Prologue

An eleven-year-old boy is woken up in the middle of the night by an unfamiliar sound. He walks up to
the wooden door of his father’s study and listens to the rustling of paper coming from beyond the door.
When he grabs the doorknob, a chill runs down his entire body. The image remains burned into his
memory; the memory of his father’s body bent over the desk seemingly writing something with a 9mm
pistol where the pen should be, and a finger on the trigger.

’n Elfjarige seuntjie word in die middel van die nag wakker gemaak deur ’n onbekende geluid. Hy stap
tot by die houtdeur van sy pa se studeerkamer en luister na die geritsel van papier wat van anderkant
die deur kom. Toe hy die deurknop gryp, loop 'n koue rilling oor sy hele lyf af. Die beeld bly in sy geheue
ingebrand; die herinnering van sy pa se liggaam gebuig oor die lessenaar en 'n vinger op die sneller.

The boy’s father appears to be in quite a state, with his knuckles white from the tension. The boy calls
out to his father, who finally looks up to see his concerned son. When he asks his father what he is up
to, the father stammers through sending his son back to bed. Shaken up by something, the father opens
up his desktop drawer and sets the weapon therein, repeating his strained request for his son to return
to bed; however, it is now clear that his face is drenched in tears. The boy had never seen his father cry
before. The father tells his son not to tell his mother, and to keep it as their secret. The boy, now much
older, remains scarred by the fear he experienced in this incident and chooses a name for himself that
allows him to express and reflect how it felt “waiting for answers and only getting echoes from the
underworld in response”. The boy’s new name is Ekk-0.

Dit lyk of die seun se pa in 'n taamlike toestand is, met sy kneukels wit van die spanning. Die seun roep
sy pa, wat uiteindelik opkyk om sy besorgde seun te sien. Wanneer hy sy pa vra wat hy aanvang, stamel
die pa deur sy seun terug te stuur bed toe. Geskud deur iets, maak die pa sy lessenaarlaai oop en sit die
wapen daarin, en herhaal sy gespanne versoek dat sy seun moet teruggaan bed toe; dit is egter nou
duidelik dat sy gesig deurdrenk is van trane. Die seun het nog nooit sy pa sien huil nie. Die pa sê vir sy
seun om dit nie vir sy ma te vertel nie, en om dit as hul geheim te hou. Die seun, wat nou baie ouer is,
bly geskend deur die vrees wat hy in hierdie voorval ervaar het en kies 'n naam vir homself wat hom
toelaat om uit te druk en te reflekteer hoe dit gevoel het "om te wag vir antwoorde en net weerklank
van die onderwêreld in reaksie te kry". Die seuntjie se nuwe naam is Ekk-0.
Chapter 1

Greg’s loud polyphonic ringtone chimes shrilly through his pillow, but he would rather sleep. However,
when he sees his girlfriend Nicole’s name on the caller ID, he contemplates the possible earful he could
get from her because he hung up on her and decides to answer the call. When Nicole asks if Greg is still
in bed, he explains that he sleeps until Eckhardt wakes him up. Nicole asks after Eckhardt, which makes
Greg uncomfortable ever since that night at Jeffrey’s. He changes the subject and asks her how things
are in Johannesburg. Nicole misses Greg and she tells him that she had an erotic dream about him. She
describes the dream: a party hosted by her family to which Greg’s family is invited. When things get too
festive, the two of them slip away. With the lights off at the swimming pool, kissing and straddling of
lower bodies ensues, before someone switches on the swimming pool lights and every single party guest
stands around the edge of the pool, looking at Nicole and Greg.

Greg se harde polifoniese luitoon klink skril deur sy kussing, maar hy wil eerder slaap. Wanneer hy egter
sy vriendin Nicole se naam op die beller-ID sien, oorweeg hy die moontlike gehoor wat hy van haar kan
kry, want hy het haar afgelui en besluit om die oproep te beantwoord. Toe Nicole vra of Greg nog in die
bed is, verduidelik hy dat hy slaap totdat Eckhardt hom wakker maak. Nicole vra na Eckhardt, wat Greg
sedert daardie aand by Jeffrey ongemaklik maak. Hy verander die onderwerp en vra haar hoe dit in
Johannesburg gaan. Nicole mis vir Greg en sy vertel hom dat sy 'n erotiese droom oor hom gehad het. Sy
beskryf die droom: 'n partytjie wat deur haar familie aangebied word waarna Greg se familie genooi
word. Wanneer dinge te feestelik raak, glip hulle twee weg. Met die ligte by die swembad af, word
gesoen en onderlyf gesoen, voordat iemand die swembadligte aanskakel en elke enkele partytjiegas om
die rand van die swembad staan en na Nicole en Greg kyk.

