TSAKANI

We are at Talon’s house planning how to overtake this war, and head straight to Italy to save bubbles before it’s too late, knowing that she’s still alive gives me new hope. It tells me that she’s fighting to stay alive, fighting, waiting for me to come and rescue her. We’ve been here for more than 24 hours now going through different plans, and we are running out of alcohol. Talon place is not that big, in fact it’s a bachelors flat with 2 bedrooms, kitchen/lounge, and a bathroom obviously. It’s clean too, and that’s only because he’s forever messing my house.

“My mind will explode now gents, I need a breather and it seems as if like we’ve run out of cigarettes,” Batista says getting up from the beer crate, Talon have only one couch, and one chair this guy is not serious about life I tell you, he’s not.

“Mine too, but we need to find a clear route or something. Anyone has any idea how vast the war have spread, and how many people were killed so far?” Leon asks.

Talon: “Fokol, nex. Ngapha netililing yami ayina mlilo,” (my phone don’t have a battery)

Me: “Mine is low too. Enhlek Talon, why don’t you have a TV?”

Him: “For the why? Angijindi la mus mina, ngijinda emadladleni wenu, nabona sidle nomphako wendlela. So, asikho is’khathi sokuthi ngithenge I TV bese ngigcwalisa is’bandisa makhaza sami ngegawulo yami nendawo yokufihla igawula yami for nina kuthi nizoshaya vithi igawula yami. Nadlala nina, too much.” (I don’t stay here, I stay in your houses, you see that we’ve eaten the food for the road. I see no need to buy TV then fill my fridge & cupboard with food just for you to come to my house and finish my food, you guys play, too much)

Leon: Laughing. “Oh, so you are basically a blood sucker? Uyi street kid wena because you depend on hand outs, you eat free food in our houses, but then again I understand your situation, you can’t afford and it’s fine. But, be rest assured that you will no longer eat at my house as I will stop buying food too.”

Him: “Angikuncengi cabanga u TK uzwakele, ngeke angincishe igawula of kanjani TK?”

Me: “Yeah, sure.”

Batista: “But it will be short-lived once diamond stays with him fully.”

Him: “Nah, bazobamba idladla e grand, e new bese kulawula mina kule ahlala kiyo manje.” (They will get a new house, and I will head the one that he’s staying in currently)

Me: “Ngiyaniva na ringa bafethu, but I way forward. We need to find a way forward, mele sivaye by midnight.”

Lee: “Too bad we don’t own private jets.” Then it hits me.

Me: “I know just a person who can lend us his without hesitation.”

Batista: “Who is that?”

Me: “Dom. Italian Dom. Talon, please pass me my phone I need to make a call,” he does what I tell him.

Him: “Dom? Uhlangana njani no Dom wena? Phela inja yama talian leya, ezinkulu zakhona ama pitbull.”

Me: “We once worked on some deal, the very same deal that made me what I am today, and what he is today.” He nods. I punch in Dom’s numbers and his phone ring 4x I’m about to hang up when he answers.

“TK. How can I be of assistance?”

“Let me get straight to the point and not waste your time. I want you to lend me your private jet I need to fly to Italy as soon as possible.”

Him: “I’ll get one of my pilot to bring it, just send me the location.”

Me: “Thanks man. I owe you one.”

Him: “I’ll hold you to that,” he hangs up. Yes, finally.

Me: “Well, we’ve got ourselves a private jet we’re flying midnight I’m so happy. I’m finally going to get my bubbles.”

Leon: “That was smooth. Are you sure that, that’s the Dom we know? Billy?” I nod. “That man is heartless bruh, and I heard that he’s selling girls as sex slaves, how true is that?”

Me: “100% true.”

Him: “Wawu.” Lee’s phone start ringing.

Lee: “It’s Lindiwe. Let me hear what she wants,” he excuses himself.

Talon: “Sebayanyobana laba?” (Are they fucking each other now) we laugh.

Batista: “Banyobana what time labantu? Ndoda, they’ve never had sex let alone kiss.”

Him: “Fo sho bachamisana nge bhelas laba, mxit style. ‘Ugcokeni? Send me a picture, yoohh sibuya kude bafwethu.”

