That was the last long, hot summer of my childhood. It wasn’t until I went to boarding school the second time that I learned that the business of survival is a matter of making the system work for you rather than attempting merely to survive it. Doc had encouraged me to think, but now I would have to think entirely for myself, invent my own ideas and express my own opinions. I would have to trust myself and my own answers, and be true to my own convictions. If I was to survive I would have to follow the truth as I knew it in my heart. This was for me the power of one and, once it had been attained, I knew nothing could destroy me.
GLOSSARY
(A list of some of the words and phrases
in Afrikaans and African languages that occur in the narrative)
Abantu bingelela… The people salute…
Afrikaans language of South Africa, very similar to Dutch
Afrikaner person who speaks Afrikaans and who is of European descent
amasele frog
assegai throwing spear
baas boss
bakkie pickup truck or ute
blerrie bloody
Boer South African person of Dutch descent, also a farmer
boetie brother
braaivleis barbecue
Dames en Heere ladies and gentlemen
dankie thank you
doek handkerchief, cloth, woman’s head scarf
domkop stupid
dorp small town
een, twee, drie one, two, three
Goeie môre, baas en klein baas Good morning, boss and small boss
Hoe gaan dit? How goes it?
Impi Zulu battalion/s
indaba a meeting of men to talk business
infaan small African boy
Inkosikaan little lord
ja yes
Jy is ’n slimmertjie You are a clever one
kaffir derogatory term for a black tribesperson
kaffirboetie someone who loves black people; literally “kaffir brother”
kêrel chap
Klavier-Meister piano maestro
kloof canyon or valley
koppie small hill
kraal traditional village
kranse cliff
links, regs left, right
magtig my goodness, by golly
mealie corn
meneer mister, sir
mevrou missus, but also Matron
muti medicine
nooi sweetheart, girlfriend
Onoshobishobi Ingelosi the Tadpole Angel
oubas old chap
ounooi my old sweetheart
oupa grandfather
Praat jy …? Do you speak …?
riempie thin leather strap, often used to plait the seat of a small folding stool
Rooinek South African slang for a person of English origin
sjambok plaited leather whip
skattebol fluffy ball (term of endearment)
stoep verandah
stom silent
tackies sandshoes
tiekiedraai Afrikaans folk dancing
totsiens goodbye
tsamma native melons
verdomde damned
wonderlik wonderful
wragdig really
A Note from the Author
I do hope you have enjoyed the young adult edition of The Power of One. In this version I have told only half of the story of Peekay and his quest to be the welterweight champion of the world. Sometime you may like to read the complete book, which is available in the United States in an edition published by Ballantine Books.
In the meantime, never stop reading. A book is just about the best friend a person can have. Absoloodle!
Bryce Courtenay
About the Author
BRYCE COURTENAY is the best-selling author of The Power of One, Tandia, April Fool’s Day, The Potato Factory, Tommo & Hawk, Jessica, Solomon’s Song, The Australian Trilogy, A Recipe for Dreaming, The Family Frying Pan, The Night Country, Smoky Joe’s Cafe, Four Fires, and Matthew Flinders’ Cat. He was born in South Africa, is an Australian, and has lived in Sydney for the major part of his life.
Further information about the author may be found at www.brycecourtenay.com.