'n Saak
van Geregtigheid |
A
Matter of Justice |
'n
Nogal onaantreklike vrou het die kantoor binnegekom. |
A rather unattractive woman entered
the office. |
Sy het
'n uitdrukkinglose gesig gehad en 'n uitgedateerde roomkleurige bril
gedra. |
She had an inexpressive face and wore
out-of-date beige glasses. |
Haar
vilthoed het gelyk asof dit aggressief opgesit is en haar loshangende
bruin winterjas het haar vetter laat lyk as wat sy seker was. |
Her felt hat looked as though it had
been pulled on aggressively and her loose-styled brown winter coat made
her look fatter than she probably was. |
“Is jy
mnr. Victors?” het sy kortaf gevra en haar groot handsak op sy lessenaar
neergeplak. |
“Are you Mr. Victors?” she asked
bluntly, plonking down her large handbag on his office table. |
Mnr.
Victors, wie nogal 'n kort maar aantreklike man in sy laat veertigs was,
het sy sjarme op die vrou uitprobeer. |
Mr. Victors, who was a rather short
but attractive man in his late forties, tried his charm out on the
woman. |
“Ja,
Mevrou.” |
“Yes, madam. |
“Jy
moet seker die dame wees wie gister geskakel het vir 'n
afspraak...em...” Die man het deur 'n paar papiere op sy lessenaar
gesoek. “Oja, mej. Abbot, is dit nie?” |
You must be the lady who telephoned
yesterday for an appointment…er…” The man searched through some papers
on his desk, “Ah yes, Miss Abbot, isn’t it?” |
“Ja. |
“Yes. |
Ek het
gekom oor daardie eiendomsbelegging. |
I’ve come about that housing estate
investment. |
Waar
presies gaan dit gebou word?” |
Where exactly will it be built?” |
“In
Griekeland op die Circe eiland. |
“In Greece on the Island of Circe. |
Soos jy
seker in die advertensie gelees het, sal alles luukse woonstelle met
nuwerwetse voordele wees. |
As you probably read in the ad,
they’ll all be luxury flats with every mod con.” |
“So jy
kan my verseker dat dit 'n goeie belegging is?” Het die vrou gevra. |
“So you can assure me it’s a good
investment?” The woman asked. |
“Kyk,
laat ons dit so stel. |
“Look, let’s put it this way. |
Ek het
nog net hierdie een oor. |
I’ve got just this one left. |
'n
Getroude paartjie het gesê hulle is geïnteresseerd oor die foon
vanoggend, maar het nog nie ingekom nie, so as jy dit wil hê, sal jy
vinnig 'n besluit moet neem!” |
A married couple said they were
interested on the phone this morning but haven’t been in yet, so if you
want it you’d better make a quick decision!” |
Die
vrou het gelyk asof sy 'n bietjie sag word. |
The woman seemed to soften a little. |
“Wel,
ek wou nog altyd my vakansies in Griekeland deurbring het. |
“Well, I’ve always wanted to spend my
holidays in Greece. |
As jy
vir my die presiese bedrag van die afgetaling gee dan kan ek 'n tjek
daarvoor uitskryf.” |
If you tell me the exact amount of
the down payment I can write you out a cheque for it.” |
“Uitstekend,
mej. Abbot. |
“Splendid, Miss Abbot. |
Sal u
eers hierdie vorm teken sodat ons die papierwerk als met een slag kan
uitsorteer?” |
Will you sign this form first of all
so we can get all the paperwork over all in one go?” |
“Sekerlik. |
“Certainly. |
Laat my
net daarna kyk...” het mej. Abbot gesê terwyl sy deur haar groot
roomkleurige bril loer na die vel papier. |
Let me just have a look at it…” said
Miss Abbot peering through her large beige glasses at the sheet of
paper. |
Net toe
gaan die kantoordeur skielik oop en 'n man en 'n vrou het ingekom. |
Just then the office door opened
suddenly and a man and a woman came in. |
Die
vrou, wie robuust en duidelik van Afrika herkoms was, het haar polisie
identifikasie gewys. |
The woman, who was robust and clearly
of African extraction, produced her police identification. |
“OK
Harry, weer besig met ou streke, is ons? |
“OK Harry, up to the old game again,
are we? |
Wat is
jou naam hierdie keer?” |
What’s your name this time?” |
Mej.
Abbot het deur haar dik bril gestaar. |
Miss Abbot stared through her thick
glasses. |
“Inspekteur
Quashie!” het Harry gesê terwyl hy van sy stoel af opgestaan het en baie
benoud gelyk het. |
“Inspector Quashie!” said Harry
getting up from his chair and looking very scared. |
“Nie
weer nie! |
“Not again! |
Ek het
niks gedoen nie. |
I haven’t done anything. |
Ek was
net besig om 'n besigheidsaak met hierdie dame...em...mej. Abbot te
bespreek!” |
I was just discussing a business
matter with this lady… er… Miss Abbot!” |
“Jammer
mej. Abbot, ons sal u verklaring by die stasie nodig hê!” Inspekteur
Quashie het vir die vrou geglimlag. |
“Sorry Miss Abbot, we’ll be needing
your statement down at the station!” Inspector Quashie smiled at the
woman. |
“Dit
lyk asof ons net betyds hier aangekom het!” |
“It seems we got here just in time!” |
Mnr.
Victors oftewel Harry het verskrik gelyk. |
Mr. Victors or Harry looked
horrified. |
“Ek
sien. |
“I see. |
Ek is om die bos gelei!” |
I’ve been stitched up!” |
Inspekteur Quashie het geknik. |
Inspector Quashie nodded. |
“Dit is
onnodig om te protesteer, Harry, jy is uitgevang. |
“It’s useless protesting, Harry,
you’ve been nicked. |
Kom ons
gaan almal na die stasie toe!” |
Let’s all get down to the station!” |
Mej.
