What Is The What

Deng ruminates on the reasons that Sudanese murder and harm others in the United States. Crimes like Tabitha’s murder are virtually unheard of in Sudan, and although Deng admits that men there might beat their wives, and assaults happen, the idea of someone snapping and killing their spouse or innocent child is almost inconceivable. He does not blame Tabitha, but is frustrated that she did not take Duluma’s threats seriously, considering that he was ex-SPLA and capable of killing.

The population of Kakuma continues to grow, and people come up with a strategy to get more food that they call recycling, where a person will leave Kakuma and then return under a different identity to get another ration card. When Deng’s “camp father,” Gop Chol Kolong, discovers that his wife and children will be coming to live with them, he volunteers to recycle himself to get the family more rations and supplies.

Deng finds out that Achor Achor and three other boys from his original group of 11 made it to the camp. He also comes across his old friend Moses, who has grown into a large and severe man after his time as a soldier.