‘Oh no!’
Nthebolang looks back. Beatrice has tugged at her dress caught on a thorn and has ripped a long hole in it. Nthebolang goes back to have a look at the damage.
‘We’ll need to get Elizabeth to fix that when we get back,’ she teases. Beatrice laughs. Nthebolang reminds herself that they’ll need to make sure Thomas Milner does not see the tear upon their return. He’ll ask questions.
They continue around the edge of the hill, and just as they round a very large boulder, there’s the mouth of the cave. It’s a wide cut into the sandstone side of the hill. Little can be seen from their distance – just a block of darkness at the entrance.
Nthebolang takes Beatrice’s hand. ‘It’s best to keep quiet. If they’re disturbed, they wake up and fly out.’
As they enter the mouth of the cave, their eyes adjust to the gloom and when they look up they can see hundreds, maybe thousands, of bats hanging upside down from the roof, their rubbery wings hugging their bodies in the coolness of the cave. They make a low humming noise. The cave is humid and smells of bat guano.
Nthebolang’s eyes are focused on the bats when she suddenly hears a noise and turns around just as an owl swoops down at her from a ledge high inside the cave. It’s huge, a giant eagle owl with massively wide wings, feet bigger than her hand, and pink eyelids. It brushes by her as it leaves the cave, so close that she can feel the beating of its wings near her face. Without thinking, she screams and falls to the ground, covering her head with her arms.
Her screams disturb the bats, and within seconds they’re moving, like one animal with many parts. Their high-pitched squeaks fill the small cave, bouncing off the walls over and over again. Beatrice falls to the ground next to the cowering Nthebolang. They both cover their ears to the piercing sound. They stay huddled into each other as the bats fly first down towards them and then up out of the mouth of the cave and into the sky. Nthebolang looks up to see the long black ribbon as they fly off down the other side of the mountain, their day’s sleep disturbed too early.
And then it’s quiet. Still, for some seconds, they stay put. Beatrice stands first. She reaches down for Nthebolang. ‘It’s fine now.’
Nthebolang stands, her heart still pounding hard. ‘Sorry. That owl gave me a fright. I didn’t expect it. It seemed to fly right at me, as if it was coming for me.’
‘I’m sure it wasn’t,’ says Beatrice. ‘Let’s check the back of the cave.’
‘It’s very dark,’ Nthebolang warns. She’s still unsettled by the owl and the disturbed bats. She doesn’t want to go into the cave now; it seems scary and unsafe.
‘We’ll not go far,’ Beatrice says. ‘We can’t come all this way and not look inside properly.’
Nthebolang relents. They inch their way inside. It’s surprising, the range of darkness to which a person’s eyes can adapt. There seems to be no light, and yet they can still make out the outlines of the dripping rock hanging from the ceiling of the cave. As they move deeper in, the humidity rises and the smell of the bats gets stronger. Though Nthebolang can’t see where it’s coming from, she can hear water running from somewhere at the back. She wonders if there’s a river of some sort in the cave. Motsumi told her the caves in the mountain were connected, sometimes by narrow passages through which a person cannot fit, sometimes by wide spaces through which three people can pass at the same time. He said the caves were made by water dripping and dripping on to the stone, some of which dissolved, leaving many openings.
At the time when he told her this, she wondered how he knew such things, since he never went to school or learned to read. He said he listened to Kgosi Sechele, who knew lots of things, and sometimes when there were no cases at the kgotla, Motsumi sat with his father and the other headmen and they listened to Kgosi Sechele tell them stories. When Kgosi Sechele was young, just a boy, he and his mother had had to flee their tribe. They walked throughout southern Africa looking for a place of refuge. During those walks, they slept in many places and caves were some of the safer homes they found.
Beatrice walks slightly in front, holding Nthebolang’s hand behind her. She takes small steps forward, not sure of what lies ahead.
‘Let’s go back, Beaty,’ says Nthebolang. Something doesn’t seem right. The darkness ahead of them is so solid; it has no lighter areas, no outlines of hanging rocks. It’s just a solid blackness. It feels wrong.
