“I don’t know you,” Zuko said and jumped up suddenly. “I’m not going anywhere with you. I think you had better leave now. I don’t believe anything you are telling me.”

Tom just stared at him. There was a sinister look on his face. If Gogo wasn’t present, Zuko had a nasty suspicion that Tom would give him a beating.

“Zuko,” Gogo reprimanded him. “These two men have driven a long way with news of your father. It is the first time we have had news of him. At least listen to what they have to say. Please,” she added. She looked imploringly at him.

Zuko was silent and thoughtful for a moment. Then he said, “Alright Gogo.”

Tom sniggered. It was the most evil looking grin Zuko had ever seen. He had a mad desire to jump up and run away from his home. But he knew these men would run after him, and soon catch him.

“We are not here to cause any trouble,” Jimmy said. “We merely want to carry out the wishes of your father.

“He wants you to come to Knysna for the summer holidays. The town is full of tourists at this time of year. He has found you a good, paying job. You’ll be working near him. They have also offered you food and accommodation.”

“Have you got any proof that it was my papa who sent you? Why has he not been in touch with his family in all these months?”

Jimmy grinned. Two of his front teeth were missing. “You are a clever boy, Zuko. Of course you must be wary of strangers.”

He put his hand in his pocket. He took out an envelope. He passed it to Gogo.

“Your son gave me this letter for you, with some money. Moses explains everything in the letter, Mama. There is no need for me to go into any detail.”

Gogo looked down at the letter in her hands. They were trembling. She didn’t open the letter. She would wait until the two men had left her home before doing so.

Jimmy nodded his head and stood up.

“It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Mama. Be ready to leave in the morning, Zuko. We leave when the sun rises.”

He stared at Zuko, daring him to say anything.

The two men walked out of the house then. They got into their vehicle and drove off. They never once looked back.

Zuko heaved a huge sigh of relief.

“I wish I could go with you, Zuko,” Samuel said. Zuko looked up in surprise. He hadn’t even noticed when his brother came into the room.

“I’d like very much to see Papa. Do you think he will come home at the end of the month?”

Zuko smiled at Samuel. “I’m not sure brother, but I don’t expect he’ll be home very soon. If he is working at Monkey Land this is the busiest time of the year for him.”

Gogo smiled at her two grandsons. She was very happy that she had finally heard from her son. She had just known deep in her heart that he would not have forsaken his family. Now finally her prayers had been answered.

She handed the letter to Zuko. “You read it to us,” she said. She relaxed back in her chair with a satisfied smile on her face.

Zuko slid the envelope open. He looked down at the handwriting. It was in his father’s hand.

Dear Family

I hope all is well with each one of you. My thoughts have been with you all every single day. I know you must have been very troubled when I didn’t phone or come home.

Shortly after my last visit I became ill with malaria. While I was sick all my belongings, including my cellphone, went missing. I was delirious with fever for many weeks but I’m now well.

There is plenty of work here at Monkey Land and the Bird Sanctuary. I’ve arranged a job for Zuko close by me.

I’m sending Jimmy and Tom to see you and give you this letter. I’ve enclosed some money for you, Mama.

Please do as Jimmy and Tom tell you, Zuko. They will drive you here and drop you off by me. We are far too busy now for me to visit. Besides I do not want to take any more time off work. Time is money, as you know, so I’m working long hours to make up for the time I was ill.

I look forward to seeing you, son. We will be home for Christmas, Mama and Samuel. Look after each other when Zuko comes to me.

Your loving son and father

Moses had signed his name at the bottom of the page. Zuko put the letter down on the table. He had an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.

He didn’t doubt that it was his father who had written the letter. But he felt everything wasn’t as it should have been. It sounded far-fetched somehow.

Gogo looked over and saw Zuko’s frown.

“Do not worry, Zuko.” She misunderstood his concerns. “Samuel and I will be fine. You must do as your father says.”

“I will not disobey Papa,” Zuko reassured her.

“You are a good son,” said Gogo and nodded her head.

Zuko couldn’t help but worry though. Why had his Papa decided to write a letter now? Somehow or another he could have got word to home here in Walmer about what happened to him. Why hadn’t he phoned Gogo? She had an old cellphone Moses had given her. It still worked.

Why did he send two men to fetch him, Zuko wondered. He could just as easily have caught a bus to Knysna.

***

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