The golden valley Read online

  CHAPTER IX

  MALCOLM startled Sally by a question at breakfast. "Has Jonathan Nesfield ever mentioned a family called the Lants?" he asked. Sally stiffened, staring at him. The Lants, she remembered, were the couple from St. Helena who had looked after Ouma's parents' farm when they had to flee. But surely those Lants would be dead long ago. Sally told herself. "I don't remember the name," she said, and knew that she lied. She glanced at Piet McSeveney sitting silently as he ate solidly through a meal that might have staggered several men. His face was set in miserable lines, his mouth downcast, his heavy shoulders hunched forward. She knew a moment of sympathy. Was Piet suffering from his conscience now, realising the terrible thing he was doing that he planned and did still plan to steal the family "treasure"? Perhaps he felt he had a right to it. "If you get the chance, ask Jonathan about them," Malcolm said. "The grandparents lived here years ago," he went on, "and have probably told their descendants many legends about the Xhosas and ... well," he finished, looking at Sally who was staring at him gravely, "I thought it might be an interesting addition to the book. At that time, there was a big local uprising . . ." It all fitted in with what Jonathan had told her. Sally thought. Ouma's parents escaping, leaving the Lants in charge then almost certainly they had trusted the Lants 127 THE GOLDEN VALLEY with the secret of the treasure, knowing it would be safe in the birthplace of the tokoloshe. And that was why Malcolm White wanted to talk to them. "I doubt very much if Jonathan will ever speak to me again," Sally said crisply. "The last time I saw him, I called him a liar." She stood up, scraping her heavy chair on the polished floor, well aware of Malcolm's dismayed look, Kay's amusement and Douglas's concern. Only Piet had taken no notice, so busy was he shovelling food into his mouth. He seemed to be eating more than ever. Sally thought, and knew another moment of pity for him. She had heard that unhappy people eat to comfort themselves. Malcolm followed Sally to her little office. "Something troubling you?" he asked, his small dark eyes bright as he looked at her and tugged at his black beard with one hand. Sally made herself smile. "Just a bit annoyed with Jonathan, that's all," she said. "But it will pass." She knew a moment of fear as Malcolm's eyes became slits and he said, "It had better." He turned away, and Sally knew that Malcolm must never discover that she knew the truth. She would have to invent a reason for leaving her job before it was finished. Perhaps Aunt Gabby could be ill or something. She decided to work at the book that would never be finished. As she typed, she tried to plan her departure. After all, Malcolm had used her, so now he no longer really needed her, but she was thinking, if he knew the truth . . . She shivered. Kay drifted in and out again, she and Douglas were going to some ancient ruin to take photos of it, but they would be back that evening. That afternoon. Sally was free to slip down to the river. Netta was waiting for her, her face eager. THE GOLDEN VALLEY "You do want to know what the treasure is. Sally?" Netta asked eagerly. Sally sat down. How could she tell Netta that she was going to leave? She was the girl's only link with the outside world. Another decision Sally had made was to have things out with Jonathan before she left. She would tell him how cruel, how inhuman and stupid it was to shut a seventeen-year-old girl up like this and "Sally," Netta said eagerly, "I'm talking to you." "Sorry, Netta, I was thinking," said Sally. "I was wondering how we could arrange to meet. I can't bring the Land Rover here . . ." Netta's face was bright with excitement. "You really mean you're going to? When?" "I can't guarantee any particular day, but if you could say which days suited you then we could arrange to meet, if I can get away . . ." Sally spoke gravely. "You've got to understand, Netta, that I can't just walk off with a Land Rover whenever I want one. We have three, but one or other of them is always breaking down. So if I arrange to meet you and don't turn up, you'll know it's because I can't. . ." Netta was watching her intently. "And not because you won't," she said. "I understand. Sally, but do try. Do try very very hard." "I will. I promise you." Netta hugged her knees, resting her pointed chin on them, her face thoughtful. "Tomorrow