Refined
By His Fire
Cathy
Conradie
Smashwords Edition
Copyright © 2011 by Cathy Conradie
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Zechariah 13:9 ‒ And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My Name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God
This book is dedicated to my Savior, Jesus Christ, Who died for my sins on the cross and has set me free and Who has blessed me with an urge to share the Truth with others. I would also like to dedicate this book to my husband who has encouraged me to finish writing this novel, thanking him for all his support. Lastly, but not least it is also dedicated to every single member and civilian of the South African Police Service and all our fallen colleagues that we will never forget.
Cathy
Conradie
Pretoria
2011-07-15
Important legal notice
This is a fictional novel with fictional characters. Some events were real events based on stories shared with the author, but no conclusion must be made to the characters and the events in this novel. Any reference to any actual person, place, or event is coincidental and the author is not responsible and will not be held responsible for any conclusion made by any reader by any means or terms.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Two big blue eyes wearily open, a broken small figure moves very reluctantly. He hurts all over. Carefully he gets up, looks at himself in the mirror. That monster really got to him this time, the blue marks are all over his handsome face, his cheek is swollen and a small stripe of blood runs from the corner of his mouth. This is it. He had enough. If he doesn’t leave now, he will not survive. He carefully makes his way to the bathroom and rinses off his face. Down the passage he can hear Roy’s snoring, probably drank himself into a frenzy again as usual. The youngster makes his way to his bedroom and grabs one essential thing: a thin small Police Bible that he received as a gift some eight years ago. He puts it in his pocket and hastily climbs through the window before sprinting off into the night, not looking back once at the house of terror he had to live in. Fortunately, he was extremely fit as he partakes in athletics, swimming, cricket and rugby at school. He is not sure at all where he was to shelter, let alone what he was going to eat. Not that it really mattered. There was barely anything in the house anyway, and it was more booze than anything. He stares at the cricket grounds of the school he attends, tries to catch his breath. His eyes catch the cricket pitch covers. That will have to do for the night for shelter and to hide under. He didn’t want anyone to discover that he is here.
At about 06:40 the next morning, the new Biology teacher stops at the parking area close to the sports grounds. He yawns and stretches. It may have been a drastic move from Pretoria to move to Cape Town last year, but he was not regretting a single second of it and his first year at Bishops was very pleasant. After playing for the respectable Northern Transvaal cricket side for two seasons, he made his debut for Western Province last year and that has swiftly moved his cricketing career. Mostly a bowler and a very keen fielder in the slips with arguably the safest hands in the slips, the coach at Province is doing a great deal in shaping up his batting. He loves coming early. It gives him the chance to be well prepared for his pupils. Damn, he loves kids and he still feels that his job is very rewarding. He gazes over the pitch and smells the fresh Cape air. He shivers and rubs his fore arms. Have to get his jacket out. The early spring is definitely cooler than up there in Pretoria.
What on earth . . .
His eyes catch something unusual under the cricket pitch covers and he hesitantly steps closer. Rumor has it that the street kids in Cape Town are tougher and more violent than those kids in Pretoria and he is definitely not in the mood for a violent confrontation so early in the morning. He carefully and hesitantly pulls back the covers and recoils in shock and surprise.
“Adrian?”
The youngster gets the fright of his life and instantly aims to run.
“Hey, it’s okay, it’s okay. It’s only I. What on earth are you doing here?”
In his mind he knows this is a dumb question and why this kid was here. Adrian is one of his star pupils. Bright, intelligent kid, eager to learn and equally eager to please, both in school work and on the sports field. But since Ryan started teaching at Bishops last year, he noticed the unsettling cycle. Adrian was also a terribly shy kid and constantly frightened. Rightfully so, gave the circumstances at home.
“I ran away.”
Straight. Simple.
“Look at you! You don’t have anything to keep you warm. How long have you been here?”
“Just last night.”
“Come, let’s go the classroom. Get you a nice warm cup of coffee. I’ll organize something from the boarding house. You probably haven’t eaten anything for some time.”
They walk to Ryan’s classroom and he closes the door behind them, noticing the suspicion in Adrian’s eyes.
“You are probably going to call the cops, aren’t you, sir?”
Ryan sighs.
“I have to, kiddo. You are a mess. I’ve seen this happening for long now and every time you tell me that it was some sort of accident or something. I’m sorry, but I don’t buy that any more.”
“Well, that’s great. You might as well put me in an orphanage then.”
“I’ll never let them do that.”
Ryan drapes a blanket around Adrian’s shoulders and hands him a mug of steaming coffee. He picks up the phone, informing the principal’s office that all his classes need to be cancelled, then calls the SAP and finally, the kitchen at one of the boarding houses to organize Adrian breakfast.
“You should not have called the cops. That bastard will track me down and kill me.”
“Well, he surely almost succeeded last night. Anyway, they will get him. You will be safe.”
“He is also a cop.”
Ryan looks shocked.
“What? Are you sure?”
“Well, that’s what he says. But I don’t know. He is always at home and he is so unkempt and filthy. I doubt that the Police will employ someone like that. Maybe he works undercover for SANAB or something.”
“Do you know his names, a birth date, anything?”
“He is not my dad. I’m not interested in his affairs. I only know where he lives and the registration number of his car.”
“Forgive me for asking, but why do you say he is not your dad?”
Adrian rolls his eyes.
“Okay, where must I start? We don’t have the same surnames, and there is no resemblance between us. I don’t even look like the woman that pretends to be my mother. And then, there is the domestic violence factor. Giving your child a hiding if he has done wrong is one thing; abuse is another. Besides, I remember very vaguely that I had two brothers. I haven’t seen them in years.”
A knock sounds on the door and Ryan notices Adrian is bewildered and scared.
“It’s okay. I won’t let any strange people in here, okay?”
