The twisted metal frame of the double bed told him he was in the right place. Everything else turned to ash as the shovel touched it. He half filled the bucket and carried it to where the little Bushman waited with his horse.
It took Cameron an hour to find Guy’s grave. When he left that place – high on the Inhluzan – there were two piles of rocks, not just one.
Cameron was in a state of shock. There could be little doubt that the tragedy had been accidental – probably caused by the candle in Caro’s bedroom – but the police would have to be notified. Telling his father would be the worst thing.
Returning to the still-smoking rubble Cameron discovered that Moses’s body was missing. He knew from past experience that the Zulus took care of their own, so it was one less thing requiring his attention. Before doing anything else, Cameron made sure the farm’s labourers understood that their employment was safe and that the day-to-day running of the farm would continue as normal. He learned that Moses had a son and put him in charge of everybody except Popeti. She would return to her family in Durban and spend Christmas there, coming back early in the new year. What she would find on her return remained to be seen.
Cameron’s efficiency was his way of dealing with loss. He had been there before.
The police in Howick recorded that Cameron Keith Adair Kingholm, the owner of a farm called Wakefield, near Dargle, had reported an accidental house fire in which his widowed aunt, Caroline Hammond, had died. Her next of kin was listed as Dallas Granger-Acheson of the farm Morningside in Zululand. There were no suspicious circumstances.
As he had expected, they had no interest in the Zulu who had died trying to save her.
Saba had been lying on the eastern corner of the verandah. Her eyes appeared to be shut but she saw him long before anybody else, gave one bark and was gone.
Lorna looked up from her book and took off the glasses she used for reading. She could see a lone rider coming up towards the house, slouched in the saddle and in no particular hurry. Cameron wasn’t due back for another couple of days, but Saba was in no doubt about her master’s return.
He didn’t dismount. ‘Hello, Mother. Is Father inside?’
Something was wrong; she could sense it. Duncan? Alice? What had happened? ‘He’s at the workshop. They’re building cane trucks.’ Should she ask?
‘It’s Caro. She’s dead.’
Lorna’s hand flew to her mouth as Cam wheeled away to find his father.
Dallas was just as surprised as Lorna to see Cam back so soon but less sensitive, not noticing something was wrong.
‘Well, well, look who’s here, ’ he said, wiping grease from his hands and smiling a welcome. ‘Come back to give me a hand?’
There was no easy way to tell him. Cam knew that when he did the emotion he had held in check for almost three days would burst like a dam flooded with summer rain. He swung down and stepped close to his father. Words wouldn’t come but the dam broke and he clung to him. They stood like that until the flow eased.
‘What’s happened to Caro?’ Dallas asked quietly. He held his son close, dreading the answer and trying to be strong.
In fits and starts, Cameron told him and for the first time in his life their roles reversed.
When he could talk, Dallas asked. ‘Was everything lost?’
‘Moses managed to save the leopard skin, ’Cam replied, before he remembered last seeing it covering the dead Zulu’s body.
Dallas said nothing about his mother’s letters to Jack Walsh, the long-dead father he shared with Caro. ‘That was where you spent last Christmas, wasn’t it?’
Cam nodded but said no more. Dallas had found out how Caro had known he was back at Morningside.
‘I’m going to rebuild it, Father. Hermit or not, Wakefield will be my home.’
The dam had found its new level.
THIRTY
Cameron and Dallas travelled to Wakefield in mid December 1901. Torben went too, leaving Lanice with Gerda and Alice. All three of the men needed to move on from things that Caro might have called ‘milestones’ in their lives.
Moses’s son, Nelson, greeted them and took great pride in showing Cameron that he had everything well in hand. Outwardly he displayed no emotion over the death of his father.
Cameron paid all the employees – giving each person a special bonsella for Christmas – then told Nelson that he wanted the rock plinth cleared and enlarged so that they could start rebuilding the house early in the new year. He paced out the shape he wanted and marked it with wooden pegs.
