Mmeli arrives at Mbali’s hut and enters. Mmeli gasps in appreciation as he sees her lying sleeping in the room. It is dimly-lit, and warm. The sun rays are shining down through chinks and the dust particles swim in the rays. Mbali is glowing, she is beautiful. She wakes up and sees Mmeli.

Mmeli tells her about the trip the Nkosi has planned to spy on the Sun-dwellers and find out their intentions. “When will you be back?” asks Mbali.

“I am not going. I don’t know what he sees in Manqoba that he doesn’t see in me,” questions Mmeli. “But I will stay with you, with my Mbali.”

Mbali sees Mmeli is upset about the issue so she tries to console him. “Everything has its reason. The Nkosi has his, my love,” she says. Mmeli doesn’t look cheered. Mbali carries on, “Do you remember the day we met?”

“I will never forget,” says Mmeli, “but let me tell it again. It was evening and there was a storm brewing. I was just coming from the river and then I saw you. You were carrying a heavy load and I offered to carry it for you. The violent storm was intense, so we took refuge in a cave. We spent the night there. The whole night I got to know you, asking you questions – you told me all about yourself. Time flew by. By then it was daybreak. We parted ways, only to see each other again a long time after.”

Just before Mmeli finishes the story, a smile has grown on his face. The two hug. They are cuddling when they hear Gogo’s cough as she passes by outside the hut. Mmeli ducks for cover to hide from Gogo.

Gogo stands at the entrance, “I know my son’s scent,” she tells Mbali.

Realising that they have been caught, Mmeli comes out from where he has been hiding. He flees like a child caught doing something naughty.

***

Tell us: Why do you think the Nkosi did not send Mmeli with Manqoba on the spying mission?