Chapter 64

Mombasa turned out to be a large town with many shops lined along its highways on an island on the coast of Kenya. There were many tall buildings as well as the Swahili type of houses, which gave the town its Islamic outlook and culture. 

The town had many things to offer, ranging from the tall coconut and massive mango trees that stood in the outskirts of the town to the young and attractive women who walked leisurely along the streets. Anyone who arrived in Mombasa for the first time would always agree that the island had some of the most beautiful women in the country. 

Such beauty, so the story went, came as a result of the hot climate along the coast, which made most people be fairly complexioned. It was due to its hotness during the day and cool sea breeze in the evenings, which made the town among the best travel destinations for the European and American tourists. 

As Jacob peered out of the window of the bus and felt the oppressive heat, he noticed that most people who walked along the roads were dressed casually. The islanders wore simple light colored clothes and walked slowly and leisurely in town.

They never seemed to be in any hurry. Most males wore short sleeved shirts, which were not tucked in while the women wore simple dresses or skirts with blouses. 

A few women were in trousers or jeans. Yet other women, most of whom were elderly, wore black or white veils over their heads and long black robes called buibui in the Swahili language, which identified them as Muslims.

It was Sunday evening, and as Jacob walked out of the bus, he paused briefly outside the offices of the Coast Bus Company and talked to the man behind the counter. 

"Brother, can you show me the way to the offices of Transocean Company? I'm new in town and would like to know the building so that I can be in time tomorrow." Jacob spoke slowly in Kiswahili language. 

The burly Arab regarded him briefly and then nodded, "Take that road, go straight and then turn to the left. You'll see the building with the name of the company." 

"Thank you very much," Jacob replied and started walking along the road, carrying his small bag whose strap hung on his shoulders.

He walked past Digo Road and came to Moi Avenue. Further down the road, he turned right and saw the building written: Transocean Company Ltd. 

It was a tall building painted white and looked magnificent as it stood among the others. 

It would be a good place to work in, thought Jacob. For a few minutes, he examined it and stared at the people who walked around the building. Satisfied, he decided to leave and come the following day to report. 

The most immediate task was to get a hotel where he could eat and relax as he waited for the following day. As he moved along the road, his eyes kept searching for any hotel he could spend the rest of the day. He now started walking on a side street. 

Then he saw it. It was a storey building written: Splendid Hotel. Jacob did not hesitate and walked over to the reception. 

He paused here and started talking to the receptionist, a man of fair complexion who wore a white shirt with green stripes and a navy blue trouser. "Do you have a single, self-contained room for me?" 

"Sure. It goes for one thousand shillings a day." The receptionist replied.

"Okay, let me have it for a week." 

The man wrote a receipt. Jacob's hand reached into his hip pocket and fished out a roll of bills. He selected thirty-five two hundred shillings bills and gave them to the receptionist.

The man's hands disappeared into a drawer, and he came out with a bundle of keys. "This is your room key. But you don't have to lock your room in the morning because someone has to clean it every day." Jacob remained silent.

"Come along," the man said. 

Then, the receptionist came out of his room and led him along a narrow corridor. They stopped outside a door written 123.

The receptionist spoke again. "This is now your room for a week. I hope you enjoy yourself." He said and left. 

Jacob opened the door and entered; closing the door behind him. The room had nothing much to offer except a small bed against the wall, a wooden wardrobe, a small table, and a chair.

Jacob put his bag in the wardrobe and dropped himself onto the bed. He felt tired and exhausted from the long journey.

A few minutes later, he fell asleep. He never knew for how long he had slept, but when he woke up, he felt hungry. Rising to his feet, he walked over to the door and slid out of the room as he went in search of food in town. 

He reached a restaurant and entered. It was crowded with people who appeared to be regular customers. Jacob saw an empty seat at the far end and went to sit. As he sat waiting, a waiter came to him.

"Chicken and French fries," he ordered.

The waiter disappeared into the kitchen and came out a few minutes later carrying a tray with his meal. Jacob walked over to the sink and washed his hands. 

Then he sat to devour the food before him. It tasted quite delicious, and he ate greedily as he was quite hungry. Even as he ate, his mind went over his new job and his father. Settling down would not be difficult, he told himself, but the task of trying to look for his father was gigantic. 

He tried to marshal his thoughts as he ate. Where should he start? He wondered.

Mombasa had many estates, and it would be difficult to trace him. His grandfather had had no contact with his father after that divorce from his mother and did not know much about him. 

But he must never give up, he told himself. Despair often led to ruin. And he could never afford to lose.

He had to keep on winning and knew he would lose if he despaired. Losing was the price one had to pay if despair was allowed to rule over one's thoughts.

He was above despair. He had come to Mombasa with twin goals. One was about to come to pass while the other still lay further ahead unfulfilled. It had to be fulfilled. 

Jacob finished eating his meal and rose up to go and wash his hands. Then he walked over to the counter to pay his bill. 

He took a hundred shillings from his wallet and gave the man at the counter. The man returned twenty shillings as change.

Satisfied that he had had a good supper, Jacob walked back to the hotel. Fifteen minutes later, he was back in his room and locked himself inside. He neither wanted any disturbance nor did he anticipate any. 

It was getting dark, and he switched on the lights. He lay on his bed for a few hours, his mind racing over many things. Then, realizing that he had had enough for the day, he switched off the lights. 

Darkness smiled down at him and covered him like a thick blanket as he fell asleep to wait for the next day.