Ryan walks to the door and opens it.
“Hello, sir. Warrant Officer Van Vuuren from the Child Protection Unit in Cape Town. You spoke to me half an hour ago?”
Ryan takes the policeman’s appointment certificate, looks at it very carefully before letting him inside.
“Thanks for coming. I really appreciate it.”
The Warrant Officer steps closer to Adrian.
“Hey, kiddo. I am Warrant Officer Van Vuuren from CPU here in Cape Town. Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I guess. I just . . . I didn’t want you to come here.”
“I have to. That’s law. It’s my work.”
“So you can send me to an orphanage.”
“I won’t do that. We’ll put you in a suitable shelter until we can get someone to adopt you.”
“Yeah well, that’s the same thing.”
“So, what’s your name?”
“Adrian.”
“Adrian, you surely can’t sleep under the cricket pitch covers every night. And I am very certain that you don’t want to go back home to your parents.”
“Let’s get that straight. They are not my parents, right?”
“Okay. Do you know their names?”
“No. But we don’t have the same surnames that I know. I only know what car he drives and what the registration number is.”
The policeman’s face lightens up.
“You do? So that can help me to verify his details and possible other offences. What’s the address at that place?”
“12 Tableview Road, Plumstead.”
“And the registration number of the car?”
“CA 728628.”
“Okay, that’s great. It gives me something to work with. Do you think they will be at home?”
“They are always there. He never works. Constantly drunk and sleeping for most of the time.”
Adrian pulls the blanket closer over his shoulders.
“What’s going to happen now?”
“I’ll organize for you to go to a suitable shelter where you will be safe and taken care of.”
“And my school? How do I get here?”
“May I interrupt?”
The policeman looks at Ryan.
“Yeah, sure. No problem.”
“Can you allow for him to come and stay with me until we got a more suitable place for him to stay? I would love to have him over and take care of him.”
“I can do that, but I will have to send the social worker of the SAP to come and see if he is okay and taken care of. And I also think it depends on Adrian if he wants to stay with you for a while.”
“I would love to. I don’t trust anyone else at this stage except my teacher. And I really don’t want to go to a shelter. There . . . there is something else . . .”
The policeman frowns.
“What is it, kiddo?”
“I have found this in my Bible this morning. Can you trace a policeman on a photograph?”
Warrant Officer Van Vuuren takes the photograph from Adrian and frowns in thought. He turns the photo around and looks at the date that dated fifteen years earlier. He stares at the photo again, the man looking very familiar and the name tag a bit unclear. He is sure he has seen him somewhere.
“Is it okay if I keep the photograph for a day?”
“Yeah . . .”
Adrian looks very uncertain.
“Please don’t lose it. It was in my Bible, probably part of the gift I got years ago.”
“Can you remember who gave you this Bible?”
“My dad.”
“Okay. Can you remember when was that?”
“I was six. So, it was about . . . eight years ago. He was on his way to the border.”
“Can you remember where he was supposed to go?”
“Yeah, I think it was called Pinkstershoek or something.”
“Can you remember what time of the year it was? Was it in the summer or winter perhaps?”
“It was in the summer. Maybe at the end of February, beginning March. He went away just after my birthday and he was away for three months.”
“What else do you remember? Where did you stay then?”
“Johannesburg. Roodepoort.”
“Did you go with him to his work place?”
“Yes, often in the school holidays.”
“Can you remember what his rank was?”
“No. I remember though that I had two brothers. I haven’t seen them in years. And then, I don’t . . . I probably should share this . . .”
“What is it, kiddo?”
“No, no. It’s fine . . . I think it’s just my imagination. I have been caught up in this bad dream . . .”
“Adrian, listen to me. Any information you can give me, will help me. It doesn’t matter if it is insignificant.”
“Well, I am scared that what I think I know is not true and that you will lock me up for perjury.”
“Please tell me. I’m listening.”
Adrian sighs.
“Well, like I said, I remember that I grew up in Johannesburg before coming here. I was in my first year of school, about six years old. My dad did tell me never to talk to strangers or to get in a car that I didn’t know, but one day, I was waiting for my dad to pick me up at school. There came a man in uniform driving a yellow Police van, and he told me that my dad asked him to pick me up at school. I trusted him because my dad was a policeman and he told me I can trust the blue uniform. The guy gave me a chocolate, told me my dad sent it with. I didn’t think it was strange, because my dad’s colleagues spoilt me rottenly. Well, that’s the last thing I remember of Johannesburg. I was in Cape Town with these people. And yeah well, it has been hell. He started hitting me around when I was ten years old, but only since last year, he started hitting me with his fists, kicking me and hitting me with blunt objects. Last night, he used a baton.”
“And the woman? Did she abuse you too?”
“No. She is useless. Made food every now and then, but she never cleaned the house or stuff like that.”
“Did he ever molest or try to rape you?”
“No. Never.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s a relief to hear. I need to go. We need to get this bastard behind bars. If I get my way, he will sit for a very long time.”
Having taken the day off and a couple of days leave. Ryan and Adrian arrive at Ryan’s flat. He smiles reassuringly at Adrian.
“Well, not exactly a mansion, but hopefully you will feel safe here.”
They step inside the bachelor flat and Adrian shyly looks around while Ryan locks the security gate.
“Is there anything in particular you would like to do?”
“Well, actually . . . I would like to take a shower or something and sleep. I am so tired.”
“I think sleeping might be exactly what you need right now. There is something I want you to do for me that is to relax and to know that you are safe. And you are welcome to watch TV, video’s or play TV games. I have some cool movies and TV games I think you will like very much. Until everything is sorted out, this will be your home. When you have rested out and feel up to it, we can go shopping.”
Adrian shoots him a double take and Ryan laughs.
“Well, you can’t wear my clothes all the time. They are hopelessly too big for you.”
