Present Darkness (68 page)

Emmanuel and Shabalala agreed.

So, Zweigman made plans. He arranged for Alice to stay at Clearwater until her wounds healed and she was ready to re-enter the world. He left her with a promise. “If you wish to finish your schooling, my wife and I will help you. We will give you whatever shelter you need.”

It seemed to Emmanuel that the German doctor was recreating the family he’d lost in the war. A year ago, Emmanuel would have found such a need strange, even weak. Now, sitting outdoors with his daughter’s warmth nestled against his body and Davida close by, he understood.

He understood completely the joy on Shabalala’s face when Aaron walked free of the juvenile prison on the Police Commissioner’s personal order. Father and son had approached each other slowly, warily. Shabalala broke first. He took his son into his arms and held tight. Aaron tensed then relaxed into his father’s embrace, their years apart forgotten, their differences forgiven.

“What are you thinking about?” Davida smiled to see Emmanuel smile. She sat down next to him.

He leaned over and kissed her. “You,” he said.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Love to the following: Mark, Elijah, Sisana and my extended family. I tip my hat to Terence King for historical corrections. All inventions and mistakes are my own. Heartfelt thanks to my fabulous agents Sophie Hamley of the Cameron Creswell Agency and Catherine Drayton of Inkwell Management. To Rod Morrison and the talented team at Xoum, my deepest gratitude for giving Emmanuel Cooper a good home.

Malla Nunn was born in Swaziland, South Africa, and currently lives in Sydney. She is a filmmaker with three award-winning films to her credit and the author of the Edgar shortlisted crime novels,
A Beautiful Place to Die
,
Let the Dead Lie
and
Silent Valley
.