It was almost a relief to see the dawn define the windows as grey

squares and to be released from his unrewarding rest. At breakfast he

drank a cup of coffee and found that his stomach was unable to accept

the plateful of steak and eggs that was offered it for it was already

screwing up tight in anticipation.

of the day ahead. Duff was edgy and tired-looking as well; they spoke

only a little during the meal and not at all in the carriage when

Mbejane drove them down to the Exchange.

The crowd was outside the Stock Exchange again. They forced their way

through it and into the building; they took their seats in the lounge

and Sean looked round at the faces of his fellow members. In each of

them were the marks of worry, the same darkness round the eyes and the

jerkiness in movement. He watched Jock Heyns yawn extravagantly and had

to do the same; he lifted his hand to cover Ins mouth and found it was

trembling again He left the hand on the arm of Ins chair and kept it

still.

Across the lounge Bonzo Barnes caught Sean's eye and looked away

quickly, then he also gaped into a cavernous yawn. It was the tension.

In the years ahead Sean would see men yawn like that while they waited

for the dawn to send them against the Boer guns. Duff leaned across to

him and broke his line of thought. As soon as the trading starts, we'll

sell. Try and panic them. Do you agree? Sudden death, Sean nodded. He

couldn't face another morning of that mental agony. Couldn't we offer

shares at thirty-two shillings and sixpence and get it over with? "

he asked.

Duff grinned at him. We can't do that, it, is too obvious we'll just

have to go on offering to sell at best and let the price fall on its

own. suppose you're right, but we'll play our high cards now and dump

the rest of our shares as soon as the market opens. I don't see how the

price can possibly hold after that Duff nodded. He beckoned to their

authorized clerk who was waiting patiently at the door of the lounge and

when the man came up to them he told him, Sell one hundred thousand C.

R. C. s at best. The clerk blinked but he jotted the order down on

his pad and went out onto the main floor where the other ebrokers were

gathering. It was a few Minutes from the bell.

What if it doesn't work? Sean asked. The tightness in his belly was

nauseating him. It must work, it's got to work, Duff whispered as much

to himself as to Sean. He was twisting his fingers round the head of

his cane and chewing against clenched teeth. They sat and waited for

the bell and when it rang Sean jumped then reached sheepishly for his

cigar case.

He heard their clerk's voice, raised sharply, I sell C. R. C. Is, and

then the confused mumble of voices as the trading started. Through the

lounge door he saw the recorder chalk up the first sale. Thirty-seven

shillings He drew hard on Ins cigar and lay back in his chair forcing

himself to relax, ignoring the restless tapping of Duff Is fingers on

the arm of the chair next to him. The recorder wiped out the figures

and wrote again. Thirtysix shillings. Sean blew out cigar smoke in a

long jet. It's mavingI he whispered and Duff's hand clenched on the arm

of the chair, his knuckles paling from the pressure of his grip.

Thirty-five. The elusive number at last. Sean heard Duff sigh next to

him and his voice, Now! watch it go, laddie, now the banks will come

on. Get ready, laddie, get ready now. Thirty-four and six, wrote the

recorder. They must come in now, said Duff again. Get ready to get

rich, laddie. Their clerk was coming back across the floor and into the

lounge. He stopped in front of their chairs. I managed to sell them,

Sir.

Sean straightened up quickly. So soon? he asked. Yes, Sir, three big

sales and I got rid of them all. I'm afraid the last was only at

thirty-four and sixpence. Sean stared back at the board. The figure

was still at thirty-four and sixpence.

Duff, something's going on here. Why haven't the banks come in yet?

We'll force them to off-load. Duff's voice was unnaturally hoarse.

We'll force the bastards. He pulled himself half out of his chair and

snarled at the clerk.

Sell another one hundred thousand at thirty shillings.

The man's face went slack with surprise. Hurry, man, do you hear me?

What are you waiting for? The clerk backed away from Duff, then he

turned and scurried out of the lounge. Duff, for God's sake. Sean

grabbed his arm. Have you gone madVWe'll force them, I muttered Duff.

They'll have to seU. We haven't got another hundred thousand shares.

Sean jumped up. I'm going to stop him. He ran across the lounge but

before he reached the door he saw the sale being chalked up on the board

at thirty shfflings. He pushed his way across the crowded floor until

he reached his clerk. Don't sell any more, he whispered.

The man looked surprised. I've sold them already, Sir. The whole

hundred thousand? There was horrified disbelief in Sean's voice. Yes,

Sir, someone took the lot in one batch. Sean walked back across the

floor in a daze. He sank into the chair beside Duff.

They re sold already. He spoke as though he didn't believe himself.

We force them, we'll force them to sell, muttered Duff again and Sean

turned to him with alarm. Duff was sweating in little dewdrops across

his forehead and his eyes were very bright. Duff, for God's sake, Sean

whispered to him, steady, man Sean knew that they were watched by

everybody in the lounge. The watching faces seemed as large as those

seen through a telescope and the buzz of their voices echoed strangely