“She won’t,” said Rosie. “If she does, she won’t hesitate to get on the next plane to come and bring me back home.”

Sthandiwe paused, gulping her food. After she swallowed she curled her fingers around the wine glass and sipped, and stole a glance at Rosie.

“We must thank the boy for saving our queen,” said the grandmother, looking at her husband.

“Absolutely. He has to be compensated,” the grandfather agreed.

“I have a better idea.” All eyes burned with curiosity as they turned to Rosie. “I want him as my personal bodyguard.”

Sthandiwe grunted. “You can’t make my garden boy your private security,” she said, bitterly.

“Well, it’s about time your garden boy got a promotion because clearly you want him to remain doing gardens for the rest of his life.”

Sthandiwe growled. “We have many experienced securities around this house you can pick from for your bodyguard.”

“I can bet my life that none of those men are capable of what Yasteer did on that river.” Rosie’s eyes glistened with a touch of anger. “I literally put my life in his hands.”

“We can hire a high-profile bodyguard.”

“I don’t want anybody else but Yasteer, damn it!” Rosie bellowed when her temper was awakened. She took a deep breath for calmness and self-control.

“She’s right Sthandiwe,” said the grandfather. “If that boy can kill a bloody hippo and a crocodile with his bare hands, imagine what he could do to a human, or anything else for that matter.”

There was an evil glint in Sthandiwe’s eyes when the grandmother also outvoted her.

Late that night, Rosie stood in front of her window, gazing at the cottage that was a bit beyond the electric fence. A cottage where Yasteer lived, she knew, after her grandmother said so during dinner. Rosie had a glass of wine in her hand as she’d taken a whole bottle from the kitchen without being seen. She thought she should go to the cottage and inform Yasteer about the promotion, and thank him for saving her life, since she never got the chance as she was still in shock. She guzzled the wine and put on a thick, warm jacket with a hood.

She scurried along the edge of the mansion towards the small gate in the fence, where one of the securities opened for her without asking question. She wandered through the trees on the path to the cottage. A gentle knock on the door, and the door swung open. A frown appeared on Yasteer’s face when he saw Rosie.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, looking out for anyone who might have come along with
her.

“Well, can I come in?” she asked, with a smile.

“No, you can’t.” There was panic just below the surface of his voice.

“I just came to thank you for saving my life earlier.”

“OK. If that’s all, can you please leave?”

“How can you be mean to me after what we just been through together?” she asked, irritated by his imperious attitude.

He sighed and looked down. “Look. I’m not trying to be rude but I have orders to stay away from you.”

Rosie frowned. “From whom?” she asked. He was silent, but she thought she could guess. “It’s Sthandiwe, isn’t it?” She gave him an odd look.

“She threatened my job,” he said, frustration in his voice.

“You don’t have to—”

He cut her short. “You have to go.”

“Yasteer, listen to me.”

He shut the door in her face. She twisted her mouth, wondering if she should try again to tell him about the promotion, but decided she’d let the news surprise him tomorrow morning. As she turned to leave, she heard a hissing sound coming from a bush behind the cottage. She stepped closer and the sound was louder. Then she heard a rasping noise. It sounded like a small creature calling out for help.

When she squinted towards the bush, she saw small shapes that looked like a snake swallowing a rat. The vision was blurry and she closed her eyes and shook her head vigorously. When they opened, she saw nothing but a quiet bush. The sounds went mute. She couldn’t understand what had just happened.

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