Appraisal

An excerpt of the novel AN AFRICAN SUNSET.

Appraisal

An African Sunset

An excerpt

Shatz sat sullen and stiff licking his wounds, back in the front seat next to Everon, The delegation's head boastful behavior and that particular way of his, of binding together scorn and praise were a bitter revelation as far as Shatz was concerned. In an effort to avoid an undesirable harsh reaction, particularly after the ambassador's long and boring lecture they both had, he kept his mouth strictly shut.

'If he has disappointed you in some way or another, or if you were left with some poor impressions, you had better shake these thoughts off.' Everon advised him as soon as he settled himself in his own seat, and without waiting for Shatz answer he switched on the engine and set off towards the main road.

'He doesn't possess a charismatic personality I do agree, but he's absolutely the most liberal person I've ever worked with. He is involved in some complicated issue which keeps troubling him ceaselessly; one can read his worries on his face, the poor man.' Everon added thoughtfully, watching the road ahead, as if he were talking to himself. 

'He's a widower our dear ambassador and the offsprings of his first marriage, were left behind back home; four of them, mind you. It must be a heavy burden on his conscious, no doubt. Down here he brought with him his brand new wife, he married her a month or so before they left for his post here in Mouaka. Just as you have caught up with your French.' Everon added laughing. 'Well she isn't the type that would make men turn their heads round to have another look at her, while crossing the street; but in any case, the difference of age between them isn't expressed in appearances alone. There are some more conspicuous aspects one can't ignore. Every time some guest compliments or flatters her in his presence, he swallows a frog the poor fellow. Now, try to imagine what would happen if a dark skin celebrity, one of our sensitive locals, will make a pass at her, ' Everon burst out in a hilarious wild laugh thumping the steering wheel with both his hands, and sweeping Shatz along with him.               

'I say, he might get completely out of his mind one of these days.'

Everon's knack to reveal the ridiculous aspects in every possible state of affairs, and no doubt in every person; the carefree humor with which he referred to the ambassador has improved Shatz's spirits, from one extreme mood right to another.

He is okay! Shatz told himself smiling back to Everon. The first impression he had of Everon, must have been correct after all. He did not share Everon's views on the ambassador, nor did he feel a need to contradict Everon’s certain views about him. He simply did not like to perceive himself in his mind's eye, as such a wavered old nag in the thirty or more years to come.

'No, this certain situation isn't easy at all.' Everon continued his endless monologue, in his thoughtful style. 'He's under a constant stress, and how heavy that stress is you can't even imagine.  It strikes him from every possible direction. Apart from the usual diplomatic headaches, receptions, and the rest of it, there're enough troubles within our own circle... His young wife has her own bright and original ideas, Peleg has his aspirations; and the Priels mind you, are sending home to a particular address, letters soaked and oozing with bitterness and that's just the tip of the iceberg... In short there's no need to dig too deep, all one has to do is just scrape the surface a bit.’

Everon pushed the accelerator down as hard as he could, as if it was his second nature. Thus the way back to the Mouaka seemed a rather short journey. When they reached the hotel's parking lot, neither of them could have felt an urgent need to take leave of each other and part, the night was still young.

'Prepare yourself to your first assignment; you're buying me a drink.' Everon declared smiling his sly smile. He led Shatz to the bar's terrace, leaving the car and his attaché case, which was thrown on the rear seat behind them.                                    

'Well, you can't imagine how things are being run over here.  There are at least three captains at the helm except the authorized one with hardly any crew, and the ship is a nutshell... Funny isn't it, how poetry inspires me in this forlorn hole.' He added laughing quietly.

 Haim Kadman 1989 " all rights reserved.