Chapter 10 Chapter nine

They were married three days later in a simple and secret ceremony.The only one present was David Blackwell. During the wedding ceremony, Jamie McGregor had mixed feelings on his mind.He has always been a man who is used to controlling and manipulating others, and this time he is being manipulated by others.He glanced at Marguerite, who looked attractive beside him.He had remembered her fiery enthusiasm.But all this has passed away, leaving only memories, without passion or emotion.He had used Marguerite as an instrument of revenge, but she bore him an heir. The priest said, "I pronounce you married. You may kiss your bride."

Jamie leaned forward and kissed Margaret quickly on the cheek. "Go home," said Jamie, whose son was waiting for him. When they got back to the house, Jamie showed Margaret a look at a bedroom in the side house. "This is your bedroom," Jamie told her. "I see." "I'm going to hire another housekeeper, and Mrs. Tully will look after Jamie. If you need anything, tell David Blackwell." Margaret felt as if he had slapped her.He treated her like a servant.But this is not so important.My son has a name and it's good enough for me. Jamie didn't come home for dinner, and Margaret waited for him before finally eating alone.That night, she lay in bed unable to fall asleep, and could hear every sound in the room clearly.At 4 o'clock in the morning, she fell asleep.She wondered at last which of Lady Agnes's girls he had chosen.

If Margaret's relationship with Jamie had not changed since her marriage, her relationship with the local townspeople had undergone a miraculous process of change.Overnight, Margaret changed from a lowly woman who was ignored to a guest in Kripdrift's society.Because most of the people in the city depend on Jamie McGregor and Kruger-Brent Ltd. in one way or another.They figured that if Margaret van der Merwe was good enough for Jamie McGregor, she would be just as good for them.Now, when Margaret takes little Jamie out, it's greeted with smiles and gracious greetings.Invitations flooded in.She was invited to tea parties, luncheons and dinners given by charities, and was urged to head the Citizens' Committee.She did it in a different way, and immediately dozens of women in the city followed suit.She bought a new yellow dress, and yellow dresses were all the rage again.Margaret treats those who flatter and flatter her today with her attitude in the face of the hostility of the crowd in the past, appearing neither humble nor humble.

Jamie came home just to kill time with his son.He remained distant and polite to Margaret.At breakfast every day Marguerite, in order not to embarrass the servants, always played the part of the happy housewife, although the man sitting across the table from her was cold and silent.But when Jamie was out, she was sweating profusely by the time she could escape to her room.She hated herself.Where had her self-esteem gone?Because Margaret knew she still loved Jamie. "I will always love him," she thought, "God, please help me." ※※※ Jamie was in Cape Town on a three-day business trip, mainly to discuss business.As he came out of the Royal Hotel, a black coachman in livery ran up and said, "Would you like a carriage, sir?"

"No," Jamie said, "I walk." "Banda thought you might like carriage rides." Jamie stood there, staring at the man. "Banda?" "Yes, Mr. McGregor." Jamie climbed into the buggy, and the driver swung his whip, and the wagon sped forward.Jamie sat in the back seat thinking of Banda, his courage and his friendship.In the past two years, Jamie has tried to find him many times, but there has been no news.Now he was about to meet old friends. The groom drove the wagon towards the river bank, and Jamie immediately understood where they were going.Fifteen minutes later, the carriage pulled up in front of an abandoned warehouse where Jamie and Banda had once discussed how to venture into Namib. "We were such desperate little fools," Jamie thought.He jumped out of the carriage and went into the warehouse.Banda was there waiting for him.Banda looked unchanged except for his clean suit, shirt, and tie.

They stood there, looked at each other with smiles, and then embraced. "Looks like you're doing pretty well," Jamie said with a smile. Banda nodded. "I'm doing pretty well after all. I bought the farm we were talking about. Now I'm married and have two sons. I grow wheat and ostriches on the farm." "ostrich?" "Their fur is very profitable." "Ah. I want to meet your family, Banda." Jamie thought of his relatives in Scotland and how much he missed them.He has been away from home for four years. "I've been trying to find you."

