The Chaplain by Paul Almond

Author:Paul Almond [Almond, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Deer Press
Published: 2013-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Jack set off on the long train ride to Cape Town. Although the train sped down the incline from the Karoo desert, his journey seemed to take forever. More and more did he look forward to seeing Kelsie, building their meeting in his mind as he was wont to do, convincing himself that chances were good he’d find her at Wynberg. There, of course, he would make contact with Ryerson as well. The trip seemed full of promise, though he decided he must return as soon as possible to rejoin his regiment, which would likely be facing a firestorm.

On arrival he hurried to the old Tudor Hotel on historic Market Square, where Officers in transition were billeted. He was also concerned about the young Boer: How would he ever make contact with young Pieter’s uncle? But the hour was late and Jack had to retire, along with anxieties about how he’d possibly fulfill all the obligations and then get to see his Kelsie, who had the uncanny knack of populating his dreams these nights.

The next morning, Jack dressed and went downstairs to the elegant dining room, a far cry from what he’d been used to. Several officers from various British regiments were sitting about, tucking with relish into the eggs and sausage, tomatoes on toast, relaxing and smoking cigars. The tall, latticed windows admitted a soft morning light through the gauze curtains, and the plain dark mahogany tables glittered with cutlery that swam on their smooth surfaces like icebergs on a midnight sea. Jack sat and took a drink of the fresh, clear water — such a treat — when who should he see entering but Kandinsky, the correspondent.

He lifted up his newspaper, but not quickly enough.

“Ah Padre, what are you doing down here? May I join you?” Without waiting for a reply, Kandinsky came over and sat, waving an arm to attract one of the many Cape coloured, or mixed race, waiters who appeared quickly to take his order.

“Well, this is a happy occasion,” Kandinsky said, beaming.

Jack frowned. What on earth had happened to the man? Indeed, an altogether different and cheerful mood. “I should ask the same question, Mr. Kandinsky. What brings you here? Happy to be removed from the battle areas?”

“If you can call that pigsty up in Belmont a battle area. No, I’ve been down here about a week, digging for news, any news. All one can report from Belmont is disease, rats, lice, drill, nothing our readers want or need. But...” He paused, as the waiter took his order. “In the meantime, believe it or not, I seem to have found a job on the Argus. Fine newspaper, established fifty years ago.”

He did look self-satisfied, Jack thought. “Have you now? Well congratulations!”

“Thank you.” Kandinsky slurped down his fresh water, which had appeared with the waiter. “The Montreal paper sent me in here to see what I could pick up from the Imperials... Damn Boers, they’re a hardy lot. Tough to beat. But the Imperial troops here are building up like the devil.

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