The Famished Road

Dad is still interested in a career as a politician, and he has the idea to use “the ever-approaching rally as the platform to preach his ideas and gather voters” (427). He also wants to use Azaro as his spy; Azaro will resume his visits to Madame Koto’s bar to monitor the activities of the Party of the Rich. On his first foray back to the bar, a stream of deformed beggars comes into the place, disrupting the meeting of political operatives. Their leader wants Azaro to come with them. It turns out that he is the four-headed spirit sent to bring Azaro back to the spirit world after the three-headed spirit failed. Madame Koto herself is upset, burdened by money and politics. Dad wanders in and tells Azaro about his dreams of “a new continent” (436). When he and Azaro return home, some of the beggars follow them.

Mum is crying when they return home, so Dad orders Azaro to buy him some ogogoro, the local whisky. Azaro notes that all the beggars were now sleeping outside their house. Mum yells at them to go away, telling them the family has nothing to spare.