Chapter 10

The unmistakeable aroma of the African bushveld lay heavy on the early evening air. More than three hundred indigenous trees are scattered around the North-west Bushveld, but you will miss a lot if you rely exclusively on your eyes to absorb the beauty of the surrounding landscape.

The shrill call of a fish eagle you can hear as it perches on a dried-out thorn tree branch calling to its mate and guarding its nest. Around the acacia trees you will hear the twitter of smaller birds getting ready for a night’s rest.

If you add your sense of smell, however, you will be drawn to the rainbow of different aromas that magnify what your eyes are telling you.

Close your eyes and become aware of the scents that abound. You start to identify the different aromas: pepper-minty scents, floral scents, pungent like vinegar scents, and musky aroma, like the perfume of a lady or the aftershave of a man. Now mix these in with the ever-present smell of dust, and you will find the combination brings calm to your body and soul.

Now open your eyes and add back the drama of the orange-red and yellow sun sinking behind thorn trees and long redgrass, behind a smoothly rounded “Koppie.” (Hill)

See the tinting of the blue sky turn to purple, rose pink and blood-red, streaked with yellow, then you will know — You’re in Africa!

Africa — the second paradise, where the antelope play, and the buffalo stay. And here in this paradise, my Africa, there’s always a new tomorrow, a dream you can follow, and a new tomorrow where the sun will rise and paint its light in golden glow on the mountains in the far distance.

After leaving the private airport in the middle of nowhere, out in rural North-west Province near the town of Brits, Bobbie and I made the forty-minute drive to my place near Pretoria North in Gauteng Province.

The house and yard looked in good shape, thanks to my brother who lived two kilometres away on his own small holding, and came around to tend to mine. Herman, my brother, and his blond wife Theresa, always tended to my place if I was away on assignments.

In truth, they had an investment in my property. Herman had a few heads of cattle that grazed my land and the few hectares of sunflowers and maize planted there were Theresa’s. I lived there and enjoyed the serenity while they farmed part of the land.

My land was much bigger than the fifty hectares of their land, but being family, they enjoyed the extra few hectares without paying rent for it. Why should I charge them if they take care of the house for me when I’m gone?

Bobbie and I dropped our crash-bags in the kitchen, and I took her out to the back of the house to show her the sunset over the bushveld.

“It’s so quiet...” she sighed here next to me, where we sat on a fallen thorn tree trunk. “This feels like visiting another country.”

“For us, it is another country. Far from the Cape with its own beauty. But this is the Africa that poems and songs are written about.”

“There’s no wind, and the heat of this afternoon is fading.”

“You don’t know heat, Bobs. Wait till high summer. Then you’ll know what heat is.”

“Really?”

“Really ... Now, turn your head slowly to your right. Look towards that acacia tree, the big one next to that light-brown rock.”

“What must I see?”

“Don’t just look at the tree, let your eyes go through the tree ... focus beyond the tree.”

“I see something ... it’s dark brown and tan. Like dark-brown near squares and ... It’s a giraffe! Now I see him. A real live giraffe!”

“He has been watching us for last five to ten minutes.”

“No way! How can such a large animal go so quiet and slow?”

“You’re in the bush, Honey. Here things are different.”

“How different?”

“I can guide you, but you’ll have to experience it by yourself.”

“Okay...”

“Giraffa camelopardalis, that’s the scientific name for a giraffe.”

“Camel-opar-da-lis...” Bobbie repeated the name softly, to wrap her tongue around the pronunciation.

“Yes, loosely translated as ‘camel horse’, but is neither a camel, nor a horse. It’s an antelope. The males are called bulls, and the females are called cows, the little ones are called calves. Like with cattle.”

“Cattle is, in essence, also just domesticated antelope,” and she smiled at me, as if to say, “I do know something about animals.”

“Yes, you are right. But skip the lecture. Look what he is doing now.”

“He’s eating the leaves of that thorn tree!” she gasped, “Won’t he hurt his tongue?”

“Nope, his tongue is specially adapted to strip the leaves without getting into the thorny part,” Chuckle.

“Oh, look! A baby giraffe!”

“That means it’s a cow and not a bull we are looking at. The horns on her head are shorter than that of a bull, and there are hairs growing on the top of the horns.”

“Are here other animals around?”

“Blesbok, Kudu, and some Rooibok. If we go back now, we might catch some over by the dam. It’s time for them to come drink.”

“And miss the sunset?”

“Nah ... You’ll still see it from the dam. But we need to get back to the house before sunset.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to be a lion’s supper...”

“THERE’re LIONS HERE!?” but before I could answer her, close nearby a jackal called his mate, his yelping bark splitting the silence in the bush.

