TALES OF THE METRIC SYSTEM
MODERN
African Writing
from Ohio University Press
Ghirmai Negash, General Editor Laura Murphy, Series Editor
This series brings the best African writing to an international audience. These groundbreaking novels, memoirs, and other literary works showcase the most talented writers of the African continent. The series also features works of significant historical and literary value translated into English for the first time. Moderately priced, the books chosen for the series are well crafted, original, and ideally suited for African studies classes, world literature classes, or any reader looking for compelling voices of diverse African perspectives.
Books in the series are published with support from the Ohio University National Resource Center for African Studies.
Welcome to Our Hillbrow A Novel of Postapartheid South Africa
Phaswane Mpe
ISBN: 978-0-8214-1962-5
Dog Eat Dog: A Novel
Niq Mhlongo
ISBN: 978-0-8214-1994-6
After Tears: A Novel
Niq Mhlongo
ISBN: 978-0-8214-1984-7
From Sleep Unbound
Andrée Chedid
ISBN: 978-0-8040-0837-2
On Black Sisters Street: A Novel
Chika Unigwe
ISBN: 978-0-8214-1992-2
Paper Sons and Daughters Growing Up Chinese in South Africa
Ufrieda Ho
ISBN: 978-0-8214-2020-1
The Conscript A Novel of Libya’s Anticolonial War
Gebreyesus Hailu
ISBN: 978-0-8214-2023-2
Thirteen Cents: A Novel
K. Sello Duiker
ISBN: 978-0-8214-2036-2
Sacred River: A Novel
Syl Cheney-Coker
ISBN: 978-0-8214-2056-0 (hardcover)
978-0-8214-2137-6 (paperback)
491 Days: Prisoner Number 1323/69
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
ISBN: 978-0-8214-2102-4 (hardcover)
978-0-8214-2101-7 (paperback)
The Hairdresser of Harare
Tendai Huchu
ISBN: 978-0-8214-2162-8 (hardcover)
978-0-8214-2163-5 (paperback)
Mrs. Shaw: A Novel
Mukoma Wa Ngugi
ISBN: 978-0-8214-2143-7
The Maestro, the Magistrate & the Mathematician
Tendai Huchu
ISBN: 978-0-8214-2205-2 (hardcover)
978-0-8214-2206-9 (paperback)
Tales of the Metric System
Imraan Coovadia
ISBN: 978-0-8214-2225-0
978-0-8214-2226-7
TALES OF THE METRIC SYSTEM
A NOVEL
IMRAAN COOVADIA
OHIO UNIVERSITY PRESS
ATHENS
Tales of the Metric System © 2014 Imraan Coovadia By Agreement with Pontas Literary & Film Agency
Published in the United States by Ohio University Press, Athens, Ohio 45701 ohioswallow.com
All rights reserved To obtain permission to quote, reprint, or otherwise reproduce or distribute material from Ohio University Press publications, please contact our rights and permissions department at (740) 593-1154 or (740) 593-4536 (fax).
Printed in the United States of America
Ohio University Press books are printed on acid-free paper
First published in 2014 by Umuzi an imprint of Random House Struik (Pty) Ltd Company Reg No 1966/003153/07 Estuaries No 4, Oxbow Crescent, Century Avenue, Century City, 7441, South Africa PO Box 1144, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa [email protected] • www.randomstruik.co.za
Cover design and illustrations by Joey Hi-Fi
Author photograph by Victor Dlamini
26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 5 4 3 2 1
ISBNS:
978-0-8214-2225-0 (hardcover)
978-0-8214-2226-7 (paperback)
978-0-8214-4564-8 (electronic)
‘I set forth how I viewed the history of my people in the light of God’s Word. I began by addressing my hearers: “People of the Lord, you old people of the country, you foreigners, you newcomers, yes, even you thieves and murderers!”’
–Paul Kruger, Memoirs
CONTENTS
1999: Truth and Reconciliation
1970 SCHOOL TIME
The Jaguar wouldn’t start. Ann sat behind the leather steering wheel and watched the ruby-red light fade in the dashboard. Neil’s late mother had donated the car to them at a time when