The Blue Mountains of Kabuta Read Free Page B

Mum,’ Jon said patiently, and hurried to the bathroom where she had a quick shower. Then she dressed, pulling on a pink cotton frock for the time being. It was much too thick, she thought. Somehow they must find some shops so that they could buy some thin dresses, more suitable for this intense heat.
    She was on the stoep as the big black car drew up. Alex got out. He was wearing khaki shorts and a matching shirt. His hair was damp as he smiled at her and opened the car door.
    Out tumbled three dogs who hurtled through the air towards Jon, and Alex called sharply:
    â€˜Steady on, Rex, Sandy, Jock! Calm down!’ He grabbed at the dogs and they looked up at him, their tails wagging. ‘Sorry about that, Jon,’ he said. ‘I should have let them out one by one. These are your dogs, incidentally.’
    â€˜Mine?’ Jon stared at him, her eyes wide with delight. ‘They were Uncle Ned’s?’
    â€˜Yes, I’ve been looking after them. You like dogs?’
    â€˜And how!’ Jon held out her hands invitingly and the dogs came round her, sniffing at her suspiciously at first, then finally showing their acceptance of her friendliness by licking her hands.
    Alex turned to open the car door for a moment. When he came back, he held a small cat in his arms. ‘This is also yours,’ he said. ‘Little Tim, Uncle Ned called him. It was a stray kitten he found in the market, terribly thin and covered with sores.’
    â€˜He looks all right now,’ Jon said as she took the small bundle of fur in her arms.
    â€˜What on earth!’
    She swung round as she heard her mother’s startled voice. ‘Our watchdogs, Mum. They’ll look after us all right.’
    Alex smiled. ‘You also have a good night watchman, Mrs Hampton. You have nothing to worry about.’
    â€˜It seems so lonely after living in a flat, Mr Roe.’
    â€˜I’m sure it must. Look, couldn’t you call me Alex? We don’t go in for formalities here.’
    Jon saw her mother’s face brighten. ‘I’m glad. My name is Ursula,’ Mrs Hampton said quickly, ‘Alex.’
    Alex Roe gave a little bow. ‘Thank you, Ursula.’ He turned to Jon. ‘Would you care to be shown round? That is, if you want to see it all?’
    â€˜Of course,’ Jon said quickly. What a stupid question, she thought. Naturally she wanted to see her farm.
    Alex had turned to her mother. ‘Would you care to?’ but Ursula Hampton was shaking her head as she sat down. She had put on a blue skirt and thin, matching blouse. Now the boxer, Sandy, came up to nuzzle his nose against her hand.
    â€˜Some other time, Alex, thanks. I’m still tired.’
    Alex nodded. Then he led the way into the house, Jon following him. ‘That,’ he said over his shoulder, ‘is called a stoep out here. Spelled S.T.O.E.P. Not a verandah.’
    â€˜I see.’ Jon had already wandered round the house, but now Alex showed her the small office with the filing cabinet, desk and typewriter.
    â€˜Your uncle was clever at figures and he has a good African clerk who does most of the work. You’ll soon grasp it. Pay day is always busy, but . . .’
    â€˜How many people will I be employing?’
    â€˜Depends on the season. Being October, this is our spring. We’re ploughing and planting like mad. It’s also dependent on the weather, of course. If it rains we can’t plough. Most of the work is done by piece work, but of course there are a number of regular workers, too.’
    They went into the lounge that ran the width of the house, with two french windows opening on to the stoep. It was an attractive room with deep comfortable armchairs, oil paintings on the walls of sea scenes, brocaded curtains, a number of small coffee tables.
    â€˜Your uncle entertained a lot,’ Alex said casually. ‘He was a popular man and a bachelor, too. That always helps, so he was