Abbot het gewag vir Harry om geboei en weggestuur te word in 'n
polisiekar en toe verwyder sy die “draad” aan die binnekant van haar jas
wat die polisie vroeër die dag aan haar gesit het. |
Miss Abbot waited for Harry to be
handcuffed and sent off in a police car and then removed the “wire”
inside her coat the police had put on her earlier that day. |
Daarna
het sy haar aaklike bril afgehaal, haar hoed en die groot bruin jas om
die deftige swart baadjie en romp wat sy aangehad het te onthul. |
After that, she took off her ugly
glasses, her hat, and the huge brown coat to reveal that she was wearing
a smart black jacket and skirt. |
“Eerlikwaar,
Daisy, toe ons die kantoordeur oopgemaak het, het ek jou glad nie herken
nie! |
“Honestly Daisy, when we opened the
office door I didn’t recognise you at all! |
Jy het
vreeslik in daardie bruin jas gelyk!” het inspekteur Quashie gesê. |
You looked terrible in that brown
coat!” said Inspector Quashie. |
Daisy
het gegrinnik. |
Daisy grinned. |
By die
polisie stasie is Daisy uitgenooi om te kyk hoe Harry ondervra word van
agter 'n spesiale glasvenster. |
At the police station Daisy was
invited to watch Harry being questioned from behind a special glass
window. |
“Kyk
Harry, so seker soos my naam Amelia Quashie is,” het die inspekteur gesê
met 'n vriendelike glimlag, “ jy sal sit vir nog vier of vyf jaar!”
Inspekteur Quashie het die manier gehad om die mees gevreesde goed op 'n
oënskynlik plesierige manier te sê. |
“Look Harry, as sure as my name is
Amelia Quashie,” the inspector said with a friendly smile, “you’ll be
going down for another four or five years!” Inspector Quashie had a way
of saying the most dreadful things in a seemingly pleasant way. |
“Inspekteur,
jy probeer altyd om my vas te trek, maar ek het niks gedoen nie!” het
Harry geprotesteer. |
“Inspector, you’re always trying to
nail me but I haven’t done anything!” protested Harry. |
“Ek
erken ek het 'n gesprek met daardie dame gehad oor 'n woonstel, maar...” |
“I admit I was having a conversation
with that lady about a flat but…” |
“Ja,”
inspekteur Quashie het geknik, “oor 'n woonstel wat nie bestaan nie en
wat nooit sal bestaan nie. |
“Yes,” Inspector Quashie nodded,
“about a flat that doesn’t exist and will never exist. |
Maar jy
het geld gevat van 'n arm ou man wat nie verstaan het waarvoor hy
homself inlaat nie. |
But you did take money from a poor
old man who didn’t understand what he was letting himself in for. |
Onthou
daardie liewe senior burger, Mnr. Duncan Thornton wat jy verkul het om
vyf duisend pond te gee?” Het die glimlaggende polisievrou heel sjarmant
gesê. |
Remember that gentle senior citizen,
Mr. Duncan Thornton you conned into giving you five thousand pounds?”
The smiling police-woman said quite charmingly. |
Harry
het gespanne gelyk, maar het nie geantwoord nie. |
Harry looked tense but didn’t reply. |
“Aan
die ander kant, as jy ons sou help met 'n bietjie informasie oor 'n
vriend van jou... mag ons moontlik instaat wees om die regter te oortuig
dat, aangesien jy al die geld vir Mnr. Thornton teruggee, jy besef het
dat jou ou slegte gewoontes gesien moet word as iets van die verlede. |
“On the other hand, if you helped us
with a little information about a friend of yours… we might be able to
convince the judge that as you are giving all the money back to Mr.
Thornton, you have realised that your old evil ways are to be considered
a thing of the past. |
Natuurlik bly daar nog die vraag van mej. Abbot se klagte, die dame wat
jy om die bos probeer lei het toe ons aangekom het. |
Of course, there remains the question
of Miss Abbot’s complaint, the lady you were trying to con when we
arrived. |
As ek
haar kan oortuig om nie voort te gaan...” |
If I can persuade her not to go
ahead…” |
Harry
het onderbreuk, “Ag, nou goed dan, Inspekteur. |
Harry interrupted, “Oh, alright,
Inspector. |
Sê net
vir my wat dit is wat jy wil hê van my!” |
Just tell me what it is you want from
me!” |
“Harry,
ek sal eerlik wees met jou,” het inspekteur Quashie voortgegaan in haar
pragtige gereguleerde diep stem, “Ek sal al my kaarte op die tafel sit
en as jy ons nie wil help nie sal ek jou aan jou eie lot oorlaat!” |
“Harry, I’ll be honest with you,”
Inspector Quashie continued in her beautifully modulated deep voice,
“I’ll put all my cards on the table and if you don’t want to help us
I’ll just have to leave you to your fate!” |
“Inspekteur
– sê asseblief vir my!” het die, nou swetende, Harry aangedring. |
“Inspector – please tell me!”
