When the Lion Feeds Page 5

  Look! Sean reached out to touch with one finger the gold lettering stamped into the lid of the nearest case. Our names on them even. He sprung the locks and lifted the lid. In a nest of green baize, perfumed with gun oil, glistened a poem in steel and wood.

  Jesus Christ, said Sean again. Then he looked over his shoulder at Garrick. Aren’t you going to open yours? Garrick limped up to the table trying to hide his disappointment : he had wanted a set of Dickens so badly.

  In the river there were whirlpools: The last week of the Christmas holidays and Garrick was in bed with one of his colds. Waite Courtney had gone to Pietermaritzburg for a meeting of the Beef GrowersAssociation and there was very little work to do on the farm that day. After Sean had dosed the sick cattle in the sanatorium paddock and ridden an inspection around the South section he returned to the homestead and spent an hour talking to the stableboys, then he drifted up to the house. Garry was asleep and Ada was in the dairy making butter. He asked for and got an early lunch from Joseph and ate it standing in the kitchen. While he ate he thought over the problem of how to fill the afternoon. He weighed the alternatives carefully. Take the rifle and try for duiker along the edge of the escarpment or ride to the pools above the White Falls and fish for eels.

  He was still undecided after he had finished eating so he crossed the yard and looked into the cool dimness of the dairy.

  Ada smiled at him across the churn. Hello, Sean, I suppose you want your lunch. Joseph gave it to me already, thanks, Ma. Joseph has already given it to me, Ada corrected mildly. Sean repeated it after her and sniffed the dairy smell, he liked the cheesy warmth of new butter and the tang of the cow dung smeared on the earth floor.

  What are you going to do this afternoon? I came to ask you if you wanted venison or eels, I don’t know if I want to go fishing or shooting. Eels would be nice, we could jelly -them and have them for dinner tomorrow when your father comes home. I’ll get you a bucket full. He saddled the pony, hung his tin of worms on the saddle and with his pole over his shoulder rode towards Lady-burg. He crossed the Baboon Stroorn bridge and turned off the road to follow the stream up to the falls.

  As he skirted the wattle plantation below the Van Essensplace he realized he had made a mistake in picking this route. Anna, with her skirts held up to her knees, came pelting out from among the trees. Sean kicked the pony into a trot and looked straight ahead.

  Sean, hey, Sean. She was ahead of him, running to intercept him; there was no chance of evading her so he stopped the pony.

  Hello, Sean. She was panting and her face was flushed. Hello, he gruffed. Where are you going? There and back to see how far it is.

  You’re going fishing, may I come with you? She smiled appealingly. Her teeth were small and white. No, you talk too much; you’ll frighten the fish He started the pony. Please, I’ll be quiet; honest I will. She was running next to him.

  No. He flicked the reins and pulled away from her. He rode for a hundred yards then looked round and she was still following with her black hair streaming out behind her. He stopped the pony and she caught up with him.

  I knew you’d stop, she told him through her gasps.

  Will you go home? I don’t want you following me. honest I will I’ll be quiet as anything He knew she’d follow him right up to the top of the escarpment and he gave in. all right, but if you say a word, just one single word, I’ll send you home! promise, help me up, please. He dragged her onto the pony’s rump and she sat sideways with her arms round his waist. They climbed the escarpment. The path ran close beside the White Falls and they could feel the spray blowing off them fine as mist.

  Anna kept her promise until she was sure they’d gone too far for Sean to send her back alone. She started talking again. When she wanted an answer from him, which wasn’t very often, she squeezed his waist and Sean grunted . Sean knee-haltered the pony, and left him among the trees above the pools. He hid his saddle and bridle in an ant-bear hole and they walked down through the reeds to the water. Anna ran ahead of him and when he came out on to the sandbank she was throwing pebbles into the pool. Hey, stop that! You’ll frighten the fish, Sean shouted.

  Oh. I’m sorry. I forgot.

  She sat down and wriggled her bare toes into the sand.

