Apeman and the Curse

Knysna, the soul of the Garden Route. The locals believe that anyone who enters the village, is at risk of never leaving. The limitless landscape is a ploy. For, by day the ancient Addo Elephant spirits defend the borders and by night, the mysterious moon, like a giant spotlight, illuminates the dark woods.  Its close friend the Phantom Pass, meticulously keeps a roll call of all who enter the village. 

Two daunting sandstone cliffs on either side of the lagoon mouth, tirelessly guard the hazardous passage out to sea. The shadowy forests happily cheer the gatekeepers on.

The Stewart family live in Belvidere, Knysna. Their idyllic existence is fouled when a stranger darkens their doorstep. Life as they know it, changes forever for Sophia, Finlay and their two children, Peter and Janie.

1976

The house is peaceful.  Mabel, the housekeeper is quietly preparing a tray for Sophia’s coffee served with traditional homemade milktart. Samuel, Mabel’s husband, is outside.  The garden is his domain and it’s picturesque and tranquil.  Sophia is in the dining room, busy with a pencil sketch.  Peter is upstairs stretched out on his bed, avidly pouring over the adventures of 'Tintin'.  Little Janie is taking her afternoon nap in the room next door. There’s a distinct air of contentment all around but not for long because the gates of Knysna have failed to keep evil out.

Mabel walks through to the dining room and puts the coffee tray on the table.

Sophia sees the milktart and says, ‘Thanks, Mabel. I’ve been eyeing that milktart.’

Mabel says, ‘What’s new? I can’t keep up with you lot!’

Mabel sees the drawing that Sophia’s busy with.

She says, ‘Oh my, that’s Peter and Janie on the beach.’

‘Yes. I want to give it to Finlay as a birthday gift.’

‘It’s lovely. You are so good at this.'

'Thank you, Mabel.'

Mabel asks, 'Are you having a party again?’

‘I doubt it.  Fin wants to keep it low-key this year.’

‘What a relief. I think your Mother turns in her grave every time.’

“Don’t be wicked, Mabel.’

Mabel asks, ‘Will you take a slice of milktart up to Pete?’

‘Yes, sure. I'll check on Janie as well.'

Mabel makes her way back to the kitchen.

‘Mabel!  Before I forget, Abe confirmed dinner at 7 pm and he’s bringing dessert.’

Abel Jacobs is a family friend and Finlay’s business partner.

He'll probably be bringing his mother's boring sago pudding.'

‘You are definitely on a roll today. Play nice.'

Mabel smiles and shakes her head and says, 'I'll start supper.'

'Shout if you need a hand. I’m almost done with the drawing.’

Sophia does a few touch ups to the sketch and then she gets up to go to Peter.  She suddenly notices someone walking towards their front door.  There’s no high wall or fences to discourage visitors. She would normally welcome callers,  but in this instance, a shiver runs down her spine. Something just doesn’t feel right.

‘Oh no!’

She rushes to the front door.  Before she gets there, a stranger lets himself in.  They stare at one another for several seconds.  His look, his whole demeanor scares her.  He is tall and has a large frame.  His dark eyes are vacant, devoid of expression and dip into a sullen face.  His complexion is dark, his straight black hair hangs in rat’s tails in the nape of his neck.  His shirt is tattered and heavily stained.  Sophia feels an overwhelming urge to scream and run upstairs. She quickly admonishes herself and wonders what he wants.

Then Peter comes out of his room, runs down the stairs and almost bumps into the scary man.  Sophia quickly grabs Peter’s hand. 

She says, ‘Sorry Mister, can I help you?’

The stranger doesn’t answer and then she notices the peculiar, very disturbing movement of his left hand.  In a rapid, non-stop motion, he opens his hand, makes a fist and turns his hand.  Open, fist, turn. Open, fist, turn, over and over again.

Sophia is panic-stricken, but her instinct to protect her family, takes over.  She just knows that she has to appease this apelike man.

She says, ‘I’ll arrange some coffee, will that be okay?

The stranger stares at her but he doesn’t answer. She waits. Still, he remains ominously silent.  She persists.

In a shaky voice she says, ’Excuse me for a minute. You are welcome to sit there, while I go to the kitchen.’

She points to the couch against the window.  He sits down and then both Sophia and Peter go to the kitchen.  They find Mabel in the scullery.

Mabel asks, ‘What’s wrong?’

Sophia says, ‘There’s an intruder in the lounge. This crazy, white man walked straight in and Pete nearly bumped into him as he was coming down the stairs.  He hasn’t said a bloody word and just makes this horrid movement with his hand.’

Sophia tries to demonstrate the chilling movement. Beads of perspiration glisten on her forehead.

 Mabel whispers, ‘Try to stay calm, Sophia.’

Sophia closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.

She says, ‘Will you bring some coffee through and get Sammy to come inside?  Give him a dust cloth. Ask him to dust in the dining room.  Also, give him the meat hammer to keep in his pocket. Just in case.  Hurry, please! I don’t know what Apeman wants.’

Mabel says, ‘Apeman? Oh boy, shouldn’t Samuel rather go for help?’

‘There’s no time!’

‘Talk softer.  I’ll get Samuel in, don’t worry. Leave Pete with me.’

