The night that they returned to the cottage in Stellenbosch Sarah rose once Roelf was asleep and in the bathroom she took a massive overdose of barbiturates.
She was dead in the bed beside him when Roelf Stander woke the following morning.
Maned and Heidi went to live on their farm in the Free State where Manfred raised pedigree merino sheep.
At the agricultural show in Bloemfontein Manfred won a blue ribbon for the champion ram on show three years in succession.
Always fleshy, Manfred put on a great deal of weight, eating out of boredom more than appetite. Only Heidi knew how he chaffed at inactivity, how much he longed to walk once again the corridors of power, and how pointless and frustrating he felt his existence had become.
He suffered his heart attack while wandering alone in the veld and shepherds found his body the next morning lying where he had fallen. Centaine flew up in the company jet to his funeral. She was the only member of the Courtney family present when Manfred was buried with full honours in Heroes Acre, surrounded by the graves of many other outstanding Afrikaners, including Dr Hendrik Verwoerd.
When Shasa Courtney was driven back from Buckingham Palace in the ambassadorial limousine after presenting his credentials to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the streets were wet with the grey London drizzle.
Despite the weather, the demonstrators were waiting for him in Trafalgar Square with their placards: 'The spirit of Moses Gama lives on' and 'Apartheid is a crime against humanity." As Shasa alighted from the limousine in front of the embassy, the demonstrators tried to push forward, but a line of blue-uniformed London bobbies linked arms to hold them back.
'Shasa Courtney!" Half-way across the sidewalk Shasa stopped dead in his tracks at the familiar voice, and he looked around.
He did not recognize her at first, then he saw her in the front rank of the demonstration and he turned back. He struck a tall elegant figure in his court dress and top hat. He stopped in front of her and spoke to one of the constables.
'Thank you, officer, but I know this lady, you may let her through." Then, as she ducked under the constable's outstretched arm, he greeted her, 'Hello, Tara." He found it difficult to believe how she had changed. She was a blowsy middle-aged drab, only her eyes were still beautiful as they blazed at him.
'Moses Gama lives on. The monsters of apartheid can murder our heroes, but the battle is ours. In the end we will inherit the earth." Her voice was a screech.
'Yes, Tara,' he replied. 'There are heroes and there are monsters, but most of us are ordinary mortals caught up in events too turbulent for any of us. Perhaps when the battle is over, all we will inherit will be the ashes of a once beautiful land." He turned away from her and walked into the entrance of the embassy without looking back.
The End
Author's Note . !
Once again I have taken some small liberties with the timetables of history, in particular the dates on which the Umkhonto we Sizwe.and Poqo movements began, Nelson Mandela was acquitted in his first treason trial, and Harold Macmillan made his 'Winds of Change' speech.
I hope that you, the reader, will forgive me for the sake of the narrative.
Wilbur Smith The Courtney Novels:
WHEN THE LION FEEDS 'Mr Smith is a natural story-teller..."
(The Scotsman)
THE SOUND OF THUNDER 'A violent sage-type story set in Boer War Africa and told with rigour and enthusiasm."
(The London Standard)
A SPARROW FALLS 'He packs humanity into a bag already overflowing with adventure, excitement, and realism." (Yorkshire Post)
THE BURNING SHORE
'... Courage, drama, love and revenge on land, sea and in the air towards the end of the first world war are blended in fine style. Mr Smith's research into events and places'is spot-on, as usual."
(Bolton Evening News)
POWER OF THE SWORD '... A stupendous story, written in the grand old manner, from the master of thoroughgoing adventure." (David Hughes, The Mail on Sunday)
The Ballantyne Novels:
A FALCON FLIES 'There is throughout Falcon Flies a genuine sense of excitement and wonder." (Sunday Telegraph)
MEN OF MEN
'A splendid read." (Financial Times)
THE ANGELS WEEP
'... action, adventure and romance..." (Yorkshire Post)
THE LEOPARD HUNTS IN DARKNESS
'... big, bold and bloody' (The Scotsman)
Also by Wilbur Smith."
THE DARK OF THE SUN 'If the phrase "a man's book" has any meaning, it describes this powerful savage story." (Books & Bookmen)
SHOUT AT THE DEVIL
'A fast and thrilling adventure." (Northern Echo)
GOLD MINE
'... violent action and informed technical detail...
Mr Smith is at his liveliest and best." (The London Standard)
THE DIAMOND HUNTERS
'A gem of a suspense/adventure novel." (Mirror)
THE SUNBIRD
'A splendid panoramic piece of writing, with colourful characters woven into an enthralling plot." (Oxford Times)
EAGLE IN THE SKY
'Wilbur Smith ... rarely misses a trick ... Terribly competent." (Sunday Times)