at night.
They burned two of his kids to death. David felt his very soul quail at
the thought of the flames on flesh, his cheeks itched at the memory. I
didn't know, he said gruffly.
No, you were too busy making money or who tever is your particular form
of pleasure, Berg was angry. -all at last Sam came to me and I gave him
a job. Then I strung this fence. There is nothing left on Jabulani, a
few kudu and a duiker or two, but otherwise it's all gone. You are so
right. it didn't take them long to clean it out. 'I want it back. Why?
Berg scoffed. So you can be a sportsman like your daddy? So you can
fly your pals down from Jo'burg for the weekend to shoot the shit out of
my lions? Berg glanced at Debra, and immediately his red face flushed a
deep port-wine colour. I'm sorry, Mrs. Morgan, I did not mean to say
that. That's perfectly all right, Mr. Berg. I think it was very
expressive. Thank you, ma'am. Then he turned furiously back to David.
Morgan's Private Safari Service, is that what you are after? I would
not allow a shot fired on Jabulani, 'said David.
I bet, except for the pot. That's the usual story.
Except for the pot, and you've got the battle of Waterloo being fought
all over again. No, said David. Not even for the pot.
You'd eat butcher's beef? Berg asked incredulously.
Look here, Mr. Berg. if you pull your fence out, I'll have Jabulani
declared a private nature reserve Berg had been about to say something,
but David's declaration dried the words, and his mouth remained hanging
open. He closed it slowly.
You know what that means? he asked at last. You place yourself under
our jurisdiction, completely. We'd tie you up properly with a lawyer's
paper and all that stuff: no owner's licence, no shooting lions because
they are in a cattle area. Yes. I know. I've studied the act. But
there is something more. I'd undertake to fence the other three
boundaries to your satisfaction, and maintain a force of private game
rangers that you considered adequate, all at my own expense. Conrad
Berg lifted his hat and scratched pensively at the long sparse grey
hairs that covered his pate. Man, he said mournfully, how can I say no
to that?
Then he began to smile, the first smile of the meeting. It looks like
you are really serious about this then. 'My wife and I are going to be
living here permanently.
We don't want to live in a desert. Ja, he nodded, understanding
completely that a man should feel that way. The strong revulsion that
he had onginally felt for the fantastic face before him was fading.
I think the first thing we should work on is these poachers you tell me
about. Let's snatch a couple of those and make a few examples, David
went on.
Berg's big red face split into a happy grin.
I think I'm going to enjoy having you as a neighbour, he said, and again
he thrust his hand through the fence.
David winced as he felt his knuckles cracking in the huge fist.
Won't you come to dinner with us tomorrow night?
You and your wife? Debra asked with relief. It will be a mighty great