  Sean baited his hook and lobbed it out into the green water, the current drifted his float in a wide circle under the far bank and they both watched it solemnly. It doesn’t seem as though there are any fish here, Anna said. You’ve got to be patient, you can’t expect to catch one right away. Anna drew patterns in the sand with her toes and five lutes passed slowly. Sean ssh! Another five minutes. Fishing’s a silly old thing. Nobody asked you to come, Sean told her. It’s hot here! Sean didn’t answer The high reed beds shut out any breeze and the white sand threw the sun’s heat back at them. Anna stood up and wandered restlessly across the sand to the edge of the reeds. She picked a handful of the long spear-shaped leaves and plaited them together.

  I’m bored, she announced. Well, go home thenAnd I’m hot. Sean pulled his line in, inspected the worms and cast them out again. Anna stuck her tongue out at his back.

  Let’s have a swim, she suggested.

  Sean ignored her. He stuck the butt of his rod into the sand, pulled his hat down to shield his eyes from the glare and leaned back on his elbows with his legs stretched out in front of him. He could hear the sand crunching as she moved and then there was another silence. He started to worry what she was doing but if he looked around it would be a show of weakness.

  Girls! he thought bitterly.

  There was the sound of running feet just behind him.

  He sat up quickly and started to turn. Her white body flashed past him and hit the water, with a smack like a rising trout. Sean jumped up.

  Hey, what’re you doing? I’m swimming laughed Anna, waist-deep in green water, with her hair slicked wetly down her shoulders and over her breasts. Sean looked at those breasts, white as the flesh of an apple and nippled in dark pink, almost red. Anna dropped onto her back and kicked the water white.

  Voet sak, little fishes! Scat, little fishes, she gurgled. Hey, you mustn’t do that, Sean said halfheartedly.

  He wanted her to stand up again, those breasts gave him a strange tight feeling in his stomach, but Anna knelt with the water up to her chin. He could see them through the water. He wanted her to stand up. It’s lovely! Why don’t you come in? She rolled on her stomach and ducked her head under the water; the twin ovals of her bottom broke the surface and Sean’s stomach tightened again. Are You coming in? she demanded, rubbing the water out of her eyes with both hands. Sean stood bewildered within a few seconds his feelings towards her had undergone a major revolution. He wanted very much to be in the water with all those mysterious white bulges, but he was shy. You’re scared! Come on, I give you guts to come in She teased him. The challenge pricked him.

  I’m not scaredWell, come on then He hesitated a few seconds longer, then he threw off his hat and unbuttoned his shirt. He turned his back on her while he dropped his pants then spun round and dived into the Pool, thankful for the cover it gave him. His head came out and Anna pushed it under again. He groped and caught her legs, straightened up and threw her on her back. He dragged her towards the shallows, where the water wouldn’t cover her. She was thrashing her arms to keep her head out and screaming delightedly. Sean’s heels snagged a rock and he fell, letting go of her; before he could recover she had leapt on him and straddled his back.

  He could have thrown her off, but he liked the feel of her flesh on his back, warm through the cool water, slippery with wetness. She picked up a handful of sand and rubbed it into his hair. Sean struggled gently.

  She threw her arms round his neck and he could feel the whole length of her body along his back. The tightness in his stomach moved up into his chest and he wanted to hold her. He rolled over and reached for her but she twisted out of his hands and dived back into the deep again. Sean splashed after her but she kept out of his reach, laughing at hi
m.

  At last they faced each other, still chin deep, and Sean was getting angry. He wanted to hold her. She saw the change of his mood and she waded to the bank, walked to his clothes and picked up his shirt. She dried her face on it, standing naked and unashamed, she had too many brothers for modesty. Sean watched the way her breasts changed shape as she lifted her arms, he looked at the lines of her body and saw that her once skinny legs had filled out; her thighs touched each other all the way UP to the base of her belly and there she wore the dark triangular badge of womanhood. She spread the shirt out on the sand and sat down upon it, then she looked at him. Are you coming out? He came out awkwardly, coverig himself with his hands. Anna moved over on the shirt. You can sit down, if you like He sat hurriedly and drew his knees up under his chin.

  He watched her from the corner of his eye. There were little goose-pimples round her nipples from the cold water. She was aware that he was watching her and she pulled back her shoulders, enjoying it. Sean felt bewildered again, she was so clearly in control now.

