Perseverance — Page 138
138 – the story of al-haj Rashid ahmad american animals. Every man became ill except me. People thought that I must have African blood which made me immune to mosquito borne illnesses. In fact, Kunze almost died, having contracted malaria. I was given a special room to stay in that farm area. All other men were to sleep outside. When I entered the room the first thing I saw was a snake with a big frog in its mouth. I said, “No, that’s ok. I’ll sleep outside with the other men. ” Rats were treated there like Americans treat squirrels. They would come right alongside our beds. People would throw them something to eat and they would jump at it. FORCE OF HABIT Dr. Hashmatullah and I were always in the company of the Khal ī fah ra. On one occasion, the Khal ī fah ra came out of his quarters and got in his car. Without asking anything we both got into the front seat of the car. Huzoor ra was occupied reading something when after a few miles he realized that Dr. Hashmatullah and I were in the car. He then told the driver, “I am going to a Lajnah meeting…what would they think when they see Dr. s a hib and Rashid with me?” The driver turned around and dropped us both off and then proceeded again with the Khal ī fah ra alone.