.jpeg)
18
18THE HOLY GRAIL MINISTRIES
THE BISHOP’S OFFICE
Mfundo paces up and down as her husband sits on his chair also frustrated with his hands clasped together, elbows on his desk.
Mfundo: what do you mean he is not here? Where is he?
Nomfundo shouts on top of her voice showing rage.
Bishop: I don’t know, but as I said he is not. I last saw him before the sun went down, he was in the office with that girl. From there on, I don’t know what happened.
Mfundo: shouldn’t you be surveying his movements? What if he’s discovered somewhere and people--- oh Lord! What if they----
Bishop: could you stop thinking the worst. He’s not human! There’s no way there’s any other creature out there powerful enough to subdue him. So, can you please stop acting like a kid and sit the hell down, you’re driving me crazy with all the pacing.
Mfundo looks at him with rage and lands a slap on his face continuing to slap him repeatedly until he retaliates. The bishop holds both her hands and forces her to stop, forcing her to sit down on the couch. She breaks down and cries hysterically looking at her husband. She looks at him kneeling in front of her and stands up, leaves the office and makes sure to slam the door behind her. The bishop goes back to his seat frustrated as hell and tries to think of any places the master must have disappeared to.
THE MALEKA HOUSEHOLD
Headlights shine through the front window as Seipati and Boipelo sit enjoying their dinner with a guest after giving up on waiting for Reitu who was supposed to be back a while ago. Seipati excuses herself to go check from the window whose car is it revving next to their yard. To her surprise her cousin gets out of the car all giggly and smiling but she can’t see the driver. She hurries back to the table and sits already spilling the beans as Reitu knocks on the front door and lets herself in.
Seipati: its Reitu, there’s a car dropping her off…
Boipelo: a car? Whose car?
Seipati: I didn’t really see the driver but her comes Reitu, she’ll explain it herself.
Reitumetse gets in and greets, a little confused by the third person on their table this evening.
Reitu: Ma…cuz… and Ntando? What are you doing here?
Boipelo: you don’t get to question my guest when you have answering to do yourself. Who was that just now?
Reitu: can I sit down first?
Seipati: I’ll dish up for you.
Seipati stands up and gets busy while Reitu sits down not very amused by her mother’s question and further embarrassed that there’s her colleague at the table and she’s about to be told off. She eyes her mother, but she doesn’t take the hint. Seipati serves her and she starts eating immediately trying to avoid the question.
Reitu: this is so good… I can’t believe I didn’t know I was this hungry.
Seipati: steady…steady cuz, I did warn you this morning. You should’ve finished your breakfast.
Reitu gives Seipati and look and ignores her. She looks at her mother then back down on her plate. No one says anything, all quiet, each focused on their plate.
Seipati: who just dropped you off? Whose car was that?
Reitu: someone from church…
Seipati: anyone specific?
Reitu: I wouldn’t know, it’s only my second day there. Who am I to know anyone there?
Seipati: don’t fight me, I’m just asking. Lord!
Reitu: not fighting, just saying.
Boipelo: girls?!! Not when there’s a guest! Please…
Reitu: sorry Ma, Ntando… I thought you left the office early because you had something to do, how come you’re here?
Ntando: err… I did, I did. I--- I came by to…. The thing is---
Boipelo: he brought over some of Itu’s things that were left at the office.
Reitu: why bother? You could’ve just handed those over to me.
Boipelo: he couldn’t obviously and that’s why he’s here. You’re not an easy person to get friendly with.
Reitu: really, oh… I didn’t know that.
Ntando? Do I make you uncomfortable?
Seipati: stop asking, of course he can’t say that in front of you.
Ntando: no… it’s okay, sometimes you do scare me a little bit. And after you know--- I couldn’t really come to you.
Reitu: oh, sorry. I’ll try being more human going forward…
Ntando: that’d be better.
Reitu: well… that was good, I’ll go bat. I’m beat. Don’t worry about the dishes, I’ll do them before I turn in.
Seipati: no, no, you’re a working lady now. I’ll do them. You rest.
Boipelo: I’m turning in too, Reitu bring my tea.
Ntando: and I’ll help with the dishes.
Seipati stands up and smiles at Ntando who helps her clear the dinner table. Boipelo disappears to her room while Reitu does the same, leaving Seipati with Ntando in the kitchen.
30 MINUTES LATER
Seipati puts back the last plate in the cabinet before turning back only to be met by Ntando who’s breathing very close to her face. His eyes turn luring her closer and closer. He hisses as he extends his tongue to her pushing it deep past her mouth into her throat. He keeps his eyes on hers and does so for a few seconds before he retracts it and breaks eye contact with her, returning to normal.
Seipati: now, that’s done. Thank you for helping.
Ntando: no problem, the dinner was amazing.
Seipati: yeah… so you’re leaving now?
Ntando: I have to. It’s not like I can sleep here.
Ntando chuckles nervously as Seipati approaches him and brushes his arms lightly pulling him closer with a dishcloth she has on her hands.
Seipati: I wish you could stay.
Reitu comes into the kitchen disturbing the moment. Seipati immediately let’s go of the cloth and distances herself from Ntando who looks around confused and not knowing what to do.
Reitu: just here for tea…
Ntando: I should go, it’s late. See you tomorrow Reitu.
Reitu: tomorrow it is…
Seipati: be safe out there…
Ntando: always.
The man turns and leaves the kitchen striding towards the front door. Seipati follows behind and accompanies him to the front gate and watches him as he leaves not even turning back. she locks the gate and sighs as Ntando disappears in the dim light from the streetlights.
THE MOHLALA HOUSEHOLD
Mfundo sits with her legs crossed, wine on one hand and a cigarette on the other. One wine bottle lies on the floor, she’s on her second bottle and she’s had half of the bottle. The bishop watches her without a word as he sits opposite sipping on whiskey too.
Mfundo: you know, maybe this is for the best--- maybe things will be better if this whole empire crumbles. On the brighter side, we won’t have to kill people anymore. No more insane sacrifices. We’ll live normal lives--- we’ll be just like everyone else!
Her voice gets louder as she proceeds rambling off and repeating the part about living a normal life, seemingly to cringe as she thinks about being a normal person, a peasant!
Bishop: anything but that! We have to think Mfundo! We can’t let this happen my love! Any thoughts? what would father do? Has this even ever happened before?!
Mfundo: I don’t know!! I don’t know! The Master has been in the family for as long as I can remember but he has never pulled such a stunt before. He has never disappeared! And my father is dead--- how can he know anything!! ****!!! I hate this!!!
She throws the glass across the room, and it hits the wall on the other side of the room, leaving wine stains on the wall. The bishop gets a little scared but composes himself. He looks at his raging wife and leaves to get her another glass. In the meantime, the front door opens and here come in, the thing everyone was waiting for. Mfundo immediately gets up on her feet with the wine bottle on her hand. She attempts to throw the wine bottle on the master but fails.
The Master: it wouldn’t be wise of you to do that.
Mfundo: where the hell have you been?!!
The Master: that tone too… I don’t appreciate it! go get some sleep, you don’t look too good.
Bishop: I’m sorry, she was just so worried, I’ll get her to bed but---
The Master: let’s not forget out manners and our ranks. I don’t answer to you. I delegate, you do, and I reward you. I was with friends… you must get used to this because there’ll be more of this in the future. So please… get yourselves out of my face before I do anything I will regret!
The bishop looks at the master one more time before turning to collect Mfundo from the floor and leaving for the bedroom. He wishes life would’ve led him down a different path, he hates it when things aren’t merry.
Please log in to submit a comment.