wheels as she crossed the river-bed and flew up the far bank. The rumble of the engine dwindled into the desert silence and Lothar found he was trembling.
None of them moved for many minutes. It was Swart Hendrick who rose to his feet first. He opened his mouth to speak and then saw the expression on Lothar's face and remained silent. He scrambled down the bank and set off back towards the camp.
Lothar climbed down to the spot where the Daimler had stopped. He stood looking down at the damp earth where she had spat that mouthful of water. Her footprints were narrow and neat in the dust, and he felt a strong urge to stoop and touch them but suddenly Manfred spoke close behind him.
He is a boxer, he said, and it took Lothar a moment to realize that he was talking about Shasa. He looks a real sissy, but he can fight. You can't hit him. He put up his fists and shadow-boxed, shuffling and dancing in the dust, imitating Shasa.
Let's get back to the camp, out of sight, Lothar said, and Manfred dropped his guard and thrust his hands into his pockets. Neither of them spoke again until they reached the dugout.
Can you box, Pa? Manfred asked. Can you teach me to box? Lothar smiled and shook his head. I always found it easier to kick a man between his legs, he said. And then hit him with a bottle or a gun butt. I would like to learn to box, Manfred said. Someday I will learn. Perhaps the idea had been germinating there all along but suddenly it was a firm declaration. His father smiled indulgently and clapped him on the shoulder.
Get out the flour bag, he said. And I will teach you to bake soda bread instead.
Oh, Abe, you know how much I detest these soirees! Centaine exclaimed irritably. Crowded rooms filled with tobacco smoke, exchanging inanities with strangers. This man could be very valuable to know, Centaine. I will go further than that, he could be the most valuable friend you'll ever make in this territory. Centaine pulled a face. Abe was right, of course. The administrator was in fact the governor of the territory with wide executive powers. He was appointed by the Government of the Union of South Africa under the powers of mandate conferred on it by the Treaty of Versailles.
I expect he is another pompous old bore, just like his predecessor was. I haven't met him, Abe admitted. He only arrived in Windhoek to take up his appointment within the last few days and will not be sworn in until the first of next month, but our new concessions in the Tsumeb area are on his desk at this moment, awaiting his signature. He saw her eyes shift and he pressed the advantage. 'Two thousand square miles of exclusive prospecting rights worth a few hours of boredom? But she wouldn't give in that easily, and she counterattacked. We are due to hook onto the express that leaves this evening. Shasa must be back at Bishops on Wednesday morning. Centaine stood up and paced the saloon of her coach, stopping to rearrange the roses in the vase above her desk so she did not have to look at him as he deflected her thrust.
The next express leaves Tuesday evening. I have made arrangements for your coach to hook on. Master Shasa can leave on this evening's express, I have booked a coupe for him. Sir Garry and his wife are still at Weltevreden, they would meet him at Cape Town station. It needs only a telegraph to arrange it. Abraham smiled across the saloon at Shasa. I'm sure, young man, you can make the journey without anyone to hold your hand? Abe was a cunning little devil, Centaine conceded, as Shasa rushed indignantly to take up the challenge.
Of course I can, Mater. You stay here. it's important to meet the new administrator. I can get home on my own.
Anna will help me pack for school. Centaine threw up her hands. 'if I die of boredom, Abe, let it be on your conscience for as long as you live! She had at first planned to wear her full suite of diamonds, but decided against it at the last moment. After all, it's only a little provincial reception, with fat farmers wives and petty civil servants. Besides, I don't want to blind the poor old dear. So she settled for a yellow silk evening dress by Coco Chanel. She had worn it before, but in Cape Town, so it was unlikely anybody here had seen it.
It was expensive enough to bear two wairings, she consoled herself. Too good for them, anyway. She settled on a pair of solitaire diamond ear studs, not too large to be ostentatious, but around her neck she wore the huge yellow diamond the colour of champagne on a platinum chain. It drew attention to her small pointed breasts; she liked the effect.
Her hair was a worry, as always. It was full of electricity from the dry desert air. She wished Anna was here, for she was the only one who could manage that lustrous unruly bush. In despair she tried to make a virtue of its disorder, deliberately fluffing it out into a halo and holding it up with a velvet band around her forehead.
That's enough fuss. She didn't feel like a party at all.
Shasa had left on the mail train as Abe had planned and already she was missing him keenly. on top of that she was anxious to get back to Weltevreden herself and resented having to stay over.
Abe called for her an hour after the time stipulated on the invitation card that was embossed with the administrator's coat of arms. During the drive Rachel, Abe's wife, regaled them with an account of her recent domestic triumphs and tragedies, including a detailed report of her youngest offsprings 'bowel movements.
The administrative building, the Ink Palace, had been designed by the German colonial administration in heavy Gothic imperial style; when Centaine swept a glance around the ballroom, she saw that the company was no better than she had expected. It comprised mainly senior civil servants, heads and deputy heads of departments with their wives, the officers of the local garrison and police force, together with all the town's prominent businessmen and the big landowners who lived close enough to Windhoek to respond to the invitation.
Amongst them were a number of Centaine's own people, all the managers and under-managers of the Courtney Finance and Mining Company.
Abe had provided her with an up-to-date bulletin so that as each came forward diffidently to present their spouses, Centaine was able to make some gracious personal comment which had them glowing and grinning with gratification. Abe stood by to make sure that none of them imposed upon her, and after the appropriate interval gave her the excuse to escape.
I think we should pay our respects to the new administrator, Mrs Courtney. He took her arm and led her towards the reception line.
I have been able to get a few facts about him. He is a Lieutenant-Colonel Blaine Malcomess and commanded a battalion of the Natal Mounted Rifles. He had a good war and ended with a bar to his Military Cross. In private life he is a lawyer, and- The police band was belting out a Strauss waltz with zeal and gusto and the dance floor was already crowded. As they came up to the tail of the reception line, Centaine saw with satisfaction that they would be the last to be presented.
Centaine was paying little attention to their host at the head of the line as she moved along on Abe's arm, leaning across him to listen to Rachel on his other arm who was giving her a family recipe for chicken soup but at
