TwoWireEgg_1_1_d

8/9/2019 TwoWireEgg_1_1_d

1/165

TwoWireEgg 1.1d 2008/05/19 Page 1

TwoWireEggPeter Charter

Chapter 1

Sunday July 15th, 2001.

Far West and, South !"ri#a

$t would later see% ironi# that the se#ond &ourney the egg too' a"ter two and a hal" (illion years o"

slee) would not (e in a strong (o* in an ar%oured +ehi#le, (ut in an old tog (ag lying on the (a#' seat o"

a 1-5 ol'swagen (eetle. $n the (eetle were no s#ientists with white &a#'ets and thi#' glasses, (ut a +ery

large South !"ri#an geologist wearing old deni% &eans and a 'ha'i shirt. The destination was not a high

se#urity s#ienti"i# esta(lish%ent, (ut the ho%e o" a wealthy young Johannes(urg "a%ily who had no ideao" the signi"i#an#e o" what was on it/s way to the%.

The egg was not aware o" these things. !ll it 'new was that eighteen hours )re+iously an o(&e#t at

thirtyse+en degrees Celsius, and ha+ing an ele#tri#al resistan#e o" a "ew %illion oh%s, had tou#hed its

inter"a#e "or a(out three se#onds. $t did not 'now that the o(&e#t was a "inger, and nor did it 'now what a

"inger was. $t did not 'now that the "inger was #onne#ted to a hu%an (ody, and nor did not 'now what a

hu%an was.

ut the "inger, atta#hed to an ar% a#ting as an aerial, had (ued with hundreds o" thousands o"

radio signals #olle#ted "ro% the world around it, and in that (rie" #onta#t the egg 'new that intelligent li"e

had e+ol+ed on the )lanet.

$t had all started with a hango+er at 0340 !6 on the )re+ious Friday in the 7orth West Pro+in#e

o" South !"ri#a.

Fran' had needed his alar% #lo#' that %orning, and when the )ersistant (uing "inally )ier#ed

his slee) it too' a while "or hi% to wor' out why it it was set so early. 8e e+entually re%e%(ered setting

it to ta'e the 05400 #age down the %ine. 8e had (een "rustrated in his atte%)ts to de#ode and inter)ret the

#o%)li#ated geology o" a new se#tion o" the %ine, and de#ided to +isit a new (o*hole (e"ore the drilling

tea% "illed it u) with s%o'e, grit and grease, and %ade o(ser+ation di""i#ult.

The %e%ory o" what #aused the heada#he (rought the "irst s%ile o" the day to his "a#e. Thursday

was the %ine/s s9uash #lu( e+ening, and Fran' seldo% %issed it. !"ter the ga%es he had snea'ed into the%ine )u( to re)la#e so%e o" the "luid lost on the #ourts with a 9ui#' :ager, (ut it had not )ro+ed to (e as

9ui#' as he intended. 8e had (een dragged into the ga%es roo% as the "ourth )layer in a snoo'er ga%e.

The ga%es had (een #lose, and he and his )artner Ji%%y had wal'ed away with the winnings o" ten

Downloaded from http://pdfbooks.co.za


2/165


and, hardly enough to (uy one (eer, and nowhere near the "ew doen the "our o" the% had downed. 8e

re%e%(ered #learing the #olours in a single (rea' "ro% the last red, a (rea' that had in#luded 9uite a "ew

hallelu&ah shots he had ad%itted the% as su#h (ut he had still su""ered lighthearted a(use "ro% their

o))onents.

$t too' hi% no longer than a "ew %inutes to (rush his teeth, sla) so%e water onto his thi#' red

(eard and #hange into the 6ine ;eologist/s uni"or% o" 'ha'i trousers, shirt, +els'oens and leather &a#'et,

and soon his old ol'swagen (eetle was %a'ing its way through the i#y )redawn (la#'ness to the sha"t.

!s he )ar'ed his #ar he was sur)rised to noti#e that his (eetle was not the "irst #ar in the )ar'ing

lot reser+ed "or o""i#ials. The

The #at a))eared to #onsider the re9uest #are"ully (ut did not #o%)ly.Fran' had wor'ed on the sa%e sha"t "or three years sin#e lea+ing uni+ersity, (ut had not o"ten

+isited the sha"t in dar'ness. 8e sto))ed "or a "ew %o%ents to ta'e in the s)e#ta#le o" one o" the world/s

largest headgears standing s)readeagled o+er one o" the worlds dee)est sha"ts, it/s na'ed #on#rete

)ainted orange (y the sodiu% lights illu%inating the (an' and headgear. The sha"t o" a (ig gold %ine

ne+er slee)s, and the (an' had seldo%, i" e+er, (een in dar'ness sin#e the "irst sod had (een turned so%e

15 years earlier. 8e wat#hed the e*haled (reath o" the %ine dis#harging in a #ray orange s)iral "ro% the

+entilation sha"ts into the #old )redawn s'y. Sound was e+erywhere, the #heer"ul (anter o" the night shi"t

)ouring out o" the #ages #ontrasting with the su(dued %ur%ur o" the slee)y day shi"t %o+ing through the

turnstiles in the o))osite dire#tion. E+erywhere was the sound o" %etal on %etal, (o*#ar hitting (o*#ar,

#age doors (anging o)en and shut, and always the ti%)ani# #on+ersation o" the sha"t signal (ells. 8e had

wor'ed as an onsetter, or #age &o#'y, during his uni+ersity holidays and 'new the language, ea#h

#on+ersation starting with =$ wish to tra+el>, in res)onse =you %ay tra+el>, and the short

single rings )ro+iding the "ull sto) at the end o" ea#h senten#e. 8e heard the single ring "ro% the onsetter

"ollowed (y the single ring "ro% the windingengine dri+er, and instin#ti+ely started to #ount the se#onds

in his head, 'nowing that the onsetter had only ten se#onds to get into the #age, and #lose the door, (e"ore

it started its (rea'ne#' downward des#ent. !t two he heard the #lun' as the onsetter #losed the sha"t gate

(ehind hi%. 8e sto))ed #ounting at "i+e as the sound o" gritty %etal sliding o+er gritty %etal, "ollowed (y

a se#ond #lun' told hi% the onsetter was sa"ely in the #age. 8e "elt the #olle#ti+e "ear o" the three hundred

or so %en in the threede#' #age 'nowing that no %atter how %any shi"ts you ha+e wor'ed on a gold

%ine, you ne+er get used to the "eeling in your sto%a#h as the des#ent (egins.

The #lut#hing signal "or "i"tyle+el told hi% he didn/t ha+e ti%e to waste, as that was his "irstdestination. ! se#ond su( +erti#al sha"t "ollowed (y a three'ilo%eter wal' would get hi% to his "inal

destination. $t was 03450, and i" all went well he #ould (e there within an hour.

!nother sur)rise was Ed%ond ?la%ini, one o" the %ine/s sur+eyors in the #hangehouse. 8e was

star' na'ed and #o+ering hi%sel" li(erally with so%e greasy loo'ing su(stan#e "ro% a )lasti# #ontainer

%ade to loo' li'e a #o#onut. The atta#' on Fran'/s %u#ous %e%(ranes "ro% the s%ell in the roo% was

al%ost se+ere enough to #ause whi)lash.

@8ey +an der WesthuienA What (rings the ro#'do#tor to the %ine so early in the %orningB/

9ueried a #heer"ul Ed.

Fran' didn/t answer i%%ediately. The s%ell o" #o#onut in his nose was too strong.

@Whew EdA What the hell is that stu""B $/% going to need a (loody nose trans)lantA/

@;ood ideaA ! ni#e (ig "lat (la#' one will loo' good on youA/ #a%e the s%iling res)onse. @$/%

going ho%e "or the wee'end, and the (oss said i" $ get the new )egs in the se+entytwo west #ross#ut $



3/165


#ould ga) it early. This stu"" is "or the s'in. The girls lo+e a %an with so"t s'in and a hard. . @ 8e didn/t

#o%)lete the senten#e. There was no need.

8o%e "or Ed%ond was 6(a(ane, in the little ingdo% o" Swailand. 8e had #o%e to the %ines

as an eighteen year old with little "or%al edu#ation, (ut great attitude. 8is s'ill with nu%(ers and

%a#hines was noti#ed, and he soon "ound hi%sel" )ro%oted "ro% #arrying an underground theodolite to

using one. 8e had (een gi+en a la)to) #o%)uter (y the %ine "or his sur+ey wor', and had a%aed e+en

the $T se#tion on the %ine with his ra)id gras) o" the te#hnology. 8e had %astered si%)le )rogra%%ing

and had (uilt the %ine/s new )eg register with only a little hel) "ro% the $T de)art%ent, and had %ore

re#ently (een hel)ing Fran' (uild an inter"a#e (etween the register and the geologi#al syste%s. !s "ar as

the sur+ey )art o" his &o( was #on#erned, Fran' always en&oyed Ed/s #heer"ul attitude to what was neither

a +ery )leasant nor easy o##u)ation.

@;reat Ed. While you are there why don/t you (uy yoursel" a #ou)le o" wi+esB $ hear that you

ha+e (een seen #hatting u) the girls (ehind the %ine sho)./

@8a+e to test the %er#handise %on. What you doing here in the %iddle o" the night %onB/ he

as'ed in a )assa(le West$ndian a##ent he so%eti%es ado)ted sin#e they had wat#hed a %o+ie a(out a

Ja%ai#an (o(sled tea%.

@Want to get u) the new (o* hole in "ortyse+en west (e"ore the drills start. $ #an/t wor' out wherethe ree" has gone./

@Dou need a )eg u) there you shout o'ayB/ Said Ed.

@Than's Ed, (ut not yet. :et/s hit )aydirt "irst and then $/ll need one. ut than's "or the o""er./

Fran' was genuinely than'"ul.


4/165


@!s' ;ert to hold the #age "or %e Ed/ said Fran', 'nowing "ull well there was a(solutely no

#han#e o" the (an's%an holding a #age "or a late ;eologist. ?uring his "irst wee' o" underground wor',

Fran' learned that on the (an' o" a large gold %ine the (an's%an has a(solute )ower, and would not

e+en hold a #age (a#' "or the ;eneral 6anager. ;ert wor'ed to a rigid s#hedule on whi#h the s%ooth

o)eration o" the whole %ine de)ended.

@Sure Fran'ie. Will do. 8a+e a good wee'end %y "riend./

@Sa%e to you Ed. e ;oodA/ 8e 'new Ed would not (e good, and set o"" "or the ad%in (uildings

with ?o%ingo "ollowing (ehind.

i%leigh Jones was huddled o+er the )lans in the sur+ey se#tion. !t "irst he didn/t rea#t to the

glaring loo' "ro% slightly o+er two %etres o" angry Fran' +an der Westhuien on the other side o" the

ta(le.

@8ow do you guys e*)e#t %e to %ine gold when you #annot tell %e where the da%n ree" isB/ the

6anager as'ed. @$ ha+e a se#tion to lay out, and without a geologi#al )lan $ will (e %ining (lind./

Fran' swallowed hard, and too' a dee) (reath. @$/% well 6r. Jones. Than' you "or as'ing, 6r.

Jones. Cold day isn/t it 6r. JonesB Des $ would lo+e so%e #o""ee ?o%ingo. 7i#e o" you to o""er. la#',

no sugar )lease. 8ow is the "a%ily 6r. JonesB $ trust all is well at ho%eB/Jones was )leased the huge %an was tal'ing. For a (rie" %o%ent he was s#ared he had o+erdone

his #riti#is%. 8e nodded at ?o%ingo and )ointed at the #o""ee %a#hine. ?o%ingo had not understood a

word o" Fran'/s sar#asti# English %onologue, (ut he 'new the tone o" +oi#e, and 'new how Fran' li'ed

his #o""ee. ?o%ingo didn/t understand the #on#e)t o" line and sta"" )ositions, and #ould ne+er understand

how a 6anager, who had a "ew thousand )eo)le wor'ing "or hi% #ould (e tal'ed to in su#h a %anner (y

a %an who had noone wor'ing "or hi%. The "a#t that the %ine was there to %ine gold, and Fran'/s &o(

was to "ind it, was lost on hi%. 8e also ne+er understood why e+eryone re"erred to Fran' as =?o#tor

Fran'> when, to his 'nowledge, he had ne+er treated a )atient in his li"e. ! Ph? in ;eology "ro% the

=!nd $ #aused the water )ro(le%B :ast wee' you lost two (lasts in the "ortyse+enwest (o*hole.