“It’s just . . . I can’t expect you do spend money on me.”
“Nonsense. You deserve it. Well, the bathroom is through there if you want to take a shower. There are clean towels and nice deodorant if you want to use some, I really don’t mind.”
“Thanks, sir.”
Adrian suddenly feels and looks overwhelmed.
“I really appreciate everything.”
“You’re welcome, kiddo.”
Only at about three ‘o clock did he stir for the first time. He opens his eyes, searches where he was and realizes with a relief that he is safe. He stretches, yawns and turns his head toward the pleasant smell of coffee coming from the mug that was next to him on the bedside table.
“Welcome back, buddy. You slept like a rock. Feeling better?”
“It feels like I can still sleep for ages.”
“Well, then you can go to bed early tonight. Perhaps sleep is exactly what your body needs right now. Let me just get some ice for that bruising on your cheekbone. We have to get the swelling down.”
Adrian takes up the mug and takes a careful sip of the hot brew. It was strong, black and sweet and it made him feel better already. His stomach rumbles softly and he realizes how hungry he was. Ryan sits down next to him and gently places the ice wrapped in a cloth against Adrian’s cheek. He is not surprised when Adrian resists in fear and pain.
“It’s okay, buddy. It’s okay. You are safe now. I will never hurt you, okay? I promise. Just trust me. I’m going to take care of you. It’s all right.”
“It really hurts . . .”
“I know. I can see that. The Police wants me to take you to the doctor. He needs to complete some forms they gave to me this afternoon while you were sleeping. There is great news too. They locked him up. Found some other very disturbing pornography video’s and photo’s of children and teenagers. You were very lucky.”
Ryan removes the ice after a while.
“I just . . . wish they can trace my real parents. I don’t want to go to an orphanage or shelter.”
“I’m sure they will do everything they can. I know everything will be all right.”
Later that night at about half past nine, Ryan received the phone call from Warrant Officer Van Vuuren who furiously worked on Adrian’s case since that morning. He has located Adrian’s father who was the station commander of the Grabouw police station. Both of them were unaware of the joyous surprise that awaited them that will change their lives forever . . .
Adrian reacted exactly the way Ryan imagined, but there was also a huge factor of uncertainty in the youngster who could barely contain himself as they made their way to Grabouw the next morning.
“I can’t believe this is happening. It feels so unreal! I am scared though. I don’t know what to expect.”
“Your memories were correct. That cop went through a lot of information. Your kidnaping made headlines for a very long time. It destroyed your father and he took up the station commander’s post at Grabouw to make a fresh start. I don’t think he has forgotten you though.”
They enter the town and Ryan parks at the police station.
“Do you want me to come with you or must I wait in the charge office?”
“I think it’s better if I do this alone . . .”
“No problem.”
They enter the charge office and Adrian walks to the counter. A colored male in his early thirties steps closer.
“Hey, buddy. What’s up?”
Adrian looks at the policeman’s name tag, anxiously fidgeting with his hands before sticking them into his pockets.
“I um . . . I want to see the station commander, please.”
Warrant Officer October frowns.
“Well, no problem, but Captain Parker is a very busy man. Is it for a school project?”
“No, no . . . actually, it’s personal . . .”
“Okay . . . just wait here a second.”
The policeman disappears and after a minute or two comes back.
“Just go through that door. Wait for me there, I’ll walk with you.”
Adrian passes through the door and they walk down the corridor. The policeman knocks on the station commander’s door. Henry Parker does not look up and carries on with his work.
“Captain. The youngster is here to see you.”
“You may enter, kid.”
Adrian hesitantly steps inside, stares at the Captain in front of him. Being forty-three and given everything he had to witness and to deal within his 25-year long career, the Captain still looked strong and fit, but the once blonde hair made way for grey hair and years of pain and worry were edged on his face. He turns the crime scene photo’s upside down, looks over his glasses and sighs.
“With what can I help you, boy?”
“I . . . I’m sorry. I . . . I’m wasting your time . . .”
“Look, do you need something for a school project or want the Police to visit your school for a demonstration, because for that, I can give you contact numbers. I am terribly busy and am struggling with an important case here.”
“Well, actually, I’m looking for someone. They said that this policeman is working here.”
Adrian hesitantly hands over the photograph to Henry. Henry turns pale.
“Where . . .”
He clears his throat.
“Where did you get this? This is an official photograph that was taken of me fifteen years ago.”
“It was inside this Bible.”
Henry takes the Bible and opens it. He swallows hard at the lump in his throat when he sees his own handwriting in the front with the message he wrote to Adrian before leaving for Pinkstershoek eight years ago. He takes off his glasses and rubs over his eyes, wiping the threatening tears away.
“Where did you get these?”
“From my dad, eight years ago before he left for Pinkstershoek.”
Henry stares in disbelief at the teenager and the reality starts sinking in.
“Adrian?”
“That’s my name . . .”
“Adrian?”
Henry gets up, approaches his long lost son.
“Is it really, really you?”
The tears flow freely from the apparent hard policeman’s eyes. He knows it. He knows that the boy in front of him is his son, his blood . . .
He grabs Adrian up, embraces him tightly.
“If only you know . . . if only you know how long I have cried over you, cried for you, cried for your safety, prayed you’ll be okay . . .”
After crying unashamedly for a while, he dries his tears and holds Adrian at an arm length.
“Who has done this to you?”
“That other guy. My teacher says the Police arrested him yesterday, for this and for child pornography too.”
Henry’s blood runs cold.
“Please tell me he never took you in that manner.”
“He only assaulted me. Never sexually.”
“Don’t worry. Your mom is a qualified nurse. She will patch you up and heal you very quickly. Where is your teacher?”
“He is waiting in the charge office. Dad . . .”
A fresh tear slips from Henry’s eyes.
