Black Mischief Read Online Free PDF

kept on about bringing closure. I only half understood what she meant. Forgiveness, she used that word so many times, how I must forgive myself, forgive Julius even. Yes, there were times when I felt angry with him, too! I could cope with all that, but I must also ask for forgiveness. Now that was an idea that churned my insides. I don’t ask for anything. The killer was when she said I must ask forgiveness from you, McCall, forgiveness for being ready to kill you. I had my finger on the trigger.’
    Tom broke in. ‘I remembered none of that. I was out cold. Philip Coulson told me about how Stephen was carrying me.’
    Reuben moved to the edge of his chair. For the first time that afternoon he was ready to give up the incomprehensible mumbling and speak up, but Alex was in before him. He looked directly into Abel’s eyes.
    â€˜Tom mentions Stephen. You know he’s our foreman. He’ll be here shortly.’
    Abel narrowed his gaze. ‘Why so? What’s he got to do with this?’
    â€˜In case you’ve forgotten, you were pointing your gun at Stephen.’
    â€˜I’m not hearing this! You are telling me to ask forgiveness from the man who beat up my son till he was unconscious and carried him over here like a slab of meat?’ Abel was struggling to hold his temper.
    Tom could not hold back, but his voice remained calm. ‘Mr Rubai, Julius had just tried to rape Stephen’s daughter.’
    Reuben moved across the room and in three long strides launched himself onto a startled Tom.
    â€˜I will not let you say filthy lies about my brother.’
    Tom pushed Reuben to the floor. ‘What time does your keeper arrive?’
    From his position on one knee, Reuben launched another verbal assault on Tom. ‘You murdered Julius. You didn’t pull any trigger, but you knew exactly what you were doing when you turned up at the club. You knew what that would do to him on the happiest night of his life! Papa, you should have pulled that trigger and you know it!’
    Abel rose to his feet and stood looking down on Reuben. ‘That’s enough!’ His nostrils flared with anger and he sucked in long, heavy breaths. ‘Do not disgrace your brother’s memory with your stupid words!’
    Reuben backed away until he collided with his chair. He raised his right arm and pointed towards his father. After a brief hesitation he launched out. ‘My brother’s sacred memory! Julius was a first-class shit! The only person he ever cared for was Julius Rubai. You and Mama spoilt him rotten. In the last five years he hardly spent a night at home. Most times he was out shagging a piece, as he called it. He had a dick for a brain! He disgusted me!’
    â€˜Have you finished?!’ his father screamed.
    â€˜Now you and Mama are having another child and you are calling him Julius already! Do you hate me so much? Okay, some people say I don’t look like a proper Rubai. But I’ve kept myself clean and I do care for others. Sometimes I wish we were a poor family. There’s a lot more love going ‘round in Kibera than there is in Karen!’
    Reuben was spent. He was sitting on the floor, head down and sobbing. Tom and Alex were so bewildered that they could not bring themselves to move, to say a single word. Abel had sat down and, for a time, was silent.
    When the words came they were quietly spoken and took a lot of effort.
    â€˜So, I’m asking for forgiveness, after all. If Sally was here she’d be praying for us.’ He managed a weak smile. ‘It can take a lifetime to learn some things, but sometimes understanding comes in one second. You McCalls must despise us.’
    Reuben interrupted his father. ‘Papa, it is wrong for us to be here. You are right. These white people despise us. The old hatreds are still there.’
    It was Alex’s turn to interrupt. ‘Not true. We don’t despise, don’t hate you, anybody. I