?Let them talk to neighbors or something. We have to use them.?
?What about Jamie??
?What about him??
?He?s doing fuck-all.?
?Do you want him??
?I could use him.?
?Bushy . . .? Then he changed his mind. ?Jamie,? he called in Keyter?s direction.
?Yes, Benny?? Keyter responded eagerly. He leapt up, almost knocking his chair over.
?Tomorrow you go with Bushy.?
He had reached them. ?Okay, Benny.?
?Do the first few interviews with him. Is that understood??
?Okay.?
?I want you to learn, Jamie. Then Bushy will let you know which you can do on your own.?
?I get it.?
?Jamie . . .?
?Yes, Benny.?
?Don?t say that.?
?Don?t say what??
?Don?t say ?I get it.? It irritates the hell out of me.?
?Okay, Benny.?
?It?s Amerikaans anyway,? said Bezuidenhout.
?Amerikaans?? asked Cupido.
?Yes, you know. The way they say it in America.?
?An Americanism,? said Griessel wearily.
?That?s what I said.?
Griessel said nothing.
?You said ?Amerikaans,? you clot. You?re not a language expert?s backside,? said Vaughn Cupido, getting up to leave.
31.
He wanted to go home. Not to the flat, but to his
Where his wife and children were. He had a pounding headache and a sluggishness as if his fuel had run out. But he steered the car towards the city. He wondered what the children were doing. And Anna.
Then he remembered. He wanted to phone her. About the thing that had been bothering him since yesterday. He took out his phone while driving and looked up her number on the list. He pressed the button and it rang.
?Hello, Benny.?
?Hello, Anna.?
?The children say you are still sober.?
?Anna . . . I want to know. Our agreement . . .?
?What agreement??
?You said if I could stop drinking for six months . . .?
?That?s right.?
?Then you?ll take me back??
She said nothing.
?Anna . . .?
?Benny, it?s been barely a week.?
?It?s been nine fucking days already.?
?You know I don?t like it when you swear.?
?All I?m asking is if you are serious about the agreement??
The line was quiet. Just as he was about to say something, he heard her. ?Stay off the booze for six months, Benny. Then we can talk.?
?Anna . . .? but she had disconnected him.
He didn?t have the energy to lose his temper. Why was he putting himself through this? Why was he fighting
