7 Days (45 page)
Authors: Deon Meyer
She clung to him even more tightly. ‘Benny, why did you never say you were half in love with me?’
‘Because you are Xandra Barnard, and I am just a stupid policeman.’
‘Why only half in love? Because I drink?’
‘I am totally in love with you, Alexa.’
‘So why don’t you ever touch me?’
‘Because I’m afraid you won’t want me to touch you.’
‘Do you want to?’
‘Yes.’
‘Why?’
‘Because to me you are so beautiful. And sexy, and smart. And deep. And arty-farty. When you’re sober.’
‘Really?’
‘Alexa, are we going to drink, or are we going to coo?’
She looked at him with a deep tenderness, then she put her glass down and beckoned a waiter closer. ‘Can you take all this away?’
She turned to Griessel and she said, ‘We are going to coo,’ and tried to wrest the Jack Daniel’s from his grip.
‘And then will you go and sing?’
‘Yes,’ she said.
‘And then?’
‘Then you are going to touch me.’
He let go of the glass.
One of the greatest challenges of the writing process is to do justice – and express the extent of my gratitude – to the people whose valuable time, help, advice, knowledge, insight, goodwill, support, and encouragement made the book possible. Whatever is credible in
7 Days
is due to them. The leaps of fiction and errors are my own. I would like to express my deepest appreciation of:
• Theo Winter of the institutional investment firm Sortino (and a BMW motorbike man), who explained to me and Benny the complex secrets of BEE transactions and contracts, pension funds, and the financial world in general with so much patience and trouble, and, in addition, helped to identify sources of conflict and potential mischief. And thereafter checked the manuscript to make sure we didn’t make total fools of ourselves.
• Captain Elmarie Myburgh, criminal behaviour analyst of the SAPS Investigative Psychology Section. Once again she answered countless questions, made suggestions, shared knowledge and contacts, and helped to read the final manuscript under great pressure.
• Colonel Renier du Preez of the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations, for the day that I could spend with the Cape Hawks. His and his team’s professionalism, dedication, approachability, generosity, and patience made a strong impression on me, and left me with much greater insight (and respect for their incredible work). Thank you also to Assistant Commissioner Angie Bhuda, Colonel Giep Joubert, and Colonel Johan Schnetler of the DPCI in Pretoria for their time and trouble.
• Gavin Smith of Villiersdorp, gunsmith and master craftsman of silencers.
• The hospitable friendship of Daniel Cathiard of Château Smith Haut Lafitte, and the estate’s cooper, Jean-Luc Itey.
• My wife, Anita, who makes everything possible with her love, tolerance, support, and sacrifice.
• My editor, Dr Etienne Bloemhof, and agent, Isobel Dixon, for their immeasurable loyalty, wisdom and insight, and Hester Carstens for her input and eagle eyes.
• Colonel Patrick Jacobs of the Bothasig SAPS station, Peet van Biljon, John Serfontein, and Sunell Lotter.
• I am pleased to give credit to the following sources:
•
Investigating the Russian Mafia
, Joseph D. Serio, Carolina Academic Press, Durham, 2008
•
McMafia
,
Seriously Organised Crime
, Misha Glenny, Vintage Books, London, 2009
•
From Fear to Fraternity
, Patricia Rawlinson, Pluto Press, New York, 2010
•
Illicit
, Moisés Naím, William Heinemann, London, 2006
•
How sharp is sharp? Towards quantification of the sharpness and penetration ability of kitchen knives used in stabbings
, S.V. Hainsworth, R.J. Delaney, G.N. Rutty,
International Journal of Legal Medicine
, 2008
•
Forensic Pathology: Principles and Practice
, David Dolinak, Evan W. Matshes, Emma O. Lew, Academic Press, 2005
•
Silencer 101
, Cameron Hopkins,
Guns Magazine
, July 2000
• Media 24’s chronological newspaper archives of
Die Burger, Beeld, Volksblad, Mail & Guardian
•
www.science.howstuffworks.com
•
www.enotes.com/forensic-science/hair-analysis
Afslaer:
Afrikaans for ‘auctioneer’.
Ag:
Very similar to ‘ai’: ah!, oh!; alas, pooh!, mostly used with resignation.
Ai:
Ah, oh; ow, ouch, mostly used a little despairingly.
Amandla:
A rallying cry in the days of resistance against Apartheid, used by the African National Congress and its allies. It is a Xhosa and Zulu word meaning ‘power’. (Also see ‘Ngawethu’ below.)