insisted the now sweating Harry. |
“Ek wil
vir... Coffee Anderson hê!” het inspekteur Quashie aan die lig gebring. |
“I want… Coffee Anderson!” revealed
Inspector Quashie. |
“Ccc...,”
het Harry geproes. |
“Ccc…,” Harry spluttered. |
“Coffee
Anderson! |
“Coffee Anderson! |
Jy moet
seker laf wees!” |
You must be joking!” |
“Nee,
ek gaan nie!” |
“No, I’m not! |
Soos jy
weet, het hy sy bynaam gekry as gevolg van sy koffieverslawing, maar sy
ware sterkpunt is om ander mense 'n verslawing te gee, 'n wit gepoeierde
een!” |
As you know, he is nicknamed Coffee
owing to his coffee addiction but his real forte is giving other people
an addiction, a white-powdered one!” |
Harry
het selfs nog meer gespanne geword en sy kop hewig geskud. |
Harry became even more tense and
shook his head violently. |
Inspekteur Quashie het weer vir hom geglimlag. |
Inspector Quashie smiled at him
again. |
“Moenie
bekommerd wees nie, Harry. |
“Don’t worry, Harry. |
As jy
my nie wil help nie, sal ek net nog 'n rukkie langer nodig hê om daardie
meneer te vang, maar ek sal. |
If you won’t help me, I’ll just need
a little longer to nail that gentleman, but I will. |
Dis nou
wel jammer oor jou,” het die oënskynlik simpatieke inspekteur gesê
terwyl sy opgestaan het, gereed om die vertrek te verlaat. |
Pity about you, though,” said the
seemingly sympathetic Inspector getting up ready to leave the room. |
Harry
het swaar gesug, so asof dit sy laaste was. |
Harry heaved a big breath as though
it were his last. |
“Jy het
my presies waar jy my wil hê, Inspekteur. |
“You’ve got me exactly where you want
me, Inspector. |
Jy weet
dat hy my sal laat doodmaak...” |
You do know he’ll have me killed…” |
“Polisiebeskerming
vierentwintig-uur-'n-dag.” Sy het afgerammel wat sy alreeds voorberei
het om te sê. |
“Police-protection-twenty-four-hours-a-day.”
She rattled off having already prepared what she was going to say. |
“Jy sal
na 'n plek geneem word waar hy nooit aan sal dink om jou te soek nie. |
“You’ll be taken to a place where he
would never think of looking for you. |
En
daarna... “ |
And after that…” |
“As
daar 'n daarna vir my is, sal ek graag iewers ver weg wil nesskrop... “ |
“If there’s an after for me, I would
want to be set up somewhere far away…” |
Soos
Daisy die gesprek deur die spesiale glasvenster gehoor het, het sy
binnepret gehad oor die bevrediging wat dit haar gee, omdat haar kliënt
mnr. Thornton haar in sy vertroue geneem het toe hy sy spaargeld aan
Harry verloor het en nou sou hy al sy geld terugkry en kon hy in vrede
leef sonder bekommernis oor sy toekoms. |
As Daisy heard the conversation
through the special glass mirror she smiled to herself in satisfaction,
this was because her client Mr. Thornton had confided in her when he
lost his savings to Harry, and now he would be getting all his money
back and could live in peace without worrying about his future. |
'n Paar
dae later was Daisy besig om aan 'n koppie kitskoffie in haar kantoor te
teug. |
A few days later Daisy was sipping a
cup of instant coffee in her office. |
Iemand
het die deurklokkie gelui en Daisy het uitgeroep, “Kom binne!”
Inspekteur Quashie het by die ingang verskyn. |
Someone rang the bell and Daisy
called out, “Come in!” Inspector Quashie appeared in the doorway. |
“Steur
ek jou Daisy?” het sy gevra. |
“Am I disturbing you Daisy?” she
asked. |
Daisy
was verras en bly om die polisievrou te sien. |
Daisy was surprised and pleased to
see the police woman. |
“Amelia,
kom asseblief in en vertel my alles.” |
“Amelia, please come in and tell me
everything.” |
“Daisy,
ek voel baie onrustig.” |
“Daisy, I feel very uneasy.” |
“Wel,
kom ons drink 'n koppie Earl Grey en eet 'n paar koekies en dan kyk ons
wat ons kan uitwerk.” |
“Well, let’s have a cup of Earl Grey
and a few biscuits and see what we can work out.” |
Die
inspekteur het geknik toe Daisy haar elektriese ketel aanskakel om die
water te kook. |
The inspector nodded as Daisy put the
water on to boil in her electric kettle. |
“Soos
jy weet is Harry in 'n huis onder polisiebewking, maar toe ek vanoggend
my krabbertjies probeer aansit, het ek hulle die heeltyd laat val en toe
sê ek vir myself,'Amelia, iets is nie reg nie!' Dieselfde ding het altyd
met my ouma gebeur as iets op die punt was om verkeerd te gaan.”
|
“As you know, Harry is in a safe
house but as I was trying to put my earrings on this morning I kept
dropping them, and I said to myself, ‘Amelia, something’s up!’ The same
thing used to happen to my grandmother when something was about to go
wrong.” |
“Maar
wat kan dan nou enigsens verkeerd gaan? |
“But what could possibly go wrong? |
Ek het
gelees dat Coffee Anderson in hegtenis geneem is, is hy nie? |
I read that Coffee Anderson has been
arrested, hasn’t he? |
Is dit
nie amper tyd vir sy verhoor nie?” |
Isn’t he due for trial soon?” |
“Ja,
die verhoor begin more! |
“Yes, the trial starts tomorrow! |
Maar
een van sy gevaarlikste handlangers, Charles Empoli, wat in dieselfde
tronk as hy was, het gister uitgekom, ek bedoel – hy is uit die tronk op
voorwaardelike vrylating en moet elke aand rapporteer aan die
polisiestasie. |
But apparently one of his most
dangerous henchmen, a Charles Empoli, who was in the same prison as him,
got out yesterday, I mean – he was released from prison on probation and
has to report to the police station every evening. |
Dit
bekommer my.” |
This worries me.” |
Op
daardie spesiefieke oomblik het die polisie-inspekteur se selfoon gelui. |
Just at this moment the police
inspector’s mobile rang. |
“Hallo,
inspekteur Quashie hier. |
“Hello, Inspector Quashie here. |
Waaat!”
