HeartWorks

by Charmaine Gordon

  “Fok dit vir ń takkie, they can keep this life...moer just listen to them all...the bloody monkeys back at camp make more sense. Ja well I’m here so I might as well stick it out, and get it over and done...next time bloody Jacob can do the bloody banking.”

  Slowly the queue moves forward...Piet keeps his eyes to the ground...not wanting to make eye contact with anyone, and finding himself drawn into meaningless chatter, until suddenly he is nudged from behind.

  “Mr...Cashier number four is waiting for you...come on; we don’t all have all day.”

  “Ag Jammer, I mean sorry. My thoughts were far away.”

  Piet moves towards the window for cashier number four, raises his eyes to find himself looking into the most perfect, beautiful pair of blue eyes he has ever seen...his mouth suddenly goes dry...his heart hammers in his chest...he struggles to get the words out. Unable to say anything to the vision of beauty behind the safety glass, he fumbles for the roll of bank notes in his pocket, withdraws them, and pushes them through the opening.

  “Good morning Mr van Zyl...and how are you today.”

  “Ag nee...she knows my name...how the hell does she know my name...kom man...praat...talk for God’s sake...say something.”

  “Himmm ja...mόre lady...ja, I wish to bank this money please.”

  “You can call me Peggy, Mr van Zyl, and our business is your pleasure. Please sign this deposit slip, and I will sort the rest out for you.”

  Piet feels her lovely eyes on him as he signs the slip...looks up into a wonderful smile that makes his heart skip a beat...feeling like a school boy he stammers a thank you...his face feeling a flush rise up under her steady gaze.

  “Ag...how do you know my name...ahh...Peggy?”

  He savours the sound of her name as it rolls around in his dry mouth...hoping like hell that no one else can hear his thumping heart in a banking hall where all sound has ceased for him...his whole attention is on the woman before him.

  “Well let’s just say that I have my ways of finding out something that I am interested in.”

  The blue eyes bore into his...a flush spreads across his face...confused by the way he is feeling Piet mutters thanks, takes the deposit slip and stumbles away from the counter.

  “Mr van Zyl...Mr van Zyl...you forgot something.”

  The sound of her voice is like music to his ears...he turns quickly...not so cock sure of himself right now and moves back to the counter. Peggy stretches out her left hand...in it is a white slip of paper...Piet takes it...no wedding ring...no ring at all. Puts the paper in his pocket, and hoping that he still has a bit of pride left in him...holds his head up high and strides for the door...totally flustered by the encounter with cashier number four.

  He reaches the relative safety of his Land Rover, lets out a huge sign of relief and realises that he has been perspiring...reaches for his scarf to wipe his brow...his fingers close over the slip of paper...he pulls it out, and opens it...the message inside turns the burly South African to putty.

  “Piet, call me sometime. My number is 047 347 2201.”

  Chapter 2

  The shrill cry of the hunting jackal cuts across the empty safari camp...the cough of a lion out on a night on the town, and the eerie call of the hyena and the crackle from the fire go unheard as the burly South African sits quietly, nursing a brandy and coke, the ice tinkling in his glass as he unknowingly moves the glass from hand to hand...his mind back in the bank...the vision of cashier number four imprinted on his brain...”You can call me Peggy”...plays over and over in his head. For the umpteenth time Piet digs into his top pocket and removes the note, its edges already frayed from the number of times he has opened it and just stared at the message...call me sometime...jumps out at him.

  “Fok, she even knows my name...moer...this Peggy is different...the way she makes me feel...my bloody heart is still pounding every time I think about her...man I have never felt like this before...come on van Zyl...what is wrong with you man? Get a grip, she is just another woman.”

  Laughter comes from the edge of the fire and Piet looks up. Jacob is there, a large grin on his face and a knowing gleam in his eyes.

  “Ja you bugger, and what do you want...you should be asleep old friend.”

