They are Coming

Chapter 20

79 1977 Chapter 20 After the attack on the ranch and the disappearance of Mbambo and others, Ngwenya had been elevated to the position of foreman by Mr Phillips, and eleven workers had also been hired from the surrounding villages. Ngwenya was offered what had been Mbambo’s hut, after it had been repaired. The hut was spacious and came with an iron bed, a small table, two chairs and a paraffin stove. As foreman, he discovered that he now had more time on his hands; his duties were more supervisory, and the workers did not need much supervision. He also found himself visiting the ranch house more often than before , to report to the Phillipses. This, of course, meant seeing more of Senzeni, who he considered a warm-hearted young woman with a quick and inquisitive mind. ‘When do you think it is going to end?’ she’d asked him one day as he waited to see Mrs Phillips. ‘The war I mean?’ ‘Who knows?’ Ngwenya shrugged his shoulders. ‘I guess it’ll be over when the brothers eventually win.’ ‘It’s not only men who are fighting!’ ‘Oh, sorry, when the brothers and sisters win.’ ‘But are they going to win?’ They were talking in low voices as Tom pushed a toy tank across the floor of the veranda, making shooting sounds with his mouth. ‘They’ve been fighting for years now, and white 80 people are still ruling the country.’ She nodded her head in Tom’s direction . Ngwenya glanced at the small boy. ‘Almost the whole of Africa is now free, and the countries fought for their freedom.’ His voice was so low she could barely hear him. ‘It’s the only way forward. The whites are greatly outnumbered. They will lose in time. It’s inevitable.’ ‘Have you ever thought of joining up?’ ‘On whose side?’ Ngwenya avoided eye contact, looking at the tip of his boots. ‘Whose side would you fight on?’ He looked up at her, and she looked down at her hands, which were still clasped on her lap. ‘It’s pretty obvious isn’t it?’ he replied. ‘No, you tell me. There are plenty of blacks in the Rhodesian army.’ Her words seemed to say that while some blacks were in the national army fighting the guerrillas, here they were, working in a white ranch. ‘Well, you make a guess!’ His voice was hard. She’d pushed too far and he’d taken offence. He knew that she knew the answer and he didn’t have to say it; if she didn’t know it, then she might be suspecting him of something unpleasant. But before he could reply, the door onto the veranda opened, and Mrs Phillips appeared. ‘What are you two whispering about?’ She was carrying a glass of beer, a rifle slung over her shoulder. She was never unarmed when her husband was away. Losing her son and daughter-in-law had simultaneously hardened and frightened her. ‘Nothing madam,’ Ngwenya replied, jumping to his feet, and pressing his sun hat to his chest, his face expressionless. ‘We talk of sun and how hot he is.’ ‘Yes, it’s pretty obvious he is hot?’ Mrs Phillips sounded irritated. She looked at Tom, and then knelt beside him and ruffled his hair. ‘Okay, Tommy?’ ‘My tank needs new bullets.’ ‘Don’t worry sonny, we’ll fill her up when we drive to the city tomorrow.’ ‘And new wheels, too. I want to drive the tank around the ranch.’ ‘Big wheels to chase the small-minded terrorists, hmm?’ Mrs Phillips switched to Ndebele as she turned to Senzeni, ‘Everything okay?’ ‘Yes madam, no problem at all.’ Senzeni flashed her an empty smile. Mrs Phillips looked at Ngwenya. ‘Come in. Let’s hear your story. Are 81 there any signs of the two missing cows?’ ‘No, nothing…’ Ngwenya followed her into the house. Two cows had gone missing three days previously from Paddock Four. The fence surrounding the paddock had been cut and the animals spirited out of the ranch. Mrs Phillips had ordered Ngwenya to take Gumede, an expert tracker, to track the cattle thieves, whom she suspected might be neighbouring villagers. Ngwenya and Gumede had followed the spoor, which led them deep into the countryside to the south-west. They had both taken off their ranch overalls in case they met the guerrillas, whose reaction towards people who...