In his ears. Sean felt confused: everything seemed to be in slow motion

like a bad dream. He looked through into the trading floor and saw the

crude number thirty still chalked accusingly against C. R. C.

Where were the banks? Why weren't they selling? We'll force them,

we'll force the bastards, Duff said again Sean tried to answer him but

the words wouldn't come. He looked back across the trading floor and

now he knew it was a bad dream for Hradsky and Max were there, walking

across the floor towards the members, lounge. Men were crowding around

them and Hradsky was smiling and holding up his hands as if to fend off

their questions. They came through into the lounge and Hradsky went to

his chair by the-fireplace. He lowered himself into it with his

shoulders sagging forward and his waistcoat wrinkled tightly around the

full. bag of his body.

He was still smiling and Sean thought that his smile was one of the most

unnerving things he had ever seen. He watched it with flesh-crawling

fascination and beside him Duff was just as stiR and stricken. Max

spoke quickly to Hradsky and then he stood up and walked across to Sean

and Duff. He stopped in front of them. The clerk informs us that you

have contracted to sell to Mr Hradsky five hundred thousand shares in C.

R. C. s at an average price of thirty-six shillings. Max's lashes

drooped sadly onto his cheeks. The total issue of C. R. C. s, as you

know, is one million shares. During the last two days Mr Hradsky was

able to purchase another seventy five thousand shares apart from the

ones you sold to him. This makes his total holdings of C. R. C. s

almost six hundred thousand shares. It seems therefore that you have

sold shares that don't exist. Mr Hradsky foresees that you will have

some difficulty in fulfilling your contract. Sean and Duff went on

staring at him. He turned to leave them and Duff blurted out. But the

banks, why didn't the banks sell? Max smiled a mournful little smile.

The day he reached Port Natal Mr Hradsky transferred sufficient funds

from his accounts there to liquidate his overdrafts in Johannesburg. He

sent you that telegram and returned here immediately. We only arrived

an hour ago. But, but, you lied to us. You tricked us! Max inclined

his head. Mr Charleywood, I will not discuss honesty with a man who

does not understand the meaning of the word. He went back to Hradsky's

side.

Everyone in the lounge had heard him and while Duff and Sean went on

sitting amongst the ruins of their fortune the struggle to buy C. R. C.

shares started on the main floor. in five minutes the price was over

ninety shillings and still climbing. When it reached one hundred

shillings, Sean touched Duff's arm. Let's go. They stood up together

and started for the door of the members lounge. As they passed

Hradsky's chair he spoke.

Yes, Mr Charleywood, you can't win all the time. It came out quite

clearly with only a slight catch on the c's - they were always difficult

letters for Norman Hradsky.

Duff stopped, he turned to face Hradsky, his mouth open as he struggled

to find a reply. His lips moved, groping, groping for words, but there

were none. His shoulders drooped, he shook his head and turned away.

He stumbled once at the edge of the floor. Sean held his arm and guided

him through the excited jabber of brokers.

No one took any notice of the two of them. They were bumped and jostled

before they were through the crush and out onto the pavement. Sean

signalled Mbejane to bring the carriage. They climbed into it and

Mbejane drove them up to Xanadu.

They went through into the drawing-room. Get me a drink, please, Sean.

Duff's face was grey andcrumpi looking. Sean poured two tumblers half

full of brandy and carried one across to Duff. Duff drank and then sat

staring into the empty glass. I'm sorry, I lost my head. I thought

we'd be able to buy those shares for dirt, when the banks started

sellingIt doesn't matter, Sean's voice was tired. We were smashed

before that happened. Christ! What a well-laid trap it was! we

couldn't have known. It was so damn cunning, we couldn't have guessed,

could we, Sean? Duff was trying to excuse himself.

Sean kicked off his boots and loosened his collar. That night up at the

mine dump, I would have staked my life Max wasn't lying. He lay back in

the chair and stirred his brandy with a circular movement of his hand,

Christ, how they must have laughed to see us stampede into the pitfall!

But we aren't finished, Sean, we aren't completely finished, are we?

Duff was pleading with him, begging for a peg to hang his hope on. We'll

come out of this all right, you know we will, don't you? We'll save

enough out of the wreckage to start again. We'll build it all up again,

won't we, Sean? Sure, Sean laughed brutally. You can get a job down at

the Bright Angels cleaning out the spittoons and I'll get one at the

Opera House playing the piano. aBut, but, there'll be something left. A

couple of thousand even.

We could sell this house. Don't dream, Duff, this house belongs to

Hradsky.

Everything belongs to him. Sean flicked the brandy that was left in his

glass into his mouth and swallowed it. He stood up quickly and went

across to the liquor cabinet. I'll explain it to you. We owe Hradsky a

hundred thousand shares that don't exist. The only way we can deliver

them is to buy them from him first and he can set his own price on them.

We're finished, Duff, do you know what that means? Smashed! Broken!

Sean poured brandy into his glass, slopping a little on the sideboard.

Have another drink on Hradsky, it's his brandy now. Sean swept his arm

round the room, pointing at the rich furniture and heavy curtains. Take

a last look at this lot.

Tomorrow the Sheriff will be here to attach it; then through the due

processes of the law it will he handed to its rightful owner, Mr Norman

Hradsky. Sean started back towards his chair and then he stopped. The

due processes of the law, he repeated softly. I wonder, it might just

work. Duff sat up eagerly in his chair. You've got an idea? Sean

nodded. Well, half an idea anyway. Listen, Duff, if I can save a

couple of thousand out of this do you agree that we get out of here?

Where to, where will we goVWe were facing north when we started. It's

as good a direction as any. They say tHere's gold and ivory beyond the

Limpopo for those who want it. But, why can't we stay here? We could

play the stock market. Duff looked uncertain, almost afraid. Damn it,

Duff, we're finished here. it's a different story playing the market

when you are paying the fiddler and calling the tune, but with a mere

thousand or so we'd be among the dogs fighting for the scraps under

Hradsky's table. Let's get out and start again. We'll go north, hunt