country lovers

7
Country Lovers 5 The farm children play together when thcy are small; but once the white children go away to school they soon don’t piay together any more, even in the holidays. Although most of the black children get some sort ofschooling, they drop every year farther behind the grades passed by the white jo children; the childishwocabulary, the child’s expioration of the adventurous possibilities ofdam, koppies, mcalie lands andveld there comes a time when the white children have surpasscd these with the vocabulary ofboarding-school and the possibilities ofinter-school sports matches and the kin1 of 15 adventures seen at the cinema. This usefuilytoincides with the age of twelvc or thirteen; so that by the time early adolescence is reached, the black children are making, along with the bodily changes common to ali, an casytransition to adult forms oPaddress, beginning to call their old playmates 20 tnissus and baasie— little master. The trouble was Paulus Eysendyck did flot seem to rcaiize that Thebedi was now simply one of the crowd of farm children down at the kraal, recognizable in his sisters’ old ciothes. The first Christmas holidays after he had gone to 25 boarding-school he brought horne for Thebedi a painted box he had made in his wood-work ciass. He had to give it to her secretly because he had nothing for the other children at the kraai. And she gave him, before he went back to school, a braceiet she had made of thin brass wire and the gréy-and 30 white beans of the castor-oiI crop his fathei cultivated. (When they used to piay together, she was the one who had taught Paultis how to make tiay oxen for their toy spans.) There was a craze, even in the plalleland towns iikç the one where he was at school, for boys to wear elephant-hair and 35 other bracelets beside their watch-straps; his was admired, friends asked him to get similar ones for them. He said the nativcs made them on his father’s farm and he would try. When he was fifteen, six feet tall, and tramping round at —4 r

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Page 1: Country Lovers

Cou

ntry

Lov

ers

5T

hefa

rmch

ildr

enpl

ayto

geth

erw

hen

thcy

are

smal

l;bu

ton

ceth

ew

hite

chil

dren

goaw

ayto

scho

olth

eyso

ondo

n’t

piay

toge

ther

any

mor

e,ev

enin

the

holi

days

.A

ltho

ugh

mos

tof

the

blac

kch

ildr

enge

tso

me

sort

ofsc

hool

ing,

they

drop

ever

yye

arfa

rthe

rbe

hind

the

grad

espa

ssed

byth

ew

hite

joch

ildr

en;

the

chil

dish

woc

abul

ary,

the

child

’sex

pior

atio

nof

the

adve

ntur

ous

poss

ibil

itie

sofd

am,

kopp

ies,

mca

liela

nds

andvel

d—

ther

eco

mes

atim

ew

hen

the

whi

tech

ildr

enha

vesu

rpas

scd

thes

ew

ith

the

voca

bula

ryof

boar

ding

-sch

ool

and

the

poss

ibil

itie

sof

inte

r-sc

hool

spor

tsm

atch

esan

dth

eki

n1of

15ad

vent

ures

seen

atth

eci

nem

a.T

his

usef

uily

toin

cide

sw

ithth

eag

eof

twel

vcor

thir

teen

;so

that

byth

eti

me

earl

yad

oles

cenc

eis

reac

hed,

the

blac

kch

ildr

enar

em

akin

g,al

ong

wit

hth

ebo

dily

chan

ges

com

mon

toal

i,an

casy

tran

siti

onto

adul

tfo

rms

oPad

dres

s,be

ginn

ing

toca

llth

eir

old

play

mat

es

20tn

issu

san

dba

asie

—li

ttle

mas

ter.

The

trou

ble

was

Pau

lus

Eys

endy

ckdi

dfl

otse

emto

rcai

ize

that

The

bedi

was

now

sim

ply

one

ofth

ecr

owd

offa

rm

chil

dren

dow

nat

the

kraa

l,re

cogn

izab

lein

his

sist

ers’

old

ciot

hes.

The

firs

tC

hris

tmas

holi

days

afte

rhe

had

gone

to

25bo

ardi

ng-s

choo

lhe

brou

ght

horn

efo

rT

hebe

dia

pain

ted

box

heha

dm

ade

inhi

sw

ood-

wor

kci

ass.

He

had

togi

veit

tohe

r

secr

etly

beca

use

heha

dno

thin

gfo

rth

eot

her

chil

dren

atth

e

kraa

i.A

ndsh

ega

vehi

m,

befo

rehe

wen

tba

ckto

scho

ol,

a

brac

eiet

she

had

mad

eof

thin

bras

sw

ire

and

the

gré

y-a

nd

30w

hite

bean

sof

the

cast

or-o

iIcr

ophi

sfa

thei

cult

ivat

ed.