“Do you know how long I have waited to hear you say that? I missed you so much!”
He embraces Adrian again, this time more carefully.
“What is it, my son?”
“Dad . . . I just wanted to say . . . I love you so much.”
Henry kisses him on the forehead.
“I love you too. More than you will ever know. And I am so glad to have you back. Now, please introduce me to your teacher. I really need him to know what happy man I am today.”
Just after five, somewhat irritated, Chrissie Parker parks her vehicle inside the garage. She panicked somewhat because Henry phoned her and told she that there was some big crisis of some sort that she needed to come and sort out immediately. Damn it. He knows that she is a busy nurse and that she works until seven. She steps inside the house, hangs up the car keys on the key holder.
“Henry?”
Henry emerges from the lounge and looks innocently at her. He notices that she is tired, but he also notices the fire in her eyes, that fiery spirit he loved so much about her, the Afrikaner spirit. She was a beautiful woman with a beautiful loving personality, but also very spirited if you get on her wrong side.
“What kind of crisis did you talk about? I don’t see anything going on here.”
Henry kisses her, smiles mischievously.
“I love you too.”
“Henry, what’s going on? I sincerely hope you didn’t bump your car.”
“No, it’s a bit more complicated than that.”
“Oh good gracious, take a deep breath, Christina. Let me rather pour myself a glass of wine because you are in one of your moods.”
“No, no. Wait. Hold on. I want you to meet someone special.”
Chrissie frowns.
“Listen, I really hope you didn’t buy another horse. You already have three horses and no-one rides them anymore.”
Henry takes her by the shoulders and leads her gently to the guest lounge.
“Look who is back.”
Chrissie stares. The tears whelm up in her eyes and her body shakes with audible sobs.
“I don’t believe this . . . this can’t be true . . . I’m dreaming!”
“You’re not, my angel.”
Henry kisses her softly.
Chrissie runs to Adrian, hugs him close and kisses him all over his face. Her tears flow freely.
“My child! My darling child! I missed you so, so much! Do you know how long I have prayed for this day?”
She cries unashamedly, holds her son close.
“I missed you so much! Look at you, you are all grown up!”
Chrissie kisses him again, gently laying her hands on his cheeks.
“You’re safe now. I’ll make you all better. And—”
She looks him up and down.
“I’ll make plan to get more body on that frame of yours. It looks like you’ve never eaten where you came from.”
“No, not really.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll fix that in no time.”
Chapter Two
Four years later. Adrian looks out of the window for the umpteenth time, puts the pen down and picks up the application form again. He just had one final paper to write in his final exams and then it is the big world out there, his for the taking. He sighs heavily. If only Henry will sign the consent . . . Adrian so much wants to follow in his family’s proud footsteps to become a policeman. Four years ago, he made a vow to himself to become a policeman one day and to stop the children’s molesters and abusers. He wanted justice done . . .
“I guess you know everything for your final paper tomorrow, son?”
Adrian hastily puts the application form face down so that Henry won’t see, but it’s too late. Henry takes a seat next to Adrian.
“You know I won’t sign those.”
“Dad, please. Please, won’t you change your mind? I thought you’d be proud.”
“If you had the opportunity to join and serve the old Police Force, I may have considered it, but not really. Now you want to be part of the Police Service, a rotten organization with no discipline and no future for white policemen.”
“I want to follow in your footsteps. Just like you did with grandpa and grandpa followed in great grandpa’s footsteps. Won’t you be proud to have all your children to be cops?”
“You are so stubborn. Chip of the old block. I never should have allowed you to grow up so closely amongst police people.”
“Dad, please. There is nothing else I want to do.”
“What about farming?”
“Ag no, Dad. If I have the opportunity to inherit the farm one day, you know what I will do. I will start my own Boerperd stud, but that is one day.”
“Adrian, police work is not what you have seen. It is a scary, messy business out there.”
“But if I have finished College, I can come and work at Grabouw.”
“Oh, no. You don’t. I will have to be much more strict with you than with all my other personnel and give you a harder time than you deserve because people will say that I’m giving you an advantage. They will probably transfer me away.”
“Dad, please. I really want to do this.”
“And I really want to protect you and help you to keep your innocence for as long as I can. Death is not what you see in the movies. It’s worse. Much worse. There is blood, gore, people die in your arms. You dream of scenes you have attended, years after it has happened. I was hoping I can persuade you to wait until you are at least 21. It’s just another two years.”
Henry looks Adrian in the eyes and realizes it is a lost battle.
“Did you complete the form in full and correctly? There are lots of places you need to scratch out and initial.”
Henry takes the form and reads it through. He smiles when he reads Adrian’s motivation to join, but then he sighs.
“I know I’m going to regret this. Does your mother know that you want to join?”
“Yes, she does. Not keen on it either.”
“Well, you can’t blame us. We don’t want to lose you again.”
“Oh, Dad. You know no one of us will live forever. Besides, you went to war many times and you were okay.”
“Yes, but in the old South Africa and the Police Force, we didn’t lose an average of five policemen country wide a week. You know what’s the situation in the country at the moment. And son, please don’t expect me to pull strings for you to work at Grabouw. It will be difficult to do. It’s not like in the old days. I really hope that you will not regret what you have done.”
Henry signs the forms.
“Do you want me to take you to the Provincial Commissioner’s office tomorrow after you have finished you final paper?”
“Yes.”
Adrian smiles, hugs Henry close.
“Thanks, Dad. I really hope that I will be a policeman that you will be proud of.”
“I will be. You are a chip of the old block. I am already proud of you. Especially with the knowledge that you will get distinctions in all your subjects.”
Adrian blushes.
“Don’t count your chickens before they hatched, Dad. I know I will get a distinction on Physiology, but for the rest, I can’t make any promises.”
