11 War Cry by Wilbur Smith

Author:Wilbur Smith
Language: deu
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

‘Me too, though I always cried and cried when Colin’s father came back to the house, no matter how many times I read it. I think I was really imagining Mummy coming back to me.’

‘I never knew my father. He left my mother before I was even born. I still wonder if he’s out there somewhere, just waiting to see me again …’

Saffron rushed across and gave Harriet a hug. Harriet squeezed her back, but then, after a few seconds, stepped back and said, ‘So, shall we go and have a look at your room? I didn’t dare touch a single thing without your permission, and you have my promise that if anything is done, it will be exactly as you like it.’

The following morning, Saffron was awake before dawn. She pulled on a pair of shorts and a jumper and went downstairs to the kitchen where she made herself a cup of tea and then took it outside. The air was still chilly as the very first faint light of the new day drew a pale golden line along the eastern horizon as Saffy sat down on the steps that led from the kitchen into the back yard, with her knees drawn up to her chest and her mug clutched in both hands to keep them warm.

Slowly that side of the house began to stir into life as the first totos emerged from their sleeping quarters to start work baking the fresh rolls for breakfast.

They grinned to see Saffron, who greeted each man by name, for she had known them all her life. Speaking in Swahili, scattered with the occasional Arabic phrase, she asked after their families, some of whom were thousands of miles away in Somalia, taking the trouble to listen to their answers and respond with as much interest as she would to one of her friends.

Finally the reason for her early rising appeared.

‘Uncle Manyoro!’ she cried and dashed towards him just as if she were still a little girl.

They exchanged greetings and then he looked at her with a serious, almost frowning expression on his face and said, ‘You have changed, my little princess. You have become a woman.’ Then his face was illuminated by a huge smile as he said, ‘Now I shall call you my queen.’

A toto appeared, without needing to be called, and respectfully handed Manyoro a cup of the strong, black, heavily sweetened coffee without which he could not properly begin his day.

‘So, Saffron, what has made you wait for me here, outside on this step, in the cold morning air, when you could be warm in your bed inside?’

‘I needed to know something.’

‘And what would that be?’

‘What do you think of Harriet? Do you like her? Do you think that everyone on the estate will like her?’

‘Hmm …’ he replied, sipping his coffee. ‘I can hear from your voice that you like her very much and that you want me to say yes.’

‘Don’t you want to say yes?’ Saffron asked, suddenly alarmed.

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