The following week, Papa and Uncle Willem had visited the general store in the local town. They had returned with exciting news.
“Our officers held a war council meeting at Balmoral recently. They have adopted an entirely new military tactic. We will no longer be employing defensive or passive tactics but will be employing a new strategy of attacking the Khakis as frequently as possible and, in particular, attempting to obstruct their communication routes.”
“How will that work practically,” asks Marta.
“The Burghers will be divided up into small groups which will all act independently of each other. The aim is that the Khakis will have to divide their own forces up and this will make them more vulnerable to our attacks,” says Willem, waving his arms around in excitement.
“In addition to the Burghers under General Botha, another four commandos are being re-organised including our Potchefstroom Commando,” says Papa.Later that evening, Estelle goes to the kitchen to get a cup of water. She can hear the adults talking in the voorkamer.
“You have a hard choice to make, Willem,” Papa says. “You can accept Lord Roberts offer and surrender your weapons. His words could be sincere, and you might get to keep your farm and your livestock. The alternative is that you go to the Potchefstroom district and join up with the Burghers there. This option is risky as if the new military strategy fails, you will be branded by the Khakis as a rebel and punished accordingly.”
“What are you going to do, Pieter?” Uncle Willem asks plaintively. “You are faced with the same choice.”
“Not really, Willem. My farm is already lost to me. My livestock is here, but I have no land and no home,” the bitterness in Papa’s voice shocks Estelle, as she stands in the kitchen, her bare feet slowly turning to ice.
“I can’t believe we are having his conversation, Willem.” Aunt Sannie’s voice cracks like a whip and her words drip with disgust. “The strength of our army in the field must be preserved,” she continues. “If you two aren’t prepared to return to your commando, then Marta and I will have to take your places. Someone has to fight for the volk. We won’t stand by and let you two cowards undermine our hopes for a free Afrikaner nation.”
Estelle is shocked at Aunt Sannie’s frank and disrespectful comments about Papa and Uncle Willem. Papa is not a coward, his is the bravest person I know.
“You are shirking your duty towards your country, Willem, and I am ashamed of you,” she states coldly.
Estelle knows her mother is also keen for Papa to return to the war and that is the correct way for her to feel, but she isn’t as unpleasant about it as Aunt Sannie.
“Don’t be silly, Sannie,” Uncle Willem says. “Of course, Pieter and I plan to return to the fight. We needed to know what was happening first, that’s all. We didn’t even know where to join our commando before today.”
“I’m glad to hear this ridiculous discussion is finished then,” says Aunt Sannie. “Would anyone like some more coffee?”
Estelle slips away quickly before she is caught eavesdropping on the adult’s conversation.
You can join in the fun here: https://scvincent.com/2020/02/06/thursday-photo-prompt-choice-writephoto/
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Many great decisions are made over coffee.
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Yes, they really are, and food too. Think of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.
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Always leave us wanting more! 🙂
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Thank you, Annette.
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The things children might overhear. “Eavesdropping” (intentional, accidental, or just being unnoticed) is a great storytelling device. Well done, Robbie. Hugs on the wing.
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Thank you, Teagan. I am still working on POV and making sure I get it right.
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Reblogged this on Ed;s Site..
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This is so interesting Robbie 💜
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Thank you, Willow. You have had a very busy blogging weekend.
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Yes I am worn out but Ritu is worth it 😁, and today is mother in law day 🤓🌠
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Captivating snippet, Robbie. Decisions about war are hard ones. 😦
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I agree, Diana, that they must be.
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There is obviously a lot at stake here. I felt like an eavesdropper as well, but couldn’t turn away.
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Thank you, Jan. Estelle is rather a strange girl and it doesn’t turn out well for her.
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I wonder if there are ever right decisions where war is concerned… only necessary ones.
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This was a rather unusual war, Sue. Lord Roberts offered for the Burghers to effectively surrender and they would not be prosecuted.
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I was very interested in the multiple conflicts at play in this excerpt. They left me wanting to know more.
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Thank you, Liz. I am glad this interested you.
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So well written, capturing the “Sophie’s Choice” that people have had to face for centuries…due to wars that were not of their own making
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It is true, John, that many people end up forced into choices during war that they don’t want to have to make.
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Sophie’s choice is the saddest movie I have ever watched. It killed me watching it.
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Yes, gut wrenching and powerful.
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As I was never brave enough (as a child) to out right ask certain questions of my father – the only way I heard certain family stories was by eavesdropping…
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We grew up in patriarchal families, Jules. I never feared my father. I have a real temper – red rage sort of temper which I have to control. When enraged, nothing and no-one stands in my way including parents and teachers.
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I have ‘blown up’ in my younger days enough to know that I can and don’t want to loose control like that again. Too much damage to have to correct, some of which might never heal. So I know just where you are coming from. I think mine was due to having to suppress so much emotion when I was younger. Working out different solutions is the ‘mature’ way to do things…
I have to keep telling myself a few different things. Like I can only control myself, and that I can’t make other peoples choices for them.
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Children learned so much from evedropping even though adults didn’t want to worry them. Great episode on war decision, Robbie.
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Thank you, Miriam. Between my own WIP and The Red Badge of Courage which I just finished, the decisions of men have been on my mind a lot.
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I know, I have several men in mind who made the decisions and almost turned the world upside down.
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I imagine many men would like to turn away from the thought of going to war. Unfortunately, they often don’t get a choice.
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You are right, Jacquie. There are a few factors which compel men to the fight option instead of flight. Their ideas of manliness is one of these.
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Again, really great, Robbie. Keep them coming!
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Thank you, Barbara. I have just hit 75 000 words so am about 3/4 of the way through this book.
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well written … children learn in many ways
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Thank you, Kate
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An excellent excerpt!
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Thank you, Darlene.
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Thanks Robbie for adding this excerpt. Eavesdropping, ah, something I was very good at as a kid. I picked up a book and pretended to be reading when interesting conversations were taking place!
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I have also used that tactic, Stevie. As I was often reading a book “borrowed” from my mom surreptitiously behind the couch, generally people didn’t know I was there.
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It’s a good one, isn’t it? I notice my 14 year old granddaughter using the ‘reading’ tactic now, and it makes me smile.
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Some things endure, Stevie.
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