Setting+-+A+Meeting+in+the+Dark

The story takes place in Limuru region of Kenya. John and his family live besides a, so called "Mushroomtown", that grew up during the "Mau Mau war" (Independence war in Kenya). Johns girlfriend lives in the heart of this town. The setting of Johns and his girlfriend Wamuhus huts carry a greater meaning. John lives outside the town, he is the modern, western influenced member of the tribe, so he becomes distance to the others like for example Wamuhu and her family who are the heart of tribal life. As Johns hut lays between his fathers and the town he becomes to be the chaining between his western father and the traditional tribe. The story is full of contrasts. These are reflected in the weather and the surroundings. John loves the land, on the other hand he hates it because it keeps him from leaving, especially the town. This is also the place were his love lives, for John she is the one who binds him the most. At least the contrasts show the conflict of Johns father Stanley, with his western habits and beliefs, and the tribe, with its traditional lifestyle, and between it John.