Days passed and they didn’t see anything or hear anything. The girl’s cry could’ve been anything, maybe it was a television. But the voice and cries still haunted Zinhle. She cried after Karabo left for work the next day. It was an embarrassment what she did but was sure her eyes hadn’t deceived her.

She remembered seeing the girl’s legs through the keyhole, but how did she disappear?

Maybe he moved her through the night, she thought. They had checked the yard through the whole night and the man didn’t leave. So where was she?

She sat drinking tea near the veranda and looked up when she heard the sound of a car. The strange man was back. He looked at her when he unlocked the gate and she looked down as if she had not seen him.

She could hear that he drove inside and parked but she didn’t hear him draw near the fence to where she sat.

“Sister, why are you always interfering? Look, I don’t know what you saw, but I am not a murderer or a gangster. I’m staying here because of work,” he said sincerely.

“I know what I saw… You hid that girl… What are you doing to her?” she said angrily.

“What? Did you see a girl in my house?” He walked away laughing loudly.

Zinhle wanted to throw a stone at him, she was angry and wished the police were vigilant on their search of his house.

*****

Tumi entered the house and went straight to the bedroom. He pushed the bed aside and rolled the carpet away. He opened the closet and saw the girl unconscious. He quickly took her out, her body was sweating and cold.

“Was it hot in there?” he panicked. “Don’t die on me! I didn’t want to kill you! I just wanted you to cure my disease.”

He untied her and removed the cloth on her mouth. He checked her pulse and she was still breathing. He rushed to collect water from the fridge and gave her some and then she coughed.

“Don’t make noise. My wound has healed and it’s time for you to go home,” he said gently.

“Am I going home?”

He nodded and made her sit up straight. He prepared some sandwiches and juice. He sat with the girl on the couch and ate with her.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Buhle,” she replied.

“I am sorry for taking you from your family, but I had to help myself,” he said sincerely. “Please forgive me,”

The girl looked at him confused, wondering if he meant it or he will torture her again. He ate his sandwiches looking at the television. He locked the door and removed the keys and went to lie down on the bed.

Buhle looked around and went to the window. She looked around and saw a woman sitting on the veranda. She wanted to open it and scream for help, but if the man heard her she will be in big danger. Tumi came back and dragged her to the bedroom.

“Please don’t hurt me. I am sorry,” she cried in a low voice.

“Shut up, what did I tell you?” he hissed.

The girl shed tears, they ran all over her face. Tumi breathed in and out, having taking on the girl. He wanted to punish her but that wasn’t his mission, the girl had only to sleep with him in order for him to heal.

The sores on his genitals had disappeared. He washed the girl’s clothes and dried them in the night. The weather was warm so the clothes would dry. His clothes he soaked in a bucket.

He came back inside and wrapped the girl in a blanket. He took another blanket and slept next to her. He looked at the innocent girl’s face, she was peacefully asleep. He finally dozes off, he had to wake up early before the neighbours.

A dog barked nearby and he woke up and ran outside. It was still dark but already 4 a.m. He took the girl’s uniform off the line as he looked at his nosey neighbour’s house. A light was switched on in one of the rooms. He returned to sleep, hoping no one saw the clothes.

***

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