At the Edge of the Desert

by Basil Lawrence

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  I’ve rearranged Lüderitz’s geography for the purposes of my story. With the exception of the saltwater pool, the Namibian ‘Twin Palms’, the Rhenish Missionary Church hall, the Benguela Trust, Bows and the Harmony building – all my inventions – I hope to have remained faithful to the town and its history.

  Will’s doctrines about work and his Harmony blueprint are modelled on ideas espoused by the French socialist thinker Charles Fourier (1772–1837).

  Dollar’s account of his gang, their kring and their mythical uniforms are inspired by the interviews in Towards an Understanding of Prison Gangs1 and are used with permission of Nicholas Haysom and the University of Cape Town’s Centre of Criminology.

  I quote the original German along with the English translation of Von Trotha’s extermination order found in Jan-Bart Gewald’s essay ‘The Great General of the Kaiser’ in Botswana Notes and Records (vol. 26).2 The translation is used with permission. I keep German common nouns in lower case throughout my book.

  I’ve incorporated Bushman images, description of their rock art and altered states of consciousness into my novel. They’re inspired by Deciphering Ancient Minds3 and are used with the publisher’s permission.

  ‘San’ and ‘Bushman’ are xenonyms: names created by non-Bushmen. With one exception, where a character uses the word ‘San’ in an attempt not to offend, I’ve used ‘Bushman’ throughout to acknowledge Namibia’s history of apartheid. I use the terms without intending any pejorative connotations.

  I sought inspiration from holocaust testimonies recorded in the Report on the Natives of South-West Africa and Their Treatment by Germany4 for Ouma Gendredi’s ancestor’s memories under German colonial rule.

  I owe much to David Olusoga and Casper W. Erichsen for their remarkable study The Kaiser’s Holocaust,5 which introduced me to the Ovaherero, Nama and Bushman genocide.

  I gratefully acknowledge all permissions kindly given.

  Errors are mine.

  1 Nicholas Haysom, Towards an Understanding of Prison Gangs (University of Cape Town Institute of Criminology, 1981). The Institute of Criminology is now the Centre of Criminology within the University of Cape Town’s Faculty of Law

  2 Jan-Bart Gewald, ‘The Great General of the Kaiser’ in Botswana Notes and Records, vol. 26 (1994)

  3 David Lewis-Williams and Sam Challis, Deciphering Ancient Minds: The Mystery of San Bushman Rock Art (Thames & Hudson, 2011)

  4 Administrator’s Office Windhuk [sic], Report on the Natives of South-West Africa and their Treatment by Germany (His Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1918)

  5 David Olusoga & Casper W. Erichsen, The Kaiser’s Holocaust (Faber & Faber, 2010)

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  I am indebted to many people. Ruth convinced Duncan to invite us to his Grootfontein farm, and Ep chaperoned. Many years later Barbara accompanied me on a Namibian road trip. You all encouraged the seed to grow. Joseph Sherman taught me that form is meaning. Sven Ouzman generously answered my questions about Bushmen and their rock art, suggested further reading and sent me feedback on my manuscript. Romily Menzies-Kochar graciously shared her filmmaking knowledge, and saved me from my mistakes. Mary Elders and Pamela Whitby, gentle readers both, helped me transform my first draft into this novel. Catriona Ross has been a great support throughout publication. Elizabeth Fremantle unselfishly gave of her time to answer my questions and offer advice. Kind, generous Fourie Botha believed in my novel. Bronwyn McLennan, my wise editor, encouraged my book to reveal itself to me. My dear friends Renée gave me ‘lewinsky’ and Anso translated German. I’ll be forever grateful to Martin for guiding me through the fire.

  Always to Jay for your love and support. Without you, this book would not have been possible.

  Thank you.

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