would be a good day if it isn't too soon. Sally. Ouma goes to town to see the doctor and no one will notice it I'm away a few hours. Sally, d'you remember the signpost?" she giggled, and looked at Sally through her long lashes. "I could meet you there. It's not far, for I know a short cut from the house. I'll hide until I see you stop there." "That's fine. I'll try and make it as soon after lunch as I can," Sally promised. "Netta, I don't think THE GOLDEN VALLEY we should go right into Ubito Ouma might see us and . . ." "Just take me anywhere. Sally. If we got on the Ubito road, I can see the houses in the distance and know what a town looks like." Sally smiled, but there was something sad about Netta's wistfulness. Why should the child be denied the right to see the world and meet people? As if able to read Sally's thoughts, Netta went on: "When Jonathan marries me, I'm going to make him build me a big house and we'll give parties, and you must come and stay. Sally." Sally smiled. "I'd love to, but I expect I'll be back in England by then." "I'll be eighteen in eight months' time. Sally. Can't you wait that long?" Netta asked. "Are you marrying when you're eighteen?" Netta nodded. "I'll have waited long enough." Sally stood up. "All right then, Netta tomorrow afternoon if I can make it." Netta beamed happily. "I just can't wait. Sally. I'm so thrilled. I'll never be able to thank you enough," she said. Sally walked back to the house slowly. Now her mind was made up that she must leave, she felt impatient, like Netta. Tomorrow, if all went well, she decided, she would take Netta for a drive, then she would ring Jonathan and ask him to meet her and she would tell him just what she thought of his treatment of Netta. She looked up at the monkeys chattering and realised that she was going to be sorry to leave this land. She wished the book could be written for she felt a deep interest in the Xhosa people. But she couldn't work for Malcolm White, now she knew what he planned to do that he was a thief. THE GOLDEN VALLEY Everything seemed to be working well for her plans, Sally thought, as she drove to meet Netta, for Malcolm had announced he was going to look up some friends, and Douglas and Kay were in Ubito playing golf. Sally had pleaded work and stayed at home. Piet was sleeping noisily on the couch on the verandah as she passed him quietly and went to the Land Rover. Now as she drove up the steep little rise to the rickety signpost. Sally found herself hoping that Netta would not be disappointed in what she called "the world," for it was not a fair sample of what lay in the real world outside. As Sally slowed up, Netta slipped out between the trees. Her face was radiant, her hair tied back, her eyes shining. She wore one of her usual long frocks, but had tied a bright blue ribbon round her waist and pouched the bodice over it to make the frock shorter. She sat in the Land Rover and asked Sally about the engine and the gears. "Will you teach me to drive one day. Sally?" she said eagerly. "Then I could be really independent." As the road twisted and turned on the steep mountainside, Netta kept asking Sally to stop so that she could look at the view. They gazed down at the valley, but could see nothing but the tops of the dense trees. Later they saw waterfalls with pathetic dribbles of water, and as they reached the top of the mountain road, Netta could see the straight road that lay ahead, and which gave glimpses of the valley the other side where a shallow river wandered and there were groups of thatched huts. "It's not as exciting as I thought," Netta confessed, tucking her feet under her skirt and looking at Sally. "You wait until you see the real world," Sally said, and began to tell Netta about Greece and the lovely islands, Switzerland and the Alps with their snowy tops reflected in the deep blue lakes. New Guinea with its strange THE GOLDEN VALLEY inhabitants, who were still primitive. "There's so much for you to see, Netta," she told her. "Just try to be patient." Netta nodded. "I know. Jonathan will show me them all." The Land Rover jerked and jolted over the ruts, but Netta enjoyed that. "I only wish I could drive," she said. Sally laughed. "You will, one day." Netta looked at her. "You're funny, Sally. Aren't you curious?" "Curious?" A herd of goats were running across the road, two baby ones skipping after their mothers, as Sally hastil braked. Animals in this country, she thought, were the biggest ha
