Constable Lecheng went back to the car and radioed the station explaining the situation then he went back to the small group waiting for something to be said, to be done. “Why don’t all of you go over to Mr. Molale’s compound? I’ll wait for Rre Matebele.”

Tumisang wanted to refuse but Mr. Molale insisted that it was better to leave this to the police. They gathered up MmaGosego and Dineo and her three children: Bobo, Letsati and Godirile, and they made their way to the next compound.

Constable Lecheng must have drifted off to sleep in the cool shade of a tall morula tree where he had sat down to wait because he jumped at the slam of the car door. Mr. Matebele pulled himself out of the car and rose to his impressive 1.9 m. He was a large man, more than 120 kgs and solid as rock. His size alone commanded respect, but even if he had been small, his celebrated career earned him a reputation as a straight, fair, disciplined man who had no patience for the sloppy, lazy Constable Lecheng.

Lecheng jumped to his feet to salute his superior and stumbled slightly on a root from the tree he was under. “So what do you have, Lecheng?”

“I’m not sure. They’re in the hut.” He pointed at the house hoping that he wouldn’t be forced to go inside again. He knew the sight would take many tins of beer to eradicate from his memory, he doubted he’d be sleeping for quite a few nights after what he saw. He had no interest in seeing it again.

Asst. Superintendent Matebele made his way to the house. He was inside for some minutes and returned to Lecheng’s side. “So what do you think happened in there?”

Constable Lecheng looked up at the big man. He had hoped that he’d be taken off the case when Matebele realised that five people were dead. Everybody knew a case such as this would not be one a sensible person would want to leave in the unstable hands of Constable Lecheng. Even he knew that.

“Well, I’m not sure, sir. It looks like there was a fire, maybe a spilled paraffin lamp. I’m not sure why only certain parts of the house burnt and others didn’t. I guess it’s unlikely to be a murder,” he ended with a statement that was said like a question. He was hoping that it was not a murder and just a simple fire that unfortunately killed five people. If he was going to be on the case, which it appeared Asst. Sup Matebele had already decided that he would, then he’d rather it be a fire. He’d be able to handle that one without much of his incompetence showing through. A simple, straight forward fire was the best answer.

Matebele looked at the younger officer for a few minutes while an uncomfortable silence settled between them, then said in his slow, deep voice, “Okay, if that’s what you think. You stay out here. I’m going back into the village. I’ll send the mortuary cars out to collect the bodies. In the state they’re in, they’ll have to be buried quick.”

Constable Lecheng wasn’t sure what to think. He was relieved, of course, now it was a simple matter of writing up a report. But what was troubling him? Anyway, he thought, if the famous and capable Asst. Sup. Matebele agreed with him, then for once he must be right. He had nothing to worry about. An easy open and shut case. Just the kind he liked.

The long sombre cars arrived and took the bodies away. Constable Lecheng walked over to the Molale compound. The victims’ family were in a state but at least the levelheaded Molales were there to help. Constable Lecheng was not good with grief, never had been. Mr. Molale stood up when the police officer entered the yard.

“Well, Asst Sup. Matebele thinks it was a fire. Perhaps caused by a paraffin lamp that fell over,” Constable Lecheng explained to Mr. Molale. He noticed Mr. Molale’s youngest son, Neo, standing next to his father, tears streaming down his face. He must be about the same age as the oldest child, the girl, Constable Lecheng thought. “Anyway, the mortuary cars have taken the bodies. I’ve got to leave to write up a report. You know where you can find me if you need anything.”

As he got in his car, he could feel the heavy eyes of Mr. Molale on him. Lecheng wasn’t sure why he was feeling guilty, why he was feeling so bad. It had to be the horrible sight of those charred bodies he decided, as he headed the car towards Seventh Heaven Bar. He didn’t know a lot of things, but right now he knew one thing for certain, he needed a serious drink. Quite a few of them likely.

***

Tell us what you think: What do you think of Constable Lecheng? Do you think he should be in the police force? Why/why not?