  Before she had been someone to growl at but now she was giving the orders and he was obeying. You’ve got hairs on your chest, Anna said, turning to look at him. Sparse and silky though they were, Sean was glad that he had them. He straightened out his legs.

  And you’re much bigger there than Frikkie. Sean tried to Pull up his knees again but she put her hand on his leg and stopped him. Can I touch you? Sean tried to speak but his throat had closed and no sound came through it. Anne did not wait for an answer.

  oh, look! It’s getting all cheeky, just like Caribou’s. Caribou was Mr Van Essen’s stallion.

  I always know when Pa is going to let Caribou service a mare, he tells me to go and visit Aunt Lettie. I just hide in the plantation. You can see the paddock jolly well from the plantation. Anna’s hand was soft and restless, Sean could think of nothing else. Do you know that people service, just like horses do? she asked.

  Sean nodded, he had attended the biology classes conducted by Messrs Daffel and Company in the school latrines. They were quiet for a while, then Anna whispered. Sean, would you service me? I don’t know how, croaked Sean.

  I bet horses don’t either the first time, nor people for that matter, Anna said. We could find out.

  They rode home in the early evening, Anna sitting up behind Sean, her Arms tight round his waist and the side of her face pressed between his shoulders. He dropped her at the back of the plantation.

  I’ll see you at school on Monday, she said and turned to go.

  Yes. is it still sore? No, and then, after a moment’s thought, it feels nice She turned and ran into the wattle trees.

  Sean rode slowly home. He was empty inside; it was a sad feeling and it puzzled him.

  rWhere are the fish? asked Ada. They weren’t biting. Not even one? Sean shook his head and crossed the kitchen. Sean! Yes, Ma. Is something wrong? No,- quick denial -’No, I’m fine. He slipped into the passage.

  Garrick was sitting up in bed. The skin around his nostrils was inflamed and chapped; he lowered the book he was reading and smiled at Sean as he came into the room. Sean went to his own bed and sat on it.

  Where have you been? Garrick’s voice was thick with cold. Up at the pools above the falls. fishing? Sean didn’t answer, he leaned forward on the bed with his elbows on his knees. I met Anna, she came with me.

  Garrick’s interest -quickened at the mention of her name and he watched Sean’s face. Sean still had that slightly puzzled expression.

  Garry, he hesitated; he had to talk about it. Garry, I screwed Anna Garrick drew in his breath with a small hiss. He went very pale, only his nose was still red and sore-looking.

  I mean, Sean spoke slowly as though he were trying to explain it to himself, I mean really screwed her, just like we’ve talked about. just like.... He made a helpless gesture with his hands, unable to find the words. Then he lay back on the bed.

  Did she let you? Garrick’s voice was almost a whisper.

  She asked me to, Sean said. It was slippery, sort of warm and slippery.

  And then later, long after the lamp was out and they were both in bed, Sean heard Garrick’s soft movements in the darkness. He listened for a while until he was certain. Garry! He accused him loudly. I wasn’t, I wasn’t. You know what Pa told us. Your teeth will fall out and you’ll go mad. I wasn’t, I wasn’t. Garrick’s voice was choked with his cold and his tears. I heard you, said Sean. I was just scratching my leg.

  Honestly, honestly, I was.

  Mr -Clark had not been able to break Sean. He had provoked instead a bitter contest in which he knew himself to be slowly losing ground, and now he was afraid of Sean. He no longer made Sean stand, for Sean was as tall as he was. The contest had been on for two years; they had explored each other’s weaknesses and knew how to exploit them.

  Mr Clark could not bear the sound of anyone sniffing; perhaps subconsciously he took it as mockery of his own deformed nose. Sean had a repertoire that varied from a barely audible connoisseur testing-the-bouquet-of-brandy sniff to a loud hawking in the back of his throat. Sorry, sir, I can’t help it. I’ve got a bit of a cold. But then, to even the score, Mr Clark had realized that Sean was vulnerable through Garrick. Hurt Garrick even a little and you were inflicting almost unbearable agony on Sean.

