Idea again. We could get the other kids from town and have a drive with

kerries, said Sean. How many hunts have we been on with them? Must be

hundreds by now, and we haven't even bagged one lousy duiker, let alone

a bushbuck. Garrick hesitated and then went on. Besides, remember what

that inkonka did to Frank van Essen, hey? When it finished sticking him

they had to push all his guts back into the hole in his stomach!

, Are you scared? asked Sean. I am not, so! said Garrick indignantly,

then quickly, Gee, its almost dark.

We'd better run.

They went down the valley.

Sean lay in the darkness and stared across the room at the grey Oblong

of the window. There was a slice of moon in the sky outside. Sean

could not sleep: he was thinking about the bushbuck. He heard his

parents pass the door of the bedroom; his stepmother said something and

his father laughed: Waite Courtney had a laugh as deep as distant

thunder.

Sean heard the door of their room close and he sat up in bed. Garry.

No answer. Garry He picked up a boot and threw it; there was a grunt.

Garry.

What you want? Garrick's voice was sleepy and irritable. I was just

thinking, tomorrow's Friday SO? Ma and Pa will be going into town.

They'll be away all day. We could take the shotgun and go lay for that

old inkonka Garrick's bed creaked with alarm. You're mad! Garrick

could not keep the shock out of his voice. Pa would kill us if he

caught us with the shotgun. Even as he said it he knew he would have to

find a stronger argument than that to dissuade his brother. Sean

avoided punishment if possible, but a chance at a bushbuck ram was worth

all his father's right arm could give.

Garrick lay rigid in his bed, searching for words. Besides, Pa keeps

the cartridges locked up it was a good try, but Sean countered it.

I know where there are, two buckshots that he has forgotten about:

they're in the big vase in the dining-room. They've been there over a

month.

Garrick was sweating. He could almost feel the siambok curling round

his buttocks, and hear his father counting the strokes: eight, nine,

ten.

Please, Sean, let's think of something else. . . . .

Across the room Sean settled back comfortably on his pillows. The

decision had been made.

Waite Courtney handed his wife UP into the front seat of the buggy. He

patted her arm affectionately then walked around to the driver's side,

Pausing to fondle the horses and settle his hat down over his bald head.

He was a big man the buggy dipped under his weight as he climbed up into

the seat. He gathered up the reins, then he turned and his eyes laughed

over his great hooked nose at the twins standing together on the

Veranda. I would esteem it a favour if you two gentlemen could arrange

to stay out of trouble for the few hours that your mother and I will be

away Yes, Pa, in dutiful chorus. Sean, if You get the urge to climb the

big blue gum tree again then fight it, man fight itAll right, Pa.

Garrick, let us have no more experiments in the manufacture of

gunpowder, agreed? Yes, PaAnd don't look so innocent. That really

frightens the hell out of me!

Waite touched the whip to the shiny round rumps in front of him and the

buggy started forward, out along the road to Lady-burg. He didn't say

anything about not taking the shotgun whispered Sean virtuously. Now

you go and see if all the servants are out of the way, if they see us,

they'll kick up a fuss. Then come round to the bedroom window and I'll

pass it out to you Sean and Garrick argued all the way to the foot of

the escarpment. Sean was carrying the shotgun across one shoulder,

hanging onto the butt with both hands.

It was my idea, wasn't it! he demanded. But I saw the inkonka first,

protested Garrick. Garrick was bold again: with every yard put between

him and the house his fear of reprisal faded. That doesn't count, Sean

informed him. I thought of the shotgun, so I do the shooting. How come

you always have the fun? asked Garrick, and Sean was outraged at the

question.

When you found the hawk's nest by the river, I let you climb for it.

Didn't I? When you found the baby duiker, I let you feed it. Didn't I?

he demanded.

, All right. So I saw the inkonka first, why don't you let me take the

shot?

Sean was silent in the face of such stubbornness, but his grip on the

butt of the shotgun tightened. In order to win the argument Garrick

would have to get it away from him, this Garrick knew and he started to

sulk. Sean stopped among the trees at the foot of the escarpment and

looked over his shoulder at his brother. Are you going to help, or must

I do it alone? Garrick looked down at the ground and kicked at a twig.

He sniffed wetly; his hay-fever was always bad in the mornings. Well?

asked Sean. What do you want me to do? Stay here and count to a

thousand Slowly.

I'm going to circle up the slope and wait where the inkonka crossed

yesterday. When You finish counting Come UP the gulley.

Start shouting when you are about halfway up. The inkonka will break

the same way as yesterday, all right?

Garrick nodded reluctantly. Did you bring Tinker's chain? Garrick

pulled it from his pocket, and at the sight of it the dog backed away.

Sean grabbed his collar, and Garrick slipped it on. Tinker laid his

ears flat and looked at them reproachfully.

Don't let him go. That old inkonka will rip him up.

Now start counting, said Sean and began climbing. He kept well out to

the left of the gulley. The grass on the slope was slippery under his

feet the gun was heavy and there were sharp lumps of rock in the grass.

He stubbed his toe and it started to bleed, but he kept on upwards.

There was a dead tree on the edge of the bush that Sean had used to mark

the bushbuck's hide. Sean climbed above it and stopped just below the

crest of the slope where the moving grass would break up the silhouette

of his head on the skyline. He was panting. He found a rock the size

of a beer barrel to use as a rest for the gun, and he crouched behind