The small built brown haired teenager looks at his wrist watch, finishes his last paper, stretches and sighs with relief. That went very well. He smiles and can barely contain the excitement inside of him. Tomorrow, this time, he will be on holiday overseas with his parents. He gets up carefully and gathers all his belongings without making a noise and walks to the front.
“Eager to go, Barry?”
“Aye. Can’t wait. Me parents will be here in half an hour. I still need to go to the boarding house and get me stuff. The paper was easy too.”
His teacher smiles.
“Will be a piece of cake for someone who loves creative writing. You were always very strong in that department. We will really miss you. You have been a star athlete and model pupil. Have you thought what you are going to do after school?”
“Well, we’ll probably join the rest of the family in New Zealand. Not that I care. I love them and vice versa, but we are not close to each other like me parents and I. Me parents are the only reason why I will settle down in New Zealand permanently.”
“Well, enjoy that and good luck with whatever you want to do and accomplish.”
The teacher shakes Barry’s hand.
“Thanks, sir. Thanks for everything.”
“And, Barry, don’t stop playing rugby. You have big talent. You know that Western Province already wants you.”
Barry blushes.
“Well, if me folks decide to settle in New Zealand or if I decide to go back to Edinburgh, that will be their loss.”
With a smile he turns around and leaves for his dormitory. He remembered coming from Scotland when he was eight years old and living in South Africa for ten years was fun, but then there were the elections and the new government taking over. The future of any white school leaver surely seemed uncertain and promotions in the workplace not a near possibility . . .
“Barry?”
The social worker touches him on the arm and he gets stunned by the look in her eyes. He would not get good news. He could feel it deep inside his gut.
“Would you mind coming with me to my office?”
“Why? Why won’t ye tell me right here, miss? I know you have bad news for me.”
She gently takes him by his arm and they walk to her office. He feels like a lamb led to slaughter. Something was terribly wrong . . .
Entering her office, he sees the policeman.
“Hey, buddy. You Barry Daniels?”
Barry takes a deep breath.
“It’s me folks, isn’t it?”
The policeman nods sympathetically.
“I am sorry, pal. It was a huge accident. A truck’s brakes failed. I need you to come with me and identify them at the mortuary.”
Barry’s world spins and he feel light headed, but simultaneously as if he can tear the world apart with his bare hands.
“No!! No! Please, no!”
Barry’s body shakes violently and the sobs tear through his body. He slumps down on the floor.
The social worker turns around and phones the nurse at the infirmary and then turn toward Barry to calm and comfort him. Barry does not allow her to do so.
“Please leave me alone . . .”
Miss Coetzee sighs and looks at Sergeant Prinsloo.
“Isn’t there anyone else that can go and identify his parents?”
“No. He is their only son. I believe he has no other siblings in South Africa.”
That’s a nasty business. They were not sure if Barry was going to cope with the ordeal of the identification. The nurse steps inside and kneels beside Barry.
“Barry?”
“Please, leave me alone . . .”
She takes hold of his wrist, assesses his pulse and listens to his heart beat with her stethoscope.
“Please, just go away. I really need to be alone!”
“I can’t leave you alone, Barry. I need to take a look at you and to see if you are okay.”
“Well, I’m not. So, just go.”
Barry crosses his arms around his knees, resting with his head on his knees, giving a clear message that he wanted to left alone. Even though he was much calmer than he was, the nurse lightening fast takes out a syringe filled with sedative and jabs the needle in his upper arm, emptying the contents.
Barry pulls away, but it’s too late.
“What the hell was that for?! Are ye nuts?!”
The nurse lays her hand on Barry’s shoulder. She knows that his fury was a reaction to the shock, nothing else. He has always been a very sweet kid and very popular amongst his teachers and his fellow pupils.
“I hate ye for this! I hate ye . . .”
“No, you don’t.”
Barry’s body becomes limp and his eyes close slowly.
“I have to take him to the infirmary. What are we going to do about the fact that he left school? He finished today and he doesn’t have anywhere to go.”
“He has relatives in New Zealand. He and his parents would have left for New Zealand tomorrow. I’ll see if I can get hold of them.”
Two months later in January after leaving school, all the new recruits reported at the Pretoria West Police College for their basic training. Adrian just stares wide eyed. He knows very well what awaited him and is very aware of the family history that he continued. Chrissie bravely tries to dry her tears and it is clear that Major Henry Parker, in his uniform of course, can barely contain the pride he felt.
“Well, everyone needs to report there at the pavilion. So, get your bags. Don’t let them wait.”
“I am going to miss you guys.”
“Believe me, you will. There will be times that you are going to phone me and ask me how can you resign.”
Adrian laughs.
“No ways. No one will get the better of me. I really want this.”
“Adrian, two very important things, no, three. I really want you to make a mental note of this for the rest of your life. This will ensure your survival in the Police jungle. The most important thing: never make unnecessary enemies for yourself in the Police. You never know when you will meet them again in your career or when you might need their help. Second thing that runs hand in hand with it: never take anything personally—ever. Especially from your commander and here in the College. Thirdly, when you finish your training and even during your training, never write an unnecessary grievance. You will always, irrespective of where you work, have someone in your way you don’t like or people who don’t like you. That’s life. You just have to live with it. Please, take this advice and wisdom from this old man to heart. It will be your survival kit for your life onwards.”
“Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll never forget this moment.”
“Well, I’m sorry to be so impersonal with you, but I am in uniform and you are a student.”
Henry sticks out his hand.
“Good luck, my son.”
Henry takes Adrian’s hand, squeezes it firmly and pulls him slightly closer.
“I love you. I love you very much and I am very proud of you.”
“I love you too, Dad.”
Adrian lets go of Henry’s hand and embraces Chrissie tightly for a long while.
“Don’t worry, Mom. Everything will be okay.”
“I know. It’s just . . . all of you are grown up now and leaving the nest.”
