beside Jan Paulus In the saucer. the fight was over.
'We're ready to move, sir. Eccles stood beside the scotch cart and
looked down at Sean. A massive scowl concealed his concern. 'Are you
comfortable?'
Sean ignored the question. 'Who is in charge of the burial details,
Eccles?'
'Smith, sir.'
'You have told him about Saul, about Captain Friedman?'
'Yes, sir. They will bury him separately.'
Sean lifted himself painfully on to an elbow and for a minute stared at
the two gangs working bare to the waist on the COMmunal graves. Beyond
them lay the rows of blanket, wrapped bundles. A fine day's work, he
thought bitterly.
'Shall we start, sir?' Eccles asked.
'You've given Smith my orders? Burghers to be buried with their
comrades, our men with theirs?'
'It's all taken care of, sir.'
Sean lay back on the bedding that covered the floor of the scotch
cart
'Please send my servant to me, Eccles.'
While he waited for Mbejane, Sean tried to avoid contact with the man
who lay beside him in the scotch cart He knew Jan Paulus was watching
him.
'Sean, Menheer, who will say the words for my men?'
'We have no Chaplain. ' Sean did not look at him.
'I could say them. ' 'General Leroux, it will be another two hours
before the work is completed. You are wounded, and it is my duty to
get this column with the other wounded back to Vereeniging as soon as I
can. We are leaving the burial detail and when they're finished
they'll catch us up. ' Sean spoke lying on his back staring up at the
sky.
'Menheer, I demand, ' Jan Paulus began, but Sean turned angrily towards
him.
'Listen, Leroux. I've told you what I'm going to do. The graves will
be carefully marked, and later the War Graves Commission will send a
Chaplain. ' There was very little room in the scotch cart and they
were both big men. Now, as they glared at each other their faces were
a foot apart. Sean would have said more, but as he opened his mouth
the wound in his guts caught him and he gasped. The sweat broke out
heavily across his forehead.
'Are you all right?' Jan Paulus's expression altered.
'I'll feel better once we get to Vereeniging. ' 'Ja, you're right. We
must go,' agreed Leroux.
Eccles came back with Mbejane.
'Nkosi, you sent for me?'
'Mbejane, I want you to stay here and mark the place where they bury
Nkosi Saul. Remember it well, for later you must be able to bring me
back to it,' Sean mumbled.
'Nkosi. ' Mbejane went away.
'Very well, Eccles. You can start.'
