The covenant - James A. Michener [615]
When word reached Vrymeer that Craig Saltwood and his family were leaving, the Van Doorns were startled, for this was only the latest in that flood of talent that was pouring out of South Africa. 'Craig must be out of his mind,' Marius stormed. 'Good job here. Sound prospects.'
'And a clear view of the track ahead,' his wife agreed.
Philip Saltwood had dropped by to see Sannie, but she was out with the Troxel boys, and Marius put the question to him: 'Would you be frightened out of South Africa today?'
'I'd want to stay. But that's because I like crisis situations.'
'You imply that if you were Craig, you might leave.'
'I might. I doubt a non-Afrikaner has much future here. I'd probably go back to where I was wanted.'
'You damned foreigners,' Marius growled.
'I'm staying,' his very English wife said. 'But of course, my life is here. Sannie and the rest.'
'Are you also saying that if you were Craig, you'd take the chicken and run?' her husband asked.
'I would, for the reasons Philip has just cited. It's not pleasant, Marius, living where you're not welcome'
'Rubbish. All my friends adore you.'
'And half our Jewish acquaintances have sent their children out of the country. Never coming back. And we know many English who are doing the same.'
Marius adopted a philosophical view: 'Every organism ought to cleanse itself now and then. The brains we lose will be replaced locally.'
'But if you Afrikaners despise speculative thinking because it might turn radical, how can the gaps be filled?' she asked. 'Have you heard what Afrikaner professors and ministers are teaching these days? Not much leadership there.'
'It'll come,' Philip interposed. 'I see some very bright young engineers.'
'One thing does worry me,' Marius said reflectively. 'Of all the places in the world I've seen, the one that impressed me most was Princeton, New Jersey. When I was there Einstein was in residence, and John von Neumann, and Lise Meitner was visiting. All the brilliant scientists that Europe had lost in the 1930s. They were the ones who paved the way for the atomic bomb. Fermi, the others. And when the urgent need came in World War II, the Germans looked around for their help and they were gone. I wonder if we're alienating similar talent.'
But when Frikkie and Jopie arrived with Sannie, they put things back into perspective. 'To hell with all English fugitives,' Jopie said. 'They fight for nothing these days. Won't even play us in rugby.' But as soon as he said this he remembered that Mrs. van Doorn was English: 'I don't mean you.'
Frikkie said brightly, 'Let the Jews and the English hands-uppers clutter up Harvard and Yale. We have work to do here which they would never stomach. And we're going to do it.'
When the time came for the Craig Saltwoods to leave the country, Philip announced that he'd like to drive to Jan Smuts Airport to see them off, for this would give him a chance to meet Laura Saltwood, of whom several local people had spoken with regard. However, the journey was a hundred miles, and he might not have gone had he not received a surprising telegram from Craig Saltwood, whom he had never met: imperative i see you jan smuts airport prior my departure.
Frikkie and Jopie volunteered to drive, because they knew that Sannie enjoyed seeing the 747s even if she wasn't flying in them, so as a foursome they drove across southern Transvaal, roaring into the airport well ahead of takeoff. They found Craig Saltwood anxiously looking for his American cousin. When Frikkie identified the Englishman, the three Afrikaners withdrew, leaving the cousins alone. Then Craig said, startling Philip even more, 'I know we're practically strangers, but. .. Philip, would you please watch over my mother. I'm sure she's up to something dramatic and I'm damned if I can leam what.'
Philip was at a loss for words. Stunned