Zilia

Chapter 4: Survival of the Fittest

It had been but a breathless week since fate had dealt its cruel hand upon Zilia, ensnaring her in the act of pilfering. The delicate dance of delivering the treasured eggs to Mandla, the formidable figure at the helm of a menacing gang, had abruptly come to a standstill. Evading the clutches of his ruthless grasp had become her sole purpose, for within its shadow lurked dire repercussions that no soul wished to suffer.

And yet, woven within the very fabric of her existence, a relentless necessity persisted-a clandestine duty that drew her to the serenading riverbank. With naught but darkness as her eternal companion, she meticulously guided her nimble-footed goats through the labyrinthine paths, seeking refuge and quenching their shared thirst.

As Zilia made her way towards the river, unaware of the watchful, wild eyes hidden in the nearby thicket. Mandla held his whip tightly in his hand as he observed Zilia's every move. The anticipation grew, causing his hand to instinctively make tiny gestures as if he was already whipping at something unseen. The rest of the gang struggled to contain their excitement, for Zilia's presence was long anticipated and a temptation they found hard to resist.

As Zilia drew closer to the river, the tension among the gang members mounted. They feared she would sense their presence and make a swift escape, or that one of them would succumb to their lack of control and give chase. Zilia stepped on their booby trap, suddenly, chaos erupted as a swarm of buzzing bees attacked Zilia, causing her to run towards the safety of the water. Mandla's excitement peaked, realizing he had successfully trapped her. However, his triumph was bittersweet, for Zilia struggled in the water, desperately trying to escape the relentless bees. In a tragic turn of events, she went under; she kept swallowing what she thought was air. The deep waters gushed in to impede her wildly beating heart. Zilia got drowned by her saviour. As she sank deep into the water, the dead weight of her sinking body toughened Mandla's task of pulling her out, which he eventually managed to bring her ashore. And so there on the riverbank she lay motionless... gazing into nothing forever. The cry of joy that went up earlier as Zilia walked into a trap was equally matched by the cry of anguish that went up from the younger boys as they beheld her lifeless body.

***

Zilia heard a noise in the distance. At first she thought it was a great wind coming over the leaves of the woods. Then she knew that it was not leaves, but the sound of the River far-off; a sound she had never heard in waking life. Suddenly she found she was out in the open. There were no woods after all. She was on dark moorlands, and there was a strange bloody smell in the air. Looking up she saw before her a long spike, drilling down into her head. A desire came over her to scream and call for help, but she realised she was surrounded by an audience of thousands. She started to struggle off the binds: but suddenly a light came in the sky, and there was a booming explosion.

***

Zilia woke suddenly. It was dark in the room. Nomatilwe was standing before her with a flickering lamp in one hand while locking the door with the other. Concern etched on her face, Zilia questioned her grandmother about the commotion.

"Gogo! What is it?" Zilia asked anxiously.

"Nothing," whispered Nomatilwe. "I went to see the Chief and reported that Mandla boy and his friends. But it seems the chief and his council are siding with them. All I ask is for you to stop taking the goats so far and keep them close to home."

As the sun began its ascent, Zilia prepared herself for another day of herding. Nomatilwe, still tired from a sleepless night, yawned in the background. Quietly, Zilia slipped out of the hut, making her way through the spinney and the dew-covered fields. The glistening leaves, dripping twigs, and grey grass enveloped her in a stillness that seemed surreal. Distant noises mingled with the crisp air, fowls chattering and goats being released from a distant paddock.