Prompt to Publication | Annalie Kleinloog

Read an excerpt from Intombazane by Annalie Kleinloog. 

Lucas waved towards the approaching storm lingering around distant hills. He was
careful not to point accidently directly at the sacred mountain and incur the wrath of the gods.

“We need to cross before the sky opens.” He wiped over his face with a dust-covered hand, streaks of mud emphasized his frown.“Before this stream becomes a life-eating monster.”

He was right. But she knew from experience that finishing a causeway where a drift
eroded under the weight of many transport wagons, was the job for a bigger team.
Purposefully she guided the loaded ox back to the riverbank. In one easy movement
she landed on the sandy bank and undid the riempie-knots around the rock. Her
thoughts fixed on the task as she returned the free ox in exchange for another.

She had seen enough drifts repaired to know the craft of finding the perfect boulder; the labour in securing it to an ox; the final back-breaking tumbling of each rock into position and stabilising it with wood and smaller stones that filled most of the gaps. The storm rumbled closer. Plumes of darker blue against the sky. The smoke looked bigger. She hastily took the lead-riem from Lucas to deliver another boulder to the banks. A quick calculation brought a relieved smile to her smeared face. That should be adequate. She released the ox and trotted to where Lucas was fastening another flat boulder.

“We have enough!”

His face lit up in a hopeful grin.

“Let’s see.”

He was not convinced. She didn’t miss his quick peek at the storm. They were both knee-deep in the cool water. Standing on the old drift-crossing, they planned the placing of boulders.

He laughed when she placed her hands on her hips. “I told you so!”

“To work then.” He gurgled as he came up from a quick dip, drops sparkling in his
coal black hair.

It took the rest of the morning to roll and heave boulders in place. Always with the flat part up and the thin part sideways towards the oncoming water to prevent dislodging.

Bessie gathered heaps of stones and branches. Both banks looked like a shrine of
sorts, she thought.

Her feet firmly planted, she handed gap-fillers to Lucas.

He didn’t stop.

Neither did she.

Finally they stepped out and admired the fruit of their labour. She was not fooled by the neatness and precision of the causeway; the test was in the successful crossing of laden wagons and finally the endurance under relentless power of water.

“Can we break for lunch?” Bessie begged.

“We will camp and eat on the other side.” Lucas gasped.

Gathering and inspanning the oxen seemed like light work. Soon the loaded wagon
was ready. Bessie felt the usual trepidation before a crossing. But she was confident this was a job done well.

Lucas’ whistle, the clapping of the whip and the creaking of wagon muted the rolling thunder.

Slow.

Focused.

Every step a possible disaster.

Barefooted, Bessie led them step-by-step across the rock track. Pulling the lead
gently. Silently she prayed to any god prepared to listen.

“Just not today. Please, no toppled wagon or injured animals.

The rhythmic breathing of the two lead oxen behind her, reassuring. Painstakingly the wagon and 18 trek-oxen crept across the new stone bridge. Lucas studied the storm-clouds. The bridge needed to settle. The rocks had to find their own footing through many crossings to survive a maelstrom. Would this bring gentle rain or destruction?

He squinted in the other direction where they saw the sign of smoke, still perturbed. The twirl had become a diffuse cloud. That was NOT a cooking fire.

They found the flat outspan-area, their favourite stop at this crossing. It allowed them sweeping views. A few trees had even started to shoot. Behind the rocks they
stashed firewood. This made mealtimes easier, before or after fording.

Lucas went back to collect the exchange cattle and when he returned, the kettle was
singing on the fire. The smell of good food filled the air. He joined Bessie by the fire.

Late lunch and early bed.

For her.

He glanced over his shoulder.

The smoke was still there.

She slept in the back of the wagon atop the trade goods.

His bed was below the wagon, perfect for a sentry.

They settled for an early night.

The storm drew closer and sweet first-rain-smell replaced the camp’s whiffs.

Bessie fell asleep instantly. Lulled by the pelting drops on canvas.

She woke suddenly. Lucas’ urgent calling from outside.

“Intombazane, we must go!”

It wasn’t daybreak yet. What was the rush?

The wagon was packed and oxen in place.

“What is going on Lucas?”

“I will speak when we stop.”

She knew better than to nag. Answers would come later. Silently they started the trek.

He refused to let her do the usual initial guiding.

He handed her the whip and pointed to where he placed the shotgun. “You know how to use this. “

The early mist swirled thick around them. Lucas was hardly visible at the head of the oxen. She could just make out urgent whispers to his patient animals as the fury of the full river drowned all else. It must have rained harder upstream.

Her senses tensed for unfamiliar sounds.

The sun was high by breakfast-time, the mist burnt away when they finally stopped.
Bessie let out a breath she didn’t realise she was holding.

“A quick change over of animals.” Lucas was still skittish.

“The tired span must graze while we trek. Breakfast will have to be without coffee, no fire.”

“Can you tell me now what’s going on?”

Lucas talked whilst checking and adjusting the load.

“I went to that smoke before the big rain came.”

“You left? Alone?” she asked incredulous.

“One moves quicker and quieter, Intombazane.”

“It wasn’t a wagon?”

“It was a group of raiders. They burnt the kraal near the koppies. It was cattle dust and thatch burning that created the smoke.”

“What about inhabitants?”

“I don’t know.” His wearied body slumped.

“I had to get back over the river. I needed us to leave before they found us.”

She looked at him for a long time.

“Is our bridge holding up?”

“I hope NOT.” He said plainly. “Maybe the rain helped us.”