Charlize and Amina were having snacks and tea with Maggie between them. Kwanele and Hennie toasted their drinks with Ma Gugu and Mbali while Stephen was fixing the front door.
It was late.
Maggie turned to Charlize, “Lizzie, can we watch TV?”
– “Of course, sweetie.”
Maggie grabbed the remote and turned the TV on.
The image of the beautiful anchor, an ex Miss South Africa, appeared on the screen. Behind her was the emergency entrance of Wits Hospital.
– “… Doctors are not sure yet. A specialist who spoke on condition of anonymity, offered that the infamous gang leader of Soweto, known as Tsotsi, may have contracted a fatal human form of mad cow disease, an allegedly virulent variant of the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. He urged the public not to be alarmed. The human form of the disease can only be transmitted if—umh—one eats the brain of the affected individual. The police in Johannesburg have also found Tsotsi’s lieutenants alive but in such an appalling state that they refuse to make any comments about what had happened to them. All the policemen and detectives had been seen vomitting outside the shack where the men were found. ”
– “And in another unrelated news, Sello Zuma, the most feared politician in South Africa, was involved in a bizarre car accident. His driver and bodyguard said that he heard a loud and painful noise just seconds before he lost control of the vehicle. The SUV hit a tree before tumbling 200 feet down along the hillside. The driver and another bodyguard are in critical conditions. Doctors said they would have to amputate their arms and legs. As to Zuma, it is feared by his doctors that the man could never speak or move again. His vocal chords have been crushed and he seems to have lost the ability to initiate or control any voluntary movements. Sello Zuma shows all the signs of a patient affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS is a form of motor neuron disease, a progressive and fatal disease caused by the degeneration of the nerve cells in the central nervous system that control voluntary muscle movement. It is unclear how any kinds of traumas could have any links to ALS which is mostly a genetic disease.”
Charlize turned down the volume and looked at Amina and Hennie who said almost at the same, “Mad cow disease?”
– “Liz. About Zuma. Isn’t he real big on taking white farmers’ land and give it to blacks?” Hennie asked pensively.
– “Yes, that’s what made him so popular. Why?”
Hennie shook his head, “No, I was just wondering. What are the odds?”
– “Clark!” Maggie squealed and ran up to meet him at the door.
– “Where have you been?” Charlize asked.
– “At the farm, helping Sixpence.”
– “How did you get back here?” Amina asked.
– “I walked.”
– “You walked 40 miles?” Hennie said.
– “Yes, it’s not that far. Everybody’s alright?”
– “We are now.” said Maggie.
Hennie walked to where Charlize and Amina were sitting.
– “Ladies, what do you say we have a chat with you know who?”
– “I don’t know,” Amina said, “maybe we should wait until he feels like telling us. What do you think, Lizzie?”
Before Charlize could answer, they heard a happy scream from Maggie.
– “Wow, how did you do it? Is this another magic trick?”
Clark looked surprise.
– “Can I try it again, please?” Maggie pleaded.
– “Alright, what should I do?” Clark said.
Maggie lifted Clark’s hand and turned it palm up then she slapped repeatedly with her own little hand.
Everybody in the room was smiling at how children could marvel at such little things.
– “There, it happened again. How did you it Clark?” Maggie giggled.
Everyone was now curious and turned to look at Maggie slapping Clark’s hand. Clark looked puzzled. Maggie switched to her other hand and kept hitting on his palm when they all let out a cry of disbelief. Maggie’s last slap had completely passed through Clark’s hand as if it wasn’t there.
Clark stopped Maggie and looked at himself. He touched his own hands and arms as if to check if they were still there.
Clark hurriedly took Maggie in his arms.
– “Maggie! Maggie! I’m gonna have to leave you. Maggie, remember, I will always think of you no matter where I am, I will always love you no matter what—”
– “Clark, no! What’s happening to you?” Maggie cried as Clark seemed to blur into different copies of himself.
– “Clark!” Charlize called out. “What’s wrong?”
Amina turned to Hennie, pulling on his shirt. “Hennie! What’s happening to Clark?”
– “I… I don’t know…”
Ma Gugu, Mbali, Stephen and Kwanele where grouping around Charlize, not believing what they were seeing.
Clark’s images were now superposing on and among themselves as if seen from an out of focus camera lens.
Clark let go of Maggie and lifted his hand towards Charlize, “Charlize, I—The Schrodinger’s wave function…”
– “Clark! No!” Maggie was screaming with all her might but Clark was no more. He had dissolved into thin air. Maggie was lying on the floor weeping and calling his name.
Charlize stood still.
Hennie kept murmuring to himself, “It is happening, it is happening…”
Amina sat back down slowly on the sofa, her eyes directed at the spot where Clark had disappeared.
Charlize walked slowly to Maggie and picked her up in her arms.
Maggie was crying, “Lizzie, Lizzie. Where did Clark go? Where did Clark go?”
Charlize too, was weeping. “I don’t know, sweetie, but I know he loves you very, very much.”
Maggie was unconsolable. “Why did Clark leave me? Why did he leave me?”
Hennie had approached them silently and put his hand on Maggie’s shoulder. “Maggie, I don’t think he has a choice. I don’t think he wants to go back.”
– “To go back where, Hennie?” It was Amina who asked the question. She was standing right beside him.
– “I wish I know, Amina. I really wish I know.” said Hennie, sadly.
Amina touched Charlize’s arm. “Lizzie, although he didn’t say it, I know what he wanted to say to you.”
Charlize nodded, still weeping silently. Then she said in a soft voice. “We were fortunate to have known him while he was in our universe.”
