Years have passed. One day Yusuf is unexpectedly asked to join the trade journey to the interior. He is uneasy around the mnyapara Mohammed Abdalla, for he is known to be a “sodomizer” and he makes leering comments to Yusuf. Yusuf frets that he is starting to forget details about his parents. Mzee Hamdani, the old gardener, appreciates Yusuf’s love of the garden, though he rarely speaks. Khalil and Yusuf go into town and join the throngs of people watching an Indian marriage celebration.

Yusuf has reservations about the journey to the interior because of Mohammed Abdalla, the mnyapara, who leers at him and makes suggestive comments. The crew deems the journey an opportunity to see their civilization in contrast to that of the “savages,” with whom they’ll be trading hoes. When Yusuf complains to Khalil about the crew’s disrespect, he shushes him. Yusuf feels he is guilty of some sort of betrayal, but he doesn’t understand why. A half-Greek, half-Indian trucker who swears frequently and tells dirty stories amuses the porters. Just before the caravan leaves, Yusuf sees Khalil being obsequious to Aziz, something he hates to see.