Greg groans at the interrupted scene, but Nicole adds more to her story, saying that her father was
white with shock, while her mother simply asked, “Nicole, should I bring you a condom, my child?” Greg
laughs and jokingly asks her if her mother is still so worried that Nicole will make her a grandmother and
Nicole says that her mother was of the mind to give her birth control pills as early as grade seven,
probably plotting and scheming to have their domestic worker grind them into powder before adding it
to Nicole’s school lunch. Nicole must attend to something else when her mother calls, but before
hanging up, she begins to allude to a rather difficult question she has for Greg. Uncomfortable, Greg
knows what she is trying to ask and tries to think it away; however, Jeffrey’s Bay makes it difficult to
forget – how would he know that the child is his?

Greg kreun op die onderbroke toneel, maar Nicole voeg meer by haar storie en sê dat haar pa wit van
skok was, terwyl haar ma eenvoudig gevra het, "Nicole, moet ek vir jou 'n kondoom bring, my kind?"
Greg lag en vra haar grappenderwys of haar ma nog so bekommerd is dat Nicole van haar 'n ouma gaan
maak en Nicole sê dat haar ma van plan was om haar geboortebeperkingspille so vroeg as graad sewe te
gee, waarskynlik beplan en skelm om hul huis te hê werker maal hulle tot poeier voordat dit by Nicole se
skoolmiddagete gevoeg word. Nicole moet aan iets anders aandag gee wanneer haar ma bel, maar
voordat sy afhaak, begin sy sinspeel op 'n taamlik moeilike vraag wat sy vir Greg het. Ongemaklik weet
Greg wat sy probeer vra en probeer dit wegdink; Jeffreysbaai maak dit egter moeilik om te vergeet - hoe
sou hy weet dat die kind syne is?
His swirling thoughts make him momentarily forget that Nicole is expecting an answer to her question
and he pieces together a hesitant “Of course, Nicole, you know I will not drop you”; wondering if the
tremble in his voice is apparent. He comments that they have nothing to worry about because they
practice safety. After an awkward silence, Greg looks at the time and cuts the phone call short because
he is late and must get ready for school. He takes what he needs for a shower and heads out, bumping
into a dormmate named Thomas Jean, TJ for short. In the hallway, Greg sees people already dressed in
their black pants, white shirt and yellow ties, ready for another day of school at Lawson College. On his
way to getting ready, one of the prefects reminds Greg that he should be on service, babysitting the
grade eight learners. Greg forgot, but he hopes that they sorted themselves out without ruining the
place. After taking care of his hygiene, Greg goes to knock on Eckhardt’s door. He opens the door
without waiting for an answer and finds an empty room – window open, laptop on his desk and the bed
made but with obvious evidence that someone had been sitting on it.

Sy kolkende gedagtes laat hom vir ’n oomblik vergeet dat Nicole ’n antwoord op haar vraag verwag en
hy sit ’n huiwerige “Natuurlik, Nicole, jy weet ek sal jou nie los nie” bymekaar; wonder of die bewing in
sy stem sigbaar is. Hy sê hulle het niks om oor bekommerd te wees nie omdat hulle veiligheid beoefen.
Na 'n ongemaklike stilte kyk Greg na die tyd en knip die telefoonoproep kort omdat hy laat is en moet
regmaak vir skool. Hy neem wat hy nodig het vir 'n stort en gaan uit en loop teen 'n slaapsaal met die
naam Thomas Jean, kortweg TJ. In die gang sien Greg mense reeds geklee in hul swart broeke, wit hemp
en geel dasse, gereed vir nog 'n dag van skool by Lawson College. Op pad om gereed te maak, herinner
een van die prefekte Greg daaraan dat hy diens moet doen en die graad agt-leerders oppas. Greg het
vergeet, maar hy hoop dat hulle hulself uitgesorteer het sonder om die plek te verwoes. Nadat hy na sy
higiëne gesorg het, gaan klop Greg aan Eckhardt se deur. Hy maak die deur oop sonder om op 'n
antwoord te wag en kry 'n leë kamer - venster oop, skootrekenaar op sy lessenaar en die bed opgemaak,
maar met ooglopende bewyse dat iemand daarop gesit het.

