The Wall

43

Insane, Moses thought as he dashed down the street. First, the referee and the other white guy. And now the security people. Their numbers were increasing. And yet, all he had was an old car that wouldn’t start, which was why he needed help. But he had already assaulted three people. And interrupted two others having sex. Which was more serious?

And what would’ve happened if he’d just let the referee…

Screeching tires. Up ahead, yet another silver-and-blue vehicle. A bakkie that was speeding toward him. Moses glanced around. He was back in bungalow land. One-storied houses. Closer to the exit. Good.

But the car was driving at him. Very bad.

He decided to stay where he was standing for a moment. The car raced toward him. A small property wall to his right, less than a meter tall, and behind it a nicely manicured lawn. To his left, tall weeds and car parts in front of the front door. No hiding places on either side.

The bakkie didn’t slow down. On the contrary.

The bakkie was still forty meters away. Moses tensed his muscles. Twenty meters. Still wasn’t braking.

The bakkie had almost reached him. Three.

Two. One.

Moses threw himself to the right and rolled to the side. The driver hit his brakes hard.

Moses’ shoulder slammed into something. He leaped to his feet. Dashed across the perfect lawn. Saw some kind of movement inside the house, didn’t have time to concentrate on it. Heard the bakkie slam into reverse. Between several terraces and back doors. Finally stopped for a moment. Breathe evenly. His heart beat in unison.

“He’s back here!” A woman’s voice. Behind him. In the house with the super-lawn? No time to look back.

In front of him, a row of bungalows. Beyond it, another street.

Crap. The referee was also in front of him. Had just caught sight of a patch of blue from his t-shirt.

The referee had also seen him. Was walking toward him. Wait a second longer. Lure him over. Away from the street. Then back again.

Moses took the next cut-through. The bungalow was now to his right. A wall that increased in height, step by step, to his left. If he had given the referee enough time, he wouldn’t turn around but would run after him.

This was the next street. A little further to his left was a nanny with a small white child. Moses couldn’t tell if it was a boy or a girl.

The nanny shook her head. Not in her direction? Is that what she meant? The other direction seemed empty.

From where the nanny and child were standing came another voice. “Is he out there?”

Moses crossed the street. Dove headfirst over a knee-high wall and landed on a bag of trash. He remained stretched out on the ground and waited for something to happen.