The golden valley Page 6

  CHAPTER VI

  IT was late afternoon as Sally, Kay and Douglas sat on the verandah and Malcolm White and Piet McSeveney parked their Land Rover and almost Piet, at any rate stumbled on to the verandah, looking tired and angry. Douglas was on his feet at once. "What happened?" he asked, for Malcolm White's shirt was torn and burned, while Piet's face was scratched and blackened and his shorts scorched. "Nothing much," Malcolm said, "that a bath and a strong drink won't help. Just a fire." "A fire?" Sally echoed. "In the valley?" Malcolm White tugged at his small beard. "Fortun ately, no," he said. "It's up near the kraals." "But how did it happen?" Sally asked. Malcolm shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe I forgot to stamp out my cigarette before I threw it away. Perhaps Piet . . ." Piet's heavy flushed face turned an angry red. "You know darned well it wasn't me!" He stumped off down the verandah towards the house. Sally ran after him. "Is it near Chief Keremido's kraal?" she asked. Piet loomed over her like a wounded buffalo. "Yes so what?" he growled. "The Chief will be furious . . ." "Quit fussing. Sally," Malcolm White called out. "The Xhosas'll fight it before it gets to their kraals." Sally took no notice, she looked at Piet. "Will it be too late?" she asked simply. He rubbed his hand wearily over his face. "We tried to stamp it out," he said. "I did my best, 88 THE GOLDEN VALLEY but I'm getting too old to fight . . ." He paused, looking down at her. "Fires . . ." he added, as if as an afterthought. "I think I'll take a bath." "Don't be too long, Piet, and then come and have a beer. That'll make you feel better," Malcolm called out. As they went into the house. Sally hesitated, for Piet seemed about to say something as he swayed near her, obviously exhausted. "I wish I'd never started this," Piet said suddenly in a low voice that shocked Sally with its savage anger. "If I'd known what it was going to be like . . ." He stumped off heavily down the corridor towards his room. Sally staring after him. What had he meant? That he hated strangers in his house, altering his life? Piet, who had lived in East Griqualand all his life, would know only too well the trouble that might be caused by such a fire especially if the truth came out, and it was discovered that it was started by carelessness. Or was it ... Sally suddenly wondered, her hand flying to her mouth. Yet why would Malcolm White want to start a fire? She turned to the telephone. They were on a party line and she said, "Busy," in an enquiring voice just as Douglas walked up to her. "What are you doing. Sally?" he asked sharply. "Jonathan is the fire warden for the valley, I heard at the dance the other night," she told him. "He may not have heard about the fire." Douglas nodded. "Good. Be back in a moment," he said, hurrying down the corridor to his room. "Could you put me through to Mr. Nesfield it's urgent," Sally asked, wondering how many inquisitive ears were listening along the line. She was through in a surprisingly short time. She heard Jonathan's voice. THE GOLDEN VALLEY "Oh, thank goodness you're in," she began breathlessly. "Jonathan, there's a fire near Chief Keremido's kraal and . . ." "I've already been notified, thanks," Jonathan said, his voice like particles of ice. "Your beloved boss, I understand. He deliberately started it to clear an area." "Oh no!" Sally began in dismay. So, she thought, her intuition had been right. Piet was disgusted because of what Malcolm White had done. But why had he started a fire what had he wanted to "clear away"? she wondered. She went back to the verandah. Malcolm was relaxed in a chair, drinking. He looked up. "Now what?" he asked. Sally took a deep breath. "Jonathan Nesfield is the fire warden of the valley. He says you started the fire." "Me?" Malcolm looked innocent. "Why should I?" "He said you were trying to clear an area . . ." Malcolm was on his feet. "That a lie! I was just trying to see if there were any bush paintings inside the cave." "The caves?" Sally echoed. "But you mustn't violate them, Mr. White. The Xhosas revere their dead, and . . ." Malcolm walked to the table and filled his glass. He spoke over his shoulder. "They'll have a tough time proving it." Sally stared at him and then turned into the house. In the kitchen she found Santosi and told him what had happened but not how it had happened. "Round up the staff," she said curtly, "and get in the Land Rover." "We'll bring wet sacks?" Santosi asked, and when she nodded, he turned away. Obviously he was used to what Aunt Gabby would have called "the drill," Sally thought, as she hurried to her bedroom and changed THE GOLDEN VALLEY into her oldest pair of slacks and wrapped a scarf round her head. She wondered what her aunt would think if she could see her. Luckily for everyone. Aunt Gabby never fussed, but you had only to look at her eyes to see when she was worried. Back on the verandah, she found Malcolm White had vanished and Kay stared at her in amazement. "Where on earth are you going. Sally?" Kay asked, her legs tucked under her as she turned the pages of a magazine. "To fight the fire. When I was with Dad in New Guinea we often had to," Sally said curtly. 