Petals of Blood

In the present, Munira is asked questions by Inspector Godfrey after he reads what he wrote. He asks Munira about the “new world” he overheard Wanja and Karega discussing. Munira attempts to explain what he thinks it means but struggles with the idea that the officer and the law are part of the corruption in their current world. He discusses the futility he now sees in teaching since Abdulla ended up in the slums despite fighting for freedom, the lawyer ended up being murdered despite trying so desperately to help, and Reverend Brown is the head of the church despite his hypocrisy. He explains to Inspector Godfrey that he was still with Karega, Abdulla, and Wanja because he wanted to “save” Karega from Wanja, as he saw them together just before the fire. Godfrey abruptly leaves to interview Karega.

As Karega waits after being arrested, he considers all of the changes he saw, both in Ilmorog and within himself. He saw increased poverty in Ilmorog, obsession over land ownership, and foreign control, both directly and indirectly—all signs that neocolonialism controls the native Kenyan workers. He vows to help them with their struggles, rejecting Wanja’s belief that one must take back control and function in self-interest. He reflects that workers are equals and in brotherhood as victims and believes in labor strikes and revolt to gain more rights.

For eight more days, Karega is interviewed by Inspector Godfrey over his actions in the Theng’eta Union and the arson. Karega is adamant that he is working to change the oppressed system through the union, but he does not know anything about the fire.

Meanwhile, Abdulla is also being held and questioned but is not upset about it because he feels guilty over how his life went. His only thoughts are of Wanja and whether she is okay. He contemplates how helpful she was to him in his life and how successful they were in their business, regretting only never having the opportunity to get revenge on Kimeria for her. He recounts how he was close to burning down the brothel, waiting with matches for Kimeria to return, yet before he could, the brothel caught fire from another source. He rushed in and pulled Wanja from the collapsing building.

After recovering in the hospital, Wanja is also interviewed by Inspector Godfrey. She recounts her last visit with Karega, which Karega refused to share, citing that it was “personal.” In that visit, she told Karega of her grandfather’s death, which she learned about from her grandmother just before her death. He died resisting a man who came to the village to end the Mau Mau presence in Ilmorog. In response to this story, Karega starts to explain that her grandfather’s individualism and decision to work alone got him killed but stops; both Karega and Wanja recognize that due to their differences, their relationship and attraction to each other has finally ended. She warns Karega that members of the KCO are going to try to assassinate him, as they had the lawyer, in an effort to break down the workers’ and tribal unity. The meeting between Karega and Wanja ends as he accuses Wanja of siding with imperialism, which she rejects, saying she was forced to when he abandoned her.

Wanja recounts this story to Inspector Godfrey, admitting that she saw truth in Karega’s words and collected the three men who died in the brothel to reveal what Kimeria did to her. She does not, however, tell him that she stabbed Kimeria to death before the fire began.

Finally, Inspector Godfrey returns to Munira, who admits to setting the fire to “save” Karega. After seeing Karega in Wanja’s hut, he believed that he was once again starting a relationship with her. He heard guidance from God and decided to burn the brothel, watching the fire all night from the hill.

Upon leaving Ilmorog, Inspector Godfrey considers the four people he interviewed. He believes Karega’s efforts are futile and that land ownership and economic status are “the natural order of things” (396). Munira’s actions shock him, however, especially his decision to give up his father’s land and wealth and commit murder. He is also upset by the evil in Ilmorog, specifically the tourist center, which traffics natural and human assets within Africa for foreign consumption. He considers whether this should be investigated but decides against it because of the good that the tourist industry does and the number of important people who would be implicated.

Wanja considers how she was, as Karega had said, on the same side as her father in her life—on the side of imperialism. She struggles with guilt over never getting to know her father but also remembers how he was only interested in her when he thought he could get money from her. Her mother arrives because she has heard about Wanja’s injury. Wanja reveals to her that she is pregnant with Abdulla’s baby.

Abdulla sits with Joseph outside his home as Joseph discusses his and his fellow students’ strike against Chui for better treatment. Joseph is reading about independence struggles and is working for it to be in the curriculum. Abdulla considers the idea of progress being passed from generation to generation.

In jail, Munira is visited by his father, mother, wife, and Reverend Jerrod Brown. Reverend Brown admonishes Munira, claiming he could have helped him, but Munira remarks that he had the chance to help Munira before and refused.

Karega is held in jail; his father dies while he is there, and Karega does not eat for two days afterward. Akinyi comes to visit him and informs him of the continued strikes at the Theng’eta factory. Karega briefly considers whether Wanja is right in her view of the world—that it is best to worry about one’s own survival—but the news from Akinyi quickly dismisses this. He looks to the future with the help of his fellow men and women.