Free Tandia by Bryce Courtenay Page A

own thoughts.
    Tandia knew what Geldenhuis was talking about. Some years previously Patel had been called up to Johannesburg to referee a fight which took place in Sophiatown under unusual circumstances between Gideon Mandoma and a white schoolboy. Though both fighters were only in their teens at the time, Natkin had been impressed with what he saw. From that point on he had followed Mandoma's career in the ring.
    If Patel had been helping to prepare Geldenhuis for a fight with Mandoma, Tandia thought, then the white policeman must be a very classy fighter. What's more, he had the hate. Patel always said that to be a champion, a boxer has to have the hate. Tandia knew at first hand that Geldenhuis had the hate.
    Geldenhuis spoke at last. 'You see, I owe Patel. So I will help you. I will pay my debt, you hear?'
    'Thank you, sir,' Tandia said, trying to conceal the fright in her voice. She wanted nothing more from the monster who sat on the table beside her. No matter how dangerous it was outside on the streets, it was better than being in this room with this white man who totally controlled her.
    'I will help you, and you can help the police. Would you like to help the police?'
    Tandia did not reply and Geldenhuis took her silence to mean that she would co-operate. 'You see, if you help the police, then you safe, as a swart slimmetjie, you safe.' He grinned suddenly. 'You on our side, man!'
    Tandia waited for the trap to close. 'What must I do, sir?' she asked in an uncertain voice.
    'Ag, easy stuff. I will take you to this place where you can stay. They will give you work also. It is a woman who owes me a favour.'
    Tandia sensed the plan Geldenhuis had hatched in his head was important to him and she grew a little bolder. 'What must I do for the police at this place?'
    'People will come. Sometimes Indian people, rich Indian people. Sometimes white people. Also important rich ones. You will watch and you will learn who they are and you will tell me what they do and say.'
    'What kind of place is this place?'
    'Ag, you know, it is place where they have women, where men go sometimes.'
    The trap had been sprung! Geldenhuis was going to find her a place in a brothel. Tandia looked up at the white man, her distress plain. The police sergeant had a smile on his face and he absently tapped the outline of his wallet in the breast pocket of his tunic.
    He jumped from the table and straightened the tunic of his uniform by pulling it down first from the front and then the back and smoothing the waist with his palms. 'I will speak to my friend.' He beckoned to Tandia. 'Come, I must take your fingerprints and then we go hey?'

THREE
    The clock on the charge office wall showed a quarter to two when Tandia finally lifted the large basin to her head and started to walk out of the Cato Manor Police Station. She kept her eyes downcast and followed Geldenhuis out into the dark street. As she passed through the door the black constable whispered, 'Hamba khashle, intkhosatana, go well, young lady.'
    'C'mon! I haven't got all bladdy night!' Geldenhuis called. Tandia walked slowly towards the police car. He stood beside the open boot and indicated she should put the basin in and then slammed it shut. 'Climb in the back, be quick!' he snapped, the authority now back in his voice.
    Tandia's relief at leaving was so great that she hardly noticed which way Geldenhuis drove. They seemed to drive for some time through the dark streets of the township and then onto a tarred road with street lights. It was not until they reached the lighted street that he spoke to her again.
    'I can't take you to the place where this woman is, so I'm taking you to the train station. There are no more trains tonight but you must wait there.' He offered no further explanation and shortly afterwards they drove up to the Cato Manor railway station. 'Wait in the car,' he said and then walked up the steps into the station master's office.
    He returned quite soon with a sleepy