Leon: “Back then I was a real player, I had all the girls eating at the palms of my hands, plus my nickname then was ‘Charma boy’, yesis bengibadla abo lovey mina blind.”

Batista: “I’m glad I never had any of those things while growing up. Guess you can say I’m anti-social, I don’t really like people.”

Me: “Yeah, right.” Lee comes back, and settles down he doesn’t look fine. “What’s wrong man? Why the sour mood?”

Him: “Things are bad gents, flights are being bombed left-right & center. The Iraq’s have arrived too, things are about to get worse from here. TK man, I don’t know how that Dom’s jet is going to get here. Lindiwe is somewhere in the bushes with some of her members, and they are on their way here, they are walking on foot to avoid being spotted.” Fuck! This is not happening.

Me: “What exactly are you saying Lee?” I’m already pacing up & down.

Him: “There’s no way we can leave this place, the sky is covered with spaceships & planes. It’s a sky war up there, we can only hope that they sleep or tone down the shooting then we can leave.”

Me: “That’s bullshit! I need to go and fetch bubbles gents, I need to save her before I lose her completely. There must be a way, there must be one!” I’m boiling inside, I don’t like what’s happening right now, not even one bit. It seems as if like all my efforts of trying to find bubbles are going in vain, they are all not coming together! Fuck it maarn.

Leon: “You just heard what Lee said. The sky is raining bullets & explosives, these people mean business TK, and if we are going to sit around and not do anything just know that we will die in this war. Forget about bubbles for a minute, concentrate on what’s happening right now people are dying man, we need to join in the masses maybe that way we will find a passage to use, and fly to Italy. Right now we have a serious war in our hands, we need to save our country before it turns into ruins. Trust me when I say diamond is fighting too back there in Italy for the fact that she sent you that text means that she’s fighting too, she’s alive. One way or the other you guys will be together again, let’s save our country.” I nod.

Lee: “He’s right. We need to fight for our country.” I hate to admit it, but they are right. Bubbles better keep on fighting, and never give up.

Me: “Guess you guys are right, let’s do it. Let’s save our country, gear up.”

Talon: “Isukile habashwe,” he whistles, and stomps his feet. “Makunyiwe ek’se, makufe abantu.” He takes the gun that was in Batista’s waist, and shoot the single. Talon though.

I wonder how is everyone else taking it, especially the gangs. We needed to become one before this war started, but we were wrong. Each to their own. Just then my phone rings, and it’s Ludo.

“Sure.”

“Where the hell are you man?” He is breathing heavily, and the gunshots in the background are too loud, but luckily for me, I can hear him loud & clear, and it’s quite strange considering the fact that the gunshots sound too close, more like near Talo… Wait, a minute. Could it be that they are here? But how does he know where Talon lives? It’s strange honestly. “Never mind, I know where you are. We will be there in three minutes,” angry growl follows immediately he said, and he hangs up. I hurry toward Talon’s lounge window, and I see nothing.

Batista: “Who was that?”

Me: “Ludo. They are on their way here.”

Talon: “Ini? You gave them my address?”

Me: “No. He sounded as if like he knows where you stay because…” I stop talking as soon as Leon screams like a girl, only to see Ludo standing before us. But how? How did he get in because we did not hear the door opening?

Him: “Boys.”

Talon: “Um’thakathi bafethu umthakathi! Ek’se ungene njani la wena saarn?” (It’s a witch gents a witch. How did you get in)

Him: “The door was open. Feder? All good?”

Me: “Dude, you are creepy.”

Him: “I know, but don’t let my wife hear you say that.”

“Say what my love?” A woman close my age if not older steps in followed by some other woman, and some man. “Gentlemen.” She greets, and we all nod. And they all have the same tattoos on their necks, guess it represent their gang.

Him: “Nothing my love. Oh, where are my manners,” he introduces us

then introduce them to us. Lorna, Anthea & Mandla are their names. 

Anthea: “Why are you all sitting here whereas everyone is out there fighting?” She looks scary, and the contact less aren’t making things any easier for me.

Leon: “We were about to go out.”

