‘One of the thieves was the bosjesman I cut loose years ago,’ said Roeloff.

‘What? How did you know it was him?’

‘I saw him again when they came for Zokho.’

‘I thought Zokho ran away.’

‘They came the night of your wedding and took her.’

‘You didn’t tell me.’

‘I didn’t want to spoil things. They came unexpectedly.’

David smiled. ‘I said he knew more about that bosjesman girl. It was too easy, the way she just disappeared.’

‘I knew nothing.’

‘You know, if you hadn’t set him free, this wouldn’t have happened,’ Willem said.

‘They are not the only group out there, Pa. Why do you think they didn’t kill us that night? It’s because of Toma, because of what I did.’

‘You know his name.’

‘I know them, and they know me, and they all know each other. They split up during the year, and come together again when food’s plentiful. If we killed one lot, another would come. It’s better to reason with them. Setting Toma free gave us the chance to speak.’

‘You can’t reason with a bosjesman,’ David said. ‘He has no conscience.’

‘I did, and here’s the result. They gave back the sheep. No one got hurt. Now you know why I didn’t want you along. You lose your head, and next week, next month, we lose more sheep. Maybe even our lives. Where will it end?’

‘When we show them who’s boss,’ Willem said.

‘No, Pa. As long as there’s drought and no game, they’ll come for the farmers’ sheep. The best we can hope for is that it rains, or that they go somewhere else to find food.’

‘Somewhere else is everyone we know. The Jouberts, the Steenkamps, the Retiefs, a few others.’

‘We can’t worry about the neighbours. They must take care of their own.’

‘There are only ten sheep here. Where’s the rest?’

‘They ate it.’

‘They killed two sheep in two days?’ David asked incredulously.

‘Didn’t you say they were savages?’

‘You probably gave it to them.’

Roeloff didn’t bother to answer his brother. He was tired and dirty, and all he wanted to do was stable his stallion and go inside to sleep.

‘Were they the ones who stole from Oom Jan?’ Willem asked.

‘No.’

‘How do you know?’

‘I asked.’

‘And took them at their word.’

‘They knew I would do nothing, whether they had stolen from him or not. They had no reason to lie.’

‘Because you don’t really care for Oom Jan, do you,’ David accused. ‘Not for any of the Jouberts, except maybe one who pays no attention to you.’

Roeloff looked at him, then gave a short laugh.

‘What’s that laugh for? It’s true, isn’t it?’

Roeloff started to unsaddle Boerhaan.

‘She’s with you because I won’t have her.’

David came forward to strike him, and Willem stepped quickly between his sons.

‘That’s enough! For God’s sake, what’s the matter with you two? You haven’t seen each other in weeks and the first thing you do is fight. The Jouberts are coming to have a meal with us. You know why they’re coming—a special occasion. It’s the engagement supper tonight. Go inside and clean yourself up, Roff. There’s water for baths. You go first.’

Having the first bath was an honour. The water was hot and the tub clean.

‘I’m too tired,’ and he started to walk away with Boerhaan.

‘Roeloff?’

It was seldom his father called him by his full name.

‘Yes, Pa?’

‘If we don’t stand together as whites, we won’t last. You can count on Oom Jan, no matter what his manner is. We’re all in this together.’

‘He’s also one who goes into his Koi-na’s huts at night.’

‘What?’

Roeloff smiled.

‘Take a look at the servant’s baby. His hair’s straighter than yours. They even call him Kleinjan.’

David watched with satisfaction. It was only a matter of time before his father lost patience with Roeloff.

But David was wrong. Willem’s mood held. What Willem hadn’t said was that he’d regretted sending Roeloff and Twa off on their own. He’d put Roeloff at risk, knowing the hunters’ readiness with the arrow, and the disadvantage of a gun that needed reloading after every shot. David, by his stubborn strength, would survive in the veld. Roeloff relied more on instinct than strength. His courage was dangerous.