zard to a motorist. The way the cattle were allowed to roam over the roads and the donkeys strolled along happily, not caring how much hooting of car horns went on. "What about?" Sally asked. Netta giggled. "The treasure, of course." Sally glanced at her watch. They must not be out too long or Ouma might pass them on the road. She reckoned that in fifteen minutes time they should turn back. "Oh yes," she said vaguely, "the treasure." "Well, it's a long story," Netta said, fidgeting until she was more comfortably settled close to Sally, "You know that Ouma's parents lived in the valley and had to run away when there was an uprising?" she said, looking at Sally, and saw Sally nod her head. "They left the Lants in charge," Netta went on. "Of course I never knew them, but I knew their daughter. She was quite old, but she talked a lot and told me that my great-grandparents, when they fled, had hidden the family jewels. They were put in a lead-lined chest and THE GOLDEN VALLEY buried deep in the ground " Netta giggled " under the tree where the tokoloshe was born. They knew none of the Xhosas would ever dare go there." "And it's still there?" Sally asked, manipulating a difficult turn in the narrow road. Netta giggled. "Yes, that's why Mr. White is here. You see. Sally, Uncle Piet got very drunk one day and told people about the family wealth and how it isn't to be dug out until I come of age. It might be diamonds, you see. Sally, or jewels. But it was left to me." She giggled. "It was put in the paper. Jonathan is sure your Mr. White heard of it and that's why he's here. I think it's terribly funny. I mean, I know lots of things that Jonathan and Ouma don't know I know and I have lots of fun laughing." "What's so funny?" Sally asked. "Mr. White hunting for the treasure and trying to search Ouma's land, and all the time it's on Uncle Piet's land," Netta said, giggling. "And the real truth . . ." Sally saw the car coming up behind them in the mirror. It was a big black car, being driven much too fast for these roads, she thought, just as round a blind corner, the view hidden by an overhanging cliff, a lorry came. The car coming up from behind was halfway past Sally before the driver could have seen the lorry. Sally braked hastily and swerved, and the driver of the black car accelerated, giving Sally a startled look and swerving in front of her as he sped past. The Land Rover bounced like a bucking bronco, hitting the boulders at the side of the road and suddenly coming to a stop. Netta had been flung on the floor and Sally had hurt her wrist as she tried to hold the steering wheel firmly. For a moment Sally sat still, shocked by the narrowness of their escape. Netta picked herself up and sat, her eyes bright with fright as she looked at Sally. 134 THE GOLDEN VALLEY "Are you all right, Netta?" Sally asked. "I ... I ... I don't know . . ." Netta turned and fumbled with the handle of the door and got out, stumbling to the road as Sally followed her. The driver of the lorry had stopped and was walking towards them. A huge man, his enormous paunch hanging over the edge of his baggy khaki slacks, his shirt open to show the black hairs on his chest, his face dirty and needing a shave, his voice concerned as he shouted: "Are you hurt?" Sally saw Netta stiffen stand as if frozen, her face terrified, and then Netta turned. "He'll kill me!" she screamed, and began to run up the road towards where the black car had stopped, and a tall thin man wearing a neat dark suit and sun-glasses walked towards them. Netta must have seen him, for she stopped running and looked round wildly as if trapped, and then darted like a frightened buck off the road, scrambling up the side of the hill, clawing at the thick tufty yellow grass, sobbing bitterly. Sally ran after her. "Netta, he's not going to hurt you. Netta, trust me!" she shouted. Netta turned and stared for a second, her face very white, her eyes huge and scared. "I mustn't trust anyone, Ouma says." She began to climb up and suddenly slipped, giving a terrified scream as she rolled down towards the road and hit a boulder. Sally ran to kneel by Netta's side. She was unconscious, a cut on the side of her face from where she had hit a rock. The huge lorry driver loomed above them. "What she want to do a crazy thing like that for?" he asked Sally in an offended tone. "Why did she think I was going to kill her?" He jerked his head at the man THE GOLDEN VALLEY with the dark glasses