Onderwêreld deur Fanie Viljoen | Die pion gooi sy toys uit die cot | English Summary | Onderwereld

 

Onderwêreld deur Fanie Viljoen

Die pion gooi sy toys uit die cot

Saturday morning and things are business as usual at Lawson College as the school is prepared to receive Durban Boys High for a day of sporting competition. By now, news of Eckhardt’s disappearance has made its way to the ears of students in the lower grades, who are now contributing to the rumour mill surrounding the incident. Greg is deeply furious at the school’s handling of the situation. While on duty at the Da Vinci dining hall, Greg loses his cool with a grade 8 student who speaks about the discovery of Eckhardt’s body hung up in a tree. He takes a deep breath outside the boarding house, where he is met by TJ, who informs him of a meeting that Dr. Alec Pienaar has organized with the matrics before the first rugby matches of the day. Dr. Pienaar talks about the day’s events, particularly his expectations of each Lawson sports team due to the school’s illustrious reputation. He makes a brief mention of Eckhardt’s disappearance, calling him a “deserter” who has simply run away from school, which greatly angers Greg. Greg retorts, saying that he thinks it is pathetic that the school would rather protect its reputation rather than come clean about the disappearance of a student. Greg further pushes the issue by threatening to not appear in the matches on the day, but he is rebuffed by Dr. Pienaar who tells him that he can be replaced by various other students. Greg storms off by himself, unsupported by any of the people he is supposed to lead.

Greg thinks back to a quote his father often says, “If you are a leader and no one is following you, you are simply going for a walk.” Greg realizes that he is simply “going for a walk” and that he needs to change his approach if he wants the school to do something about Eckhardt’s disappearance. He remembers creating fake email addresses with Eckhardt, which gives him an idea: he could offer an anonymous tip-off to a certain media house with which he has a connection...

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