(Whe

nth

eyus

edto

piay

toge

ther

,sh

ew

asth

eon

ew

hoha

d

taug

htP

ault

isho

wto

mak

eti

ayox

enfo

rth

eir

toy

span

s.)

The

rew

asa

craz

e,ev

enin

the

plal

lela

ndto

wn

siik

çth

eon

ew

here

hew

asat

scho

ol,

for

boys

tow

ear

elep

hant

-hai

ran

d

35ot

her

brac

elet

sbe

side

thei

rw

atch

-str

aps;

his

was

adm

ired

,

frie

nds

aske

dhi

mto

get

sim

ilar

ones

for

them

.H

esa

idth

e

nati

vcs

mad

eth

emon

his

fath

er’s

farm

and

hew

ould

try.

Whe

nhe

was

fift

een,

six

feet

tall,

and

tram

ping

roun

dat

—4

r

Page 2: Country Lovers

scho

olda

nces

wit

hth

egi

ris

from

the

‘sis

ter’

scho

olin

the

sam

eto

wn;

whe

nhe

had

lear

ntho

wto

ieas

ean

dfl

irt

and

fond

lequ

ite

inti

mat

ely

thes

egi

ris

who

wer

eth

eda

ught

ers

of

pros

pero

usfa

rmer

slik

ehi

sfa

ther

;w

hen

heha

dev

enm

eton

e

sw

ho,

ata

wed

ding

heha

d‘a

tten

ded

with

his

pare

nts

ona

near

byfa

rm,

had

let

him

dow

ithhe

rin

aIo

cked

’sto

rero

om

wha

tpe

ople

did

whe

nth

eym

ade

love

—w

hen

hew

asas

far

from

his

chil

dhoo

das

ali

this

,he

stil!

brou

ght

horn

efr

oma

shop

into

wn

are

dpl

asti

cbe

ltan

d‘g

ilt’h

oop

ear-

ring

sfo

rth

e

obl

ack

girl

,The

bedi

.Sh

eto

ldhe

rfa

ther

the

mis

sus

had

give

n

thes

cto

her

asa

rew

ard

for

som

ew

ork

she

had

done

—it

was

true

she

som

etim

esw

asca

lied

tohe

ipou

tin

the

farm

hous

c.

She

told

the

girl

sin

the

kraa

lth

atsh

eha

da

swee

thea

rt

nobo

dykn

ewab

out,

far

away

,aw

ayon

anot

her

farm

,an

d

‘5th

ey’g

iggl

ed,

and

teas

ed,

and

adm

ired

her.

The

rew

asa

boy

inth

ekr

aal

calle

dN

jabu

low

hosa

idhe

wis

hed

heco

uld

have

boug

hthe

ra

helt

and

ear-

ring

s.

Whe

nth

efa

rmer

’sso

nw

asho

rne

for

the

hoiid

ays

sbt

wan

derc

dfa

rfr

omth

ekr

aal

and

her

com

pani

ons.

He

wen

t

20fo

rw

aiks

alon

e.T

hey

had

flot

arra

nged

this

;it

was

an‘u

rge

cach

foll

owcd

’ind

cpcn

dent

ly.

He

knew

itw

assh

e,fr

oma

long

way

oIL

She

knew

that

his

dog

wou

ldfl

otba

rkat

her.

Dow

n

atth

edr

ied-

upri

ver-

bed

whe

refiv

eor

six

year

sag

oth

e

chil

dren

had

caug

hta’

lcgu

aan

one

grea

tday

—a

crca

turc

that

25co

mbi

ned

idea

llyth

esi

zean

dfe

roci

ous

aspc

ctof

the

croc

o

due

with

the

harr

nlcs

snes

sof

thel

izar

d—

they

’squ

atte

dsi

de

bysi

deon

the

eart

hba

nk.

He

told

her

trav

elle

r’s

tale

s:ab

out

scho

ol,

abou

tth

epu

nish

rnen

tsat

scho

ol,

part

icul

arly

,‘e

x

agge

rati

ngbo

thth

eir

natu

rean

dhi

win

diff

’ere

ncc

toth

em.