  “Bwana Piet, I can see that you have been bitten, and now you need the wise words of an old man.”

  “En nou Jacob, what are you talking about? I’ve been bitten...by what?”

  “Bwana Piet, my eyes might be old but they see things...I see that my brother has been bitten by a woman...this must be a very special woman Bwana...for never before have I seen you dwell on a vision that you have in your head...you are here Bwana, but I think that you left your heart somewhere in Lusaka.”

  “En nou old friend...who made you bloody cupid...and as for my heart...it is right here, beating in my chest.”

  “Eish Bwana Piet...your words make you a liar...but your eyes...that do not lie...they shine with an inner light...this one is different Bwana from the others...I know that she is a special woman...but be warned my friend...even the special ones will not wait.”

  “So now Jacob, you will offer advice of the heart... tell me my old friend...what makes you an expert on the subject?”

  “Bwana Piet, you have been too long without a wife...the time has come that you take a woman so that you can become whole...I’ve watched you from the shadows, I see the loneliness in your eyes, but acting like a young bull does not fill that void in your heart.”

  “Your words are wise old friend...this one in Lusaka is different...she took my breath away.”

  “I know the one of which you speak Bwana...she has spoken to me many times...she will know you.”

  “Alright Jacob...I’ll call her, and ask her out for drinks...get to know her, but I warn you old friend, don’t go planning any wedding just yet. You have not told me what makes you an expert on woman...kom ek wag...talks to me.”

  “Ha ha Bwana Piet...am I not the one with six wives...and you, the one with nothing.”

  “Ja Jacob...six wives...that is why you stay here in the camp and only go home every three months or so...six wives to many old friend.”

  “Eish Bwana Piet...a man is like a battery...he needs to recharge before he goes to his wives...or else there is trouble in the home...it is better I stay here.”

  ‘Alright old friend, you have made your point...I will call the lady in the morning...fok, I don’t know what I am letting myself in for...are you sure there is not a man-eater we need to take care of?”

  “Ha ha haaa Bwana Piet, you have had your share of “man-eaters”...the time for you to find a mate is now here...do not worry Bwana...I Jacob will guide you in the art of courtship.”

  “Gaan slaap Jacob...you talk too much...leave me alone with my thoughts.”

  Piet watches as Jacob makes his way towards the staff quarters, the blazing fire has now died right down, his drink forgotten...his mind filled with the sound of her voice...her smile...those blue eyes. Muttering under his breath, the burly South African makes his way towards his tent.

  Unseen by Piet, the paper that holds his hopes flutters off his lap, the breeze plays with it, until it lands on the slowly dying coals...a brief flare of flames and cashier number fours number goes up in smoke.

  “Moer...I don’t know what is wrong with me, but I can’t get her out of my head...fok...van Zyl you are in the shit my man.”

  Piet spends the rest of the night, restless, his mind wandering...his heart pounding in his chest and at last he admits to himself that the thought of Peggy scared him...no woman has every had this effect on him before...the big white hunter feels out of his depth...all he wants is to see her again.

  Jacobs’s words play over and over in his head.

  “Bwana Piet...you must take your courage in your hands...Eish!...the man that will hunt a wounded buffalo is scared of a woman...ai ai ai Bwana...you must speak what your heart feels, for if you lose her...your life will be meaningless.”


  Scattered chatter rises over the three tops as the resident primates pay the camp a visit, hoping and looking for any scraps that might have been left around the camp fire the night before, a lone hyena passes beyond the boma...stops and sniffs the air...then moves on, the thick bush swallowing up its shape...the haunting cry of the Fish Eagle rings out across the bright blue sky as the sun bids Africa good morning, to be greeted by the snorts from the resident pod of hippo in the Zambezi River.

  Suddenly the tranquillity of the African bush is shattered by a bellow of frustrated rage.

  “Nee fok...that bloody piece of paper must be here somewhere...think van Zyl...damn it boet...you would lose your own bloody head if it was not attached to your shoulders.”

