Summary

In chapter 3 the action returns to Nombeko, who was last seen on a sidewalk in Johannesburg, run down by a car that was driving on the sidewalk. She is injured - a broken arm, wrist, and jaw - but survives. When she is well enough she is taken to court, because the driver of the car, a German named Englbrecht Van Der Westhuizen, or The Engineer, is suing her for walking in front of his car. The Engineer was drinking; his blood alcohol level was five times the legal limit. He accused Nombeko of walking in the street in front of his car. The story takes place in 1976, when racism and apartheid were still woven into South African society, and so the judge finds in favor of the drunk-driving engineer. He orders Nombeko to pay a fine for causing The Engineer's car to be...