"I've been busy, Jamie." Banda moved closer. "I must see you to warn you. You may be in trouble." Jamie looked at him. "What trouble?" "The man in charge of the Namib mines, Hans Zimmermann, he's bad. The workers hate him. They're talking about a strike. If they do strike, your guards will stop them, so that's There will be riots." Jamie never took his eyes off Banda's face. "Do you remember the man I mentioned to you once—John Tango Jebavu?" "Yes, he's a political leader. I've read about him. He's instigating a thunderstorm."

"I'm one of his followers." Jamie nodded. "I get it. I'll do what I'm supposed to do," Jamie promised. "Good. You're a powerful man now, Jamie. I'm glad." "Thank you, Banda." "You also have a very handsome son." Jamie was amazed. "How do you know?" "I like to follow my friends and find out what's going on with them." Banda stood up. "I'm going to a rally. I'm going to tell them things will be over in Namib." "Yes, I will take care of it." He followed the burly black man to the door, "When can I see you again?"

Banda smiled. "I'm near. It's not easy for you to get rid of me!" Then Banda left. ※※※ Jamie went back to Cripdrift and called for young David Blackwell: "What's wrong with the Namib mine, David." "No, Mr. McGregor," he said hesitantly, "but I've heard rumors that there might be trouble there." "The overseer there is Hans Zimmermann. Find out if he mistreats the workers. If he mistreats the workers, tell him to stop. I want you to go there yourself." "I'm leaving early in the morning." ※※※ After David arrived at the diamond mine in Namib, he visited the guards and workers privately for two hours.What he heard filled him with righteous indignation.When he had learned the situation, he went to Hans Zimmermann.

Hans Zimmermann is a gigantic bruiser.Three hundred pounds, six feet six inches tall, with a sweaty pig's face and bloodshot eyes, he was one of the nastiest men David Blackwell had ever met.He was also one of the most efficient overseers at Kruger-Brent Ltd.He sat at a desk in the small office, which dwarfed the room.At this moment, David walked in. Zimmerman stood up and shook David's hand. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Blackwell. You should have told me beforehand that you were coming here." David believed that news of his arrival had reached Zimmerman. "whisky?"

