Book 4, Chapter 16 Summary

Salim flies to the capital. In the air, it seems flimsy after London and Europe. In the long drive into town, he sees 10-foot high boards with sayings from the President. He sees portraits of the President as big as houses. He feels an odd sympathy for the President. He has just been to Europe and seen what Africa is up against.

Salim's sympathy is lost when he finds his hotel filled with secret police. They are there for show, but their guns are loaded. This was the city where the President grew up. Now it is decaying, but there are new public works here and there. Salim notices that European statues have been replaced with statues of African tribesmen.

The next morning, Salim is stopped at the airport and put in a room to wait for the official to come...