Chapters (36)
I imagine Mother in the crosshairs of Bosman’s rifle. A girl alone, singing to blunt the sense of danger that lurks in the forests and the tall grass. A girl alone, singing to let the world know she is alive and well, and to come and look for her if her song ever stops.
A hot, spiky rage floods through me. Lottie was right to wonder why God took Darnell and her father instead of this man. Bosman lords his power over his family, and now over Mother, who remains absolutely still, patiently waiting for the storm to pass. If I could call down lightning from the sky, I would. I want Bosman gone from the world. I take a half a step forward, ready to swing a fist. He notices me, and he smiles. Go on, his amused expression seems to say. Do it, girl. The police station is just next door.
“Ground coffee was it, Mr. Bosman?” Ophelia tries to break up the dangerous mood. “I have salt pork and dried apricots half-price, and a loaf of sugar bread, baked fresh this morning. I have samples.”
The fear in Ophelia’s voice brings me back to reason. I want to strike Bosman’s face for shrinking Mother’s voice and body to the size of a child, but he is taller, stronger, and whiter than I’ll ever be. And even if by some miracle I could beat him to the ground, I’d lose Mother and Lottie and my freedom. The law favors Bosman. The law is forever on his side.
“I see you got your girl from a white man,” Bosman says to Mother, and his ugly expression makes me flinch. “A man with deep pockets from the look of those fancy boots.”
I understand why Mother left this place and never came back. She left to save herself. She left so that when Rian and I were born in far-off Manzini to a white engineer, we’d have what she didn’t: enough food to eat, an education, the freedom to dream of a better future, and the power to reach out and grab it. I suddenly know it’s my turn to be brave.
“Come.” I take Mother’s hand and squeeze warmth into her cold fingers. “We have a long walk back.”
With my heart in my mouth, I push past Bosman, who probes Mother’s blank expression, hoping to catch a glimpse of the frightened girl he stalked across the hills all those years ago. He wants to feel her fear. He feeds on it.
Mother gives him nothing and raises her head. She shuts him out as if he isn’t there. Lottie shoves past Bosman’s other shoulder and opens the door to the sunshine.