Page "My Ishmael" Paragraph 8

Julie returns to the U. S. and ultimately hears from Owens that Ishmael's migration to Africa is successful.

She hears also about Alan Lomax, who was becoming too attached to Ishmael as a pupil and not seeming to understand his own need to become a teacher.

With this in mind, Alan is told that Ishmael has died ; such a ploy is regarded as successful, since it motivates Alan to write the book Ishmael in 1992 ( in which Ishmael's death is noted near the end ).

Although Julie wishes to publish her own book — this very story — Owens forbids her from doing so until Mobutu's regime ( and with it, Nkemi's ) is on the verge of collapse.

This is because, according to Alan's Ishmael, Ishmael is dead and so his magnificence will not be taken seriously ; Ishmael will not be hunted down by Nkemi, who has heard of Ishmael being in his country, if Ishmael is presumed dead.

Finally, however, in 1997 ( when Julie is eighteen years old ) Owens contacts Julie, telling her that Mobutu's days are numbered and she may finally publish My Ishmael.