The Monster's Daughter (65 page)

Shapes slowly distinguished themselves in the darkness of the ruin. The room was claustrophobic, low-ceilinged, the window squares too small for an adult to fit through, the thick walls blackened by ancient soot. The dirt floor beneath her was littered by rags, clothes, and a multitude of shoes without mates, as if a family of one-legged people had once lived there. A chair with a broken back stood in the corner, liquor bottles and trash strewn around it. And he was there too, in the shadows. Mike … Benjamin. The breaking dawn cast a half mask of light across his pale face, stripped of all disguise. Alet wondered at the resemblance between him and Trudie. The nagging feeling she'd had every time she looked at the old photographs suddenly made sense.

Benjamin had guided Alet around the fire to the west side of the mountain the night before, using her own gun to ensure her cooperation. By the time they reached the other side, fire trucks and emergency blue lights had swarmed the roads below. Alet had tried to
break away, run toward them, but Benjamin pinned her down, holding the cocked gun to her head. He forced her back up the mountain. They sheltered in the first old ruin they could find, listening to the sirens and the low humming of the fire helicopter repeating its run between the farm dams and the fire. Benjamin never said a word. Alet could feel his gaze on her in the dark. She was disgusted that she had once thought him attractive.
The Devil hath power to assume a pleasing shape
. She couldn't remember what that was from, but she was tired of waiting for this devil to make his move.

“It's day,” Alet announced to get his attention. Tension soured her stomach. “Now what?”

“Alet. So impatient.” One corner of Benjamin's mouth lifted in a lopsided grin.

“What the bloody hell is so funny?”

“You, demanding when others would beg for their lives.” Benjamin stood up and looked out the window. “You understand so little.”

“Enlighten me, then. Start with Trudie.”

Benjamin turned around, a strange look on his face. He took a step toward her. “Her name was Tessa,” he said tersely, his head low, his posture threatening. For a panicked moment Alet thought that this was it.

“Fine. Tessa,” she said. “Look, this mountain is crawling with people. There's no way you're getting out of here.”

“Then I have nothing to lose.”

“They'll find out what you are.”

“Nobody will believe you without Koch, and he … Let's just say the doctors weren't terribly hopeful.”

“You did that? He figured out what you were, and you … you tried to kill him?”

“I have nothing to gain by his death, Alet. Ask yourself: Who had the most to lose from Koch talking to you?”

The man who had attacked her in Koch's office was looking for something in the safe, possibly the book Koch had been writing about her dad's cases. Perhaps whoever did it thought he had incriminating evidence. But Koch hadn't testified at the Truth and Reconciliation hearings, hadn't applied for amnesty when he'd had the chance. If evidence surfaced now that he was covering up murders for death-squad commanders, he'd be prosecuted, especially the way the political
landscape was changing in the country. People were unhappy, most of them still living in poverty, and few of the promises made by fat politicians had materialized in the years since apartheid ended. Criticism of the ANC and its leaders was being censored on television, and what the government really needed was a way to remind people of their past victories, of what they'd been rescued from. A careful nudge with a sledgehammer. An old apartheid bad-guy finally getting his comeuppance would do the trick nicely.

“How do I know you weren't behind all of this? You were my dad's commanding officer in Zimbabwe.”

“I parted ways with Adriaan Berg long before you were born.”

“He investigated the Angel killings.”

“He interfered with my work.”

“Your work? You mean killing all those women for your perverse pleasure?”

“Pleasure had nothing to do with it.”

“Then what?”

“I was chosen.” Benjamin hesitated and turned away. “You wouldn't understand God's plan.”

“Are you telling me God wanted you to kill blondes?” Alet couldn't keep the incredulity out of her voice. “They're quite a threat, those blondes. Man, I tell you, going around and being all pretty and shit. We can all sleep at night now. Thank you for your service.”

“They were abominations.”

“Must tell you, Ben, I've heard it all now. Know what I think? I think God is an excellent scapegoat. Hell, I blame Him for stuff all the time. Stupidity, warm beer … Haven't quite graduated to murder yet, though. You're way ahead of me on that one.”

