Entwined

by Cheryl S. Ntumy

  “A school?”

  “Nope. Near a main road…” I close my eyes and try to get the images back, but they’re long gone. “Just keep driving.”

  On the way I tell him about the premonition. My stomach is in knots. I was so sure Ma-fourteen had the necklace that I gave up without a fight, and now it seems it was someone else who found it, someone who thought it might be valuable. Thank God! Without it Ma-fourteen can’t get a new recruit, and that means the Puppetmaster will have to make do with one less soldier.

  We travel down the road. “It’s close. Keep going.” We’ve just passed the revenue office when I start to feel a tug at my chest. “Old Naledi! It’s in Old Naledi.”

  “Are we going to have to wrestle it from someone?” asks Rakwena, taking his eyes off the road to glance at me. “Because I didn’t bring my ass-kicking gear.”

  “If we’re lucky it’ll still be in the mud. If that child hasn’t found it yet. Step on it, Lizzie – the light’s green!”

  He makes a feral noise in his throat. I grin, but anxiety overrides my sense of humour as we draw nearer to Old Naledi.

  “Which turn?”

  I gulp. “I’m not sure. Not the first one – keep going.”

  Rakwena slows down, ready to turn at a moment’s notice. We pass the first turn, then the second.

  I feel the tug again. “Here!”

  The car screeches and swerves to the right, gravel crunching beneath the tyres. Rakwena parks beside a ramshackle house on the corner and we climb out. There’s quite a lot of mud around us from the recent rains, but I’m not sure where to start. I don’t know if the truck in my premonition was entering or leaving Old Naledi, and I don’t know where exactly the necklace fell. There’s a group of children playing nearby, and that spurs me on. I don’t want any of them finding the cursed necklace.

  “This is going to be fun,” I mutter, as I bend over and start rummaging through the mud.

  Rakwena pushes the mud aside with his sneakers.

  “I can’t feel it any more,” I announce after several minutes. “That’s not good.”

  “But the kids don’t have it,” says Rakwena, glancing up at them. “It must still be here.”

  I straighten up to catch my breath. “I don’t know. Maybe it was a different kid. Maybe he’s already gone. Or maybe this isn’t even the right spot. There’s mud all over the place.”

  Rakwena starts walking. “Let’s move further in – there’s another patch of mud over there.”

  It’s getting dark now. Rakwena and I walk past the playing children, towards the muddy puddle beyond. There’s another child playing in the mud, older than the others, and solitary. Or maybe she’s not playing. She’s rooting around in the dirt as if she lost something. She’s not that young, either. In fact, something about her looks very familiar. My pulse quickens and I get a sinking feeling in my stomach.

  “Rakwena, I think we might be too late.”

  We both start to run at the same time. The girl looks up. Damn it! Even from this distance I can see that glassy-eyed stare. Laone’s search grows frantic. She’s getting mud all over her clothes, and then she stops and leaps to her feet, as agile as a cat. There’s something in her hand. She looks at us and bolts.

  “She’s got it!” I groan.

  “Not for long.” Rakwena sprints ahead, following her across the road. She’s heading back to the main road, but I don’t see a car nearby. She dashes across the road and into the trees on the other side, Rakwena on her tail. I’m lagging behind but I try to keep them in sight. I have to stop at the road to let a car pass, but when I reach the other side I can still see Rakwena.

  Honestly, this running through the wilderness business is getting old. I feel like someone in a silly horror film, being chased by a maniac through conveniently located woods. I pick up my pace. Up ahead I hear a muffled cry as Rakwena throws himself on Laone and tackles her to the ground. Ouch. I reach them, panting heavily, and try to find my way into her head through the chaos. Her barrier is rock solid, and I’m already tired from running. This is going to be difficult.

  “Connie!” Rakwena yells at me. “A little help here!”

  “I’m trying!”

  “Forget the mind games – come and get the necklace!” He has pinned her arms down and is trying to control her struggling with his telekinesis, but she’s a tough one.

  I kneel beside her clenched fist and try to pry her fingers apart. It’s like trying to break open a pecan nut. “Damn it!” I focus on her face and make another attempt to worm my way into her head.