Ht

3°to

ldhe

rab

out

the

tow

nof

Mid

dleb

urg,

whi

chsh

eha

dne

ver

seen

.Sh

eha

dno

thin

gto

tell

but

shc’

prom

pted

with

man

y

qucs

tion

s,lik

ean

ygo

odlis

tene

r.W

hile

heta

lked

hctw

iste

d

and

‘tug

ged

atth

ero

ots

of’w

hite

’stin

kwoo

dan

dC

ape’

will

ow

tree

sth

atlo

oped

out

ofth

e’cr

oded

eart

har

ound

them

.It

had

alw

ays

been

ago

odsp

otfo

rch

ildre

n’s

gam

es,

dow

nth

erc

hidd

enby

thc’

mes

hof

old,

’ant

-cat

entr

ecs

held

inpl

ace

by

vigo

rous

ones

,w

ildas

para

gus

bush

ing

upbe

twec

nth

e

trun

ks,

and

here

and

ther

e‘p

rick

ly-p

ear

tact

us

sunken

skin

ned

and

‘bri

stiv

,lik

ean

old,

man

’sfa

ce,

keep

ing

aliv

c

12

‘sap

less

until

the

next

rain

yse

ason

.Sh

epu

nctu

red

the

dry

hide

ofa

pric

kly-

pear

agai

nan

dag

ain

with

ash

arp

stic

kw

hile

sbt

liste

ned.

She

laug

hed

abt

atw

hat

heto

ldhe

r,so

met

imes

drop

ping

her

Uace

onhe

rkn

ees,

shar

ing

amuse

5m

ent

with

the

coob

shad

yea

rth

hcne

ath

her

bare

feet

. She

put

onhe

rpa

irof

shoe

s—

whi

tesa

ndal

s,th

ickl

y‘B

lanc

oed

agai

nst

the

farm

dust

—w

hen

hew

ason

the

farm

,bu

tth

esc

wcr

cta

ken

ofT

and

laid

asid

e,at

the

rive

r-be

d.O

nesu

mm

eraf

tern

oon

whe

nth

ere

was

wat

erfl

owin

go

ther

can

dit

was

very

hot

she

wad

edin

asth

eyus

edto

dow

hen

thcy

wer

ech

ildre

n,he

rdr

ess

‘bun

ched

‘mod

estly

and

‘tuc

ked

into

the

begs

ofhe

rpa

nts.

The

scho

olgi

rls

hew

ent

swim

min

gw

ithat

dam

sor

pool

son

neig

hbou

ring

farm

sw

ore

biki

nis

but

the

sigh

t oft

heir

dazz

ling

.bcl

lies

and’

thig

hsin

the

5su

nlig

htha

dne

ver

mad

ehi

mfe

elw

hat

hefe

ltflo

w, w

hen

the

girl

cam

eup

the

bank

and

sat

besi

dehi

m,

the

drop

sof

wat

erbe

adin

goI

l’he

rda

rkle

gsth

eon

lypo

ints

oflig

htin

the

eart

h-sm

clli

ng,

deep

shad

e.T

hey

wer

eno

taf

raid

ofon

ean

othe

r,th

eyha

dkn

own

one

anot

her

alw

ays;

hedi

dw

ithhe

r20

wha

the

had

done

that

time

inth

est

orer

oom

atth

ew

cddi

ng,

and

this

time

itw

asso

love

by, s

olo

vely

,he

was

surp

rise

dan

dsh

ew

assu

rpri

sed

byit,

too—

heco

uld

see

inhc

rdar

kfa

ceth

atw

aspa

rtof

the

shad

e,w

ithhe

rbi

gda

rkey

es,

shin

yas

soft

wat

er,

wat

chin

ghi

m’a

tten

tive

ly:

assb

tha

dw

hen

they

25us

edto

’hud

dle

over

thei

rte

ams

of’m

udox

cn, a

ssb

tha

dw

hen

heto

ldhe

rab

out’

detc

ntjo

nw

eeke

nds

atsc

hool

.T

hey

wen

tto

the

rive

r-be

dof

ten

thro

ugh

tlios

csu

mm

erho

liday

s.T

hcy

met

just

befo

reth

elig

htw

ent,

asit

does

quit

cqu

ickl

y,an

dea

chre

turn

edho

rne

with

the

dark

—sh

eto

her

30m

othe

r’s

hut,

heto

the

farm

hous

c—

intim

efo

rth

eev

enin

gm

eal.

He

did

flot

tell

her

abou

tsc

hool

orto

wn

any

mor

e.S

btdi

dflo

tas

kqu

csti

ons

any

bong

er.

He

told

her,

each

time,

whe

nth

e)’

wou

ldm

eet a

gain

.O

nce

ortw

ice

itw

as

very

earl

y

inth

em

orni

ng;

the’

low

ing

ofth

eco

ws

bein

gdr

iven

togr

aze

35ca

me

toth

emw

here

they

lay,

divi

ding

them

with

unsp

oken

reco

gnit

ion

ofth

eso

und

read

inth

cir

two

pair

sof

eyes

,op

enif

lgso

clos

eto

each

othe

r.H

ew

asa

popu

lar

boy

atsc

hool

. Ht

was

inth

ese

cond

,th

enth

efi

rst’

socc

erte

am.