"No, thank you." Zimmerman leaned back in his chair, grinning his teeth and said, "What can I do for you? Haven't we dug up enough diamonds to satisfy the boss?" Both understand that diamond production in Namibia is excellent. "No one in the company pays Kaffirs as much as I do," Zimmerman boasted. "We've heard some complaints about the working conditions here," David said. The smile faded from Zimmerman's face. "What complaint?" "Heard the workers here are being mistreated, and—" Zimmerman jumped to his feet, surprisingly deftly.He scowled. "They're not people. They're Kaffirs. You guys sit on your asses at HQ—" "Listen," said David, "no..." "Listen to me! I've produced far more diamonds than anyone else in the company, and you know why? Because I've put fear of God into the minds of these bastards." "In the other mines," said Davy, "we pay fifty-nine shillings a month and go up. You only pay them fifty shillings a month." "I did you a bargain and you complain? The only thing that matters is the profit." "Mr. Jamie McGregor disagrees," replied Davy, "to raise their wages." "Well, it's the boss's money anyway," Zimmerman said sullenly. "I also heard that they were often whipped." Zimmerman snorted, "Oh God! You can't hurt those natives, sir. They've got such thick skin that they don't feel the damn whip. It's just a scare to frighten them." "You've scared three workers to death. Mr. Zimmerman." Zimmerman shrugged. "There will be more people asking to come and work here!" What a cold-blooded creature he is, David thought.Also a dangerous beast.He glanced at the tower-like overseer. "If there's more trouble here, someone else will take your job." He stood up. "You have to treat your workers like human beings. Punishment must stop immediately. I've checked their homes. It's like a pigsty. Clean it up." Hans Zimmermann stared at him, trying to control his anger. "Anything else?" he finally managed to say. "That's all, I will come again within three months. If I see something I don't like again, you can find a job in another company. See you later." David turned and left. Hans Zimmermann stood there for a while, ready to burst into anger at any moment.A bunch of idiots, he thought.These gringos.Zimmerman was a Boer, as was his father.This land belongs to them, and God put the Negroes here to serve them.If it was God's will to treat them as human beings, they would not have been given black skin.Jamie McGregor doesn't understand this.But what do you expect from a gringo, someone who likes aboriginals?Hans Zimmermann understands that he will have to be more careful in the future.But he wants them to understand who is running Namib. ※※※ Kruger-Brent Ltd are expanding and Jamie McGregor is away most of the time.He bought a paper mill in Canada and a shipyard in Australia.At home, he spends most of his time with his son, who is growing more and more like him.Jamie has an indescribable pride in his son.He wanted to take the children with him on a long journey, but Marguerite refused him to do so. "He's too young to travel. Come with you when he's older. If you want to stay with him, you come home." Jamie hadn't quite figured it out yet, his son had passed his first birthday, and then his second, and Jamie marveled at how quickly time passed.That was 1887. For Margaret, the last two years had been a rough one.Every week, Jamie always invited guests to dinner, and Margaret became the hospitable hostess at this time.Other men find her witty and intelligent and are willing to chat with her for fun.She understands that some men find her attractive, and of course they've never had any escapades because she's Jamie McGregor's wife. When the last guest bids farewell, Margaret will ask: "Is everything going well tonight?" Jamie always replied: "Very good, good night." Then went to see little Jamie.A few minutes later, Margaret would hear Jamie closing the front door as he left the house. Margaret McGregor used to spend all night in bed thinking about her life.She knew that the women in the city were very jealous of her, and it pained her, because she knew that there were so few to be jealous of.She lives a titular life, and her husband treats her worse than a stranger.Even if he glanced at her!If at breakfast one morning she put a bowl of his oatmeal, specially imported from Scotland, on the fool's head, I wondered how he would react.She could imagine the look on his face.She couldn't help a giggle at these strange thoughts, which broke into deep sobs.I don't love him anymore.I don't want to love him anymore.I have to stop loving him or I'm going to be worn down... ※※※ By 1890, Kripdrift had surpassed Jamie's imagination.During the seven years he lived there, it had become a thriving town.Miners flock from all over the world.As in the past, some took boats, some took carriages, and some walked; when they came, they had nothing but rags.They needed food, tools, shelter and loans, and Jamie McGregor provided them all.He already owns shares in dozens of diamond mines and gold mines, and has become famous.One morning, Jamie received a lawyer from De Beers.De Beers is a conglomerate that controls a large diamond mine in the Kimberley. "What can I do for you?" Jamie asked. "I've come to offer you an opportunity, Mr. McGregor. De Beers is willing to buy out your interest. Make an offer." It was an exhilarating moment.Jamie smiled and said, "You guys make an offer." ※※※ David Blackwell was becoming more and more important to Jamie.Jamie sees his old