Mbolwane Village

It has been 2 weeks since Muzi was put to rest. His Mother is still grieving for her son, whose death remains a mystery to this day. She is sitting by the door looking at the Mbolwane mountains far from the distance. These mountains remind her of her deceased son, who loved climbing them. These glorious mountains believed to house a beast stands mightily above sea level. These mountains are not very far from the village where Muzi grew up. On the slopes of these mountains, cattle graze while the boys watch them graze from the distance. The sun is rising behind these mountains and the fog burning off ahead to the west as the sun climbed. For 200 meters, against a pale grey backdrop of fog, the sun lit up the varying fields below the mountains. There are deep greens at points. The crops are deep dark green and glowing against the grey. Then fields of wheat projected a light blonde/gold. Her teary eyes are gazing across the fields of sunflowers. Hundreds of acres of bright neon yellow reflect the sunlight. She begins to cry as the memories of her son keep circling in her mind. The weariness and burden of her son’s passing are reflected on her forehead. She is getting weaker and weaker by the day.

She wipes her tears immediately when she sees Ntombenhle coming out of her room and marching toward her. She does not want her only surviving child to see her in a vulnerable state. Ntombenhle is Muzi’s young sibling, who is in grade 12.

“Sawubona Ma, wahlala wedwa ekuseni, kwenze njani?” [Good morning, Mother, why are you sitting all by yourself? What is wrong?] asks Ntombenhle seeing that her mother is hurt inside and hiding it.

“Sawubona Mntanami, akukho lutho, ngibukela leza ntaba” [Good morning my child. There is nothing wrong, I am just gazing at those mountains] responds the mother with a frowny smile.

“Ngiyazi ukudlula kuka Muzi emhlabeni akwamukeleki, futhi ngiyazi kuzothatha eside isikhathi ukuthi kudlule… [I know it is hard to accept that Muzi is no more, and it is going to take a long time to accept…] responds Ntombenhle and gets interrupted by her mother’s hastily shaking.

“Mama…Mama…Mama…. Mama!!!” Ntombenhle is calling her mother as she is shaking uncontrollably. Her heart is pounding so fast as she shouts for help. Her voice is heard in the village and neighbours come rushing to help.