The path narrowing much more to the front.
It went suddenly up into a full circle.
I felt my stomach do that roller coaster thing.
I could normally not bear it for long.
I endured this though.
Uhm.
We were lucky.
Had we travelled any slower.
Nia and I would probably have fallen to the ground.
I could see them clearly as we went down fast.
They jumped but hit into each other as we were level again.
They were now a bit away in the distance.
I drove us along.
Trying hard to stay focused.
Sure was beautiful though.
The blue purple haze.
The deep dark depths.
The first stalactite cracked.
It fell and shattered.
Soon more and more of them started toppling to the ground.
Towards the front.
We were fast approaching.
No.
Several hundred feet away, a piece of the path had collapsed.
It was either stop.
Or jump.
We didn’t have much of a choice.
It was several feet wide.
Luckily most of the stalactite had fallen into the deep depths.
Nia clasped her hands to my chest as we sped over the edge.
I saw it as if in slow motion.
The thick red lava below us.
The heat rushed up towards us.
My jacket felt suddenly hot on me.
Like the heat was literally burning my jacket.
Like it was sort of melting or something.
The heat scorched my bare legs too.
But I didn’t feel a thing.
Or I endured it.
Perhaps it was the adrenalin pumping in my veins.
We hit the other side of the path.
Back wheel the first to make contact.
I wheelie us along.
Luckily the road widens again.
I hear one creature scream as it tumbles into the pit of lava.
The other nearly got a hold of us.
It just-just nudged at Nia’s jacket.
I felt it as she pulled me backwards, as she tried to free herself from its grip.
Its fingers slip.
It hit the side of the path.
Hitting the side of the forming tunnel.
Into the deep dark depths it fell.
Screams echoing around us.
We made it.
“Whispers.”
I spoke too soon.
It was inside my head.
I cringe at the sudden pain.
“Peek-a-boo.”
I wanted to hold my hands to my head.
The pain was splintering.
“Think you can escape me?”
It was menacing.
The voice crept over my skin.
Literally like the voice was a part of my skin.
“Mwhahahahahahahahaha!”
*Mwha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha*
It sort of shook the walls.
More and more stalactites fell to the ground.
The tunnel was busy collapsing fast.
I had to do my best to not lose control.
“I see you.”
My eyes started to twitch.
My vision blurred.
I manoeuvred us around more stalagmites that seemed to just pop up as we dangerously went around a curve.
I cringe again.
Almost took my right hand off the handle.
It was hard not to want to bang my hands against my head.
Wouldn’t help much though.
Not with the helmet on.
Even without.
I felt the strange crawling feeling again.
My head throbbing.
Unlike the doof doof.
This was inside my mind.
More like something was trying to invade my mind.
It tried its best to find the cracks.
Nia’s hands were still clasped to my chest.
Right where my heart was.
I’m sure she could feel it race.
But not even Nia’s touch brought me any relief.
I saw as its face started forming right inside my helmet.
Like it was staring straight at me.
I couldn’t see the road ahead.
We were driving entirely at the Lord’s mercy.
There was nothing I could do.
It started taking shape more and more around us.
It was like it was fire.
Burning.
But you could see that the fire was blown backwards.
Like this thing was made of fire and the flames were being blown backwards because of the speed we were travelling at.
I had never encountered such a thing before.
Capable of such remarkable speed.
And at the same time able to penetrate my mind.
I saw images of myself as a child.
The day I lost Daddy.
The day Anubis died.
That day that Mommy got her scar.
I could see as he swung the golf club.
The metal knob hit her brow hard.
I could hear it crack.
As I remembered it now.
I heard the crack.
*Crack*
I shuddered.
I could feel his voice surge in my skin.
Again.
It was like fire too.
“I told you.”
The gunshot went off in my head.
Anubis to the ground.
Him before he goes down too.
For a few moments.
I literally went deaf.
I heard its voice filter through the buzz.
“You’re mine.”
It starts taking shape more and more.
Blackish body.
Almost like coal.
No.
The black was not like it was solid.
Not at all.
The black was some kind of dark thing.
Sort of eating away at the thing.
Yes.
I could see it clearly now.
The thing was red.
It was literally fire.
This darkness.
Was consuming the fire.
It was like it was fuelling the things rage.
Infecting it.
“Where did you hide it?”
We hit a stalagmite.
It shatters as we drive right through it.
Purple pieces scatter everywhere.
It went right through him.
This thing.
Flames coming from its body.
