Part 1: Chapter 1 Summary

Petals of Blood starts with the arrest of the four main characters in the novel. Munira is the first to be arrested, and the two officers who come for him treat him respectfully, as he is the headmaster of Ilmorog School. There has been a triple murder in Ilmorog, they tell him, and Munira is wanted for routine questioning. The next person taken into custody is Abdulla, the one-legged bar and shop owner. He has just come from a night in the hospital, and his left hand is bandaged, although we don't yet know why. The officers try to arrest Wanja next, and are greeted by a doctor who tells them she is delirious and hallucinating. He tells them that in 10 days time, she would be recovered sufficiently for questioning. Karega is the fourth suspect, and has come in late from...