Haar groot oë het net nog groter en groter gerek en daar was 'n
uitdrukking van angs in hulle. |
Whaaat!” Her already big eyes became
bigger and bigger and there was an expression of alarm in them. |
“Hoekom
op dees aarde het niemand my voorheen hiervan in kennis gestel nie!” |
“Why in the hell didn’t someone
inform me about this before!” |
Die
Inspekteur het aangehou om te luister terwyl sy al hoe meer en meer
geïrriteerd geraak het. |
The Inspector continued listening
getting more and more agitated all the time. |
Daisy
het gehoop dat Amelia nie 'n beroerte- aanval of iets sou kry nie. |
Daisy hoped Amelia wouldn’t have a
stroke or something. |
Inspekteur Quashie het toegesnou, “Luister. |
Inspector Quashie barked out,
“Listen. |
Kry die
ondersoekspan onmiddellik op die probleem. |
Get the surveillance team on to the
problem immediately. |
Organiseer 'n vier-en-twintig-uur wag – ek sal terugkom so gou as
moontlik!” |
Organise a twenty-four hour watch –
I’ll get back as soon as possible!” |
Die
polisievrou het haar selfoon teruggesit in haar sak. |
The policewoman put her mobile back
into her pocket. |
“Ek is
bevrees ek sal moet gaan, Daisy – iets het voorgeval wat die perspektief
heeltemal verander. |
“I’m afraid I’ll have to go, Daisy –
something has come up that changes the perspective completely. |
Behalwe...” Inspekteur Quashie het 'n oomblik lank vir Daisy betrag,
twyfelend, terwyl 'n plan besig was om vorm aan te neem in haar
gedagtes. |
Unless...” Inspector Quashie observed
Daisy for a moment, hesitating, as a plan was forming in her mind. |
Sy het
baie sag en stadig gepraat, “behalwe as jy nie sou omgee as 'n
tienerdogter 'n rukkie lank by jou bly nie...?” |
She spoke very softly and slowly,
“unless you wouldn’t mind having a teenage girl to stay with you for a
while…?” |
Daisy
het 'n blik met brosbrood koekies op haar lessenaar neergesit. |
Daisy put a tin of shortbread
biscuits on her desk. |
“Watter
tienerdogter praat ons van? |
“What teenage girl are you talking
about? |
Ek
verstaan nie...” |
I don’t understand…” |
Amelia
het probeer verduidelik, “Dit lyk asof ons hoofgetuie, Harry, 'n dogter
van amper veertien het, Alina, wie ek nie eers geweet het bestaan nie,
en haar ma het vanoggend by die polisie aangemeld dat haar huis dopgehou
word deur Charles Empoli, Coffee Anderson se handlanger! |
Amelia tried to explain, “It seems
that our chief witness, Harry, has a daughter of nearly fourteen, Alina,
who I never even knew existed, and her mother reported to the police
this morning that her house was being watched by Charles Empoli, Coffee
Anderson’s henchman! |
Die ma
is 'n maatskaplike werkster en ken die man aangesien sy al voorheen met
hom te doen gehad het oor die verkoop van dwelms aan jongmense. |
The mother is a social worker and
knows the man as she had already had dealings with him in the past over
selling drugs to youngsters!” |
Daisy
het onderbreuk, “En jy dink dat hulle vir Harry kan afpers, dreig om sy
vrou of dogter seer te maak as hy getuienis in die hof gee teen Coffee
Anderson?” |
Daisy interrupted, “And you think
they could blackmail Harry, threatening to hurt his wife or daughter if
he gives evidence in court against Coffee Anderson?” |
“Wel,
die dame is nie meer sy vrou nie, maar Harry is glo baie mal oor sy
dogter al het hy nie veel van haar te sien gekry in die laaste paar jaar
nie, aangesien hy 'n hele paar maal aangehou is op Haar Majesteit se
onkoste!” |
“Well, the lady’s not his wife any
more but apparently Harry is very fond of his daughter even though he
hasn’t seen much of her in the past few years owing to the fact he’s
been detained at Her Majesty’s pleasure several times!” |
Daisy
het gaan sit om aan 'n koekie te knibbel. |
Daisy sat down to munch a biscuit. |
“Sou
Harry se eksvrou en dogter nie ook beter afgewees het by 'n bewaakte
huis nie?” |
“Wouldn’t Harry’s ex-wife and
daughter be better off at a safe house as well?” |
Amelia
het haar kop geskud, “Daar is meer. |
Amelia shook her head, “There’s more. |
'n
Ongeluk kom nooit alleen nie. |
It never rains but it pours. |
Die ma
gaan môre hospitaal toe om 'n operasie te
ondergaan. |
The mother is going into hospital
tomorrow morning to have an operation. |
Iets
wat sy moet laat doen, maar dit behoort nie lewensgevaarlik te wees nie. |
Something she must have done but it
shouldn’t be life-threatening. |
Natuurlik kan ons 'n wag in die hospitaal sit om haar
vierentwintig-uur-'n-dag op te pas, maar die kind! |
Of course, we can have a watch put on
her in the hospital twenty-four hours a day, but the child! |
Hoe op
dees aarde kan ons haar veiligheid verseker as sy by 'n tannie of so
iets gaan bly!” |
How on earth can we ensure her
safety if she goes and stays with an aunt or something!” |
Amelia
het gestop om van haar tee te drink. |
Amelia stopped to drink some of her
tea. |
“Sy bly
in Cardiff en niemand sal haar hier in Oos-Anglia ken nie, sal hulle?”