The

’hea

d’gi

rlof

the

‘sis

tcr’

scho

olw

as 13

I,

Page 3: Country Lovers

said

tohav

cacr

ush

onhi

m;

hedi

dn’t

part

icul

arly

likc

her,

but

ther

ew

asa

pret

tybl

onde

who

put

uphe

rlo

ngha

irin

toa

kind

of’d

ough

nut

wit

ha

blac

krib

bon

roun

dit,

who

mhe

took

tosc

efi

lms

whe

nth

esc

hool

boys

and

giri

sha

da

free

Sat

urda

y

afte

rnoo

n.H

eha

dbe

endr

ivin

gtr

acto

rsan

dot

her

farm

vehi

cles

sinc

ehe

was

ten

year

sol

d,an

das

soon

ashe

was

eigh

teen

hego

ta

driv

er’s

licen

cean

din

the

holid

ays,

this

last

year

ofhi

ssc

hool

-lif

e,he

took

neig

hbou

rs’

daug

htcr

sto

danc

esan

dto

the

driv

e-if

lci

nem

ath

atha

dju

stop

ened

otw

enty

kilo

met

res

from

the

farm

.His

sist

ers

wer

em

arri

ed,b

y

then

;hi

spa

rent

sof

ten

left

him

.inc

harg

eOft

hefa

rmov

erth

e

wee

kend

whi

leth

eyvi

site

dth

eyo

ung

wiv

esan

dgr

andc

hil

dren

.W

hen

The

bedi

saw

the

farm

eran

dhi

sw

ifedr

ive

away

ona

‘S

atur

day

afte

rnoo

n,th

ebo

otof

thei

rM

erce

des

fille

dw

ith

frcs

h-ki

lled

poul

try

and

vege

tabl

esfr

omth

ega

rden

that

it

was

part

ofhe

rfa

ther

’sw

ork

tote

nd,

she

knew

that

she

mus

t

com

efl

otto

the

rive

r-be

dbu

tup

toth

eho

use.

The

hous

ew

as

anol

don

e,th

ick-

wal

led,

dark

agai

nst

the

heat

.T

heki

tche

n

20w

asits

livel

yth

orou

ghfa

re,

with

serv

ants

,fo

odsu

pplie

s,

begg

ing

cats

and

dogs

,po

tsbo

iling

over

,w

ashi

ngbe

ing

darn

ped

for

iron

ing,

and

the

big

deep

-fre

eze

the

mis

sus

had

orde

red

from

tow

n,be

arin

ga

croc

hete

dm

atan

da

vase

of

plas

tic

iris

es.

But

the

dini

ng-r

oOm

wit

hth

e.b

ulgi

ng..l

egge

d

25he

avy

tabl

ew

assh

utup

inits

rich

,ol

dsm

ell

ofso

upan

d

tom

ato

sauc

e.T

hesi

ttin

g-ro

omcu

rtai

nsw

ere

draw

nan

dth

e

T.V

.se

tsi

lent

.T

hedo

orof

the

pare

nts’

bedr

oorn

was

lock

ed

and

the

empt

yro

oms

whe

reth

egi

ris

had

slep

tha

dsh

eets

of

plas

tic

spre

adov

erth

ebe

ds.

Ttw

asin

one

ofth

ese

that

she

30an

dth

efa

rmer

’sso

rist

ayed

toge

ther

who

leni

ghts

—al

mos

t:

she

had

toge

taw

aybe

fore

the

hous

ese

rvan

ts,w

hokn

ewhe

r,

cam

ein

atdaw

n.

The

rew

asa

risk

som

eone

wou

lddi

scov

er

her

ortr

aces

ofhe

rpr

esen

ceif

heto

okhe

rto

his

own

bedr

oom

,al

thou

ghsh

eha

dlo

oked

into

itm

ny

times

whe

n

she

was

help

ing

out

inth

eho

use

and

knew

wel

l,th

erc,

the

row

ofsi

lver

tUps

heha

dw

onat

scho

ol.

Whe

nsh

ew

asei

ghte

enan

dth

efa

rmer

’sso

nni

nete

enan

d

wor

king

wit

hhi

sfa

ther

onth

efa

rmbe

fore

ente

ring

avet

erin

aryc

olle

gC,

the

youn

gm

anN

jabu

loas

ked

her

fath

erfo

rhe

r.

