From Clarke’s perspective, in Chapter 10, Winterbottom is a nuisance: “One of the problems of living” in Okperi is “that one [has] to cope with a guest like Winterbottom absolutely alone” (101). Clarke and Wright had struck up a friendship Wright when Clarke stayed at the Rest House outside Umuaro. But he could not invite Wright with Winterbottom there.

“Far from the stiff atmosphere of Winterbottom’s Government Hill,” the two had “talked like old friends” (102). Wright recognized that his role is that of “a common roadmaker” (102), and so men like Winterbottom look down on him. Even still, Wright has compassion for Winterbottom who has “been badly treated” and had trials in his “domestic life” (103), with a wife at home who left him for another man.

Wright’s solution to loneliness was “to sleep with native women” (104). Clarke wonders if this practice of keeping “dusky mistresses” (104), as Wright calls the women, is common. Winterbottom is, both men admitted, “some sort of buffoon” (104) in the eyes of other men.

With this remembered conversation in his mind, Clarke goes to check on the chicken his cook roasts for dinner. He wonders why he is “so nervous” (105) about Winterbottom’s impending arrival.