Peter refuses to let go of Sophia’s hand and he goes back to the lounge with her.  They find Apeman in the same place, starring impassively at the dark fireplace.  

Sophia tries to put up a brave front and sits down on the chair closest to the dining room.  She puts Peter on her lap and puts her arms around him protectively.  A stony silence prevails.

After a while, Mabel brings the coffee in and Samuel casually follows behind.  Mabel puts the tray on the coffee table, takes one look at Apeman and cannot hide her shock. In a state, she grabs Peter and goes upstairs to Janie.  She locks the bedroom door and they sit on the opposite bed.  Janie’s still fast asleep and Mabel  puts her finger on her lips as an indication for Peter to keep quiet.

  Downstairs, Samuel whistles softly.  He starts dusting the dining room table and chairs.  A worried Sophia quickly checks Apeman’s reaction.  His face remains glum and unresponsive. She’s relieved but at the same time, finds the silence disconcerting.  She can’t stop wondering why he’s here, in their house. She becomes terrified all over again.

With trembling hands, she pours the coffee.  She passes a cup to Apeman.  He takes it and she notices all the ingrained filth under his fingernails.  He gulps the coffee down greedily, messing on the carpet. Then he gives her the empty cup indicating that he wants more.  She obliges.  Her eyes are drawn to his hand. Open, fist, turn, open, fist, turn.

Suddenly, out of the blue, he finally speaks.  His speech is slow, deliberate.

He says, ‘Once you kill, you can kill again.’

A feeling of raw terror grips Sophia as she imagines that the dark marks on his shirt are blood stains.  Samuel, fully aware of what’s happening, whistles a tad louder.  She breathes.

Apeman speaks again and says, ‘I have a girlfriend you know.’

His statement takes her by surprise.  She wonders if it’s true.

She forces herself to say, ‘That’s very nice.  Do you need some money to visit her?  I don’t have much in the house, but I’ll give you all I have.’

Sophia isn’t sure why she said what she did, but she realizes that she made an assumption and has to go with it.

‘Will you excuse me?’ 

She doesn’t wait for an answer and goes straight to her bedroom. She collects all the money she has and takes one of Finlay’s brand-new shirts out of his wardrobe.  It’s still wrapped in plastic. 

She wonders what she would have done if Apeman overpowered Samuel and followed her into the bedroom. She shudders and for a moment, considers phoning for help. But, she’s too afraid and doesn’t want to antagonize Apeman in any way whatsoever. She has to go back and continue to pacify him. 

‘Give me calmness, please God.’

When she walks into the lounge, Apeman slowly stands up. She gives him a brown paper bag containing all the money and the shirt.  Samuel watches his every move.

‘Sophia says, ‘There’s some money and a new shirt for you to wear when you visit your girlfriend.’

He takes the bag without saying anything.  After a while it seems as though he’s ready to leave.  Every second feels endless.  He slowly walks towards the front door and then he purposefully turns around.

He asks, ‘Do you want to see a photograph of her?’

Sophia’s heart sinks and she wants to scream at the top of her lungs.  As she watches him slowly stick his hand in his pocket, her life flashes before her. She desperately wants to look back at Samuel but, doesn’t dare. 

Seconds tick by. Then, Apeman miraculously takes a crinkled photograph out of his trouser pocket and gives it to her.  She takes the photo and looks at it.  She sees a young girl with the most beautiful red hair and dark green eyes.

She gives it back and says, ‘Your girlfriend is very beautiful, Mister.'

Apeman frowns, tilts his head to the side and stares at Sophia. Her heart races and she waits and waits. He doesn’t move and continues to stare. Samuel comes to the door?

He asks, ‘Everything alright?’

Sophia answers, ‘Yes, thank you. The gentleman was just leaving.’

Apeman turns his back on them and slowly walks down the stairs into the garden.  Sophia closes and locks the door. She stands still for a minute and takes a few deep breaths to gather herself.

Samuel checks the rest of the house. He locks all the doors and closes every window.  He goes to Janie’s room to get Mabel and the children.

Samuel says, ‘Come Peter, your dad will be home soon.’

Mabel is extremely relieved that Janie slept through most of the ordeal.  She picks her up and takes her downstairs to where Sophia is waiting. 

Sophia hugs Peter and says, ‘You are so brave, my boy.’

Peter asks, ‘Mommy, is that the bogeyman?’

‘Oh no, Pete. That man just needed some money.’

Sophia takes Janie from Mabel and thanks Mabel and Sammy for being so courageous. That was the bogeyman and Mabel phones Finlay to come home.

Sophia eventually gets Janie to sleep but, in the middle of the night, Janie wakes up from a nightmare, the first of many. Janie is in a state and Finlay suggests that they put her in bed with them. Sophia tosses and turns most of the night. 

Mabel and Samuel can’t sleep either.  They both feel uneasy.

Mabel says, ‘Apeman has brought a curse over this famiy. There’s more to come, I know it.’

Samuel says, ‘Rather don’t say it out loud.’

Mabel says, ‘Why did he pick this house? What did he want?’

‘I don’t know. Come, let’s try to get some sleep.  Tomorrow’s another day.’

Samuel knows Mabel well enough by now and when she says something, it is so. Sophia handled the situation perfectly and probably saved their lives but only for now...