  A frantic Piet searches once again through his jacket, shirt and jeans for the phone number that was pulling him like a magnet. He has spent a sleepless night, tossing and turning...thinking of nothing but cashier number four. In the end he is determined to make that call...he has to see her again...but now the precious piece of paper had gone AWOL. He savours her name on his lips...”Peggy”...closes his eyes and sees her smile and with renewed vigour, once again goes through each and every pocket once again, coming up empty handed.

  “En nou boet...you are stuffed...come van Zyl...think man...if you don’t call today, you will chicken out and then you might as well bury your bloody head in the sand. Wag...just phone the bank...ja boet...now you are thinking.”

  With his mind made up Piet strides across to the dining area, his target, the phone directory, his mission, to phone Peggy...before his courage leaves him. He finds the number and dials...hears the urgent ringing at the other end and waits for the connection to be picked up...one minute...two minutes go past.

  “Fok...don’t those bloody people work...shit how much longer must I hold on to be answered?”

  He glances down at his wristwatch...it reads only six fifteen in the morning. He feels himself turning red with embarrassment, he gentle replaces the receiver...his courage held in check, and he writes the number down...determined to call again.

  Six Thirty in the morning...the last fifteen minutes have felt like a life time...Piet keeps on looking at his watch...willing the time to speed up...needing to talk to Peggy...wanting to see her again, and then without a backward glance at the camp, he heads over to the waiting Land Rover...starts the engine, puts the vehicle in gear and pulls away along the dirt road...destination...Lusaka...mission...to see Peggy.

  He turns on the radio and the voice of Celine Dion fills the cab of the Land Rover....telling everyone how she, “drove all night to be with you”.

  “Ja you and me both lady...you and me both.”

  He glances down at the fuel gauge...it reads three quarters full...more than enough for the three hundred and twenty five kilometre trip, and he should be there by the time the bank opens...and then...who knows...but he is now determined that he will see her again...telling himself it is far better than a phone call.

  Back at camp a grinning Jacob and Isaac congratulate each other...Bwana Piet is on a mission, and if all went well they would soon have a Madam in the camp...after all someone else other than them was needed to take care of the burly South African.

  Chapter 3

  The Land Rover steadily ate up the distance. All the way Piet went over and over in his mind what he was going to say to the beautiful Peggy...he rehearses it over and over again, until he was happy with the way it sounded.

  “Hello Peggy...I thought that it would be better if I came to see you, rather than call. You have this amazing effect on me, and I would really like to take you out for lunch. I know a very nice place not far from here...we can get to know each other, and they serve a very good plate of food...I hope you are hungry?”

  Lusaka was a busy hive when he arrived in the city...people hurrying to and fro, and once again Piet is struck at how much they all resemble ants...busy, busy, and busy, with nowhere to go. On reaching the parking lot outside the bank his heart drops into his boots...the place is still closed. He swallows hard, his mouth suddenly dry...and started rehearsing his “Peggy Speech” as he is now calling it, his eyes never leaving the door to the bank, and then he sees her...walking at a brisk pace along the sidewalk...and his courage goes out the window.

  The vision of beauty looks up, and their eyes meet across the parking lot...Piet feels his heart lurch in his chest as she locks eyes with him, and he wishes the earth would open up and swallow him...then to his horror, she steps off the sidewalk and makes her way towards the parked Land Rover, that beautiful smile lighting up her face.

  “Steady van Zyl...steady...don’t lose your cool...man she is gorgeous...remember your speech...take a deep breath...come on m...”

  “Why hello Piet, fancy seeing you back in the city so soon...you must have forgotten something yesterday.”

  “Ja...more...ag...I mean Good Morning...yes I think I left my sunglasses with you yesterday.”

  Peggy’s bright blue eyes look deeply into Piets, he felt as if his heart is going to burst, and then she starts to giggle, and it sounds like music to his ears.