'You're out of your mind," said Kay. "Besides, Jonathan will think you're chasing him." Sally laughed, a short hard sound. "He's too angry to bother about things like that. Besides, it's everyone's bounden duty to help fight fires." Douglas walked out of the door. He, too, had changed into old clothes. "Better get cracking," he said curtly. "I'll drive . . . Got the boys in?" "Douglas!" Kay wailed. "I thought you were going lo teach me to play bridge?" He looked at her. "Some other time," he said, takingSally's arm and hurrying her to the Land Rover. The back of it was packed with Xhosas. Sally recognised Petrus' face and smiled at him he lifted his hand in greeting as she climbed into the front cab by Douglas' side. Douglas drove fast, yet it seemed to take hours, the Land Rover jolting and jerking over the corrugations, dipping into dry drifts, struggling up the steep rutted banks opposite. "It would have to happen before the rains," Douglas said curtly, "These things always do." He looked down at her. "I don't think your friend, Mr. Nesfield, is going to be too pleased to see you," he said dryly. THE GOLDEN VALLEY Sally was clinging to the door of the Land Rover, gazing ahead at the bright red glow in the darkening sky. "I couldn't care less," she said. "I'm not thinking about Jonathan, Douglas, I'm worried about the poor wretches who may lose everything they own if we can't stop it in time." The Land Rover dipped into a tree-filled hollow so that the red glow was no longer visible, but in fifteen minutes, as they came out, suddenly rearing up a steep slope on to the top of the mountains, they could see the fire and hear its roaring crackle as the dry grass blazed and the flames leapt across the road from tree to tree, giving small violent explosions as bursts of flame lit the dark sky. "There's a nasty wind," Sally said, as the Land Rover slowed up to join a group of vehicles parked round a big blue car. "What the devil . . ." an angry voice began as Sally slid out, turning to the Xhosas and telling them to getout. Jonathan in the half-light looked more stern than Sally had ever seen him, but she faced him. "We've come to help," she said with equal curtness. "I've brought some of the staff and we've got wet sacks. Which part shall we tackle, Jonathan, and oughtn't we to. start burning back in case the wind changes?" He looked down at her and his mouth was a thin line as if he dared not relax or he might explode. His hands on her shoulders, he turned her roughly to the Land Rover. "We want no women here," he said. Sally wriggled free. "Can't you forget for once that I'm a woman?" she asked. "I've fought fires before . . . I'm not scared . . ." "But I am," said Jonathan. He held her tightly so that she could not escape, then looked at the group of THE GOLDEN VALLEY Xhosas waiting. He spoke in their tongue and they rapidly dispersed, then looked at Douglas. "I'll get them back later. Now take this . . . this little tool home and if necessary, lock her up," he ordered, his voice unsteady. Perhaps he had relaxed for a second, but Sally managed to free herself. She grabbed one of the wet sacks the Xhosas had thrown out of the Land Rover and rushed towards some flames that were creeping nearer them. She lifted the sack and began to beat . . . In the same moment a rough hand tore the sack from her fingers and picked her up off the ground, carrying her as she fought and struggled in his arms, back to the Land Rover. Suddenly Sally saw that they were not alone. There were a number of men standing near their cars as well as lots of Xhosas, and they were all watching the little scene with obvious amusement. It was no good, she told herself unhappily. Jonathan would never trust he