14

Nja

bulo

’spa

rent

sm

etw

ithhe

rsan

dth

em

oney

hew

asto

pay

inpl

ace

ofth

eco

ws

itis

cust

omar

yto

give

apr

ospe

ctiv

ebr

ide’

spa

rent

sw

asse

tt1ed

upon

.H

eha

dno

cow

sto

offe

r;he

was

ala

bour

eron

the

Eys

endy

ckfa

rm,

like

her

fath

er.

A5

brig

htyo

ungs

ter;

old

Eys

endy

ckha

dta

ught

him

bri

ckla

ying

and

was

usin

ghi

mfo

rod

djo

bsin

cons

truc

tion

,ar

ound

the

plac

e.Sh

edi

dflo

tte

llth

efa

rmer

’sso

nth

athe

rpa

rent

sha

dar

rang

edfo

rhe

rto

mar

ry.

She

did

flot

tell

him

,ei

ther

,bef

ore

hele

ftfo

rhis

firs

tter

mat

the

vete

rina

ryco

llege

,o

that

she

thou

ght

she

was

goin

gto

have

aba

by.

Tw

om

onth

saf

ter

her

mar

riag

eto

Nja

bulo

,sh

ega

vebi

rth

toa

daug

hter

.T

here

was

nodi

sgra

cein

that

;am

ong

her

peop

leit

iscu

stom

ary

for

ayo

ung

man

tom

ake

sure

,be

fore

mar

riag

e,th

atth

ech

osen

girl

isno

tbar

ren,

and

Nja

bulo

had

mad

elo

ve‘

tohe

rth

en.

But

thei

nfan

tw

asve

rylig

htan

ddi

dno

tqu

ickl

ygr

owda

rker

asm

ost A

fric

anba

bies

do. A

lrea

dyat

birt

hth

ere

was

oti

itshe

ada

quan

tity

ofst

raig

ht,

fine

flos

s,lik

eth

atw

hich

carr

ies

the

seed

sof

cert

ain

wee

dsin

the

veld

.T

heun

focu

sed

eyes

itop

ened

wer

egr

eyfl

ecke

dw

ithye

llow

.20

Nja

bulo

was

the

mat

t,opa

quec

offe

e-gr

ound

sco

lour

that

has

alw

ays

been

calle

dbl

ack;

the

colo

urof

The

bedi

’sle

gson

whi

chbe

aded

wat

erlo

oked

oyst

er-s

hell

blue

, the

sarn

eco

lour

asT

hebe

di’s

face

,w

here

the

blac

key

es, w

ithth

eir

inte

rest

edga

zean

dcl

ear

whi

tes,

wer

eso

dom

inan

t.25

Nja

bulo

mad

eno

tom

plai

nt.

Out

ofhi

sfa

rmla

bour

er’s

earn

ings

hebo

ught

from

the

Indi

anst

ore

ace

llop

hane

win

dow

edpa

ckco

ntai

nifl

ga

pink

plas

tic

bath

, six

napk

ins,

aca

rdof

safe

typi

ns,

akni

tted

jack

et,c

apan

dbo

otee

s,ad

ress

,an

da

tinof

John

son’

sB

aby

Pow

der,

for

The

bedi

’sb’

hby.

30W

hen

itw

astw

ow

eeks

old

Pau

lus

Eys

endy

ckar

rive

dho

rne

from

the

vete

rina

ryco

llege

for

the

holid

ays.

He

dran

ka

glas

sof

fres

h,st

ill-

war

mm

ukin

the

chil

dhoo

dfar

nili

arit

yof

his

mot

her’

ski

tche

nan

dhe

ard

her

disc

ussi

ngw

ithth

eol

dho

use-

serv

ant

whe

reth

eyco

uld

get

aT

elia

ble

subs

titu

teto

35he

lpou

tflo

wth

atth

egi

rlT

hebe

diha

dha

da

baby

.Fo

rth

efi

rst

time

sinc

ehe

was

asm

all

boy

heca

me

righ

tin

toth

ekr

aal.

Itw

asel

even

o’cl

ock

inth

em

orni

ng.

