does, Mma. He saves people.”
Especially ladies, thought Mma Ramotswe. And there were so many ladies to be saved.
“Saves them?” asked Mma Ramotswe.
Mma Boko stared at her. “Of course.”
Mma Ramotswe was silent for a moment. It was difficult to judge how one should approach these matters, she thought. You had to be honest, but you had to be careful not to be too brutal.
“You have a special relationship with the reverend, don’t you, Mma?”
Mma Boko gave her a searching look. And then the decision was made. Mma Ramotswe was to be trusted. “I believe that he and I will one day become joint agents of the Lord, Mma. I believe that—since you ask.”
“You believe that he will marry you?”
“If the Lord approves,” said Mma Boko. “Which I think he does. He has already given signs of that approval.”
“I see.”
“Yes, he approves very firmly, I believe.”
Mma Ramotswe steeled herself. The moment could not be put off much longer. “Mma Boko, may I ask you something? Who told you about the businessman who rents the flat for Nametso? Was it the reverend, by any chance?”
The question took Mma Boko by surprise, and she seemed to struggle with something before she answered. But then she said, “Yes, it was. He told me about it. He disapproved very strongly—as you can imagine.”
Mma Ramotswe bit her lip. He would; he would.
“Do you see him about the place often?” she asked. “Does he go to save Nametso just about every day?”
Mma Ramotswe noticed that Mma Boko’s hands were shaking. She knew. And of course that should not surprise her; a woman would know these things. She was equally convinced, though, that Mma Boko would have denied any knowledge she had of what the Reverend Flat Ponto was up to. She would have known and not known, both at the same time. That was the way people survived in the face of crushing disappointment.
“Oh, Mma,” Mma Boko suddenly blurted out. “That girl is a Jezebel. She is leading the reverend astray. He knows that his future must be with me, and yet he is being kind to her because she needs support—and saving. But his heart is not in anything that he does with her, Mma. I know that. I know that very well.”
There was nothing more that Mma Ramotswe could say to Mma Boko other than to hold her hand briefly and whisper, “I am sure that he loves you, Mma. But it is good to be careful about loving men back. Think about that, Mma.”
* * *
—
SHE LEFT MMA BOKO and began to look for Poppy. The crowd was now quite large, and there were children running around, squealing and yelling and making everything noisier and more chaotic. Eventually she found Poppy talking to an elderly man in a wheelchair. She drew her aside and a young couple came and wheeled the man off to one of the food tables.
“Are you enjoying the picnic?” asked Poppy. “People love these occasions.”
“It is all very joyful,” said Mma Ramotswe.
“That is the reverend’s influence,” said Poppy. “He spreads light wherever he goes.”
Mma Ramotswe was non-committal. “Well, he’s certainly popular.” She looked at Poppy. Who, she wondered, did Poppy have to pick up the pieces? Were there children, or siblings, who would provide her with a shoulder to cry on? For a few moments she wondered whether she should do this at all, or whether she should walk away and let these people get on with living their lives as they saw fit. But then she thought, No, I shall not do that—because if I don’t do anything there will be more Poppies and more Nametsos and poor Mma Bokos. There were any number of ladies with hearts to break, just looking for a charismatic preacher to break them.
“Mma,” began Mma Ramotswe, “I have found out something that makes me very happy.”
“Oh yes?” asked Poppy.
“Yes. I have found out that the Mercedes-Benz you gave to the reverend is being put to very good use.”
“I know that,” said Poppy. “It is doing the work of the Lord up in Maun. Or somewhere up there.”
Mma Ramotswe shook her head. “No, Mma, it is doing good work far closer to home. He has given it to a young woman—a very attractive young woman. She is driving round in it right here in Gaborone.”
Poppy frowned. “I don’t think so, Mma. The reverend told me—it is out in a remote area doing work there.”
Mma Ramotswe sighed. “I’m afraid not, Mma. It is being