They take only two more steps when Beatrice screams and jumps back, pulling Nthebolang with her.
‘Don’t! It ends!’ Beatrice shouts. ‘Don’t take any more steps.’
‘What do you mean it ends?’ asks Nthebolang, confused.
‘The cave. There’s a drop. There’s no floor. Just a hole.’
Nthebolang grabs Beatrice’s hand tighter and with no further discussion she pulls her out of the cave. Neither of them speaks again until they’re back outside in the sun.
‘That’s very odd,’ Beatrice says, now more calmly.
‘Yes.’ Nthebolang wonders if that cave is attached to the endless cave at the top. Could the back of the cave for the bats be part of the long fall the accused people suffer? A few more steps and they might have joined them. She tries not to think about that. A chill runs through her and all she wants is to be away from this place.
‘I think we need to head home,’ she says. ‘We don’t want to be out on this mountain at night – anything could happen.’
‘I don’t know why I didn’t see that danger. Something is blocking me here,’ says Beatrice, looking around as if searching for something. ‘Others visit this cave, or at least have been here. Often, I suspect. I can feel them.’
‘Let’s go, Beaty,’ Nthebolang urges. ‘We need to get home with enough time to change that dress. If Thomas sees that, he’ll know that we were out.’
Beatrice smiles. ‘Nthebolang, I told you before: pay Thomas no heed. He’ll soon be sorted. It’s all much clearer now.’
Despite her words, she follows Nthebolang back along the path heading home. Beatrice is right, Nthebolang thinks; everything appears clearer to her too. Anger has a way of simplifying things, revenge even more so. Now she needs to figure out her plan.
Chapter Twenty-five
A few days later, Motsumi is standing at the fence behind the cooking house, speaking through the spaces between the thick branches. From Nthebolang’s view, he is cut into long, thin strips.
‘Meet me tonight.’
‘I’m not sure I can get away,’ Nthebolang says.
Since the visit to Mmapitse, her mother watches her closely. Besides, Nthebolang has decided she’ll not see him, will not go to the koppie again. He’s to be married to someone else, to Seabe, and she shouldn’t be meeting him. She needs to break from him so that she can leave Ntsweng with Beatrice, so that she can leave with a free mind. With Barobi here, more than ever she knows she has to leave this place.
Motsumi pushes his face against the rough wood. ‘Please … I need to see you … I need to talk to you. I think I’ll go mad if I don’t. Please, just tonight.’
He looks so upset. She’s never seen him like this before. Despite everything, she cares about him; she doesn’t want to see him suffering like this. She gives in.
‘Maybe. I’ll see if I can manage, but it might be late.’
‘That’s fine. I’ll wait for you – the entire night if I need to.’
Motsumi fills her mind for the rest of the day. She wonders what’s troubling him so much. She’ll go to the koppie, but only tonight, only to help him through whatever it is that’s bothering him. And then it will be over. He’ll marry Seabe, and she’ll leave. It’s better like that. Nthebolang knows Motsumi’s limitations. He’s not mentally strong. It’s the part of him that convinces her he’s not the man for her. Love will not be enough for them. She knows that to stand against family and culture requires someone made of much sterner material than Motsumi.
That night, she waits for her mother to fall asleep and then she carefully slips out of t
he house. It’s a cool moonless night, and Nthebolang creeps to the gate trying to avoid any stick or stone that might make a noise, but then she hears something behind her.
‘Where are you going?’
It’s Beatrice. She’s sitting on the ground in her nightdress, leaning against the fence, hidden behind a tree so no one can see her from the direction of the house, including Nthebolang, who passed right next to her.
‘What are you doing out here?’ Nthebolang asks, her voice sharper than it might have been because she’s been startled.
Beatrice ignores the question. ‘You know, the other day, the day we went for the walk to see the bats, I knew where that other path led.’
‘You should go inside. If Thomas finds you out here he’ll not control his anger.’
‘Do you think I care about that fool?’
‘Let me help you inside, Beaty.’ Nthebolang bends to help her to her feet.