Dallas’s horse followed the faint track that climbed high above the farm. Caro had been the last remaining link with his father and he was sorry that he had not known her better. One day soon he would bring Lorna to this place. She had never met his half-sister but was well aware of what her husband had lost.
Cam had done a good job. He would, Dallas thought, though he added more stones to the new mound before sitting and fumbling in a pocket for his pipe. Caro liked the aroma of tobacco.
Torben helped Cam wherever he could and the two brothers found themselves talking easily.
‘I’ll be moving up here after Christmas, ’ Cam told him. ‘The house will take some time but if you don’t mind roughing it a bit, bring Gerda and Alice up for a few days. We can always make a plan.’
‘I would like that, Cam, very much indeed.’
They slept under the stars that night, not near the burnt-out house but beside a bend in the river where Cam managed to guddle two trout for supper. Dallas had no luck, then Torben made it three. It was the first fish he had ever caught.
In the hour just before dawn, Dallas could have sworn he heard a lion. Strange, he thought, knowing that there had been none in that part of the country for probably a hundred years.
When the three men returned to Durban, it was to find Duncan at the Berea house. He had arrived earlier that afternoon, hoping to see Alice and spend the night before completing his journey to Empangeni.
Gerda had welcomed her old flame with open arms but Lanice showed more restraint in greeting a man wearing the uniform of a British army captain. Alice soon broke the ice and by the time the others arrived all three were taking tea in the garden, watching the curly-haired cherub as she played contentedly on a patchwork quilt her mother had made. Duncan had changed into civilian clothes and nobody spoke about the war.
He had not seen his father in over a year, not since he had been invalided out of the Fairfax Scouts. ‘You are carrying a bit more weight than the last time I saw you, ’ Duncan smiled as they embraced.
‘Good to see you, son, this is a surprise.’ He held him at arm’s length to look at the scar. ‘You were bloody lucky – then, you always were.’
‘The person who stitched it can do my sewing any time!’ Gerda added.
They all laughed.
The next morning, Torben lent Duncan a horse and watched as his father and two brothers set off for Zululand. He and his family would follow by train in a few days’ time. There was still something to be done before Christmas.
Duncan did not take the turn-off to Morningside: he had other things on his mind.
Aminta saw him arrive and went to find Tanith. ‘Madam, there is a person at the door who wants to see you.’
‘Who is it, Aminta?’ she asked, looking up from spoon-feeding a bowl of mealie meal to Frazer.
‘A man in uniform, madam.’
Tanith sounded irritated by the interruption. ‘Here, finish feeding him while I see what he wants.’
Mister David’s daughter sat beside the little boy and whispered in his ear. ‘Your father is home.’
Frazer actually jumped when he heard his mother’s sudden scream of delight. ‘Duncan! Why didn’t you give us any warning? Look at me – I’m a mess.’
‘I’m looking at you, Tat, and you look fine to me. Come here.’
Tanith needed no second bidding.
Mister David took the pony trap to collect Torben and his family fro
m the Thukela railhead. It was the second time he had made the trip in three days, the last being to pick up Ellie and Lindsay, who were accompanied by Stephen Holgate.
Even with such a full house, Lorna had managed to juggle the accommodation to suit everybody – with the possible exception of Meggie. Stan was expected that evening and would sleep in Torben’s old room, now refurbished for use by visitors. Ellie and Lindsay had Ellie’s old room while Stephen was in Duncan’s. Torben, Gerda and Alice would be using the guest suite. Duncan, Tanith and ‘Little Frazer’, as Lorna called him, were only due on Christmas morning and would leave again that same afternoon.
Dallas and Cameron steered clear of Lorna’s domestic arrangements and simply did what they were told. That way, everybody was happy. They were sitting on the verandah working on Cameron’s plans for Wakefield when Dallas spotted a lone rider. At first glance he thought it must be Stan, but looking again he realised the build was wrong.
‘Bloody eyes, ’ he said, picking up his old stalking spyglass from the table beside him and focusing on the distant horseman. A man, it certainly wasn’t.
