The Green Leaves

"The Green Leaves" is a story about a clan defending their property and their way of life from Europeans. The main character, Nyagar, is the symbol of turmoil within this group. First Nyagar awakens without his wife, Nyamundhe, beside him. Nyagar becomes increasingly aggitated when he realizes that his door is unlocked, a thought which makes the reader aware of a certain vulnerability that Nyagar must be feeling. As Nyagar leaves his home with his clan, in pursuit of thieves who have robbed the villagers of a number of oxen, he once again reflects upon whether or not he has locked his gate. After the thieves are caught and left for dead, Nyagar finds himself drawn by greed and returns alone to rob the thief of any money he has hidden in his pockets. As Nyagar leans over the body of the thief he thinks "You only need to put your hand in his pockets, and all the money will be yours. Don't deceive yourself that you have enough wealth. Nobody in the world has enough wealth." Nyagar is not only putting himself in jeopardy, but also risking the safety of his wives and their well being. Upon robbing the thief he assumes is dead, Nyagar is himself killed and discovered the next morning by his clan. Thus the lesson of greed is taught, as well as the suggestion that the values of clan life have been sacrificed and impacted by the European officers who show up on the scene.