Copyright Š 2018 by Henry Jensen Frandsen ISBN: 978-0-620-80571-1 ISBN: 978-0-620-80572-8 This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved, which includes the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever except as provided by Copyright Law.
Acknowledgements Some years ago, I said to my wife, “One day I’m going to write a book!” and she replied, “You have been saying that for years, why don’t you take your own advice and… make it happen!” Well, she was absolutely correct, as wives always are! So I picked up a writing pad, found a pen and started writing. Therefore, I must thank Pat for encouraging me in getting my writing underway. I have now completed my third book and am well on the way into my fourth. However, I must confess, had it not been for David Kaplan who edited and proofread Get off your butt! Volume I and II and A Family Bond, they would probably still be on the drawing board. David’s ability to improve the flow and readability of my written work without altering the overall tone or style was uncanny. I would definitely recommend David to any author who needs editing and or proofreading. Give him a shout! davekap44@gmail.com.
Chapter 1
Protect each other at all times! “OK! THAT’S NINE all, if I knock the can over with this shot! That will make me the Champion of the World!” said Nigel, as he took very careful aim, gripping his home-made catapult firmly. He stared intently at a particular spot on the can, as he believed that by doing so the spot would become larger, making it easier to hit the target. The can was perched on a branch of a large Weeping Willow tree. His cousin, CJ (Chris) was sitting on a rock pointing both his index fingers at the can and mouthing, “Ssssssssssssss!” while giving his best interpretation of snake eyes. This was his way of trying to affect the worst possible miss that Nigel could make, as that would then give him an opportunity to win this tough-fought battle. He just needed Nigel to miss! In his left hand, Nigel gripped the catapult firmly, and slowly stretched the two rubber bands that were attached to its Y-frame on the one end, to the other end where they were fastened to a leather sheath that housed a well-chosen pebble. He slowly raised his left hand, continually stretching the rubber bands. He aimed carefully, took a deep breath, then gently released the pressure on the
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soft leather pad, which sent the pebble hurtling through the air. With a loud “whack!” the pebble hit the can dead centre. Nigel leapt into the air and screamed at the top of his voice, “I am the Champion of the World!” “Ah shut up! Let’s go home for lunch, big mouth!” CJ retorted, as he shook Nigel’s hand and realised he would have to absorb his bragging for a long while yet. They slowly made their way along the river’s edge, climbing over many large boulders where the mountain flanked the waterway. CJ listened painfully to the bullshit that was pouring out of Nigel’s mouth, as he constantly harped on about what a great shot it was which had knocked the can off the branch. Nigel was leading the way, weaving a path between rock, water and high grass. He suddenly stopped and thrust a hand towards CJ to do the same, putting his finger across his lips indicating CJ to be quiet. Both boys froze. Nigel then slowly pointed towards a leopard that was perched on top of a large rock to their left, about 40 meters away. The leopard crept towards the edge of the rock and was shaping to pounce. Nigel slowly reached for the catapult tucked in his belt with a shaking hand. He felt for the biggest pebble in his pocket, but before he had time to load the catapult, the leopard leapt off the rock. The boys were frozen on the spot, their faces filled with fear. They tried to scream, but no sound came out of their mouths! Nigel was in front, and the thought that flashed through his mind as the leopard was soaring through the air was, “Is this the way I am going to die?!” They both fell to their knees while covering their faces with their hands. To their amazement, the leopard attacked a white goat instead that was drinking on the river’s edge. The goat somehow broke free and bolted up the mountain side with the leopard in hot pursuit. CJ hit Nigel on the shoulder and shouted, “Run Nigel… Run!” Well! Talk about breaking the world record for the mile! They 8
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never stopped running until they jumped into the rowing boat that had brought them there and paddled frantically across the river. As soon as they hit the bank on the other side, they jumped out and raced along the dirt road for about a kilometre to the farmhouse and headed for the kitchen, where they both tried to enter the door at the same time. Once inside, they immediately slammed the door shut behind them. Ashen faced and with tears in their eyes, they fell to the floor, trying to catch their breath. Hearing the commotion, CJ’s dad came rushing to the kitchen. “What the hell’s this bloody racket guys?” He took one look at the boys and immediately realised something was seriously wrong; they were as white as a sheet. He sat them down at the kitchen table and listened to Nigel’s account of the events that had just transpired. He gave them each a glass of sugar water and said, “Drink this down boys. It will help to calm your nerves. I must notify the farmers in the area that a leopard is on the loose and they must protect their livestock! Now let’s hold hands and thank the good Lord for protecting you and getting you home safely!” The following morning, the boys very wisely decided not to go upriver, but chose rather to cycle to town and grab a coke, a burger and the new Spiderman movie. Nigel was 16 and CJ was two months away from his 16th birthday. At 185 cm tall, with blonde hair and blue eyes, Nigel was a very good-looking lad and well built. He played first team rugby and was athletics captain at Brakpan High. Nigel also had a huge interest in flying and had a range of model aircraft hanging from the ceiling in his bedroom. Not quite as tall as Nigel, CJ was a very nuggety chap, with a military-styled brush-cut and carried a hard face and square jaw with piercing blue eyes. The girls rated him as an extremely handsome guy. He was also a First Dan Black Belt in karate, his first love, with his other interests being