self in this young American.The lad was sincere, intelligent, and faithful.Jamie made him first his secretary, then his personal assistant, and finally, when he was twenty-one, made him the general manager. For David Blackwell, Jamie McGregor is literally a father double.When David's biological father suffered a heart attack, Jamie arranged for him to be admitted to the hospital and paid for the medical bills; when David's biological father died, Jamie McGregor arranged for the funeral.Over the five years that David worked for Kruger-Brent Ltd, he slowly came to respect Jamie more than anyone else he knew.He is well aware of the problems between Jamie and Margaret, and deeply regrets it, since he has a crush on both. "But that's not my thing," David told himself, "my job is to help Jamie in any way I can." ※※※ Jamie spends more and more time with his son.The boy was five years old, and Jamie took him to the mines for the first time.Little Jamie said nothing else for a week.They also went camping, sleeping together in a tent under the stars in the sky.Jamie is familiar with the Scottish sky and knows the correct orientation of the stars there.But here in South Africa, the stars are bewildering. In January, Canopus shines brightly in the sky, but in May it is the constellation of the Southern Cross that is at the forefront. July is winter in South Africa, and Scorpio is the brightest star in the sky.Really confusing.But when Jamie lay on the warm ground and looked up at the boundless sky with his son beside him, there was a very special feeling that they were all part of the eternal world. At daybreak they rose to hunt game, turtledoves, guinea fowl, reedbuck and pygmybuck.Little Jamie also has his own pony.Father and son roamed the prairie on horseback, carefully avoiding the six-foot-deep burrows dug by anteaters deep enough for both horse and rider.Some small holes were dug by mongoose. There are dangers on the grasslands.During one trip, Jamie and his son pitched camp on the edge of a riverbed, only to be nearly killed by a migrating springbok.The first sign of danger is a misty cloud of dust blowing from the horizon, hares, jackals, and wild cats rushing past, and big snakes swim in search of rocks where they can hide.Jamie looked at the horizon again.The dust gathered closer and closer like a dark cloud. "Get out of here," Jamie said. "Our tent—" "Leave it alone!" The two quickly climbed to the top of a mountain.They heard the drumming of hooves and then saw a three-mile-long herd of springbok.At least half a million head.Wherever they went, it was like a catastrophe.Trees were trampled down, bushes were crushed to powder, and hundreds of small animal carcasses were left in the dust's path.Rabbits, snakes, jackals and pearl birds all died at the feet of the springbok.The air was filled with dust, and the thunderous sound was still echoing.When the dreadful scene was over, Jamie reckoned it lasted well over three hours. On Jamie's sixth birthday, his father said: "Next week I'm going to take you to Cape Town, so you can see what the real city looks like." "Can Mother come with us?" Jamie asked. "She doesn't like hunting, but she likes cities." His father stroked his hair and said, "She's busy here, son. Just the two of us, huh?" The mother and father seem to be very distant, and the child is a little annoyed, but he still doesn't understand. ※※※ They made the trip in one of Jamie's private trains, which by 1891 had become the main form of transportation in South Africa because they were cheap, easy, and fast.Jamie's custom-built private carriage was seventy-one feet long, with four grand, paneled rooms for twelve, a salon that doubled as an office, dining room, bar, and fully equipped kitchen.The carriages had brass beds, gas lights and large picture windows. "Where are the travelers?" asked the little boy. Jamie laughed. "We are all passengers. This is your train, son." Little Jamie spent most of his time looking out the window, curious about the fields that flew by. "This is God's land," his father told him. "The Lord has buried many precious materials in this land. It's all under the ground, waiting to be found. What we've found is just the beginning, Jamie .” ※※※ When he arrived in Cape Town, the young Jamie was stunned by the crowds and huge buildings.Jamie took his son to the McGregor Shipping Company, pointed to the six or seven ships loading and unloading at the port and said, "See those ships? They belong to us." ※※※ Back in Kripdrift, young Jamie babbled about all the news he'd seen. "Daddy owns the whole city!" cried the boy. "You'll love it, Mommy. You'll see next time." Margaret hugged her son tightly. "Yes baby." Jamie spent many evenings out, and Margaret knew he was with Lady Agnes.She heard that he had bought a house for one of the women so that he could have regular trysts with her.She had no way of knowing whether the news was true or not.All Margaret knew was that whoever the woman was, she wanted to kill her. ※※※ In order to maintain her sanity, Margaret forced herself to take an interest in the town.She raised money to build a new church and started a fundraising drive to help struggling families of miners.She asked Jamie to take the desperate, cash-strapped miners back to Cape Town in a car for free. "You're making me throw money that works, woman," growled Jamie, "and let them go as they come." "They can't walk back at all," argued Margaret, "and the town will have to feed and clothe them if they