Part 1, Natal: Chapters 7-9 Summary

Every Friday afternoon Sean returns to Theunis Kraal and brings with him life, noise, hustle and bustle and laughter. Waite looks at him with undisguised pride. This Friday is no exception, and the mood is gay until Sean asks his father if Garry's new leg is finished. From there, the attitude grows tense and terse, without Sean understanding why. When they are alone afterward, Garry makes no attempt to explain the outburst to Sean. The following day when Waite returns to the homestead for breakfast, he asks Joseph where the boys are, and finds out they are on the front veranda with Garry's leg. Waite is frantic at first that there will be a repeat episode of terror from Garry, but when he gets close, he hears them talking outside. He watches quietly as Garrick struggles to...