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19
19THE HOLY GRAIL MINISTRIES
REITU’S OFFICE
Ntando looks at Reitu intensely as she flips pages of the files in front of her looking to be very engrossed and focused on her work. After last night, he hasn’t said word to her, he feels kind of queasy and unsettled around her, her aura is suffocating him, there’s something he doesn’t like about the girl, but he can’t really point it out.
Ntando: I feel I ned to apologize for last night.
Reitu doesn’t answer him, let alone look at him or stop to show he’s even listening to him. With anger building up a little he approaches her and holds her hands scaring her in the process.
Reitu: Jesus! Your hands are cold…you scared me. What do you want?
Ntando: I’m sorry, I was just- look, about last night, I’m sorry.
Reitu: what for?
Ntando: I came to your house, unannounced and uninvited and almost got you in trouble with your mother. I didn’t think things through, I just wanted to get your sister’s stuff out of the office to make space for other things.
Reitu: I get it. you don’t have to apologize. It’s all good.
She gives her answer with no thought while concentrating on work. Ntando looks at her and snickers getting a little annoyed that she did not even care to look up and sit still when answering her, she doesn’t fear him, and she makes it very obvious and known to him too.
Ntando: you know… I’m not trying to date her. I apologize about that too.
Reitu: what?
Ntando: your cousin.
Reitu: oh, that. It’s none of my business I believe, whatever you guys do concerns me not. You’re grown so… you can do whatever really.
Again. The half-hearted answer with no emotion or care.
Ntando: hope, you’ll keep the same energy when she dies.
Reitu: what?
Ntando: nothing…I must rush… what do you want for lunch?
Reitu: don’t worry. I brought myself something.
Ntando: I’ll go my ‘something’ then.
He leaves the office while organising his thoughts about what to do with Seipati. Lats night, that was him putting her under a spell to control her every word and move. She became his spy to keep an eye on Reitumetse and report to him. After this, she definitely will have a change in attitude, after she’s done with her, she won’t even recognize herself and that’s if he lets her live!
THE MOHLALA HOUSEHOLD
The breakfast table is quiet, only utensils scraping against plates. After last night—no one seems to be in their right state of mind.
Mfundo: I have decided.
Bishop: what? On what?
Mfundo: I’m going to see someone about him…
The bishop’s face goes ice cold and there’s a hint of worry in his eyes as he leans in on Mfundo to speak more discretely.
Bishop: isn’t that taking things too far. It’s dangerous…please, I don’t think that’s too good of an idea.
Mfundo: no, I’m going to see things through. I am done.
Bishop: but what about us? The church? And everything we’ve worked so hard for? Please, my love… don’t do this.
Mfundo: do you know how death worried I was last night after searching for hours and hours and not finding him. It has never been like this before! He even dared and threatened to kill us!! Not that that’s a first but he looked like he meant it!! he looked deadly. Him being in human form brought out the worst in him, he became the monster I always feared he’d become! Hell, we even refer to him as human now—how is that making sense to you?!
Bishop: maybe we can talk him out of it or keeping a low profile for a while? It can’t be that hard.
Mfundo: you do you, I’m over this!
Bishop: I think you’re a little stressed honey, go see a therapist or something and please think this over. You don’t want to .
The bishop looks at his wife a little worried. His chest burns, he hates the idea, he doesn’t want to wake up and be a bum like he used to. What gives Mfundo the right to decide on something so drastic by herself! She must have completely lost it this time!! Come hell or high waters, he is not going to let that happen.
WEEKS LATER
ONE SUNDAY AFTERNOON
The Maleka’s gather with the bishop in a small circle just after service swooning about how much they enjoyed the service, singing praises to the man.
Seipati: that was a wonderful service! Better than any I’ve experienced before. I can’t believe I spent my first Sunday here not attending.
Bishop: less about the past but more about the future. So long you leave these premises happy, my job is done.
Boipelo: yes, bishop. I can’t agree more. It was wonderful. I could feel the Lord embracing the room.
Bishop: is it? that’s what I want to hear every time.
Boipelo looks to the side only to match eyes with Reitu who has a disgusted look on her face. She’s standing still and quiet, her body language reads she doesn’t want to be there.
Boipelo: Reitu, what did you think?
Bishop: I was just about to ask the same… you know, we must include all the sheep and lambs, we can’t enter the kingdom if we aren’t all in numbers. That is my job as the shepherd of this herd.
Reitu: nothing.
Bishop: well, that’s fine as well, the truth doesn’t dawn on all of us the same daughter; your days are numbered.
Reitu: I think the same about you Bishop, your days are numbered too.
Boipelo throws a very intimidating look at Reitu who doesn’t even seem fazed or care. The bishop’s face goes pale at the comment while Seipati supresses a laugh.
Boipelo: Reitumetse!!
Reitu: oh, that came out wrong… I meant your work is immaculate bishop, noticed and admired by everyone. Your days will be lengthened… not numbered. I sincerely apologize for that… it was an unfortunate play on words. My mistake. Out of all the things I've heard and seen so far, one scripture from the Bible resonates with me, Jeremiah 23: 16-22 ...it keeps me going.
Reitu bows and leaves the bishop, her cousin and mother standing there.
Bishop: quite a special kid you have there.
Boipelo: not at all, but I am honoured.
They all look at her as she strides away off their presence. At a distance she looks back and catches them in a conversation. Things have been very hard these past few weeks. With Kwanele, they have been uncovering new truths. After going through the things Ntando brought back home the other day, she came across something very interesting- a flash drive that she later gave to Kwanele to help decrypt as all files were locked. This morning, before having to go to that dreadful place she got news that the thing was now decrypted and Kwanele asked if she’d come see him after church. So, not giving a care and wanting to end it all already, she left the church.
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