het sy oortuigend gesê. |
“She lives in Cardiff and no-one
would know her here in East Anglia, would they?” she said convincingly. |
Daisy
het die koekie neergesit wat sy geëet het, “So jy wil hê ek moet na 'n
tiener kyk wat ek nog nooit voorheen gesien het nie, en wie my nog nooit
gesien het nie!” het sy geprotesteer. |
Daisy put the biscuit she was eating
down, “So you want me to look after a teenager I’ve never seen before,
and who’s never seen me!” she protested. |
“Moenie
bekommerd wees nie, liefie, ek sal 'n ander oplossing kry – ten minste
hoop ek ek sal,” het die slinkse polisievrou geantwoord met die wete dat
sy besig was om Daisy skuldig te laat voel oor 'n jong dogter in gevaar
te los. |
“Don’t worry, honey, I’ll find
another solution – at least I hope I will,” replied the sly police woman
knowing that she was making Daisy feel guilty about leaving a young girl
in danger. |
“Die
ding is, Coffee Anderson het niks om te verloor nie. |
“The thing is, Coffee Anderson has
nothing to lose. |
As hy
skuldig bewys word kan hy maklik vir die volgende twintig jaar of so in
die kerkers wees, so ma en dogter is regtig in groot gevaar, - maar
moenie bekommerd wees nie, Daisy. |
If he’s proved guilty he could be in
the dungeons for the next twenty years easily, so mother and daughter
are really in great danger, – but don’t worry, Daisy. |
Dit is
nie jou verantwoordelikheid nie. |
It’s not your responsibility. |
Ek kan
nie aan enige-iemand anders dink op die oomblik wat ek sou vertrou om na
hierdie ongelukkige kind te kyk nie, maar iets sal wel opduik...” |
I can’t think of anyone else I would
trust to look after this unfortunate child at the moment but something
will turn up…” |
Daisy
het ingegee alhoewel sy geweet het dat inspekteur Quashie haar onder
druk geplaas het, “Nou goed dan, wanneer sal sy aankom?” |
Daisy gave way even though she knew
Inspector Quashie was pressurising her, “Okay then, when will she be
arriving?” |
“Ek sal
die meisie, Alina, na jou huis toe laat bring gedurende die nag. |
“I’ll have the girl, Alina, brought
to your home during the night. |
Goed
so?” |
All right?” |
Daisy
het geknik. |
Daisy nodded. |
“Ek sal
die spaarkamer voorberei. |
“I’ll prepare the spare room. |
Maar
wat van my werk?” |
But what about my work?” |
Amelia
het haar glimlag gegee wat sy altyd gee as sy haar sin kry. |
Amelia smiled her usual smile when
she knew she was getting her own way. |
“Ek is
seker jy sal regkom, Daisy!” |
“I’m sure you’ll manage, Daisy!” |
In die
vroeë oggendure het 'n kar aangekom met Alina en haar tas en Daisy het
strategies vir Alina gewink om binnetoe te gaan terwyl die bestuurder
van die kar die tas vir Daisy aangegee het en onmiddellik weggery het. |
In the early hours of the morning a
car arrived with Alina and her suitcase and Daisy discreetly beckoned
Alina to come inside whilst the driver of the car handed Daisy the
suitcase and drove off immediately. |
Die
veertienjarige het baie skaam gelyk en het net daar gestaan en Daisy
aangestaar. |
The fourteen-year-old seemed very shy
and just stood and stared at Daisy. |
“Kom
in, Alina. |
“Come in, Alina. |
Wil jy
graag iets hê om te eet of te drink?” het Daisy vir die bebrilde kind
gevra. |
Would you like something to eat or
drink?” Daisy asked the bespectacled child. |
“Nee,
dankie. |
“No, thank you. |
Ek eet
nooit iets na my aandete nie. |
I never eat anything after my evening
meal. |
Dit is
nie goed vir my nie!” het Alina nogal aanstellerig geantwoord. |
It’s not good for me!” replied Alina
rather pompously. |
“Dit is
goed so, maar kom in die kombuis in net om mekaar bietjie beter te leer
ken terwyl ek 'n koppie kakao drink!” het Daisy voorgestel. |
“That’s fine, but come into the
kitchen just to get to know each other a bit while I have a cup of
cocoa!” Daisy suggested. |
“Ek
verkies om reguit bed toe te gaan aangesien ek baie leerwerk het om te
doen, mej. Hamilton!” het Alina geantwoord in haar Walliese aksent. |
“I’d prefer to go to bed straight
away as I’ve a lot of studying to do, Miss Hamilton!” Alina replied in
her Welsh accent. |
“Goed
dan. |
“All right. |
Maar
noem my asseblief Daisy! |
But please call me Daisy! |
Kyk, ek
sal jou na jou kamer toe neem en sê vir my as jy enige-iets nodig het. |
Look, I’ll take you up to your room
and you tell me if you need anything. |
Regso?” |
Right?” |
Die
volgende oggend het Daisy met die trappe afgegaan na die kombuis toe om
vir Alina daar aan te tref waar sy alreeds by die tafel gesit het oor 'n
geskiedenisboek. |
The next morning Daisy went
downstairs to the kitchen to find Alina already sitting at the table
over a history book. |
“Wat
eet jy gewoonlik vir ontbyt? |
“What do you usually have for
breakfast? |
Alina –
kyk! |
Alina – look! |
Daar is
'n hele paar verskillende pakke ontbytgraan vir jou om van te kies. |
There are several different packets
of cereal for you to choose from. |
Dan is
daar eiers en goed in die yskas. |
Then there are eggs and things in the
fridge. |
Help
jouself net!” |
Just help yourself!” |
Daisy
het haar bes probeer maar dit het nie gelyk of sy hond haar afmaak met
Alina nie. |
Daisy did her best but didn’t seem to
make much headway with Alina. |
Die
meisie het 'n muur gebou wat onmoontlik gelyk het om af te breek. |
The girl put up a barrier which
seemed impossible to break down. |
“Kyk,
Alina, ek weet jy is bekommerd oor jou ma se operasie vandag, maar sodra
inspekteur Quashie enige nuus het, sal sy my bel.” |
“Look, Alina, I know you’re worried
about your mother’s operation today, but as soon as Inspector Quashie
has any news she will phone me.” |
“Mej.
