The Sunbird

I went to meet Louren at the airstrip, and I was shocked. He had lost 20 lb in weight, and his skin which usually glowed with golden health was now chalky grey. Beneath his eyes were smears of dark plum that looked like bruises.

‘Ben! ’ He put an affectionate arm around my shoulder and squeezed. ‘It’s good to see you, you old bastard.’ But his voice was weary and I noticed the threads of silver at bis temples which were newly acquired.

‘My God, Lo, you look terrible.’

‘Thanks.’ He grinned wryly, and slung his bags into the back of the Land-Rover.

‘Seriously, Lo. Are you sick or something?’ I was distressed to see him looking so ill and haggard.

‘I’ve been on a rough one, Ben,’ he confided as he climbed into the Land-Rover beside me. ‘Four weeks at the bargaining table, I had to do it all myself - could not trust anyone else to handle it. The other side sent in teams, changing them when they were worn out.’

‘You’re going to kill yourself,’ I scolded him, sounding a little like a nagging wife. And he leaned across, punched my arm lightly, and laughed.

‘You’re a shot in the arm, partner.’

‘Was it worth it? What was it about?’

‘It’s big, Ben! E – bloody – normous! Copper and iron. South West Africa, near the Cunene River, massive ore bodies lying in association, low-grade copper and high-grade iron – together they are a treasure chest.’ The weary tone was gone from his voice. ‘I put those little Jap bastards over the table and I roasted their arses. They will put in the finance for a deep-water harbour and a railway line to get the stuff out. That will cost them 150 million.’ He was exultant, colour coming back into the pale cheeks. ‘One of my companies will do the construction work, of course.’ He touched a finger to his lips in a conspiratory gesture and I giggled delightedly. I enjoyed him in this mood. ‘I’ll put up for the pelletization plant and… ’ He went on to outline the scheme, laughing and punching my arm when he recounted each bargaining point on which he had scored.

‘What will it make for you?’ I asked at last, and he looked at me, slightly put down.

‘You mean in terms of money?’ he asked.

‘Sure! What else?’

‘Hell, Ben. I’ve explained it before. That’s not the important thing. It’s not money, it’s exports and employment, and opening up new resources, and building for the future, realizing the potential of our country and - and—’

‘And getting one hell of a kick out of it,’ I suggested.

He laughed again. ‘You are too shrewd, Ben. I suppose that’s a lot of it. The game, not the score.’

‘Have you seen last week’s Time magazine?’ I asked. I knew it would needle him.

‘Oh, for God’s sake, Ben,’ he protested.

‘Your name is on the list of the world’s thirty richest men.’

‘Those bastards,’ he muttered darkly. ‘Now everybody doubles their prices. Why don’t they mind their own business and let me get on with mine.’

‘And in the process you are killing yourself.’

‘You’re right, Ben. I do feel a little spent, so I’m taking a week. A whole week’s holiday.’

‘Big deal,’ I sneered, ‘a holiday with your BYM arriving every half-hour for conferences, and the rest of the time with you hanging over the radio set.’

‘Forget it,’ he smiled. I’m getting away, and you’re coming with me.‘

‘What do you mean, Lo? I asked.

‘Tell you later.’ He avoided the question for we were approaching the branch in the dirt track, and I automatically slowed to turn down to the huts.

‘Straight on, Ben,’ Louren instructed. ‘I want to go up to the cavern. I’ve been thinking of that place for weeks.’ His voice went soft and reflective. ‘When things got really tough there at the table, I’d think about the peace and tranquillity of that place. It seemed to…’ He stopped, and coughed with embarrassment. Louren doesn’t often talk that way.

Sally was working at the rear wall of the cavern. She wore a green silk blouse and tailored khaki slacks, with her hair loose and shiny. As she looked up to greet Louren, I saw with mild surprise that she wore lipstick for the first time in weeks.

She noticed his haggard features immediately, and I saw the concern in her eyes although she said nothing about it. Her greeting was subdued, almost offhand, and she turned back to her easel. Louren went immediately to the portrait of the white king. I drifted across to join him and we sat in a friendly relaxed silence examining the strange, figure, Louren spoke first.

‘Do you get the feeling he’s trying to tell you something, Ben?’

It was a fanciful question for Louren, but I treated it with respect for he was clearly in deadly earnest.

‘No, Lo, I can’t say that I do.’

‘There is something here, Ben,’ he said with certainty ‘Something you - we have overlooked. The key to this place, the whole secret of it is in this cavern.’

‘Well, Lo. we could…’ I began but he wasn’t listening. Sally left her easel and came to join us, she sat beside Louren and watched his face with complete attention.

‘This feeling has never let me down, Ben. Do you remember the Desolation Valley mine? My geologists gave it a thumbs down, but I had this feeling. Do you remember?’