A Question of Power

Elizabeth thinks of herself as a general and believes in the “general’s code”—mainly, she believes it’s important to never conduct a war with someone who’s inferior.

Dan arrives “out of nowhere,” but he’s a cattle millionaire, a friend of Sello, and an African nationalist. His “extreme masculinity” captives her, and he kisses her. Elizabeth says that they are strangers and shouldn’t kiss, but she concedes she’s in an “easily invaded world” (105). His kisses make her feel like a queen.

The Father returns with a headless woman who shortly thereafter finds her head and then flies into the sun. Elizabeth flies to the edge of the world, where a man and woman occupy a heavenly climate. She remembers a choir on Christmas singing about “God on high” and thinks God should be down on Earth with the people.

Two days after Christmas, Kenosi tells Elizabeth about Tom—a white American who helps them with the garden while he sings to himself a song about Dolly. Tom is 10 years younger than Elizabeth, and he just graduated college, where he earned an agriculture degree. The garden starts talking to Elizabeth—it wants her to turn it into a place for a variety of vegetables.