‘There’s food for you here, you must stay.’

‘I’ve lived before without food. I know this land. You need someone to watch over you.’

Roeloff was touched by the offer.

‘I have nowhere to go.’

‘You have. We will go that way,’ he pointed north.

‘There’s nothing up there—except rock and sand and the bones of dead animals. And it’s too hot.’

‘But we’ll come to a river with trees, and animals coming right up to our feet. It’s the place where I was born. We can live there, Kudu, you and me.’

‘This is no time for imaginings.’

‘You’re right. It’s the time of your freedom. You’re lucky that this is happening when you are young.’

‘He’s talking nonsense again,’ Sanna said. ‘Don’t listen to him. Your father doesn’t mean what he says. He shouts now, tomorrow he forgets. Stay a few days, Roff, and wait for him to calm down. You can’t go out there to nothing. Twa’s used to eating lizards, you’re not.’

‘Go up to the house, Sanna, and fetch my clothes, my blankets, and my books. And make us a parcel of food.’

‘You are sure this is what you want to do?’

‘Yes.’

Vinkie had tears in her eyes as she stood there, then, not trusting herself to speak, she ran after Sanna and buried herself in her skirts.

‘We’ll need things for the road, Twa. Get my knife, then come to the barn and help me.’

‘Your brother took it.’

‘Get it from him.’

‘Not me,’ Twa shook his head. ‘He has the devil in him—he looks ready to kill. Everyone knows he did it, and he knows that we know.’

Roeloff took his sling from the wall and fitted a large stone into place. Twa followed him to the stable where David and three workers were trying to remove the dead stallion.

David winced when he saw the sling. He still limped from the time Roeloff had used it on him.

‘You wouldn’t dare!’

‘Give me my knife.’

‘Why don’t you take it,’ David challenged.

‘I said, give it to me.’

David looked at the blue eyes, dark with fury. He knew Roeloff wouldn’t hesitate to use the sling. He kicked something at his feet.

‘Over there.’

Roeloff picked up the knife and wiped it clean on his pants, then tucked it behind his belt. He walked away without looking at his brother.

Sanna and two other Koi-na women arrived with the clothes rolled up in a blanket, a parcel of food, and several books.

‘He said to give you this.’

‘I want nothing from him.’

‘Take it,’ Twa said. ‘We will need it.’

Roeloff took the gun.

‘Is Dorsbek ready?’ he asked Twa.

‘Yes. But how will we carry all this? The horse will carry the books and we will walk? Or you will ride and Twa will carry the books?’

Roeloff looked at the old hunter. He was clearly excited at the prospect of travelling.

‘All right. I’ll only take two books and leave the rest. Sanna, give this to Vinkie to keep for me.’

Sanna started to cry.

‘When will you come back, Roff?’

‘When he’s dead.’

‘Dead? That’s very hard. You mustn’t be hard like him.’

‘I’m of his making, not so? Ready, Twa?’ and he tucked the blanket roll firmly in place, balancing the load on the mare.

‘Where will I sit?’

‘You’ll sit behind me, or run if you don’t stop asking me questions.’

Twa looked towards the people seeing them off.

‘We haven’t left yet, and already he’s ordering Twa around.’

Someone gave Twa a piece of tobacco; another, a special stone for good luck. Then Roeloff hugged the woman who had looked after him all his life.

‘You must take care of Tinktinkie.’

Sanna wiped the tears from her face with a corner of her dress.

‘Come back, Roff. Kloot’s Nek won’t be the same without you.’

The women cried openly as they rode off, the children running after them until their figures got smaller and smaller and eventually blended into the bush and rock.