  There must be a crack in this barrier, some little part of her that doesn’t want to be here. There must be something… ah. Got it. It’s a hairline crack, but it will do. I force my will through the crack, pushing until it widens enough to let me in. Let the necklace go, Laone. Just let it go. It doesn’t matter any more. What matters is getting away. Let them have it and then you can run.

  Her eyes flicker. I’m getting somewhere. She’s not struggling any more. You don’t want to do this. Why should you do what he tells you? He’ll never know. You’ll tell him you tried but they beat you to it. It’s not your fault. He’ll never know.

  Her grip slackens slightly, and I pounce, tugging the necklace from her hand. I don’t waste another second. I jump to my feet.

  “Run!” says Rakwena, but I’m already moving.

  I can hear his footsteps behind me. It won’t be long before Laone is hot on our trail, but I think we can outrun her. All we have to do is get to the car. Just before crossing the road I turn to look back. Rakwena has caught up with me and Laone is close behind. Rakwena grabs my hand and drags me towards the car. He’s running so fast my legs can’t keep up and my arm is almost wrenched from its socket, but we make it into the car. He starts the ignition before he’s even properly in his seat, and the car is moving before I close the door. As we pull into the road, I allow myself a sigh of relief.

  I look down at the necklace in my hand. “We made it.”

  “Not exactly.” Rakwena’s eyes are on the rear-view mirror.

  “She’s not stupid enough to chase a car!”

  “She’s not chasing us. She doesn’t have to.” He swerves sharply, turning back into the bush we’ve just emerged from.

  My body slams into the door and I turn around to follow his gaze. “Oh, come on!” Laone is in the back of the truck. “How the hell did she get in there?”

  “She jumped. Hold on.” The car swerves again, then again. “She’s so bloody stubborn!” He brakes suddenly and I hear the thud as Laone hits the back windscreen.

  “Don’t kill her!” I shout, shocked.

  “Does she look dead to you?” he growls. “She’s a freaking zombie, remember? And don’t think for one moment that she wouldn’t kill us if she got the chance.”

  “I don’t care – I don’t want blood on our hands.” I look back. Laone is bleeding from a cut on her cheek, but otherwise she looks stronger – and angrier – than ever. “There has to be a way to get rid of her without hurting her.”

  “Fine.” Rakwena pulls the car back onto the road and hits the accelerator.

  “Where are we going?”

  “To your grandfather’s house. I have a feeling she won’t want to hang around for an introduction. If anyone can scare her off, it’s him.”

  He’s right. Laone hangs on for a while, but once we turn towards Bontleng, she starts to panic. At the first red light she jumps out and runs off into the darkness.

  I peer out the window at her. “I can’t believe he makes them run around at night on their own. They’re kids, for goodness sake.”

  “They’re not normal kids,” Rakwena reminds me. “They can handle themselves.”

  “Still… it’s the principle of the thing,” I scowl. My heartbeat has only just started to return to normal when we pull up outside Ntatemogolo’s house, but now it’s starting up all over again. I haven’t forgotten our last conversation. I hope that bringing the necklace
will appease him, but you can never be sure.

  He takes longer than usual to respond to my knocking, and when he does open the door he looks terrible. His eyes are red from lack of sleep and the folds of his neck hang like a vulture’s gullet. He looks like he hasn’t eaten in days. He steps aside to let us in without a word.

  “Good evening.” Rakwena keeps his voice mellow and meek.

  Ntatemogolo nods.

  “Hello, Ntatemogolo. I’m sorry for coming unannounced. How are you?”

  He grunts and waves us towards the consultation room. “Tired. I’ve just come from a very difficult operation.” He winces. “A young boy, about seven. Twenty-seven safety pins lodged in his body. It looks like it was his aunt who did it. An ugly business.”

  I grimace and look at Rakwena. I really didn’t need to hear that. I try not to get involved in the work my grandfather does in the community; it makes my skin crawl. It’s amazing the kind of dark, twisted messes people get caught up in, the lengths they’ll go to over petty grievances. Whatever happened to talking it over?