“Don't you blaspheme—”

“Why don't you just admit the truth, hey? You like killing, and those women were easy targets.”

“I didn't have a choice.” Benjamin whispered the words, his voice barely audible above the din of the approaching helicopter. “Men cannot presume to know God's plan, to take His work into their own hands. I had to undo the work of my father.”

“But isn't that what you're doing with your research? DNA manipulation?”

“Because I questioned, God abandoned me. He took Tessa from me.” Sorrow filled Benjamin's eyes, raw and infinite.

“You don't know, do you? Koch tested all your other victims' DNA. Everything we could find, at least. Those girls, they were just regular people. You and Trudie were the only ones who were … Well, whatever the hell you are.”

“You're l-lying. God revealed them to me.”

“You couldn't have known what they were without running DNA, and the technology wasn't around back then.”

“I thought it was over. I counted the b-births in the journals. I was s-sure they were all gone.”

“Except Tessa.”

“We w-were going to b-be t-together.”

“But she didn't want you, did she, Benjamin? That's really why you killed the others. In your mind, you were getting back at her.” Alet recognized a look of desperation in Benjamin, the same one criminals got when she had them cornered, when they couldn't explain away their guilt anymore. She usually reveled in that moment, but now she doubted herself.

“Tessa was the o-only thing that ever m-mattered.”

“Then why the romance job on me? I don't get it. I'm really not your type.”

“A-Adriaan. I realized wh-who you w-were.” His stuttering was growing worse. Alet knew she had to keep him on the defensive, keep him distracted. She inched toward the door.

“You're going to kill me because of my dad? Stop looking for excuses, Ben! You're a cold-blooded killer. It's because of you that Tessa is dead. You killed her!”

Benjamin let out a yell of frustrated anguish, clasping his hands to his head. Alet dashed for the door. He was on her as soon as her fingers brushed the frame, his hand digging into her injured shoulder. Alet screamed, the pain shooting through her body. She swung around, catching him off-guard, trying to grapple her gun from his belt. Benjamin grabbed her wrist, twisting her arm. Pain blinded her. She fought with everything in her not to pass out. In a sweeping motion Ben lifted her into the air, his body pressing hers against the wall.

“What are you waiting for?” Alet had trouble catching her breath.

“Don't tempt me, Alet. I've had to watch from the shadows all my life. I only have to wait a little longer.” Benjamin let her slump to the floor.

Alet thought of all those times it had felt like someone was lurking just outside her peripheral vision. “The night at Mathebe's house, was it you shooting?”

The corner of Benjamin's mouth shifted. “I wouldn't have missed.”

“Who, then?”

“Seems you have a talent for making enemies, Alet.”

“I do what I can.”

“You must have really annoyed your captain's stooge.”

“Strijdom?”

“All that talk of going to the Hawks to turn him in? Tut, tut, tut. The walls have ears, you know.” Benjamin shook his head. He brought his face close to hers. “Never let the enemy know what you're up to. Didn't your father teach you anything?”

“Why are you doing this, then?” Alet spat the words out.

Benjamin stepped away. “All in good time. First, take me to where Tessa died.”

“You should know where that is.”

“I don't have time for this.” Benjamin raised Alet to her feet in one smooth motion and shoved her through the doorway. Outside, the wind had picked up, carrying smoke and ash toward them.

“You are out of your mind. We're going right toward the fire.”

“Do it, Alet, or I'll put a bullet in your skull right here.”

As they walked, the landscape transformed into a brittle onyx wasteland. The carcass of a calf lay at the edge of the burn zone, separated from the herd, its body as black as the scorched earth around it. Alet felt her strength ebb with each ascending step. At the sound of an approaching helicopter, Benjamin pulled her behind a boulder, the gun pressed to her side. Alet doubted that anyone was looking for them, and even if someone was, the fire would get priority.

Benjamin pulled her back onto her feet as soon as the helicopter had passed. Sweat pasted soot to his skin, his pale irises a stark contrast against his red eyes. “How far?”

