The Wall

71

“That’s our house,” Flower said. She pointed across the next street. Two stories, burgundy curtains, several windows open. A new compact car parked in front of the garage.

“That’s Mommy’s car?” Moses asked.

“Uh-huh… Come on, we’ll go over there.”

“Wait a minute.”

The two of them were hidden behind a wall over which Flower could just barely see. Moses looked up and down the street. Over toward the exit, he heard a garbage truck—or was it driving on the road that ran outside The Pines? The road leading down to the river was empty. Although… A security vehicle was just turning down the street. It was the bakkie that had tried to run him down. Or it might be a different one identical to the other one. Stay calm, Moses told himself. The most critical thing was to get to safety. And safety was only a few meters away on the other side of the street.

The bakkie slowly drew closer. Moses knelt down and let it drive by. As the sound of the motor died away, he stood up.

“Now!” he said to Flower.

A few seconds later, she rang the doorbell. At first, there was no reaction from inside the house. A window was then shut somewhere. Footsteps. Stairs. Now they were coming closer.

A woman opened the door. Slender face, red glasses, hair smooth to her shoulders. Black t-shirt and jeans. Not stupid. The smile on her lips morphed into a what-the-fuck look when she saw who was standing behind her daughter. For a long time, she didn’t say anything. But just as Moses was about to start his explanation, she rediscovered her voice.

“Get in the house!” she ordered Flower, who turned around and gazed into Moses’ eyes.

She then walked around Mommy, but looked back one last time. “But Moses hasn’t done anything,” she said.

“Go!” Mommy insisted. “Go to your room.” Up the stairs, door open, door closed.

Mommy stood in the middle of the doorframe. She wasn’t especially tall, but she made an intimidating impression on Moses as her eyes bored into his. She slowly placed her hands on her hips.

“I just need help,” Moses said quietly.

“If you ever get close to my daughter again…”

“But…”

“You’re the one everyone’s looking for, right? I know what you did. They’ll catch you. You can bet on that.”

She slammed the door.

“But…” Moses tried once more.

He glanced around. The street was empty, but it wouldn’t be for long. He needed a new plan. Where was Sandi? Had she even come?

A knock over his head. Flower was standing at a second floor window, waving sadly. Moses waved back. He felt just as sad.

Flower spun around suddenly. Mommy must have just come in the room. He had to get out of here.