Someone Wishes to Speak to You

by Jeremy Mallinson

  By the time Michael Lamb came to take him into the house for the meeting with the diplomat, Mathew told Simon and Anna that that they should perhaps go home without him. Michael Lamb had arranged for a car to return him to Gunhill later on. Just after eleven o’clock, Mathew remained to have a nightcap with Jeremy Hughes and Sir Roger in his office. (Addie had said that the room had been very carefully checked over by an SAS specialist who had accompanied Lord Carver on his recent visit, and it was totally free of any CIO bugging devices.)

  Sir Roger enjoyed a glass of the peaty Islay malt whisky that Hughes had brought out from England with him, before taking leave of his two young countrymen. He knew that his guest wanted the opportunity to talk to Mathew alone and realised that his presence could well handicap the possibility of them speaking freely.

  ‘You know, your parents are looking forward immensely to seeing you again,’ said Sir Roger, handing Mathew a letter. ‘Could you pass this on to your father? Devra and I are hoping that we will be able to see them before too long, as soon as we return to the UK. I expect it will be quite soon, as James Callaghan’s government has already decided to replace me with a British Commissioner Designate of their choice.’

  ‘That will be Rhodesia’s loss, but without doubt your British friends will be grateful to have you back in the UK. I know my parents will be thrilled to see you both again, they hold your friendship very dear. I’ll pass the letter on.’

  ‘Well, I’ll bid you both goodnight. I hope you’ve enjoyed the evening.’

  Once they had recharged their whisky glasses, Hughes got straight to the point.

  ‘The chief objective of my stay in Rhodesia is very much focused on the amount of grass-root support that the African tribal people are likely to have for the RF Government’s intention to establish an internal settlement. That is why I’ve been particularly anxious to speak to you on your own. I’ve been informed that during your time of primate field observations in Manicaland, you have made many African friends, including such important tribal leaders as Chief Chidzikwee. I need to know as much about these involvements as possible.’

  ‘It’s true to say that throughout my time in Rhodesia, I have made many friends within both the African and European communities, but I’ve always maintained a policy of distancing myself from anything to do with the country’s political situation. I greatly admire many of its citizens, black and white, and in some cases I can well appreciate how the often entrenched attitudes on both sides of the political pendulum have come about. As a result of this tragic conflict between the races, there is a huge amount of unnecessary heartbreak and misery throughout the region that I have come to know so well. As far as I’m concerned, the sooner a peaceful settlement can be achieved, either through internal negotiations or from without, the better it will be for what I hope will mature into a truly multi-racial state within the British Commonwealth.’

  ‘Well, as we both wish for the best possible future for Rhodesia, it is important that you share any information that you have gained from your African friends which you consider could in any way assist the peace process. As an Englishman it’s your responsibility to provide me, as a diplomat of the British Government, with the type of information that I am seeking. From what I’ve already been told about your African friendships, I am sure that such an insight into their opinions would represent valuable material for the dossier I am compiling for the British Government and military Chiefs of Staff. I am well aware that you’re about to go back to the UK for ten days, but during that time you must consider carefully what has been requested. Soon after your return to Rhodesia, I’ll arrange to meet you again.’

  Their meeting ended with Mathew rather reluctantly shaking hands with the diplomat and taking the waiting car back to the Vaughan-Joneses’. During the drive to the Gunhill estate, Mathew felt rather compromised in having been asked by an agent of the British Government to break some of the confidentialities that he had shared with his African friends, in particular those of Chief Chidzikwee.

  On Mathew’s way down to Carnock Farm the following weekend he called in at Imire, as Norman Travers was keen to discuss his plans to change the game farm into a breeding sanctuary for some of Rhodesia’s endangered species. Among his ambitions, he wanted to try to breed the critically threatened black rhino. He was also keen to become involved with the rearing of orphaned young elephants and was interested in the domestication of Sable antelope, which he considered could well be of significant benefit to the economics of game farming in southern Africa. On his drive down to Macheke, Mathew could only admire Travers’ enthusiasm and dedication to the welfare of Rhodesia’s wildlife heritage. Part of him rather wished that he could be more personally involved with such meaningful conservation projects.

