MIELIEFISH

THE KNYSNA QUAYS

Everyone on the Knysna Quays knows the Mieliefish. Her stall at the end of the boardwalk sells her own Garam Masala and Sweet Chilli, golden mielies, tuna tart still warm from the oven, and greeting cards and colouring books she draws herself, Yorkies on most of them.

She films it all for VisTok, as Tannie Mieliefish: the stall, the gulls stealing tart, the orange cat that talks back. Half the coast follows her, and the other half are her customers. Fighters stop at her quay between bouts for padkos, and she throws it to them, because catching is half the fun.

She never meant to enter Snoek'em. But a fighter who can catch a lobbed jar can be hit by one, and a fish who keeps her Yorkie, her colouring books and a parcel of her wares close at hand turns out to be very hard to beat. She fights the way she trades: cheerfully, generously, and always with something else up her apron.

THE PRIZE The King Prawn keeps a book on every fish on the coast. Every year he hosts Snoek'em and puts Die Boek up as the prize. He has never lost. Every invitation comes with the fighter's own page enclosed, so they know what's at stake.