Commandant Konraad Leopold Visagie was an incredibly conceited and superstitious man. Unbeknownst to him and most others Konraad had a very dark obsessive compulsive streak. He also firmly believed that his drop-dead good looks, irresistible charm and brilliant wit, made him the complete male package. When woman saw him, he felt they would either lament the fact they were married or simply wish they could have him. If not him, then a man as close to him as possible, which as far as he was aware, was an absolute impossibility. This reality floated around in his head and it was the plain and simple truth of the matter.
When Commandant Leo, his preferred name, first laid eyes on Mrs Lettie Viljoen, it was complete love at first sight. Her radiance was absolutely spell binding and for him she was a natural choice to compliment a great man such as himself. He had only ever seen her from a far off distance, however he was certain what he felt was the truth. Because one thing about being a brilliant man, it is the ability to follow through and make decisive decisions immediately. The first real opportunity he got to actually meet Lettie was going to be at the farewell 3rd battalion border party. KLV had spent 2 weeks preparing for the event, down to the minute detail of placing himself at the Viljoen’s table he even made sure he was sitting at the exact point of the table where the northern sun light would illuminate him perfectly. So when he made his usual spectacular all smiles entrance he knew he was leaving a wake of broken hearts in his trail. He made his way to the round table and his especially reserved north-facing seat at the six-o clock position. His eyes locked for the first time with those of Lettie’s and he was completely shocked to realise she was even more beautiful close up. In the brief first few seconds of their interaction KLV noted how her head delicately tilted to the side and her eyes narrowed ever so slightly – he even noted the colour seemed to go a slighter darker shade. In his heart he felt this look was completely reserved for him. The night went very well with KLV being the life of the table, with his well-rehearsed dialogue and animation delivery. He was even able to glean that Sergeant viljoen, like himself had a complete phobia for snakes, as that day the couple had heard of a black mamba in the compound. A long thin deadly exceptionally aggresive black snake with a gun mettle grey underside and a large upturned at the corners mouth. He couldn’t help emit a fearfull gasp at the mention of such a creature he hoped nobody at the table had noticed his pulpable fear.
The Angolan border was an exceptionally dangerous place – terrorist insurgents were constantly attacking from the north and the attacks were brutal. Sergeant Viljoen proved to be a very brave and clever man, who constantly showed brilliant skill in the face of the enemy. It was during a routine op – the terrorist insurgents performed an anti-trek manoeuvre and completely disappeared. The trail and all traces of them totally vanishing into the landscape. The detailed report showed that a single shot fired at 18h00 from directly south, hit sergeant viljoen in the back of the head, killing him instantly.
It was 2 years after the fatal incident on the border – commandant Leo was now very happily married to Lettie. Every day he pinched himself at his luck to have secured such an incredible prize. Konraad was still in the army and living in the compound house he had secured many years before. His financial status had increased considerably when marrying Lettie, however he insisted on remaining in the army because of all the benefits. The cicadas were screaming out a cacophony of sound as he walked through the front door of his north facing compound house, at promptly 6pm. It did strike him as very strange that the doors and windows where all closed and lettie was not in the kitchen humming gently while preparing the usual evening meal. A strange ice coldness permeated the space – which surprised him for such a hot African highveldt afternoon. KVL did not at first even see what caused the severe pain in his upper left arm. It was only once his eyes adjusted to the light of the passage that he realised he was staring into the eyes of a large thin black snake. The head looking strangely oversized for the size of the thin body. It was standing up on a small part of its tail enabling it to look directly deep into his eyes. The large upturned at the corners mouth opened in an instant to reveal a black inside with large fangs. KVL clutched at his arm whilst whirling panic stricken, frantically screaming, as a wave of complete nausea consumed him. a renewed intense pain struck his right back shoulder as he raced for the door. He fell by the closed sliding door as his breathing started to constrict. What felt like a cold slithering sensation kissed his skin. He felt the weight of a full grown black mamba on his chest. In this bizarre moment he noticed in a strange slow motion Lettie looking in through the clear glass sliding door. She was holding an army report , her head was delicately tilted to the side, her usually large eyes had narrowed ever so slightly. Just before slipping away forever he was sure he noted the colour of her eyes seem to go, a slightly darker shade.
QJD – COPYRIGHT 2011
