The Sound Of Thunder by Smith Wilbur

Author:Smith, Wilbur [Smith, Wilbur]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Military, Thriller, Adventure, Historical
ISBN: 9780333902165
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 74776
Publisher: Pan
Published: 1965-12-31T23:00:00+00:00

“Fire!” Michael pointed along the hills. “Call everybody and bring them to help.” He went up on to the bare back of his horse and looked down at them. “Bring every man from the location, come in the mule, wagon. Come as fast as you can. Then he hit his heels into the mare’s flanks and drove out of the yard, laying forward across her back.

Seventy minutes later Michael checked her on the crest of the escarpment. She was blowing heavily between his knees. Still five miles ahead, bright even in the bright moonlight, a circle of fire lay on the dark plantations of Lion Kop. Above it a black cloud, a cloud that climbed and spread on the wind to hide the stars.

“Oh God, Uncle Sean!” The exclamation wrung from Michael was a cry of physical pain, and he urged the mare forward again. Charging her recklessly through the ford of the Baboo Stroom. so that the water flew like exploding glass, then lunging up the far bank and on along the hills.

The mare was staggering in her gallop as Michael kneed her through the gates into the yard of the Lion Kop homestead.

There were wagons and many blacknen carrying axes. Michael hauled the mare back so violently that she nearly fell.

“Where is the Nkosi?” he shouted at a big Zulu he recognized as Sean’s personal servant.

“He has gone to Pietermaritzburg.

Michael slid down from his horse and turned her loose.

“Send a man to the village to ask for help.

“It is done,” the Zulu replied.

“We must move all the livestock from the top paddocks, get the horses out of the stables, it may come this way,” Michael went on.

“I have sent all the wives to do these things.”

“You have done well, then. Now let us go.”

The Zulus were swarming up on to the wagons, clutching the long, handled axes. Michael and Mbejane ran to the lead wagon Michael took the reins. At that moment two horsemen galloped into the yard.

He could not see their faces in the night.

“Who’s that?” Michael shouted.

ster and Van Wyk!” The nearest neighbours.

Thank God! Will you take the other wagons?”

They dismounted and ran past Michael.

Michael stood with his legs braced apart, he threw his shoulders open as he wielded the whip and then sent it snaking forward to crack an inch above the ears of the lead mules. They longed forward into the traces and the wagon bounced and clattered out of the yard.

As they galloped in frantic convoy along the main access road towards the plantations they met the Zulu women with their children from the location streaming down towards the homestead, their soft voices calling greeting and speed to their men as they passed.

But Michael hardly heard them, he stood with his eyes fastened on the pillar of red flame and smoke that rose from the heart of Sean’s trees.

“It is in the trees we planted two years ago.” Mbejane spoke beside him. “But already it will be close upon the next block of older trees.

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