about life and death. ‘It was our great-great ancestor, uNkulunkulu, who created the Zulu people and the world around them. After making Man, he sent the chameleon off to pass on a joyful message to them: “You will bear a great number of children. And live forever.” But then uNkulunkulu changed his mind, so he sent the gecko lizard off with another message: “All the people, all the animals, all living things will die!”
‘The chameleon wandered off, lazily. He came upon some ubuKwébezane berries. They looked so good that he started feasting on them immediately. Time passed and still the chameleon ate berry after berry. There’s still plenty of time left to deliver the message to Man, he thought. It was only much later that he decided to move on. When he eventually reached his destination, he found that the lizard had already delivered his message. And from that day on, all living things, including Man were doomed to die.’
The story stayed with me as I fell asleep that night, dreaming of chameleons and lizards.
I woke the following day with the sound of a plover screeching. The cicadas had also started their drawn-out jeer.
I felt a faint sadness inside me. Was I homesick? I missed Mum a lot. But I enjoyed South Africa. The animals, the people, the new experiences I would never have had back in London. I preferred the wide African skies to the dull, cloudy skies of London. I didn’t miss the bustling streets of London, the grey buildings, the noise, the rain.
It was as if my soul had quietened down here. I could breathe freely. But there was still something missing …
I heard the front door open. Footsteps, which I recognised by now as Themba’s.
‘Buyi? Are you still sleeping?’ he asked, leaning past the doorway into my room. His uniform was spotless.
‘No, just lying here, thinking. What are you doing back?’
‘I came to fetch my rifle. Lwazi, Johan and I are going out into the bush to try and find that lion. We had a bit of a scare yesterday. We don’t want that to happen again.’ He entered my room, glancing around. ‘There are no guests in the camp today. The Americans have gone to the cheetah sanctuary down the road. They will be back late afternoon.’
‘Can I come with you?’ I sat upright in my bed.
‘No!’ His answer was abrupt.
I sighed and leaned back against the pillow. Another day of boredom.
‘Why is this room such a pigsty?’ Themba stared at me, his face strict, disapproving.
‘Sorry?’
‘All these things lying around. CDs, shoes, clothes … Didn’t I tell you to do your washing? And clean up after yourself?’
‘You told me to do my own washing. Not to clean up.’
‘Do I have to spell everything out to you, Buyisiwe?’ His voice was in attack mode. Fierce.
‘Yes, why don’t you? Then at least I would know what you want. Bloody hell!’
‘You are not going to swear at me!’
‘Oh, I’m sorry then, another thing you didn’t spell out for me!’
Themba’s whole body tensed up. His jaws were clenched. His hands rolled into tight fists. ‘You will respect elder people. Get out of bed and get a move on. I’ll be back this afternoon.’ Silence fell between us, then he said, ‘And another thing – makesure Umfana is cared for. See to it that he gets clean water and food. Clear enough for you?’
He left in a rage.
I felt the anger burning inside me. Bastard!
I got out of bed, banged the closet door shut, kicked the stuff lying about into one heap. I drew my finger over the desktop. The dirt stuck to my finger. The desk hadn’t been cleaned since I got there. Neither had the tiles been mopped.
I was in no mood for this. I went to the kitchen to get myself a cup of coffee. While the water was busy boiling, I stepped outside to see to Umfana.
At least I knew somebody around there appreciated me.
The sun was already blazing down. The sand hot below my bare feet. I wiped away a weeping wattle branch from my face, thesoft leaves tickling my
‘The chameleon wandered off, lazily. He came upon some ubuKwébezane berries. They looked so good that he started feasting on them immediately. Time passed and still the chameleon ate berry after berry. There’s still plenty of time left to deliver the message to Man, he thought. It was only much later that he decided to move on. When he eventually reached his destination, he found that the lizard had already delivered his message. And from that day on, all living things, including Man were doomed to die.’
The story stayed with me as I fell asleep that night, dreaming of chameleons and lizards.
I woke the following day with the sound of a plover screeching. The cicadas had also started their drawn-out jeer.
I felt a faint sadness inside me. Was I homesick? I missed Mum a lot. But I enjoyed South Africa. The animals, the people, the new experiences I would never have had back in London. I preferred the wide African skies to the dull, cloudy skies of London. I didn’t miss the bustling streets of London, the grey buildings, the noise, the rain.
It was as if my soul had quietened down here. I could breathe freely. But there was still something missing …
I heard the front door open. Footsteps, which I recognised by now as Themba’s.
‘Buyi? Are you still sleeping?’ he asked, leaning past the doorway into my room. His uniform was spotless.
‘No, just lying here, thinking. What are you doing back?’
‘I came to fetch my rifle. Lwazi, Johan and I are going out into the bush to try and find that lion. We had a bit of a scare yesterday. We don’t want that to happen again.’ He entered my room, glancing around. ‘There are no guests in the camp today. The Americans have gone to the cheetah sanctuary down the road. They will be back late afternoon.’
‘Can I come with you?’ I sat upright in my bed.
‘No!’ His answer was abrupt.
I sighed and leaned back against the pillow. Another day of boredom.
‘Why is this room such a pigsty?’ Themba stared at me, his face strict, disapproving.
‘Sorry?’
‘All these things lying around. CDs, shoes, clothes … Didn’t I tell you to do your washing? And clean up after yourself?’
‘You told me to do my own washing. Not to clean up.’
‘Do I have to spell everything out to you, Buyisiwe?’ His voice was in attack mode. Fierce.
‘Yes, why don’t you? Then at least I would know what you want. Bloody hell!’
‘You are not going to swear at me!’
‘Oh, I’m sorry then, another thing you didn’t spell out for me!’
Themba’s whole body tensed up. His jaws were clenched. His hands rolled into tight fists. ‘You will respect elder people. Get out of bed and get a move on. I’ll be back this afternoon.’ Silence fell between us, then he said, ‘And another thing – makesure Umfana is cared for. See to it that he gets clean water and food. Clear enough for you?’
He left in a rage.
I felt the anger burning inside me. Bastard!
I got out of bed, banged the closet door shut, kicked the stuff lying about into one heap. I drew my finger over the desktop. The dirt stuck to my finger. The desk hadn’t been cleaned since I got there. Neither had the tiles been mopped.
I was in no mood for this. I went to the kitchen to get myself a cup of coffee. While the water was busy boiling, I stepped outside to see to Umfana.
At least I knew somebody around there appreciated me.
The sun was already blazing down. The sand hot below my bare feet. I wiped away a weeping wattle branch from my face, thesoft leaves tickling my
Similar Books