The

men

wer

eat

wor

kin

the

land

s.H

elo

oked

abou

thi

m,u

rgen

tly;

the

wom

entu

rned

away

,ea

chflo

tw

anti

ngto

beth

eon

eap

proa

ched

to 15

(

Page 4: Country Lovers

poin

tou

tw

here

The

bedi

lived

.T

hebe

diap

pear

ed,

com

ing

slow

lyfr

omth

ehu

tN

jabu

loha

dbu

ilt

inw

hite

man

’sst

yle,

wit

hat

inth

imney

,an

dap

roper

win

dow

wit

hgl

assp

anes

set

inst

raig

htas

wal

lsm

ade

ofun

fire

dbr

icks

wou

ldal

low

.Sh

e

5gr

eete

dhi

mw

ith

hand

sbr

ough

tto

geth

eran

dat

okcn

mov

e-

men

tre

pre

sentn

gth

ere

spec

tful

bob

with

whi

chsh

ew

as

accu

stor

ned

toac

know

1edg

esh

ew

asin

the

pres

ence

ofhi

s

fath

eror

mot

hcr.

He

low

ered

his

head

unde

rth

edo

orw

ayof

her

horn

ean

dw

ent

in.

He

said

,‘1

wan

tto

see.

Show

mc.

10Sh

cha

dta

ken

the

bund

leof

fher

back

bcfo

resh

eca

me

out

into

the

ligh

tto

face

him

.Sh

em

oved

betw

een

the

iron

beds

tead

mad

eup

with

Nja

bulo

’sch

ecke

dbl

anke

tsan

dth

e

smal

lw

oode

nta

ble

whe

reth

epi

nkpl

asti

cba

thst

ood

amon

g

food

and

kitc

hen

pots

,an

dpi

cked

upth

ebu

ndle

from

the

15sn

ugly

blan

kete

dgr

ocer

’sbo

xw

here

itla

y.T

hein

fant

was

asle

ep;

she

reve

aled

the

cios

ed,

pale

,pl

umpt

iny

face

,wit

ha

bubb

ieofs

pit

atth

eco

rner

ofth

em

outh

,th

espi

dery

pink

han

dss

tirr

ing.

She

took

offt

hew

oolle

nca

pan

dth

est

raig

ht

fine

hair

flew

upaf

ter

itin

stat

icel

ectr

icit

y,sh

owin

ggil

ded

20st

rands

here

and

ther

e.H

esa

idno

thin

g.Sh

ew

asw

atch

ing

him

assh

eha

ddo

new

hen

they

wer

e.lit

tle,

and

the

gang

of

chil

dren

had

trod

den

dow

na

crop

inth

eir

gam

esort

rans

gres

sed

inso

me

othe

rw

ayfo

rw

hich

he,

asth

efa

rmer

’sso

n,

the

whi

teon

eam

ong

them

,m

usti

nter

cede

with

the

farm

er.

25Sh

edi

stur

bed

the

slee

ping

face

bysc

ratc

hing

ortic

klin

g

gen

tlyat

ach

eck

with

one

fing

er,a

ndsl

owly

the

eyes

open

ed,

saw

noth

ing,

wer

est

il1

asle

ep,

and

then

,aw

ake,

nolo

nger

narr

owed

,lo

oked

out

atth

em,g

rey

with

yello

wis

hfl

ecks

,his

own

haze

ley

es.

soH

est

rugg

ied

for

am

omen

tw

ith

agr

imac

eof

tear

s,an

ger

and

seif

-pity

.Sh

eco

uld

flot

puto

uthe

rha

ndto

him

.H

esa

id,

‘You

have

n’t

been

near

the

hous

ew

ith

it?’

She

shoo

khe

rhe

ad.

‘Nev

er?’

35A

gain

she

shoo

khe

rhe

ad.

‘Don

’tta

keit

out.

Sta

yin

side

.C

an’t

you

take

itaw

ay

som

ewhe

re.

You

mus

tgi

veit

toso

meo

ne

She

mov

edto

the

door

with

him

.

He

said

,‘I

’llse

cw

hat

Iw

illdo

.1do

n’tk

now

.’A

ndth

enhe

said

:‘I

fed

like

killi

ngm

ysel

C’

Her

eyes

bega

nto

glow

,to

thic

ken

with

tear

s.Fo

ra

mom

ent

Iher

ew

asth

efe

elin

gbe

twee

nth

emth

atus

edto

com

ew

hen

they

wer

eal

one

dow

nat

the

rive

r-be

d.

Hew

alke

dout

Tw

oda

ysla

ter,

whe

nhi

sm

othe

ran

dfa

ther

had

left

the

farm

for

the

day,

heap

pear

edag

ain.

The

wor

nen

wer

eaw

ayon

the

land

s,w

eedi

rig,

asth

eyw

ere

empl

oyed

todo

asta

sual

labo

urin

sum

mer

;on

lyth

eve

ryol

dre

mai

ned,

.pro

pped

up10

onth

egr

ound

outs

ide

the

huts

inth

efl

ies

and

the

sun.

