Beyond The River: A Novel

By Mohale Mashigo

Duma is at a cross roads in life. Living in an informal settlement in Soweto with his father and young sister, Duma is expected to make a contribution to the household since he does not work. The easy way has been to steal electricity cables. But when his friend gets caught, Duma decides to try a new way of life.
The road to a new beginning does not come easy as he goes back to the canoe club at Power Park and he quickly learns that paddling a canoe is not as easy as he remembered. He finds himself drawn to the water and is inspired by Steve an experienced paddler who is determined and pushes himself but lately the gold has been out of reach. Duma goes out on a limb and asks Steve if they can train together for the Dusi. Will Duma and Steve’s partnership in the water work out? This is an inspirational story of two men from different backgrounds, coming together to tell their story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan South Africa
• Release date: Apr 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781770105478

Book preview

Beyond the river

A Novel

Adapted by Mohale Mashigo

MACMILLAN

This book is an adaptation of the Heartlines feature film Beyond the River. The original story was written by Craig Freimond and Robbie Thorpe. The film is based on the real-life story of Piers Cruickshanks and Siseko Ntondini.

First published in 2017 by Pan Macmillan South Africa

Private Bag X19

Northlands

Johannesburg

2116

www.panmacmillan.co.za

ISBN: 978-1-77010-546-1

eISBN: 978-1-77010-547-8

© 2017 Heartlines

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable for criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

Editing by Kelly Norwood-Young

Proofreading by Sean Fraser

Design and typesetting by Fire and Lion

Cover photography by Trevor Calverley (from the film)

Images edited by Onemanshow Creation

Contents

Chapter 1: A close call

Chapter 2: Back on the water

Chapter 3: A new partner

Chapter 4: Stuck

Chapter 5: Sharing Stories

Chapter 6: Heavy water

Chapter 7: A new beginning – Hope at last

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About the author

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Chapter 1

A close call

As Oupa paddled away, Duma wondered, How did we end up here? Zama said this was going to be an easy job … They had both just agreed to meet up with Oupa the next day. The police officers had left a few minutes ago but Duma’s heart was still racing. Zama seemed to have calmed down; he was smiling even.

When Duma woke up that morning, this was not how he thought the day would play itself out. In the morning, after his father had gone to work and Mandisa, his sister, had gone to school, he lay in bed listening to the people of Elias Motsoaledi, his home, come alive. The sun itself was not even awake, but the township was. The sounds of buses, hooting taxis and people shouting for water or soap next door. Those sounds kept Duma awake every morning and he only went back to sleep once the children and adults had left. He had nowhere to be, nothing to do and nobody expecting anything from him. That was how every morning played itself out.

Zama found him sitting outside, looking bored, or despondent, or both. That had become his temperament now. Duma and Zama had been friends for many years: they lived in the same neighbourhood, had gone to school together, and now whiled away the time in each other’s company.

‘We need money for drinks, mfana.’ Duma knew what that meant; Zama didn’t need to explain himself.

After the first time they had stolen cables and been paid for it, neither of them could believe that they had got away with it. The high was followed by a short-lived celebration because things cost money and those who bought the stolen copper cables from them did not pay a lot. ‘We’ll only do it when we need money,’ was what Duma had said to Zama. But they both knew that things cost money and neither of them had a job. It was an unspoken pact to become cable thieves together. Zama had nerves of steel and Duma was a good lookout, or at least that’s what Zama told him.

‘Grab the pliers.’ It wasn’t a particularly hot day but Zama was sweating. He always did when he worked the electrical cables of the railway line – one wrong move and he would be fried. Duma was drowning out the noises around him; that’s what made him a good lookout. He didn’t have the nerve to actually cut the cables. It was earlier that afternoon when Zama, with nerves of steel, was removing the galvanised cable that Duma saw the car with flashing blue lights. It was speeding towards the two boys.

‘Eiii …’ The lookout was panicking, ready to run. Zama, by contrast, was not bothered.

‘We’ve got time; let’s do this.’ The car was getting closer. Duma’s heart was beating faster. The cable finally gave but not without a fight. A jolt of electricity kicked Zama off his feet. He dusted himself off and rolled up the cable. Duma had his eye on the cloud of dust caused by the car. He was estimating how far they could run and which route was the best. Duma waited nervously for his friend to give him a signal to start running.

‘Let’s go!’ Duma shouted impatiently, even though he could hardly hear himself over the loud beating of his heart. Zama stood up straight and looked at his friend with a smile; that was the sign. They both began running from the police car that was now a few metres from them.

Some streets did not have signs to indicate the street name but they both knew in which direction to run. They also knew that in a few seconds the police car closing in on them wouldn’t be able to follow them. Zama looked behind him and the police officer, in the passenger seat, grimaced as he realised that the car wasn’t going to make it down the embankment. His partner made a risky u-turn, which amused Zama. His body was not letting him down as he sprinted alongside his more athletic friend. Surprisingly, the chase thrilled Duma. It had been a while since he had been excited about anything.

There’s the street where Sis’ Ntombi sold amagwinya from her house and two streets down was where Zama punched a guy who was threatening Duma when they were still in school. The layout of the streets was hardwired into their