$ need an interse#tion to do the )lan.>

Jones was o(+iously ignorant o" the two lost (lasts and Fran' was 9ui#' to )ush ho%e thead+antage.

=So how a(out you do your &o( and lea+e %e to do %ine. Than's "or the #o""ee ?o%ingo. 6ind i"

$ ta'e the %ugB>

Without waiting "or a re)ly Fran' headed o"" "or his o""i#e. 8e 'new the "ight was not o+er and

that Jones would (a#' o"" and )lan a new atta#'. 8e had an hour and a hal" to 'ill (e"ore the ne*t #age to

50le+el. The "irst e%ail in his in(o* was an interi% re)ort "ro% a student whose 6S#. thesis he was

su)er+ising, and within a "ew %o%ents her e*#ellent wor' had ta'en his %ind (a#' to the Pre#a%(rian

)e((le(eds, and he ne+er got to the re%aining e%ails. They did not see% that i%)ortant anyway.

Chapter 2

The 0400 #age dro))ed into the %ine e*a#tly on ti%e. eing reser+ed "or &unior o""i#ials it was

(arely hal" "ull on the "irst de#', and totally e%)ty on de#'s two and three. Within a "ew %inutes Fran'

had trans"erred to the su(+erti#al sha"t, had dro))ed another "ew hundred %etres, and was striding downDownloaded from http://pdfbooks.co.za


5/165


the %ain haulage, aided (y the strong air"low on his (road (a#'. Co%ing (a#' to the sha"t later would (e

a di""erent story, with the wind ri))ing into his "a#e and #lothing.

8e was #on#erned the tri) would (e in +ain, (ut e+en i" he #ould not see the "aults in the (o* hole,

he would at least (e a(le to see i" they had (ro'en through the )e((le %ar'er layer o"ten "ound a %etre or

so (elow the ree". 8e 'new the unwritten rule on the gold %ines ne+er as' &a#'ha%%er #rews to sto)

drilling they are )aid a (onus (ased on the nu%(er o" holes drilled, and see any atte%)t to sto) the% as

ta'ing "ood "ro% their #hildren.

!s Fran' turned into the #ross#ut he was sur)rised to see the driller/s assistant, striding towards

hi% #lut#hing a hand"ul o" drill steels. 8e was wearing a #rude 'iltli'e s'irt %ade o" old hessian, held on

(y his #a)la%) (elt, and his (ody language s)o'e annoyan#e, (ordering on anger. $t was (arely -415 and

there was no way that they #ould ha+e drilled the round already, and (esides, i" they were "inished, he

would ha+e #hanged into dry #lothes "or the tri) (a#' to the sha"t.

Fran' sto))ed hi%. @Saubona. $ see you S)anner. What is the %atterB/ he as'ed in Fanagalo

'nowing that this %an was o" the hosa tri(e and s)o'e no other language Fran' 'new.

@Saubona. :oo' at these steels. They are (ro'en. There %ust (e old wor'ings u) there. We are

trying to drill through a rail or so%ething. $/% going to the steel sho) to #hange the%./

Fran' studied the ti) o" a drill. 8e had ne+er seen anything li'e it as the tungsten#ar(ide insertwas shattered and %ost o" the )ie#es were %issing. The steel on ea#h side o" the insert was (ent and

twisted.

@There is nothing u) there. This is +irgin ground,/ said Fran'.

@Well whate+er is u) there it is not ro#', and it is not (ig. The drills go in "ine e*#e)t at this one

)la#e. $s it )ossi(le that there is a drill le"t "ro% #e%enting or e*)lorationB/

@$ don/t thin' so,/ said Fran'. @$ ha+e (een loo'ing at the )lans and there is no water here, so there

is has (een no #e%enting. The #losest e*)loration hole is a long way away./

7ot satis"ied with Fran'/s res)onse, the assistant headed o"" to the steel sho) %uttering to hi%sel".

Fran' s)o'e +ery little isihosa, (ut 'new that the %anage%ent o" the %ine was (eing li'ened to so%e

+ery stu)id !"ri#an )ri%ates.

Fran' #la%(ered u) the twenty or so %etres to the "a#e o" the (o*hole. 8e "ound the driller sitting

on the drilling )lat"or% 9uietly s%o'ing so%e "oul s%elling to(a##o in a tatty )i)e hanging "ro% his "ew

re%aining (rown teeth.

@Saubona. $ saw your steels. Dou %ust (e +ery strong to (e a(le to (rea' steels li'e that,/ said

Fran'. !s soon as he said it he regretted ha+ing said anything %ildly a%using, as this was a driller who

loo'ed a lot (etter with his %outh #losed.

@Saubona. So%ething is in there,/ he said, )ointing at an area &ust ne*t to the #luster o" holes in the

%iddle o" the "a#e. @$ don/t 'now what it is, (ut it is +ery hard. $ thin' it is steel./

Fran' 'new that any atte%)t to deny the e*isten#e o" steel in the area would get the sa%e res)onse

"ro% the driller as he had got "ro% his assistant, so he 'e)t 9uiet. $nstead he enrolled the driller/s hel),

and with the water hose they #leaned out the (o* hole o" grit "ro% drilling, and grease "ro% thelu(ri#ators. 8e "ound the hairline "ault #ra#'s he was loo'ing "or, and was soon %easuring angles and

%a'ing notes in his (oo'. 8e was also )leased to see that the "ootwall )e((le %ar'er had (een e*)osed

(y the )re+ious (last, and that the )e((le sie indi#ated a higher grade in the ree" a(o+e than he was

e*)e#ting. oth (its o" news would (e well re#ei+ed (y the 6anager, and he ho)ed that this would shut

hi% u) "or a "ew days.

8e said his good(yes and than's to the driller and his assistant. 8e as'ed the% i" they would (e

wor'ing the ne*t day, (ut learned that is was their Saturday o"", and would only (e down on 6onday. The

issue o" what had destroyed the drillti)s still dwelt on his %ind on the way (a#' to the station, as he

'new there were not %any %aterials hard enough to )ul+erie tungsten #ar(ide.

Gn %a'ing it to the wintry sunlight, and a"ter a shower and lun#h, he went to his #o%)uter to

a##ess the drill log "ile. They had re#ently installed a new syste% that ga+e a three di%ensional +iew o"

the e*)loratory holes in the area, and he #ould see i%%ediately that there were none in the area. 8e e+en

a##essed the original logs o" the holes drilled "ro% sur"a#e so%e "i"teen years earlier, and that sear#h also



6/165


#a%e u) with nothing. ! )hone #all to the #e%entation )eo)le #on"ir%ed that there had (een no ne#essity

"or #o+er drilling in the area. 7othing %ade sense to hi%, and he de#ided to go down underground the

ne*t day to see what the (last had un#o+ered. 8e "ired o"" an e%ail to let the 6anager and his (oss 'now

the good news a(out the interse#tion with the )e((le (ed. 8e %entioned nothing a(out the drills, as he

didn/t want to answer 9uestions until he 'new the answers. 8e also 'i#'ed o"" an a)ology to the organier

o" Saturday/s gol" #o%)etition, and headed ho%e.

The only #age on Saturday was on#e again at 5a%. 8e stayed well away "ro% the re# #lu( #rowd

and %er#i"ully no one #aught hi% out. 8e was "ast aslee) (e"ore nine and wo'e u) a "ew %inutes (e"ore

his alar% the ne*t %orning.

8e "elt ner+ous (eing the "irst )erson in the area a"ter the (last, and he 'new he was a#ting

#ontrary to %ining regulations, as he was neither the a))ointed ganger and nor did he ha+e a (lasting

ti#'et. 8e also 'new that (eing alone, i" was hurt and #ould not %a'e it to the %ain haulage, he would not

(e "ound until 6onday.

The (o* hole loo'ed +ery di""erent to the )re+ious day. ! so"t grey dust #oated e+ery sur"a#e and

the a#rid (lasting "u%es (urned his nasal )assages and eyes. 8e "ound the #o%)ressed air hose and

o)ened it u) to (low the "u%es away. 8e had seen the )ro#ess a "ew ti%es and %ethodi#ally washed

down the dust to 'ee) it "ro% his lungs. 8e (arred down a "ew loose ro#'s u) at the "a#e to sto) the%"ro% dislodging and "alling on hi%. There was a(solutely nothing he #ould see to e*)lain the da%age to

the drills. There was no %etal )rotruding "ro% the "a#e or sidewalls, and no holes in the ro#'. What he did

noti#e was that his assess%ent was #orre#t and the (last had un#o+ered the "ootwall o" the ree". The

Witwatersrand (an'et, or )uddingstone, loo'ed (eauti"ul to his trained eye, the ri#h )yrite twin'ling in

the (right (ea% o" his #a)la%). 8is logi# told hi% that whate+er had #aused the da%age to the drill %ust

ha+e (een i%(edded in the ro#', and he de#ided to loo' "or #lues in the (ro'en ro#' that had "allen down

to the "ootwall dri+e (elow.

8e "ound a sho+el, as he had no intention o" sli#ing his hands o)en (y trying to shi"t the &agged

9uartite with his (are hands. The "irst ro#' he %o+ed re+ealed what he was loo'ing "or. !%ong the

rando% sha)es o" the (ro'en ro#' lay a grey (oulder the sha)e and sie o" slightly large ostri#h egg. 8e

re#onne#ted the water hose and washed the loose ro#' away. !n old hessian (ag he "ound a "ew %etersdown the dri+e %ade a %a'eshi"t #radle "or the (oulder. The last (its o" ro#' adhering to the egg were

re%o+ed using the sweatrag "ro% his ne#'. There was no dou(t in his %ind that this was what had

da%aged the drills. ! #lose e*a%ination showed slight s#u""ing at the )oint on the (oulder where they

had tried to drill it. Fran' #ould not (elie+e that neither the drilling nor the (last had da%aged it. 8e too'

his )en'ni"e "ro% the )ou#h on his (elt, and tried to s#rat#h the sur"a#e, (ut only su##eeded in (ending

the ti) o" his (lade without lea+ing a %ar'. $n Fran'/s e*)erien#e hard usually %eant (rittle, (ut here was

so%ething that was #ertainly harder than tungsten #ar(ide, and yet had not (een da%aged (y (lasting. $t

was also denser than the 9uart (oulders nor%ally "ound in the ro#'. What he also "ound strange was that

the (oulder had (een #leanly (lasted "ro% the ro#' %atri*, as nor%ally the (oulders and )e((les within

the Witwatersrand 9uartite did not get (lasted "ree, (ut (ro'e with the ro#'. 8e had only seen )e((les

"reed "ro% the %atri* in ro#' that had weathered on the sur"a#e, (ut this was 'ilo%eters underground.

Whate+er the out#o%e, the (oulder #ould not (e le"t (ehind and thrown on the waste ti). 8e s)ent

a "ew %inutes digging through the ro#' )ile to (e #ertain that this was the only one, wra))ed it in the

hessian (ag, and headed "or sur"a#e.

a#' in o""i#e he o)ened the (ag and laid the (oulder on the e*a%ination ta(le.


7/165


y this ti%e Fran' had started to get a %ost distur(ing "eeling that what he was loo'ing at was not

o" natural origin. 7othing he had e+er seen underground had the )er"e#t sy%%etry and geo%etry o" the

(oulder. ut i%(edded in the ro#' o" the Witwatersrand Syste%B That was not )ossi(le, (ut here was

so%ething that loo'ed de#idedly %an%ade, "ro% an e)o#h well (e"ore %an. 8e s)ent a "ew %inutes

weighing u) the dire#tion his %ind was ta'ing, and was not sure he li'ed it.

8e shrugged and went (a#' to e*a%ining the holes in the sur"a#e. There was so%ething "a%iliar

a(out the sha)e o" a #ir#le with two holes in it, and then it #a%e to hi%. $t loo'ed li'e a stud on the

(otto% o" his gol" shoes, (ut without the s)i'e in the %iddle. 8e wondered i" the #ir#le was not in "a#t

so%e 'ind o" )lug that #ould (e s#rewed out, and i" so what #ould he use to o)en itB 8e sear#hed his des'

drawers and "ound a )air o" longnosed )liers, the )oints o" whi#h "itted neatly into the holes. 8e tried to

turn it until he was #on#erned that he would da%age either the (oulder or the )liers, (ut nothing (udged.

