SYDNEY and Karl were lifelong buddies. They grew up together in Rockliffe. They went to school together and got married within weeks of each other. There were very little business opportunities in the small rural village so the two friends decided to go into the ‘gold bush’. They spent a year there working together and dividing the gold they found. After a 12 month period of hard work as pork-knockers, they returned to their homes to enjoy a little rest and relaxation.

One form of ‘R & R’ for the friends was drinking. Every evening they could be found sipping beers or drinking El-Dorado rum. Both were accustomed to heavy drinking so a few beers had no serious effect on them. The buddies would drink for hours and after their session, they walked together to the junction of the village then they went their separate ways home.

Rockliffe was a tiny village compared to its neighbours. There were 42 homes, one small church and a bottom-house school. Most of the economic activity in the village was agriculture. There was always a good supply of these products available at a reasonable price. The villagers lived simple lives and used rum and cigarettes as two major sources of recreation.

The two men had made up their minds to seek prosperity outside of the village. Their choice of becoming pork-knockers was influenced by another friend who had worked in the ‘gold bush’ for many years. It was he who had encouraged them to venture into gold digging. They did not regret this move. In the one year, they had spent there, both were able to renovate their small homes and leave substantial savings with their families.

Tonight, the mood at Bristol’s Rum Shop was quite festive. It was their last night of enjoyment before returning to their small gold claims in the bush. They drank and joked with friends telling all sorts of strange stories of adventures in the ‘gold bush’. They agreed on travel time to the interior before leaving for home. At 05:00 hrs, Karl would pass by Sydney and collect him then they would both head for the interior. After agreeing on this the two went home drunk.

It was 03:30hrs when Sydney was rudely awakened.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The sound sent noise waves through the small wooden house. He jumped out of bed still a little high and feeling unsteady on his feet.
“Who is dat?”

“Is Karl, leh we go!” The voice answered.
“What!” Sydney was shocked. It was only 03:30hrs. He tried to remember what time they had agreed on. Was he that drunk to have gotten the time wrong?
“Is only 03:30hrs now. We got till 05:00hrs.”
“Look pack yo traps an let’s go. Time wasting!”

Sydney hurriedly collected his backpack, tools and a snack and headed out into the dark. It was cold and a light mist hung low over the village. Karl was walking a short distance ahead of him.
Sydney increased his stride and tried to catch up with his friend. He made three attempts but still lagged behind.

“Karl! Wait up, man!”
His friend kept going at a steady pace.
“YO! Wait for me buddy!”
The man did not slow down. Sydney made a quick decision. He dropped his bag and tools and sprinted towards Karl. Even though he was running, he seemed not to have moved any closer to his buddy. He put on a sharp sprint and kept it up for a while. The distance between them remained the same. Sydney stopped to catch his breath.

“Hurry up Sydney!” His friend’s voice rang clearly through the misty dark.
He looked up and saw Karl waiting in the distance. He walked quickly towards him. He wanted to find out why the chap was acting weirdly. As soon as he moved off so did Karl.
Some inner instinct warned him that this was not normal. He stopped and Karl stopped too. During the time that they had moved from his home to this point, Karl had never turned around to face him. Sydney knew it was time to find out what was going on. He turned and returned to retrieve his backpack and tools. His friend followed him.

“Where you going Sydney? Yo change yo mind?”
Sydney ignored him and hurried to the home of his friend which lay deeper within the village. As he walked he kept glancing back. Karl was keeping pace with him but also keeping his distance. He put on a sprint- backpack and all – and arrived at the home of his buddy.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
“What? Who out there?”
“Sydney! Open de door!”

Karl opened the door and glared angrily at him.
“Wat de hell you doing hey so early. Is only 4 o’clock !”
Sydney quickly blurted out the story and pointed to the figure moving steadily towards them. It looked like Karl; backpack and all. When it was a short distance away it stopped then they were able to see the face. There was no face, only a skeleton smiling wickedly at them. The two tumbled into the house and slammed the door shut.
Knock! Knock! Knock!

The small house vibrated under the onslaught.
“Go away!” Karl shouted
“Go to hell!” Sydney offered.
“You lucky you didn’t follow me to the cemetery Sydney. If yo had a woulda bruk you damn neck! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! See yo all in de backdam!”

Then there was silence. Karl immediately started unpacking. Sydney curled up on the couch and went to sleep. In the morning he returned home and followed Karl’s example.
NO MORE GOLD BUSH!
They are jointly managing a farm. Working hours are 07:00hrs to 17:00hrs sharp!