‘Leave me! Nthebolang, don’t be like the others. Leave me to do as I like. I beg you. We’re not like them. Don’t let them force you to be what you’re not.’
Nthebolang backs away from Beatrice, unsure what to do.
‘That cliff is where they take the witches, isn’t it?’ Beatrice says.
‘Yes … it is.’
‘I could feel their souls there. So many innocent, sad souls.’ Beatrice begins to cry. Nthebolang has never seen her cry and is shocked by it. ‘The mountain is full of them. Did you hear them too?’
‘No, I’m not part of those things.’
Beatrice wipes the tears away. ‘So you say.’ She lies back on the bare ground, raising her hands above her head, looking up at the night sky. ‘I could feel them calling in the cave in the part where the bats lived too. I could hear their cries even at the entrance.’
‘Then why did you want to go deeper inside?’ Nthebolang asks.
‘I thought they wanted help, but then … when we came to the end, the edge of the floor, I realised they wanted me to join them. Or was it … you they wanted?’
Nthebolang feels bare and exposed by Beatrice’s words. And scared. What does Beatrice know about her? Does she know about her dreams? Is there something to those dreams that Nthebolang does not understand but Beatrice does? Does she know about her plan to get justice for her father?
‘You know, my people, the Koranna, we believe in witches. In magicians. They’re important to us. Do you know my real name, Nthebolang?’
‘Is your name not Beatrice?’
‘It is, but my other name. It’s Towenaars. It means “wizards”. My father chose that name. He was a powerful man. A leader and a seer. I’m a seer too. I see evil. I know the ones who trouble us – who trouble you; they’re clear to me. That’s why I knew that woman at church was lying, the one who warned me about you. I see you. You’re good; no evil lives in you. Your heart is pure – that’s why they can harm you. They can use you for their plans.’
‘Beaty, please, you’ll get sick. It’s cold and you’re wearing only your nightdress.’
‘//Gaunab is the most powerful god, an evil, powerful magician. In that cave, I thought I heard him there. If it was him, he’ll cause many problems; he has already started with others here. I think he waits there for people. For certain people. Who are those people? Do you know? Did you take us there for a reason?’
‘Me? Why would you say that?’
‘I think you know things you’re not telling me. I can feel it. Let’s not be dishonest with each other; let’s never tell lies. Please, Nthebolang. Lies from the ones I love have caused me so much pain, so much hurt. Please don’t cause me pain.’ She lies on the ground, gazing up at the stars, but she’s started crying again. Nthebolang can see the tears spilling from her eyes, down her cheeks, and dripping into the sand.
Nthebolang sits down next to her. She takes Beatrice’s hand in hers. ‘Please, believe me – of everyone, I need you to believe me, Beaty. You’re my friend and I never want to keep things from you, but I’m afraid you’ll not believe what I say. Things are happening to me, but I’m not inviting them. They’re swirling around me; I have no control over them. I had no plan to take you to where evil lived. I only thought you’d want to see it, see the bats. I knew nothing else, believe me. But the owl scared me … the back of the cave too. You must believe that I didn’t know about any of that.’
Beatrice sits up. ‘Who showed you that cave?’
‘A friend … just a friend.’
‘Who? Tell me. It matters.’
‘Motsumi.’
Beatrice nods. ‘You should be very careful with that friend. I’ve told you before. He’s dangerous.’
‘But he’s not like that; I know him. I’ve known him since I came here, since I was a girl. He was the only one here who was ever kind to me.’
‘Maybe. Maybe he’s not the friend of //Gaunab – perhaps – but he knows the ones who are. Those people may be using him. Whoever goes to that cave is the one who’s causing the problems that are haunting you. They’re planting the dreams to pull you to them. They’re pushing evil in your direction. We must take care. People like you and me must take care when such people are around. They don’t want us here because we can see them.’