stay." "Okay," Jamie muttered at last, "but it's a goddamn idea." "Thank you, Jamie." He watched Margaret stride out of the office.Still, Jamie couldn't help feeling a certain pride in her.She could be a good wife for someone, Jamie thought. ※※※ Jamie was fostering a woman named Maggie, the pretty whore who sat next to Margaret at the shower.Jamie thought it was ironic that she had the same name as his wife.The two of them had nothing in common.This Maggie was a twenty-one-year-old blonde with a shrewd face and a sensual body—a tigress when it came to sex.Jamie paid Mrs. Agnes well to let him bring the girl out, and he paid Maggie generously.Jamie was always discreet when he came to the little house to meet her.Almost always at night, and he was sure no one else saw it.In fact, many people have noticed, it's just that no one is talking about it.Because this is Jamie McGregor's town, he's entitled to do whatever he likes. Jamie wasn't having any fun this evening.He had come to the house looking for happiness, but Maggie was in a bad mood.She was lying on the big bed with her legs spread apart.The rose-red nightgown half-covered, the towering breasts were half exposed, and the silky golden triangle was also faintly visible. "I'm tired of being in this damned house," she said, "as if I were a slave! There's something to do at Lady Agnes's all the time, at least. Why don't you take me on a trip?" "I've explained it, Maggie. I don't—" She jumped out of bed and stood in front of him defiantly, her nightgown fully unbuttoned. "Nonsense! You are running around with your son. Am I not as good as your son?" "No," Jamie said.His tone was calm, but full of irritation. "You can't compare." He went to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a glass of brandy.This is the fourth drink - much more than usual. "I'm nothing with you," Maggie screamed, "I'm just a cheap bitch." She shook her head and laughed mockingly. "A haughty, airy Scotch bumpkin!" "Scots—not Scotch bumpkins." "For God's sake, don't you ever lecture me like that again? I don't do anything to please you. Who do you think you are? The old man I hate?" Jamie had had enough and said, "You go back to Lady Agnes tomorrow. I'll tell her." He picked up his hat and went to the door. "You can't dump me like this, you bastard!" She followed him like crazy. Jamie stopped at the door. "That's what I do." He disappeared into the night. To his amazement, he walked unsteadily and in a trance.Perhaps there were more than four glasses of brandy, he couldn't be sure.He thought of Maggie lying naked in bed that night, teasing him, whetting his appetite.Flirt with him first, touch him, and lick his body with your tongue until he desires her.Then she challenged him, leaving him horny and unsatisfied. Jamie went home, walked into the front hall, and then made his way to his room.When he passed Margaret's bedroom, he saw through the crack in the door that the light was still on, and she was still awake.Jamie suddenly began to picture Margaret in bed, lying there in a thin nightgown.Maybe wearing nothing.He thought of the fullness of Margaret's body beneath him in the shade of the trees on the banks of the Orange River!Driven by alcohol, he pushed open the door of Margaret's room and walked in. She was lying on the bed, reading a book under the lamp.She looked up in surprise. "Jamie... what happened?" "Because I decided to come and see my wife!" His words were vague. She was wearing a sheer nightgown, and Jamie could see a pair of full breasts under the gown.God!What a lovely figure she has!He starts to undress. Margaret jumped out of bed, her eyes wide open. "what are you going to do?" Jamie banged the door behind him with his foot and approached her.After a while, he threw her on the bed and slept naked next to her. "God! I need you, Maggie." He didn't know which Maggie he was after, because he was so drunk.What a resistance!Yes, it's his little wildcat.He laughed and finally managed to press down on her struggling arms and legs.Suddenly she obeyed him and hugged him tightly. "Oh my dear, my dear Jamie, I need you so much." Jamie thought, I shouldn't be so bad to you.In the morning I'll tell you that you don't have to go back to Lady Agnes...   When Margaret woke up the next morning, she found herself alone in bed.But Margaret could still feel Jamie's strong man's body inside her, and hear him say: God!I need you, Maggie.Her heart was filled with extreme joy.She is absolutely right.He does love her.The wait was worth it, and it was worth it for her to wait in all these years of pain, loneliness, and humiliation. Margaret had a great day.She showered, had her hair cut, and changed her clothes a dozen times, trying to pick out the one that would please Jamie the most.She sent the cook off so she could prepare Jamie's favorite meal herself.She set and set the table until the candlesticks and flowers were arranged to her satisfaction.She wants to have a good evening. Jamie didn't come home for dinner, and didn't come home all night.Margaret sat waiting for him in the study and did not go to bed alone until three o'clock in the morning. When Jamie came home the next night, he just nodded politely to Margaret and walked into his son's room.Margaret looked at her back in bewilderment, then slowly turned around and looked at her own face in the mirror.The mirror told her she had never been more beautiful, but she barely recognized her own eyes when she got close.These are the eyes of a stranger.