Confused, Greg calls Eckhardt’s cellphone, only to hear the familiar sound of Eckhardt’s ringtone echoing
out from somewhere in the room – Connected by Stereo MCs. The sound is dulled as if it is coming from
inside something that is closed off. Greg approaches Eckhardt’s cupboard and finds the cellphone on his
neatly folded clothes, with the caller ID “G-4 ce” flashing on the screen.

Verward bel Greg Eckhardt se selfoon, net om die bekende klank van Eckhardt se luitoon van iewers in
die kamer te hoor weergalm – Connected by Stereo MCs. Die geluid is dof asof dit van binne af kom van
iets wat afgesluit is. Greg nader Eckhardt se kas en kry die selfoon op sy netjies opgevoude klere, met
die beller-ID "G-4 ce" wat op die skerm flikker.
Chapter 3

Greg opens his narration by mentioning the Zulu and Afrikaans legends about the Drakensberg
Mountains, where Lawson College is situated, leading into reminiscing about the day before the first day
of school that year, as well as the first time he met Eckhardt – months before finding Eckhardt’s
cellphone in his cupboard. It was in January when Greg and his mother Rita drove through the Lawson
College gates for the first time that year. He thinks about how his final year of school felt far away and
then one day, he realized that all of it went by bitterly quickly.

Greg begin sy vertelling deur die Zoeloe- en Afrikaanse legendes oor die Drakensberge, waar Lawson
College geleë is, te noem, wat lei tot herinneringe aan die dag voor die eerste skooldag daardie jaar,
sowel as die eerste keer toe hy Eckhardt ontmoet het – maande voordat hy gevind het. Eckhardt se
selfoon in sy kas. Dit was in Januarie toe Greg en sy ma Rita daardie jaar vir die eerste keer deur die
Lawson College-hekke gery het. Hy dink aan hoe sy laaste jaar van skool ver gevoel het en toe eendag
besef hy dat dit alles bitter vinnig verby gegaan het.

He thinks about the previous night when his father asked him what plans he has for the year because,
at that point, he was about to begin life at the best school in the country. Greg simply says that it will be
the same as the previous year, which disappoints his father greatly. His father tells him that if he
performs the way he did the previous year at his company, Turret Media, he could draw in his
competitors and close various doors. Greg’s father’s life revolves around his company and his career,
and he wants Greg to get involved too. Greg says he will think about it, but his dad thinks that he should
have been thinking about it already. Greg’s father expects a great deal from him, but luckily, he is not
there with Greg and his mother on this day before the first day of school.

Hy dink aan die vorige aand toe sy pa hom gevra het watter planne hy vir die jaar het, want op daardie
stadium was hy op die punt om by die beste skool in die land te begin lewe. Greg sê bloot dat dit
dieselfde sal wees as die vorige jaar, wat sy pa baie teleurstel. Sy pa sê vir hom dat as hy presteer soos
hy die vorige jaar by sy maatskappy, Turret Media, presteer het, hy sy mededingers kan intrek en
verskeie deure kan sluit. Greg se pa se lewe draai om sy maatskappy en sy loopbaan, en hy wil hê Greg
moet ook betrokke raak. Greg sê hy sal daaroor dink, maar sy pa dink hy moes al daaraan gedink het.
Greg se pa verwag baie van hom, maar gelukkig is hy nie op hierdie dag voor die eerste skooldag saam
met Greg en sy ma daar nie.
Almost twelve years ago, Lawson College was established by an old man named Thomas Lawson, Greg’s
schoolmate, PJ’s grandfather. The school headmaster, Dr. Alec Pienaar said that Thomas Lawson’s
mission in establishing a school in the middle of nowhere that is the Drakensberg Mountains is, in his
words, “to create a breeding ground for the business leaders of tomorrow.” Greg snarks that they left
out the part where these “business leaders of tomorrow” use yesterday’s money that their parents
earned, inherited or stole.

