Onderwêreld deur Fanie Viljoen | Log File: Lux hominum vita | English Summary | Onderwereld

 

Onderwêreld deur Fanie Viljoen

Log File: Lux hominum vita

In the square in the centre of the five boarding houses, Kwanele removes a single manhole cover from its position, exposing the dark hole. When the first grade 8 student emerges from the pit, the matric students help him out before exposing the secret of the exercise. Each student is given a lighter which is placed in their bag; however, the fear and darkness make one forget that they have the tools to get out of the bind in which they find themselves. After exposing the secret, the blindfold used on the grade 8 is now draped over their neck as Greg explains that the school motto, “lux hominem vita” means “the light that gives life to humankind”, hence the lighter meant to help each grade 8 out of the darkness. This is explained to each emerging grade 8; however, by sunrise, six students have not yet made it back. Greg explains that these are the kids who will have a hard time at Lawson because the rest of the student body will make sure of it. Greg sets out to find the missing six and Eckhardt follows him into the dark pit to help.

Days later, Greg’s room is littered with dirty clothing that he has not yet sorted for collection. Eckhardt appears in his doorway and asks if he may enter Greg’s room before asking him what he is doing. Greg responds that he is surfing the web. The two bond a little bit over having fathers who treat them like accessories or show horses. Eckhardt says that the mission of Lawson College is to turn students into clones of their fathers.

While Greg fills out his personal information into the spaces provided on a particular site he is browsing, Eckhardt explains that the site is not secure and that other people can see what Greg is doing with the site, but he says that this is all boring information. Eckhardt offers to show Greg other things on a computer, so the two head back to Eckhardt’s room, where he asks Greg the mysterious question, “Have you ever tried hacking a computer?”

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