Hamilton,,, Daisy, moenie oor my bekommerd wees nie. |
“Miss Hamilton… Daisy, don’t worry
about me. |
Ek weet
van my pa en die gemors waarin hy ons laat beland het. |
I know about my father and the mess
he has put us in. |
Inspekteur Quashie het alles aan ons verduidelik. |
Inspector Quashie explained
everything to us. |
Ek weet
ook dat my ma na 'n goeie hospitaal toe gaan en uitstekende behandeling
daar sal kry.” |
I also know that my mother is going
into a good hospital and will have excellent treatment there.” |
“Nou
goed dan, maar jy besef dat jy my geselskap sal moet hou in my kantoor
en dat jy vir niemand enige persoonlike besonderhede mag vertel of
alleen uitgaan nie?” |
“All right, but you do realise that
you’ll have to keep me company in my office and that you can’t tell
anyone any personal details or go out alone?” |
“Ja, ek
verstaan regtig dat ek nie my ma mag bel by die hospitaal of enige-iets
nie. |
“Yes, I do really understand that I
can’t telephone my mother at the hospital or anything. |
Ek het
in elk geval my selfoon by my nie. |
I haven’t even got my mobile with me. |
Dit mag
haar in gevaar stel!” |
It might put her in danger!” |
Daisy
het by haarself gedink dat hierdie oënskynlike selfstandige tiener
gedetermineerd was om nie enige verhouding met haar te hê nie en sy het
nutteloos en teleurgesteld gevoel. |
Daisy thought to herself that this
seemingly self-sufficient teenager was determined not to have any
relationship with her and felt useless and disappointed. |
Toe
dink sy aan 'n strategie. |
Then she thought of a strategy. |
Sy sou
haar vir hulp vra. |
She would ask for her help. |
Die
probleem was, wat op dees aarde kon sy die meisie vra om haar mee te
help? |
The problem was, what the goodness
could she ask the girl to help her with? |
Sy het
nie gelyk of sy belangstel in enige-iets behalwe haar skoolboeke nie. |
She didn’t seem interested in
anything except her school books. |
Kon sy
kook? |
Could she cook? |
Het sy
uitgeblink in enige-iets behalwe, miskien skolastiese vakke? |
Did she shine at anything except,
maybe, scholastic subjects? |
Daisy
het baie bekommerd gevoel – toe onthou sy iets... |
Daisy felt very worried – then she
remembered something… |
Daisy
het opgemerk dat Alina vir alle praktiese doeleindes niks vir ontbyt
gehad het nie, maar het gedink dit is wyser om nie 'n opmerking daaroor
te maak nie. |
Daisy noticed that Alina had had
practically nothing for breakfast but thought it wiser not to comment on
the fact. |
Later
daardie oggend het Daisy vir Alina gevra om haar te vergesel na die
bakker toe. |
Later that morning Daisy asked Alina
to accompany her to the baker’s. |
Toe
hulle in die tou gestaan het by die bakker, het Daisy gesê, “Alina, kies
asseblief iets om te eet vir later. |
When they were queing up in the
baker’s, Daisy said, “Alina, please choose something for a snack for
later on. |
Die
dame agter die toonbank, Mev. Placey, is 'n vriendin van my. |
The lady behind the counter, Mrs.
Placey, is a friend of mine. |
Sy is
baie aangenaam!” Alina het geknik. |
She’s very nice!” Alina nodded. |
“Ek sal
hou van 'n gebotterde teebroodjie, asseblief, in 'n sak!” Alina het
gebloos toe sy praat. |
“I’d like a buttered tea bun, please,
in a bag!” Alina blushed as she spoke. |
“Haai,
kom jy ook van Wallis af?” het mev. Placey gevra. |
“Hey, do you come from Wales too?”
asked Mrs. Placey. |
“Ja,
hoekom, is jy... ?” |
“Yes, why, are you…?” |
“Ja, ek
is ook Wallies. |
“Yes, I’m Welsh too. |
My naam
was Hughes voordat ek getroud is en ek is in Cardiff gebore!” |
My name was Hughes before I got
married and I was born in Cardiff!” |
Alina
het geglimlag vir mev. Placey en hulle het begin gesels. |
Alina smiled at Mrs. Placey and they
began chatting. |
“So jy
bly hier vir 'n rukkie?” het die vriendelike Walliese vrou gevra. |
“So are you staying here for a bit?”