  It had been a bad week for Mr Clark. his liver, weakened by persistent bouts of malaria, had been troubling him. He had suffered with a bilious headache for three days now; there had been unpleasantness with the Town Council about the terms on which his contract was to be renewed; Sean had been in good sniffing form the day before and Mr Clark had had about as much as he was prepared to take.

  He came into the schoolroom and took his place on the dais; he let his eyes move slowly over his pupils until they came to Sean.

  just let him start, thought Mr Clark. Just let him start today and I’ll kill him. The seating had been rearranged in the last two years.

  Sean and Garrick had been separated and Garrick was now at the front of the room where Mr Clark could reach him easily. Sean was near the back.

  English Readers, said Mr Clark. Standard Ones turn to page five.

  Standard Twos turn to Garrick sniffed wetly, hayfever Mr Clark shut his book with a snap.

  Damn you! he said softly, and then, his voice rising, Damn you! Now he was shaking with rage, the edges of his nostrils were white and flared open.

  He came down from the dais to Garrick’s desk. Damn you! Damn you, you bloody little cripple, he screamed and hit Garrick across the face with his open hand. Garrick cupped both hands over his cheek and stared at him.

  You dirty little swine, Mr. Clark mouthed at him. Now you’re starting it too. He caught a handful of Garrick’s hair and pulled his head down so that -his forehead hit the top of the desk. I’ll teach you. By God, I’ll teach you! I’ll show you. Bump.

  I’ll teach you Bump.

  It took Sean that long to reach them. He grabbed Mr Clark’s arm and pulled him backwards. Leave him alone! He didn’t do anything! Mr Clark saw Sean’s face in front of him, he was passed all reason, the face that had tormented him for two long years. He bunched his fist and lashed out at it.

  Sean staggered back from the blow, the sting of it made his eyes water.

  For a second he lay sprawled across one of the desks, watching Clark and then he growled.

  The sound sobered Clark, he backed away but only two paces before Sean was on him. Hitting with both hands, grunting with each punch, Sean drove him against the blackboard. Clark tried to break away but Sean caught the collar of his shirt and dragged him back, the collar tore half loose in his hand and Sean hit him again. Clark slid down the wall until he was sitting against it and Sean stood panting over him.

  Get out, said Clark. His teeth were stained pink by the blood in his mouth and a little of it spilled out onto his lips. His collar stood up at a jaunty angle under one ear.

  There was no sound in the room except Sean’s breathing Get out, said Clark
again and the anger drained out of Sean leaving him trembling with reaction. He walked to the door.

  YOU too, Clark pointed at Garrick. Get out and don’t come back! Come on, Garry, said Sean.

  Garrick stood up from his desk and limped across to Sean and together they went out into the school yard.

  What are we going to do now? There was a big red lump on Garrick’s forehead.

  I suppose we’d better go home. What about our things? asked Garrick.

  We can’t carry all that, we’ll have to send for them later. Come on.

  They walked out through the town and along the road to the farm. They had almost reached the bridge on the Baboon Stroorn before either of them spoke again.

  what do you reckon Pa will do? asked Garrick. He was only putting into words the problem that had occupied them both since they left the school. Well, whatever he does, it was worth it. Sean grinned.

  Did you see me clobber him, hey? Smackeroo, right in the chops. You shouldn’t have done it, Sean. Pa’s going to kill us! Me too and I didn’t do anything You sniffed, Sean reminded him.

  They reached the bridge and leaned over the parapet side by side to watch the water.

  How’s your leg? asked Sean.

  It’s sore, I think we should rest a bit. All right, if you say so, Sean agreed.

  There was a long silence, then, I. wish you hadn’t done it, Sean.

  Well, wishing isn’t going to help. Old Nose-Holes is as punched up as he’ll ever be and all we can do is think of something to tell Pa. He hit me, said Garrick. He might have killed me. Yes, agreed Sean righteously, and he hit me too. They thought about it for a while.

  Perhaps we should just go away, suggested Garrick.

  You mean without telling Pa? The idea had attraction.

  Yeah, we could go to sea or something, Garrick brightened.

  You’d get seasick, you even get sick in a train. Once more they applied their minds to the problem.

  Then Sean looked at Garrick, Garrick looked at Sean and as though by agreement they straightened up and started off once more for Theunis Kraal.