“Half a kilometer, maybe?” Alet pointed at the plateau of the next peak, where the landscape lay untarnished by the fire. “There.”

Benjamin nodded. He gestured with the gun, instructing her to lead the way. They descended partway down the peak. The trail dead-ended in a rocky cliff, the path leading down the mountain again.

“This is wrong.” Benjamin raised the gun. “Don't lie to me.”

“I'm sorry.” Alet held her hands up, hysteria threatening in her voice. “I've only done this once before. The path is blocked off by the fire.” She felt tired, worn out, her battered body on the edge of betraying her.

“Find another way.”

“Here.” Alet tapped her forehead. “Shoot me and get it over with. I'm sick of this
kak
.”

Benjamin held the gun up. “Move.”

“No.” Alet closed her eyes, waiting for the gun to go off. A blow burned across her face, the hilt of the gun making contact with her cheekbone. When she opened her eyes, Benjamin towered above her.

“There are things worse than death, Alet. You are going to do this.”

“Why should I?”

“Because then you'll know the truth.” Benjamin tucked the gun under his belt.

Alet hesitated for a moment. She stood up, not trusting her legs to hold her. He was right. She had to know. Hatred for the man drove each step as she changed direction, going higher, trying to find a way to the other side. They had almost reached the peak when she saw a passage over the rock. It would be treacherous, but it was the only way through.

Alet turned to Benjamin. “We'll have to climb.”

“You first.”

Alet wiped her palms on her T-shirt. She tested a low foothold in the rock and hoisted herself up, reaching for a notch high up with her uninjured arm. She slipped, just as her fingers reached the crevice.

“This isn't going to work, Alet.”

“Wait. I can do it.” Alet put her right foot into the indentation again. This time she launched herself with more force, abandoning caution. Her left hand closed firmly around the rocky outcrop, her right hand meeting it, pain tearing her shoulder as she yelled out. She dangled there for a moment before finding the next foothold,
using her legs to push herself up. She was aware of Benjamin close behind her. If she slipped and fell, she would crash into him, and both of them would probably fall to their deaths. The thought was tempting. Alet reached the top of the boulder, her breath coming in short, shallow rasps. Benjamin followed as they crossed over to the next peak, then descended sharply to the place where Tessa had died.

The clearing was unchanged from the last time Alet had seen it. Grass swayed in the wind, the uniform yellow marred by blackness. Alet looked up at Benjamin, words unnecessary for him to realize what it meant. He fell to his knees next to it. His arms circled his waist as he doubled over, his shoulders shaking, an unnatural howl escaping his lips. It unnerved Alet. This is wrong, she thought. I was wrong. She looked up as a figure emerged from the ruin at the edge of the clearing.

“
Pa
.”

Adriaan fired a shot, the sound reverberating over the valley. Benjamin moved faster than Alet had ever seen anybody move. He grabbed her, swinging her in front of him as Adriaan pulled the trigger again. The bullet narrowly missed them, the look on her father's face revealing horror at how close he had come to killing her.

“Gunning for your only daughter now?” Benjamin mocked in a hoarse voice, his arm around Alet's neck. Alet felt his heart race in rhythm with her own.

“Let her go, De Beer.”

Benjamin's arm stiffened around Alet's throat, his breathing raspy. “She's smart, Adriaan. I bet she's just figured out what you've done.”

Adriaan looked at her, the lies falling away, a naked honesty between the two of them for the first time, her father's past, his raw confession of guilt whispered wordlessly to her.

“You killed Trudie,
Pa
?”

“They aren't like us, Alet. Him, the girl. They're dangerous.”

“Trudie wasn't a danger to anyone,
Pa
.”

“But he is. I read about that girl in the Cape, the one who got away. Saw what she looked like. I knew he was at it again. That he'd keep going unless he was stopped. Theresa Morgan was the only way to get to him, Alet. Believe me. It had to be done.”

“And Jakob,
Pa
? Did you take care of him too?”

Adriaan pursed his lips.

“Tell her the truth, Adriaan. You owe her that much.” Benjamin's arm tightened around Alet's neck.