The River Between

Waiyaki provides the Gikuyu independent schools with teachers from Siriana, a feat that impresses the people, the elders, and also Kinuthia, who respects the Kiama group’s sense of urgency and radical action but is convinced by Waiyaki’s vision and character. People are eager for change, wanting self-determination in the face of land grabs and taxes imposed by the European settlers. Waiyaki is exhausted, and continues to question whether he is the people’s savior. One day, he experiences “[a] vision of a people who could trust one another” (92). In this dream of harmony among animals, birds, people, and the land stands Nyambura, who leads elders and children alike in song. Her eyes mirror their desire for a “new life.” Waiyaki wants to touch this image of Nyambura, but everyone begins to rip her apart, “as if she were a thing of sacrifice to the god of the river, which still flowed with life as they committed this ritual outrage on her” (93). Waiyaki also tears at her and sees Muthoni exclaiming that she is a woman before being taken by the dark river. He feels that he must either follow Muthoni or take care of the crowd, who now looks at him with guilt.