  “Why are you here?” My grandfather lifts his weary gaze to my face. “Are you in trouble?”

  I shake my head and hold out the necklace. “We found it in Old Naledi.”

  His eyes widen. He takes the necklace and hisses as soon as his fingers touch the metal. He holds it up by the chain, letting the flower-shaped locket dangle. “It’s very, very powerful,” he tells us. “Did you open it?”

  “No.”

  “Good.” He nods solemnly. “You have done well, Connie. I will take care of it, but not tonight. I need my rest.” He gives me a look that tells me it’s time for us to leave, so we get to our feet, say our goodbyes and get back into Rakwena’s car.

  “Well, this was a good night,” he says cheerfully.

  I sigh. “I guess. I’m glad we got the necklace back, but we still have four more girls to worry about.”

  “One step at a time.” I hate it when Rakwena sounds wise and grown up. “And one more good thing came out of all this – you and your grandfather are talking again.”

  “You know, I wouldn’t really call that talking. We were in there for five minutes and he couldn’t wait to get rid of us.”

  “He was exhausted – you saw that.”

  “I guess.” I know I’m being petulant, but I can’t help it. I had envisioned something a little more dramatic. I thought I’d walk in with the necklace like the conquering heroine and Ntatemogolo would realise that I’m not as stupid as I look. He would bestow some cool amulet on me as a mark of honour, and then he would let me observe and take notes while he banished the Puppetmaster’s power from the necklace, and then we would break out the champagne (or the Oros, whatever). But no. Here I am, on my way home with no mark of honour and no glory.

  “You did well,” Rakwena says softly.

  The traffic is light and the city looks peaceful in the early night, a few lights breaking up the quiet darkness. I wonder where Laone went, how far she had to run, and what she’s going to tell her master when she sees him. “Could have done better. We could have gone for Laone’s necklace, too.”

  Rakwena lets out an incredulous laugh. “You’ve obviously forgotten how hard it was to get Rose’s. One step –”

  “At a time, got it,” I grumble.

  “You should be proud of yourself. In a couple of months you’ve gone from being afraid of your own shadow to taking on dangerous sorcerers. That’s a huge leap.”

  I turn to glare at him. He pulls up outside my house several minutes later. Dad’s car is parked outside, and the front door is open. He comes rushing out just as Rakwena and I are coming through the gate.

  “Hi, kids – good thing you’re here,” he gushes. “I’m supposed to be attending a dinner tonight – some la-di-da do for the scientific community. I only just remembered; can you believe it?”

  Yes, somehow I can. “Dad, hold on.” I accost him before he can run off, and reach up to straighten his tie.

  “Thanks, love. Is my hair all right?” He removes his glasses, wipes them with the end of his dreary grey shirt, then tucks the shirt into his dreary washed-out black trousers. I really need to get my dad a suit one of these days.

  I glance at his hair. It could be better, but at least it looks like he tried to comb it. “It’ll do. Where’s your jacket?”

  “Jacket? Ah, bloody…” He dashes back into the house.

  Rakwena grins. “I like your dad.”

  “He is rather lovable, isn’t he?” I push Rakwena into the house. “Come hang out for a bit. It sucks being home alone.”

  “You could call Lebz.”

  “She’s trying to finish an assignment that’s due tomorrow. I’ve already done it, so…” I bat my eyelashes at him. “Please? At least for an hour. What are you going to do in that big house all by yourself, anyway?”

  Dad comes flying out of his room. “Bye! Don’t wait up! Remember to lock up; I have my key!” And then he’s out the door.

  “Bye Dad, have fun!” I yell, but I hear the engine start and I know he’s out of earshot. I turn back to Rakwena. “Trust scientists to host a dinner on Sunday. Have a seat; we can play Monopoly.”

  He rolls his eyes. “I have a better idea – let’s work on your planting. You need to get stronger and faster. But first…” He glances towards the kitchen.

  I giggle. “Go ahead, but try not to clean out the fridge this time.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  When Lebz and I walk onto campus on Wednesday, Rose is sitting alone on our bench. She hasn’t been in school since the day we took her necklace, but she looks a little more like her old self now.