who was walking towards them. "Now, if she'd shouted that at him, it'd have made more sense." Sally sat back, suddenly conscious that her right wrist was painful. She held it tightly with her left hand and looked up at the man as he reached them, taking off his glasses, gazing down worriedly at Netta. "What happened?" he asked. "I stopped as soon as I could and you both seemed all right. What made her go careering off down the road like a mad thing?" "She was scared," Sally explained. "Scared of what? Me?" the lorry driver mumbled. Sally's eyes filled with tears. She was shivering and her hands began to tremble. "She's never seen a stranger before or been outside the valley. She's been told men will kill her . . ." she began, and suddenly realised what she was saying. Distressed at what she'd already said, yet knowing there was nothing to be done about it, she looked at the driver of the black car. "I'm afraid to move her in case she's broken anything. Could you get to a doctor? In ten minutes you should be at Ubito and . . . Maybe Netta's just fainted, but ..." "Netta?" the man echoed, putting on his dark glasses, his voice odd. "Netta who?" "Netta . . . Netta . . ." Sally rubbed her hand over her face wearily. It was silly, but she didn't know Netta's surname, she realised. "She's Mrs. McSeveney's granddaughter." "Oh, I know! " the man said. Sally looked at him. Would it be any good, she wondered, to ask him not to tell anyone about it? Nor to repeat her careless words about Netta never having been out of the valley before. He turned away. "I'll have a doctor and ambulance out here within half an hour. It's best not to move her," THE GOLDEN VALLEY he sa.id crisply, turning to walk to his car and driving away. Sally sat back on her heels and sighed. It was too late, in any case, even if she could have been sure he would not repeat what she had said. Perhaps, she thought, asking him not to would have made him more curious still. In any case, she tried to comfort herself, everyone knew that Mrs. McSeveney had a granddaughter no one had ever seen, and everyone said, according to Cynthia, that Netta was mad. Sally caught her breath in dismay. This would only make the gossip worse. Why, oh, why, Sally thought, trying not to cry, had she given way to Netta and brought her for a drive? The lorry driver squatted down by her side. "Don't take on so, miss," he said worriedly. "She'll be all right. She didn't hit the rock very hard, you know." Sally tried to smile. "Maybe I'm fussing, but she looks so white . . ." Her hands were shaking as she tried to make a pad of her handkerchief as she had seen Douglas do, and pressed it on the deep cut which was bleeding profusely. "It's shock, miss. Look at your hands, too. Can't keep 'em still," the fat man went on. "It was a bad shock, I bet." "It certainly was," Sally agreed. "I saw the car overtaking me just as I saw you . . " "Darned fool of a driver. I wonder it he will tell a doctor." He gave a laugh. "Not that he'll get away with it. I made a note of his number." Sally looked up. "That was a good idea." The fat man touched his head. "I've got it in here. I won't forget. These slick-Alee drivers make me sick. As if it's not tough enough driving these heavy . . ." They heard the sound of a car. So soon? Sally looked nervously at the corner. "They . . ." she began. The fat heavy man was lumbering down the road and THE GOLDEN VALLEY round the corner, his hand in the air to warn the car that was approaching. It was an open truck driven by a Xhosa, who slowed up and listened to the lorry driver, lifting a hand and driving carefully past Sally where she knelt by Netta's side. The lorry driver came back. "He's delivering stuff at a place in the valley. He said he'd tell 'em and get them to phone the hospital." "Thanks . . . thanks a lot," said Sally, her voice uneven. She knew that the only house the truck could be going to would be Ouma's home, and Ouma was out. She stared worriedly at Netta. Surely the wound shouldn't be bleeding so much? She wished she had studied first aid, tor she felt so horribly helpless. It seemed ages before they heard a car in the distance and the lorry driver went lumbering down the road. There were two cars, a neat little white car, from which emerged a plump bald-headed man carrying a black bag, and a big blue car. "Jonathan! " Sally cried thankfully. Everything was going to be all right now Jonathan was there. He would look after everything, she knew. But Jonathan walked b
