Читать книгу The Satanic Mechanic - Sally Andrew - Страница 15

CHAPTER NINE

I drove in early to the Gazette that morning. The Karoo hills looked soft and quiet in the dawn light, as if they were still sleeping. The sunrise painted the sky a baby pink and blue. As I drove, it looked like the hills were rolling over in their veld beds. They had a better night’s rest than me, I’m sure.

The troubles from my past sat heavy on me, and on top of them were fresh worries about Slimkat. I wished I could chuck my problems out the car window. I felt the cool morning breeze on my face. I sighed. And the wind blew the sigh back into my mouth.

I let myself into the office and looked at the tin of buttermilk rusks that lived on my desk. Was there any point in having coffee without beskuit? Although the orange pudding had interfered a bit, I was still trying with that diet. For breakfast, I’d eaten a fruit salad.

Hattie had printed out some emails for me and left them on my desk. And there was that letter from the teenager who wasn’t ready for sex. She was worried her boyfriend might leave her. It’s not unreasonable for a man to expect his girlfriend to be his lover. Otherwise they are just friends. He may have patience for a while, but how long can it last? But it didn’t feel fair to say these things to the seventeen year old.

I picked up another letter, an email this time, with yesterday’s date on it.

Dear Tannie Maria,

I wonder if you remember me.

It is because of your letters that we started the Ostrich Supper Club. You got us to meet each other at the Farmers Co-op in Oudtshoorn. I was so shy before that (what with the scars after the accident), and the Supper Club has helped me so much. I’ve started to feel almost normal, and now I’m dating one of the people in the club.

Anyway, at this year’s arts festival, our Ostrich Supper Club is doing a little project with the sponsorship of some ostrich farmers. We have made an ostrich recipe booklet (including some of your great recipes!) and we are having a cooking demonstration and a small dinner at one of the stalls near the beer tent tomorrow night. I hope you are attending the KKNK, and it would be so wonderful if you could come as our guest of honour. You started the whole thing going, and we are all big fans of your ‘Love Advice and Recipe Column’. Sorry for the last-minute notice, but we are a bit deurmekaar when it comes to planning. We are better at eating and chatting and drinking red wine.

Below is my phone number. You are welcome to bring a date or a friend.

All best wishes,

Annemarie van der Walt

(my real name!)

The idea of a date vs a friend pulled my mind to that teenager’s letter. But I steered it back to the Supper Club. Maybe I should go to the KKNK. But it was quite a long drive to Oudtshoorn. I yawned and looked at the office clock. Only 8 a.m. and I was tired.

I heard revving and squealing; Hattie had arrived outside. There was the clicking sound of her neat footsteps up the path. I put on the kettle to make her tea.

‘Hello, Tannie Maria,’ she said. ‘You’re here bright and early.’

‘Morning, Hats.’

‘Goodness gracious, Maria, what happened to you? You look dreadful.’

My hand went to my hair.

‘No, not your hair, the rest of you. You look like you haven’t slept for a week.’

‘I’m fine,’ I said, or tried to say, but it came out funny: ‘I-i-i’m fi-i-i-i-i-ne.’

‘My, oh my, Maria,’ said Hattie, pulling her chair up next to mine and sitting down. ‘Whatever is the matter?’

She handed me my coffee and a rusk.

‘No, thanks,’ I said. ‘I’m on a di-i-i-i-et.’ To my surprise, I found I was crying.

She drew in her breath in shock. ‘No! Is that why you’re in such a state?’

I shook my head. Then nodded my head.

‘You’ve been having trouble sleeping for a while, haven’t you?’ she asked.

I nodded.

‘Have you tried sleeping tablets?’

I shook my head.

‘Have you been to see a doctor?’

‘I saw a counsellor. She put me on this diet.’

‘What a load of poppycock!’ Hattie said. ‘You need a doctor, Maria. I know we’ve got doctors in Ladismith, but there’s an excellent one in Oudtshoorn that I’d like you to meet. Doctor Walters. You are coming to the KKNK, aren’t you? It’ll be fun.’

I found a tissue in my handbag and blew my nose. ‘I’m not sure,’ I said. ‘I feel so tired—’

The phone rang, and Hattie answered. ‘Klein Karoo Gazette . . . Jess!’ She listened for a while and then said, ‘Hold on . . . Maria, Jessie says Slimkat is fine, but something has happened. Warrant Officer Reghardt Snyman, Detective Henk Kannemeyer and half the Ladismith police are at the KKNK. Can I tell her we’re on our way?’

I took a deep breath and said, ‘Yes.’