It did not burn us.
It did manage to make the fire in my heart burn out of control though.
It was like the thing was fuel for the fire.
Burning in my heart.
He squeezes his hand.
I could feel my heart contract.
It was painful.
A sharp pain.
It stares me in the eyes.
“Tell me where you hid it.”
*Now*
Now echoed in my head.
Kept repeating.
All I could hear was now.
This thing was now really starting to freak me out.
How did it manage to make all other sounds disappear?
How did it manage to speak to me right inside my mind?
The bike goes off balance.
We almost crash.
I do a risky manoeuvre past some obstacles.
How I managed, I don’t know.
His face formed more in my helmet.
The helmet started squeezing my head.
He was now physically hurting it.
He stares at me with those fiery eyes.
Opens his mouth.
His tongue one solid flame.
I feel as my head gets squeezed more and mo
re.
The pressure was unsettling.
He speaks.
I see his lips move.
The voice in my head though.
“You can’t escape.”
He drags his words.
It scratches my mind.
I can’t explain.
Like Freddy, scratching his
metal-clawed brown leather glove across metal.
His words, against the walls of my mind.
Lord, please make it stop.
“You are mine.”
*Mine*
It keeps repeating in my head.
“Mine.”
He scratches long and hard.
How I was able to hold on to the bike.
I don’t know.
Let alone keep it upright and going.
Nia was still tight against me.
I was not sure whether she was aware of what was going on.
“Where did you hide it!”
These words are quick.
Sharp.
“Tell me.”
He screams.
Is it possible for one’s brain to pop?
I suddenly wonder.
It felt like mine was about to.
I couldn’t take it any longer.
I didn’t know what else to do.
But scream.
“Shut up!”
My words drowning through the drone of the bike.
He smiles at me.
Again.
“Shut up!”
I screamed.
Uhm.
I look him in his eyes.
It seemed as if the fire was twirling around his irises like it was a gas.
It looked kind of cool.
But I didn’t admire this thing at all.
“Just… shut… up.”
I say.
This time in my mind.
I could feel as my words were propelled back by some force.
I managed to stay steady.
“You are nothing.”
*Nothing*
I repeat it just as he did his words.
I saw the first sign of a way to get to him.
Uhm.
He was no longer smiling.
Triumphantly.
No.
He sort of smirks.
Before he could speak again.
“I fear you not!”
I shout.
It hurt my head to say the words.
He started squeezing harder.
Trying with all his might to push me out.
He wanted to be inside.
I figured it out.
“I fear only Him.”
I make these words drone.
His face goes expressionless.
He knew exactly who I was referring too.
I look him in his eyes.
Started loosening his grip around my heart.
The flames rage more from his body.
“Now get the hell up out my face!”
As I say these words I push hard and pray.
Lord, please keep her safe.
We drive through a huge bush.
The Bright suddenly about us.
He shatters in front of us.
Embers scattering.
The chill.
Settles in.
Thank God.
He was gone.
I focus on the path again.
We made it.
We were safe.
I slow us down.
Stopped beneath a tree.
Nia jumps off the bike.
Quick.
Removes her helmet and stares at me.
Beautiful white teeth.
She was okay.
Thank you, Lord.
End of The Dark Tunnel.
Whisperers
Inheritance
Windhoek, Namibia
2004
This was the first time I met any of Daddy’s family. It felt really awkward being here among them. The will of my grandfather however stipulated that I should be present during the reading.
Protest or contest by any of his children, family, friends, acquaintances or affiliates will not be tolerated.
I guess he meant serious business.
Protestant minister was also present.
I felt under-dressed.
In jeans and a shirt.
Takkies.
Dirty old sneakers.
These people were all dressed as if they were headed for a funeral.
I was amazed though.
I knew I looked nothing like Mommy’s family.
I looked like them.
The Esterhuizens.
They were all blond with more green eyes and pale skin.
Just like mine.
My eyes more brown though.
I stood in a corner in the room.
The sons seem to glare at me.
The small children seem curious.
Uhm.
They came to the part of the will that concerned my father and I.
And to, the bastard son of my exiled son, I leave everything, I would have wished to have left to my, eldest son,
Nicolaas Joachim Gielliam Llewellyn Albertus Johannes Hermanus Esterhuizen,
The three farms near Stampriet, all animals, houses, farm equipment and all rights as executive of staff and business relating to these farms.
One of Daddy’s brothers hit with his fist hard against the table.
The minister spoke to him and he seems to calm down.
