Hunger Eats a Man (18 page)

Authors: Nkosinathi Sithole

BOOK: Hunger Eats a Man

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“MaDuma! Zodwa!” Nomsa shouted. “What is this nonsense? These people you are attacking are your fellow women of the struggle and their children. Don't let these men lead you astray! As a leader of the Grinding Stone, I order you and those men and street children to stop this craziness!”

“These men? These street children?” MaDuma could not believe it. What did this woman take them for? “We are here to fight for our rights as poor people, just like we have been fighting for our rights as women. Sometimes these things do clash!”

Bongani had shouted and begged so much that his voice was now hoarse. When he turned around to watch the buzzing behind him, Priest came forward and called, “I told you we would meet again, PRIN-CI-PAL!”

Bongani moved around as if he was mad and said, “Someone tell me what is the use of having the Defence Force if it does not protect us?”

THE END

Priest finishes reading his son's story and stays in the room for a while. What exactly is this boy saying about them? He has even used their names! But at the end he leaves everything hanging. Why does he not let them beat Bongani and the fat cats of Canaan? But then, Sandile says he did not write it; it wrote itself. What does that mean? After a while Priest goes out. He has a calmness about him that he cannot explain. A good feeling. He knows that this happens to him sometimes. Happiness that comes from no source.

Outside he watches the land and is struck by its beauty. He has not noticed before that spring has come. It has even rained once or twice. Even though the grass is still short â and you can still see the old grass from last season, with its blackness where it was burnt â it is green. His plum tree is blooming. Nature has decorated it with white flowers full of life. He looks up and notices that the firmament is filled with clouds. It will rain today, and he likes it when it rains. Nothing makes him happier than to see the raindrops falling; especially when he is watching it all from the safety of his house.