Chapter 87 (Book Chapter 87) Summary and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
While waiting at the Gatwick Radisson, Hanif realizes that Mitch Maxwell will not arrive with the box. He runs through the mistakes that led to this failure. Hanif originally devised the plan to send the box through the regular smuggling chain rather than create a special route, because a Swedish buyer in Staffordshire had made an offer. He deliberately concealed the box’s value from Mitch and Luca to avoid paying them a cut, but this also meant they took less care. Hanif had asked a young cousin to follow the box’s journey and retrieve it from Luca, even buying the cousin a motorbike. The box vanished, and the cousin could only chase ghosts. Hanif acknowledges that the deaths and financial losses are ultimately his fault—he was clever but did not do his homework. However, he quickly rationalizes that apologizing for every mistake leads to madness and that one cannot be responsible for the chaos in one’s wake. He considers flying back to Afghanistan but knows he would be killed there. Instead, Hanif decides to remain in London, out of Sayed’s reach, and contemplates leaving the heroin trade altogether. A university friend has offered a job at a hedge fund, and someone at a party suggested he enter politics. Hanif reflects that it is nice to have options.
Key Events
- Hanif waits at the Gatwick Radisson for Mitch Maxwell but accepts that Mitch is not coming with the box.
- Hanif reviews his original plan: using the regular smuggling chain for the box, concealing its value, and assigning a cousin to track it.
- He acknowledges that the box went missing and the cousin was unable to recover it.
- Hanif blames himself for the resulting deaths and financial losses but quickly dismisses the need to apologize.
- He decides not to return to Afghanistan because of the danger and instead stays in London.
- Hanif considers two new career paths: a hedge fund job and a possible move into politics.
- The chapter ends with Hanif feeling relieved to have options.
Character Development
Hanif: This chapter offers a rare glimpse of self-assessment. Hanif admits his plan was flawed—he was too clever and did not do proper homework. His inner reasoning shifts from acceptance of guilt ("it was all because of him") to a pragmatic dismissal of regret ("you can't go round apologizing for every little mistake"). This reveals a character who, while capable of honesty, ultimately prioritizes self-preservation and forward momentum. His choice to stay in London and explore legal careers shows a desire to leave criminal life behind, yet his casual rationalization of past harm raises questions about how much he has truly changed.
Mitch Maxwell and Luca Buttaci: Referenced only in hindsight, they are portrayed as unreliable associates whose lack of care contributed to the loss. Hanif’s retrospective criticism underscores his own miscalculation in trusting them.
Sayed: The off-stage threat. Hanif’s decision to stay in London is directly shaped by the fear that Sayed would kill him if he returned to Afghanistan.
Hanif’s cousin: A young relative who was given a motorbike to follow the box but ultimately failed. The cousin is a symbol of Hanif’s misplaced reliance and the chain of people affected by his scheme.
Themes, Symbols, and Motifs
Consequences of Greed and Oversight: Hanif’s desire to avoid sharing a cut led him to withhold information from his smugglers, which in turn resulted in the box being lost. The theme of miscalculation illustrates how short-term greed can unravel a carefully laid plan.
The Illusion of a Fresh Start: Hanif weighs leaving the heroin trade for a hedge fund or politics, suggesting that criminals can reinvent themselves. Yet his easy dismissal of moral responsibility hints that the "fresh start" may merely be a new arena for the same ruthlessness.
The Transient Space: The Gatwick Radisson, a hotel near an airport, embodies impermanence. Hanif is neither home (London) nor his original base (Afghanistan); he is in a liminal space, waiting for a contact that never arrives, deciding his next move.
The Missing Box as McGuffin: The box itself—likely containing heroin—has driven much of the plot. Its disappearance here represents the collapse of Hanif’s scheme and the price paid by those caught in its orbit.
Rationalization vs. Responsibility: Hanif immediately undercuts his own admission of guilt, arguing that apology is madness and chaos is not one’s fault. This internal conflict mirrors the larger tension in the novel between owning one’s actions and self-forgiveness.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a pivot point for one of the novel’s secondary antagonists. Hanif’s acknowledgment that his scheme led to death and loss provides a moment of accountability, even if he quickly deflects it. More importantly, his decision to stay in London and consider legitimate work sets up a potential alternative future for a character who could otherwise remain mired in criminal violence. The chapter also closes a major plot thread—the fate of the box and the failure of the smuggling operation—while opening a new question: Will Hanif succeed in leaving the underworld, or will his past catch up with him? Its compact length and reflective tone make it a quiet but significant character study.
Study Questions and Answers
Q1. Why does Hanif decide against apologizing for the mistakes he made?
A1. Hanif believes that apologizing for every mistake "leads to madness." He rationalizes that the chaos following in one’s wake is not one’s responsibility, allowing him to absolve himself and move forward without confronting the human cost of his actions.
Q2. What does Hanif’s choice to stay in London rather than return to Afghanistan reveal about his character?
A2. It demonstrates his instinct for self-preservation—he knows Sayed would kill him in Afghanistan—and his adaptability. Rather than face certain death, he chooses to reinvent himself in a new city, suggesting a pragmatic and opportunistic nature.
Q3. How does this chapter connect to the broader theme of miscalculation in the novel?
A3. Hanif’s admission that he was "clever but didn't do his homework" echoes the mistakes of other characters who underestimate the risks of their criminal enterprises. His loss of the box and the resulting deaths reinforce the idea that underestimating collaborators and cutting corners can lead to catastrophic failure.