“EEEEEEEE! Let’s go! You live in a dangerous place!”

“That’s only a jackal. He poses no threat to us.” I chuckled.

“But let’s go home!” Shiver.

“Okay, pumpkin. It’s getting time that I must go feed you something anyway...”

Dusk was setting in as we reached the house. I switched on the lights inside and took Bobbie to the bedroom that she would use. This had her giving me a sideways glance, and I just ignored it. I knew she would end up snuggling with me sometime during the night.

“So, do you have anything in mind for supper?” I asked.

“Well, I suppose you don’t have anything here, and it’s anyway too late for grocery shopping,” Bobbie replied.

“We can drop into Pretoria North for hamburgers or pizza?”

“That sounds like a plan!” Giggle.

“So, let’s get going...” I started, but then fell quiet as I heard the sound of a car pulling into the yard. “Hmm ... sounds like visitors.”

“Do you expect anyone?”

“Could be my brother. I told him I’ll be back today...”

“Did you mention me coming here with you?”

“Nope. Let’s surprise him!”

Giggle. “Well, you do have coffee here, so let me go brew some,” and she made her way to the kitchen.

I walked out onto the patio just as Herman and Theresa got out of their bakkie.

“Hello Louis! Welcome back!” Herman greeted, as they stepped up to the patio.

“Looks like you guys missed me!” I replied and greeted them, with a handshake for Herman and a kiss on the cheek for Theresa.

“We know that you got nothing in the kitchen, so we went grocery shopping for things that you might need. Also, we brought some lamb stew and rice for supper,” Theresa informed me. “We better eat before it gets cold!”

“Ooo! That sounds just delicious!” Came from the front door, and all eyes turned to Bobbie standing in the doorway, looking like a million dollars in her black denim, green sleeveless top, ginger hair cascading over her shoulders, blue eyes smiling, and pink toenails on her bare feet.

Theresa was the first to recover: “Hello, I’m Theresa, call me Terri...”

“Hello Theresa ... Terri, I’m Bobbie.”

I then introduced Bobbie to Herman. He just looked at me and smiled. Theresa had a question mark on her face. They were not used to me having stay-over guests, at least not of the female persuasion, and she was an obvious young female guest.

“Well, let’s go inside ... For what shall we stand around out here?” I offered and ushered them into to the kitchen, Herman and I a few paces behind the women.

“Who’s that?” he whispered as the two girls stepped through the kitchen doorway.

“Oh, Bobbie? Just a friend that wanted a ride in my L-39...”

“And you bring her all the way here? All by herself? She looks young...”

“Turning eighteen in a few days...”

“Does she work with you?”

“Nope! She’s still at school.”

“Dammit, Louis! A schoolgirl...”

“Don’t get carried away. She is just that, a friend.”

“Oh, okay. If you say so...” Herman said, but I could see the smile in his eyes. He was not believing me.

Walking into the kitchen, I heard Terri question Bobbie: “So, you live with your aunt, and she works with Louis?”

“Yes! Louis helps me with math...”

“ ... You mean to say he tutors you? Are you at varsity?”

“No, not varsity. I’m in my senior year in high school. Matric, or grade twelve.”

“You’re still at school!” Gasp.

Giggle.

“Now, ladies, let’s all get coffee, and Bobbie and I will explain how we fit together.” I tried to defuse the situation, but I fear I used the wrong words.

“Fit together? Hmm ... That I must hear!” Terri said and looked at me with a smirk on her face. Herman just stood grinning.

“Well, I can just say that Louis is a friend that happens to be a boy,” Bobbie dropped the phrase I coined before for her.

“Sounds awfully close to ’Boyfriend’,” Terri chuckled. “But that is your problem, you two. Just don’t be caught out.”

“Don’t worry, Terri, we will observe the twelfth commandment, as there’s nothing to worry about.” Giggle.

Terri knew the meaning of ‘twelfth commandment’, as I used the term on her before.

“Hmm ... Okay you two, let’s eat! Bobbie, please help me with the dishing up,” Terri instructed, and Herman drew out a chair and sat down.

Supper was served by Terri and Bobbie. We all enjoyed the meal, and conversation flowed: trials and triumphs of the locals, the state of the spread, and what was happening in town. Even Bobbie joined in, and I was glad that she seemed to have shed her shell.

Terri and Herman took to Bobbie like ducks to water, and I was relieved that my brother and sister-in-law seemed to have settled with the idea that Bobbie and I were ... friends; how close friends the two of them did not need to know ... yet!

