24

The name Menemsha is cut into some wood and painted gold. I am waiting. There is nobody at home. I am most of the day staying in the bush by the end of the beach and sometimes I walk a long way to the harbour by a beach where moffies stands naked, kaalgat, not any clothes on except a hat. Their cocks hangs out. They don’t care. They fuck in the bushes white and black it’s all the same. When I am walking yesterday they was whistling me. If one of them comes near me true’s God I will kill him. I have some money still and I buy two pies at Pick ’n Pay and a jack of brandy. I eat one pie now and keep the other for the night. I like the chicken pie and the steak the best. There is boats unloading by the harbour. Maybe I can get a job on a boat and go to some place like Namibia so nobody will find me. Now I walk back along the beach. It’s still hot. The mofgats seems to be gone. When I get to the house I see the gate is unlocked. I walk in. Down below I can see the swimming bath and the outjie who is cleaning it. He’s a coloured guy holding a long pole. There’s lots of them around here. The first coloureds was born nine months after the Hollanders landed. This outjie tells me I cannot come in.

Listen, I am the cousin of Mr Frank McAllister. Hy is my oom.

They are not here.

Where are they?

Mnr Frank and his lady, they got married somewhere.

Married? When they coming back?

It can be tomorrow.

Just give me the code for the garden gate.

I am not allowed to do that, sorry. I am not allowed.

I take out the gun:

Now you are allowed. Give me the code. I am here to check the security for my uncle but if you wants to make trouble I can shoot you. You unnerstan?

Ja, sorry, meneer, I unnerstan.

When are you coming back here?

I work here once a week, Thursday, sir.

Okay, just stay away while I check out the security. Security is my business and my uncle have asked me to do it. He have sayed he will be home this week. So you give me the code and then you fuck off for a week. You unnerstan?

Yes, meneer, I unnerstan.

I tell him: you must test the lock for me to see.

Okay, meneer.

You sure you unnerstan?

Yes, sir.

He test the lock for me and he give me the code.

Goodbye. If you know what’s good for you, you won’t come back until next week.

I walk around the garden past the swimming bath and the braai area. The doors of the house is locked. The swimming bath has a little wooden house by there. It has cups and glasses and water inside there. This shall be much better than sleeping in the bushes or with all those bergie coloureds. They are high on tik. They don’t even know what they are saying. They all talk kak. Their teeth has fallen out. The cupboard in the store-room is full of mattresses and cushions and so on. All sorts. Even Nescafé and powder milk. Bum in the butter like my uncle. He will help me for sure. He knows the big shots, they can make a plan. I’m sitting in a lounger, that’s what they call it. They have a lot of loungers in Sun City where I met that girl with the big tits, Casey. I wish my girls was here with me they would love it here. Maybe Oom Frank will lend the place to us for a holiday. I am eating the steak pie. And drinking some brandy. I feel great. ‘Ring Of Fire’. June and Johnny. What a song. I am falling asleep happy now, chilled.