At the pool and Morag gets suspicious
Chapter 19
Korle Bu Teaching Hospital
Korle Bu hospital had a brightly shining entrance. Palm trees with their sprayed branches seem to wave Morag a welcome. The sea was not far away and the smell of decaying seaweed gave our nostrils a twinge.
I insisted on carrying Morag’s baggage, thus depriving several impoverished helpers. I suppose I did not wish to share Morag with anyone.
At the reception, Morag showed her letter of appointment and the receptionist lifted the telephone.
As she waited for a reply, she held her hand over the mouthpiece. ‘Take a seat over there for a moment, please.’
We sat down and Morag looked around. ‘It’s a very modern hospital.’
‘It certainly is. I hope your placement goes well for you.’
‘Me too. Can we talk freely now?’
‘Looks like Korle Bu will be our free-to-talk place from now on.’
‘So, let’s get it right from the very start. What is going on? You have not been totally open with me in your letters.’
‘I know. I will give you all the facts. I need to offload a lot. I think I already told you, it began on holiday, on Jura.’
That was all I could say. A doctor was approaching with a welcoming smile.
‘I’m Dr Amma Swaniker. I am delighted to meet you,’ she said to Morag. ‘So you are from Scotland, Glasgow University. I did my postgraduate medicine at Edinburgh University.’
‘Then you know Scotland well,’ Morag said.
‘I visited many parts. It’s a beautiful country. Now, is this—your husband?’
‘No, Robert is not my husband.’
‘Ah, I see. Well, we don’t allow men coming to the unmarried doctors’ rooms.’
I could see Morag’s shoulders drop. She was not happy with what she had just been told, especially as she was anxious to learn more about her boyfriend. ‘No he’s not my husband. He’s my fiancé,’ she replied with feeling.
A shudder went through my body. Her statement sounded so good. But I suspected she only said it so she could learn more of my situation while out of the earshot of the Russian embassy.
‘I see, then that’s quite different. You didn’t inform us of your engagement.’
‘I do apologise. We have not been engaged very long,’ Morag said, clearly uncomfortable with lying. I sympathised with her.
‘Let me take you over to the doctor’s quarters.’ She talked as we walked. ‘You’ll find A&E behind reception. That is where you report—tomorrow at 8 a.m.’ She turned to me. I detected her question.
‘Robert Harvie,’ I said.
‘Mr Harvie, you have accommodation in Accra?’
‘Yes, on the outskirts of the city.’
‘I see,’ she said and to further satisfy her curiosity she enquired, ‘what line of work you are engaged in, may I ask.’
‘It’s diplomatic work.’
‘Ah, of course. The residential compounds near the airport.’
‘Yes, that’s right.’
‘You have a fine group of diplomatic staff at the British embassy.’
‘You know us?’ I asked, with more than a degree of concern about my lies.
‘Not for a while. I have not been back to Scotland for several years now. My visa has certainly lapsed. The staff will have changed by now anyway, I am sure.’
‘Yes, our tours are not that long,’ I said.
‘Then I think we should give you both a double room rather than the one I had planned. It has a double bed.’
I could have kissed this doctor at that moment. But she had a further word of caution.
‘There is a curfew of course, even for those who are engaged. It is at 10 p.m.’ She unlocked the door. The room was sun-drenched, with a view over the sea.
‘What a beautiful room,’ said a delighted Morag.
‘There is an information pack on the dressing table. Meals are in the doctors’ dining room, but the kitchen is always open if you require food out of hours. You, Mr Harvie can eat with Morag when you are here.
‘Well, I’ll leave you to unpack. Give me a ring if you have any questions. There’s bound to be a few in a new hospital, so far from home.’
‘You have made us feel so welcome. I am sure my placement will go well,’ said Morag, smiling.
‘Let me give you an Akan Twi proverb. Kakra, kakra Akawkaw benum nsu. It literally means; slowly, slowly the hen drinks water. You can just imagine that, can’t you? It means you are new with much to learn in our culture. So, do it bit by bit, just as the hen drinks water. Enjoy your afternoon.’
With that proverb still in our minds she left and we stood together silent for a moment.
‘Engaged? When did that happen?’ I asked. We laughed and then we cuddled. ‘It sounded good to me.’
‘Well maybe one day,’ she said.
I felt good to hear that. We sauntered over to the window and looked out into the Gulf of Guinea.
‘You are as pretty as ever, I could not have found a better girl. I really love you,’ I said.
There was a moment’s pause.
‘I love you too Robert. But we’ve got to get you out of this mess you are in. Whatever it is. So, start from the beginning again. Tell me after you were on holiday on Jura....start there once more.’
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