So it was not a )lug, or whate+er %ade it didn/t 'now how to %a'e )lugs.

8e needed so%ething in his sto%a#h. 8e had not eaten anything signi"i#ant sin#e lun#h the day

(e"ore, and was starting to "eel the e""e#t. $" this (oulder had (een waiting sin#e the Pre#a%(rian it #ould

wait a "ew hours, and i" it sur+i+ed (eing (lasted, then it would sur+i+e a tri) to his "lat in his (eetle. 8e

de#ided to %a'e a #u) o" #o""ee and get a ig 6a# and #hi)s on the way ho%e. !s he o)ened the ta) to

"ill the 'ettle so%ething o##urred to hi%. Why was he trying to uns#rew it anti#lo#'wiseB 8e )lugged inthe 'ettle and went (a#' to his o""i#e. ! "ir% #lo#'wise twist o" the )liers, a so"t #ra#', and the )lug

started to turn.

Sin#e the %o%ent that Fran' had )i#'ed u) the (oulder in the %ine he had "elt %any things, (ut

"ear had not (een one o" the%. There was #ertainly nothing %ena#ing a(out the (oulder, (ut now "or the

"irst ti%e he was s#ared o" what he was doing. What i" it #ontained so%e 'ind o" )oison or e+en

so%ething e*)losi+eB What i" it was (oo(ytra))edB There had #ertainly (een no inrush or out rush o" air

when the thread had (ro'en. $t was al%ost as i" so%eone or so%ething was willing hi% to o)en it. Why

would so%eone or so%ething try to )rote#t the #ontents "ro% an intruder, and then #on+eniently )ro+ide a

)lug that #a%e loose so easilyB Surely so%ething to*i# #ould not %aintain its to*i#ity "or o+er two

thousand %illion years.

The %ost +e*ing 9uestion was whether he should (e doing this all alone, (ut who% should he tellBShould he tell the %anagerB 7o. That idiot with an ego as (ig as the alahari ?esert would do the whole

:arry ing thing and (la( it out to the whole world. Should he &u%) the underground %anager and go

straight to the ;eneral 6anagerB 8e would not (e doing the (ig (oss a "a+our, as he #ertainly didn/t li'e

(eing distra#ted "ro% the (usiness o" %ining. Should he in+ol+e his (ossB 7o. The old %an was already

(eyond retire%ent age, and would (e totally thrown (y su#h a dis#o+ery.

When he thought a(out it the only )erson he #ould or should tell was the 6anager, and he &ust

#ould not thin' o" doing that. 7o, he was alone in this )ro&e#t. $" he in+ol+ed so%eone else it would (e

his #hoi#e, and at his own ti%e. 8e wondered i" he was doing so%ething illegal, (ut he #ould not thin' o"

anyone telling hi% he #ould not ta'e anything other than e*)losi+es or %aterials "ro% the %ine.

Fran' %ade u) his %ind that he would de#ide on a #ourse o" a#tion de)ending what was under the

)lug, and slowly (egan to uns#rew it. The thread was #oarse and the )lug #a%e out in less than one

re+olution and #lattered onto the des' "ro% Fran'/s sha'ing hand. 8e need not ha+e worried, as what was

underneath did #ertainly not loo' dangerous, (ut loo'ed %ore li'e the (oulder had (een "illed with white

#andle wa*. 8e gingerly s#rat#hed the sur"a#e o" the wa* and "ound it to (e unli'e anything he had

en#ountered. $t "elt so"t to slow gentle s#rat#hing, (ut any atte%)t to %o+e the (lade "ast was %et with

strong resistan#e. $t was al%ost as i" it had a %ind o" its own, and was )re)ared to do things slowly, (ut

stead"astly resisted any s)eed. Fran' )ut the (lunt end o" a )en#il against the wa*, and "ound that with

slow e+en )ressure the )en#il entered the wa* easily. What was e+en stranger was the way that the

indentation healed itsel" when he re%o+ed the )en#il, and within a %inute or two there was no sign o" the

indentation at all. 8e turned the (oulder on its side and then u)side down and "ound that the wa* (eha+ed

in e*a#tly the sa%e way inde)endent o" its orientation.!t this stage all Fran'/s "ear had le"t hi%, and he was %ore li'e a #hilds#ientist as he "iddled with

the weird wa*. 8e e+en allowed hi%sel" to tou#h it and let his "inger )enetrate the sur"a#e. What

ha))ened ne*t he didn/t e*)e#t. !s his "inger )enetrated the sur"a#e, he "elt two hard s)ots in the so"tness



8/165


o" the wa*. !s his "inger )layed o+er the hard s)ots he (e#a%e aware o" a slight tingling sensation in his

"ingerti) that intensi"ied until it was al%ost )ain"ul. !s he )ulled his "inger "ro% the indentation he

noti#ed that the hard s)ots were sil+er in #olour, and %ore li'e two ele#trodes i%(edded in the wa*. !s

the indentation where his "inger had (een started to "ill, the ele#trodes see%ed to get su#'ed (a#' into the

wa*.

8e needed to get ho%e and thin'. 8e #are"ully wra))ed the (oulder in the hessian and %ade his

way ho%e, sto))ing to get the ig 6a# he )ro%ised hi%sel" on the way

Chapter 3

Fran' didn/t ha+e a )ea#e"ul Saturday a"ternoon. 8e "ound an old tog (ag, and #are"ully wra))ed

the egg in %utton #loth and toweling. 8e )er%itted hi%sel" a s%ile as he thought o" the in#ongruity o"

swaddling it u) li'e a (a(y, a"ter its i%%easura(ly long &ourney through ti%e, and sudden e*)losi+e

awa'ening. 8is %ind des)erately sorted #andidate handles in his %ind (y whi#h to re"er to it. The sha)e

was #ertainly %ore li'e an egg than anything else, (ut no egg had e+er deli+ered an ele#tri# sho#'. 8is

"irst rea#tion a"ter the sho#' was that it %ight (e so%e "or% o" ele#tri# #ell, or (attery, (ut that did not

%a'e sense. 7o ele#tri# sho#' that he had e+er "elt had slowly (uilt u) "ro% a tingle to a sho#' o+er a "ew

se#onds.

@$ will #all you =the egg> until $ 'now what you are, %y "riend,/ he said as he #are"ully stowed the

tog (ag in the to) o" his #u)(oard. @Dou ha+e sle)t so long. ! "ew %ore hours or days will do you no

har%./ Fran' "elt al%ost )arental #on#ern "or the egg. 8e had this strange ine*)li#a(le "eeling that the egg

had wanted to (e "ound, (ut he 9ui#'ly )ut the thought "ro% his %ind.

8e didn/t ha+e %u#h o" a #han#e to thin' (e"ore his door o)ened to re+eal Ji%%y, one o" the

#ontri(utors to the )re+ious day/s hango+er, #o%)lete with (illiard #ue in hand.

@8ey ?o#A Feel li'e a return ga%eB Those sorearses want their ten and (a#'A/ 8e said with a

(road grin.

@Err .. .$/% not sure. $ ha+e a "ew things to do and $/% not really in the %ood. $ thin' $ will gi+e it

a (rea' today./!s he said it his %ind started to tell hi% that %ay(e a ga%e o" snoo'er would not (e a (ad idea.

The egg #ould wait, and what he needed was to rela* and thin' #learly. 8e 'new that Ji%%y would not

gi+e u) without a "ight, and he didn/t "eel %u#h li'e "ighting

@G',/ Fran' relented. @There are rules. GneH no (ooe "or %e. TwoH $/% out o" the re# (y "i+e.

ThreeH you don/t #ra) on %e i" $ )lay (adly. FourH you (rea' rules one to three, you wash %y #ar./

Ji%%y thought a(out the rules. Fran' was good #o%)any e+en when so(er. 8e also had to lea+e

(y "i+e as he had a date with the daughter o" the %anager o" the %ine ne*t door that e+ening, and he

#ertainly didn/t want to arri+e at daddy/s house s%elling o" (ooe. 8e didn/t "an#y the idea o" washing

Fran'/s old ol'swagen, (ut he was sure he #ould adhere to Fran'/s #onditions.

@?ealA/ agreed Ji%%y. @Dour #arB $/% "eeling in a retro %ood today./

@Chee'y (ugger. 8a+e you no res)e#t "or the agedB/ #hided Fran'.

@Why do you still dri+e that old thingB Dou are the only )erson on the %ine with a do#torate, so

they #an/t (e )aying you )eanuts./

@Dou "orgot San&ay Pillay "ro% the %ine hos)ital. $/% not the only do#tor on the %ine./

@De(o yes, (ut he is a do#tor, so he has to (e a do#tor. Dou are a ro#'do#tor, and a ro#'do#tor

doesn/t ha+e to (e a do#tor. $n "a#t you are the only ro#'do#tor $ 'now who is a do#tor./

Fran' s%iled. 8e "ound it a%aing that he 'new what Ji%%y %eant. The whole )ur)ose o" his

res)onse had (een to di+ert the attention "ro% his old (eetle, and it had done &ust that.

Fran' didn/t )lay well that a"ternoon, (ut Ji%%y stu#' to the rules and it was "un nonetheless.

They ended u) losing Thursday/s ten and, and another ten on to). 8is )artner and o))onents #ould see

that Fran'/s %ind was on other things, (ut they didn/t )ush hi% as to what. !"ter the ga%e he a)ologiedto Ji%%y "or ha+ing )layed (adly.

@7o )ro(le% ?o#. ! (ad ga%e o" snoo's is a hell o" a lot (etter than a good day at ho%e doing

(uggerall./Downloaded from http://pdfbooks.co.za


9/165


!t ho%e Fran' #he#'ed the egg, (ut he need not ha+e (othered it was still #oy where he had

le"t it. 8e was a little #on#erned that the egg/s te%)erature had dro))ed in the #ool o" his #u)(oard, (ut

he was #ertain that this thing, whate+er it was, it was %ade o" strong stu"".

! na%e had #o%e to hi% during the Snoo'er ga%e Selwyn E)stein. 8e and Selwyn had (een

"riends at the


10/165


@$" you had as'ed %e two %inutes ago to na%e the least li'ely )erson to )hone %e, and as' "or

hel), $ would ha+e had no dou(t in na%ing ?o#tor Fran' +an der Westhuien. $s this the Fran' who

wal'ed hal"way a#ross Johannes(urg to a water )olo %at#h when his (eetle had no )etrol, and was too

)roud to as' "or a li"tB/ The words were aggressi+e, (ut the tone o" +oi#e told a di""erent story. Selwyn

was genuinely )leased to hear "ro% his "riend and was ho)ing there was so%ething he #ould indeed do to

hel).

@What #an $ do Fran'B/ he as'ed.

@e"ore $ as' $ want to warn you that what $/% a(out to as' you %ay #hange your li"e. $ thin' it

has already #hanged %ine. $" you tell %e to )iss o"" now $ will understand. ut $ would li'e to show you

so%ething in the ho)e that you #an hel) %e "ind out what it is./

Fran' had )ra#ti#ed what he was going to as' a "ew ti%es to hi%sel", and was )leased to ha+e

"inally got the re9uest out, e+en though he 'new it %ust ha+e sounded sti"" and stilted.

@Dou are s#aring %e Fran'ie. This does not sound li'e you. Can you tell %e what it isB/

@7o. 7ot (e#ause $ don/t want to, it &ust that $ do not 'now. $/% sure that there is no danger in it

(ut . . ./ Fran' #ould not "inish the senten#e, and too' another route. @:oo', $ do not thin' that it will (ite

you, (ut it %ay #hange your thin'ing on a "ew things. $ suggest that you ha+e 9uite a serious dis#ussion

with Cheryl and, i" you "eel u) to it, $ will (ring it around "or you to loo' at./@Why %e Fran'B/

@e#ause $ thin' it is ele#tri#al, and $ thin' you are the strongest )erson $ 'now, and $ trust you to

'ee) a se#ret./

@This is all +ery %ysterious, (ut o'ay. $" you wanted to get %y attention, you ha+e. $ will #all you

(a#' within the hour. $ still ha+e your old nu%(er. 8as it #hangedB/

@7o. 7ot %u#h has #hanged e*#e)t %y +iew o" a "ew things./

@$/% %ore s#ared. $/ll #all you (a#'./

The )hone went dead and Fran' slowly re)la#ed his handset. 8e "elt )aralyed and una(le to do

%ore than &ust stare at the re#ei+er. 8e 'new that the ne*t hour would (e one o" the longest o" his li"e.