Cameron had been concentrating on some figures – not his strong point – and wasn’t paying much attention to anything else. Saba stood up and made a whining noise in the back of her throat which she kept repeating until her master realised that she was trying to tell him something. He turned to see what the dog was staring at, dropped his pencil and stood up in stunned surprise. It was Ginnie. Riding right up to the house, she did not dismount.
As he stepped forwards, Cam heard her sharp intake of breath. Selfconsciously he raised a hand and felt the scar on his face. ‘It’s better than it was, ’ he said curtly.
‘Cameron, I have no right to be here but – ’
‘You can say that again, ’he interrupted.
‘Cam.’ The voice came from behind him. ‘Might I suggest that you give Ginnie a chance to say what has brought her here?’ Dallas paused, then added:‘As Mister David might say, “an ostrich cannot see far while its head is buried in the sand”.’ He stood up and nodded at Ginnie. ‘It took some guts coming here today. I apologise for my son’s lack of courtesy.’
Suitably rebuked, Cameron saw that his father was right. Mumbling an apology of his own, he stepped from the verandah and helped Ginnie dismount. She was trembling and suddenly, more than anything else, all he wanted to do was hold her. The reins slipped from his fingers as she fell sobbing into his arms.
‘Oh, Cam, I hurt you so much, my darling. Can you ever forgive me?’
He was not over her. Cam had always known that and now it was Ginnie who came to him. ‘I love you, Ginnie. I have never stopped loving you.’
‘Nor I you, my dearest. God, I was such a fool.’
When Dallas went inside he quickly found Lorna and told her what was going on. They couldn’t resist a quick peep from behind the curtain. Lorna even had her fingers crossed. ‘Leave them, ’she whispered, feeling as if they were intruding. She didn’t say it but thought April or May would be a good time for a wedding. She would make damned sure this one was at Morningside.
Cameron poured Ginnie a cool drink and they sat on the verandah, her hand in his as she told him what had happened.
‘Paul knew I didn’t love him. He’s a very sweet man, Cam. He bought the farm from my parents and has given Kevin a job as his bookkeeper.’
Cameron looked decidedly dubious. ‘I thought he ...well ...do you think he can do it?’
‘With the drinking, you mean?’ She understood exactly what he had meant. ‘That had a lot to do with feeling sorry for himself. Paul has shown confidence in Kevin and as you may or may not know, my brother is a real wizard with figures. Cam, already he’s a different man.’
‘And your parents? What happens to them?’
‘Paul doesn’t need the house. It’s his, but for as long as Mother and Father are alive it will remain their home. Kevin and his family will live there too.’
Cam shook his head at the apparent simplicity of it all. ‘I’ve got some news for you too.’
‘I’m all ears.’ Ginnie drained her glass and added: ‘Mmm, that drink was delicious. What was it?’
‘Nimbo paani, ’ Cameron replied.
Ginnie did not stay that night and left with enough daylight remaining to get home before dark. She was wearing a ring Cameron had not forgotten, one that Caroline’s father had given to his grandmother.
Earlier in the evening, Torben and his family had arrived, closely followed by Stan King.
Over a late dinner, Ellie and Lindsay announced their intention to see out the war then go to Bechuanaland as missionary doctors. Lorna was not surprised. The loss of Cecily had touched her daughter deeply. When the meal was over, she slipped away for a quiet word with Frazer and Katie. Lorna detected the aroma of cigar smoke before she saw Torben.
‘I thought you might come out here, ’ he said, putting an arm around his stepmother. ‘The matter we discussed has been dealt with. A man called van Deventer came to my office the day before yesterday. It was most strange, really. He apologised for what he described as “matters getting out of hand” and said he quite understood my wanting nothing more to do with his organisation.’
‘The Broederbond, you mean?’ Lorna asked.
‘Precisely. He said that arrangements had been made for my shareholding in our various joint ventures to be taken over by another party.’
‘Did he say who that would be?’ she queried.
‘As a matter of fact, he did. De Beers.’