  Mathew arrived at Carnock Farm mid-afternoon, and when it was only Mariette who came out of the farmhouse to greet him, he immediately feared that after all the careful planning for his meeting with Jan it had been thwarted at the eleventh hour. Mariette put his mind at rest by explaining that she had been delayed as Paddy had returned home unexpectedly to pick something up and then stayed for lunch. He told Jan that during the next twelve hours, he would be leading a major counter-insurgency raid across the border. Jan was now not expected to arrive at the farm much before sundowner time.

  When she arrived some five hours later than originally expected, her reunion with Mathew could not have been more rapturous and Mariette rejoiced in seeing her sister looking such a picture of happiness. She very much hoped that her prayers would be answered; that Jan would find a way to escape from her disastrous marriage and that in the not-too-distant future she would be able to marry this handsome and very likeable young British academic. They were obviously very much in love and absolutely made for one another.

  ‘Since Mathew was last here,’ Jan told Mariette over dinner, ‘we’ve seen each other on a number of occasions at the Vaughan-Joneses’, and once even at a small gathering which Paddy arranged at home. I can’t tell you how hard it is for us to keep everything formal – it seems so odd – but we are so prim with one another, I am confident that Paddy is totally unaware about my clandestine extramarital love affair! Do you know, Paddy thinks that in spite of Mathew being a British national, hailing from a country that is currently causing Rhodesia so many problems, he rather likes him! He reminds him of a well-educated ex-Sandhurst British officer whom he shared a billet with during the Malayan Emergency.’

  ‘I find it excruciating to keep up this casual act of indifference toward Jan whenever we met. I just want to wrap her in my arms! On two occasions, we’ve managed to pass a note to each other without anyone seeing. Oh Mariette, I’m so grateful to you for giving me such a warm welcome to your home, and for providing such an agreeable place for me to spend time with Jan. It’s only when we’re here that we can discuss finding a way to sort out our future together.’

  When the conversation moved on to the increased amount of terrorist attacks in the region, Mathew mentioned his surprise that at the small party Paddy Bushney had recently thrown, some of his brother officers had freely discussed in detail the nature of their past and forthcoming counter-insurgency raids.

  After dinner, when Mathew was left in the small sitting room to listen to the BBC World Service News, Mariette had a confession to make to her sister. ‘Jan, I have found it impossible to keep your romance with Mathew a secret from Willie, and I’ve told him in confidence about you both staying here and the depth of your feelings for each other. All he said was that he wishes you every future happiness, but that it’s absolutely essential that the four of us make sure no word of your relationship goes any further. Of course, he can see that if Paddy heard even the slightest rumour about your unfaithfulness, the consequences wouldn’t bear thinking about.’

  ‘Willie is a good man and I hate to think I’ve dragged him into this situation . . . I can understand that you couldn’t keep it from him and I’m glad he wasn’t angry with you. I don’t want to
cause trouble between you.’

  ‘Willie and I have never had any secrets between us. He was a little concerned about you and Mathew spending the night in the spare room, although I did say that the camp bed had been made up on the veranda so that for all appearances on the following morning, he had slept there. Willie is a staunch member of the Dutch Reformed Church and the local priest is a close friend of his – he asked me to visit his presbytery and within the confidentiality of the priesthood, to seek his advice and understanding.’

  ‘I can put your mind at rest. We spent the night in each other’s arms, but we didn’t make love, not in the true sense of the word. So I haven’t committed adultery. We agreed before we spent the night together that we would only consummate the relationship once I’m legally separated from Paddy and we can become man and wife.’

  ‘Well if that’s the case, I believe you’ve made the right decision and you’ll be glad of it, in the future.’