@What did Fran' wantB/ as'ed Cheryl. @$t was ni#e to hear "ro% hi% again. We really should as'

hi% to town one wee'end. $t %ust (e aw"ul to (e stu#' out there on the %ine./

Selwyn did not answer i%%ediately. 8e stood against the wall with his eyes on his daughter

)laying in the (ath. She was #heer"ully )ouring water into a large )lasti# #ontra)tion that "loated in the

(ath, and had dol)hins that dan#ed in the strea% o" water #o%ing "ro% a large (owl at the to).

@$/% not e*a#tly sure what he wants. The #all was so out o" #hara#ter. $t sounds li'e he "ound

so%ething, and he wants %e to ha+e a loo' at it./

@?id he tell you what it isB/

@7o. 8e does not see% to 'now, (ut he thin's it is ele#tri#al. 8e wa""led on a(out it #hanging his

+iew a(out things, and that $ was the strongest )erson he 'new, and that $ should ha+e a serious #hat with

you and then #all hi% (a#' i" we want to see it. 8e sounded really agitated./

@That does not sound li'e Fran'. $ didn/t 'now he #ould get agitated./

@$ didn/t 'now either, (ut he was. $ don/t 'now what $/% su))osed to dis#uss with you. $ "orgot to

e+en as' hi% how (ig this thing is, where he "ound it, or what it loo's li'e. 8e did say that he was sure it

is not dangerous, (ut %ore than that $ don/t 'now. 8e said so%ething a(out #hanging his +iews. $t was all

so unFran'li'e $ did/nt 'now what to say. $ said $/d #all hi% (a#' in the hour. $ #an only thin' it %ust (e

so%e )ie#e o" e9ui)%ent he "ound on the %ine, (ut why it %ade hi% so agitated $ ha+e no idea. $ &ust

don/t 'now why he didn/t &ust ta'e it to one o" the engineers on the %ine and as' the%./

@6ay(e he didn/t want to see% a "ool./

Selwyn s%iled. @So%eti%es Fran' is a "ool. ?o you re%e%(er that ti%e at the Ellis Par' )oolwhen he stri))ed o"" his tra#'suit in "ront o" the whole stadiu%, and he had "orgotten to )ut on his

#ostu%eB 8is tra#'suit trousers were at his an'les (e"ore he realied, and then he #ouldn/t get the% (a#'

u). 8e unintentionally (rowneyed the whole stadiu%./



11/165


Cheryl #hu#'led. @Des $ re%e%(er. Poor guy. !nd how did that re)orter #o+er it on the Sunday

s)ort )ageB So%ething a(out a "ran'"urter "la))ing in a (urning (ushA Well at least we all now 'now that

Fran' is a natural redhead. $ re%e%(er it too' a(out ten %inutes (e"ore you and the re" #ould )ersuade

hi% to lea+e the #hange roo% to )lay the ga%e, (ut he )layed well when he did./

@Des he did. We e+en too' to hiding his #ostu%e to get the sa%e )er"or%an#e, (ut he ne+er did it

again./

Cheryl s%iled. @8e %ay (e a "ool, (ut he is a lo+a(le "ool, and what sort o" "ool wins the Cha%(er

o" 6ines 6edal, and has a Ph?B/

Selwyn returned his wi"e/s s%ile. @$ said that he is so%eti%es a "ool, (ut he is #ertainly not an

idiot not that $/% #ertain what the di""eren#e is. We #an/t let hi% (e agitated. $/% sure this is &ust so%e

sort o" "alse alar%. $t will )ro(a(ly ta'e %e a "ew %inutes to tell hi% it is a wo(ulating %agoudie, and

then $ will let hi% re%ind %e o" all those wonder"ul goals $ s#ored. Shall $ as' hi% "or (rea'"ast

to%orrowB/

Selwyn was still s%iling at the thought o" Fran' dan#ing a(out in "ront o" the stadiu% with his

tra#'suit stu#' around his an'les and his (a#'side in the air when he )la#ed the #all. Fran' answered

al%ost as soon as the )hone rang.

@Fran', $ had a #hat to Cheryl and we would li'e to loo' at this thing. !re you sure it is notdangerousB/

@$ don/t thin' so, (ut $ #an/t (e sure. When shall we do itB/

@Cheryl/s "ol's are #o%ing o+er "or dinner this e+ening. 8ow a(out #o%ing o+er "or (rea'"ast

to%orrow. $ 'now you %ining ty)es get u) at s)arrow. Shall we say a(out nineB/

@7ine is good. Dou don/t 'now how grate"ul $ a% Selwyn. $ a))re#iate it./

@$" this was anyone other that you $ would thin' it all so%e ela(orate &o'e or hoa*, (ut you don/t

wor' that way do you Fran', or ha+e you #hangedB/

@7o. This is no &o'e. So%e ele#tri#al test gear %ay (e needed./

@What sort o" gearB/

@$ don/t 'now. $/% a geologist. What do you #all that thing that loo's li'e the %a#hine that%onitors your heart at the hos)italB/

@! s#o)e. !n os#illos#o)e./

@Des, one o" those, and )ossi(ly a %eter o" so%e sort. $/% not sure what we are going to need./

@$ ha+e %y old student 'it here in the wor'sho). $" we need anything else we #an go and "et#h it

"ro% the la(. $s this thing analogue or digitalB/

@$s an ele#tri# sho#' analogue or digitalB/

@6ost li'ely analogue. 6ost digital de+i#es wor' at +oltages too low to gi+e a sho#'./

@Then this thing is %ost li'ely analogue, (ut $ don/t thin' this thing was %ade (y hu%ans./

Selwyn/s %ind ra#ed. 7ot %ade (y hu%ansB What the hell did that %eanB

@Shit Fran', are you trying to tell %e you got an ele#tri# sho#' "ro% so%ething you do not thin'

was %ade (y hu%ansB/

@$t #ould (e so. $/% ho)ing to ha+e %ore o" an answer to%orrow./

@6y head is s)inning Fran'./

@6ine has (een sin#e this %orning. !re you sure you want to go through with thisB/

@$/% in too "ar already./ There was a %o%ent o" tense silen#e on the line, (ro'en (y the wel#o%e

sound o" the inter#o% announ#ing Cheryl/s )arents at the gate.

@The outlaws ha+e arri+ed.


12/165


$t was a(out -40 (e"ore Fran'/s old (eetle #rossed the out#ro) line on the south side o"

Johannes(urg, and entered the dou(lede#'er se#tion o" the 61 "reeway en route to the a""luent northern

su(ur(s. 8e had on#e heard that that )arti#ular )ie#e o" "reeway #arried %ore +ehi#les than any other

"ourlane "reeway in the world, (ut this was Sunday and he was al%ost alone, with only a "ew dila)idated

%ini(us ta*is to 'ee) hi% #o%)any. ! "ew %inutes later he was in the tra""i# o" the early sho))ers

heading "or Sandton City.

@?on/t worry old girl,/ said Fran' to the (eetle. @7o need to "eel in"erior. These 6er#s and

ee%ers %ay loo' a little )osher than you now, (ut wait a "ew years they will all (e on the s#ra)hea),

and $/ll still (e loo'ing a"ter you./ 8e assured his #ar with a )at to the dash(oard. ! "ew %inutes later he

drew into the E)stein dri+eway where a s%artly dressed se#urity guard a))roa#hed the (eetle.

@Dou ?o'uta Fran'B/ he as'ed #heer"ully. The %iddle @u/ in Fran'/s title, and his dar' s'in

#olour, suggested that the guard was )ro(a(ly "ro% so%e #ountry 7orth o" the :i%)o)o. @Selwyn, he

@s)e#ting you. Pleasa go tru. 8e u) (y de house./

y the ti%e he %ade it u) the long dri+eway Selwyn and Cheryl were out o" the house and

waiting "or hi%. Fran' #ould not (elie+e that 6egan was standing unsu))orted, as it see%ed &ust the other

day that she was (orn.

The greetings and )leasantries o+er, Fran' retrie+ed the old tog (ag "ro% (ehind the (a#' seat o"the #ar, and they headed "or the in"or%al dining roo%. Selwyn has already un)a#'ed the s#o)e and %ulti

%eter "ro% their (o*es and they were ready and waiting on the ta(le, and the loo' o" anti#i)ation on his

host/s "a#es told that they were it#hing to see what he had (rought. 8e )la#ed a #ushion "ro% one o" the

nu%erous s)are #hairs on the ta(le onto whi#h he #are"ully )la#ed the egg. For a "ew %inutes the three o"

the% &ust stared at the shiny grey sur"a#e re"le#ting the glow "ro% the red satin #ushion. E+entually

Selwyn (ro'e the silen#e.

@:oo' dearH Fran' (rought us an Easter egg. ?on/t you 'now that is a Christian #usto% Fran'B/

The words were harsh, and %ay ha+e see%ed sar#asti#, (ut Fran' 'new his "riend well enough to

'now that Selwyn/s re"uge in ti%es o" tension was hu%our. They had )layed %any %at#hes together on

the sa%e tea%, and he always 'new that when their (a#'s were u) against the wall, there would soon (e a

9ui) "ro% Selwyn to li"t their s)irits, or at least )ut a losing ga%e into )ers)e#ti+e. 8e was the %aster atusing hu%orous di+ersionary ta#ti#s, and there had (een 9uite a "ew o##asions when their o))onents had

(een distra#ted (y his anti#s to the )oint o" #on#eding a goal.

@$ don/t thin' that is what it is,/ said Fran' 9uietly, trying to lo#ate the longnosed )liers that had

got lost in all the %utton#loth and toweling. 8e "ound the%, and soon the )lug was lying ne*t to the egg

on the red satin #ushion, and the E)steins were huddled o+er the wa*y interior.

@Where did you get the sho#'B/ Selwyn as'ed.

@Just 'ee) e+en )ressure on that white stu"" and you will "eel it gi+e way. There are two sil+er

ele#trodeli'e things in there. !t "irst they ga+e %e a tingling sensation that got stronger, and then $ got

what "elt li'e a %ild sho#'. Try it./

Selwyn was not so sure, and needed %ore in"o "irst. @Where did you "ind this thingB/ he as'ed.@$n the %ine. $ was alerted when a drilling #rew tried to drill through it. Dou see those shallow

s#rat#h %ar'sB $ sus)e#t they are "ro% the drills. Desterday $ went down the %ine and "ound that it had

(een (lasted "ree o" the ro#', and (rought it u)./

@$t was (lasted "ro% the ro#' and it did/nt (rea'B/ as'ed Selwyn.

@$t %ust (e +ery hard,/ said Fran'. @ut they were (lasting with !7FG. That is a %i*ture o"

a%%oniu% nitrate and diesel. $t does not (rea' ro#' li'e gelignite or %ilitary e*)losi+ed would. $t hea+es

%ore than it shatters./

@Could it ha+e sli))ed down a #ra#' or water "issure "ro% the sur"a#eB/ as'ed Cheryl.

@7o. $%)ossi(le. The widest #ra#' or "issure down three 'ilo%eters underground is in the order o"

a "ew %illi%eters, and $ also "ound the indentations in the (ro'en 9uartite ro#' that had surrounded it. $t

was de"initely laid down #on#urrently with the sandy sedi%ents that e+entually (e#a%e the 9uartite in

whi#h $ "ound it./



13/165


@We ha+e to (elie+e you Fran'. Just how long ago do you thing this thing was i%(edded in the

ro#'B/ as'ed Selwyn.

