Defiance in Print and Deed
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the Free State plains, gilding the homesteads and the council hall with a muted glow. Pieter van der Merwe rode into town with Koen at his side, both men alert and watchful. News had arrived from the ZAR: the British continued their interference, sending inspectors and officials under the guise of “observation” while their newspapers churned insults across the ocean. Pieter dismounted, handing the reins to a young boy. “Koen, the reports are worse than we feared. They claim the ZAR leaders are ‘ineffectual’ and the Free State councils are ‘primitive.’ Every week brings new words of mockery, written for the amusement of London readers, but intended to weaken our resolve.” Koen’s jaw tightened. “We have endured worse. Natal taught us that. Wo
- Writer