asked the kind Welsh woman. |
“Em....ja. |
“Er….yes. |
Maar
net vir 'n rukkie. |
But just for a while. |
Ek bly
by mej. Hamilton.” |
I’m staying with Miss Hamilton.” |
Gwen
Placey, 'n goeie vriendin van Daisy het genoeg gesonde verstand gehad om
te besef dat sy nie te veel vrae moet vra nie. |
Gwen Placey, a good friend of Daisy’s
had enough common sense to realise that she shouldn’t ask too many
questions. |
“Wel,
ek het 'n dogter van veertien en as jy 'n plek soek vir goeie geselskap,
dan kan ons almal gebraaide brood en kaas met
tee hê!” |
“Well, I’ve got a girl of fourteen
and if you’re looking for a spot of company we can all have Welsh rabbit
for tea!” |
Daisy
het 'n sug van verligting geslaak. |
Daisy breathed a sigh of relief. |
Iemand
het met Alina kontak gemaak! |
Someone had made contact with Alina! |
In die
middag was Daisy en Alina in die kantoor toe inspekteur Quashie gebel
het om te sê dat Alina se ma se operasie 'n sukses was en dat die
pasiënt wakker geword het en goed voel! |
In the afternoon Daisy and Alina were
in the office when Inspector Quashie phoned to say Alina’s mother’s
operation had been a success and that the patient had woken up and was
feeling well! |
“Sal
ons dit vier, Alina? |
“Shall we celebrate, Alina? |
Hoekom
gaan ons nie na my vriend, Luigi se roomysplek toe nie? |
How about going to my friend Luigi’s
ice-cream parlour? |
Hy het
'n 'spesiale aanbieding' wat gewaarborg is om onweerstaanbaar te wees.” |
He has a ‘special’ which is
guaranteed irresistible.” |
Skielik
het die meisie in trane uitgebars en gehuil en gehuil. |
Suddenly the girl burst into tears
and sobbed and sobbed. |
“Ek is
jammer, Daisy. |
“I’m sorry, Daisy. |
Ek het
jou nie gewys dat ek dankbaar is vir wat jy vir my doen nie. |
I haven’t shown you I’m grateful for
what you are doing for me. |
Vergewe
my asseblief...” |
Please forgive me…” |
“Moenie
bekommerd wees nie, Alina.” Daisy het naby die meisie gaan sit en haar
arm om haar gesit. |
“Not to worry, Alina.” Daisy sat down
near the girl and put her arm round her. |
“Jy was bekommerd
oor jou ma en dan is daar al die onderduimse besigheid onder die
dekmantel. |
“You were worried about your mother
and then there’s all this cloak and dagger business. |
Dit is
alles baie stresvol!” |
It’s all very stressing!” |
“Vergewe
jy my dan?” het Alina gevra. |
“Then you forgive me?” Alina asked. |
“Natuurlik. |
“Of course. |
Nou,
sal ons oppad wees na 'n super perske melba of 'n sjokoladedroom
roomys?” |
Now shall we make our way to a super
peach melba or a chocolate dream ice-cream?” |
Die dag
het baie gelukkig verloop en teen sewe uur het Daisy en Alina na mev.
Placey toe gegaan om 'n maaltyd te geniet. |
The day went by very happily and at
seven o’clock Daisy and Alina went to Mrs. Placey’s to enjoy a meal. |
Alina
het van mev. Placey gehou en vriende gemaak met haar dogter terwyl sy
versigtig was om nooit te sê waar sy gebly het of enige persoonlike
besonderhede nie. |
Alina liked Mrs. Placey and made
friends with her daughter being careful never to say exactly where she
lived or any personal details. |
Die
volgende paar dae was besonder lekker en Alina het haarself 'n groot
hulp bewys vir Daisy om nuwe sagteware op haar rekenaar te installeer en
die aandete 'n paar maal te maak. |
The next few days were extremely
pleasant and Alina proved a great help to Daisy in installing a new
software on her computer and cooking the evening meal a couple of times. |
Aangesien Daisy nie vir Alina alleen kon los nie, het sy haar speurwerk
bietjie laat stilstaan en besluit om op datum te kom met al haar
rekeninge en betalings en ander vervelige goed wat sy altyd uitgestel
het vir so lank as wat sy kon. |
As Daisy couldn’t leave Alina alone,
she left her detective work on hold and decided to get up to scratch
with all her bills and payments and other boring things that she always
put off as long as she could. |
In die
tussentyd was Alina se ma aan die herstel na haar operasie en was in
staat om amper elke dag met haar dogter te praat deur inspekteur
Quashie. |
In the meantime Alina’s mother was
recovering from her operation and was able to talk to her daughter
through Inspector Quashie almost every day. |
'n Week
later was Daisy en Alina besig om hulle toebroodjies te eet in die park
toe Daisy se selfoon lui. |
A week later Daisy and Alina were
eating their sandwiches in the park when Daisy’s mobile rang. |
Dit was
die dag wat Harry in die hof sou verskyn as 'n getuienis vir die
vervolging in Coffee Anderson se verhoor. |
It was the day Harry was to appear in
court as a witness for the prosecution in Coffee Anderson’s trial. |
Daisy
het inspekteur Quashie se diep stem herken, “Dit is ek, Amelia Quashie. |
Daisy recognised Inspector Quashie’s
deep voice, “It’s me, Amelia Quashie. |
Dit is
alles oor, Daisy!” |
It’s all over, Daisy!” |
Alina
het opgemerk dat Daisy baie verras gelyk het en het ontsettend onrustig
geword. |
Alina noticed that Daisy seemed very
surprised and became extremely agitated. |
“Daisy,
is dit my ma?” het sy angstig gevra. |
“Daisy, is it my mother?” she asked
anxiously. |
Daisy
het haar kop geskud en gerusstellend geglimlag. |
Daisy shook her head and smiled at
her reassuringly. |
'n Hond
het daarnaby begin blaf. |
A dog started barking nearby. |
Daisy
het opgestaan en wegbeweeg sodat sy kon hoor wat inspekteur Quashie
besig was om te sê. |
Daisy got up and moved away so as to
be able to hear what Inspector Quashie was saying. |
Alina
het kort op haar hakke gevolg. |
Alina followed close behind her. |
“Ja, o
regtig? |
“Yes, oh really? |
Dit is
ongelooflik! |
That’s extraordinary! |
'n
Hartaanval...! |
A heart attack…! |
Ja, ek
sal onmiddellik vir Alina vertel.“Daisy het vir Alina geglimlag terwyl
sy nog haar selfoon vasgehou het. |
Yes, I’ll tell Alina immediately.”