@The ro#'s are a(out two and a hal" thousand %illion years old. This thing %ust (e the sa%e age

or older./

@Dou are 'iddingA That is older that Cheryl/s grand)a. Was that sort o" #a+e%an eraB/

Fran' s%iled. @7ot e+en #lose. The age o" %an is the last three to "i+e %illion years. This is well(e"ore that./

@Could it (e a dinosaur eggB Sort o" (rontosaurus or Te* re%nantB/ as'ed Cheryl. There was a

tra#e o" des)eration in her +oi#e.

@$/% no )aleontologist,/ answered Fran'. @ut $ thin' the great dinosaurs li+ed during the Jurassi#

and Triassi# e)o#hs, and %ost (e#a%e e*tin#t in the Per%ian. $ thin' those e)o#hs were I00 to 00

%illion years ago. 8ere we are tal'ing Pre#a%(rian. The ti%e (e"ore there was any %ulti#elled li"e on

earth. The trilo(ites, a%%onites and tu(ewor%s, and e+en )ri%iti+e algae and "erns only #a%e %u#h,

%u#h later. There is no "ossil re#ord in the Witwatersrand Syste%./

The %agnitude o" what Fran' was telling the% too' a "ew %o%ents to sin' in. Selwyn (ro'e the

silen#e.

@Dou trying to tell us that this thing has re%ained slee)ing in the ro#' in that )ristine #onditionthroughout the entire e+olution o" li"e on earthB This thing was down there when Tre* was #hasing the

sa(retoothed tigers a(out. When the horseshoe #ra(s were s#uttling a(out this thing was thereB When the

#ows went (a#' to the water and turned into Free Willy this thing was snooingB John the a)tist, Jesus

Christ and Jan +an ie(ee#' #ould ha+e )layed so##er with itB 7ot only has it (een down there, (ut it is

still holding enough #harge to sho#' youB Eat your heart out ?ura#el unnyA Dou ha+e (een s%o'ing

giggletwigs Fran'A/

The 6onty Pythonian i%age o" John the a)tist and Jan +an ie(ee#' )laying so##er (rought a

s%ile to Fran's "a#e. @$%agine %y sur)rise,/ he said 9uietly.

@:ets eat "irst,/ said Cheryl. @$t #an wait a little longer./

rea'"ast was deli#ious. 8erring, "resh (agels and #ottage #heese, ulgarian yogurt and %uesli allwent down well. Selwyn treated the% all to so%e s)e#ta#ular #o""ee "ro% an $talian %a#hine that loo'ed

li'e it had (een stolen "ro% the (ridge o" the Starshi) Enter)rise. !ll the while the E)steins 'e)t a #lose

wat#h on the egg as i" they e*)e#ted so%ething to #o%e wriggling out o" it.

!"ter (rea'"ast the three o" the% returned to the egg.

@?o you ha+e so%e o" those #li)s with the teethB/ as'ed Fran'. @$ thin' we #an "i* the% to the

ele#trodes./

@Des, we #an use the #ro#odile #li)s that #o%e with the s#o)e )ro(es, (ut how do we atta#h

the%B/

@$ ha+e an idea. Dou ha+e an eraserB/

Selwyn "ound one "ro% whi#h Fran' "ashioned a #rude )ro(e with his )en'ni"e. With great

interest the others wat#hed as Fran' a))lied #onstant gentle )ressure to the eraser. Slowly the wa*a))eared to )art, and within a "ew %o%ents Fran' "elt that the eraser tou#h the stu(s. 8e as'ed Selwyn to

get the #li)s ready and re%o+ed the eraser. e"ore the wa* started %o+ing (a#' to its original sha)e, he

had %anaged to atta#h the insulated #ro#odile #li)s to the sil+er stu(s. The three wat#hed in "as#ination as

the wa* %o+ed slowly (a#' to its original sha)e, lea+ing the #li)s )rotruding "ro% a )er"e#tly "lat sur"a#e.

@That was not so hard,/ said Fran'. @7ow what do we doB/

@$/ll start with the s#o)e. Dou did/nt ha))en to noti#e a )lus on one and a %inus on the other stu(

did youB/ he as'ed, not really e*)e#ting an answer. @What $/% going to #he#' "irst is i" there is a +oltage

(etween the )ins that would e*)lain the tingling you "elt in your "ingers./

8e "iddled with a "ew 'no(s on the "ront )anel o" the os#illos#o)e until a (right green dot %o+ed

horiontally a#ross the s#reen along the #enterline o" the grid. Ea#h ti%e the dot rea#hed the right side o"the s#reen it disa))eared, and as i" (y %agi#, a))eared again on the le"t side and re)eated its leisurely

&ourney to the right.



14/165


@S%o'e test. eady Fran'B eady CherylB $ ha+e set the +erti#al s#ale to 10 +olts )er di+ision. $

would i%agine that it would ha+e ta'en a(out 20 to 0 +olts "or you to "eel a tingling. That would

#orres)ond to two to three di+isions on the +erti#al s#ale. :ets go./

8e #onne#ted the (la#' )ro(e to the one #li), and the red )ro(e to the other. The green dot )ainted

a 9ui#' +erti#al s)i'e o" a(out hal" a di+ision, (ut then #arried on its %erry way as i" nothing had

ha))ened.

Selwyn loo'ed disa))ointed and was a(out to start "iddling with the 'no(s again when the dot

slowly started to #li%( u) the s#reen. $t got u) a(out three di+isions and then "ell suddenly (elow the

#enter line a(out three di+isions and started its #li%( again. This ti%e when it got to the )re+ious

u))er%ost )osition it slowly started to "all downwards to (elow the #enterline. !l%ost i%%ediately it

started to %o+e in a rhyth%i# %otion that Fran' 'new to (e a sine wa+e. The %otion (e#a%e "aster and

"aster until the whole s#reen (e#a%e a rando% )attern o" tra#es. Selwyn was a(le to "reee the sha)e (y

twiddling a "ew 'no(s, (ut on#e again the )attern lost its #larity. Suddenly the sha)e #hanged to a series

o" )er"e#t triangles, "ollowed soon (y a )attern o" strange ste))ed re#tangular sha)es. The rea#tion "ro%

Selwyn was une*)e#tedly sudden. 8e dis#onne#ted the )ro(es "ro% the egg and stood (a#' "ro% his #hair

with a loo' o" a%ae%ent, "ear and e*#ite%ent on his "a#e.

@What is it lo+eB/ as'ed Cheryl. She had not o"ten seen that loo'. 8e didn/t i%%ediately answerthe 9uestion. She as'ed again, @what is itB/

Selwyn shrugged. @$/% trying to "ind out what is inside this thing, and it is trying to "ind out what

is inside the s#o)e, and it/s winning the in+estigation #o%)etition. Fran' this thing is ele#tri#al. 7ot only

that, (ut it is has intelligen#e and #uriosity. $ thin' it wants to tal'./

@So how do we tal' to itB/ as'ed Fran'.

@Tal'ing to a )rehistori# egg through two wires %ust ha+e (een #o+ered during that le#ture $

s'i))ed to s)end ti%e in Cheryl/s roo% at the res. $ don/t 'now where to start. We %ust thin' o" a way./

!"ter a silen#e, Cheryl startled the %en (y s)ea'ing. @?o any o" you re%e%(er a %o+ie a(out a

(oat that turned u)side down and the #rew and )assengers were tra))ed in an air )o#'etB When the res#ue

)eo)le arri+ed they tal'ed to ea#h other (y (anging on the %etal. $s there any way we #an (ang on this

thing and see i" it tal's (a#'B $ %ean ele#tri#ally./

Selwyn didn/t answer her, (ut the loo' on his "a#e indi#ated that his wi"e had gi+en hi% an idea.

8e le"t the roo% al%ost at a run, and was soon (a#' with a )ad and )en#il. Fran' re#ognied so%e o" the

sha)es on the )a)er as Selwyn drew. ! "ew s)i'y resistors, a swit#h, and a #ou)le o" diodes. Selwyn leant

(a#' in his #hair.

@There we are, egghead %orse#ode inter"a#e +ersion one )oint ero. $ thin' $ ha+e all the

#o%)onents $ need in %y &un'(o*./

8e was soon (a#' with a "ew #o%)onents in a s%all )lasti# tray and a strange loo'ing !I sied

)ie#e o" )lasti# with hundreds o" little s9uare holes in it. Fran' )i#'ed it u) to ha+e a #loser loo'.

@$t/s a (read(oard,/ said Selwyn. $t/s used to )rototy)e si%)le #ir#uits until you design the PC

"or the )rodu#tion run./@PCB/

@Printed Cir#uit oard./

@!h. That "lat thing with #ondu#tors on the one side and #o%)onents on the otherB/

@7ot (ad "or a geologist. $ will ha+e you tal'ing Gh%s and olts in no ti%e./

@o#'s are easier./

@7o(ody has e+er (een 'illed or in&ured (y a "alling resistor or transistor./

@Dou win./

Fran' wat#hed, %es%eried (y the s)eed at whi#h Selwyn )lugged the #o%)onents and short (its

o" (rightly #oloured wire into the (read(oard. Cheryl had in the %eanti%e gone o"" to the Starshi)

Enter)rise to re)lenish their #o""ee, and was soon (a#' with three stea%ing %ugs. She had seen herhus(and wor' his %agi# on the (read(oard, and this was nothing new to her.

@S%o'e Test. !re we readyB/



15/165


So %any things had ha))ened so "ast that the three o" the% had s#ar#ely sto))ed to thin' a(out

what they were doing. $n their #olle#ti+e #hildli'e enthusias%, they were (liss"ully unaware that they

were standing at the threshold o" so%ething that had )ossi(ly ne+er ha))ened in hu%an history.

@Selwyn, are you sure that you are not going to (low u) the one and only Pre#a%(rian ele#tri#al

de+i#e e+er "oundB/

Selwyn sto))ed &ust short o" )at#hing the last "ew wires "ro% the (read(oard to the egg. The

thought o" da%aging it had not #rossed his %ind, although he had instin#ti+ely (uilt sa"eguards into his

#ir#uit.

@7ot li'ely. $ ha+e )ut two eners (a#'to(a#' a#ross the ter%inals. This will )re+ent a +oltage o"

%ore than 5 +olts "ro% (eing a))lied to the egg/s )ins. !s we saw "ro% the tra#es on the s#o)e, the egg

sour#ed a +oltage o" 0 +olts. The #ir#uit $ ha+e (uilt has an in)ut i%)edan#e o" a "ew thousand oh%s. $

thin' the egg is 9uite sa"e. $ #annot say the sa%e a(out %y side o" the inter"a#e, (ut we are loo'ing at

a(out ten ands worth o" ele#troni#s. $/% not too stressed a(out a (read(oard and a "ew )assi+es./

!ll the ele#tros)ea' had gone way o+er Fran'/s head, (ut he got the %essage. $t was enough "or

hi% that Selwyn had thought a(out it.

@$/% a go,/ said Fran'.

Cheryl &ust nodded al%ost i%)er#e)ti(ly and Selwyn atta#hed the wires to the #ro#odile #li)s. 8e"le*ed the "ingers on his le"t hand li'e a )ianist a(out to start T#hai'ows'y one, and )la#ed a tre%(ling

"inger on the s%all red )ushswit#h on the (read(oard.

@ee). . .ee)/

The three o" the% stared in silen#e at the tiny s)ea'er that Selwyn had sal+aged "ro% a Wal'%an

head)hone. Selwyn/s "inger was still tre%(ling on the (utton

@ee) . . .ee)/. The )it#h and +olu%e were e*a#tly the sa%e.

@Was that youB/ Cheryl as'ed her tre%(ling hus(and.

8e shoo' his head slowly. !s i" to %a'e the )oint he triggered o"" two %ore (ee)s and sat (a#' in

his #hair, his hands on his head. Two %ore (ee)s #a%e "ro% the s)ea'er. Three (ee)s "ro% Selwyn, a

)ause and three (ee)s "ro% the egg.@8oly shit. What nowB/ as'ed Selwyn.

@See i" it #an #o%)lete a se9uen#e,/ suggested Cheryl.

1 . . .2 . . . . . .3 (ee)s "ro% Selwyn. ! Pause. 5 . . I . . . . . - . .(ee)s "ro% the egg. Silen#e

Why did it only gi+e you "our nu%(ers (a#'B/ as'ed Fran'.