  “Oh Piet...you are so silly...your sunglasses are on your head...now tell me Mr Man...Why are you really back in the city...or should I just take a wild guess.”

  “Well you see it is like this...phew...moer...this is harder than hunting...what I am trying to say is th...”

  “I tell you what big man, why don’t you take me out to lunch and we can talk...give you a chance to catch your breath...and then you can tell me why you are really here.”

  “Ja...okay...that sounds like a plan...I’ll wait here for you, if that is alright?”

  “Piet, my lunch hour is still five hours away...you must have something else to do until then...why else did you come all the way back to Lusaka?”

  The way she says his name makes Piet van Zyl suddenly very self conscious... he suddenly realises that he has not shaved in two days...and is wearing the same shirt as yesterday.

  Peggy turns away from Piet, makes her way towards the bank...looks back once at the man in the Land Rover...enjoying his discomfort and very thankful to a certain Jacob who had called her this morning...telling her the mouse had taken the bait...the man was smitten.

  Behind her departure she left a very confused, bewildered Piet van Zyl, feeling as if he has just been hit between the eyes. He runs his tongue across his dry lips...watching her as she sways across the parking lot and into the bank...his mind in a total muddle...the ball had been taken away from him...his rehearsed “Peggy Speech” lies in tatters...the man who is always quick off the mark had nothing to say, except...

  “ń Boer maak ń plan...that Peggy is a keeper, that is for sure...I must just play my cards right...I could settle down with a woman like that...moer...she takes my breath away.”

  As the morning dragged on, she kept on looking out the window towards the parking lot...the Land Rover has not moved all morning...he is still there and she smiled to herself...Piet van Zyl had captured her interest months ago...and now the big white hunter is not moving...waiting for her like a lion at a watering hole...

  “Well if he plays his cards right...he can capture me anytime.”

  Daydreaming...eyes closed...Piet allows his mind to wander...what it would be like to have someone in his life. He has been alone for so long in the bush...his first love...the animals of Africa...the land and the people. The joy he feels when exposing his clients to the wild. Sharing the beauty of Africa with them, telling those stories of Africa around the fire at night...living in the wilds. Then a fear settles over him. It grips his heart in ice cold fingers...what if Peggy did not share his love for the bush, and he has to choose.

  “Mrs Peggy van Zyl...now that has a nice ring to it...shit van Zyl, you have not even had a cup of coffee with the woman...slow down man...you are going to mess up.”

  A knock on the window brings Piet back to reality, and suddenly everything that he has planned to say flies right pas
t the smiling face looking in at him.

  “Hello Piet...you been waiting long?”

  “Ag nee...not long...I just got here a few minutes ago.”

  “Oh Piet, you are so silly...I know that you have not moved...the engine is cold, and I have been watching you big man.”

  “My moer...this one is sharp...but hell she is lovely.”

  “What I mean is that I fell asleep...for some reason I did not have a good night, too much on my mind, you know, with the safari business and all.”

  Piet stumbles out of the driver’s side of the Land Rover, runs around and opens the passenger door for Peggy. She slides into the vehicle...the hem of her dress riding up her long legs as she settles down...causing the burly South African to suddenly find something very interesting on the other side of the parking lot...the flush once again creeping up his neck.

  The restaurant is empty...the two get a table in the far corner and Piet keeps on finding himself falling into those bright blue eyes as they look at him from across the table. Peggy wants to know all about him and at first Piet is very self conscious, but once he starts talking about his love for the bush, the animals and the people who live there, telling her stories of clients gone by he has her in hysterics. She reaches across the table and touches his arm...it feels as if an electrical current runs through him...and once again Piet van Zyl is speechless...he looks across at her, and finds himself once again falling deeply into those liquid blue eyes.

  “Piet...earth to Piet...are you still there big man?”

  With his heart pounding...mouth dry...Piet comes back to earth...his eyes focus once again on the woman sitting across from him.