Byna twaalf jaar gelede is Lawson College gestig deur 'n ou man genaamd Thomas Lawson, Greg se
skoolmaat, PJ se oupa. Die skoolhoof, dr. Alec Pienaar, het gesê dat Thomas Lawson se missie om 'n
skool in die middel van nêrens te vestig wat die Drakensberge is, in sy woorde is, "om 'n teelaarde te
skep vir die sakeleiers van môre." Greg snaar dat hulle die deel uitgelaat het waar hierdie
"besigheidsleiers van môre" gister se geld gebruik wat hul ouers verdien, geërf of gesteel het.

Greg narrates that Lawson’s status as a prestigious boys’ school despite only being twelve years old is
interesting because, with other, older schools, the elitism is justified by the richness of their respective
histories. Despite lacking this seemingly fundamental aspect of elite single-sex schools, Lawson College
has a large list of people waiting to be granted attendance at the school, but realistically speaking, the
majority of the names on the waiting list do not qualify for the unwritten criteria for entry to Lawson
College.

Greg vertel dat Lawson se status as 'n gesogte seunskool ondanks die feit dat hy net twaalf jaar oud is
interessant is omdat, met ander, ouer skole, die elitisme geregverdig word deur die rykdom van hul
onderskeie geskiedenisse. Ten spyte van die gebrek aan hierdie oënskynlik fundamentele aspek van elite
enkelgeslagskole, het Lawson College 'n groot lys mense wat wag om bywoning by die skool toegestaan
te word, maar realisties gesproke kwalifiseer die meerderheid van die name op die waglys nie vir die
ongeskrewe kriteria nie. vir toegang tot Lawson College.

Greg takes his belongings out of the car and makes his way to his boarding house. On the way there,
Kwanele Twala, the Deputy Head Student of Lawson tells him to attend a prefect meeting that he
organized without Greg’s knowledge. He then runs into Mark Gibbons, also known as Plank, and they
have a short conversation to catch up. Greg just wants this last year of school to be over with. Each of
the Lawson College houses is named after prominent historical figures, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Pierre
Curie, and Albert Einstein. Greg struggles with his heavy suitcase.

Greg haal sy besittings uit die motor en stap na sy losieshuis. Op pad soontoe sê Kwanele Twala, die
Adjunkhoofstudent van Lawson, vir hom om 'n prefekvergadering by te woon wat hy sonder Greg se
medewete gereël het. Hy loop toe vir Mark Gibbons, ook bekend as Plank, raak en hulle het 'n kort
gesprek om in te haal. Greg wil net hê hierdie laaste jaar van skool moet verby wees. Elkeen van die
Lawson College-huise is vernoem na prominente historiese figure, soos Leonardo da Vinci, Pierre Curie
en Albert Einstein. Greg sukkel met sy swaar tas
His mother offers her help, but he would be too embarrassed if the other boys saw his mother helping
him carry his stuff. He rejects her offer and she insists on carrying something smaller like his laptop, but
Greg shakes his head. He understands that she means well. He feels sorry for her because after she
helps him unpack, she will have to drive back to Johannesburg, to that lonely house in Sandhurst where
she will have minimal physical contact on a day-to-day basis. His father is often busy or away due to
work. Greg bumps into Mr. Pete Anderson, the Deputy Head of Lawson College. Greg’s room is on the
top floor of the boarding house, with the lower grades populating the lower floors of each building.

Sy ma bied haar hulp aan, maar hy sal te skaam wees as die ander seuns sien hoe sy ma hom help om sy
goed te dra. Hy wys haar aanbod van die hand en sy dring daarop aan om iets kleiner soos sy
skootrekenaar te dra, maar Greg skud sy kop. Hy verstaan dat sy goed bedoel. Hy voel jammer vir haar
want nadat sy hom gehelp het om uit te pak, sal sy moet terugry Johannesburg toe, na daardie eensame
huis in Sandhurst waar sy daagliks minimale fisiese kontak sal hê. Sy pa is dikwels besig of weg weens
werk. Greg stamp mnr. Pete Anderson, die adjunkhoof van Lawson College, teë. Greg se kamer is op die
boonste verdieping van die koshuis, met die laer grade wat die onderste verdiepings van elke gebou
bevolk.

