The Plague Of Doves

Antone reflects on how much he likes Shamengwa, especially considering the effort the old man puts into self-care and daily grooming. But what Antone finds the most impressive about Shamengwa is his ability to use his disfigured arm to play the fiddle. “The inside became the outside when Shamengwa played music” (196); his music is highly emotive, connoting alternately deep-seated joy and hidden terror so he isn’t always wanted at parties, but Geraldine drives him to contests that he wins. Shamengwa doesn’t care about the trophies, allowing Evelina to play with and break them, but he zealously cares for his violin.

One morning, Geraldine comes over to cut Shamengwa’s hair and finds her uncle tied to his bed and the violin gone. Like everyone else, Antone knows Corwin Peace, a troubled kid turned drug dealer and thief, has stolen the violin. Antone keeps track of Corwin, just like the police do, but when questioned Corwin claims he’d never steal an old man’s violin. He even makes the appearance of going straight for a bit, staying sober and getting a job.

Without the violin, Shamengwa’s health starts to fail, and Antone sits with him to mourn the loss of music together. He notices that Shamengwa is unkempt, indicating the man’s downward spiral.