Left to Tell: Chapter 7 Summary & Analysis

Pastor Murinzi lives in a large, lavish, European-style house. He greets Immaculée with a smile; he is a close friend of her family, and also John’s uncle. Immaculée once heard her aunt say that the pastor “resented” Leonard’s good actions, but he has always been kind to Immaculée. Pastor Murinzi takes Immaculée and Augustine into his living room, where guests are gathered. Among them is Buhoro, and when Immaculée sees him she smiles. However, he turns away in disgust, and Immaculée realizes that he is a Hutu extremist. Immaculée then sees Janet, her friend from primary school. However, to Immaculée’s horror Janet also pushes her away.

Pastor Murinzi’s youngest son, Lechim, is another of Immaculée’s close friends from primary school, and was the first boy she ever kissed. Now, he comforts and reassures her, telling her that she can stay in his sister’s room. Lechim’s mother was Tutsi, although she died a few years earlier. Augustine starts crying. He is Hutu but looks Tutsi, and he overheard people in the living room saying he is a spy for the RPF. Immaculée assures him that he is not going to die, although she is not convinced of this herself.

Immaculée lies down in Dusenge’s room and thinks about the events of the past few days. Before long, Damascene rushes in to tell her that the killers have burned down their family home. Leonard has gone to Kabayi for help even though Kabayi tried to starve him in prison. Leonard was able to return home accompanied by soldiers, but the soldiers then summoned the killers, who attacked the crowd of Tutsis who’d been camped out around the house. The killers burned down the house, and Leonard and Rose escaped on the motorcycle. Damascene cries out that they are now trapped, and he angrily asks Immaculée why she kept assuring them that everything was going to be ok.

Immaculée decides that she cannot give up hope and promises Damascene that they will survive. Damascene tells her to stay with Augustine and not to leave the house under any circumstances. Damascene decides to stay with a Hutu friend who lives nearby. As it comes time for Immaculée and Damascene to say goodbye, she is so sad she can barely look at him. When she holds his hands, they feel like the hands of “a disappearing soul.” Damascene smiles sadly and leaves.