After supper — dinner — whatever you want to call it, Herman and I took some coffee and retired to the patio while the girls took care of the dishes.

“So, you say you are taking the jet to Plett?”

“Yeah, I have a few months still ahead until the construction of the plant is completed. So on off weekends I can play a little.”

“And how are you getting the jet, the helicopter and your bakkie back here?” Herman chuckled.

“Pop the bakkie and the chopper into the Hercules and fly them back here. I’ll follow with the jet.”

“And Miss blue-eyes?”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” I said, taking out my pipe and tobacco pouch. “Miss blue-eyes will go to varsity and that will keep her busy for three or four years.”

“ ... In Cape Town?”

“She had the idea to go to Stellenbosch, or UCT. UNISA was also mentioned.”

“UNISA is here in Pretoria...”

“So it is, but it is also a distance learning university. She can study from anywhere in the world,” I explained and started my pipe going.

“And what does she want to study?”

“I have not asked her yet.”

“She must have some idea by now, seeing she is half a year away from graduating matric.”

“I intend to do a B.Sc. in Physics at the University of Cape Town. And thereafter a one-year B.Sc. Honours in the fields of High Energy Physics, Nuclear Physics, Nanotechnology and Solid-State Physics with Applied Physics, and Quantum Physics as stopgap subjects,” Bobbie answered as she and Terri walked out onto the terrace. Terri burst out laughing, and Herman blew coffee out his nose.

Bobbie dropped onto the couch next to me as Terri joined Herman on the other couch.

“Well, girl ... you have the world of employment opportunities open for you,” Herman replied after he composed himself. Then the bright spark brother of mine tried to put one over on Bobbie and asked her: “What is the use of Planck’s constant?”

“Planck’s constant is used for describing the behaviour of particles and waves at an atomic scale. Planck’s constant is one of the reasons for the development of quantum mechanics.” Bobbie rattled off without skipping a beat.

“Geez, Girl! Do you have Siri embedded in that brain?” he quizzed, somewhat mystified.

“I should not have given her that laptop for her math studies...” I sighed.

“Oh, you two! Leave Bobbie alone!” Terri chuckled and turned to Bobbie: “With a physics degree, you could work in research and development, engineering, information technology or finance. Physics graduates are sought after for their scientific knowledge and problem-solving skills,” Terri replied, wiping up some of Herman’s spilled coffee. “I just hope Louis can keep up with you!”

“Oh, he doesn’t have to keep up with me...” Bobbie stated nonchalantly, “He’ll just have to come along and enjoy the ride!” Then she hooked her arm through mine and leaned into me, smiling like the canary that ate the cat.

“I knew it!” Terri blurted, looking at Bobbie and me with a smile on her face. “Oh, well, other relationships over the age-gap worked out fine.”

“What other age-gap relationships?” I asked.

“I said nothing. Just now it only motivates Bobbie to go in for the kill. But never mind, Louis. I think you should keep her...”

“Theresa!” Herman admonished.

Terri and Herman stayed a while longer. Terri and Bobbie chatted away a mile a minute and Herman and I talked mostly about flying and his job lecturing in civil engineering at the University of Pretoria.

The subject of Bobbie’s further tertiary learning came up again, and it seems to me that he, Herman, would have liked to have recruited Bobs for UP. He even mentioned the possibility of a scholarship. Bobbie just looked at him and then at me.

“I did not think about scholarships,” She admitted.

“Well, she’s been a straight A student the last couple of years, so I suppose that will count for something,” I replied.

“So, how come you had to tutor her in maths?” Terri asked.

“There was a question about integrals and infinitives...” I looked at Bobbie who just giggled. “But I soon realised that she did not need any tutoring.”

“Hmm ... Sounds to me like you have been weighed and found to be in order for further research and development, dear brother-in-law...” Terri observed, a lopsided grin decorating her face with her left eye half shut.

“That further development is the part that terrifies me!” Herman added. “Terri has been trying her best to transform me the last couple of years, with only slight success.”

Terri gave Herman the evil eye, then turned to Bobbie: “You should come visit me ... I’ll give you tips on training your pet. Or mate!”

“Sure thing, Sister!” Bobbie chuckled. “Bend the tree when it is still young!”

“Oh brother! You are in for it!” Herman replied and looked at me.

“Let them try ... I have a few training skills of my own, and I’m a master at evasive action!”

Everyone laughed. Man, it’s good to have good family and friends.

Thursday dawned bright and sunny with not a cloud to be seen in the pale blue sky. The sky colour told me that it will be a scorcher of a day ahead and if Bobbie wanted to go ride in the L-39, we better get a move on. Wonderboom is considered a hot-and-high airfield.