The

bedj

did

flot

ask

him

iri.

The

child

had

nqt

been

wel

l;it

had

diar

rhoe

a.H

eas

ked

whe

reits

food

was

.Sh

esa

id,

‘The

muk

com

esfr

omm

c.’

He

wen

tin

toN

jabu

lo’s

hous

e,w

here

the

child

lay;

she

did

flot

follo

wbu

tst

ayed

outs

ide

the

door

15an

dw

atch

edw

itho

utse

eing

anol

dcr

one

who

had

lost

her

mm

d,ta

lkin

gto

hers

elf

talk

ing

toth

efo

wls

who

igno

red

her. Sh

eth

ough

tsh

ehe

ard

smal

1gru

nts

from

the

hut,

the

kind

ofin

fant

grun

tth

atin

dica

tes

afu

llst

omac

h,a

deep

slee

p.20

Aft

era

time,

long

orsh

ort s

hedi

dfl

otkn

ow, h

eca

me

out

and

wal

ked

away

Wit

hplo

ddin

g.st

ride

(his

fath

er’s

gait

)ou

tof

sigh

t,to

war

cis

his

fath

er’s

hous

e.T

heba

byw

asno

tfe

ddu

ring

the

nigh

tan

dal

thou

ghsh

eke

ptte

lling

Nja

bulo

itw

assl

eepi

ng,

hesa

wfo

rhi

mse

lfjn

the

25m

orni

ngth

atit

was

dead

.H

eco

mfo

rted

her

with

wor

dsan

d

care

sses

.Sh

edi

dfl

otcr

ybu

tsm

ply

sat,

star

ing

atth

edo

or.

Her

hand

sw

ere

cold

asde

adch

icke

ns’

feet

tohi

sto

uch.

Nja

bulo

buri

ed.

the

litt

leba

byw

here

farm

wor

kers

wer

e

buri

ed,

inth

epl

ace

inth

eve

ldth

efa

rmer

had

give

nth

em.

3So

me

ofth

em

ound

sha

dbe

enle

ftto

wea

ther

away

un

mar

ked,

othe

rsw

ere

cove

red

with

ston

esan

da

few

had

falle

n

woo

den

cros

ses.

He

was

goin

gto

mak

ea

cros

sbu

tbe

fore

it

was

fini

shed

the

polic

eca

me

and

dug

upth

egr

ave

and

took

away

the

dead

baby

:so

meo

ne—

one

ofth

eot

her

lalo

urer

s?

33th

eir

wom

en?—

had

repo

rted

that

the

baby

was

alm

ostw

hite

,

that

,st

rong

and

heal

thy,

itha

dded

sudd

enly

afte

ra

visi

tby

the

farm

er’s

son.

Pat

holo

gica

zie

sts

onth

ein

fant

torp

se

show

edjn

test

jnaI

darn

age

flot

alw

ayst

ons;

stef

l(.w

jth

deat

h

byna

tura

lca

uses

.

fl*

--

i

Page 5: Country Lovers

The

bedi

wen

tfo

rth

efi

rst

time

toth

eto

untr

yto

wn

whe

rela

ngua

Pau

lus

had

been

tosc

hool

,to

give

evid

ence

atth

epr

ep-

thin

g:at

her

phot

ogra

ph:

‘Tt

was

a

arat

ory

exam

inat

ion

into

the

char

geof

mur

der

brou

ght

Onts

eeea

choth

eran

ym

ore

.

agai

nst

him

.Sh

ecr

ied

hyst

eric

ally

inth

ew

itncs

sbo

x,sa

ying

sye

s,yc

s(t

hegu

tho

opea

r-ri

ngs

swun

gin

her

cars

),sh

esa

w

the

accu

sed

pour

ing

liqu

idin

toth

eba

by’s

mou

th.

She

said

heha

dth

reat

ened

tosh

oot

her

ifsh

eto

ldan

yonc

.

Mor

eth

ana

year

wen

tby

befo

re,

inth

atsa

mc

tow

n,th

e

case

was

brou

ght

totr

ial.

She

cam

eto

Cou

rtw

itha

new

-bom

ioba

byon

her

back

.Sh

ew

ore

gut

hoop

ear-

ring

s;sh

ew

asca

lm;

she

said

she

had

not

seen

wha

tth

ew

hite

man

did

inth

e

hous

e.P

aulu

sE

ysen

dyck

said

heha

dvi

site

dth

ehu

tbu

tha

dflo

t

pois

oned

the

child

.5

The

Def

ence

did

flot

cont

est

that

iher

eha

dbe

ena

love

rela

tion

ship

betw

een

the

accu

sed

and

the

girl

,or

that

inte

r

cour

seha

dta

ken

plac

e,buts

ubm

itte

dth

ere

was

nopr

oof

that

the

child

was

the

accu

sed’

s.