@$ ga+e it "our nu%(ers to start with. $t ga+e %e the sa%e nu%(er (a#'./

1 5 Entered. 11 res)onded.

.. 1.. 3.. 1.. 5. .Entered. .. 2.. I.. 5.. 3 res)onded. Selwyn s%iled.

@What the hell 'ind o" se9uen#e was thatB/ as'ed Fran'.

@Pi. This thing 'nows #ir#les. 7ot only that (ut it wor'ed out the radi* o" our nu%(er syste%. $t

has wor'ed out that we ha+e ten "ingers./

@8ow do you re%e%(er Pi to that %any digitsB/ as'ed Cheryl.

@ing ?a+id S#hool. ?e((ie Cohen. Pigtails and PressSti#'. $ had to learn it to 50 digits as

)unish%ent./

@!h ha. ;i+e it gar(age,/ suggested Fran'. Selwyn ta))ed the (utton a "ew ti%es rando%ly and sat

(a#' in the #hair. ! long single (ee) #a%e (a#'.

@$ thin' that is =)iss o""> in )re#anni(al./ Said Selwyn.

@Pre#a%(rian,/ said Fran'.

@Whate+er,/ said Selwyn.

Selwyn went to his study. They #ould hear hi% ta))ing on the 'ey(oard o" his #o%)uter. 8e

returned with a nu%(er written on a s#ra) o" )a)er.

2.. .. 1.. -.. Entered . . 2.. -.. 1.. -.. es)onded. Selwyn s%iled.

@This thing is s%art. That was =e>, the (ase o" natural logs. Pro"essor 7'o%o is right, %athe%ati#s

is the uni+ersal language./



16/165


@$ thin' we need a (rea',/ said Fran'. @$ don/t want to "iddle any %ore with that thing until $ ha+e

had a #han#e to thin'. ?oes the =6ugg and ean> at Sandton City still %a'e that lo+ely %inestrone sou)

with the #ris)y #routonsB/

@They do indeed,/ said Cheryl. @6eggie is "ast aslee) "ro% a tough night )laying with ;ranny and

;rand)a. $ will &ust go and as' ?orothy i" she #ould 'ee) an eye on her while we are out./

The transa#tion was #o%)leted on the inter#o% and a short while later the large (ea%ing "a#e o"

?orothy (rightened the roo%.

@8au 6ada%,/ said ?orothy. @Why you not tell %e Fran' hereB 8ey Fran' you still we' on de

%godi naB Why you no #o%e +isitB !n where da wi"e and (e(iB $" you no got %oney, $ sure 6ista

Selwyn he len you da %oney "or the lo(olo./

@8ey, don/t get %e into this,/ )rotested Selwyn. @Fran' #an get his own #ows to (uy a wi"e./

Fran' tried to e%(ra#e her, (ut e+en his orangutan ar%s hardly rea#hed around the treetrun' o"

her torso. @What is it with you wo%enB Why is re)rodu#tion the only thing that see%s to %atterB/ he

#hided.

@Credo 6utwa, he say =Man live only to link ancestors and descendants> Dou no %a'e that lin'

yet naB/

@$ no %a'e that lin'. !nd gi+e %e a (rea' won/t youB/ 8e wondered i" he #ould sue the +enera(lewit#hdo#tor o" the Kulu nation "or the o+er)o)ulated state o" the )lanet, (ut de#ided against it. !

wit#hdo#tor is not so%eone to %ess with.

They le"t "or the =6ugg and ean> in Cheryl/s "ourwheeldri+e 6er#edes. They would ha+e had

to "old Fran' dou(le to get hi% into the (a#' o" Selwyn/s s)orty 6W.

Chapter 5

The =6ugg and ean> was #rowded (ut the 6anager %anaged to "ind the% a #oy little ta(le

tu#'ed into a #orner. The sou) was e+ery (it as good as Fran' re%e%(ered. $t was ser+ed with #routons

and #heese "loating on the sur"a#e, and a #ris) war% roll on the side. The #on+ersation (etween the three

o" the% was su(dued. The adrenalin rush "ro% the %orning/s e*#ite%ent had le"t the% with that deta#hed,e%)ty, )osttrau%ati# "eeling.

@?o you thin' that we are doing anything wrong or illegal %essing a(out with that eggB/ as'ed

Cheryl o" no(ody in )arti#ular.

@$ don/t thin' it is illegal, (ut what we are doing %ay (e wrong and e+en dangerous,/ said Fran'.

@!re you allowed to ta'e ro#'s and things "ro% the %ineB/ she as'ed.

@$ ta'e ro#'s "ro% the %ine all the ti%e. $t is %y &o(. $ %ust ha+e hal" a ton o" the% in %y "lat. The

gold is in %i#ros#o)i# )arti#les, and you would need to ta'e a "ew tons o" the ro#' out &ust to %a'e one

tiny #oin, and then how #ould you get the gold outB !l%ost e+ery %igrant la(ourer ta'es a "ew )ie#es

ho%e to show his "riends and "a%ily. $ ha+e e+en hel)ed +isitors and wor'ers "ind the (est sa%)les. There

are regulations a(out stealing e9ui)%ent, and the e*)losi+es rules are stri#t, (ut $ #an/t thin' o" any law orstandard $ ha+e (ro'en. !s a %atter o" interest the egg would ha+e (een tra%%ed as waste, and would

now (e on the waste)ile i" $ hadn/t ta'en it out./

@Dou lost %e Fran'. What do you %eanB/ 9ueried Cheryl.

@Sorry, $ was s)ea'ing %ines)ea'. :et %e start again. E+ery gold %ine )rodu#es two ro#' ty)es,

=reef> and =waste>. =Reef> is what we go down there to %ine, it is the )e((ly 9uartite that #ontains the

gold. is dis#arded on a )ile. The egg was (ro'en "ro% ro#' that was destined "or

the waste ti)./

@!re you saying that you did the %ine a "a+our (y ta'ing the egg outB/ as'ed Cheryl.@That %ay (e stret#hing it a (it "ar $/% sure the di#'head o" an underground %anager would lo+e

to %a'e a whole songanddan#e a(out it (ut $ ha+e no intention o" letting that ha))en. The )ro(le% is

that $ #an/t go (a#' to the %ine and do the ="orgi+e %e "ather "or $ ha+e sinned> a#t. $/% too "ar down theDownloaded from http://pdfbooks.co.za


17/165


line "or that. $ ha+e a "eeling that %orally the right thing to do %ight (e to get the s#ienti"i# #o%%unity

in+ol+ed. The 9uestion is who. ?id you e+er see the "irst =6en in la#'> %o+ieB/

@Des, $ lo+ed those two %o+ies,/ res)onded Selwyn. @$ ha+e (oth o" the% on ??./

@?o you re%e%(er the s#ene where Will S%ith To%%y :ee Jones were sitting on the )ar' (en#h.

To%%y :ee Jones was trying to &usti"y to Will S%ith why the 6en in la#' 'e)t the e*isten#e o" all the

aliens on earth se#retB/

@Sort o". $ thin' that (it was a little too )hiloso)hi#al "or %e. $ re%e%(er the se*y %ortuary do#tor

and the way that (ig (ug too' her u) the tower and then she got stu#' in the tree with that short s'irt on.

Dou %issed all the (est (its in the %o+ie Fran'A/

@7o $ didn/tA/ he )rotested. @:inda with an $talian surna%e. She is gorgeous./

@ut seriously,/ he #ontinued. @$ thin' To%%y :ee Jones was right. $%agine i" there were aliens

a%ong us, and the )eo)le 'new, how %u#h )ani# it would #ause. $ ga+e so%e thought to telling the Chie"

;eologist. 8e is a really ni#e old %an one o" those olds#hool !"ri'aners, (ut $/% s#ared this would

"rea' hi% out. $ 'now it would #ertainly "rea' out 7ita, his wi"e. $ &ust don/t 'now i" it is "air to tell the%./

8e #ontinued. @?o you realie that the three o" us %ay (e a%ong &ust a hand"ul o" )eo)le on this

whole )lanet to 'now that %an is not, or was not, the only intelligen#e in our little #orner o" the uni+erse.

$ "eel s#ared shitless (y the thought o" the res)onsi(ility. $ want to say so%ething that %ay #o%e o+erarrogant, (ut $ need to say it anyway. $ thin' that the egg is lu#'y to ha+e had %e, Fran#is +an der

Westhuien, Ph?. ;eology, "ind it. $ will tell you why. $ thin' we geologists are a%ong the %ost

le+elheaded o" all the "la+ours o" s#ientists. ;eology is the %ost a%aing s#ien#e at %a'ing one "eel

s%all and insigni"i#ant. We, who try to understand ro#'s and geologi#al )ro#esses, 'now %ore than

anyone &ust how %u#h o" a "art %an is in the tornado o" li"e. Dou %ay not thin' o" li"e as (eing a tornado,

(ut when +iewed through geologi#al eyes it is. $%agine that you were an eye out there in s)a#e, and you

were wat#hing the earth through a ti%ela)se #a%era, you would see "e+erish a#ti+ity down on earth. Dou

would see #ontinents s)litting u), wandering a(out and #rashing into ea#h other li'e the doge% #ars at the

and Show. Dou would see %ountain ranges rise and get washed away. The i#e #a)s would swell and

shrin'. Seas would "ill and then dry out. Whole )hyla and orders o" ani%als and )lants would de+elo),

and then die, li'e the #ray e*)eri%ents o" so%e %ad s#ientist with a white &a#'et, and thi#' glasses. $"the history o" the earth was #o%)ressed into a %o+ie, and you snea'ed out to ha+e a 9ui#' )ee @#os you

dran' too %u#h Co'e, you %ight &ust return to "ind that you %issed whole (it a(out %an. $ don/t 'now i"

there is so%e ;od or Creator out there. $ ha+e ne+er (een too (othered (y it one way or the other, (ut i"

there is, $ &ust #annot i%agine 8i% or 8er singling out this te%)orary ra#e o" na'ed ho%inids "or any

)re"erential treat%ent. The thought that ;od would #hose an indi+idual o" the s)e#ies 8o%o sa)iens, and

then whis)er so%e o" his thoughts into his or her ear is to %e ridi#ulous. Sure, Te* didn/t (uild a #o""ee

%a#hine or #ell )hone, (ut does that %ean that we are s%arter than hi%B 6ay(e he was the #le+er one.

Can you i%agine i" the lo#al ?o%inee had (een with us todayB 8ow would he ha+e e*)lained the egg his

#ongregationB $ (et he would ha+e said that the egg was the wor' o" Satan, and would ha+e had it thrown

into the dee)est )art o" the o#ean. Selwyn, when $ told you on the )hone that you were the strongest %an

$ had e+er 'nown $ %eant it. !nd you Cheryl, with this %an ne*t to you, are e+ery (it as strong, )ossi(ly

stronger Dou don/t ha+e your hus(and/s re#'less strea'. $ 'now that you two will (e together "ore+er. $

'now that we are all a little rattled (y what we "ound this %orning. $/% sorry that $ was the one to do it

(ut you #an/t say $ didn/t warn you./

There was silen#e at the ta(le. The =6ugg and ean> is a noisy )la#e, (ut at that %o%ent the

)la#e see%ed deathly 9uite to the three o" the%. !t so%e stage Cheryl had ta'en her hus(and/s hands in

hers. Fran' (adly wanted to #ontri(ute his two "ris(eesied )aws to the )ile (ut held (a#'. !s i" she read

his %ind, Cheryl ga+e his "orear% a reassuring s9ueee, (e"ore returning it to the #o%"ort o" her hus(and.

Selwyn (ro'e the silen#e. @That was 9uite so%e "u#'ing s)ee#h there ?o#tor +an der Westhuien,/

he said so"tly with a s%ile in his +oi#e. The way he said it totally destroyed the tension in the air.

@?on/t use the "word in )u(li#, you hooliganA/ %oaned Cheryl.@Sorry dear, (ut ole Fran'ie here was getting all s9uishy and %ushy and $ needed to (rea' hi% out

o" it./ 8e turned to the geologist. @Sure $/% a little rattled (ut we are going to sur+i+e. $ thin' $ ha+e

wat#hed "ar too %any s#i"i %o+ies. $ always i%agined that i" we were to #o%e into #onta#t with aliens



18/165


they would (e green o'ies with eyes on stal's arri+ing in "lying sau#ers, and they would say =Ta'e. . .%e

. . .to . . .your. . .leader>. Fran', so%ething has (een (othering %e. $s it )ossi(le that %an so%ehow %ade

that thing during a di""erent #i+iliation, or in so%e other weird ti%e oneB $ 'now that the )lug has a le"t

hand thread, (ut $/% le"thanded and $/% not an alien./

@That/s what you thin'A/ said Cheryl.

