wishes she could have stayed in the village. Then she sees a herd of elephants. She remembers Grandmother warning her about land mines and steps into the elephants’ tracks to avoid them. Finally, she sees lights in the distance and approaches “the first house beyond the border of Zimbabwe” (224).

Nhamo arrives at the house and watches the people moving in and out of it. They all look like Joao and Rosa. She considers sneaking in and taking some of their food but decides against it. Then a group of dogs appears and charges her. Nhamo screams at them and runs. The dogs follow. She continues yelling when they surround her. Most of them flee. Nhamo attacks and kills the remaining dog with her blade. Long Teats appears and scolds her.

Nhamo continues wandering. She grows increasingly hungry, tired, and weak. Finally, she finds a herd of cows and goats. She drinks one goat’s milk and collapses. When she opens her eyes, she’s in a white room with a woman who she thinks is Mother.

The woman assures Nhamo she’s not her mother. There’s an older man in the house, too, who Nhamo assumes is her grandfather. They explain that they are Dr. Everjoice Masuku and Baba Joseph. They’re in a scientific community in the village of Efifi.

Nhamo eventually recovers. Dr. Masuku, Baba Joseph, and the nurse, Sister Gladys, let her explore the village. Nhamo settles in, delighted by her surroundings. Baba Joseph gives her tasks and teaches her about the resident animals. The only thing Efifi doesn’t have is children.

Nhamo tries to be as helpful as possible. Dr. Masuku is often impatient with her for following her around. However, Baba Joseph enjoys her company and encourages her storytelling. He also teaches her about his beliefs and background. Nhamo enjoys listening to him, Dr. Masuku, and another resident scientist, Dr. van Heerden, argue about ideas. They frequently discuss marriage and children.

Nhamo overhears Dr. Masuku and Dr. van Heerden discussing her future. They think Nhamo should leave the village and move to Mtoroshanga with her father’s family. Dr. Masuku thinks Nhamo is smart and would benefit from school. The adults consider having Baba Joseph teach her to read and add in the meantime.

Nhamo despairs. She doesn’t want to leave Efifi. Baba Joseph notices she’s upset, but she doesn’t explain why.

Nhamo encounters a local man’s dogs while returning from her chores one day. Furious and afraid, she tries attacking them. The man gets involved and Nhamo stabs him in the arm. Dr. Masuku surfaces and drags Nhamo away.

That night, Nhamo tells Dr. Masuku everything about her past. The adults decide they shouldn’t send her away just yet.

Sister Gladys tends Nhamo’s wounds and shaves her head to get rid of the snarls. Then, Baba Joseph takes her to Karoyi Mountain with Dr. Masuku and Sister Gladys. On the mountain, Baba Joseph performs a ceremony to rid Nhamo of bad spirits and forces. She wants to get rid of Long Teats but doesn’t want to lose her connection with her ancestors. Nhamo and the spirits fight back, and Baba Joseph gives up. In the morning, Nhamo feels better.

Dr. Masuku encourages Nhamo to get in touch with her family in Mozambique and Mtoroshanga. In the meantime, Nhamo is welcome to stay in Efifi as long as she needs.

Nhamo feels happy and safe. She spends her days helping Baba Joseph and learning to read and write. At night, she studies Karoyi Mountain, which she’s renamed Angel Mountain, and thinks about her family. One night, a haze settles over the landscape and Nhamo hears a voice telling her that Grandmother is dead. The next morning, Dr. Masuku says they should visit her father’s family.

Sister Gladys accompanies Nhamo to the Jongwe family’s home. Nhamo is convinced they won’t like her when she sees their palatial house. Mrs. Edina Jongwe lets Nhamo and Sister Gladys in. She is Proud’s brother Industry’s wife. Dr. van Heerden sent her a message about Nhamo, but Edina makes her leave until the rest of the family has returned. When they come back later, the Jongwes reveal that Proud is dead (272). However, Nhamo’s great-grandfather accepts Nhamo into the family because he’s impressed by her.

Dr. Masuku, Dr. van Heerden, and Sister Gladys take Nhamo out for ice cream before leaving her with the Jongwes. They assure her that she’s lucky to have a wealthy family and promise she can return to Efifi during her school holidays. Still, Nhamo is sad to say goodbye.

Only Nhamo’s great-grandfather is kind to her. Industry is often angry, and Edina is unkind. Nhamo spends time with her cousin, Clever, but finds him dull. Her favorite thing about her new home is going to school.

Nhamo’s great-grandfather insists on taking her up to the Umvukwe Mountains. He tells her about his sons and her father once they reach the top. After Proud killed Goré and returned home, he tried to start over by digging tunnels through the hills. The tunnels collapsed one day and killed him. Great-grandfather also explains that both Runako’s and Proud’s families have leopard totems. Goré’s family does too. The leopard Nhamo has been seeing has been protecting her.

Great-grandfather shows Nhamo her parents’ wedding photo when they return home. Nhamo is surprised to finally see her parents for the first time.

Nhamo returns to Efifi on her summer break. She’s relieved to find the place unchanged. Dr. Masuku and Baba Joseph exclaim at her appearance when they see her. They insist she is grown up and beautiful. Then Dr. Masuku gives Nhamo a letter from Uncle Kafu. Grandmother is dead and Masvita is married with two children. Nhamo wants to visit but decides to wait a bit longer.

Dr. van Heerden weighs Nhamo’s gold nuggets from Grandmother. They’re worth a significant amount, which Dr. van Heerden says she can use to do whatever she wants. All of the adults encourage her to create her own life and not to get married.

Then Nhamo notices the margarine advertisement in the house. She explains her attachment to the picture, realizing that neither Mother nor Dr. Masuku looks like the woman in the image. Dr. Masuku makes Nhamo look in the mirror. She resembles the woman in the ad.

At the end of the summer, Nhamo goes out and lies in the grass alone. She talks to Grandmother’s spirit. Grandmother promises to visit her again.