Centaine sat down on her bed. The paper in her hand fluttered. She had never been more angry in her life. It was treachery, a gross and unforgivable betrayal. It was her mine, they were her diamonds. She paid their wages, and hers was the absolute right to hire and fire.
The shipment of goods that Twenty-man-Jones referred to was the parcel of diamonds on which her fortune hinged. Their demands, if pandered to, would render the H'ani Mine unprofitable. Who was this Gerhard Fourie, she wondered, and then remembered he was the chief transport driver.
She went to the door and opened it. Her secretary was waiting in the corridor.
Ask Mr Abrahams to come to me. When Abe stepped through the door she handed him the telegraph flimsy.
They don't have the right to do this to me, she said fiercely, and waited impatiently while he read it through.
Unfortunately, Centaine, they do have the right. Under the Industrial Conciliation Act of 1924
Don't spout acts at me now, Abe, she cut him off. They are a bunch of bolsheviks biting the hand that feeds them!
Centaine, don't do anything hasty. If we were to Abe, get the Daimler offloaded from the truck immediately and send Dr Twenty-man-Jones a telegraph. Tell him I'm coming and he is to do nothing, make no concessions nor promises until I arrive. You'll leave in the morning, of course? I will not, she snapped. I will leave in half an hour from now, just as soon as my guests have gone and you have the Daimler detrained. litis one in the morning, He saw her face and abandoned that fine of protest. I'll telegraph the staff at the first staging station to expect you. Just tell them to be ready to refuel. I won't be staying over. I'm driving straight through to the mine. And she went to the door, paused to compose herself and then, smiling easily, went back into the saloon.
Is something wrong, Mrs Courtney? The smile had not deceived Blaine Malcomess, and he rose to his feet. Is there anything I can do to help you? Oh, just a small nuisance. Trouble out at the mine. I have to go back there right away. Not tonight, surely? Yes, tonight 'On your own? He was troubled, and his concern pleased her. it's a long hard journey. I prefer to travel alone. Then she added with a meaningful intensity, Or to chose my travelling companion with great care. She paused, then went on, Some of my employees have called a strike. It's unreasonable and they have no case to justify their action. I'm certain that I can smooth it over.
However, sometimes these things get out of hand. There might be violence, or vandalism!
Quickly Blaine reassured her. I can guarantee you full government cooperation. A police detachment could be sent to maintain the peace, if you so wish!
Thank you. I would appreciate that. Knowing that I can call upon you is a great relief and comfort!
I will arrange it first thing tomorrow, he said. But of course it will take a few days! Again they were behaving as though they were alone; their voices were low and filled with significance beyond what the words suggested.
Darling, we should leave Mrs Courtney to prepare for her journey. Isabella spoke from her chair and he started as though he had forgotten she were there.
Yes, of course. We will leave at once. Centaine went with them down the railway platform to where Blaine's Chevrolet tourer was parked beneath the single streetlight. She walked beside Isabella's wheelchair.
I did so enjoy meeting you, Mrs Malcomess, and I'd love to meet your girls. Won't you bring them out to Weltevreden when next you are in Cape Town? I don't know when that will be, Isabella refused politely.
My husband will be immersed in his new appointment. They reached the waiting vehicle and while the chauffeur held the rear door open, Blaine lifted Isabella from the chair and seated her on the leather seat. He closed the door carefully and turned to Centaine. His back was to his wife, and the chauffeur was loading the wheelchair into the boot. They were alone for the time being.
She is a courageous and wonderful woman, he said softly as he took Centaine's hand. I love her and can never leave her, but I wish -he broke off and his grip on her fingers was painful.
Yes, Centaine answered as softly. I also wish, and she revelled in the pain of his grip. He ended it too soon for her and went around to the opposite side of the Chevrolet, while Centaine stooped to the crippled girl at the open window.
Please do remember my invitation, she began, but Isabella thrust her face closer and the serene and beautiful mask cracked so that the terror and the hatred showed through.
He's mine, she said. And I won't let you have him. Then she leaned back in her seat and Blaine slid in beside her and took her hand.
The Chevrolet pulled away, the official pennant on the bonnet fluttering, and Centaine stood under the streetlight and stared after it until the headlights faded.
Lothar De La Rey slept with the earphones of the telegraph tap on the sheepskin roll beside his head, so that the first bleep of the transmission woke him and he snatched up the headset and called to Swart Hendrick. Light the candle, Hennie, they are transmitting. At this time of night it must be important. Yet he was still unprepared for the import of the message when he scribbled it out in his notebook: 'Strike Committee headed by Gerhard Fourie has called out all white employees Lothar was stunned by Twenty-man-jones message.
Gerhard Fourie. What on earth is that miserable bastard playing at, he asked himself aloud, and then leapt up and went out of the dugout to pace agitatedly in the loose sand of the river-bed while he attempted to work it out.
A strike, why would he call a strike now? Shipment of goods embargoed. That has to mean the diamonds. The strikers are refusing to let the diamonds leave the mine. He stopped suddenly and punched his fist into his own palm.
That's it. That's what it's all about. He has called the strike to worm himself out of our bargain. His nerve has given in, but he knows I will kill him for it. This is his way out.
He isn't going to cooperate. The whole thing has fallen through., He stood out in the river-bed and a dark impotent rage overwhelmed him.
All the risks I have taken, all the time and work and hardship. The theft of the horses, all for nothing, all wasted because of one yellow-bellied If Fourie had been there he would have shot him down without compunction.