“Oh, Mom.”
Adrian takes Chrissie’s face in his hands, wipes the tears from her eyes.
“In six weeks’ time I’m back home for my first pass. I’ll write you everyday.”
Adrian kisses Chrissie on the forehead.
“Bake enough ginger cookies and keep the sago pudding ready when I get home.”
Chrissie smiles bravely through her tears.
“Please get me your correct postal address so I can send you gifts. The address might have changed since your brothers were here.”
Adrian embraces Chrissie again.
“I love you so much, Mom. I’m going to miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too.”
Chrissie kisses Adrian and rubs the lipstick off. Adrian smiles, picks up his bags and disappears without a looking back. The moment is very big and he has a huge lump in his throat. He doesn’t want anyone to know how overwhelmed and suddenly lonely he felt.
A week or two later. Adrian is still certain that he wants to become a policeman, but he doesn’t know how he will keep up the pace. Rising at four in the mornings and going to sleep mostly at midnight, the schedule is hectic. There are the classes, the drills, the instructors chasing them around, cleaning the dormitories, the studies . . .
The last one to leave, Adrian very tiredly picks up his books of his study table and looks at his watch. It was past eleven ‘o clock. He leaves the classroom and the one instructor lock up. Adrian steps down the stairs and makes his way to the dormitory, but a lonely figure on the bench catches his eye. Adrian steps closer and hesitantly sits down next to the young man sitting on the bench. In the College, there are only ten white trainees. Six females, beautiful of course, and then four males.
“Hey, pal. What’s wrong? Why these tears?”
Barry looks up, bravely and hastily dries his tears.
“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”
“But I do worry about it. We share the same dormitory and you always look very sad and cry most of the time when you think no one sees you.”
“Damn it! That’s none of your business!”
“Look. I don’t know you. But I surely want to help you. Very much. We are only a handful of white people here and we must help each other and look out for each other. What’s your name, pal?”
“Daniels.”
“Okay . . . I know that. But what’s your name?”
Barry sighs.
“Barry.”
“Hi, Barry. I’m Adrian.”
Barry looks at him, pauses a while and takes Adrian’s hand for a hand shake.
“So, Barry, won’t you level with me? What’s wrong? Why are you so sad all the time? Do you regret coming here?”
Barry sighs again.
“Aye. I regret that I came here. It was a big mistake. I won’t cope here. But, I . . . I don’t have elsewhere to go.”
Adrian frowns.
“Why’s that? You look very intelligent to have passed Matric.”
“I did pass Matric.”
“But then, if you don’t really want to be here, why did you join the Police?”
“It was the only way to survive. Getting jobs here in South Africa is a mission.”
Adrian smiles.
“You can say that again. But, are you from overseas then?”
“Aye. From Scotland. Me parents emigrated here ten years ago, almost eleven years.”
“Did they go back?”
Barry grows very silent. A fresh tear slips over his cheek and the realization hits Adrian.
“When . . . when did your folks pass?”
“Two months ago. I am so alone, so scared. I miss them so much!”
The sobs tear afresh through Barry’s body. Adrian puts his hand on Barry’s shoulder.
“I’m so sorry, pal. I wish I could help you in a way.”
They sit there in silence with only Barry’s soft crying audible. Adrian notices Barry searches for a handkerchief and he gives Barry his.
“So, what are you going to do now?”
“Well, I can’t resign. Otherwise I am without an income and on the streets.”
“Don’t you have siblings, family?”
“No.”
Barry sighs.
“The only relatives I have are in New Zealand. I have spent some time there after me folks died and before I came here for me training. But we are not close and they told me that I am welcome, but they can’t take care of me.”
“That is so cruel. What would it take of them to look after you?”
“The other thing is, I don’t understand all these laws and work we need to do. I don’t know how I will pass me exams. It is just so different from school and the responsibility of being a cop is bigger than I thought.”
“That’s the last thing you must worry about. I grew up in a police home. My dad is still a policeman and I will help you with anything you don’t understand or don’t know. Would you like that?”
A glimmer of hope fills Barry’s eyes.
“Ye will?”
“I’d love to.”
“Adrian, I . . . I want to know something else.”
“What’s that, pal?”
“I really going to need a friend here . . .”
“Done deal. We really have to look out for each other here. You can ask me anything, anytime. I’m here for you, okay?”
“Ye don’t know what you are saying . . .”
A soft, honest light fills Adrian’s eyes.
“Yes. Yes, I do. I’d love to be here for you.”
“Are ye sure about this?” Barry asks, uncertain, yet bright eyed.
“Hey, Engelsman, do you honestly think that I will let you stay here in the College for this week. Believe me. My parents can’t wait to meet you. I told them all about you and what a special friend you are.”
“It’s just . . . they don’t know me, and—”
“Well, I don’t know how the hospitality in Scotland works, but here in South Africa, and in particular in the Boland in the Western Cape, our doors are open to everyone. A stranger is just a friend you’ve never met.”
“But . . . I still can’t believe this.”
“Well, then I don’t know what you will think of this.”
Adrian takes out two return air tickets, one for each of them.
“Och, Adrian! Ye are so not serious!”
“Try me. We can’t spend two days on a bus to Cape Town and two days back to Pretoria. It will give us less than three days at home.”
“But ye don’t and I don’t have money for these tickets.”
“No. But my old man does.”
Arriving on the farm, Barry couldn’t stop staring.
“Why isn’t your Da a farmer? Is this ground, everything, his?” (Da in the Scottish dialect means father)
Adrian laughs.
“He has a farm manager that runs the place. He is farming with soft fruit. My mom has some rose bushes and orchids to keep her occupied in her very little spare time. Speaking of which . . .”
Adrian’s eyes catch the figure of his mother in the door frame at the front door. Chrissie runs closer, hugs Adrian close and holds him for a long while.
