The Fourways Five
There was a big bang. The lights suddenly went off. Surrounded by only the natural light from the sky roof, Jeremy tried to grab a hold of his mother, but she wasn’t there. “Skye!”, he screamed out to his older sister. “Where are you Jeremy!?” she screamed back, trying to find a gap of sound between all the other screams around her.
Jeremy walked towards the sound of her voice. Pushing through the other people around him, and shoving through their shrieks of fear, he eventually found her. “Where is mom?” Skye asked. “She was next to me before the lights went out. I don’t know where she is”, Jeremy replied, with tears starting to run down his eyes. “Let’s run up to the roof parking, we’ll be able to see better there”.
This day was not supposed to be like this. What started off as a boring whiney trip to Fourways Mall with their mother had turned for this 9 and 11 year old. Since they started conquering the rest of the world, their dad always said to them that they won’t be affected by the military might of the Sino-American Empire. “Who would care for us on the southern tip of Africa”, he kept trying to assure them. But as soon as Jeremy heard the first big bang, he knew what was happening.
With all their might, they pushed the automated sliding door open, until they could get onto the roof. Military helicopters were flying above them. They could hear the sounds of sirens on the street below. “They could shoot us from here, we are out in the open”, Jeremy exclaimed. “But we can’t go back inside, it’s too dark”, Skye replied. She looked out, and saw a small door a short sprint from where they were. “Come quick!”, she said grabbing Jeremy’s hand before he could protest.
She opened the door, and they entered a store room with some light from the windows. Jeremy started sobbing. “This is not the time Jeremy”, Skye said sternly. “Crying is not going to help us”. “But we’re going to die, Skye.”
Suddenly, a big flash of light appeared in the corner of the room, surrounded by smoke. As the smoke started dissipating, a man with Mokorotlo hat and a Seanamarena blanket draped like a cape, appeared in the shadows. “From the echoing walls of the Maloti Mountains, I heard the sounds of distress! I’m here to save you!”.
After the initial shock wore off, Jeremy looked at him sceptically. “Umm… how do you plan to do that? Have you seen their guns?”
“I am Kutla! For centuries my clan have been the defenders of the peoples of these lands from outside invaders! There’s more to power than guns!”
The door suddenly swung open. Skye was the one who now screamed. The silhouette of a female figure eclipsed the light from outside. As it walked towards them, one could start making out her facial features.
“Mxm, is this clown already here?” she said, looking condescendingly at Kutla.
Skye was enamoured by her beautiful red umbhaco dress, her red headscarf, and her beads forming an intricately woven cape behind her. “She’s so beautiful”, she whispered.
“Nomfundo! If I knew you’re coming, I would’ve never even come.” Kutla said.
“How did you get here from Maloti mountains so fast”, Jeremy asked Kutla. “Can you fly?”
“Maloti Mountains?”, Nomfundo laughed. “There are no unused mines there for someone like him.”
“Heeyi, you don’t talk to me like that. My clan is the defender of the peoples of these lands from outside invaders! I am Kutla!” he said with his chest out and arms at his side.
“Did defending the peoples of this land also mean begging the British to protect you from Shaka?” Nomfundo asked cheekily.
Another bright light appeared at the corner of the room.
“Wat kind? Hows it vaaiing”, said a voice from the shadows. “Are these two at it again?”
“Who are you now?” asked Skye.
“To the the world, I’m Captain Naidoo. But to my friends, I’m Nesh”.
“So what can I call you?” Skye asked for clarity.
“You are 11. You are not my friend. So to you, I’m Captain Naidoo. Unless you have some pocket money to buy nice things. Then you’re my friend. Then you can call me Nesh.”
An unknown trapdoor to the ceiling then opened. It caught everyone by surprise. And a man jumped down, dressed in bright British military attire, with medals and honours lining his shoulders.
“Aweh Santa! It’s not Christmas time”. Nesh joked.
“I’m Major General Murray, descendant of His Majesty’s regiment in his territories of old. From the fairest mountain in the Cape I heard the cries, and I’ve come here to lead the effort to save the land.”
“Mxm lead!?” Nomfundo said with her arms crossed. “I’m the most qualified to lead here. I have my two degrees from South Africa’s top university, and my Master’s Degree from Cambridge. And you? Just a matric!?”
“History! History and civilisation is what I have. We built this land with its mining and industry . We were building empires, palaces and underground railroads, while your people were presumably sacrificing goats to your deceased”.
“Ey bra”, Nesh started. “It sounds like you’re the one busy worshipping your deceased, if that’s all you have to go on.”
“Guys stop! We have invaders we need to conquer!” Kutla summoned. “Nomfundo, I think General Murray has more experience leading this kind of thing.”
“Centuries later and still selling out”, Nomfundo replied.
“H-h-h-i guys, my name is Skye. I really need help finding my mom if you could help me. I don’t know if she was captured by the Sino-Americans.”
Nomfundo drew her close and gave her a warm hug. Tears now started flowing down Skye’s face. “As soon as we organise ourselves, we’ll be ready to rescue her.”
“Are you guys even real?” Jeremy asked, breaking the moment.
“Come on bra”, Nesh started. “Not real like a wooden chair is real, but real like your ouma’s wooden chair is real. You think a flying Sotho is real? This is Fourways, not Thoyondou”.
A big bomb suddenly exploded, rattling and cracking the walls of the building they were in.
“I don’t care anymore about your stories”, Skye said. Filled with a newfound courage, she declared to them: “I’m going to be the leader from now on. Let’s go and save our land!”
“At least she’s young”, Nesh said following her out of the door. “The stories haven’t caught up with her yet”.