Now in his room, Greg sets his belongings down while his mother opens a window and fiddles with the
air-conditioner. As she begins opening Greg’s bags, her hands shake and she asks Greg if he knows that
despite his father’s behaviour, he loves Greg. “You won’t end up like John...” Rina’s words trail off. Greg
reassures her that there is nothing to worry about. She takes his hand and leaves him a bunch of
hundred-rand notes. Greg responds by saying that he already receives an allowance, but his mother is
adamant. She is also adamant about doing the unpacking. Greg closes his bedroom door so that his
peers cannot see his mother setting up his room for him.

Nou in sy kamer sit Greg sy besittings neer terwyl sy ma 'n venster oopmaak en met die lugversorger
vroetel. Terwyl sy Greg se sakke begin oopmaak, bewe haar hande en sy vra Greg of hy weet dat hy ten
spyte van sy pa se gedrag lief is vir Greg. "Jy sal nie soos John eindig nie ..." Rina se woorde raak weg.
Greg stel haar gerus dat daar niks is om oor bekommerd te wees nie. Sy vat sy hand en los vir hom 'n
klomp honderdrandnote. Greg reageer deur te sê dat hy reeds 'n toelaag ontvang, maar sy ma is
vasbeslote. Sy is ook vasbeslote om die uitpak te doen. Greg maak sy slaapkamerdeur toe sodat sy
maats nie kan sien hoe sy ma sy kamer vir hom inrig nie.
While his mother unpacks, Greg takes a walk around his floor, seeing the bathroom he shares with three
neighbours and the formal sitting room that is reserved for Matric students only. It has leather seats,
thick red carpets, and dark wooden panels in the walls where modern paintings hang. The place reminds
Greg too much of his father’s study. Next to the formal sitting room is the informal sitting room, also
known as the “Hang-Out”, fitted with a plasma TV, DVD player, surround sound, a little library, and
comfortable couches where one can relax. At Lawson College, every room is fitted with a network port
that students can use to gain an uninterrupted connection to the Lawson network. Other floors have a
designated study room, but matrics are expected to be responsible enough to handle their affairs
unaided and unrequested; however, slacking off gets them a space in the grade eleven study room.

Terwyl sy ma uitpak, stap Greg om sy vloer en sien die badkamer wat hy met drie bure deel en die
formele sitkamer wat slegs vir matriekstudente gereserveer is. Dit het leersitplekke, dik rooi matte, en
donker houtpanele in die mure waar moderne skilderye hang. Die plek herinner Greg te veel aan sy pa
se studeerkamer. Langs die formele sitkamer is die informele sitkamer, ook bekend as die "Hang-Out",
toegerus met 'n plasma-TV, DVD-speler, surround sound, 'n klein biblioteek, en gemaklike rusbanke
waar 'n mens kan ontspan. By Lawson College is elke kamer toegerus met 'n netwerkpoort wat studente
kan gebruik om 'n ononderbroke verbinding met die Lawson-netwerk te verkry. Ander verdiepings het 'n
aangewese studeerkamer, maar daar word van matrieks verwag om verantwoordelik genoeg te wees
om hul sake sonder hulp en ongevraagd te hanteer; deur te verslap kry hulle egter 'n spasie in die graad
elf studeerkamer.

Rina calls out to Greg from his room and tells him that they forgot the cooler bag with the snacks in the
car. Standing in the doorway, Greg’s attention is caught by an unfamiliar face he notices in the group of
boys nearby. Dark hair, unshaven with a gaunt face. The stranger briefly looks at Greg, before walking
away. Greg notices the laptop bag slung over his shoulder, the sports bag, and folded papers in one
hand, and a suitcase in the other. A new kid. Greg wonders what kind of otherworldly connections this
individual’s father must have to have gotten him a place at Lawson College in their last year.

Rina roep Greg uit sy kamer en vertel hom dat hulle die koelsak met die eetgoed in die kar vergeet het.
Terwyl hy in die deur staan, word Greg se aandag gevang deur 'n onbekende gesig wat hy in die groep
seuns daar naby opmerk. Donker hare, ongeskeer met 'n skraal gesig. Die vreemdeling kyk vlugtig na
Greg, voordat hy wegstap. Greg sien die skootrekenaarsak wat oor sy skouer gehang is, die sportsak en
gevoude papiere in die een hand, en 'n tas in die ander. 'n Nuwe kind. Greg wonder watter soort
anderwêreldse verbintenisse hierdie individu se pa moes hê om in hul laaste jaar vir hom 'n plek by
Lawson College te bekom het.
“Are you sure you’re on the right floor?”, Greg asks the new student. “I can count”, responds the new
kid. Greg immediately thinks that this guy wants trouble. Greg follows up by asking if he can count to
five because the floor that they are on is for Matrics only. The stranger replies, saying that ones and
zeroes are all one needs. Confused, Greg asks him for his name. The stranger introduces himself as
Eckhardt.