“I couldn’t wait for this day! How are you?”
“You know me, Mom. I’m always well.”
Adrian kisses her and turns toward Barry.
“Mom, this is my best friend, Barry Daniels. Barry, meet my mom, the most beautiful woman in the world and the best cook.”
“Your flattery is not going to get you anywhere!” Chrissie giggles.
Chrissie puts her hand on Barry’s shoulder, looks him up and down.
“You are his twin brother in another life.” She says.
“Do you know, have you noticed the resemblance?”
Barry just smiles shyly when Chrissie kisses him.
“Welcome at our home. I really hope you enjoy the farm. Have you been on a farm before?”
“No, missus.”
“My name is Chrissie, okay? And anything you need, just let me know.”
“It’s just . . . I was taught—”
Chrissie smiles.
“It’s okay. I taught Adrian and his brothers the same. But, please, I insist.”
They walk through the house and Chrissie shows him the guest room.
“Everything is there you’ll need. I hope you have packed enough comfortable clothing and jeans. Knowing Adrian, he will change into his riding clothes. I hope you can ride horses. If you can’t, I can assure you, Adrian will teach you.”
Barry smiles shyly.
“No. I can’t ride.”
“Well, sorry, Engelsman.” (‘Engelsman’ is Adrian’s nickname he uses for Barry when speaking to Barry.)
Adrian enters with a spare set of jodhpurs.
“Put these on. I’m going to show you how to forget about the bad city life.”
After a while, they make their way to the barn.
“Ye are going to laugh, but I am really nervous about this.”
Adrian laughs.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m going to saddle you my mom’s horse. He is a ten-year-old gelding and still fast asleep, even when you ride him with a whip. He is so bombproof and sound, I can discharge a shotgun next to him and he will barely look at the sound where it comes from.”
Adrian takes off the saddles and bridles and they walk to the stables, first entering Hantam’s stable.
“Hello, Hantam.”
Hantam curiously walks closer and softly nudges Adrian.
“Okay, okay. I know what you are looking for.”
Adrian takes out a carrot from his pocket.
“Time for you to work a bit, lazybones.”
Adrian quickly, but gently saddles Hantam before proceeding to his horse’s stable. Very amused, but also staring in wonder, Barry watches Adrian’s horse. It is very obvious what close relationship Adrian had with his horse.
“Hello, Majoor.”
Majoor whinnies softly, stamps his front feet and also nudges Adrian softly with his head. He puts his head on Adrian’s shoulder, nudges Adrian closer and allows Adrian to hug him close.
“Where is my big boy? I miss you so much.”
Majoor whinnies softly again.
“I know.”
Adrian takes up the tack and saddles Majoor up with same care and speed.
“Okay, okay. Here is your treat.”
Adrian gives Majoor a sugar cube and Majoor nudges him for more.
“No, you’ll get rotten teeth. I’ll bring you a big apple when we are done. Come on lazybones, today we are just going to take it slow. My friend can’t ride yet.”
Barry and Adrian walk out of the stables.
“Um, how must I mount?”
Adrian giggles and leads the horses to a mounting block.
“You always get up and dismount on the left side. It’s okay, I’ll hold Hantam for you and pull the stirrup down on the other side.”
Barry gets in the saddle, but appears nervous.
“Much too high to me liking.”
“No, man. Hantam is what we call a pony. I’ll let you mount Majoor when we’re finished, just to get a different feel. He stands at 16hh. I can barely look over his back.”
“Are ye sure they are tame?”
“Hantam is a Cape Riding horse, sort of like a cousin of the SA Boerperd, like Majoor. Both of them are registered and believe me, these breeds are the safest of all horses. You’ll be fine. I promise you. Just lift your left leg up, I need to tighten the girth again before we go.”
Adrian frowns lightly in curiosity.
“Barry? Can I ask you something?”
Barry smiles, amused.
“Shoot.”
“In this couple of weeks we’ve been friends, I’m just extremely curious to know why you call me “old man”, the way you do. I’m not old!”
Barry laughs.
“Don’t ye get it? It’s the whole irony of it. Just like I’m definitely not an Englishman. We couldn’t stand the English back then, maybe even still today.”
Much later that same night, everyone finally settles down. Henry looks at Chrissie who sits at her dressing table, brushing out her beautiful long blonde hair. For a woman who turned forty-five a couple of months ago, she was still exceptionally beautiful. He loved her, still loves her so much. They have had their fair share of problems. For the first part of their marriage, she adapted very badly in being a policeman’s wife, but she grew more supportive over the years and she started shooting with him and cleaning the firearms when needed. Chrissie realizes Henry is watching her and she turns around.
“Why are you staring at me, Henry?”
“You are such a beautiful woman. You know that?”
Chrissie smiles mischievously.
“You are looking for something again.”
“No. I don’t need anything more. All I need is right here. Come here.”
Chrissie gets in bed beside him and allows him to gather her in his arms to hold her. She rests with her head on his chest.
“What are your thoughts about Barry?”
“Adrian surely got himself a very special friend. I like him very much. He seems like a very honest person. He just looks so terribly lonely and sad most of the time.”
Chrissie stays silent for a while.
“You know something about Barry. What is it?”
“He lost both his parents two, three months ago. He has no family in South Africa.”
“That’s terrible! Can you imagine what he must be going through?”
“I know we barely know him, Henry, but he has gotten into my heart very suddenly. Can’t we do something, get more involved? He and Adrian became best friends. Adrian is not even that close to his own brothers.”
“What are you suggesting, my angel?”
“They are both under 21. Barry needs stability. Can’t you arrange for them to come and work at Grabouw after the training? Maybe we can apply to be appointed as his legal guardians until he is 21. They can stay in the cottage. No-one uses the cottage anyway. We can refurbish it. They can stay there until they decide to move elsewhere.”