r, never let her try to help she was only making a fool of herself. She relaxed and lay still in his arms as he carried her across the rough earth. Douglas was waiting, the engine running, but he was carefully looking the other way as Jonathan lifted her into the Land Rover. He did not release her at once. His arms were warm and tight round her. "Sally," he said quietly in her ear, "we'd be more worried if I let you stay, so it will help us more if you go home." Was it her imaginiation, she wondered, or was that the touch of his mouth on her cheek as he whispered, "All the same. Sally, thanks for trying to help. I appreciate it." And then he let go of her and stepped back, telling Douglas curtly to be on his way, and Sally saw Jonathan's THE GOLDEN VALLEY big arrogant form marching off towards the flames, his voice ringing out as he gave orders. Sally curled up silently in the corner of the Land Rover. Douglas, when they got back to the house, marched Sally off to her bedroom. "I'll bring you a hot drink and something to eat in fifteen minutes," he said. "First, I'll take a look at old Piet. He got pretty badly burned, you know." "He did?" Sally cried in dismay. "I didn't know he didn't say." "He's not the kind to moan," Douglas told her. "I noticed the way he was holding his arm. I bandaged it up, but I'm not too happy." "I'm all right, Douglas," she said. "I'll organise something to eat and . . ." She saw him hesitate and so she smiled ruefully. "I know when I'm beaten, Douglas. I promise I won't go back to fight the fire." Douglas smiled. "In that case, go ahead. I wonder where the others are?" Dorcas, the Xhosa girl in the kitchen, told them that the boss and young miss had driven into Ubito and that Boss Piet was in bed. Enjoying the meal Dorcas prepared for them. Sally and Douglas talked about the fire, after Douglas had said Piet was sleeping. "I hope ... I hope they'll be all right," said Sally. Douglas smiled. "Jonathan's used to fighting fires," he said, and added: "Isn't he? Else they wouldn't have made him fire warden." Sally crumbled a piece of bread. "Fires are such frightening things." "They are." "Especially if you're not used to them," she went on, looking at him. Douglas smiled wryly. "Are you trying to make excuses for Mr. White, now?" THE GOLDEN VALLEY "No, of course not," she said quickly. "But . . . but it seems such an odd way to behave. I mean, to run the risk of starting a fire . . ." "What was he looking for?" "Bushman drawings in the caves." Douglas frowned. "There are no bushmen here, are there?" "No, but I suppose he thought they might have lived here once and . . . What I can't understand Douglas, is his absolute indifference as to what happened afterwards. I mean, how could he and Kay just go off to Ubito like that?" "Maybe his conscience pricked or Kay nagged him." Sally laughed. "Kay could never make him do what he doesn't want to do. He's not that kind of father." Douglas stared at her. "Then why, when Kay nagged him, did he give me this job?" he asked. "I've often wondered," Sally said, as they took their coffee out to the verandah. "I've also wondered why you took it," she added. Douglas stretched himself full length on the wicker couch. "I took it for a simple reason." "Kay?" Douglas laughed. "No, you." Sally was really startled. "Me? But. .." Douglas sat up abruptly and looked at her. "Yes, you. I was at a loose end. Sally, for I've got six months in which to rest I've been quite ill, actually, but we won't discuss that and then Malcolm White offered me the job. The salary is ridiculously low, but then I still haven't found out what my 'job' is. Well," he laughed, "I took it because I thought it would be nice to have you around for six months." Sally laughed. "What an imagination! I'm not prying, Douglas, but you're a doctor, aren't you?" THE GOLDEN VALLEY "In a way," he said slowly. "In a way." He stood up. "Poor old Piet was in quite bad pain. If he's no better tomorrow, I think he should go into hospital." Sally got up. "I can take a hint," she said with a smile. "Time for bed. You know, Douglas," she said, as they walked down the corridor together, "it's a strange thing. I thought Piet was the utter end when I first met him, but now I find I'm beginning to like him." Douglas grinned. "I know. He kind of grows on you." He looked down at Sally thoughtfully. "Am I the kind that does. Sally?" he asked. "The kind that does what?" Douglas sighed. "Forget it obviously I'm not," he said. "See you at breakfast and. Sally, don't worry about the fire. Jonathan'11 cope." In her own room. Sally went to the window. There was a distant pinkish glow in the sky. Yes, Jonathan could cope, she knew that. But suppose he got badly burned while coping? Was that why he had refused to let