Long Walk to Freedom ( Nelson Mandela ) Chapter 18 Part 1

Long Walk to Freedom ( Nelson Mandela ) Chapter 18 Part 1

IN JOHANNESBURG, I had become a man of the city. I wore smart suits; I drove a colossal Oldsmobile, and I knew my way around the back alleys of the city. I commuted daily to a downtown office. But in fact I remained a country boy at heart, and there was nothing that lifted my spirits as much as blue skies, the open veld, and green grass. In September, with my bans ended, I decided to take advantage of my freedom and get a respite from the city. I took on a case in the little dorp of Villiers in the Orange Free State. The drive to the Orange Free State from Johannesburg used to take several hours, and I set out on my journey from Orlando at 3  A.M. , which has always been my favorite hour for departure. I am an early riser anyway, and at 3  A.M.  the roads are empty and quiet, and one can be alone with one’s thoughts. I like to see the coming of dawn, the change between night and day, which is always majestic. It was also a convenient hour for departure because the police were usually nowher…