Heart of the Hunter

the onslaught, but she could not hear a single word. Let him see what she had to deal with. Let him see how she was undermined. Then there would be no trouble when she transferred Vincent Radebe to lighter duties.

The Indian shifted his considerable bulk to make room for her. On the screen was the BMW motorcycle website.

?Look at this,? he said. ?We have been monitoring them all afternoon.?

She read. Messages, one after another.

This is going to be better than the annual gathering We are four guys, leaving at 13:00. See you in Kimberley

? John S., Johannesburg

I?m leaving now, will take the N₃ to Bethlehem, then Bloemfontein and on to Kimberley. I?m on a red K₁₂₀₀ RS. If there?s anybody who wants to come along for the ride, just fall in behind me. If you can keep up, of course.

? Peter Strauss, Durban

See you at Pietermaritzburg, Peter. We are on two R_1150s, a F 650 and a new RT.

? Dasher, PM

We are three guys on 1150 GSs, just like the Big Bad Biker. We will meet you at the Big Hole, will keep the beers cold, it?s just over the hill for us.

? Johan Wasserman, Klerksdorp

?How many are there?? asked Janina.

?Twenty-two messages,? said Rajkumar?s assistant. ?More than seventy bikers who say they are on the way.?

?That doesn'?t bother me.?

Rajkumar and his assistant looked at her questioningly.

?It?s just a lot of men looking for an excuse to drink,? she said. ?Seventy? What are they going to do? Carry out a coup d?etat at Northern Cape Command with their scooters??

* * *

?Department of Psychology.?

?This is Allison Healy of the

Cape Times

again. I wonder if??

?I told you, Dr. Van Heerden will be in tomorrow.?

?You did. But I was wondering if you could call him at home and tell him it is in connection with Thobela Mpayipheli.?

?Who??

?Thobela Mpayipheli. Dr. Van Heerden knows him well. The man is in trouble, and if you could call him and tell him, I can leave you my number.?

?Dr. Van Heerden does not like to be disturbed at home.?

?Please.?

There was silence on the end, followed by a dramatic sigh. ?What is your number?? She gave it. ?And your name again??

* * *

The Reaction Unit?s members sat around in groups defined by the shade of the acacias next to the hard-baked red and white parade ground of the Anti-Aircraft School, between the vehicles and boxes. The row of trees provided ever shifting shelter from the merciless sun and dominating heat of thirty-four degrees Celsius. Two tents had been erected? just the roof sections, like enormous umbrellas. Shirts were off, torsos glistening with sweat, weapons were being cleaned, a few of Team Alpha lay sleeping, others chatted, here and there a muffled laugh. A radio was playing.

As Captain Tiger Mazibuko approached, he heard them fall silent as a news bulletin was announced. He checked his watch. Where had the day gone?

Four O?clock on Diamond City Radio and here is the news, read by Rene Grobbelaar. Kimberly is the focal point of a countrywide search for MK veteran Thobela Mpayipheli, who evaded law enforcers yesterday evening in Cape Town on a stolen motorcycle. According to Inspector Tappe Terblanche, local liaison officer for the police, a joint operation between the army and SAPS has been launched to intercept the fugitive. He is probably somewhere in the Northern Cape. A similar operation is under way in the Free State.

During a news conference earlier today the minister of intelligence revealed that Mpayipheli, who is armed and considered dangerous, is in possession of extremely sensitive classified information that he has illegally obtained. In reply to a question on the nature of the information, the minister replied that it was not in the interest of national security to reveal details.

Members of the public who have had contact with Mpayipheli, or who have information that could lead to his arrest, are advised to call the following toll-free number.?

With my luck, thought Tiger Mazibuko, some idiot will force Mpayipheli off the road with his souped-up Opel and demand the reward, too.

He sat down beside Lieutenant Penrose. ?Is Bravo ready??

?When the signal comes, we can be rolling in five minutes, Captain.?

?If the signal comes.? He motioned toward the building behind him where the operation was coordinated. ?This lot of monkeys couldn'?t find a turd in a toilet.?