Charlize was sitting by Jakobus charred corpse under the South African night, crying. His hands and feet were placed nearby with the machete that had been used to cut them off. The burnt tire had melted his face into an unrecognizable shape. Behind her stood Sixpence and a group of farmworkers, their heads bowed, their hats in their hands. They too, were crying. Stephen was weeping quietly by the side of the Land Rover.
Clark kneeled down beside Charlize and she leaned her head against his shoulder.
– “He had been with us since I was a toddler, Clark. He had never lift his hand against anyone. He had been the one who had taught me every thing I know about farm’s works. And he had died defending our farm.”
Charlize went into an uncontrollable sobs.
Clark put his arm around her.
– “It’s my fault, Clark. He died because of me. After the incident, I should have hired security guards, I should have put up barriers, electrical fences, alarms—”
– “Miss de Vries, no. If their goal was to get Jakobus, they could have waited for him and attacked him outside the farm.”
– “Clark, Jakobus had died an inhuman death only because he was working for us. My parents will be devastated. Oh, my God, how can I tell them?”
Sixpence approached them quietly. “Missus Lizzie, I called the police but they said they cannot come. They said they’re busy and there are no one they can send here.”
Charlize nodded. “I know Sixpence. I know they won’t come.”
Clark gently led Charlize back to the Land Rover and went back to collect Jakobus remains and carried them inside the house. He came back out and took Sixpence aside.
– “Sixpence, are you afraid?”
Sixpence nodded.
– “Sixpence, I made a mistake. I’m sorry for Jakobus. Had I stayed longer—”
Sixpence nodded, tears rolling down from his eyes.
– “Sixpence, you’re gonna have to take over for Jakobus. Do you think you can do that?”
He nodded.
– “You also need to tell the farmworkers and their families not to be afraid.”
A longer moment of hesitation then another nod.
– “Sixpence, I will find the men who did this and put an end to the attacks on Hopeland.”
– “How?” Sixpence asked, “They were wearing masks.”
Clark hesitated. “Sixpence, you’re a Zulu. You know that animals can sense danger or follow a scent from miles away, right?”
He nodded.
– “Well, I can do that too and I can also see and hear things animals cannot.”
For the first time since the attack that night, Sixpence smiled.
Clark walked back to the Land Rover. “Stephen, why don’t you take Miss de Vries home. I’ll meet you back there in a while.”
– “But—”
– “Please Stephen. I’ll explain later.”
