The Kingdom of Yoba Africa. 1968

As anticipated, the superstitious part of the community blamed the wrath of the elements on the internal political strife of Yoba. They saw this devastation of the country as punishment for not following the dictates of the ancestors. Now the ancestors were angry, they were letting the people of Yoba know. The entire country was chastened and regretful. Dumisa had to spend more time at work to keep apace of the increased workload. The week-ends were welcomed only as a means of re-charging his energy for the next week, one week running into another, month after month for the whole of the year until, at Christmas with the annual closing of government offices forcing a halt, it was like jumping from a speeding vehicle. The momentum was still with him, looking for escape the one thing that could capture his concentration was gambling. It was now, in the dying days of the year that Dumisa’s decision to do his own thing changed his future completely.
On Boxing Day the activity at the Royal Yoba Hotel and Casino was one of transition, removing the trappings of Christmas and replacing them with decorations to herald the arrival of the New Year. The heat was stifling, night merely took the glare out of the day, leaving the warm breath of the exhausted earth hanging invisibly in the darkness. Over his cool cotton shirt Dumisa wore a cream jacket which contrasted cleanly with his black trousers, immaculate, as always. He gained more second glances that anyone else in the room as he paused, habitually, at the top of the stairs in the games room. From here he could view the usual holiday crowds assembled below, one particular table proving more noisy and excitable than the others. Normally he chose to avoid such tables but tonight, as the crowd thinned momentarily, he found himself looking directly into the face of the man for whom he had borne a lasting hatred, Tandi Lumbo’s husband, `Chief’ Mhlongo, as he had now become.
A succession of thoughts ran through Dumisa’s mind. He hated this man, not only through jealousy, but because he had treated Tandi so badly, beating her and neglecting her alternately. Dumisa had been young and poor when Mhlongo had taken Tandi from him but now he was rich and powerful just as he had promised himself he would be. He could now afford a wife like Tandi. What he would have given to parade his wealth before Tandi’s overbearing mother, but after the passage of time he doubted if the old shrew was still alive. If it weren’t for Mhlongo he could claim Tandi for himself at long last, as it should have been. They had been meant for each other, they had both known that. Over the years she had returned regularly to his thoughts, she had never been far from mind, rekindling the longing of his youth. He may be older and richer now but his feelings hadn’t changed, they gnawed perpetually deep inside him. He had worked hard over the years, surely he had earned his heart’s desire? Why shouldn’t he take Tandi for himself, after all Mhlongo didn’t really want her, but he recalled Tandi’s words . . .
" - he would feel it his duty to kill you if you violated the marriage."
Their happiness together would be short lived if he defied the man and took Tandi away, the Zulu wasn’t prepared to give up his prize cheaply. On the other hand, Dumisa needed a woman at his side at this stage of his life, and that woman had to be the one he had dreamed of since he was eighteen. He didn’t feel any different now, she was still the one he wanted, but the only legal way he could have her was if Mhlongo died. The man didn’t look in any way as if he was about to oblige on that score, but maybe, just maybe, he could be pushed.
The seed of excitement began to grow deep within Dumisa. Once more he had a goal, an aim that caused the adrenalin to pump. He had removed others who stood in his way, successfully and without suspicion, why not Mhlongo? He didn’t doubt that he could remove yet another obstacle, only this time, it had to be permanent. If Mhlongo wouldn’t divorce Tandi, and there was little chance of that, then he would have to die.

***

Resume Author - Thelma Martin Lee

The author was born in Edinburgh Castle Scotland, of a military family. Educated in Scotland and Egypt. She has lived many years on the African continent, actively involved in amateur theater, acting and directing, and engaged as a transcriber of court cases, the latter providing the basis for this, this full length novel.

Ref No. 105020RO: African Romantic Drama
Length: 87,330 words
Completion Date: Ready to submit

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'Muti' , © T M Lee 2001 - All Rights Reserved