"Is jy seker jy is op die regte vloer?", vra Greg die nuwe student. “Ek kan tel”, antwoord die nuwe kind.
Greg dink dadelik dat hierdie ou moeilikheid wil hê. Greg volg op deur te vra of hy tot vyf kan tel, want
die vloer waarop hulle is, is slegs vir Matrieks. Die vreemdeling antwoord en sê dat ene en nulle al is wat
'n mens nodig het. Verward vra Greg hom vir sy naam. Die vreemdeling stel homself voor as Eckhardt.

Chapter 3

n Eckhardt’s room, Greg unpacks a little bit about his friendship with the enigmatic new student at
Lawson College. While reminiscing and exploring the desolate room, Greg sees a book titled
“Depression” on Eckhardt’s bookshelf and his starts racing, thinking back to every single interaction he
has ever had with him to look for signs that his friend might not have been okay at all. Greg considers
how Eckhardt’s true nature is only apparent after a few interactions and how his first impression of
Eckhardt was not the best.

n Eckhardt se kamer pak Greg 'n bietjie uit oor sy vriendskap met die enigmatiese nuwe student by
Lawson College. Terwyl hy die verlate kamer in herinnering roep en verken, sien Greg 'n boek met die
titel "Depressie" op Eckhardt se boekrak en hy begin jaag, dink terug aan elke enkele interaksie wat hy
nog ooit met hom gehad het om te soek na tekens dat sy vriend dalk glad nie oukei was nie. . Greg
oorweeg hoe Eckhardt se ware aard eers na 'n paar interaksies sigbaar is en hoe sy eerste indruk van
Eckhardt nie die beste was nie.

Greg feels guilty about nearly becoming someone who would have made Eckhardt’s time at Lawson
difficult just because he is new to the school. Greg thinks about how Eckhardt is “an intense guy”, one
who seems to know a lot about things that other people do not, such as quantum computing and the
like. Eckhardt is an avid reader and someone who believes in amassing knowledge because gaining
knowledge costs nothing but time.

Greg voel skuldig omdat hy amper iemand geword het wat Eckhardt se tyd by Lawson moeilik sou
gemaak het net omdat hy nuut by die skool is. Greg dink aan hoe Eckhardt “’n intense ou” is, een wat
blykbaar baie weet van dinge wat ander mense nie weet nie, soos kwantumrekenaars en dies meer.
Eckhardt is 'n ywerige leser en iemand wat glo in die versameling van kennis, want die verkryging van
kennis kos niks anders as tyd nie.
Unsure about Eckhardt’s whereabouts, Greg leaves the room and heads over to his first class of the day
– English, with Mr. Willem Wikklespies. He’s late but too worried about Eckhardt to care. In
mathematics class with Mr. Bill Eden, also known as “Boggom” amongst the students, Eckhardt’s
absence is noticed and Boggom goes to the faculty office to enquire about his whereabouts because this
has happened with students in the past. While the teacher is gone, Greg’s classmates ensure that chaos
ensues; which Greg knows he will be berated for allowing it to continue unabated, but he is too
preoccupied with Eckhardt. Greg and Plank have a conversation where Plank tries to come up with a
reasonable explanation for Eckhardt’s absence involving Eckhardt’s parents and a possible death in his
family, which temporarily soothes Greg’s unsettled mind; however, Greg later remembers that Eckhardt
left his cellphone in a suitcase and his laptop on his desk.

