SUSANNA

20| IT WILL END BADLY

For the Commander, little comfort was derived from a night's sleep in the month of May.

The growing slave desertion and random attacks on farms issued to the Freemen along the Liesbeeck River caused an uneasiness, and it dampened the mood around the Peninsula. For the first time since their arrival the close-knitted settler community experienced a sense of insecurity which, unwittingly, manifested itself in conversations around the dinner table, church services and public houses.

It was not only Nommoa that kept him awake. It was also the Caapmen - once bright-eyed at the sight of his copper, wire, and beads - who no longer displayed the same awe at his wares, and displayed a reluctance to part with their cattle.

'How on earth will I supply the colony with meat? What if the ships arrive in peak season?'

'God will provide. He never failed us and He will guide us through this storm, husband. Have faith.'

'Eva believes bad spirits stole my sleep.'

'You are a man of faith. Now more than ever, believe that God wants your attention. Not bad spirits.'

'God is far away right now...'

'He is speaking to you. Through your dreams.'

In the middle of the night he jumped up. He shook Maria by the shoulders. 'Did you hear that?'

'Hear what,' she asked, with her eyes closed.

'Nothing. Go back to sleep.'

'I am awake now.'

'I heard Eva calling my name. She was standing there, by the door.'

'God sent her.'

'Eva knows the Khoe like she knows the moods of the all seasons. But she is only a girl. Why would He send me a heathen girl?'

'Because, husband, He works in mysterious ways.'

'At times I wish I understood the simplicity of your faith,' he grunted and turned his back on her.

The next morning he summoned Krotoa. 'What is going on? Today you will tell me everything you know. No lies. If I found out you lied you will lose those lips. Then I will cut out that lying tongue with this.' When she started speaking he picked up a rusty awl and rubbed it between his fingers as she spoke. When she was through he stared at her, kept stroking the old tool and dismissed her with a gesture of his head.

'I called this urgent Council meeting to address the runaway slaves. Since the start of this month, seven black slaves deserted: one from the forest, two from the fort and four from the farms. The oldest, who pretended he was ill, influenced all of them.' The Commander waited for the murmers to dissipate. 'Last month freemen Caspar Brinkman, Jan Reindersz and Harman Remajenne were hit. It broke my heart when I saw Caspar. The young man had tears in his eyes when he spoke about his four black slaves that had run away in the night. Harman's female slave fled with rice and clothing. All the slaves of Reindersz took blankets, rice, tobacco, and clothes.'

'We must catch a few and make examples of them.' It was Harwarden. 'My slaves say these old ones are clever.'

'My best trackers are searching for them. Every day,' said Abraham. The Hottentoos were promised huge rewards if they bring in the fugitives. We must unearth the reasons for the sudden surge in runaways, and establish what prompted these cleverness and thievery.'