Lauren Beukes - Zoo City, 19 [tekst, tłumaczenie i interpretacja piosenki]

I grabbed Sloth's arm and slash his claws across Nasty's face before he could raise the screwdriver. He screams and stumbles backwards, clutching his nose and eyes. I don't stick around to evaluate damage. I turn and slam into yellow eyes with my full weight, knocking him over the girl who is still on her knees, picking up the notes. Her head hits the ground with a painful thunk. I don't have time to feel guilty. Sun City rules: take out the leader and get out any way you can. I barged past Porcupine, sharped quills snagging on my jeans, and go in the exact opposite direction Nasty is expecting, dropping into the jagged hole and the darkness of the storm drain

On my knees, I shuffled forward down the tunnel passed the tangle of blankets that smell of smoke and sweat and urine, one hand against the rough concrete for guidance. My sneakers squelch in the rivulet of rotten mud. I can't see a fucking thing, but I can feel the water slashing around me. "I hope you're looking where you're going," I mutter and Sloth, still shocked, manages a squeak in response. The tunnel should open up soon to a central flow. There will be maintenance entry points that'll take me straight to the streets. I just have to get there before they catch me

I can hear the distorted echos of angry voices behind me. Hopefully, they're still deciding if i went left or right. Hopefully they'll split up. Easier to handle that way. I scuffle toward the dark, now on my feet and hunched. Water is soaking through my shoes and at first i think its because the tunnel is widening. But its the water level rising with the swell of rain. Another reason to speed up this getaway