TARANTELLA Do you remember an inn, Miranda? The inn high in those wind-swept mountains where the wine tasted of tar and the guitarist beat out the tune, with ever increasing pace, while the young girl danced before us? The people were happy and carefree; while they clapped to the beat of the guitar. Later thatevening we could still hear the people singing joyfully,as we lay on the fresh straw. Those times have changed now, Miranda. Napoleon has invaded our land and there is strife. The sweet song of the Thrush has been replaced by the sharp,unnerving crack of a gun. The once golden wheat fields are a pile of ashes. There is famine everywhere and the people who used to have money in their pockets are forced to beg for a mere morsel of food. No longer are the people happy but worried about what the future might bring. The inn of joy has become a meeting place of grief. The young girl who danced with a swirl and a twirl now treads heavily with the step of the dead. At night there are no cheers and jeers from the young muleteers,butdeafening silence.The wine which once tasted of tar, now tastes of blood. Here I stand, Miranda, before your grave; with nothing around me,except memories,to remind me of your beauty. C. BULL 4 A MONOLOGUE Impatiently they summon me again, again. Oh no, no pardon for a liberal cause; One too many and one on the way. Continue . .. File XX7 I glance,distressed by the uncouthness. How,how could I? It is unimaginable. Yet they say: You are merely a Character, this a plot and the Action a facile scene. So,they have Russian influences And I none... That cursed abomination Ever since leaving her native land. Everything the weapons, a masterly getaway. Even pay — after the play. I contemplate: What do I have against him? What has he done to me? Ah,but we are just actors And this a play. I am being forcefully manipulated... How dare theyl Very easy they say: The scene: Dallas The date: November 22. K.SEEDAT-4A m tt / m 2 Vases ■ R. Thompson - Form 6b THE LAST FIVE MINUTES Only five minutes to blast-off. It had to work this time.The party of seven could not afford another delay as they were in fear of being caught up in the advancing radiation. The rest of the inhabitants of this mmote part of South Australia had laughed at them. It was far better to die of radiation on earth than to die in space, away from the planet which was home to them. Anyway, relations between America and Russia had not been bad and there had been no possibility of a nuclear war. The South African crisis had come out of the blue,just as the seven had finished theirpreparations. The Russians had invaded South Africa. With the approval of his Parlia ment, Cronshaw, the American President, had issued an ultimatum to the Russians to remove their troops from South Africa. Three hours before the ultimatum expired Russian Intercontinental Ballistic' Missiles were flying towards America. Minutes after their detection the Americans retaliated and their equivalent were flying to wards Russian targets. The world did not know of this fact until America and Russia had been reduced to mere radiation heaps. Slowly the radiation spread,and the world was panic-stricken.Two days earlier the radio transmissions had ended with a gun shot as the announcer had blown his brains out. The party had received no news of the rest of the world from then on. "The computers are running smoothly," Gary comment ed unnecessarily, as everyone watched the countdown clock with anxious eyes. He thought of how difficult it had been to obtain the equipment and how they had only managed, to get it because of the lack of scruples of American officaldom. Caron pressed his arm and he smiled reasuringly at her. Gary was an orphan and was leaving behind no-one who was dear to him. Caron, on the other hand, was leaving an elderly mother and father whom she loved dearly. They had told Gary to "look after their little girl" and he could not help admiring their composure.Of course they were Christ ians and were not afraid of death, but Gary was sorry for the naive faith which prevented them from joining the group. "One minute to go," said Phillip. His voice was strained, and quieter than usual. Gary grinned. Phillip grinned back. Somehow it seemed to relieve the tension. Thirty seconds. Everyone held their breath. Ten seconds. Phillip started chanting, "Five, four, three, two . .." IRVINE - 5A THE CABINET MINISTER The Cabinet Minister, as we know him, is a stern man, but to his nine children he is jovial and considerate, always ready to listen to them and never ridiculing them. What a dedicated man he is! All day he persuades people to follow his government's policies. At social evenings he continues unfailingly. "Yes," he says. "The Plural popula tion must be taught birth control." He sets up great housing schemes and makes admirable Government contributions to charity. Every man is the minister's brother and no-one is more God-fearing than he. Never has he used his position to escape from the law. When he was fined for providing inadequate accommoda tion for his garden 'boy' he did not impress the judge with his position, but admitted his guilt, as his lawyer had advised, and paid the fine in full. This man really has the interests of his country at heart and he is justifiably proud of his separate identity. If he were given a million rand he would not change his firm stance on the issue of apartheid. His greatest joy is saving the country money and I think that he has saved the country millions of rands by having fuel saving awareness 36
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