w: With respect, Mr. Arendse, there are few MK soldiers in Mitchell?s Plain.
A: Too true, my bro, they stick to their own. But I got lucky. There was a vacancy and you know how it is? word gets out and the next thing I know this huge Xhosa is standing at the door and he says the vacancy is now filled. Best appointment I ever made.
w: And he told you he was ex-MK.
A: Exactly I was a bit skeptical, so we drove down to Strandfontein for a proper job interview and we gave him an old AK-47 and a lot of Castle beer bottles at two hundred yards. It may not sound far to you, my brother, but those dumpies were small and he blew them apart with monotonous regularity till the other troops gave him a standing ovation, you understand me?
w: Did he ever use his talents in your service?
A: Speak plain, my bro. Do you want to know if he ever shot someone?
w: Yes.
A: It was never necessary. His hawk look was enough. His mother loved him, but everyone else was scared shitless of him.
w: Where did he serve with MK?
A: How would I know? He never talked about it.
w: Never?
A: Hardly a word. Six years and I never knew him. Kept to himself, always a bit apart like Colin Wilson?s Outsider, but who cares, he was a jewel in my crown.
w: Colin who?
A: Literary reference, my bro. You wouldn'?t understand.
w: And then he left your service?
A: Two years ago, he came in and said he was finished. I thought he was playing me for an increase, but he wasn'?t interested. Next thing we know, he was working in a motorbike shop, gofer and general cleaner, can you believe it? Works for peanuts; he earned a small fortune with me. But now it seems he was busy with something on the side.
w: So you have had no contact with him the last two years?
A: Sweet fuck all.
w: I won?t take up your time any longer, Mr. Arendse.
A: Now there?s a relief.
w: You can send medical backup to Mitchell?s Plain. We will withdraw from the property.
A: Mr. Williams, you know nothing about Tiny Mpayipheli, am I right?
w: Why do you say that, Mr. Arendse?
A: Just call it a sneaking suspicion. So let me give you some advice: Start ordering the body bags now.
8.
She went quickly to phone from her office. The maid said Lizette was asleep already. She thanked Suthu for the extra bother of sleeping over and asked to talk to Lien.
?I know my work now, Ma, even though you weren?t here to help me.?
?I knew you could handle it.?
?Can I watch
Kids. Tried to manipulate every situation to maximum advantage. She wanted to be angry and laugh at the same time.
?You know the rules, Lien. The age restriction is sixteen.? And even as she said it she knew exactly what the response would be.
All my friends watch it, Ma. I?m nearly sixteen. I?m not a child anymore.? All three basic arguments in one breath.
?I know you?re not a child anymore. You are a wonderful, lovable fifteen-year-old who needs to wait only a couple more months. Then you can watch with your undisciplined friends. Get enough sleep, you need it for the exam.?
?Maa-aa ??
?And tell Lizette I was just too late to say good night. Tell her I love both of you very much? and I?m very proud of you, too.?
?don'?t work too hard, Ma.?
?I won?t.?
?We love you, too.?
?I know, kid. Sleep well.?
?Night, Ma.?