  “Hey!” I swoop down on her, wrapping her in a maternal hug. “How are you?” I pull away and hold her at arm’s length. “You still look thin, but at least the circles under your eyes have faded.”

  “I’m OK.” Her smile is shaky. “I’ve been having nightmares, though.”

  “You’ve been through a lot,” says Lebz sympathetically. “It’ll take time.”

  “Now that Amantle and the others are out of your life, you just need some rest and support from the people who care about you,” I add. “You’ll be fine.”

  “Well, my mother has her own ideas about what I need.” Her voice is barely audible. “She’s sending me away. To a school in South Africa.”

  Lebz and I exchange surprised glances. “OK, that’s a little too far,” says Lebz.

  “She thinks it’s best,” says Rose. “I’ll get to start over in a new place, new people… I don’t know. I think maybe she’s right. But I don’t want it to look like I’m running away or something, because I’m not.”

  I put my arm around Rose’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about what people think. Who cares? You should do what feels right. I’ll miss you, though,” I add wistfully.

  Rose smiles. “I’ll miss you, too. You’re so brave, Connie. What you did for me… I’ll never be able to thank you.”

  Ah, hell… I’m getting teary-eyed. I blink a few times and roll my eyes. “Ag, come on. I didn’t do anything. I’m just a freak who can’t mind her own business. Anyway, I had lots of help from my superhero sidekicks.” I wink at Lebz.

  “She’s always pretending to be modest,” Lebz tells Rose. “But deep down she loves the attention.”

  I swat her shoulder. “There’s Wiki. He’s late today.”

  “He probably couldn’t tear himself away from his computer,” says Lebz.

  Rose gets to her feet. “I have to go. I have to try and finish all my work in time, study for exams and wrap things up before I leave.”

  “There’s still time,” says Lebz. “We have almost a month before final exams.”

  “I’m already behind on my study schedule,” says Rose, her brow creasing. “I was supposed to start a week ago, but all that stuff with the necklace…”

  She could be Wiki’s protégé. I mean, really – who starts studying a month before exams? It’s not as if studying is fu
n. “OK, sweetie – do what you have to do. Remember, our bench is your bench, so I expect to see you at break.”

  She bites her lip. “I might be in the library…”

  Lebz and I groan in unison. Wiki arrives and gives us curious looks.

  “Hi, Rose.”

  “Hi, Wiki. Bye, Wiki.” Rose waves and runs off.

  “I have something to show you.” Wiki opens his bag and takes out a yellow file.

  “We still have ten minutes before class,” I protest. “Please let us enjoy it!”

  “It’s not schoolwork.” He opens the file. “It’s research.” His eyes are bright with excitement. “When you first realised you were telepathic, I decided to set aside a file to store information on the supernatural. I’ve been doing research on everything that has come up in our discussions – telepathy, telekinesis, premonitions, bewitched objects, sangomas, mind control – everything.”

  Lebz’s eyes widen and she turns to me. I shrug – I’m just as surprised as she is. I haven’t paid close attention to Wiki’s thoughts or Lebz’s since they made it clear they don’t appreciate the intrusion. Both of us lean over to peer at the file. It’s almost half full already, with drawings and charts as well as typed text.

  “Wiki!” I whisper in awe. “You did all this work by yourself?”

  “Of course,” he says, a little offended. “I have back-up files on my computer and on a memory stick. I didn’t want to say anything yet, because I wasn’t sure I would find anything we could use. And of course I had to verify all my information. A lot of this material was found online, and you know you can’t trust the internet. But I’ve checked and re-checked, and although almost all this material is based in mythology and isn’t exactly scientific, I think we can use it.”

  I stare at him, amazed that this thoughtful genius is actually my friend. “Wiki, you’re a superstar.”

  He grins. “Thank you, Connie. I do my best. There are a lot of interesting things in here, but recently I found something that I think you’ll really like.” He turns to the middle of the book, where the most recent entries are. “It’s about sorcerers.”