organized the nurses at Baragwanath and brought them out as part of the campaign. She won't keep that up much longer - she'll be arrested or banned pretty damn soon, you can bet on that.' 'Vicky is a brave woman,' Moses agreed. 'She knows the risks, and she takes them willingly.' He looked straight at Tara as he said it, as if daring her to voice her jealousy. She knew of his marriage, of course, but she had never spoken of it. She knew what the consequences would be, and now she dropped her eyes, unable to meet his challenge.
'We have underestimated this man De La Rey,' Moses said. 'He is a formidable opponent. We have achieved very little of what we hoped for.' 'Still, the United Nations is debating our plight,' Tara said quietly without looking up again.
'Debating,' Moses agreed scornfully. 'But it requires only a single veto from America or Britain or France, and no action will be taken.
They will talk and talk while my people suffer.' 'Our people,' Marcus chided him. 'Our people, Moses.' 'My people,' Moses contradicted him harshly. 'The others are all in prison. I am the only leader who remains. They are my people.' There was silence in the kitchen, except for the scrape of utensils on the plates as they ate, but Marcus was frowning and it was he who broke the silence.
'So what happens now?' he asked. 'Where will you go? You cannot stay here, the police may swoop at any moment. Where will you go?' 'Drake's Farm?' Moses mused.
'No.' Marcus shook his head. 'They know you too well there. The moment you arrive the whole township will know and there are police informers everywhere. It will be the same as turning yourself in at the nearest police station.' They were silent again until Moses asked, 'Where is Joe Cicero?'
Have they taken him?' 'No,' Marcus answered. 'He has gone underground.' 'Can you contact him?' 'We have an arrangement. He will ring me here - if not tonight, then tomorrow.' Moses looked across the table at Tara. 'Can I come with you to the expedition base at Sundi Caves? It's the only safe place I can think of at the moment.' And Tara's spirits bounded. She would have him for a little longer still.
Tara explained to Marion Hurst, not attempting to conceal Moses' identity nor the fact that he was a fugitive, and she was not surprised by the American woman's response.
'It's like Martin Luther King coming and asking me for sanctuary,' she declared. 'Of course, I'll do whatever I can to help.' As a cover, Marion gave Moses a job in the pottery section of the warehouse under the name of Stephen Khama, and he was absorbed immediately into the company of the expedition. Without asking questions the other members, both black and white, gathered around to shield him.
Despite Marcus Archer's assurances, it was almost a week before he was able to contact Joe Cicero, and another day before he could arrange for them to meet. The hardest possible way they had learned not to underestimate the vigilance of the police, while Joe Cicero had always been secretive and professional. Nobody was certain where he lived or how he maintained himself, his comings and goings were unannounced and unpredictable.
'I have always thought him to be theatrical and over-careful, but now I see the wisdom behind it,' Moses told Tara as they drove into the city. Moses was once more dressed in his chauffeur's uniform.
'From now on we must learn from the professionals, for those ranged against us are the hardest of professionals.' Joe Cicero came out of the entrance of the Johannesburg railway station as Moses stopped the Cadillac for the red light at the pedestrian crossing, and he slipped unobtrusively into the back seat beside Tara. Moses pulled away, heading out in the direction of Doornfontein.
'I congratulate you on still being at large,' Joe told Moses wryly, as he lit a fresh cigarette from the butt of the last and glanced sideways at Tara. 'You are Tara Courtney,' and smiled at her surprise.
'What is your part in all this?' 'She is a friend,' Moses spoke for her. 'She is committed to us.
You may speak freely in front of her.' 'I never speak freely,' Joe murmured. 'Only an idiot does that.' They were all silent then until Joe asked suddenly, 'And so, my friend, do you still believe that the revolution can be won without blood?
Are you still one of the pacifists who would play the game by the rules that the oppressor makes and changes at will?' 'I have never been a pacifist,' Moses' voice rumbled. 'I have always been a warrior.' 'I rejoice to hear you say it, for it confirms what I have always believed.' Joe smiled a sly and inscrutable smile behind the fringeof dark beard. 'If I did not, I would not be sitting here now.' Then his tone altered. 'Make a U-turn here and take the Krugersdorp road!' he ordered.
The three of them were silent while Joe turned to scrutinize the following traffic. After a minute he seemed satisfied and relaxed in the back seat. Moses drove out of the built-up areas into the open grassy veld. The traffic around them thinned, and abruptly Joe Cicero leaned forward and pointed ahead to an empty lay-by on the side of the road.
'Pull in there,' he ordered, and as Moses parked the Cadillac he opened the door beside him. As he stepped out he jerked his head.
'Come!' When Tara opened her own door to join them, Joe snapped. 'No, not you! Stay here!' With Moses at his side he walked through the stand of scraggly black wattle into the open veld beyond, out of sight of the road.
'I told you the woman is trustworthy,' Moses said, and Joe shrugged.
'Perhaps. I do do not take chances until it is necessary to do so.' And then he changed direction. 'I asked you once what you thought of Mother Russia?' 'And I replied that she was a friend of the oppressed peoples of the world.' 'She wishes to be your friend also,' Joe said simply.
'Do you mean me personally - Moses Gama?' 'Yes, you personally - Moses Gama.' 'How do you know this?' 'There are men in Moscow who have watched you carefully for many years. What they have seen they approve off They offer you the hand of friendship.' 'I ask you again. How do you know this?' 'I am a colonel in the Russian KGB. I have been ordered to tell you this.' Moses stared at him. It was moving so fast that he needed a respite to catch up.
x 'What does the offer of friendship entail?' he asked cautiously, buying time in which to think, and Joe Cicero nodded approvingly.
'It is good you ask the terms of our friendship. It confirms our estimate of you. That you are a careful man. You will be given the answer to that in due course. In the meantime be content with the fact that we have singled you out above all others.' 'Very well,' Moses agreed. 'But tell me why I have been chosen.
There are other good men - Mandela is one of them.' 'Mandela was considered, but we do not believe he has the steel.