  ‘You know, Mathew told me recently that through his research for his study of facial images, he found an old Jewish quotation that we both consider to be completely relevant to our relationship, which is “Adultery can be committed with the eyes”. Meeting Mathew, I’ve come to recognise that love is not merely a physical act, but can be blessed by a spiritual wealth as well.’

  After Mathew had spent a further blissful night with Jan, and they had experienced another tearful separation, he left Carnock Farm on Sunday morning and drove down to Inyanga to have lunch with the Kinlochs. During the journey, he could not help very much regretting that he had to keep his relationship with Jan a total secret from the outside world. In particular, the degree of deception that he had to adopt when telling not only Simon and Anna, but later Miles and Addie, the conflicting stories as to his exact whereabouts over the weekend. He knew Anna would have warned him of the dangers should the relationship become public knowledge, and how disappointed Addie would be that he had not confided in her about his deep love for Jan. For since his first meeting with Addie soon after his arrival in Rhodesia, they had shared so many personal confidences.

  On Monday evening, the South African Airways flight arrived on schedule from Johannesburg at Salisbury airport, prior to its onward night flight to London Heathrow. On clearing immigration, Mathew’s entry card was stamped. Since UDI, visitors to Rhodesia had been asked whether they would prefer not to have their passports stamped in case this record of their visit could impede, or even prevent, their entry into another country, especially into another African country that wanted to see Ian Smith’s RF Government defeated and brought to its knees.

  Mathew’s return to Hartington Hall proved on the whole to be most enjoyable, especially as his brother, Sebastian, had managed to arrange a week’s leave from his Northern Ireland posting. A number of his relatives and childhood friends, including Antonia, were currently in Yorkshire enjoying some early autumn sunny weather. Mathew did however find it disconcerting to see his father looking considerably older than he had done on his previous visit; he had lost a lot of weight and his complexion was noticeably flushed.

  During his time with Sebastian, they enjoyed riding around the estate, visiting some of their favourite old haunts and also sharing a number of confidences – which in Mathew’s case he had never discussed with anyone else.

  ‘A British diplomat, Jeremy Hughes, has asked me to divulge all the relevant information I have been given by my African friends, particularly an influential tribal chief. Our conversations have been confidential, but Hughes has told me that it’s my duty as a British citizen to tell him as much as I know about the African population’s attitude to the Bush War, the movement of Africans from across the Mozambique border and whether they are in favour of the proposed internal settlement. It’s not just him, either. The South African Embassy’s Military Attaché, Major Piet Erasmus, has also put pressure on me to divulge confidentialities.’

  He told Sebastian in the strictest confidence about his intention to marry Jan Bushney, the young wife of the second in command of the Selous Scouts, and that only her sister and brother-in-law were aware of their romance. He explained that as Major Paddy Bushney was playing such a significant part in the Bush War, it may take a number of months before his intended bride would be in a position to start divorce proceedings.

  ‘Back in the carefree days of my youth,’ said Mathew, reverting to more lighthearted matters, ‘my first infatuation was Antonia. She wrote to me recently to tell me that she’s become engaged to a viscount’s son, Timothy Ludlow – we’ll meet him at Saturday’s tennis party at Bardon Towers. It was a long time ago and I’ve moved on, but I must admit it feels a bit odd that Antonia’s marrying someone I’ve never met. I hope I approve.’

  ‘Well, before the delights of the tennis party at Bardon Towers, Mother wants to see us tomorrow morning while Father is in Skipton with his lawyer,’ Sebastian warned Mathew. ‘I don’t expect it to be good news.’

  Lady Sally Duncan sat with her sons in the spacious drawing room of Hartington Hall, just after 10 a.m. on Thursday morning. A maid passed each of them a cup of fine Kenyan coffee from a silver tray and left the room. Then, Sally Duncan dropped what Mathew considered to be almost a bombshell in their midst.

