By evening, Willem and David, smelling of hair pomade and carbolic soap, sat stiff and grand with a half-naked Roeloff on the stoep drinking brandy, watching the Joubert wagon approach.

‘Go wash yourself, man. I’ve told you three times now,’ Willem Kloot said. ‘You stink. Don’t let the Joubert women see you like this.’

The sensibilities of the Joubert women were Roeloff’s last concern. Sweaty and foul-smelling from the heat and grime of the veld, the fatigue of the journey had claimed him. Already the clouds dancing overhead made him want to close his eyes and just drift off.

‘Did you hear what I said?’

Roeloff tipped the last drops into his mouth.

‘Don’t worry, Pa, I’ll make myself scarce in a minute. I won’t embarrass the family.’

David recognised the grumpiness. One more drink and Roeloff would grunt like an aardvark.

‘More?’

‘Yes,’ Roeloff smiled, holding out his mug. Right then he was enormously fond of his brother, even though a part of him registered that David wanted him drunk.

‘Don’t give him more to drink. Here they come. Go on—get a move on, now!’

Roeloff grinned. The wagon was dancing crazily in front of him, making him dizzy. The brandy had had such an effect that tensing his facial muscles was an effort. He had a tremendous urge to urinate in front of the guests.

The wagon came to a halt. Elsie Joubert’s thin lips moved in prayer when she saw Roeloff, dirty and in a state of undress, waver uncertainly on the top step of the stoep, not knowing if he should come forward, or turn back into the house.

‘Hello, Roeloff,’ Diena said, stepping up. ‘So you got back safely, then.’

‘Safely.’ He gave a hollow laugh, nodding a greeting at Oom Jan and his wife. ‘Soela.’ His lips curved into a wicked smile.

Soela blushed and walked hurriedly past him onto the stoep where her mother ushered her into the house.

‘Did you get the sheep?’ Joubert asked.

‘He brought them back, yes,’ Willem Kloot answered when there was no response from his son. ‘They got back this afternoon. Try some of this.’ He poured brandy into a mug.

Joubert took a swallow and blinked.

‘Magtig! This stuff’s better than Retief’s! What’s the occasion?’

Willem laughed.

‘David and Soela. The return of the sheep.’

‘He didn’t bring them all,’ David said.

‘How many were stolen?’

‘Twelve. He brought back ten.’

‘What happened to the others?’ Joubert asked.

Roeloff went into the house without glancing at him.

‘Don’t take it personally,’ Willem said. ‘He gets like that. He and brandy don’t mix. The bosjesmans ate two of the sheep. The important thing is, he got the rest back.’

‘How did he manage to do it?’

‘He reasoned with them, if you can believe that.’

‘And they gave the sheep back, just like that?’

‘That’s what he says. Never lifted his gun.’

‘You don’t believe him, Pa, do you?’

‘Of course I believe him.’

‘Me, too,’ Joubert said. ‘He has a recklessness that takes courage. But you should trust a savage only as far as you can smell him.’

‘That would be quite a distance, then,’ David laughed. ‘One of them was that thief he set free years ago. Remember him, the one Pa said you could have?’

‘What?’

‘Apparently, they met again the night of Pa’s wedding. When they came for the girl.’

‘They had the nerve to come back for the girl?’

‘Yes.’

Joubert finished his drink in one swallow.

‘Who would have thought the Karoo such a small place? But he did the right thing.’

David was taken aback.

‘You’re saying they have honour?’

‘I don’t think they have a straight bone in their bodies, but I think they’ll keep their word to him. Are they the same ones who stole from me?’

‘He says not, but I don’t believe him. He lied about the tracks, because he wanted us to go in the wrong direction.’

Joubert turned to Willem. ‘Willem?’

Willem Kloot raised his drink to his mouth.

‘You don’t know with Roff. He lied about the tracks because he didn’t want us to go with him. I let him go. It worked out.’

‘Maybe we should pay them a visit.’

‘What good would that do? The sheep will be long gone. He’s extracted a promise from them.’