Tears of Africa

CHAPTER TWO

He appeared out of the blue just like this man did on his horse. I knew him. He was a boy from our village, Mnqobi. 

Everyone gossiped about him, he had a horrible life to live — just like me but worse. His father was there though, he was present in his life. Some say he would have been better off without him and a part of me thought so too. He was a, not so good role model. Who am I kidding; he was a bad role model; maybe the creator of the monster Mnqobi was soon to be.

He was a drunkard, a womaniser — just like my father. He was abusive. His wife had a miscarriage because of his abuse; some would say she was his punching bag. One day he became a little bit worse, he punched with the intent to kill. He almost killed her, and all in front of Mnqobi. She ran away and never looked back. Mnqobi became his mother's alternative, 'punching bag junior.' Don't quote me on that though; that's what everyone said.

Mnqobi fought that filthy pig, I was scared. That man stabbed him with the spear he possessed. Where was everyone? I didn't want Mnqobi to die for my cause. They continued to fight, and of course Mnqobi was weakening but he still fought him. Thanks to the punches his father gave him, he was used to it. His body was used to taking punches. Still, I was frightened for his life. I did what everyone could have done in that situation. I reacted to the fear. I took a brick and — you can already tell what happened next.

There he was, lying unconscious. The brick in my hand was covered with blood; so was his head. Mnqobi looked straight into my eyes before falling into unconsciousness. I didn't know what to do.

There, two bodies next to me, both unconscious. What was I going to do? The village would accuse me of two murders. I would be burnt alive with immediate effect. Penalty best fit for a murderer. 

Finally, my uncle would have gotten rid of me.

I left the man there and took Mnqobi, he had a pulse but it was weak. He was losing a lot of blood. I cried for help, I screamed and yelled. As I walked closer to the village huts, people seemed to hear me. They came out of their chambers and gasped with fear. In their minds, I had killed Mnqobi.

'Murderer,' that's what they called me. My family came out, my mother and my sister stood there; scared, crying. 

My uncle smiled, "I always knew you were the one to bring doom to our family. Isiqalekiso — a curse."

Mnqobi's father walked closer to me, he seemed not to care. In fact, he seemed more like he was relieved, as if a huge load of burden had just been removed from his shoulders. 

"Do what you wish with his body. Burn it, cut it into pieces — I don't care," that's what he said and walked away, back to his house, switched off the lights and slept like a baby. To him, it was like nothing ever happened.

I explained to the villagers everything that had happened, but a lot of them seemed not to believe me. My mother and sister did, but I dared not to tell them who the rapist was. My mother had been through a lot already. If I were to tell her that the man was from this village and had a burnt marking on his chest, she too would decipher the truth. She would know it was my father. It was best I said nothing. I didn't want her to live her entire life looking over her shoulder, forever living in fear.

They helped me carry Mnqobi's body to the house. My uncle and the other men went to where everything had happened. I stayed at the house and took care of Mnqobi's wounds and bandaged him. It was days before he woke up. As for the man, they didn't find him, or his horse — only blood. I was a little bit relieved. I didn't want his blood on my hands, but I was also scared, he was out there somewhere. What if he came back? What if he came to avenge himself or to finish what he had started, or to torment my family?

When they didn't find him there, they pinned the blame on me. I was nothing but a filthy liar, a murderer. I was almost sentenced to death. Thanks to Mnqobi, I wasn't. He came back to consciousness just before my fate was to be decided. Everything was cleared out. My uncle was a little bit disappointed — but my family, my real family was relieved. That's how I met him, Mnqobi Ndlovu, my saviour.