The Colour of Gold by Oliver T Spedding Read Free Book Online Page B

in jail and then send you back to where you
came from. What you should do is find an alley to sleep in tonight
and then go to the mine recruiting office tomorrow morning early
and apply for work. If they give you work they’ll also arrange a
pass for you.”
    “Thanks.”
Isaiah said and patted the small boy on the back before walking
away looking for a café where he could buy something to eat.
    After he had
finished his meal of porridge and chicken-feet stew while sitting
on the pavement beneath a streetlamp, Isaiah began to search for a
place to sleep. Eventually he came to an alley between two office
buildings. Warily he entered the dark lane, stepping around the
discarded boxes and papers that littered the ground. Isaiah’s heart
leapt as a small, dark shaped rushed towards him and then streaked
past him. At the entrance to the alley the black cat stopped and
glared back at him before slinking away next to the wall of the
building.
    At the end of
the alley was a locked wooden gate and piled up next to it were
several large cardboard boxes. Working mainly by feel, Isaiah
flattened two of the boxes and placed them on the ground and lay
down on top of them. He was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable
a mattress they made. He flattened a small box to use as a pillow
and tucked it under his head. He pulled his blanket over his body
and relaxed, staring upwards, the walls of the buildings on each
side of him soaring up to the dark grey sky. He yawned and closed
his eyes. Soon he was fast asleep, snoring softly.
    Silently the
black cat returned to the entrance to the alley and stared at the
sleeping man, its tail twitching, peeved at having lost its regular
stamping ground to something that just wanted to sleep.
    The following
morning, after eating a meal of porridge and stew while sitting on
the pavement, Isaiah noticed that the young boy he’d spoken to the
previous day was now selling newspapers to people hurrying to work.
It suddenly struck him that there appeared to be many opportunities
for work in the city. He waited until the boy had sold his stock of
newspapers before approaching him.
    “Before I go to
seek work on the mines,” Isaiah said to the boy who was sitting on
the curb counting his takings, “are there many work opportunities
here in the city?”
    The boy
pocketed his money and stood up.
    “Yes there are
but there’s always the danger of being arrested by the police for
not having a pass.” he said. “You won’t be able to get a permanent
job if you don’t have a pass though, but there are many young men
in the city who manage on temporary jobs like packing and unpacking
trucks, washing cars and some even work as gardeners.”
    “Where should I
start looking for work?” Isaiah asked.
    “Everybody who
comes to Jo’burg goes straight to Hillbrow.” the boy replied. “You
see that big tower? That’s in the middle of Hillbrow. When you get
there just ask around and you’ll soon find someone to help
you.”
    Isaiah thanked
the boy and began walking towards the distant tower.
    ***
    Bala Desai
placed the suitcase on the pavement. Fatima stood close to him,
almost as if seeking protection from the unfamiliar surroundings.
Salona stood in front of her mother, her thumb in her mouth and her
eyes wide with wonder mixed with uncertainty.
    “We must find
out how to get to Pageview.” Bala said. “I hope it’s not too far
from here."
    "Ask that boy
washing the car." Fatima suggested. "I saw that Zulu man who was in
the bus with us ask him for directions.”
    Bala nodded and
walked over to the boy.
    "Excuse me.” he
said. “Please can you direct me to Pageview?”
    The boy
straightened from wiping a hubcap and pointed in a westerly
direction, his cleaning cloth dangling from his hand.
    “Go down Rissik
Street until you get to Bree Street.” the boy said. “Turn right and
go about three kays. You can’t miss it. It’s the suburb just after
you cross the railway line"
    “Kays?”