“What should we do?” asks Xolile.

Sandile glances at both Xolile and his mother, “I am thinking we should alert the police.”

His mother says, “God, I hope they don’t arrest you.”

“They won’t, since Sandile hasn’t done anything wrong,” says Xolile.

“And I have the SMS from Naidoo. I’ll also tell them about the human thumb I found in Nancy’s house.”

“We won’t be safe from these people,” his mother says. “They know exactly where we live!”

“Don’t worry, Ma. I’ll go to the Chief’s house and ask him to give you shelter until it is safe.”

Sandile relays everything to the Chief, who has one of his drivers take Sandile to the police station in Pietermaritzburg.

“We have seen many cases of this kind of thing. Unfortunately, we’ve only nabbed suspects after it has happened. With this evidence we can get them before it happens. We can set the perfect trap,” says the Special Branch detective.

Sandile nods but there is deep concern on his face. He says, “I’m worried about the safety of my family if Naidoo or Nancy get away.”

“Don’t worry about that,” says the detective. “My whole unit will travel with you to set the trap and protect your family.”

The police drive back with Sandile and set up in the house of a neighbour.

“Now call this Naidoo,” says the detective. “Tell him you have the child’s body parts.”

Sandile calls Naidoo.

“I hope you have good news for me, Sandile,” says Naidoo.

“Yes, Naidoo. I have what you want.”

“Great news! Well done. I knew I could count on you,” says Naidoo.

“When will you come get it?”

“I’ll call Nancy right now. We will drive down today. We’ll be there in five hours,” says Naidoo.

“Okay, call when you are close by.”

“Sandile, now your next task: try to find me the liver of a woman. She should not be older than thirty-five years.”

“What?” Sandile blurts out.

“This is not a request,” says Naidoo. “You better find me the liver as well, or your family is dead.”

“Okay, Naidoo. I’ll try”

Sandile’s face is ashen in shock as he tells the police that Naidoo has requested the liver of a woman. If he worked for Naidoo they would never let him go.

“Sick bastard,” says the detective. “When he calls again to say he is nearby tell him you have the liver as well.”

Sandile and the police are shaking their heads at Naidoo’s depravity, when Sandile’s phone buzzes. The message is from Nancy.

Well done! We will see you soon. Love U!

It is just after midnight when Naidoo calls. “Did you get the liver, Sandile?”

“Yes.”

“Good work. Wrap the head of the child and liver in two separate plastic bags. We are five minutes away. Stand outside with the parcels inside the backpack. I’ll take it and go immediately,” says Naidoo.

The detective looks around the house. He comes back with a cabbage. He rolls newspapers stained with ox blood around it and puts it in a plastic bag. He places it inside Sandiles’s backpack.

The detective sees fear in Sandile’s eyes. He says, “Don’t worry, Sandile. We will be watching you all the way.”

Sandile nods and jumps over the fence to his mother’s house. He stands by the front door. He can see the headlights of Nancy’s SUV in the distance. He ducks inside the house and soon Nancy’s car is inside the yard.

Sandile comes out with the backpack. As soon as he hands it to Naidoo the police switch on a huge, blinding light, that disorients Naidoo and Nancy. Sandile lays down on the ground, just like the detective instructed. Naidoo runs and crashes into the open door of the SUV. Nancy trips and falls. There are cops everywhere. They handcuff Naidoo and Nancy.

“I’ll teach you a lesson when I get out of jail,” Naidoo snarls at Sandile as he is bundled into the back of a police van.

Nancy evades Sandile’s stare.

“Great work, Sandile,” says the detective. He pats Sandile on the shoulder and says, “We need more brave young men like you in this country.”

The next morning, as the news of Naidoo and Nancy spread all over the country, Sandile picks up his newborn son. He bathes him and cradles him in his arms. Xolile wakes up to this lovely sight of father and son silently bonding. Sandile looks up from the child to Xolile.

“His name is Themba (Hope),” says Sandile.

Xolile sits next to Sandile. They watch Themba in silence until he falls asleep.

***

Tell us: Does what you have seen of the character Sandile in this story give you hope that he will make something of his life?