– “I guess you had a pleasant evening, Miss Lizzie.” said Kwanele looking in the rearview mirror.
– “Yes, I did.” said Charlize from the back of the Bentley.
Charlize looked at the magnificent desolate scenery under a moonlit South African night sky rolling by while thinking about the events of the evening. They had been listening to Greene talk passionately about the latest advances in theoretical physics, his search for a theory of everything, a theory that would finally unify general relativity and quantum mechanics. Charlize did not completely share the enthusiasm of her colleagues about string theory. Her heart was with quantum mechanics with all its puzzles and paradoxes. Why can’t quantum physics have a realistic and rationale explanation? Is it a limitation of the human brain that won’t allow it to see Nature the way She really is? Why when we measure or observe things, they behave differently? Can a particle really be in two places at the same time? Why is it believed that a particle do not possess either a position or a momentum before someone measures it? What does all this mean in terms of Reality?
Her thoughts went back to Richard Greene. She didn’t know what to make of him. There were times during the evening when he appeared completely self-centered and others when he seemed to be only very confident of who he was. She was glad she had made it clear to him that she valued his company as a world-famous theoretical physicist and nothing more—for now. She loved her work and Greene was certainly the greatest authority in the matter.
It was almost 10 p.m. when Kwanele eased the Bentley through the gates and it only took Charlize a few seconds to realize that something was wrong. Ma Gugu was outside the house having a fierce conversation with Mbali and Stephen, their arms gesticulating widely.
They rushed to meet Charlize the moment she got out of the car.
– “Lizzie, oh Lizzie. There are troubles on the farm.”
– “What happened?”
– “Our boys have been attacked.” said Ma Gugu almost in tears.
Charlize grabbed Ma Gugu’s arms. “Ma, calm down. What happened on the farm?”
– “Sixpence got hurt bad and the rest of them are terrified.”
Seeing that her nanny had still not recovered from her emotions, Charlize turned to Stephen. “Stephen, what happened?”
– “Men entered the farm with their cars and trucks and drove to the workers’ quarters. They ordered our farmworkers to leave saying that the farm belongs to them now. When Sixpence asked the men to leave, they beat him along with two others who tried to help him. They threatened to set fire to the huts.”
- “What about Jakobus? Is he hurt?” she inquired.
– “I don’t think so, Miss Lizzie. I hope not.”
– “Did you talk to him?”
– “No, Miss Lizzie. I talked to Sixpence who ran back to the house to warn Jakobus and who called here. He said that Jakobus took his rifle and went down to talk to the men.”
Charlize’s blood ran cold. “Did Sixpence tell you who they are?”
– “No, but he said they speak Xhosa and some carry machetes.”
Kwanele came out from the house with a box of ammunitions under his arm and two rifles. He handed one to Stephen. “I am going over there with Stephen, Miss Lizzie.”
– “I’m going too. We’ll take the Land Rover.” said Charlize.
– “Lizzie, NO! You’ve heard about the farm attacks. It’s too dangerous, Lizzie! Stop!” shouted Ma Gugu.
Charlize, still in her evening gown, turned to her nanny. “I’m not discussing it with you, Ma. I’m going. It’s our farm.”
She turned to Mbali, “Mbali, call the police and explain to them the situation. Ask them if they can send patrol cars from Pretoria.”
– “Lizzie, you know it’s useless. They won’t help white farmers. They’re friends with the skollies.” said Ma Gugu.
– “I have to try to save our farm no matter what, Ma.”
It was only after the Land Rover had departed that Ma Gugu put a hand over her mouth, “Oh my God, we all forgot about Clark. I should have sent him with them.” she said in Zulu.
– “Oh, me too. I haven’t thought of him at all.” exclaimed Mbali.
– “Where is he?”
– “He must still be in the back. I’ve asked him to help removing the dead grass and bushes from behind the estate. I’ll go find him.”
Mbali found Clark working in the dark, gathering branches and leaves.
– “Clark!” she called out.
Clark turned, waved at her then walked up to her. He was still a few good yards away when he asked, “Is everything alright?”
– “No, Clark. Men have attacked the farm. Miss Lizzie, Kwanele and Stephen have gone over there with rifles. I’m afraid for them. You always hear stories about how they beat and torture owners and farmworkers. They rape women, ransack houses and burn down farms.” Mbali was shaking and almost in tears.
Clark took her arms. “The farm, where is it?”
– “What? Hopeland? It’s north of Pretoria. Almost 40 miles from here.”
Clark was still talking to her in a very soothing tone, “Do you have a picture of the farm or anything from the farm, here?”
Mbali looked at him, not really understanding. “I—I think there’s an old picture of the farm in the kitchen. I’m not sure where it is—”
– “Let’s go find it.”
Inside the kitchen, Mbali was trying to remember where she had seen last that framed picture of the farm when Clark pointed at a compartment below the sink.
– “Is that the one?”
Mbali looked at him, lost. “What are you talking about?”
– “I thought I saw—” Clark knelt down by the sink, opened the compartment door, pulled out pots and pans before removing from under a stack of old plates a framed picture. He showed it to Mbali.
– “Is this the farm?”
– “Uh—yes. That’s the farm but how did you—”
Clark stared at the picture then at Mbali.
– “Mbali, you should be with Ma Gugu. I’m pretty sure everything will turn out all right.”
Mbali nodded and watched him go out the back of the building. She hesitated a moment then followed him out but Clark was nowhere to be seen.
Riaan du Toit was driving along the main road north of Pretoria under the beautiful South African night when his wife of 45 years uttered, “Och my, what was that?”
Riaan kept looking straight ahead, “What was what, dear?”
– “Something just ran really fast through the veld.”
– “Hmm?”
– “Riaan, look! It’s over there now, see? Och, my, it’s—it’s gone.”
– “Dear, you had too much wine tonight.”
– “Riaan! I’m telling you that I’ve just saw something run really fast. By the time I’ve spotted it, it overtook us and crossed over the kopje in no time!”
