Deadly Harvest A Detective Kubu Mystery - By Michael Stanley Page 0,17

trees and lampposts in the area. Maybe somebody will recognize her or remember something.”

Then he led the rest of the group to the next area where they would beat the bushes for any sign of the missing girl.

As Witness worked his way through the bushes, he became increasingly despondent. I’m never going to find her, he said to himself. She’s gone. What have I done to deserve this? He lifted his pole and smashed it against the nearest bush. And again, and again.

Charlton walked over and put his arm around Witness’s shoulders. “Have faith, my friend. If she’s alive, we’ll find her. And if she’s not, she’s in a better place.”

For just a moment Witness buried his face against Charlton’s chest. Then he pulled away.

“Let’s keep looking,” he said as he went back to his place in line. “Let’s keep looking.”

IT WAS NEARLY NOON when the remaining searchers assembled back at the school. There wasn’t a single lead, not a scrap of information that could help Witness find Tombi. She had disappeared without a trace.

“Thank you for your help, my friends,” Witness said to the group. “You did everything you could. I fear the worst. Someone has taken her. For what, I don’t know. Please pray for her; pray that she’s alive.” He wanted to add that otherwise they should pray that her death was quick and without pain. But he knew he’d choke on the words if he tried to say that. “And take care of your own children. Look after them. Protect them.”

When the others had left, Witness sat down under a tree outside the school gate and leaned against its trunk. He thought back to his wife, and the familiar feeling of sadness came over him. And anger. When had it happened? Who was it?

He thought they’d built a good marriage. They’d laughed and played together, and he’d loved watching Tombi grow from a little black ball, squirming in his hands, to a happy teenager, well on her way to becoming a woman.

Then came the shock—the night his wife told him that she was HIV positive. That he should get tested, too. He’d been devastated. And she refused to answer any questions, which made him furious. He had a right to know. She was his wife.

She was different after that night. The sparkle was gone, as were the energy and laughter. And a year later she died, a wasted shadow. He hadn’t known whether to be relieved or sad.

So he transferred all his love to Tombi. She’d filled the void. And hadn’t disappointed him.

But now she was gone.

He sobbed. It wasn’t possible. It wasn’t fair.

He continued to lean against the tree, head down, until he became aware that someone was watching him. He looked up and saw Gordon Thembe. He dropped his eyes again. Gordon was not one of his friends. He did odd jobs when he needed money, and otherwise hung around the shebeens drinking and chatting with his friends and women. Witness thought him lazy and unreliable. He wished the man would go away and leave him in peace. But Gordon flopped down next to him. “Courage, my friend,” he said. “Somehow she will be found.”

Witness grunted.

“You must try and relax, man. Keep calm. You’re no use to Tombi this way. Here, share this with me.” The man pulled a plastic packet from his jacket, removed a crinkled cigarette paper, and poured out some dried plant material. Witness guessed it was dagga, the local name for marijuana. He wanted to be angry with Gordon, to tell him to leave. But after all, the man had risen early to help search for Tombi. He shrugged. Gordon rolled the dagga in the paper and neatly sealed it by licking along the edge.

When the pungent smoke started to rise, Witness took the joint and inhaled deeply a few times. He coughed a little, but after a while felt the tension ease. As Gordon babbled about nothing in particular, Witness listened quietly, taking a drag from time to time, letting his brain unwind.

“They’re probably right,” he said at last. “Tombi will come home. I’ll be very cross with her!” That struck him as funny, and he giggled. Gordon chuckled, too, while he rolled another joint.

Suddenly Witness grabbed Gordon, almost pulling him over. “Look at that man!” He pointed toward the road, his hand shaking. “You can see he’s a witch doctor!”

Gordon looked at the shabbily dressed man walking along the road, perhaps looking for work. There seemed nothing unusual