I wish to thank them:
Even now I don?t know her real name, but as a sex worker she went by the name of ?Vanessa.? In two long morning interviews she talked intelligently, openly and honestly about her work and life. When I had finished the book, I tried to contact her to thank her. The message on her cell phone said ?I am no longer in the business . . .? May all her dreams be realized.
The three other nameless sex workers who made time to talk to me in coffee shops and tell me their stories.
The personnel of Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) in Cape Town, and specifically the director, Ms. Jayne Arnott.
Ms. Ilse Pauw, a clinical psychologist, who shared hours of her knowledge of and insight into sex workers.
Captain Elmarie Myburgh of the South African Police Service?s Psychological Investigation Unit in Pretoria. Her incredible insight, experience and knowledge of the psychology of people in general and specifically crime and criminals, her enthusiasm for the project and many hours of patience left me deeply in her debt. She is any author?s research dream and a wonderful ambassador for her unit and the SAPS.
Inspector Riaan Pool, SAPS Liaison Officer in Cape Town.
Superintendent Mike Barkhuizen of the SAPS Serious and Violent Crimes Unit in Cape Town.
Gerhard Groenewald of Klipbokkop, for his knowledge of tires.
Dr. Julie Wells of Rhodes University History Department, for the background of the Xhosa stabbing assegai.
All the wonderful curio-shop people of Cape Town city center who provided information on assegais so freely, even when they knew I did not wish to buy.
Professor Marlene van Niekerk of the Department Afrikaans and Nederlands of the University of Stellenbosch, for her compassion, understanding, patience, great knowledge, intellect and creativity. She is a national treasure, in every sense of the word.
All the members (the veterans and the young ones!) of the US MA class in Creative Writing. That dinner is coming . . .
My editor, Dr. Etienne Bloemhof, for his eagle eye, his enthusiasm, support and depth of knowledge.
My agent Isobel Dixon, to whom I owe so much?and all her colleagues at Blake Friedmann, especially David Eddy and Julian Friedmann.
My wife, Anita, who gets up and has coffee with me before dawn and never stops supporting and believing and reading and loving. And the children who wait so patiently for the writing door to open.
The ATKV, for the financial support that made so much of the research possible.
One of the great joys of researching a manuscript is finding and reading relevant books?and hunting down relevant information on the Internet. I am grateful for the following:
by Robert Sabbag, Canongate, London, 2
2.
by Mark Bowden, Atlantic Books, London, 2
.
Rob Marsh, Ampersand Press, Cape Town, 1999.
by Noel Mostert, Pimlico, London, 1992.
www.alcoholicsanonymous.org.au
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
www.fda.gov
www.digitalnaturopath.com
www.heckler-koch.de
www.dieburger.com
www.iol.com
Translated by K. L. Seegers, October 2005
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Deon Meyer is an internationally renowed crime writer who also works as a journalist and brand consultant. He is the author of
and
He lives in Cape Town, South Africa.