her help? Fighting fires was always hazardous and you rarely escaped without some burns. As she slowly undressed, she remembered the moment when she lay in Jonathan's arms, fighting like a frightened child. How strong his arms were. She had been utterly helpless and yet she would have gone on fighting him had they been alone. Jonathan thought that he could give orders and everyone must leap to obey them. Well - . . she began to think angrily, and then her anger seemed to collapse as she remembered that incredible moment when his mouth had brushed her cheek and he had thanked her in that warm, gentle voice. In bed, she hugged her pillow tightly, praying silently that Jonathan would not be hurt, and adding hastily to her prayer that no one else be hurt, either. Piet was at breakfast, but was in so much obvious pain, though he constantly denied it, that Douglas drove him THE GOLDEN VALLEY in to Ubito to see the doctor. Malcolm White was in an apologetic mood and sought out Sally. "I realise now it was stupid," he said, tugging at his small black beard. "Piet was against it and I should have listened to the advice of a veteran. I'm afraid the fire gave me a nasty scare. I hear your action was much appreciated. Sally." Sally stared at him. "My action ?" He nodded. "They were talking about it at the Club. Some of the men came on there after the worst of the fire was over. They said you fought like a tiger." Sally coloured. "I was livid with Jonathan." Malcolm gave an odd smile. "That I gather. I also gather that he held you in his arms for considerably longer than was absolutely necessary." "He did not . . ." Sally began, but Malcolm White waved his hand. "The point is that obviously Jonathan Nesfield is impressed by you. Sally, and that is a big help," he said. Sally stared at him, at his narrow eyes, his sallow skin and dramatic little beard. What could it help? she wondered. "I only hope Chief Keremido won't hold the fire against us," she said. Malcolm's face lit up. "I wrote him an apology and offered to pay for any damage caused by the fire." Sally smiled. "I'm glad you did that," she said. "I also mentioned that you had done your best to help," Malcolm White continued with a smile, "so that should please him. It was a clever gesture on your part, Sally. I wish I'd been bright enough to think it up." He looked at his watch. "I have a couple of men coming to see me today, so if you and Kay like to go into town ..." "I don't think so, thanks," said Sally, suddenly finding it hard to speak. He had distorted the whole thing. THE GOLDEN VALLE1; She had gone to help fight the fire it had not been a "gesture." "Well, talk it over with Kay," sa.id Malcolm, and went into his study. Kay did all the talking. "I promised Ylonde yesterday that I'd go in today and you know I can't drive. Dad's given you the day off, so why must you be so mean?" she said. In the end. Sally gave way. She left Kay at the Club and went and spent a pleasant couple of hours with Jacobus. He, of course, knew all about the fire. "And you the little wild cat?" Jacobus asked, his eyes twinkling. Sally blushed. "It seems to be all over the town." "But of course," Jacobus rubbed his hands together and laughed. "Miss Maddox this is something that will not please her, yes? You, the brave warrior . . ." He lifted his finger in warning. "Sally, listen, I beg of you. Do not misjudge Miss Maddox. She is like a peach outside it is soft and sweet-smelling, but sometimes, when you open it bah! What you see? I need not tell you, but something that will sting." Sally laughed. "I think I made a fool of myself. Everyone is laughing at me," she said ruefully. Jacobus lifted his hand again. "Ah, but that is not so. They are laughing with you not at you. There is, my child, a very great difference." Sally drove to the Club to meet Kay. She could not find her at first until the neat-looking woman in the reception desk said Kay was lunching with Miss Maddox. "Miss Maddox asked me to tell you, and to ask you to join them," she added. Sally hurried into the small cloakroom and combed out her hair, untying the string that had tied it into a pony-tail, and letting her hair hang to her should
