bJohn walked into MaLulu’s kitchen looking tired and worried. “It’s no good, MaLulu, those men are vicious. They say they want the money first thing tomorrow, or they will burn my shop first and then hurt the boys. I’m on my way to wake up my bank manager in town. Then I’ll come back and sort out the stock they want from the shop. I can’t take any more risks. I was foolish enough to let the boys be taken away. If anything happened to them I’d never forgive myself!”

“Nonsense, John, you did everything you could, don’t blame yourself,” said MaLulu crossly. “What I think we should do is split up and do different things. Time is short.”

“Good idea, MaLulu,” said Jabu. “Bra Zakes, you go with bra John to the bank manager. Stella and MaLulu can go and ask Miriam and Rose if they saw anything else while they were walking home. We can meet up here again later.”

“And you, Jabu?” asked Stella, who had now forgiven Jabu for not meeting her earlier as agreed. “What are you going to do?”

“I’ve got to see someone about something,” he answered over his shoulder, walking quickly to the door.

Stella knew not to ask too many questions when he was in that sort of mood. “Okay, let’s go, MaLulu,” she said, “before Miriam and Rose go to sleep for the night.”