Die kabelkar wieg liggies, hoog bo die welige groen van Tafelberg.

The cable car sways gently, high above the lush green of Tafelberg.

Die uitsig oor Kaapstad en die blink see is asemrowend.

The view over Kaapstad and the sparkling sea is breathtaking.

Andries staan in die middel van die kar.

Andries stands in the middle of the car.

Sy stem is kalm en selfversekerd.

His voice is calm and confident.

“Dames en here,” sê hy, “ons gaan ‘n klein rukkie hier bo rus.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he says, "we're going to rest a little while up here."

” Hy glimlag.

He smiles.

"Moenie bekommer nie.

"Don't worry.

Ek sal julle bietjie vertel oor die geskiedenis van hierdie magiese berg.

I'll tell you a bit about the history of this magical mountain."

"Langs hom, hou Liezl styf vas aan die reling.

Next to him, Liezl holds tightly to the railing.

Sy voel haar handpalms sweet.

She feels her palms sweating.

Hoogtes is nie haar ding nie.

Heights aren't her thing.

Maar sy weet sy moet sterk bly.

But she knows she has to stay strong.

Sy neem 'n diep asemteug en kyk om haar, soekend na plante om haar gemoed op te fokus.

She takes a deep breath and looks around, searching for plants to focus her mind on.

Andries begin 'n storie oor van die ou mitologiese verhale van Tafelberg.

Andries begins a story about some of the old mythological tales of Tafelberg.

Die passasiers luister met belangstelling, en die spanning begin stadig wyk.

The passengers listen with interest, and the tension slowly begins to recede.

Liezl fokus op die groenspatsels ver onder hulle.

Liezl focuses on the green patches far below them.

“Wist julle,” begin sy sag, “dat die fynbos hier uniek is aan die Wes-Kaap?

"Did you know," she begins softly, "that the fynbos here is unique to the Wes-Kaap?"

” Haar strelende stem voeg 'n rustige noot by die geselskap.

Her soothing voice adds a calming note to the conversation.

'N uur verby sonder dat hulle dit soveel agterkom.

An hour passes without them noticing much.

Skielik hoor hulle die sagte dreuning van die tegnici se masjiene.

Suddenly, they hear the soft humming of the technicians' machines.

Die werkers is hier om hul helde te wees.

The workers are here to be their heroes.

Nog 'n bietjie, sê Andries, hou die moed.

Just a little longer, says Andries, keep the courage.

Intussen steek hy en Liezl die tyd dood deur een nuwe storie na die ander te vertel.

Meanwhile, he and Liezl pass the time by telling one story after another.

Net toe die spanning begin styg, slaan die masjiene van die tegnici klap en die kabelkar begin stadig weer in beweging kom.

Just as the tension begins to rise, the technicians' machines clatter and the cable car slowly starts moving again.

Die passasiers sug van verligting.

The passengers sigh in relief.

Applous vul die kar.

Applause fills the car.

Andries en Liezl kyk na mekaar en glimlag.

Andries and Liezl look at each other and smile.

Hulle het dit gemaak.

They made it.

Saam.

Together.

Wanneer hulle veilig onder kom, lag Andries.

When they safely reach the bottom, Andries laughs.

“Jy was fantasties daar bo,” sê hy.

"You were fantastic up there," he says.

Liezl glimlag terug.

Liezl smiles back.

“Jy ook.

"You too.

Ek het nie so bang gevoel as ek jou stories luister het nie.

I didn't feel as scared listening to your stories."

” Hulle ruil kontakbesonderhede uit, geinspireer deur mekaar se kalmte en aanpak.

They exchange contact details, inspired by each other's calmness and approach.

Daar by die voet van die berg kyk Andries op na die kabelkar wat nou weer normaal aan’t beweeg is.

There at the foot of the mountain, Andries looks up at the cable car that now moves normally once more.

Hy dink aan sy loopbaan en wonder oor die moontlikhede wat wag.

He thinks about his career and wonders about the possibilities that await.

Liezl, aan die ander kant, dink aan hoe sy haar vrees oorkom het.

Liezl, on the other hand, thinks about how she overcame her fear.

Hierdie keer was die onbekende nie so eng nie – dankie aan Andries en sy unieke stories.

This time the unknown wasn't so scary – thanks to Andries and his unique stories.

En so, in die skadu van Tafelberg, begin 'n nuwe vriendskap.

And so, in the shadow of Tafelberg, a new friendship begins.