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.