The

judg

eto

ldth

eac

cuse

dth

ere

was

stro

ngsu

spic

ion

20ag

ains

thi

mbu

tfl

oten

ough

proo

fth

athe

had

tom

mit

ted

the

crim

e.T

heC

ourt

coul

dfl

otac

cept

the

girl

’sev

iden

ce

beca

use

itw

ascl

ear

she

had

com

mit

ted

perj

ury

eith

er

atth

istr

ial

orat

the

prep

arat

ory

exam

inat

ion.

Thc

re

was

the

sugg

esti

onin

the

mm

dof

the

Cou

rtth

atsh

e

sm

ight

bean

acco

mpl

ice

inth

ecr

ime;

but,

agai

nins

uffl

cicn

t

proo

f.T

heju

dge

tom

men

ded

the

hono

urab

lebe

havi

our

ofth

e

husb

and

(sit

ting

iii

cour

tiri

abr

own-

and-

yell

owqu

artc

red

golf

cap

boug

htfo

rS

unda

ys)

who

had

norr

ejec

ted

his

wife

30an

dha

d‘e

verr

prov

ided

ciot

hes

for

the

unfo

rtun

ate

infa

ntou

t

ofhi

ssle

nder

mea

ns’.

The

-ver

dict

onth

eac

cuse

dw

as‘n

ot

guilt

y’.

The

youn

gw

hite

man

refu

sed

toac

cept

the

cong

ratu

lati

ons

ofpr

ess

and

publ

ican

dle

ftth

eC

ourt

with

his

35m

othe

r’sr

ainc

oats

hiel

ding

his

face

from

phot

ogra

pher

s.H

is

fath

ersa

idto

the

pres

s,‘I

will

try

and

carr

yon

asbe

stI

can

to

hold

upm

yhe

adin

the

dist

rict

.’

Inte

rvie

wed

byth

eS

unda

ypa

pers

,w

hosp

elle

dhe

rna

me

ina

vari

ety

ofw

ays,

the

blac

kgi

rl,

spea

king

inhe

row

n

1819

Page 6: Country Lovers

med

adole

scen

ce[æ

d’l

esn

s]pu

bert

ettr

an’s

itio

nov

erga

ng,

ænd

ring

adu

ltvo

ksen

addre

ssti

ltal

em

issu

sS.

A.:

frue

baa

sie

S.A

.:lil

lehe

rre

kra

alS.

A.:

indf

ødt

land

sby

reco

gniz

able

genk

ende

lig

bra

cele

tar

mbå

ndbra

ssw

ire

mes

sing

tråd

cast

or-

oil

særl

igbø

nne,

kas

tor

bønn

ecr

op

afgr

øde

clay

ler

ox, p

I.ox

enok

secr

aze

man

i,m

ode

pla

ttel

and

‘7.

kart

offe

lræ

kke’

p.12

teas

e[t

i:z]

dril

lefo

nd

lekæ

rteg

neat

ten

dvæ

rem

edtil

store

room

(kor

n)m

agas

ingut

forg

yldt

hoop

ring

gig

gle

[gig

i]fn

ise

urg

edr

ift,

lyst

ind

epen

den

tly

uafh

æng

igt

legu

aan

Stor

fred

elig

øgle

,le

guan

fero

cious

vild

,bi

ster

‘liz

ard

firb

ensq

uat

sidd

epå

hug

exag

ger

ate

[ig’

zæd3

reit

Jov

er-

driv

ein

dif

fere

nce

lige

glad

hed

pro

mpt

give

stik

ord,

tils

kynd

etu

ghi

vew

hite

stin

kwoo

dh

ård

,m

eget

efte

rtra

gte

ttr

æso

rtw

illo

wpi

letr

ælo

op

slå

enlø

kke

eroded

erod

eret

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the

UD

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nite

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Dem

ocra

tic

Fro

nt)

was

form

edin

1983

topr

otes

t

agai

nst

the

new

cons

titu

tion

and

boyc

ott

the

elec

tions

.

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UD

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mbr

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ra

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e

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.

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din

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wit

hfa

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sam

men

154

155

Page 7: Country Lovers

‘kno

ld’

inak

ken

pan

eru

deco

nte

stbe

stri

deey

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høj

envi

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Info

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mat

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Tow

nshi

p

157

156

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