The Geographer's Library

The Geographer’ s Library
and your sons Grigoriy and Fyodor, and hope that this missive finds you
and your esteemed family in no worse health than when we last saw each
other in Santiago de Cuba.
Our units continue to fight bravely against the nationalist rebels,
though we are at a distinct disadvantage in knowledge of the terrain.
With barricades at strategic points of entry along roads and passes, our
revolutionary forces control Ethiopia’s major cities. Our writ, however,
ends at nightfall and does not extend far beyond any city’s perimeter. I
hope that we are good enough friends that I need feel no shame at telling
you of my relief at leaving Asmara.
My position here has been filled by Cesar Reyes, who, following
what I assume were your instructions, has told my battalion that I
have gone to scout ahead with a small forward regiment in the highlands.
This has given rise to the most ridiculous stories of my bravery
and commitment. As I departed, one of my sergeants, a crude and robust
man named Juan Colón, surreptitiously placed in my hands a small
mahogany cross that he said had belonged to his great-grandfather
Ernesto.
With your permission assumed, I will now speak plainly, and leave
the mouthing of phrases to our esteemed comrades with more strictly
military temperaments. Perhaps you will do me the same courtesy and
let me know, when next we meet, whether Juan Colón is also one of ours
or whether he is simply one of the many men in both of our countries
who might be sympathetic but is as yet ignorant of this particular mission.
Whatever the case, I took his good wishes as a favorable omen,
whether from you or from Someone Else, and traveled by military aircraft
from Asmara to Axum without incident.
I have now been in Axum for some six weeks looking into this matter.
I have a small villa in the Ethiopian style—mudbrick, low ceilings,
small rooms, narrow tables—with one interpreter (a native of
Axum named Gebredan), and one cook, housecleaner, and general errand
runner. My accommodation suits me perfectly, though generally
my reception has been anything but pleasant: the people here hate me.
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