He glares at me though.
Heard him whisper bloody yellow mouth under his breath.
Come to steal my farms.
Uhm.
Could understand why they needed the minister here.
They continued.
The rights to the lodge near Grootfontein, Tog Gevind,
Daddy’s youngest sister seems disappointed at that.
She looks me up and down.
Grabs her daughter that wanted to come closer to me.
She seemed fascinated by me.
Umf.
Kids.
as well as the sum of Two Million rand.
Wow.
Since my son was taken from me before I could make things right with him, something I regret to this day, all this goes to his, son,
Sherwin Esterhuizen.
He gains immediate rights to every property here above mentioned.
The money, however, will be placed in a lucrative trust fund; he will be eligible to the money when he turns twenty five.
I couldn’t believe it.
All of that just for me.
Daddy’s family sure were rich.
That was the end of it all.
I had hoped that perhaps the family could bury the past.
Perhaps we could become friends.
But the cold chill I felt as they all left.
Threats of contests and loopholes.
Legitimacy of will.
I couldn’t believe it.
We would never be a family.
Uhm.
No reconciliation with these people.
May the Lord forgive us.
I left.
I looked over at The Cone.
Windhoek, Namibia.
The first person I could think of was Nia.
I could build that cabin for us.
Right there near Avis.
Windhoek, Namibia.
She loved it there.
Lots of snakes though.
But it reminded her of her family’s farm.
I wanted her family to be a part of us.
Uhm.
That’s when I started building it.
Just me and a few of the Stampriet labourers.
They liked Nia too.
She always made them feel welcome.
But it was always like she was doing something.
Something wrong.
Guess it had to do with the hold she kept talking about.
She never really explained it to me.
It really was a secret.
Umf.
Classified.
X-files.
Top Secret.
Uhm.
End of Inheritance
Whisperers
Sarah Baartman, at rest at last
By Lucille Davie
Sarah Baartman, displayed as a freak because of her unusual physical features, was finally laid to rest 187 years after she left Cape Town for London. Her remains were buried on Women’s Day, 9 August 2002, in the area of her birth, the Gamtoos River Valley in the Eastern Cape.
Read more:
https://www.southafrica.info/about/history/saartjie.htm#.UXu7Ncp1CZQ#ixzz2RfCxW1Rf
End of Inheritance
Whisperers
For Shakira
Peace be with you.
Salaam
Khaleel
The Castle
“Where… is… it!”
i
June 2010.
Nia stares back in wonder.
“Wow! Sherwin! That was some wicked driving.”
She tosses the helmet and jacket on the grass.
Seems to try and catch her breath.
“I didn’t think we’d make it.”
She straightens herself then looks at me.
“For a second there I thought that thing had us.”
She smiles.
Beautiful white teeth.
“Where did you learn to drive like that?”
I smile.
Then look down.
Nia always did that to me.
Even when I knew we could never be.
I would still believe that she wanted me too.
Or was I simply blinded by love.
Was she perhaps simply toying with me.
Can she really be that oblivious to what she does to me.
I stare at those doe eyes.
Pupils very large.
She was still buzzing from the rush.
That sure was one tight spot.
But it was the only way.
If we went around the mountain, we would never have made it.
Thank God for The Dark Tunnel.
All praise be to God.
We would surely be dead or worse.
If we had to take the mountain pass.
Sure it was a tight spot.
But it was for the best.
The Dark Tunnel disappeared behind some bushes.
Almost like there was never a tunnel.
The bushes not like it were covering the entrance.
It completely transformed.
The trees.
The grass.
We have reached it.
Nia’s Castle.
Everything here seemed normal.
There was hope for us yet.
Nia looks up and stares in amazement.
A guineafowl came chi-chi-ingly closer.
It was fast.
The chi-chis in tune with every fast step it takes.
It seems to be annoyed as to have to step on the thick grass.
It sounded like it was giving orders to everything as it went.
Nia smiles.
She seems to be enjoying every minute of it.
When it finally reaches us, it does a bow and rises.
It seems frantic.
It keeps chi-chi-ing.
Then starts.
“My chi-chi Fair Lady chi-chi!”
It remains in a bow for a few more seconds.
*Chi-chi chi-chi*
Then it rises up and starts again.
“Tea will be ready at the top of the hill when chi-chi My Fair Lady is happy to have it chi-cuckoo-chi!”
It seems to start to pace.
“I must insist, My Fair chi-chi Lady, that you retire for the moment.”