Rage by Wilbur Smith Read Free Book Online Page A

background.
    â€˜If we let the option lapse, we shall be writing off the two point three million that we have spent on exploration
over the last eighteen months. If we take up the option it will mean an initial payment of four million on signature.’
    â€˜We can cover that from the rainy-day account,’ Shasa intervened.
    â€˜We are holding four point three million in the provisional fund,’ Rupert Horn agreed. ‘We have it invested in Escom seven per cent Stock at present, but once we utilize that fund we will be in an extremely exposed position.’
    One after the other, in ascending order of seniority, Shasa’s managers gave their views as seen from their own departments, and David put it all together at the end.
    â€˜So it seems that we have twenty-six days remaining on the option, and four million to pay if we take it up. That is going to leave us bare-bummed, and facing development costs of three million pounds for the main shaft alone, plus another five million for plant, interest and running costs to see us into the production phase, four years from now in 1956.’ He stopped and they all watched intently while Shasa selected a cigarette and tapped it lightly on the lid of his gold case.
    Shasa’s expression was deadly serious. He knew better than any of them that the decision could destroy the company or take it up onto a new high plateau, and nobody could make that decision for him. He was up on the lonely pinnacle of command.
    â€˜We know there is gold down there,’ he spoke at last. ‘A thick rich reef of it. If we reach it, it will go on producing for the next fifty years. However, gold is standing at thirty-five dollars an ounce. The Americans have pegged it, they have threatened to keep the price there for all time. Thirty-five dollars an ounce – and it will cost us between twenty and twenty-five an ounce to go down that deep and bring it to the surface. A slim margin, gentlemen, much too slim.’
    He lit the cigarette, and they all sighed and relaxed, at the same time disappointed and relieved. It would have been glorious to make the charge, but disastrous to have
failed. Now they would never know. But Shasa hadn’t finished. He blew a spinning smoke-ring down the length of the table, and went on.
    â€˜However, I don’t think the Americans are going to be able to keep the lid on the gold price much longer. Their hatred of gold is emotional, not based on economic reality. I know, deep down in my guts, that the day is not far off when we will see gold at sixty dollars and one day, sooner than any of us think, it will be a hundred and fifty dollars – perhaps even two hundred!’ They stirred with disbelief, and Twentyman-Jones looked as though he might break down and weep in the face of such wild optimism, but Shasa ignored him and turned to Abe Abrahams.
    â€˜Abe, at noon on the eighteenth of next month, twelve hours before the option expires, you will hand over a cheque for four million to the owners of Silver River farms, and take possession of the property in the name of a company to be formed.’ Shasa turned to David. ‘At the same time we will simultaneously open subscription lists on the Johannesburg and London Stock Exchanges for ten million one-pound shares in the Silver River gold-mining property. You and Dr Twentyman-Jones will start today drawing up the prospectus. Courtney Mining will register the property in the name of the new company in return for the balance of five million shares transferred into our name. We will also be responsible for the management and development.’ Quickly, succinctly, Shasa laid out the structure, financing and management of the new company, and more than once these wily seasoned campaigners glanced up from their notepads in blatant admiration of some deft and unusual touch he added to the scheme.
    â€˜Is there anything I have left out?’ Shasa asked at the end, and when they shook