The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born

While at his office, the man hears news of an army coup—Kwame Nkrumah is out of power, and all the powerful government ministers are being arrested and put in protective custody. When the man goes home, Koomson is waiting to ask him for help. The man is disgusted by the smell of Koomson’s mouth and body. Oyo tells the man that she is glad he did not become like Koomson. The army arrives to arrest Koomson, but the man helps Koomson to escape via crawling through the latrine hole (and the excrement and cockroaches within).

The man takes Koomson to the boatman’s house. On the way there, they pass a police barrier, but no one recognizes Koomson because he is covered in waste from crawling through the latrine. The boatman instructs them to bribe a watchman, and then they make their escape on Princess, the fishing boat Koomson bought with Oyo’s name. After they are certain no one has followed them, the man jumps out and swims back to land. Once he reaches the beach, he falls asleep.