Anton L’Amour:
A legendary rock guitar virtuoso in South Africa.
Assegai:
Originally from Berber za ya ‘spear’, Old French ‘azagaie’ and Spanish ‘azagaya’) is a pole weapon used for throwing or hurling, usually a light spear or javelin made of wood and pointed with iron. (Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org
)
Befok:
Afrikaans expletive with wide application. Can mean ‘very angry’ (He is befok) or ‘really great’ (The experience was befok.)
Bergie:
Cape Flats Afrikaans for a homeless person, often a vagrant, living on the side of Table Mountain (berg = mountain). (Cape Flats slang refers to the Afrikaans spoken on the Cape Flats, a vast area east of Cape Town, where the majority of ‘Cape Coloured’ people reside. ‘Coloured people’ refer to the descendants of Malaysian slaves in South Africa (forced migration by the Dutch East India Company), who intermarried with white farmers and local Khoi people – as opposed to Blacks (descendants of the Bantu people) and Whites (descendants of European settlers).
Bliksem:
Mild profanity, used as an exclamation or adjective (‘Damn!’ or ‘damned’), a verb (I will ‘bliksem’ you = I will hit you hard).
Blikslater:
Milder form of ‘bliksem’ (see above).
Chana van:
Chana is a Chinese automotive company. Various vehicles are imported to South Africa, including the ‘Chana Panel Van’, a light delivery vehicle (
http://www.chanab4.co.za/models/panel-van
)
Coloured:
See ‘bergie’ above.
Cooldrink:
South African English, referring to most fizzy drinks.
CATS:
The ‘Crimes Against the State’ group, a subdivision of the DPCI – the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations of the South African Police Service.
Dagga:
Afrikaans word for Cannabis (marijuana).
Daais ’n anderstorie:
Afrikaans for ‘that’s another story’.
Darem:
Afrikaans for ‘at least’.
DPCI:
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations of the South African Police Service, popularly known as ‘The Hawks’.
Eish:
Originally from Xhosa, now widely used as an expression of exasperation or disbelief.
Ewe:
Originally from Xhosa and other Nguni languages in South Africa, now widely used as an expression of agreement.
Fok, Fokken, Fokkol:
‘fuck’, ‘fucking’, and ‘fuck all’. (Afrikaans.)
Fokkof:
‘fuck off’. (Afrikaans.)
Fokkofpoliesiekar:
Name of a former popular Afrikaans rock group. Literal translation: ‘Fuck off, police car’. (Afrikaans.)
Grote Griet:
‘Good Grief!’ (Afrikaans.)
Hayi:
IsiZulu for ‘No!’
Hendrik Verwoerd:
Dutch born Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd (8 September 1901 – 6 September 1966), Prime Minister of South Africa from 1958 until his assassination in 1966. He is (not fondly) remembered as the ‘architect of Apartheid’.
Icilikishe:
‘Lizard’ (Xhosa.)
IMC:
Information Management Centre, the technology support group of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations of the South African Police Service.
Ja:
‘Yes’. (Afrikaans, widely used.)
Jirre:
‘God’. (Exclamation, Cape Flats Afrikaans.)
Jis:
‘Yes’, mostly used in greeting. (Afrikaans, Cape Flats Afrikaans, widely used.)
Jissie:
Mild Afrikaans expletive, similar to English ‘jeez’.
Jissis:
‘Jesus’. (Afrikaans expletive.)
JOC:
Joint Operational Centre – group heads and detectives of the various Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations units, organised under one operational leader to investigate a case.
Jukskei:
A sport unique to South Africa. Jukskei is believed to have originated around 1743 in the Cape, South Africa, developed by
‘transport riders’ who travelled with ox-drawn wagons. They used the wooden pins of the yokes (Afrikaans: Skei) of the oxen to throw at a stick that was planted into the ground. (Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jukskei
)
Julle:
‘You guys’, plural form of ‘you’ (Afrikaans.)
Kak:
‘Shit’. (Afrikaans, but used by all 11 official South African languages.)
Klippies:
‘Small stones’ (Afrikaans), often used to refer to diamonds.
Kouevuur:
‘Cold fire’, the title of an achingly beautiful Afrikaans song composed by the late Koos du Plessis, reinterpreted by singer/songwriter Theuns Jordaan recently.
