There was a momentary break in Garrick's reading, just a flutter in his
voice to acknowledge Michael's request and then he went on steadily,
but his voice had lost its timbre and was now a lifeless monotone, He
finished the paragraph, laid the sheet aside, removed his spectacles
and placed them in their case. The lid of the case snapped shut
against the tension of its spring and Garry lifted his head slowly.
'Why?'
'I need the money.'
'What for?'
'I need it.'
Garry stood up and moved across to the window. He stood before it with
his hand clasped behind him. The green lawns flowed down to the fence
that bounded the gardens, and upon them the poinsettia bushes were
vivid patches of scarlet. Beyond, the land lifted into the first long
roll, golden grass and scattered forest with the cattle feeding beneath
and the massive silver and blue clouds piled above.
'It will rain tonight,' Garrick murmured, but Michael did not answer.
'We need it. Three weeks of dry, and the pasture is withering. '
Still no reply and Garry returned to his desk.
'I hear there was a fire on Lion Kop last night.
-'There was.
'They say that your uncle is finished. They say the fire finished him.
' 'No!' Michael denied it quickly. 'That's not true.'
'Is that why you want the money, Michael?'
'Yes. 'You want to give it to Sean?'
'I want to buy a share in Lion Kop Wattle. I don't want to give
anything-it will be a business offer.
'And what about Theuniskraal-it's your home. You were born here.
'Please, Dad. I've made up my mind.'
'Did Sean suggest this?'
'He did not. He knows nothing about it.
'It's your idea then. You thought it up all on your own. You're going
to sell out your own parents for him. My God, what sort of hold has he
over you that you would do that for him? ' Flushing a dusty brick
colour, Michael kicked back his chair and jumped to his feet.
'You make it sound like treachery.'
'That's exactly what it is!' shouted Garrick. 'It's Judas's work.
Your mother and I-we raised you with everything. We scraped to send
you to University, we built our whole lives around you. We worked for
the day you would return here to Theuniskraal and . . .' He stopped,
panting, and wiped from his chin the bubble of saliva that had burst
through his lips.
'Instead you ran off to Join that . . . that swine. How do you think
we liked that? Don't you think it nearly broke our hearts?
Of all people you had to go to him! And now, now you want half of
Theuniskraal to take him as a gift-to buy his . . . ' 'Stop that! '
Michael warned him sharply. 'And before you go on remember where I got
my half of Theuniskraal. Remember who made the original gift. ' He
picked up his hat and riding crop and strode towards the door.