@6eggie has only two eyes,/ res)onded Selwyn.

@$ ha+e thought those thoughts %ysel",/ said Fran'. @!s to whether there was an earlier +ersion o"

%an (a#' in the Pre#a%(rianB $ thin' it unli'ely. ery "ew ani%al or )lants get a se#ond #han#e. Dou do

get si%ilar ani%als e+ol+ing along si%ilar lines, (ut it is always in res)onse to si%ilar #onditions. ! good

e*a%)le is the s)ringhaas "ro% the alahari, the !%eri#an &a#'ra((it, and a #ertain !ustralian %arsu)ialH

all loo' )retty si%ilar at "irst glan#e. They &ust de+elo)ed that way in res)onse to si%ilar #onditions. ut

the thought o" %an de+elo)ing twi#e in his )resent "or% is unli'ely. For a start there was no o*ygen in the

at%os)here (a#' there that only #a%e later as algae de+elo)ed and "lourished. esides what would he

ha+e eatenB There were no )lants or ani%als not e+en a =6ugg and ean>@

@$ also #an/t handle the ti%eone idea,/ he #ontinued. @$t is a (it (eyond %e, and threatens what

little $ 'now a(out ti%e and s)a#e. !re you as'ing i" so%e #unning Ja)anese o'ie %ade the egg, whished

(a#' to the Pre#a%(rian in a ti%e %a#hine, dro))ed the egg, and the whooshed (a#' to the )resent inti%e to "inish his sushiB/

Selwyn s%iled. @Des, sort o"./

@Gn#e again $ thin' it unli'ely. Thin' where 8ollywood would (e without the #on#e)t o" ti%e

tra+el. 6any %o+ies ha+e e*)lored it, =Planet of the pes>, =!ack to the "uture>, =#he #ime Machine>,

=$ate and %eopold> to na%e a "ew. They all ne+er "ully answer one +ery stu)id and yet "unda%ental

9uestion. What would ha))en i" you went (a#' in ti%e, and ga+e your old %an a #ondo% the night you

were #on#ei+edB Would 6egan &ust "ade awayB Would her "a+ourite (unny end u) (a#' in the toysho)B/

Selwyn laughed, (ut Fran' #ould see Cheryl/s %aternal instin#ts and sense o" hu%our doing

(attle. The sense o" hu%our won. ! )er"e#t set o" teeth that had seen %any orthodontists, dentists and

dental hygienists lit u) her "a#e.

@$ really (elie+e that we are loo'ing at so%ething that was not %ade (y hu%ans. What the hell it is

$ ha+e a(solutely no idea, (ut $ need to "ind out, or at least try. There %ay e+en (e %any down there.

6ay(e so%e ha+e (een un#o+ered at di""erent ti%es in the )ast. 6ay(e our an#estors used the% as

)ro&e#tiles to throw at %a%%oths. 6ay(e one o" these things inad+ertently "ired "ro% a #annon at the

(attle o" Waterloo (lew o"" one o" !d%iral 7elson/s goolies./

@8e lost a testi#le at WaterlooB/ as'ed Cheryl. 8er .!. in history, so#iology and languages at

Wits had not #o+ered 8oratio 7elson/s anato%y. Selwyn #a%e to her hel).

@8e lost one o" the% so%ewhere. $t #ould ha+e (een at Waterloo./ oth %en had instin#ti+ely

#losed their legsH Selwyn/s hands lying )rote#ti+ely in his la).

@Dou ha+e a war)ed and twisted %ind Fran'ie. First you rattle %y (rain, and now you %a'e %y

nuts hurt. Just what 'ind o" a (uddy are youB/@Where do we go "ro% here (ossB/ he #ontinued a"ter a )ause.

@$ &ust thin' we need to ta'e it slowly. $ see no need to hurry. $" we &ust (lunder into this thing we

%ay do so%ething we regret. That egg is #ertainly in no hurry so $ don/t see why we should (e. $ don/t

'now a(out you )eo)le (ut $/% going (a#' to wor' to%orrow and $ suggest we all do the sa%e. Selwyn,

do you ha+e a sa"e at ho%eB $ don/t want to 'ee) the egg out on the %ine./

@Sure do. $/% ha))y to 'ee) it. ?o you trust %e with itB $ wonder what $ #ould sell it "orB 6ust (e

worth a "ew (o( to so%e(ody./

@?on/t e+en thin' o" it you s#h%u#',/ Cheryl said shar)ly. @Dou )ro%ised Fran' not to tell. 8ow

you going to sell it and 'ee) that )ro%iseB/

Fran' was not in the least #on#erned a(out Selwyn selling it.

@$ thin' you are right Fran',/ said Selwyn. @$ ha+e a (usiness to run, and you ha+e a %ine to

geologise. $ thin' we %ust &ust go on with our li+es and do the egg thing )artti%e. 8a+ing said that, $/%



19/165


also da%n #urious now. Why don/t we get (a#' together ne*t wee'endB $/% sure we #an "ind you a s)are

(ed so%ewhere in the house./

@What a(out Sha((atB/ as'ed Fran'.

@?on/t worry. We don/t do things that seriously in the house. $/% Jewish, (ut not that Jewish.

Thin' o" all the ti%es $ )ut %y i%%ortal soul in danger (y )laying )olo on Saturdays. We ha+e a Sa((ath

dinner on Friday, and $ say a "ew )rayers, (ut that is %y only #on#ession to (eing Jewish. $" you don/t

%ind, you are %ore than wel#o%e to &oin us. $/% sure we #an "ind you a yar%ul'e so%ewhere./

@$ still ha+e the one you ga+e %e at your wedding. Will that doB/

@Dou lieA G" #ourse it will doA Dou 'e)t itB WhyB/

@$ don/t 'now. $ ha+e ne+er (een a %e%(er o" any )arti#ular tri(e, and $ guess $/% a little &ealous

o" )eo)le with an identity. $ "elt Jewish at your wedding, and it "elt good. $ 'e)t the yar%ul'e to re%ind

%e o" the "eeling, and the o##asion./

Cheryl #ould not #ontain hersel". @Call the a((i SelwynA $ thin' a #ir#u%#ision is #alled "or./

@Too late,/ res)onded Fran'. @The deed is done so%ething a(out a tight "ores'in and an early

#hildhood in"e#tion. 7ot a a((i, (ut a rugersdor) do#tor./ There were s%iles all round.

@Where do we go with eggB/ as'ed Fran' @We 'now it #an tal', and is )re)ared to tal', (ut $/%

lost as to what to do ne*t./@$ was thin'ing a(out that,/ said Selwyn. @$ thin' we need to e*)and the tea%. $ "eel we need

so%eone who has an understanding o" lowle+el digital signals, so%eone who #an hel) us hoo' the egg to

a #o%)uter. Sooner or later we are going to want to tal' in %ore than &ust (ee)s. 6ay(e that is the way to

go. 8ow do you "eelB/

@Sounds good, (ut $ don/t 'now anyone li'e that. ?o you ha+e anyone in %indB/

@There are a "ew )eo)le with that sort o" s'ill in the #o%)any, (ut $/% relu#tant to (ring an

e%)loyee into the loo). Dou 'now, the whole (oss thing. !lso that is not really our line o" (usiness. The

%ost #o%)li#ated thing we %a'e, as "ar as ele#troni#s is #on#erned, is our #ordless )hone. Gur Ts and

??s are %ade "or us in the east./

@Paula ;on#al+es. She is )er"e#t,/ said Cheryl. She was loo'ing at Fran' sensiti+e to anyrea#tion. Fran' rea#ted. 8e "elt all sorts o" strange un#o%"orta(le "eelings #o%e o+er hi%. 6ost were

)leasant, (ut so%e were not.

@Who is Paula ;onwassisna%eB/ as'ed Selwyn, o(li+ious to the tur%oil his "riend "elt.

@That girl that Fran' (rought to the inter+arsity water )olo dinner. She is a #o%)uter s#ientist

s)e#ialiing in networ's and the $nternet, and da%n #le+er./

@!h yes. $ re%e%(er her. ;orgeous dar' haired girl with (ig . . . @ his #u))ed hands with "ingers

)ointing at his #hest le"t no dou(t as to what he was tal'ing a(out. 8e noti#ed the loo' on his wi"e/s "a#e

and 9ui#'ly %o+ed the o""ending hands u) to his eyes @. . .(lue eyes/.

@Sel. . .wyn . . . E). . .stein . . . you . . . are. . .a . . . hoo. . . li . . . .gan./ She said, ea#h sylla(le

)un#tuated (y a s%all s%a#' to the head with the na)'in. Selwyn #owered in %o#' "ear.

@ut you lo+e %e anyway don/t you,/ he whi%)ered in as su(%issi+e a +oi#e as he #ould.

@Des $ do. ut that does not %a'e you less o" a hooligan,/ she answered s%iling. The two sat "or a

"ew %o%ents s%iling at ea#h other.

@They are (rown,/ said Fran' so"tly.

@8uhB/ as'ed Selwyn.

@Dou said her eyes are (lue, (ut they are not, they are (rown. Pro(a(ly the %ost (eauti"ul (rown

eyes $ ha+e e+er seenH :ight, al%ost golden (rown in the %iddle with a dar' (rown ring around the edge

o" the iris. $ s)ent hal" a night loo'ing at the%, so $ should 'now./

Cheryl eroed in. @What ha))ened (etween the two o" youB The #he%istry (etween you #ould

ha+e #reated a wea)on o" %ass destru#tion and then, )oo"A . 7othingA We ne+er saw her again./

@She was the wrong girl, at the wrong )la#e, at the wrong ti%e. Dou are right a(out the #he%istry #ertainly on %y side./

@What do you %ean (y that Fran'ie. She loo'ed )retty da%n right to %e,/ )ro(ed Cheryl. Fran'

didn/t li'e to (e )ro(ed, (ut she would not let u).



20/165


@$ was #o%ing down the ho%e straight o" %y 6aster/s thesis. 6y su)er+isor was getting too #lose

to what $ was doing, and 'e)t %o+ing the goal)osts. $t was the worse #ase o" s#o)e#ree) in geologi#al

history. $ was going #ray. $ 'new $ had to get a da%n good re+iew to nudge out the #o%)etition "or the

Cha%(er 6edal, and $ 'new $ needed the 6edal to get the "unds to start the Ph? thesis. $n the %iddle o"

this along #o%es this Portuguese girl and 'no#'s the wind out o" %y so#'s./

@We get the %essage Fran'ie. ;o onA/ :o+e and ro%an#e were Cheryl/s ho%e tur". She had got

hi% tal'ing, and she was not going to let hi% o"" the hoo'. E+en Selwyn was a%aed, as this was a side

o" the (ig %an he had ne+er seen.

@$ 'new the #o%)etition. $ had seen the way the leather&a#'et!l"ao%eo guys at the #anteen

surrounded her. $ did/nt stand a #han#e o" (e#o%ing al)ha %ale. ?a%n it, $ did/nt e+en ha+e the #ash to

as' her "or a #u) o" #o""ee the ne*t day %y (eetle stood with an e%)ty tan' outside %y digs. 6o% was

struggling, and $ #ould not or would not )ut any strain on her "inan#ial resour#es. $ ha+e read Sun Tu/s

=rt of &ar>. 8ere was a (attle $ #ould not win, and it was (est not to start it. $ s)ent %y last and in the

ti#'y(o* to tell her that $ #ould not see her "or a while. She didn/t understand, and started to (end %y ear.

$ #ould/nt handle it, and that was that. $ got the Cha%(er 6edal. The (ursary "ollowed and $ was on the

%ine wor'ing and doing the thesis. !nd i" you nosey )ar'ers need to 'now, no, $ didn/t slee) with her.