  ‘The family doctor has recently told me that your father is suffering from a serious heart condition, primarily due to high blood pressure which he is trying to bring down by oral medication. In all probability, your father will have to be operated upon in the near future. In the meantime, it’s important for as much as possible to be done to relieve him of the current pressures of the running of the Hartington estate. Mathew, you did tell your father that you may be able to take on the management of the estate at some stage – is there any possibility that in the not too distant future, you could give up your academic work in Rhodesia to return home?’

  He found her request almost impossible to find an adequate response to, for he knew that before he even thought of leaving Rhodesia, he had to be supportive of Jan as soon as she started her divorce proceedings. ‘Of course I’ll think very carefully about what you’ve said, Mother,’ said Mathew. ‘I don’t want to let you and Father down but at the same time, I’m currently under contract to the university and I have some field studies to complete . . . Perhaps Sebastian and I should talk this over, discuss the possibilities? It might be easier if we can work through some ideas together. Shall we talk again tomorrow?’

  ‘I would very much appreciate that. I know it must have come as a shock to you both, it’s come as a shock to all of us, but we do need to somehow take the stress of the estate away from your father. It’s a great relief to talk to you about it, but I don’t want your father to know I’ve spoken to you – not until we can give him a solution.’

  The next morning, the brothers presented their idea to Lady Sally. ‘Mother, Mathew and I have given the matter a great deal of thought and we think we might have a viable plan. Obviously, the priority is for Father to step back from his present role as soon as possible. We suggest that Andrew Higgins is promoted and given a salary increase, in order for him to act as the interim overall manager of the Hartington estate.’ Andrew Higgins was the farm manager, much trusted and well liked by Sir Colin. ‘Higgins can then act as interim manager until Mathew considers that he is in a position to leave Africa for good.’

  ‘Do you know,’ said Lady Sally with a smile of relief, ‘I think you’ve come up with something that your father may well accept. He will be delighted with the thought that one day, Mathew will return to Hartington to take on the duties on behalf of the Duncan family.’

  ‘Timothy, meet Mathew – he was the first love of my life, but soon escaped my clutches and fled to Africa to study monkeys.’ Everyone laughed, although Mathew couldn’t help blushing slightly at the truth behind Antonia’s words. Mathew and Sebastian found Antonia’s fiancé, Timothy Ludlow, to be intelligent, down-to-earth and very likeable. After a doubles match on the tennis court, which the Duncan brothers allowed the new
ly engaged couple to win, Timothy plied Sebastian with questions about the current political situation in Northern Ireland, the ongoing conflict between Republicans and Unionists, and Roman Catholics and Protestants, before switching his attention to Mathew.

  ‘Do you think Ian Smith’s regime will ever agree to one man, one vote elections for Rhodesia’s black and white citizens?’ asked Timothy. ‘If so, what do you consider the chances are for the country to achieve a peaceful settlement, and what do you think the timescale will be?’

  After Mathew had given his opinions on the political situation in Rhodesia, he was pleased that Timothy began asking him about his primate field studies, which he showed a great deal of interest in. ‘While I was in the process of compiling one of the major parts of my MA, I visited the Museo del Prado in Madrid and saw a number of late-sixteenth to mid-seventeenth century paintings of New World primates, which included David Teniers II “Banquet of Monkeys”, which depicts marmosets and tamarins. Apparently they were Brazilian golden lion tamarins – quite beautiful, their colour reminded me of barley sugar.’

  ‘I know the painting. It’s amazing Teniers could keep the monkeys still for long enough to get an accurate representation.’

  ‘Absolutely. There was an interesting reference at the museum explaining that lion tamarins became all the rage among the aristocracy in Spain and Portugal in the seventeenth century. Apparently, the nobility would pay enormous prices for healthy specimens. What I found particularly amusing was that aristocrats would sometimes present them to their wives and daughters, but more often for some curious sociological reason to their mistresses, who carried them around in their sleeves or other convenient retreats about their raiments.’

  Antonia heard them laughing and came to join them. ‘What on earth has tickled you two? You’re like a pair of giggling schoolboys.’