Part 1, Chapter 3 Summary

The chapter begins with Garrigan's twelve-hour journey to Uganda by plane. On the flight, he reads a book about Uganda. When he arrives at the tiny airport near Kampala-where there is also a "squadron" of military planes parked in formation-he expects someone from the British embassy to meet him, but no one appears. He has no problems getting through customs, and finally takes a taxi to Kampala.

The taxi driver recommends the Speke Hotel, and once Garrigan has taken a shower, he goes down to the bar, an enormous room with the names of cricket and rugby players on the walls, along with a photo of President Obote, currently in office. He meets a large white man named Swanepoel, who tells Garrigan that there is talk of a coup, but Garrigan should not worry-they usually leave whites alone.

When Garrigan goes...