We s)ent the whole night #hatting at the 'it#hen ta(le in her )arent/s "lat. !t si* the ne*t %orning wewere still "ully #lothed at the ta(le when her )arents #a%e and &oined us "or #o""ee. They are great )eo)le.

$t was one o" the lo+eliest nights o" %y li"e, "ollowed (y one o" the %ost horri(le days./

Cheryl sensed that this was all she was going to get "ro% hi%, and shoo' her head des)airingly. @$

don/t understand it. 8ow is it that a %an #an (e so (ig, so strong, so #le+er, e+en good loo'ing in a hairy

sort o" way and yet so du%(B ?id it e+er o##ur to you that you had 'no#'ed the wind out o" her so#'s, i"

$ %ay use a re#ently heard %i*ed %eta)horB What do you thin' we do when we go to the ladies roo%B

Tal' a(out rug(yB 7o, we tal'. That girl was radiant. Dou thin' it %attered to her that you had no

%oneyB She would ha+e wal'ed a#ross town so "ast that the !l"a(rigade #ould not 'ee) u). Dou did/nt

need to "ight to (e al)ha %ale, and what is this shit a(out al)ha %ale anywayB What do you thin' we are,

hi))os or (a(oonsB !t that )la#e at that ti%e you WEE al)ha %aleA !nd now $ learn you du%)ed her

(e#ause you li'ed her too %u#hA What sort o" luna#y is thisB Would you li'e to see her againB ?on/tanswerA Just say =yes>/

@$s %y li"e in dangerB/ he as'ed with a ner+ous hal"s%ile.

@$t is i" you say noA/

@This is hard "or %e Cheryl. $t has (een a "ew years. She is )ro(a(ly ha))ily %arried, has a "ew

'ids and has "orgotten all a(out %e (y now./

@$ will "ind out./

@8owB/

@!re you &o'ingB This is $, Cheryl E)stein, lo#ator e*traordinaire. There is noone in the e)u(li#

who #an hide "ro% %e on this ty)e o" %ission./

@Dou ha+e no #hoi#e in this %atter. ;i+e in Fran'ie,/ warned Selwyn, and (esides, he was on herside.

@G'. $ gi+e in. ut i" $ s#rewed her u) in e+en the s%allest way (e"ore, $ don/t want a #han#e to do

it again./

@$ will (e dis#rete, and $ wont let you,/ she assured hi%.

@G'. So it is all de#ided then. :ets go ho%e. 6eggie will (e awa'e and $ need to relie+e ?orothy./

Chapter 6

Paula had a sign on the wall o" her #u(e in the #o%)any #u(e"ar% that her #olleagues too'

seriously. $t had a )i#ture o" a guillotine, #o%)lete with a )ool o" (lood and the (as'et in whi#h to #at#h

de#a)itated heads, and under the )i#ture it )ro#lai%ed4 =The Surgeon ;eneral has deter%ined that(ugging %e is dangerous to your health.> When she was wor'ing to a tight deadline, any unwarranted

interru)tion was inter)reted as (ugging.



21/165


The )ro&e#t se#retary inter#e)ted the #all, and when Cheryl said that it was not urgent, she too' a

%essage and )o))ed it in Paula/s )igeonhole. $t was late in the %orning (e"ore Paula got a #han#e to #lear

her %essages. The to) three %essages #ould wait, (ut the "ourth #aused her anger. $t was "ro% Tony, her

e*hus(and.

@?o %e a "a+our Jenny,/ she said. @$" Tony #alls again, )lease (e so good as to tell hi% to sto)

#alling %e, and i" you need so%e stressrelie", then you ha+e %y )er%ission to tell hi% to go to hell./ She

tossed the %essage into the shredder (in, and headed (a#' to her #u(e with the re%aining %essages.

There was a %essage "ro% her %other, and under nor%al #ir#u%stan#es, she would ha+e returned

it straight away. She 'new her %other would not #all her at wor' unless it was i%)ortant, (ut her

%other/s idea o" what was i%)ortant had (e#o%e a little distorted during the last "ew %onths. !lthough

she was o""i#ially di+or#ed, her )arents, (u#'ling under )ressure "ro% Tony/s )arents, had started

)ressuriing her to at least #onsider wor'ing towards re#on#iliation.

e#on#iliationB There was no #han#e o" that. Why #ould they &ust not lea+e her aloneB She was

not the ty)e o" girl that Tony needed, or wanted, and why #ould he &ust not let her (eB There were a

%illion girls in ;auteng who would die to (e 6rs. da Sil+a, and he was "ree to ta'e his )i#'. There were

ti%es when she wondered why she had %arried hi% in the "irst )la#e. !t the ti%e it had see%ed li'e the

right thing to do. 8e was attenti+e, and o(+iously #ray a(out her, and the #o%(ined )ressure o" her)arents and inlaws was a little %ore than she #ould resist. Where had it all gone wrongB $n her %ind she

had %ade it a(undantly #lear that she didn/t see hersel" sto))ing wor' to start a "a%ily, at least not "or a

while, and she had thought that Tony had a##e)ted that, (ut the )ressure started (e"ore the honey%oon

was o+er. Their "irst (laing row had (een within a wee' o" getting ho%e, and they had "ollowed at

regular inter+als sin#e then.

! "ew %onths o" hostility was all she #ould ta'e, and had %o+ed in with her "riend ella, (ut the

)ro(le%s had not sto))ed there. There ne+er see%ed to (e a night when so%e %e%(er o" Tony/s "a%ily

didn/t #all at the "lat, and the dis#ussions ne+er see%ed to get anywhere. !t least at the o""i#e Jenny was

a #o%)etent (u""er, "or whi#h she was grate"ul.

The last %essage in the )ile #aught her attention. $t was "ro% Cheryl E)stein, and said 9uite

si%)ly =Please #all %e, and don/t %a'e any )lans "or the #o%ing wee'end>. What was this a(outB Whywould Cheryl as' her not to %a'e )lans "or a whole wee'endB She had only %et Cheryl on#e, and that

see%ed hal"ali"eti%e ago at a water )olo dinner.

$t had (een a strange e+ening. She had only agreed to go (e#ause a "riend, who was dating one o"

the tea%, as'ed her to, and it was al%ost a (lind date. She would #ertainly not ha+e +olunteered to go to

dinner with a (un#h o" water )olo )layers. She had only %et Fran' on#e (e"ore in the #anteen, and her

"irst i%)ression o" hi% had not (een +ery "a+oura(le. She had thought o" hi% as a shy, so%ewhat

aw'ward gentle giant, and when she had heard that he had graduated Cu% :aude, and had (een

no%inated "or the Cha%(er o" 6ines 6edal, she #ould hardly (elie+e it, as he #ertainly didn/t see% that

s%art.

She had heard a %a*i% that the less you loo' "orward to a )arty, the (etter it turns out, and thate+ening had (een )roo" o" that. Ea#h o" the eight students at their ta(le was studying "or a di""erent

degree, and the ani%ated #on+ersation had threaded through an i%%easura(le nu%(er o" to)i#s, and

sur)risingly water )olo had not (een one o" the%. $t had ta'en Fran' a while to rela* and o)en u), (ut

when he did she was a%aed at the nu%(er o" (oo's that %ust ha+e )assed through his huge hands. !s

the e+ening wore on she had "ound hersel" %ore and %ore attra#ted to the gentleness and intelle#t o" the

huge %an, and (y the end o" the dinner the rest o" the ta(le had "aded to grey, and the only #olours

re%aining were the )ale (lue o" his eyes, and the ri#h red o" his undis#i)lined (eard. She #ould only

+aguely re%e%(er getting ho%e, (ut she did re%e%(er s)ending the whole night sitting in the 'it#hen

drin'ing #o""ee and listening to Fado on her ghetto (laster. 8e had e+en shed a "ew tears with her when

she translated the words o" the sad lyri#s "or hi%.

Then the #all had #o%e the ne*t day "ro% a totally di""erent Fran', saying that he didn/t want tosee her "or a while to de+ote %ore ti%e to so%e thesis. She 'new only too well what it was li'e to ha+e to

study and deli+er re)orts and dissertations on ti%e, and Fran' earned an instant trans"er to her history "ile.

She went to %o+ies with Tony that night.



22/165


She still #ould not wor' out why Cheryl had #alled, (ut there was only one way to "ind out. Cheryl

answered the )hone.

@8i Cheryl, Paula ;on#al+es./

@Paula, than' you so %u#h "or returning the #all. Jenny said you were a little "ranti# at the

%o%ent, so $ will #o%e straight to the )oint. ?o re%e%(er Fran' +an der WesthuienB/

@Des, (ut not with great )leasure. $ "ell "or hi% and he du%)ed %e. Shortest "lutter $ e+er had./@!#tually he du%)ed hi%sel", not you./

@What does that %eanB/

@8e #ould not handle the strong "eelings he "elt "or you at that ti%e, and ran away./

Paula laughed. @That is a good one. $ ha+en/t heard that (e"ore. $t is good to hear "ro% you, (ut

you didn/t )hone %e a"ter three years to tell %e that did youB/

@7o $ didn/t. $ )honed to as' you to s)end this wee'end with us. Fran' will (e here, (ut that is

in#edental. The real reason is that we ha+e a little e*tra%ural in+estigation underway, and we intend to

as' you to (ring your #o%)uter s'ills to the tea%. 6y s)y tells %e that you ha+e (e#o%e single again. $s

there anyone who %ay o(&e#t to you s)ending this #o%ing wee'end with usB/

Paula/s %ind ra#ed a wee'end with the E)steins in their ho%eB She had ne+er seen hersel" as

as)iring to the u))er e#helons o" Johannes(urg so#iety, (ut to #ra#' an in+ite to one o" the young #ities(estlo+ed %ansions, and then de#lineB 7o, that #ould not (e done. She had only e+er seen the ho%e in

the )ages o" glossy %againes, and i" there was one )la#e in Johannes(urg that was Tony)roo", that was

it. She had (rought a "air a%ount o" trau%a to )oor ella/s li"e, and wondered i" a wee'end o" )ea#e

would do her "riend so%e good.

@That sounds li'e a +ery ni#e idea. 8ow high are the wallsB/

Cheryl giggled. @Far too high "or Tony./

@Dour s)y is good./

@$sn/t sheB $ thin' you %ay "ind this in+estigation "as#inating./

@$ would lo+e to #o%e "or the wee'end. What is this in+estigation a(outB/

@$ #an/t tell you %u#h at this stage. $ 'now you are (usy, and Jenny tells %e you are going to?ur(an on Thursday. $s there any #han#e we #ould get together "or a #u) o" #o""eeB/

@$ ha+e a %eeting with a #lient at Sandton City to%orrow that should (e o+er (y ele+en./

@$ need so%e new reading %aterial. Why don/t we %eet at the 6ugg and ean ele+enishB ?on/t

rush your %eeting. $ will ha+e enough to read i" you are late./

@$ loo' "orward to it. Than' you./

@See you then. ;ood ye./

The wee' went (y a lot "aster than Fran' e*)e#ted. 8e %ade li(eral use o" his two "a+ourite drugs,

wor' and s)ort, to get hi% through, and to his own sur)rise he did (etter at (oth than he e*)e#ted. The

interse#tion o" the (o* hole through the ree" )ro+ed to (e the 'ey to the threedi%ensional &igsaw )ule.Gn#e that was in )la#e, the rest o" the )ule "ell into )la#e, and he soon had a %odel o" the ree". The area

was not as (adly "aulted as he had e*)e#ted, and the grade was signi"i#antly higher than "irst indi#ations.

i%leigh Jones e+en #a%e to his o""i#e with a (ottle o" s#ot#h to than' hi% "or his e""orts. 8e was so

sur)rised to re#ei+e a gi"t "ro% his s)aring )artner that he nearly dro))ed it on the "loor, %u#h to the

a%use%ent o" the Chie" ;eologist. S%iles were all around at wor' the whole wee'. The grades in the

new se#tion #aused the %ine geostatisti#ian to re+iew her ore reser+e %odel, and e*tend her li"eo"%ine

esti%ate "ro% ten to thirteen years. The word lea'ed out, and the %ines share )ri#e went north a "ew

and.

Gn the s9uash #ourt and (illiard ta(le he was un(eata(le. 8e and Ji%%y got (a#' to an alls9uare

Documents

TwoWireEgg_1_1_d