In the chest. Don't come my way, go that way! Garrick stumbled

backwards.

One of the others was ready for him. Don't come my way, go that way and

pushed him in the back. They formed a ring around him and kept him

staggering between them. Go that way! Go that way! The tears were

streaked down his cheeks now. Please, please stop.

, please, please, they mimicked him.

Then, with a rush of relief, Garrick felt the fluttering start behind

his eyes, their faces dimmed, he hardly felt their hands upon him. He

fell and his face hit the ground, but there was no pain. Two of them

stooped over him to lift him, and there was dirt mixed with the tears on

his cheeks.

Sean came through the hedge behind them; the front of his shirt bulged

with peaches. For a second he crouched on his hands and knees while he

took in what was happening, then he came out of his crouch at a run.

Ronny heard him, dropped Garrick and turned. You've been pinching Pa's

peaches, he shouted. I'll tell Sean's fist hit him on the nose and he

sat down. Sean swung towards the other two but they were already

running, he chased them a few paces and then came back for Ronny, but he

was too late. Ronny was dodging away between the trees holding his face

and his nose was bleeding onto his shirt. Are you all right, Garry?

Sean knelt beside him, trying to wipe the dirt off his face with a

grubby handkerchief.

Sean helped him to his feet, and Garrick stood swaying slightly with his

eyes open but a remote and vacant smile on his lips.

Waite Courtney looked at Sean across the breakfast table at Theunis

Kraal. The fork-load of egg and grilled gammon stopped on the way to

his mouth. Turn your face towards the window, he commanded

suspiciously. Sean obeyed. What the hell is that on your face?

rWhat? Sean ran his hand over his cheek. When did you last bath? Don't

be silly, my dear. Ada touched his leg under the table. It isn't dirt,

it's whiskers. Whiskers, are they? Waite peered closely at Sean and

started to grin, he opened his mouth to speak and Ada knew instantly

that he was going to make a joke, one of those ponderous jokes of his,

as subtle as an enraged all-formed dinosaur, that would wound Sean deep

in his half-formed manhood. Quickly she cut in, I think you should buy

him a razor, don't you, Waite? Waite lost the thread of his joke, he

grunted and put the egg into his mouth.

I don't want to cut them, said Sean and flushed scarlet.

They'll grow quicker if you shave them a bit at first, Ada told him.

Across the table from her Garrick fingered his jowls wistfully.

Waite fetched them from school at the beginning of the December

holidays. In the confusion of loading their cases onto the buggy and

shouting farewells to Friulein and to their friends, some of whom they

would not see for another six weeks, the twins did not notice that Waite

was acting strangely.

It was only later when the horses were heading for home at twice their

normal speed that Sean asked, What's the hurry, Pa?

You'll see, said Waite, and both Garrick and Sean looked at him with

sudden interest. It had been an idle question of Sean's but Waite's

answer had them immediately intrigued. Waite grinned at the bombardment

of questions but he kept his answers vague. He was enjoying himself. By

the time they reached Theunis Kraal the twins were in a frenzy of

curiosity.

Waite pulled the horses up in front of the house and one of the grooms

ran to take the reins. Ada was waiting on the veranda and Sean jumped

down and ran up the steps to her. He kissed her quickly. What's

happening? he pleaded. Pa won't tell us- but we know it's

something.Garrick hurried up the steps also. Go on, tell us. He caught

hold of her arm and tugged it.

I don't know what you're talking about, Ada laughed. You'd better ask

your father again.

Waite climbed up after them, put one arm around Ada's waist and squeezed

her.

I don't know where they got this idea from, said Waite, but why not tell

them to go and have a look in their bedroom? They might as well have

their Christmas presents a bit earlier this year. Sean beat Garrick to

the lounge and was far in the lead by the time he reached the door of

their bedroom.

Wait for me, called Garrick desperately. Please wait for me. Sean

stopped in the doorway.

Jesus Christ, he whispered, they were the strongest words he knew.

Garrick came up behind him and together they stared at the pair of

leather cases that lay on the table in the middle of the room, long flat

cases, heavy polished leather with the corners bound in brass.

Rifles! said Sean. He walked slowly to the table as though he were

stalking the cases, expecting them at any moment to vanish.

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.