Mandla: “Don’t tell me that it’s just the 4 of you, this better be some sick joke,” he snorts.

Me: “It is just the four of us. Always has been, always will be.”

Anthea: “Impressive. Let’s go then.” Those who were sitting get up, and we all take our weapons & head out. “We are all going to be using one transport.” We get outside, and we find a rusted bus parked outside the yard, it looks really old. “Don’t judge the cover before you see what’s inside, let’s get in.” I look up the sky, and the sky is filled with black smoke.

“You guys were going to leave without me?” We all turn to look at Lindiwe. She’s with ± 20 people with her, they all look like tired & hungry, but I don’t blame them the bags that they’re carrying look heavy.

Lorna: “Na… Lindiwe. Where the hell have you been?”

Her: “I will tell you once we’re inside, we need to go.” We all get inside the bus, and it’s nothing like what it looks like outside.

Lorna: “We finally have a small army of our own. You can all take your seats.” Geez…

★»★«

LUXOLO

Sol have summoned me to his office, and right now I’m on my way going there. I’ve been watching the news lately, and things are looking bad in my homeland people are dying like flies and I guess that’s the reason why TK couldn’t come to my rescue. They can’t fly here, my heart is bleeding for all those innocent people who lost their lives, and those who are yet to lose them, no one deserves to die like that. I wonder what are those two gangs hoping to achieve with all this war they’ve just initiated in my country, but what they don’t know is that I’m already done planning my destruction, I’m going to make my own massacre they won’t see it coming. I’ll be heading straight to the Lion’s heart, and that will slow down their attack in my country, and the team is already on standby. And in all this that’s happening. I pray that TK together with the gang are safe, and they’re fighting hard to save our country.

“Come in,” he yells from the inside after knocking. I open the door, and get inside. There’s blood on the floor, and it is about to seep out the door, I look at where it’s coming from and it’s Anthony’s. He’s lying on the floor in his own blood, and it looks like his manhood has been chopped off too. Shame. Poor him, he deserves it though. I settle down. “I’ve dealt with him as promised, and I’ve long called the people who clean up the mess, and they’re not here yet. You look a little better today.”

“I am feeling better. So, you called for me.”

Him: “Aren’t you hungry?”

Me: “I am.”

Him: “I’ll get us something decent to it, I’m sure these people here were feeding you nonsense. I still don’t understand why they’ve failed to follow the simple orders that I gave them, I told them to train them not torture you. You are not a soldier. They really disrespected me by going against my orders, but I’m more disappointed in Antony, I don’t know what came over him.”

Me: “I hear all that, but why did you tell them to train me? Train me for what?”

Him: “Good question. The moment you came to my club looking for a job I saw something in you, something that I haven’t seen in a long time. I saw the fierceness in you, how fast your instincts kicks in, the boldness in your voice, and how you carried yourself through the entire interview, you didn’t even stutter like most people do when in my presence, even some men stutter in my presence. I also liked how you were able to stand up for yourself and refused being a pushover. You acted selflessly, and since I didn’t trust a lot of people in my circle especially when it comes to my business I saw it fit to hand it to you because you have the potential to lead it, and know how to lure the crew. I needed someone I can trust, and that someone is you.”

Me: “But how does me becoming a club owner requires me to be trained?”

Him: “Because it is a very dangerous business, too many enemies hovering in corners waiting to strike, too many competitors wanting to take you out, to see your business fall. And as you know that it is said ‘it’s a man’s world’ in this game of business. You need to be strong, and be feared. You also need to protect yourself from these vultures there will be a lot of them who would want to bring you down, and try by all means to kill you. Jealousy dominates in these streets.”

Me: “Oh, I see. But, what’s going on with you? You look pale, and like you are about to die any minute.”

Him: “I have stage 3 cancer.”

Me: “What? But how? Weren’t you attending chemotherapy or something?”

Him: “I don’t do well with doctors. I’m fine as I am, at least now if I die I know that my club will be taken care off, and in good hands. So, I don’t mind dying now.”

Me: “Wawu Sol. You refuse getting help? Nizofa yazi, ai.”

Him: “What was that?”

Me: “Nothing important.”

