They are Coming

Chapter 16

63 Chapter 16 It’s another very hot day and life seems to stand still. Ngwenya, in the lead, walks along Sibambene Street. He’s carrying a faded orange travelling bag. Ambition follows close behind him and MaNdlovu brings up the rear. No one speaks. Ambition’s eyes are on the faded white lettering on the broad back of his father’s blue overalls: ANGLO AMERICAN PLATINUM . ‘We’re going to do something important in the bush that will help all of us.’ Ngwenya had gravely informed Ambition before they left home. ‘It will especially help you, my son, after whatever occurred to you two days ago.’ When his mother had woken him up, she’d told him that she and his father were going to consult the inyanga, and that he was not to go anywhere until they returned. Ambition had felt his heart lighten. The inyanga with his razor blade was the last person he wanted to see. When his parents had departed, he got dressed and washed his face at the tap. Then he’d found some warm porridge in the pot on the stove, served himself a plateful, added peanut butter and sugar to it, and had his breakfast. Two hours later, his parents had come back and found him trying to construct a car from wire in the shade of the mulberry tree. ‘I want you to listen carefully,’ his father said. ‘The inyanga has given us something important to do. We’re going to walk across the township into the bush. You must not look behind you or to the side, or talk to anyone, even if we know them and even if they greet us.’ Ambition had nodded, intrigued. ‘If you look behind you or talk to anyone, the magic won’t work. Do 64 you understand me?’ Ambition had nodded his head again, and then had asked in a small voice. ‘Are we going to meet the inyanga in the forest Baba?’ His father had looked into his eyes. ‘You’re afraid of him?’ ‘Yes, Baba, I do not like his razor blade.’ ‘That’s good. It shows that you have fear, which I sometimes doubt judging by the things you get up to. But, no, my son, this time we will work without the inyanga, but at his instruction.’ ‘No razor blade?’ ‘No razor blade, I promise you, unless you disobey me, then we will be forced to call the inyanga to come with it.’ As they walk through the township, Ginger suddenly appears at his father ’s feet, and his father kicks him away. The dog yelps and disappears behind Ambition, who almost turns his head, but remembering his father’s warning, keeps his eyes fixed firmly ahead. ‘How are you, Baba Ngwenya?’ A female voice calls from behind them. ‘MaNdlovu, how is the child?’ Ambition instantly recognises the voice of MaChivanda. Nobody replies and the Ngwenya family walks on as if they’ve not heard anything. Ambition hunches his shoulders. He feels very rude. Thankfully, MaChivanda does not call out again. They walk on. The yards that line the street seem empty, except for a child here and there, and they are of no concern to the Ngwenya family. Ambition is relieved that Ntando is nowhere to be seen. His friend would never have understood an apparent rebuff. As they reach the end of the street, Ntando’s father, Tshabalala, appears in front of them. He’s dressed in riot police uniform, and carries a long truncheon in one hand, and a plastic carrier bag containing several bottles of beer in the other. He’s wearing a dark blue helmet with the plastic visor pulled up. As he draws nearer, he tucks his truncheon into his armpit, and takes off his helmet. His face is covered in sweat. ‘Good morning, good neighbours,’ he greets them in a tired voice, and tries to wipe his face against his right shoulder, then his jaw drops as the Ngwenya family walk past him without replying. So this is the beginning, Sergeant Tshabalala thinks as he watches the Ngwenya family. He’d expected that his neighbours would begin to shun him ever since the election business and the riots had begun, and the police had been ordered into the streets and told to beat people up. 65 But to think that only yesterday he’d helped Ngwenya obtain his release without...