Lorna just nodded. The wheels of politics and power would go on turning no matter who governed the country or how many had to suffer in order to satisfy the demands and ambitions of so few. Damn it, she thought, I could probably count them on the fingers of one hand.
Torben took Lorna’s silence as a sign she wanted to be alone. ‘I’ll see you in the morning, Mother.’
She leaned her head against him. ‘Sorry, dear, I was just woolgathering. It’s funny how things that once appeared to be so important can become quite the opposite.’
He was not altogether sure what Lorna was referring to. ‘If you mean the business, that will be fine. My own investment in the coal industry is looking most promising and Olaf has identified a number of new opportunities. We’re looking at shipping. How does “The Petersen Line” sound to you?’
Lorna smiled. ‘I like it.’
‘The ships will be mainly cargo with a few first-class cabins for passengers. If you and Father were to make another trip to Europe, the owner’s cabin would always be at your disposal.’
‘That’s a very kind thought, dear. Thank you. Now it’s late, so may I suggest you check on Gerda and my granddaughter then get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a big day.’
Torben gave his stepmother a squeeze and kissed her on both cheeks. ‘I’m looking forward to it.’
Alone under the cassia tree Lorna laid a hand on the black marble of Katie’s gravestone. It would soon be ten years since they had lost their daughter and already more than two had passed since Frazer had been killed. It was time that she had been referring to. Its passing was one of the few things mere mortals could not influence. Time moves at its own pace, she thought, bringing change whether we are ready for it or not.
‘I need to talk to the two of you, ’ she said quietly. ‘How do I tell your father you are both here? Will he understand that the body Frazer used in another life is no longer of any use to him and should stay where it is?’
From the tree above, a wood owl called softly and Lorna looked up. Weh, mameh – weh, mameh, it seemed to be saying. She recognised the Zulu for ‘Oh, my mother – oh, my mother.’
But another voice also spoke from the darkness behind her. ‘There is no need, my love, he has told me already.’ Dallas put his arms around her. ‘Happy Christmas, my darling.’
At that moment Lorna experienced a sense of peace and contentment she had all but forgotten. Time, she thought to herself. It’s time to move
on.
That night Cameron lay in his bed staring into the darkness. He was still alone on Christmas Eve.
Thanks to unexpected visitors, Duncan, Tanith and ‘Little Frazer’ were late arriving for Christmas lunch. It had been a year and a half since Tanith had seen her family, so nobody complained.
Although Aminta came with them, Mister David had hoped for news from Henry. He was not surprised at his son’s silence. After all, he knew it was not only a white man’s war.
Author’s Note
Lord Kitchener’s prophecy proved to be correct and on 31 May 1902 the Treaty of Vereeniging brought to an end a period of African history during which both sides, Boer and British, lost almost three times the numbers killed in action to inadequate medical facilities and the ravages of disease.
Over twenty thousand, mainly women and children, died in concentration camps.
There are no accurate records of African deaths but the figure lies somewhere between fifteen and twenty thousand. The peace signed in Pretoria did little to recognise such a sacrifice and denied the country’s African population any say in the future of South Africa.
Over four hundred thousand horses, mules and donkeys were either worked to death or fell foul of conditions for which they were ill prepared.
Britain’s scorched earth policy certainly deprived the Boer komandos of essential supplies in the field but it also devastated the country’s rural economy. An estimated seven million cattle, sheep and horses were either killed or removed from their rightful owners.
After the war, Dallas and Duncan developed Morningside into one of the biggest cane-growing estates in Zululand. Will Green became a regular visitor, mainly to get away from his wives. Duncan and Tanith built their house and before too long, ‘Little Frazer’ had a sister, Gwen. Lorna established a clinic on the farm and started a school for Zulu children of their employees.
Ginnie and Cameron were married at Morning-side in May 1902. The new house at Wakefield was completed later that same year. They had no children and the horses became their family. Klipklop came and went, though Popeti lived with them until her death in 1924.
Footprints of Lion Page 45
