The novel that you hold in your hands began many years ago as a story my grandmother, Kearabiloe Ndlovu (née Mokoena) told me. A brilliantly gifted storyteller, my grandmother epitomised the very best of the oral tradition – she was a dramatist, novelist, poet, actress, singer all rolled into one. Any story that was fortunate enough to find its way onto her tongue was brought to colourful life. One such story was of a policeman who instantly fell in love with a woman journeying to her ancestral village. He followed her and proved his worthiness for her hand by solving a long-unresolved mystery. My grandmother told me many stories during our long knowing of each other, but when she passed away in April 2014, it was the story about the enamoured policeman that I found myself trying to write and thus Spokes Moloi was born.

The line between what was fact and what was fiction was extremely blurred in my grandmother’s storytelling and she liked it that way. Therefore, when it came to writing the character of Spokes, I decided to give this fictional character the characteristics of someone I had known and loved well, my grandfather, Sibabi Charles Ndlovu – a man who was integrity personified. My grandfather, in his roles as reverend, husband, father, grandfather, was a great listener, counsellor, confidant and peacemaker. He had a keen understanding of human psychology and a heart brave enough to truly love and be loved. I have many great memories of my grandfather because in my mind he was the greatest of men – a superhero without a cape always making the world better and safer. My grandfather’s character made the character of Spokes Moloi possible.

Together, my grandparents gifted me many, many things – I now count The Quality of Mercy in their number. The most important gift they gave me was a mother, Nokuthula Sarah Ndhlovu, whose unconditional love and support made possible the impossible dreams I dreamt. Mom, thank you stereki for everything.

Somewhere out there there are gods that love books and ensure that they find the perfect visionaries on their way to completion. Those gods have smiled upon me once again and placed my work in the excellent hands of Jenefer Shute, Catriona Ross and Fourie Botha at Penguin Random House South Africa. Thank you all for your invaluable insights and guidance. The Quality of Mercy also has the added fortune and privilege of having been edited by the brilliant Helen Moffett. Helen, thank you so much for championing the novel from the first and for making the editorial process a wonderful, collaborative and enriching experience. Gretchen van der Byl, I cannot thank you enough for yet another beautiful, beautiful cover that tells the story. I don’t know how you do it, but I am very glad that you do. Frieda le Roux, as always, thank you for all that you do.