Laaitie:
Afrikaans slang, used to refer to a boy, or a son. Sometimes used as ‘lighty’. (‘He is still a laaitie’ – he is still a boy. ‘He’s my laaitie’ – he is my son.)
Lekker:
Very versatile Afrikaans word (but widely used in South Africa) meaning luscious, or tasty. Often used in reference to good food, but also any pleasurable experience.
Liewe Vader:
‘Dear Father’, a milder form of ‘Dear God’.
Lize Beekman:
South African (Afrikaans) singer/songwriter:
http://lizebeekman.co.za
or watch on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yer2pGae-rA
Lobolo:
(Or Lobola, a Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele word, sometimes translated as bride price.) A traditional Southern African custom whereby the man pays the family of his fiancée for her hand in marriage. The custom is aimed at bringing the two families together, fostering mutual respect, and indicating that the man is capable of supporting his wife financially and emotionally. (Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobolo
)
Madiba:
The nickname of Mr Nelson Mandela, derived from his Xhosa clan name.
Manne:
‘Guys’. (Afrikaans.)
Mannetjie:
Diminutive of ‘guy’. (Afrikaans.)
Maties:
Refers to the University of Stellenbosch, students of this institution, or its rugby team. (‘I study at Maties’ or ‘My son is a Matie’ or ‘The Shimlas beat the Maties in a rugby match’.)
Mies:
‘Ma’am’ or ‘madam’, a relic of apartheid, when black and coloured people were expected to call their female white
employers by this ‘respectful’ title. Now strongly discouraged, but still in use.
Moered:
‘Moer’ is a wonderful, mildly vulgar Afrikaans expletive, and could be used in any conceivable way. Its origins lie in the Dutch word ‘Moeder’, meaning ‘Mother’. ’Moer in’ means ‘to be very angry’, but you can also ‘moer someone’ (hit somebody: ‘I moered him’), use it as an angry exclamation (‘Moer!’, which approximates ‘Damn!’), call something or someone ‘moerse’ (approximates ‘great’ or ‘cool’), or use it as an adjective: I have a ‘moerse’ headache – I have a huge headache.
Moffie:
Derogative term referring to a gay man. Similar to ‘faggot’.
Molo:
‘Hello!’ Xhosa greeting to one person. (‘Molweni!’ to more than one person.)
Ngawethu:
‘To us’, Xhosa word, widely used in response to the rallying cry ‘Amandla’ (see above). (Amandla! (Power!). Ngawthu! (To us!))
Nooit:
‘Never!’ (Afrikaans.)
Nè:
‘Yes.’ (Afrikaans.)
Njaps:
Cape flats Afrikaans slang for ‘having sex’, similar to ‘bonk’
Oke:
‘Guy’. (South African English.)
Oom:
Respectful Afrikaans form of address to a male ten or more years older than yourself. Means ‘uncle’.
Ou:
‘Old’. (Afrikaans.)
Outjies:
Diminutive form of ‘guys’.
Parow:
Northern, middle class suburb of Cape Town. (Also the surname of ‘Jack Parow’, the stage name of Afrikaans rapper Zander Tyler (born in 1982 in Bellville, adjacent suburb).)
Rag:
Originally, a student-run charitable fundraising organisation at most South African (and UK) universities, the word has come to represent the colourful annual student festival held to raise funds.
Rand:
(R) The South African currency. The value is more or less $8 or €10 or £12.
PCSI:
The Provincial Crime Scene Investigation unit, an elite forensic science team of the South African Police Service.
RICA:
The Regulation of Interception of Communication Act is a recent South African government law, making it compulsory for all citizens to register all new and existing mobile phone numbers.
SARS:
The South African Revenue Service – the tax authority.
Seunie:
‘Sonny’. (Afrikaans.)
Shici:
‘Nothing’. (Xhosa.)
Theuns Jordaan:
Popular Afrikaans singer/songwriter, and actor. (
www.theunsjordaan.co.za
) or watch on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_vurV79pHk
TOMS:
The Tactical Operational Management Service, a subdivision of the DPCI – the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations of the South African Police Service.
Uithaal en wys:
‘Deliver the goods’, an Afrikaans expression.
Ukuphupha:
‘Dream’. (Xhosa.)
Unjani:
‘How are you?’ (Xhosa.)
Uxolo:
‘Sorry!’ (Xhosa.)
Uyesu:
‘Jesus!’ (Xhosa.)
Vrot:
‘Rotten’. (Afrikaans.)
Yebo:
‘Yes!’ South African slang, widely used by all language groups.