Chapter 4 (pages 167-199) Summary

As the narrator finally reaches the village proper her fortitude begins to unravel. She is frantic by the time a woman discovers her and takes her into her home. The narrator is put in bed to rest after being cleaned up and having her injuries treated. The narrator drowsily reflects on her rescue by this woman whom she now knows is named Mma Isang. It strikes her how it differs from her recurring childhood refuge fantasy of being taken in by a rich generous uncle or father.

The narrator decides to pretend she is an ornithologist who went astray in the desert. She does not want anyone to know that she already knows Nelson Denoon or to suspect she came here looking for him. She wonders if he has come to see about her and awakes one night thinking...