The Monster's Daughter Read Online Free Page B

men.” Maundin spat each word out as if it was a piece of chewing tobacco. “Therefore, allproperty will be seized and destroyed under order of Her Majesty.” He took a dramatic pause, his pleasure in this piece of theater not lost on Andrew. “You have ten minutes.”
    Anna’s eyes wandered from Maundin to Andrew, silently pleading with him. Andrew felt embarrassed and looked away.
    â€œTen minutes!” Maundin shouted over his shoulder as he strode out of the house. Anna stood dazed in the middle of the floor as if she couldn’t make sense of what just happened.
    â€œPlease. Hurry,” Andrew whispered. “Take what you need and get out.” His words seemed to break her spell.
    â€œHansie!” Anna’s voice broke as she ran to the back room.
    The boy left his hiding place. He was small, too young to ride out on commando with his
pappa
. Anna stroked his shoulders gently as she spoke. Andrew had trouble understanding their rapid exchange, recognizing only a few of the Dutch words. The boy nodded, tears and snot streaming down his face as he followed Anna into the bedroom. They returned, pushing a large wooden dowry chest into the front room. Anna disappeared into the kitchen while Hansie held on to the chest as if his life depended on it. The commotion in the farmyard brought a new wave of tears to his eyes. Anna cradled dried meats, fruit and a metal tin in her arms when she returned. She opened the dowry chest lid and made room for the provisions among bed linens and clothes.
    Jooste barged into the house, shouting something in Dutch. He grabbed the tin from Anna. She tried to resist, but Jooste shoved her with his free hand, scattering the bottles of Lennon’s home remedies it held all over the floor. Anna scrambled on all fours to pick them up. Andrew made a move to help, but soldiers swarmed into the house, kicking the small bottles in all directions.
    â€œGet out,” Jooste shouted in a grandiose show for the others. “Your time is finish,
ja
.”
    Anna pushed the big wooden box out of the house, straining to navigate it through the doorway. Hansie cried hysterically, clutching her long gray dress. Khaki uniforms shoved past them as if they weren’t there, heavy boots kicking dust up from the dry dung floor. Soldiers marched through the scant rooms, taking what they wanted, smashing mirrors, stomping on toys. Clothing and shoes ended up intangled bundles on the ground. A rednecked soldier banged on the keys of the small house organ with the butt of his rifle, while others broke off its wood panels. As the men took turns smashing its innards to pieces, the notes that rang out sounded like wails of desperation. They dragged the fodder outside, then used it for fuel to boil water for their tea.
    A couple of the soldiers used the pictures on the walls for target practice. Shots, accompanied by laughter and cheers, rang through the house as glass shattered on the ground. Once they were done, they emptied cans of paraffin, dousing the floors and walls. Jooste scraped a torch along the edges of the roof outside. Everyone looked on as flames crept along the thatch, seething, writhing, devouring. Black smoke rose, blemishing the clear winter sky. In the distance, on the nearest high ground, troops guarded against an attack from the Boers, who, even farther away, camouflaged by trees and foliage, watched the destruction helplessly.
    Andrew stood before the blaze, flames licking the modest pieces of furniture on the porch—a rocking chair, a straw mattress, a baby cradle. His cheeks burned, sweat running down the side of his face. Behind him, the bleating of sheep rose to a crescendo. Soldiers sank their bayonets into the livestock, striking repeatedly until the animals fell, their white coats matted with blood. Men chased poultry in the farmyard, throwing stones and flinging themselves at chickens and ducks whose anguished squawks filled the air. Soon the