Henry kisses her and holds her close.
“Don’t talk to them about this. I’ll see what I can do in the months lying ahead.”
Chapter Three
Very nervously, Adrian and Barry sit on chairs outside Henry’s office. Adrian warned Barry that Henry is a total different man at work than at home, but not even Adrian is sure what to expect. Of course both Adrian and Barry were elated when they received their call up instructions to report at Grabouw and both of them were very excited when Henry and Chrissie gave them their keys to the cottage Chrissie lovingly and carefully refurnished and renovated. When they finished their training at the College and when it was time to go home, everything was finalized legally so that Henry and Chrissie could act as Barry’s guardians.
Lieutenant October emerges from Henry’s office and some mischievous smile plays on his face.
“Hm, hm, hm.”
He clears his throat dramatically.
“Good luck.”
Barry shoots Adrian a double take.
“What’s going on?” Barry whispers.
“I don’t know. But it doesn’t sound well.” Adrian whispers back.
“Och, great.”
Henry emerges from his office and the two students dutifully and immediately stretches him.
“Come on in, Students. I don’t have all day.”
They follow Henry into his office.
“Close the door.”
Adrian obeys with a gut feeling in his stomach. It was very clear that what Henry told Adrian when he signed Adrian’s forms was going to be the norm, starting right away. Adrian turns around, stands next to Barry and faces his station commander.
Henry takes his time to fill his pipe and equally takes his time to light it. The smell of Henry’s favorite tobacco mix, rum & maple, cherry cavendish and Fox fills the air. He stares at the two striped students in front of him over his glasses.
“I have received very impressive reports from both of you from the College. About everything. Your work, your exams, your conduct. You were both described as loyal, honest policemen. So.”
Henry takes a pull from his pipe and sits back in his chair.
“I expect exactly the very same hard work, honesty and good conduct here. It’s a small station, with a low crime rate. We’re serving a small town and in small towns, the people know each other and everyone. Which gives them an excuse to gossip about everything. I don’t want any bad reports, no complaints against you from anyone. If you do need to look out for yourself and make yourself count, do it calmly and professionally. It is not the old Police Force or the old South Africa where you can hit or tjoep a suspect to get information. But in the same breath, I’m not saying that you must stand back and stay quiet if you are assaulted. I expect you to be on time for your parades, to be neat at all times and to keep your equipment, especially your pistols, spotlessly clean. Remember your standing orders, especially on the vehicles. Do your inspections before using that a vehicle, note everything down that is out of place and clean the vehicle before garaging it. I don’t tolerate untidy vehicles, unkempt uniforms or appearance. Do you both have state authority?”
“Actually, Major, I still need to go for me drivers’ licence. I still only have me learners’.”
“All right, Student Daniels. Organize at Logistics ASAP to rectify that. I have a shortage of drivers on the D-shift where you both are going.”
“Major, permission to ask something.”
“Proceed, Student Parker.”
“Major, I know we must get to know everyone here, but I want to request that Constable Daniels and I work together on the same vehicle.”
“Student, I can’t allow that for the next six months. You are both students and both of you need someone to teach you and guide you when you work outside. I know it is disappointing, but understand what I am saying. Both of you need to work with a full Constable, Sergeant or Warrant Officer. There is a lot that you need to learn, especially the practical side of the buddy system. Lastly, when you work out there, think very carefully before you draw your gun. Always consider whose life must be saved, not whose must be taken. Do not draw your gun unless you are certain that you are going to shoot. And please, do not shoot someone who is running away from you. If he is supposedly armed and he shows no intention in shooting at you, do not shoot him. You’ll have lots of trouble to prove that your life was in danger. Apart from that, we’ll face a huge civil claim. All right, sermon is over. Any questions?”
“No, Major.”
“Dismissed.”
Adrian never expected this to happen and to happen so fast. He can hardly contain his excitement as he runs down the corridor to Henry’s office. Obviously, he would love to share the news first hand with Barry, but Barry and his driver are standing off at a house breaking complaint.
Adrian knock on Henry’s office door and Henry looks up.
“Come in, Student. Is it so quiet outside that you can waste your time at the station?”
Adrian smiles, ignores Henry and closes the door behind him.
“Dad, I have just received the greatest news!”
This is personal, Henry realizes and he drops his station commander guard. His eyes soften.
“What? What’s going on, my son?”
“Dad, the coach of Western Province rugby just phoned me! I am making my debut on Saturday at Newlands in the Currie Cup fixture against the Blue Bulls as fullback!”
Henry jumps up from behind his desk and approaches Adrian. Henry embraces him tightly and kisses him on the forehead.
“Do you have any idea how proud I am of you?! This is the greatest news I have had all day!”
Henry embraces Adrian again.
The office door opens unexpectedly without warning and one of the other Constables curiously pops in his head. He stares in disbelief at the intimate father-and-son moment.
Henry lets Adrian go and the same strict station commander guard returns instantly.
“Damn it, Constable! Can’t you knock?”
“I’m sorry, Major. I—”
“Yeah well, come back in five minutes. Never come back into my office again unless you have knocked. I hate it people barging into my office!”
The Constable blush embarrassed and disappears into the hallway.
“Sorry about that, Student. I will phone Newlands right now and get tickets. I won’t miss your match for the world.”
Adrian laughs.
“No, don’t bother with the tickets. The union gives tickets to the player’s direct family who wants to come. Just phone them and confirm if Barry can sit in the suite with you or if we need to purchase a separate ticket for him elsewhere.”
Some weeks later. Adrian was on top of his game and fast becoming a household name in rugby, in particular in the Western Cape. The media and everyone else were buzzing about this young fullback who was lightning fast and who had a lethal kick, rarely missing any conversions or penalties. But lots of things were about to change . . .