ers THE GOLDEN VALLEY where it slightly curled. Carefully she made up, then turned round in front of the mirror. She had worn her most expensive pair of slacks today, and was not too worried about what she saw. She gave her reflection in the mirror a last long look and told herself not to be a fool. Just smile and keep up your chin, she told herself, you've only yourself to thank for the whole fuss. Walking across the Club room floor, many of the members smiled and spoke to her, and she saw the amused curiosity in their eyes. But it was even worse as she joined Kay and Cynthia at a table on the verandah. 'Ah, our heroine!" Cynthia greeted her with a smile. Cynthia wore a suit of deep wine-red linen and a Breton sailor hat to match. As usual, she looked perfect. Kay's cheeks were flushed and her hair dishevelled slightly, but her eyes were bright. "Sally, you never told me about fighting Jonathan and being carried struggling in his arms to the car," she said. Kay's voice was clear and loud and Sally guessed that most of the other people in the room were listening. It made her cheeks burn still more as she sat down. "That's rather an exaggeration," she said as lightly as she could. Cynthia's beautifully-shaped eyebrows lifted. "Was it? I gather Jonathan was greatly impressed by your courage." Sally laughed. "I didn't get that impression." Cynthia leaned forward, her dark eyes suddenly cold. "Exactly what impression did you get?" she asked. Sally looked at her. "That I was behaving like a fool and he was mad at me," she said bluntly. "Jonathan has a thing about women he seems to think we should sit back and leave everything to strong brave men. We're just puppets to be pushed around." She was startled by the bitterness in her voice, but she realised it was true. What she disliked about Jonathan was his assumption THE GOLDEN VALLEY that man was powerful and woman weak and that was the way he wanted it. It was absurd. Cynthia was smiling. "My poor Sally, what a mixed- up child you are, to be sure," she said gently. "Don't you realise that's the way it should be? The way men want it and we should accept it? A man likes to be masculine and his women feminine. If you hope to get married one day you must accept that. Jonathan likes . . ." Sally closed her eyes for a second, but found it impossible to keep her mouth closed. "I couldn't care less," she said violently, "what Jonathan likes!" At the same moment the chair next to her was pulled out, and as Sally turned, startled, she saw that Jonathan was sitting by her side. He looked at her grimly. "You've no need to shout it aloud for the whole Club to hear, for you've made it obvious just what you think of me," he said coldly. Cynthia leaned forward and touched his hand lightly. "Jonathan, don't scold poor Sally. She meant well," she said softly. "Fools step in where angels . . ." Jonathan began. Sally looked at him. "Piet was badly burned," she said. "Douglas had to take him to the hospital this morning." Jonathan frowned. "Is that so? I'll call in later." He glanced at his watch. "Have you folk ordered or shall I?" "You, please, Jonathan," Cynthia said meekly, her eyes amused as she glanced at Sally's red face. "Was ... did ..." Sally began. Jonathan turned to stare at her. He looked as if he had just stepped out from under a shower. His skin was so clean, his fair hair still damp, his khaki bush jacket and trousers immaculate. He waited until Sally found the right words. THE GOLDEN VALLEY "Was anyone badly hurt?" she asked. He shook his head. "Fortunately no. We soon got it under control. The wind you feared died down." "That was good." "Quite. It might have been much worse. A few old huts were burned down, but nothing serious." "Is ... is the Chief back yet? Is he very angry?" Sally asked nervously. "I . . ." Jonathan looked at her coldly. "He is back and he is not angry. I understand Mr. White apologised and also told him that you had done your best to fight the fire." "I d.id nothing!" Sally cried quickly. She was startled when Jonathan's face relaxed into a smile. "On the contrary. Sally, you did a great deal. You showed us that a girl has courage and you also gave us a " "Good laugh," Sally said bitterly. "Next time there's a fire I'll look the other way." He frowned. "Now you're being stupid," he said. "The whole point was this. It was night time and there's a lot of bush up there where a stranger can get lost. We'd have had to spend half our time checking that you were all right. Had it been daylight I'd have let you help." Sally looked at him. "Would you?" He nodded. "Why not?" He turned and called to a waiter, glancing again at his watch. "I've got a busy afternoon ahead of me," he said. The conversation became general with Kay and Cynthia talking to Jonathan and Sally sitting quietly. Why hadn't she realised that was the reason for Jonathan's anger? she asked herself. How could she have been fool enough to think it was because he was afraid she might get hurt?