'Sun Dancer loves the rain, Dirk answered him tensely, and Sean glanced
at him.
'Dirk-if you lose today he started, but Dirk cut him short.
'I wont lose,' and again as though it were a vow,
'I won't lose!
' 'If you'd only show as much determination in other things the more
important.
'Important! Pa, this is important. This is the most important thing
I've ever done. ' Dirk stopped and turned to his father. He caught
Sean's sleeve, clinging to him. 'Pa, I'm doing this for you-for you,
Pa! ' Sean looked down and what he saw in his son's face, in that
beautiful face, silenced the retort that he was about to make.
Where did I go wrong with you, he asked himself with love stained by
loathing. Where did you get this blood, why are you this way, demanded
his pride and his contempt.
'Thanks,' he said dryly, freed his arm and walked on towards the
stables.
Sightless in his deep preoccupation with Dirk, Sean was into the stable
yard before he noticed Mbenjane.
'Nkosi. I see you.' Mbejane rose solemnly from the hand carved stool
on which he sat.
'I see you also,' Sean cried with pleasure, and then controlled
himself. A display of emotion in front of lesser persons would
embarrass Mbenjane. 'You are well?' he asked gravely, and restrained
the desire to prod the swelling dignity of Mbenjane's stomach,
reminding himself that Mbejane's abundant flesh and fat had been
carefully cultivated as a sign to the rest of the world of his
prosperity.
'I am well,' Mbeiane assured him.
'That you have come gives me pleasure.
'Nkosi, on a day of importance it is right that we should be
together-as it was before.' And Mbejane allowed himself to smile for
the first time, a smile that within seconds became a mischievous grin
that Sean gave back to him. He should have guessed that Mbejane would
never miss a fight, or a hunt, or a contest.
Then Mbejane turned to Dirk.
'Do us honour today,' he commanded, as though he spoke to one of his
own sons. 'Your father and I will be watching you.' He placed a huge
black hand upon Dirk's shoulder as though in benediction, then he
turned to gesture with his fly whisk at the stable-boys waiting behind
him.
'Bring the horse!'
TWo of them led her out, her hooves ringing on the paving of the yard
as she danced a little. Head up, moving greyhoundI bellied, pricking
her ears forward and back, she saw Dirk and wrinkled the soft velvet of
her nostrils as she whickered.
'Hey, girl!' Dirk walked towards her. At his approach she rolled her
eyes until the whites showed and her small dainty ears flattened
wickedly against her neck.
'Stop that nonsense,' Dirk admonished, and she bared yellow teeth
