The covenant - James A. Michener [559]
Ts there any foundation to the charge?' Dr. Sterk asked.
'None whatever,' Mr. Albertyn said, and right there the great suspicion began, for the principal noted that whereas Mr. Albertyn leaped forward to defend his family and his daughter, Mrs. Albertyn did not, and he said to himself: Why is the woman so quiet? She must be hiding something. I do believe Petra is Coloured!
At the conclusion of the interview on the veld Dr. Sterk suggested, 'I think under the circumstances you'd better take your daughter out of our school.'
'I refuse,' Mr. Albertyn cried. 'Have you any idea what it would mean to the child? Thrown out of school for doing nothing wrong?'
'I understand your sensitivities,' Dr. Sterk said with a certain unctuousness. 'But have you considered the consequences if a public charge is made? There would have to be a Race Classification inquiry. The effect on Petra . . .' He paused, not ominously, but with just the hint of a threat: 'The terrible consequences to yourselves?'
Belatedly Mrs. Albertyn spoke, and she did so with quiet force: 'Have you been thinking of the consequences, Dr. Sterk? Of persecuting a poor little child?'
These words had just the opposite effect to what she had intended. Dr. Sterk interpreted them as a challenge to his integrity, and said crisply, 'I'm always mindful of my duty, Mrs. Albertyn, to my pupils and to my nation. If you are attempting to pass into a white society, that is against the laws of our country, and a board will determine the facts.'
He took them back to their cottage, then speedily returned to Venloo, where he joined a meeting of the school committee: 'A most serious charge, not yet formalized, has been made that our child Petra Albertyn is a Coloured. Have any of you evidence bearing on this?'
Two of Petra's teachers had asked to be present and volunteered their assurances that Petra Albertyn was one of the finest Dr. Sterk cut them off: 'We're not testifying to her quality. We're interested only in her race.' And the way in which he spoke these words conveyed the clear impression that he now considered the accusations against this child justified. This encouraged the vice-principal to say that he had been watching Petra for some time, and she not only looked suspiciously dark, but she also behaved in distinctly Coloured ways.
'What do you mean?' Dr. Sterk asked.
'The way she says certain words.'
Venloo's dominee, Reverend Classens, was a committee member, and he asked ponderously, 'Do we appreciate what we're doing here tonight? This child's entire future is at stake.'
'No one could be more sympathetic than we are, Dominee,' Dr. Sterk said. 'But if she is Coloured, then one of her parents must be Coloured, too. They can have a future among their own people. Not here in Venloo.'
'Does this mean,' the dominee asked, 'that you plan to examine every child who seems a bit dark?'
'They are examined every day. By their fellow students. By everyone who sees them. This is a Christian nation, Dominee, and we obey the law.'
'That is what I preach. But I also preach "Suffer the little children to" '
'We don't persecute little children. But we must keep serious priorities in mind.' 'Such as?'
'The moral welfare of every child in this school.'
After the meeting a grim-faced Dr. Sterk went to see the Van Valcks, and reported: 'I've seen the Albertyns and there is foundation for your accusations. The vice-principal has also had his suspicions.'
'That's what we told you,' Mrs. van Valck said smugly. 'What are you going to do about it?'
'I've asked the Albertyns to remove their daughter.'
'And they refused?'
'They have.' There was a long pause, in which each of the three considered the inevitable next step, the one that would throw the community into turmoil. Twice Dr. Sterk made as if to speak, then thought better of it. In a matter of such gravity the decision must be made by the people involved, and he would wait upon them.