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first team cricket and swimming, the latter of which saw him breaking three records at Volkskool High in Heidelberg. CJ stayed with his mom, dad and 18-year-old sister on the farm Wonderful Land, which his dad had inherited from his grandfather. The 58-hectare farm is situated 25 kilometres from Heidelberg, a small town with about 35,500 inhabitants in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The farm has a magnificent 360-degree view overlooking a three-kilometre river frontage which forms part of the boundary. On the other side of the river, a wonderful mountain range stretches out into the distance completing a stunning panoramic view. The farm has several boreholes, along with two beautiful natural dams and various fountains. There are also 300 olive trees forming a productive orchard about two years old, with various cultivars and full irrigation systems in place, all of which is nursed by CJ’s mom, Norma Venter. In total, there are eight camps with water cribs to move livestock around. The main house is fully fenced with precast walling fitted with electric fencing and the house has a comprehensive alarm system. The security might sound extreme, but is due to the fact that over 4,000 farmers have already been murdered in South Africa since 1994 alone, therefore all possible safety precautions are taken by farmers, and even the farm workers remain constantly on high alert. This is the way of life for these people today which they just have to live with. Unfortunately, the government has not embarked on any form of defensive protection for the white farmers in South Africa, or any farmers for that matter. As the boys were peddling down HF Verwoerd Avenue into the town of Heidelberg, CJ spotted his father’s unmistakeable grey Ford F250 double cab parked outside the local ladies boutique; the vehicle was in absolute mint condition. CJ pointed to it and shouted at Nigel, “My sister’s in town for the day, let’s go say hello!” “OK with me!” Nigel replied. They cut across the road and locked their bikes to the lamppost 10
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outside the shop. Nigel felt his cheeks redden at the thought of seeing Danae again. He did not know how to control his emotions as he had never experienced butterflies like this before. These emotions did not make him feel guilty however, because he knew that Danae, in reality, was not his blood cousin. He knew this because, as life would have it, CJ’s dad, Uncle Johan and his mom, Aunty Norma, adopted Danae when she was six months old and brought her up on Wonderful Land. He heard his mom and dad discuss the adoption that occurred as a result of a horrific motor accident where both Danae’s parents were killed. Danae’s deceased father, Heinrich and CJ’s dad worked together and were best friends. Before Danae was born, Heinrich had asked Johan to be Danae’s godfather, therefore as far as Johan was concerned, the adoption was a mere formality, and one that was wholeheartedly supported by his wife Norma. Eighteen months later, there was great excitement in the Venter household, when Christopher (CJ) Johan Venter was born. As they entered the boutique, a doorbell rang out, and then rang again as the door shut behind them. “Well, look at the two of you! You look as if you have been pulled through the bush backwards!” Danae beamed with joy as she rushed over to greet them. She gave each a hug and a kiss on the forehead. She then turned to Marge, still hugging the boys, “Marge, this is my brother CJ and my cousin Nigel; and boys, this is my very good friend Marge who was at school with me! Well, she was a few years ahead of me,” she clarified, looking at Marge and smiling. “Do you mind if I take them to the washroom and clean them up a little?” “Go ahead, there are towels in the cupboard,” Marge replied. Looking a bit sheepish, Nigel said, “I apologise Marge, but this is what 25 kilometres of dirt road on a bicycle does to one!” At that they all grinned, and Danae led the boys off to go and clean up. A short while later they emerged from the washroom. Upon 11
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seeing how spick and span the boys now looked, Marge put on a feigned exaggerated expression and said, “My! Oh! My! Don’t you boys clean up nicely?” Both boys blushed and smiled… when Nigel suddenly jumped about a metre to the side as if he’d just touched a snake! What actually happened was, he had leant to the side and put his hand out to support himself, when he accidentally placed his hand directly on the D cup-sized bra that was on display at that very spot. Well! Everyone burst out laughing and couldn’t stop! The only way Nigel could see a way out of this was to join them in their merriment, which he did. Catching his breath a few moments later, CJ chirped in, “Imagine what he’ll do if he touched a real one!” At that, they all burst out laughing again, except for Nigel who said, “Shut your face CJ!” CJ’s merriment instantly subdued. To save him any further embarrassment, Danae asked tactfully, “What are your plans for the day Nigel?” “Nothing’s cast in stone. We thought it might be a good idea to catch a movie and spoil ourselves with some popcorn. Would you like to join us?” Danae sighed and said disappointedly, “I’d love to, but I have to get to the travel agent to discuss my trip to Paris, plus I need to catch up on some emergency shopping. Why don’t I meet you guys after the movie at the Spur Steak Ranch at about 5 pm? I’ll phone Mom and tell her not to cook and we’ll take some burgers home… and most importantly, you guys can throw your bikes in the back of the F250 and I’ll give you pumpkins a lift home. How does that sound?” “That will be great Sis, see you at Spur! Cheers Marge! Nice meeting you!” CJ said, walking out the store with the doorbell chiming behind him. Nigel hung around for just a moment longer to absorb the fragrance of Danae’s perfume. Satiated, he turned and said, “See 12