Nthebolang can’t believe Motsumi is behind any of the things that have happened. How could he have changed Mmapitse into a hyena? How could he know about Barobi and what he did to Nthebolang’s father so long ago? She’ll ask him about the cave, how he knew about it, who took him there. He’ll tell her the truth and settle her mind. She’s positive Beaty is wrong about him. She wants to go to him to find out, to remind herself that he’s good. She knows he is, despite what Beatrice is saying. She can’t believe that she loves someone who wants to bring harm to her. Love can’t be like that.
‘I need to go. Will you be all right out here?’ Nthebolang says.
‘Where are you off to?’ Beatrice asks again.
‘Please don’t force me to tell you,’ Nthebolang begs. ‘It’s not bad, I promise.’
‘I’ll never tell your secrets.’
‘I know. And I’ll never tell yours. I just want this to be mine for now. Say that’s fine, Beaty. Just for now.’
Beatrice holds Nthebolang’s hand a bit longer. ‘You seem to want to do things the most difficult way. That’s fine. I’ll do my best to protect you through your foolishness.’
She sits up. Twigs are sticking in her hair, and one side of her face is smudged with dirt. ‘Nthebolang, will you come with me when it’s time to go? Will you leave here and go with me? I need you with me. I feel it so strongly now. We must go together. I must save you from this place, but I’ll not force you. Never. I will not force you. I know how painful that is. But please, Nthebolang, say you’ll leave with me when it’s time to go. I feel as if you’re wavering in your resolve.’
At that moment, they seem to be the only two in the world, alone and apart, just as Beatrice says. She’s right; things have changed for her too since Beatrice arrived. She seems to understand things better. The world has opened up and shown her secrets. Beatrice helps her to see things more clearly, things that have blocked her mind and her view for so long. Beatrice says they are different, and the same in their difference – apart from the others. Is that true? What does it mean? Is that why evil stalks her? Beatrice has the answers and answers are what Nthebolang is looking for.
She needs to go, though; Motsumi waits for her.
‘Yes, Beatrice, I promise. When the time to leave is here, I’ll go with you. I will only leave Ntsweng with you.’
She leaves Beatrice in her hiding place, lying flat on her back gazing up at the stars.
When she arrives at the koppie, Motsumi is there, turned away and looking out into the darkness as she approaches. His face in the shadows is a troubled one, but when he turns to her, he smiles with relief. He puts his arms around her and hugs her tightly.
‘I thought you weren’t coming. I thought I’d die if you didn’t come.’
‘I’m here
now, no need to worry any longer. What’s happened?’
He takes her hand and leads her behind the large boulder. He doesn’t let go of her hand as he speaks; he doesn’t look at her either. He looks between the boulders, into the wedge of blackness in front of them.
‘Why can’t we have the life we want?’ he starts.
‘We can,’ she says. ‘What’s wrong? What’s happened, Motsumi? You must tell me – you’re scaring me now.’
‘My father’s been sick. Maybe he’ll die … No one knows.’
‘I’m sorry. I know how close you are to your father. Maybe he’ll get better. We should pray for him, you and me. I’ll ask them to pray at church too. God will hear our prayers and make him better.’
‘That’s not all of it. It’s my mother. I’m the eldest son, and I should inherit everything, including the chieftainship, but my mother says I may not because of Baatweng. He’s younger than me, but his mother’s the first wife. My mother said that as she’s the second wife, her son – me – will inherit nothing. The people will want Baatweng to inherit and become chief. It’s the legal way, but my mother can’t allow it.’
‘But she must, if that’s what the people want.’
‘She thinks Mma Baatweng will influence Baatweng to banish us from Ntsweng once he becomes chief. She despises my mother. My mother wants me to make sure that doesn’t happen. I’m her only child, the only one to take care of her, to protect her. There is … a man she wants me to speak to about this.’
‘A man? Speak to him about what? How will this man help?’
‘I think she wants me to get him to … to bewitch Baatweng.’ Motsumi begins to cry. ‘He’s my brother, Nthebolang, I can’t do that. I can’t! I love him. He’s just a child.’
‘Of course you can’t! It’s horrible. Why don’t you tell someone? Speak to your father or your uncles. There must be someone you can talk to.’
But Deliver Us from Evil Page 15