Him: “Have you been watching the news lately?”

Me: “Yeah. Things are looking bad in my country people are being killed like they’re nothing, it’s painful.”

Him: “That is why I will be sending you back much sooner because staying here another more weeks will not work, I’m sure they would’ve taken the whole of SA by then,” I chuckle.

Me: “I’m not going there yet, I’m changing my destination. Remember that two can always play this game, I’m joining the game.”

Him: “What do you mean?”

Me: “Watch & see,” I lean back on the chair and fold my arms over my chest.

Him: “You’ve changed, a lot for that matter.”

Me: “Your people created me, they made me what you see today. A monster, the one with no soul. This is all on them, and I must condemn them. They really did a very impressive job, a fucking impressive job better than the training you had in your mind, right?” He nods.

Him: “Beyond what I had in my mind. Do you like yourself like this?”

Me: “Of course I do. I love this new me.”

Him: “If you are happy then I’m happy too, I actually have a name for you. This one will fit you perfectly”

Me: “Oh, let’s hear it.”

Him: “Tammy Guns. Your new name is Tammy Guns.” I like it, I really do. “Do you like it?” He raises his brow.

Me: “Like heck I do. It’s even better than diamond. This one I love a lot.”

Him: “Very well then. About that food?”

Me: “Please bring it. So, now that Antony is dead. What are you going to do with Nikolai & Jaguar?” He chortles.

Him: “Between the two of them; who would you love to kill?”

Me: “Both. I’d love to kill both of them.”

Him: “Do you know how to kill a person though Tammy?”

Me: “Yeah, I do. I’ve killed 3 so far.”

Him: “I’m giving you 2 days to kill the two of them, just 2 days Tammy and don’t disappoint me.” I smirk.

Me: “I won’t Sol, I promise you.”

Him: “Make me proud.” I nod. I have 2 days to kill these people only 2 days, well, I can also kill them in one day. But nah, I will not let them. “If you are done with killing them then you can leave to your journey, and I know that 98% of those girls don’t want to travel with you, how true is this?” I chuckle.

Me: “Very true, and when I ask them they aren’t giving me straight answers,” shrugging.

Him: “Clearly someone has poisoned their ears with lies about you.”

Me: “And I know exactly the person, I’m fine with the 6 girls who didn’t listen to her. Me & these girls will go very far.”

Him: “Yes you will, but don’t trust the ones you’ve just recruited. Stick with Milan, I’ve been told how that girl has been loyal to you, she defended you, and even shot Jaguar just, so she can be locked up with you. Now, that’s what we call team work. Hold on to her,” I nod.

I step inside our dome, and all the girls are getting ready to go and have lunch. Milan & the 6 girls are sitting on my bed, and they are in a deep heated conversation. I wonder what are they talking about, I would love to eavesdrop, but I have a mission to carry so eavesdropping will waste my time. Time that I don’t have.

“I wonder what are you girls talking about.”

“An escape plan. I’m joking, we are talking about today’s meal.” Milan responds.

Me: “What about it?”

Her: “Xia saw Jaguar giving one of the cooks’ money, and something wrapped in a newspaper. She also overheard Jaguar telling the cooker to use it on the big 7’s meal (that’s what they call us here) and they better make sure that our food is separated from the rest of the girls, I think Jaguar wants to kill us diamond.”

Me: “Don’t worry I have an idea, and my name is no longer diamond, but I am Tammy Guns.” She widens her eyes, and the others just look at me as If I said something awful.

Xia: “Since when?”

Me: “Since a few minutes ago. Sol gave me this name, and to tell you the truth I like it.”

Alita: “Well, I guess we must all have nicknames, and we would really appreciate it if you can be the one naming us,” I laugh.

Me: “Right. Let’s go and kill people then I will give you nicknames. As much as I’m full from the meal I ate few minutes ago I don’t mind going to that kitchen, and cause chaos.”

Xia: “Fully behind you. We are going to turn that kitchen into royal rumble I know that there are people who hate each other here, and would love to use their hands to reprimand their baits. It’s going to be fun.”

Me: “Right.” We walk out of our dome, and walk to the kitchen having nonsensical conversations.