Glittering Gallows

Chapter 26

171 C Chapter 26 icks, the snow-white French poodle trailing behind them, at times overtaking and cavorting elatedly ahead of them, Moagi and Eula rode steadily on separate horses towards the western end of the estate. At most the horses cantered. It was noon when the two set out into the vast, intriguing yet soothing expanse of the estate. Cloud smudges drifted in a placid sky, and it was hot. The mansion, the hangar, the stables and all the supporting structures of the property vanished behind them. He saw that his company excited her, and since the day before when he brought her to his bosom by teaching her about secrets, she had become close to him. Father and daughter rode in matching cowboy hats and faded jeans, his attempt at solidarity. Their mood gay, they rode on a dirt road snaking through tall eucalyptus trees. Moagi often rode ahead and urged Eula with praises and his open admiration of her riding an adult thoroughbred chestnut. Startled hares and squirrels scuttled in different directions at their advent. The horses marched majestically, the clatter of their hooves against gravel absorbing. He told her they were a blessed family. She nodded. He expanded that about eighteen years ago, when he was wallowing in poverty, God opened his mind to the realisation that life was spiritual through and through. She looked at him, incomprehension apparent in her eyes. “I don’t understand, Daddy. Isn’t it that there’s Heaven and then this world?” “Everything is spirit. Solomon’s wealth was spiritual, so was the leprosy and poverty of the poor of Galilee.” Using children’s nomenclature, he told her that there was nothing infinite apart from finite things, and that whatever a person desired in life was already deposited in them. H 172 He told her the story of creation; of God drawing Eve from Adam as a rib. Purposely circumventing, he informed her that everything of value was given that value by man. Like a priest, he talked about Lot’s two daughters, their incestuous indulgence with their father and the birth of Moabites and the Ammonites–that the lineages born thereof weren’t illegitimate per se, but something deposited in Noah at his creation as Eve was already in Adam from the beginning. Eula was confounded. He assured her she would understand when she came of age, or shortly, when she partook of the Fruit of Knowledge. She needed not to despair; knowledge was in the offing. Then he spoke of Christ and love. That God so loved the world that He sacrificed His only begotten Son. She added that whoever would believe in the Son would’ve everlasting life. He concurred, but talked about sacrifice. That it was the hallmark of all things spiritual. That gold passed through fire for it to shine. “Does Eunice know about these things?” “I taught her. She is enlightened and proud of her knowledge. Above all, she keeps her mouth shut. When God sent a message to Zachariah before John the Baptist was born, He clipped Zachariah’s tongue until the time for him to speak was relevant. It goes to show how important it is to keep secrets.” The vegetation changed to bush. They turned onto a footpath and continued on the same pace. “Where’re we going, Daddy?” she suddenly asked him. “Have you forgotten about our agreement? We’re almost there now. We’re going to a certain spot for the covenant.” They rode into a small veldt dotted with waist-high immaculate conical anthills. Moagi eased his horse towards one of the anthills and dismounted. She followed him to the spot and waited for him to leash his horse to a tree before he helped her down. He joyously lifted her in the air, almost flinging her, and placed her on the mound. “I’m afraid of falling, Daddy.” 173 He smiled. “I won’t walk away and leave you up there.” But he turned his back to her, trudged in the grass and leashed her horse on the same tree as his. Eula stood still, afraid of slipping from the anthill. Moagi returned, drew an afghan from the back of his shirt, and unsheathed it. Hicks looked at them curiously from a distance before its interest in them floundered. The dog dashed after insects and the scent of rodents. “You scare me, Daddy. What’s...