Chapter 40: Malik Cases the Church

…continued from 18 June 2026…

FIRST TIME HERE? NO PROBLEM – START AT THE BEGINNING – WARNING YOU WILL BECOME ADDICTED TO THE STORY.

WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE - DO NOT READ IF IT OFFENDS YOU.

“You need to make sure that our friends are also aware of these potential scenarios and that they be ready to counter them as and when they play out.”

“How the fuck do you…” said Shawn, before Johan interrupted him.

“Just tell them to expect the unexpected and to keep some funds in reserve.”

“Like I said, how the fuck…” Shawn countered.

“I know, you are going to have to appeal to their sense of community and remind them of the impact that they are having on the future generations of our people, and don’t be shy to remind them of the long-term possibilities of them going legit and becoming respectable business leaders themselves.”

“Ha, ha, ha, I can’t see Whitey being swayed with that argument,” said Shawn.

“Don’t you worry about Whitey, he might not be around after the election.”

Johan was looking out of the window with his back to Shawn when he said this. He said it as a matter of fact and also as if repeating a long-known fact in a nonchalant manner.

Shawn took it in with the realisation that Johan had indeed thought about every possible scenario. He was suddenly very motivated and excited to get the next phase of their plan going.

“Are you going to the church tomorrow?” Malik asked his wife?

It was another memorial service for Whitney which Malik was referring to and it was being held at the Catholic church down the road from where they lived. Wasiela always enjoyed visiting the Catholic church, there was something heavenly about the imagery and the statues.

“Yes, I am, love,” she replied.

“Okay, I’m coming with you,”

Wasiela paused her thoughts and considered her husband’s reply. She quickly deduced that it was not a request, it was in point of fact, a statement. A statement which meant that he had thought it through and had made a considered decision to join her. This in itself was intriguing, particularly since the last time Malik had been in church with her, let alone anyone, had been…never.

She knew better than to question him now. While she was sure that part of his decision to accompany her had to do with Whitney, the real reason would reveal itself soon enough,” she thought.

The community was well aware of who Malik was and what he represented. When he walked in with Wasiela, almost every head turned to look towards him and followed his every movement until he sat down. The ensuing murmurs of gossip only abated when the priest eventually walked in and the mass commenced.

Malik absentmindedly found himself staring unabashed at the interior of the church and marvelled at the statues of Jesus and Mother Mary and the images of the saints. He also noticed how easily men and women worshiped together and how despite the poverty, everyone had made an effort to come dressed in their finest clothes. The whole experience was unexpectedly interesting and very different to what he was used to at mosque.

When the collection plate came around, he saw that instead of the woven bowl-like vessel he had seen being used in old movies, this collection device had become a dark purple velvet bag attached to a wooden clasp-like handle.

Most people dropped in coins while the odd well-off parishioner slipped in a R100 note or even a R200 note. “Ahh,” he thought. He realised why the church had decided to go from an open bowl to a non-see-through velvet bag.

Continued tomorrow 20 June 2026, before 12pm

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