y her, his gaze flickering unseeingly over her face. She felt suddenly cold. It was as if she might not have been there, as it he had glanced at a ... a lizard or even a stone. "What happened?" he asked the lorry driver, who was wiping his face with a red handkerchief while the doctor knelt by Netta's side, his hands moving gently and knowingly over her body. "We met on the corner, and this young lady," the lorry driver sa.id, jerking his head towards Sally, "was well on her side of the road, and up came this black car, overtaking her. This young lady did the right thing and braked and swerved, and both the girls were okey-dokey, I saw. I stopped and walked back to see if I could help evidence, I mean, for the Land Rover got a proper E* 'I HE GOLDEN VALLEY bouncing about and I guessed it might have been damaged. I wasn't going to let the other guy get away lightly_it was all his fault. Darned stupid, overtaking on a blind corner . . ." "Yes, quite," Jonathan said curtly. "And what happened?" "Well, I shouted out to ask if they were hurt and this young lady " he jerked his thumb at Netta, who lay so still and white that just to look at her made Sally's heart seem to stand still. "She began screaming like a mad thing. I heard her say, 'He'll kill me,' and she raced down the road, and then she saw this other man the one what caused all the trouble, I mean walking back to us, and she started to climb up there ..." He jerked his head at the side of the hill. "And this young lady tried to stop her, but the other one wouldn't, and she fell and . . ." He shrugged his heavy shoulders, fumbled in his pocket. "I'll give you my name and address, and if you want my evidence, I'll be only too happy to give it. Men like him oughta be locked up. These girls could have been killed." He was writing as he spoke, and then he tore out the slip of paper and gave it to Jonathan. Sally stood by their side, holding her aching wrist tightly. "I can't thank you enough," she said, her voice un steady. "You were so good." The man's heavy face went a deep red. "I didn't do nothing, miss. You were the good one. Acted swift and sensible and never lost your head once." He looked at Jonathan. "This one's had a bad shock, too. It wasn't none of her fault . . ." Jonathan walked with him to the lorry, while Sally watched the doctor as he closed his bag and stood up. "Is she all right?" His face was cold as he looked at her. "We can only THE GOLDEN VALLEY hope so." He turned to Jonathan who had returned. "We'll rush her in right away. I've given her an injection." "An ambulance is coming," Sally told him. "Ought we to move her?" The two men looked at her, both with such icily cold eyes that she shivered. "Look, let us handle this," said Jonathan, his voice so quiet that it was almost menacing. "Don't you think you've caused enough trouble already?" He bent and lifted Netta in his arms, carrying her easily to his car, waiting while the doctor arranged the back seat, laying Netta on it, taking off his coat and covering her with it. "Get in," he said curtly to Sally. "Hurt your hand?" he asked, glancing at the way Sally was holding her wrist. The pain was so severe that she had to bite her lower lip, so she merely nodded and got into the car. They drove to town in silence. Sally still trembling and fighting tears. The hospital was small but modern and Sally waited on a bench in the hall while Jonathan carried Netta away, followed by the doctor. It seemed as if Sally had been completely forgotten in the distance, she could see a nurse scuttling along the corridor or hear a voice, but no one came near her. Her fingers dug into her wrist, trying to fight back the waves of pain she felt. She was shivering and she wanted to cry more than she had ever wanted to cry before, because if nothing else, Jonathan's neglect had made her realise one thing. She was in love with him. She ached all over, her head throbbed, her hand was more painful every moment, but worst of all was the feeling of loneliness. Jonathan's casual indifference had shut her out of his life so conclusively that she felt she had never really existed to him except as a tiresome THE GOLDEN VALLEY girl, and now she was even worse, a girl who had caused his precious Netta to be hurt. She closed her eyes tightly, the tears stinging her lids. Why, oh, why, she asked herself, had she to meet a man like Jonathan under such circumstances? And why had she to fall in love with him?