Zouga was silent for a long time, and though his face was expressionless, she could see the play of emotion in his eyes.
He spoke at last. 'Father is mad She did not answer. Can you cure his mind? 'No. ' She shook her head. 'That will get worse, but with care and skilled attention in a good hospital, we can improve his body and he could live for many years still To what purpose? ' Zouga insisted. He would be comfortable and perhaps happyAnd all the world would know that he was a syphilitic madman, Zouga went on quietly for her. 'Would it not be kinder to let the legend stand untarnished? No, more than that, to add to it by our own account, rather than drag back this poor diseased and demented thing for all his enemies, his numerous enemies, to mock? 'Is that why you tampered with his journals? ' Robyn's voice was shrill, even in her own ears. That's a dangerous accusation.
' He was losing his control also. 'Can you prove it? I don't have to prove it; we both know it's so. 'You cannot move him. ' Zouga changed direction. 'He is crippled! He could be carried on a litter. We have more than enough porters.'
Which way would you take him? ' Zouga demanded. He would never survive the route over which we have travelled, and the route southwards is uncharted.'
Pater himself has charted the slave road in his journal.
We will follow that. It will lead us directly to the coast.'
With the major objectives of the expedition unfulfilled? ' Zouga.
asked quickly. The major objectives were to find Fuller Ballantyne, and report on the slave trade, both of which we can accomplish if we march down the slave road to the sea.'
Robyn broke off, and then made a show of dawning comprehension. 'Oh dear, how silly of me, you mean the gold and the ivory. Those were the major objectives all along, were they not, my dear brother? ' We have a duty to our sponsors! And none to that poor sick old man up there? ' Robyn flung out one hand dramatically, and then spoiled the effect by stamping her foot. Angry with herself as well as with him, she yelled at him. 'I am taking Pater down to the coast, and quickly as I can. 'I say you are not. 'And I say the hell with you, Morris Zouga Ballantyne! ' The oath gave her a dark pleasure, and she turned and strode away from him, long-legged in her tight-fitting breeches.
Two days later Robyn was ready to march. All exchanges between Zouga. and herself since their final meeting at the river had been in the form of written notes, and Robyn realized that her brother would be keeping copies of all this correspondence to justify his actions later.
She had briefly repudiated his written command not to attempt a march with the sick man. Zouga had listed half a dozen reasons, each neatly enumerated, why she should remain. once he had her written defiance, his next note sent up the hill in Juba's sweating little hand was magnanimous, written for future readers other than herself, Robyn decided sourly. If you insist on this folly, he began and he went on to offer her the protection of the entire force of Hottentot musketeers, with the exception of Sergeant Cheroot who had expressed a desire to remain with Zouga. Under the Corporal they would form an escort capable, as Zouga worded it 'of bringing you and your charge safely to the coast, and protecting you from any hazards upon the way'.
He insisted that she take most of the remaining porters. He would keep five porters to carry his essential stores, together with his four gunbearers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
He also ordered her to take the Sharps rifle and all the remaining stores, 'leaving me only sufficient powder and shot, and the bare minimum of medicines to enable me to complete the further objectives of this expedition Which I deem to be of prime importance'.
His final note reiterated all his reasons for keeping Fuller Ballantyne on the hilltop, and asked her once more to reconsider her decision. Robyn saved him the trouble of making fair copies by simply turning over the note and scribbling on it. 'My mind is made up. I will march at first light tomorrow for the coast Then she dated and signed it.
The next morning, before sun-up, Zouga sent a team of porters up the hill, carrying a litter of mopani poles.
The poles had been peeled of their rough bark and bound together with raw-hide strips from the green hide of a freshly killed roan antelope, and the body of the litter was made from the same interwoven hide strips. Fuller Ballantyne had to be strapped into the litter to prevent him throwing himself out of it.
When Robyn brought them down again, walking beside the litter to try and calm the crazy old man on it, the Hottentot escort and the porters were ready to join her on the march. Zouga was waiting also, standing a little aside as though he had already dissociated himself, but Robyn went to him directly.
At least we know each other now, ' she said huskily. We may not be able to rub along together, Zouga. I doubt we ever could have, or ever will be able to, but that does not mean I do not respect you, and love you even more than I respect you.'
Zouga flushed and looked away. As she should have known, such a declaration could only embarrass him. I have made sure that you have a hundred pounds of gunpowder, that is more than you could ever need, he said. Do you not wish to say farewell to Pater? ' Zouga nodded stiffly, and followed her to the litter, avoiding looking at the Mashona woman who stood beside it and spoke formally to Fuller Ballantyne. Good-bye, sir. I wish you a swift safe journey and a speedy return to good health.'
The wizened toothless face, revolved towards him upon its scrawny neck. The shaven head had a pale porcelain gloss in the grey dawn light, and the eyes were bird-bright, glittering with madness. God is my shepherd, I shall fear no evil, Fuller cawed, mouthing the words so they were barely understandable. Quite right, sir, Zouga nodded seriously. 'No doubt at all about that. ' He touched his cap in a military salute and stepped back. He nodded to the porters and they lifted the litter and moved away towards the pale orange and yellow sunrise.
Brother and sister stood side by side for the last time watching the column of escort and porters file past, and when the last of them had gone and only little Juba remained beside her, Robyn reached up impulsively and threw her arms around Zouga's neck, embraced him almost fiercely. I try to understand you, won't you do the same for me? ' For a moment she thought he might unbend, she felt the hard erect body sway and soften, and then Zouga straightened again. This is not good-bye, he said. 'Once I have done what is necessary, I shall follow you. We'll meet again Robyn dropped her arms to her sides, and stood back. Until then, she agreed wistfully, sad that he had not been able to make even a show of affectionUntil then, she repeated, and turned away. Juba followed her away into the forest, after the departing column.
Zouga waited until the singing of the porters dwindled, and the only sound was the sweet wild bird chorus that greets each dawn in Africa, and the distant melancholy whooping of a hyena slinking away to its earth.
There were many emotions warring in him. Guilt that he had let a woman, however well supported, attempt
