Zulu by Caryl Férey

in her hair, and some unusual scratches on her arms and thorax, caused by barbed wire. The marks were recent.
    â€œShe may have scratched herself climbing over a fence,” Brian suggested.
    â€œEntrance to the gardens is free,” Neuman replied.
    But the most surprising item came from the toxicological analysis, which had revealed the presence of a mixture of plants absorbed several days earlier—the precise date had still to be established—as well as a cocktail composed of marijuana, a methamphetamine base, and another chemical substance, not yet identified.
    â€œMethamphetamine,” Brian repeated.
    â€œThe basis of
tik
,” Neuman said.
    The new drug that was ravaging the youth of Cape Town.
    â€œAccording to Tembo,” Neuman went on, “the product was inhaled not long before the murder. Nicole was probably completely out of it when she was attacked. The killer may have used the drug to take advantage of her, or to get her to the gardens without her resisting.”
    The news left them puzzled for a moment. Manufactured from ephedrine, methamphetamine could be smoked, inhaled or injected intravenously. In the form of crystals (crystal meth),
tik
cost a sixth of the price of cocaine, for an effect that was ten times more powerful. Smoking or injecting methamphetamine produced a quick rush: physical stimulation, an illusion of invincibility, a feeling of power, self-control, energy, excessive volubility, sexual euphoria. In the medium term, the effects were reversed: intense tiredness, uncoordinated movements, uncontrollable nervousness, paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, irritation of the skin, delirium (a feeling like insects swarming on the skin), unavoidable bouts of sleep, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, blurred vision, dizzy spells, pains in the chest. Highly addictive,
tik
led to depression or to psychoses similar to schizophrenia, with irreversible damage of the brain cells. The paranoia could also induce thoughts of murder or suicide, and psychotic symptoms persisted for months after withdrawal.
    Either the girl had been completely reckless, or she had been deceived about the nature of the merchandise.
    â€œNicole’s boyfriend still hasn’t showed up,” Neuman said. “So there’s a strong likelihood he’s connected to the drugs.
Tik
has spread through the townships, but much less on the coast or among whites. Something doesn’t feel right about this.”
    â€œDo you think she was planning to buy drugs with the money she withdrew in Muizenberg?”
    â€œUh-huh.”
    â€œAnything from our informants?”
    â€œWe’re sounding them out, but nothing yet. If anyone’s dealing on the coast, or there’s a new drug on the market, no one seems to know.”
    â€œStrange.”
    â€œIt may have something to do with the unidentified substance,” Brian suggested.
    â€œPossibly.”
    Methamphetamine was the basis of
tik
, but you could find all kinds of things in it: ephedrine, ammoniac, industrial solvent, Drano, battery lithium, hydrochloric acid.
    Claire appeared on the lawn. It was cooler now that night had fallen, she had put the children to bed, and she was holding her bare arms as if they were about to crumble.
    The three men fell silent, waiting for her to speak.
    â€œCan I join you?”
    Her jeans hung slightly loosely on her, but she had lost nothing of her gracefulness. She was like a bird of paradise, brought down in mid-flight.
    Â 
    Â *
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    The Observatory district was home to part of the student population, but was mainly concentrated on Lower Main Street, where the alternative bars and restaurants were to be found. Neuman parked outside a Tex-Mex restaurant with a blinking sign, and made his way through the groups of young people strolling on the sidewalks.
    There was a mixed crowd trying to get into the Sundance. A Xhosa as fat as a walrus was lazily letting them through. Neuman spotted the