THIS is an edited excerpt of author Mandla Langa's new novelThe Texture of Shadows.

The novel explores a world of hardened guerrilla fighters, corrupt officers, ex-political prisoners and the victims of abuse:

The early evening was descending into a free-for-all involving guerrillas and a former political prisoner. Nerissa had a sense of impending disaster.

Then Rex Mabena stood up and went to the window. 'We've been docile for too long,' Rex said.

'We've lost a comrade while waiting. He was a friend of mine and I have to account to his parents in Jozi.'

What course of action do you propose?' Mchinda asked.

Go back to Joburg.

You step out on your own and you'll be in jail in no time. So, you and Django come with me.

I know we've always worked as a unit,' Mchinda said patiently. But this is probably the most dangerous time for all of us.

Look, we've got weapons. Maybe there's some stuff in the trunk, which we could trocar for cold hard cash. Don't tell me you and Django are really into this civilian shit.'

Django cleared his throat.

Rex?' he said. 'Remember that Mchinda saved all of us. In all the ambushes in Angola, his instinct came through for us. In Cacuso, remember? Or in Sanza Pombo . you and I would be food for wild animals and worms, or buried in some shallow grave in Uige by now.

So? This is South Africa,' Rex said. 'If I can get a car I'll be in Soweto first thing in the morning.

And do what, there?'

I'm a guerrilla, trained . I can survive anywhere.

I'll tell you what will happen to you, Rex,' Django said. 'You'll get your car and some guns and probably manage to get to see Refiloe's folks. I don't know what you'll tell them, because we haven't even started discussing how we'll help others deal with their losses. In fact, I don't think that even you, Mchinda or me have any idea what has happened to us.

Every night before I go to bed, I have to fight consciously against thinking about certain things, the way we dispel frightening thoughts so that we are not visited by nightmares in our sleep. But one day, I know they'll come and crowd ou t my defences.

Rex, you're a soldier, a fighter for the movement,' Mchinda said. 'We won't allow you to go off and end up robbing banks and holding up payroll vans. You can't end up like the bandits we fought in Angola. I know this, man.

He's right,' Django added, softening. 'It's frustrating. But we have to do this right.

Rex listened, head cocked to the side; outside the rain had become part of the everyday sounds of the season. Mchinda and Django suspected that Rex might already be lost to them".

l Look out for the forthcoming Sowetan Dialogues session based on the various themes from The Texture of Shadows

For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays