Posted by Lieutenant Miriam Cross (Chief Medical Officer) in KwaZulu- Natal - Visiting Home, Introductions Are Made (Tag Cross)

Posted by Lieutenant Mthunzi Nkosenye (Chief of Security) in KwaZulu- Natal - Visiting Home, Introductions Are Made (Tag Cross)
true to his word, Mthunzi had arraigned for he and Cross to travel to his home town. A suborbital flight and a short shuttle ride put them in the middle of the huge and bustling city of Ulundi. It was a beautiful city and well maintained by the city government and the residents. As they exited the shuttle, Nkosenye seemed to relax. And here, he did not stand out (as much) as he did most other places.

Nkosenye led Cross out of the shuttle port and into a ground car. He looked at her and smiled and said “So you have a choice. We can go to the market place first and pick up a few things. Or… we can go to my family’s house and get settled and then go shopping. You cooked for me… or at least had someone do so…” and he chuckled at the memory of the stew, “… so tonight I cook for you.” and then he looked ahead. “There will be a few people at dinner. I hope you don’t mind. I have not seen my family in some time.” and he looked at her and said “And I have not told them about… us. I simply said that a crew mate was very interested in seeing KwaZulu-Natal.” and he leaned close and kissed her cheek. “Not that I don’t want to say anything.” he said softly. ” But I thought ‘meeting the folks’ on our second date may be a bit forward of me.” and he smiled at her.

Nkosenye, CoS

’’ I understand’’ the doctor replied as she stood on her toes so he would not have to bend so much to kiss her ‘’Let’s meet your family first ,we can always go to the market later on’‘.

She was wearing a simple dress with yellow flowers printed on it that reached just above her knees ‘’Nkosenye do I look presentable?’’ Cross asked not sure about his family’s culture. It felt nice to be with the man she had started to fall in love with,it was great to be back on Earth with no Captain to keep an eye on her lest she wandered off....at some point Cross knew she would eventually have to tell the CoS about the altered gene and it was not something the female doctor relished.

Cross Dr.

Mthunzi looked at her and said “I cannot imagine you looking more beautiful than you do right now. And do not worry about being ‘presentable’. My parents are very progressive… despite what our house may seem like at first!” he added with a laugh. “And I think you will enjoy speaking with my mother. She is a Medical Doctor as well. Pathologist. She is the chair of the Pathology school at the University. My father teaches anthropology. And my brothers and sisters are going to be there as well. We are a… large family.” and he put his arm around her and pulled her close to him in the seat of the ground craft as they began leaving the main city and going out towards the unspoiled countryside. As the city disappeared behind them, the scenery changed from the claustrophobic confines of a major city to a sprawling savannah. Nkosenye pointed out the window. “That is the Park where I learned my people’s traditions. And where I earned this.” and he indicated the necklace he always wore.

After about half an hour, they pulled off the main road and traveled up a gravel road through dense tree coverage. The sounds of animals could be heard clearly, and if one wasn’t completely aware of where they were going, cardinal directions would be lost quickly. Fifteen minutes on the gravel and the car pulled into a large flat area that fronted a large house.

Rather than metal and advanced building materials, the structure was made of wood. It was decorated as if it had been there in that spot for millennia, becoming part of the jungle around it. A large porch faced the parking area, on which sat many chairs of varying sizes and types but all were made in a traditional sense. Large fans spun slowly in regular places under the roof of the porch. Antlers, masks, bits of pottery and other indigenous crafts were placed all over; some on small tables and some mounted on the walls. As the ground craft came to a stop. Of the many chairs on the porch, more than several were occupied. Tall and muscular ebony skinned men and women rose to their feet, and their lips parted in smiles of joy and happiness. Several of them began shouting in the unfamiliar Zulu language, the only word recognizable to a non-speaker being “Mthunzi”. As the figures poured off the porch towards the car, two older figures came out through the open front door and stood in the doorway, an arm around each other and smiles on their faces.

Mthunzi looked at Miriam and said “Stay here. Just a moment.” with a big grin, and he extricated himself from the vehicle. Standing tall, he was immediately swarmed by the people from the crowd. After a few moments and the exchange of greetings and hugs and kisses, he looked up at the two figures and smiled and waved his large arm, to which they raised one each of their own. Mthunzi looked into the car and said “Ok. Please. Come meet my family.” and he held his hand out to her to help her out of the car.

Once out, a very tall woman, beautiful and smelling of exotic fragrances put two hands on her hips and looked intently at Cross. “So. You are the ‘crew mate’, I take it?” she said sternly, but was immediately rebuked by another tall woman. “Nomusa, leave her be.” and she stepped between the two and looked at Cross. “Nomusa was always overprotective of her oldest brother. I am Zanele. And you must be Dr. Cross. We welcome you to our home, and we hope that you feel welcome and happy being here.” With that she put two hands on either side of Cross’s head and bent her head gently but firmly forward and kissed her forehead and then placed her forehead against her own for a moment. Softly she said “You are most welcome, dear one. Mthunzi has never brought anyone home before. So no matter what he says, I know he finds you special.” and she released Cross and turned to the assembly. ‘Back to the house! We have our brother home and his associate to settle in. And they must meet our parents. Back!” and began shooing the brothers and sisters of Mthunzi towards the house.

Mthunzi looked at Miriam and said “If it gets to be… too much… just let know and we can leave for a bit. I just haven’t been home in… well… several years.” and he started to reach for her hand, but caught himself and simply gestured to the house. “After you, Dr. Cross.” he said, and he smiled at her in a friendly but not too familiar way, no matter how much he wanted to walk her up to his family and tell them who she really was to him.

Nkosenye