The sangoma sat opposite her, her eyes closed. William was staring at her. ‘What did you see?’ he asked her. She wanted to tell him but the sangoma’s words interrupted her. ‘Karabo! Be careful what you tell him. He is still neither good nor bad!’ she shouted, widening her eyes so that they shone bright yellow.

‘Yes Ma,’ said Karabo, her voice felt feeble and small. ‘I think we must be going Ma, thank you’.

‘I see,’ said the sangoma, her voice and downturned mouth clearly showing her disappointment. ‘Go now but remember what I say about the sea rat. He is likely to disappoint you. As you will see…in time.’ Karabo turned to look at William who rolled his eyes at the sangoma. Slowly the old woman got up, indicating to Karabo and William to do the same. ‘Come back

every weekend. The ancestors need more time with you, and they cannot wait,’ she stated. Karabo rose unsteadily, rubbing her head, ‘I will come,’ she said, her voice speaking before she could think.

Karabo always felt limp after one of her dreams. She climbed back into the car, exhausted from her walk back up from the sangoma’s hut, and curled up in the car seat to stare out of the window, saying nothing to William. The sangoma’s words rang in her ears — William wasn’t to be trusted. It’s what the sangoma always said. She’d told William before that he was in a battle of good and evil — and if he didn’t guard against it, the evil would overcome him and he’d end up like his father. Karabo thought that William had proved himself by helping them escape the cave in Zimbabwe. Why did the sangoma keep on saying that William was still haunted by his dark side? Karabo closed her eyes and fell asleep, and only woke up as they drove back into Dayeton College.

As she climbed out of the car, William pressed her for an answer. ‘Karabz, what did you see?’

What difference did it make if she told him what she saw? What good or bad could happen as a result? The sangoma was being overly sceptical because she hated William, so she decided to tell him.

‘I saw your father,’ she said, watching William’s face. ‘He’s in Madagascar. He’s building his own version of Libertalia. Like he said he would,’ she said. As the words tumbled out, Karabo felt a mixture of exhaustion and relief flooding her body as she finally shared the vision with him.

William’s eyes widened and he mouthed Madagascar to himself. ‘Of course,’ he said softly, walking around the car to Karabo and grabbing her by the shoulders as he drew her towards him.

‘You’re absolutely amazing Karabz!’ She smiled a shy smile in response, enjoying the closeness of her body to his, despite her resolution to feel nothing for him.

His lips touched hers before she realised what was happening. Her heart felt as though it was on fire, swelling in her chest until she felt like she couldn’t breathe. Gently he drew away and looked at her with his wide green eyes. ‘Um, I’m sorry,’ he mumbled, as his hands dropped away from her shoulders and he stepped away. Slowly his eyes glazed over. She watched him transform from the person she knew he could be — the person who burned her up inside — back into the stone man he had been the whole morning.

‘I’m not sorry,’ she whispered back at him, as she watched him struggle with how to deal with her. Now that he had kissed her, he frowned at her, confused. ‘Look, it was a mistake, OK. You’re dating Buzz and that’s cool… I have to go, um…thanks for telling me about my dad,’ he said, his words streaming out rapidly as he locked the car and walked away.

Karabo felt her swollen heart shrink in her chest, until it was   so tiny it was no bigger than a pea. She put her hand to her chest and could barely feel her heart beating. He thought she was dating Buzz. Really? Was that why he had been so off? It couldn’t possibly be that — he didn’t care if people dated or not. William just always got what he wanted. She drew in a breath, still holding onto her tiny heart. As she felt the tears welling up, she closed her eyes and pursed her lips together tightly. She couldn’t keep on doing this; it just hurt too much.

***

Question: Why does Karabo feel so confused?