When Love Sprouts

Chapter 14: Off to Better

"So now you gonna tell us, now? We're dying from all the curiosity," Danika asked eagerly as they were drawing nearer to the airport.

"Actually Dani, YOU'RE the one dying of curiosity. My little Curious George," Joao said, playing with Danika's nose.

"Ugh, stop it," she said breaking free from his tight grip. "Wait, wasn't Curious George a male ape? Two insults, one sentence," Danika said.

"Help me out, here, bro," Joao said.

"Ay, man, as they say in Afrikaans: los my uit," said Javas.

"Asking for advice from the guy that's stingy with a good scoop of gossip," mumbled Danika.

"Fine, I'll tell you what happened. See, your house, clothes and everything that belonged to you guys was bugged, even my stuff as well," explained Javas.

"What? And my phone, how do you know it isn't bugged? Also why'd you switch the flip on me like that, you went all Lucifer on my butt," questioned Danika.

"See, IluDo, had been monitoring my every move. They had people following me, so I had to play along make them believe that I had actually changed. That I wasn't the angel everyone thought I was, I had to gain their trust. Also my name isn't actually Javas, that was just so that Lwazi can believe me. My real name is Gert, I'm originally from Rhodesia now known as Zimbabwe," he continued.

"How are you from Zimbabwe when you aren't even..." said Danika.

"When I'm not even African. My skin color doesn't say I'm African but deep inside I know I'm African. My parents are both caucasian, they were farmers, but as soon as the new laws came into place during the 80s, we were forced to move into another country. We didn't want come to South Africa, my dad said they wanted me to know the true sense of being African. At the time South Africa was going through Apartheid, a time when people saw colour befor they saw a person," said Gert.

"You know, I hear all that, but you still haven't told me where we're going," she said.

"Oh, right, I spoke to some of your family members, Joao," he looked at Joao through the mirror.

Gert was met by Joao's knitted eyebrows of confusion. "How'd you get a hold of them," asked Joao.

"That doesn't matter. Continue Javas, I mean Gert," requested Danika.

"You guys are going to be speaking a lot of French and Lingala, we're going to Kinshasa," he exclaimed excitedly.

"What about Azania? Doesn't she... deserve a proper burial," Joao asked, with a sigh that dampened the joyous atmosphere.

The car had reached a halt. Javas was busy unloading the bags in the boot. "Mom, we're here," said Joao.

"Where are we," she asked softly with a slight yawn.

"We're at the Joburg airport," disturbed Danika.

"What, where are we going," she asked.

"We'll tell you on the plane, Ma. Right now, I need to get you guys out of this country," said Gert.

They raced into the airport with Joao carrying the bags. There weren't any long lines at the airport. Wednesday morning was an ideal time for them to leave. They walked to the bordering gate, then stopped. Joao took the bags from Gert.

"Son, you aren't coming," asked Mrs Buvoir.

Gert shook his head. "No, Ma, I have to stay and avenge Azania," he said.

Tears flooded Mrs Buvoir's eyes. "Come on, Mom. We need to go," Joao said, attempting to drag her mother away from Gert.

"Here," Mrs Buvoir removed an amulet, that had Azania's picture inside. "It'll help you," she said closing his hand.

Joao grew impatient and dragged Mrs Buvoir into the hallway. Gert made sure they leave. He made sure that he was not being followed by anyone. And was heavily disguised, thanks to not trimming his beards and hair.

The family sat down as the plane began to take off, they were placed in Business Class. "Do you think he was telling the truth," asked Danika.

"The truth, sunshine, lies in the eyes. It's all in the eyes," she said laying her head back.

They relaxed, making themselves comfortable for the long flight ahead of them.

Gert drove to a house near a place called Bedfordview. He bought a house there under a fake identity, the slightest mistake could sell him out.

He drove into the small yard. A grey haired woman with a nose so straight, and eyes so pure was waiting for him outside. She was wearing a rosy flower.

"Gert, you've been gone for some time now, did you bring the Honeybush tea that I asked for," said the woman.

"Yes, Ma, here it is," he said, handing it to him.

"How is she," he asked.