Daisy smiled at Alina still holding her mobile. |
“Coffee
Anderson het 'n dubbele koronêr in die hof gehad en oppad na die
hospitaal toe gesterf. |
“Coffee Anderson had a double
coronary in the courtroom and died on the way to hospital. |
Hy het
glo jou pa verbaal aangeval en hom gedreig toe hy skielik omgeval het.”
Daisy het aangehou om te praat met inspekteur Quashie, “Ja, ek sal vir
Alina sê daar is geen gevaar meer nie en dat sy uiteindelik haar ma kan
sien!” |
Apparently he was attacking your
father verbally and threatening him when he suddenly slumped over.”
Daisy continued speaking to Inspector Quashie, “Yes, I’ll tell Alina
there’s no more danger and that she can see her mother at last!” |
Soos
wat Alina haar goed bymekaargekry het om gereed te wees vir die kar wat
haar na die hospitaal sou neem, waar daar op haar ma ge-opereer is, het
sy 'n oomblik geaarsel. |
As Alina got her things together to
be ready for the car which would be taking her to the hospital where her
mother had been operated on, she hesitated a moment. |
“Maar,
Daisy, het my ma nie gesien hoe Coffee Anderson se handlanger ons huis
dophou nie? |
“But, Daisy, didn’t my mother see
Coffee Anderson’s henchman watching our house? |
Hy kan
ons doodmaak uit wraak.” |
He could kill us in revenge.” |
“Jy het
niks meer om bekommerd oor te wees nie, Alina. |
“You don’t have anything to worry
about any more, Alina. |
Wanneer
die baas doodgaan, verkrummel die hele organisasie. |
When the boss dies, the entire
organisation crumbles. |
Niemand
sal agter jou aankom nie – laaste van almal hierdie handlanger – en in
elk geval is hy gister terug tronk toe omdat hy nie teruggerapporteer
het aan die polisie nie – jy onthou – hy was uit op voorwaardelike
vrylating. |
No one will come after you – least of
all this henchman – and anyway he was put back into prison yesterday
because he hadn’t reported back to the police – you remember - he was on
probation!” |
Toe
Alina haar tas optel om in die kar te klim het sy vir Daisy 'n soen
gegee. |
As Alina picked up her suitcase to
get into the car she kissed Daisy. |
“Dankie,
Daisy, dat jy na my gekyk het – later wanneer my ma volkome herstel het,
sal jy Cardiff toe kom en 'n rukkie by ons kom bly? |
“Thank you, Daisy, for looking after
me – later on when my mother has completely recovered will you come to
Cardiff and stay with us for a while? |
Ek weet
Ma sal dit baie graag wil hê!” |
I know Mum would love you to!” |
Toe
Daisy staan en kyk hoe Alina weggery word, het sy besef sy gaan haar
mis. |
As Daisy watched Alina being driven
away she realised she was going to miss her. |
Skielik
het haar selfoon gelui. |
Suddenly her mobile rang. |
“Daisy,
dit is ek, Amelia! |
“Daisy, it’s me Amelia! |
Het jy
baie aan môre aand?” |
Have you got much on tomorrow
evening?” |
“Em... |
“Er... |
Nee.
Hoekom...” sê Daisy in 'n treurige stem. |
no. Why…” said Daisy in a mournful
voice. |
“Dit
klink asof jy 'n bietjie opbeuring nodig het – kyk, ek het drie
kaartjies vir die musiekuitvoering van die jaar, Rowers Oral Om, met
daardie skitterende Amerikaanse danser. |
“You sound as if you need a bit of
cheering up - look, I’ve got three tickets for the musical of the year,
Gangsters All Around, with that gorgeous American dancer. |
Will jy
saam met ons kom – dit is ek en my dogter, wie drama studeer, - en ons
sal 'n regte meisiesaand hê. |
Would you like to come with us – that
is me and my daughter, who studies acting, – and we’ll have a real
girls’ evening. |
En na
die teater is daar daardie nuwe Italiaanse visrestaurant naby Leicester
Square! |
And after the theatre there’s that
new Italian fish restaurant near Leicester Square! |
Jy
weet, pasta, vis en Italiaanse witwyn en... dit is op my!” |
You know, pasta, fish and Italian
white wine and… it’s on me!” |
Daisy het
onmiddellik ingestem en gevra, “So ek moet my uitvat?” “Nie spesiaal
nie, maar moet asseblief net nie daardie aaklige bruin jas en hoed dra
wat jy aangehad het toe ons vir Harry gefop
het nie!” het Amelia geantwoord. |
Daisy accepted immediately and asked,
“So I’ve got to dress up?” Amelia replied, “Not specially, but please
don’t wear that horrible brown coat and hat you had on when we stitched
Harry up!” |