Onseker oor waar Eckhardt hom bevind, verlaat Greg die kamer en gaan na sy eerste klas van die dag –
Engels, saam met mnr Willem Wikklespies. Hy is laat, maar te bekommerd oor Eckhardt om om te gee.
In wiskundeklas met mnr. Bill Eden, ook bekend as "Boggom" onder die studente, word Eckhardt se
afwesigheid opgemerk en Boggom gaan na die fakulteitskantoor om navraag te doen oor waar hy hom
bevind omdat dit in die verlede met studente gebeur het. Terwyl die onderwyser weg is, sorg Greg se
klasmaats dat chaos ontstaan; wat Greg weet hy sal beledig word omdat hy dit onverpoosd laat
voortgaan het, maar hy is te besig met Eckhardt. Greg en Plank het 'n gesprek waar Plank probeer om 'n
redelike verduideliking te kry vir Eckhardt se afwesigheid wat Eckhardt se ouers en 'n moontlike dood in
sy gesin betrek, wat Greg se onstuimige gemoed tydelik streel; Greg onthou egter later dat Eckhardt sy
selfoon in 'n tas gelos het en sy skootrekenaar op sy lessenaar.

Chapter 4

The first day of school was long and boring. It started with Greg oversleeping before being woken up by
TJ, who teases Greg for not being a positive example for the other students at the school, before further
driving home the fact that the prefect body at the school is made up of individuals whose parents are
considered the school’s greatest benefactors. Greg finally wakes up and groggily prepares for his first
official day as head student, more immediately, the assembly. At that moment, he catches a glimpse of
Eckhardt, drenched in sweat. Their first interaction was not the best and Greg dislikes him at this point.

Die eerste skooldag was lank en vervelig. Dit het begin met Greg wat oorslaap het voordat hy wakker
gemaak word deur TJ, wat Greg terg omdat hy nie 'n positiewe voorbeeld vir die ander studente by die
skool is nie, voordat hy verder huis toe gery het die feit dat die prefek liggaam by die skool bestaan uit
individue wie se ouers beskou as die skool se grootste weldoeners. Greg word uiteindelik wakker en
berei hom voor vir sy eerste amptelike dag as hoofstudent, meer onmiddellik, die gemeente. Op daardie
oomblik kry hy 'n blik op Eckhardt, deurdrenk van sweet. Hul eerste interaksie was nie die beste nie en
Greg hou op hierdie stadium nie van hom nie.
Dr. Alec Pienaar, the school’s headmaster drones out the same speech that he has in previous first
assemblies. By now, Greg has even memorized the words, but this time he is taken aback when Pienaar
does not follow his usual script. The headmaster announces his departure from the Lawson community,
a decision which had been intended for the previous year; however, after much convincing from the
board of directors and various parents, he decided to stay on one more year.

Dr. Alec Pienaar, die skool se hoof dreun dieselfde toespraak uit as wat hy in vorige eerste byeenkomste
gehad het. Teen hierdie tyd het Greg selfs die woorde gememoriseer, maar hierdie keer is hy verstom
wanneer Pienaar nie sy gewone draaiboek volg nie. Die skoolhoof kondig sy vertrek uit die Lawson-
gemeenskap aan, 'n besluit wat vir die vorige jaar bedoel was; Na baie oortuiging van die direksie en
verskeie ouers het hy egter besluit om nog een jaar aan te bly.

He further explains that most of his duties will be carried out by Mr. Pete Andersen, his deputy because
all of Dr. Pienaar’s efforts and time this year will be consumed by his pursuit of private benefactors. The
rest of the day is dedicated to various administrative purposes, as well as constant warnings issued to
matric students about the gravity of their final year. New teachers are introduced and later that
afternoon, the outsourced athletics coach briefs the athletics club about the upcoming season as the
golden sun envelops the campus.

Hy verduidelik verder dat die meeste van sy pligte deur mnr. Pete Andersen, sy adjunk, uitgevoer sal
word, omdat al dr. Pienaar se pogings en tyd hierdie jaar verteer sal word deur sy strewe na private
weldoeners. Die res van die dag word gewy aan verskeie administratiewe doeleindes, asook
voortdurende waarskuwings wat aan matriekstudente uitgereik word oor die erns van hul finale jaar.
Nuwe onderwysers word bekendgestel en later die middag lig die uitgekontrakteerde atletiekafrigter die
atletiekklub in oor die komende seisoen terwyl die goue son die kampus omvou.

A Lawson College “tradition” involves hazing the newly arrived Grade 8 students. The “Trappers” are
woken up in the middle of the night and gathered in the courtyard formed in the centre of the Lawson
College boarding houses. The matric students demand that they show their loyalty to the school by
singing the school song; however, this is part of the ruse because, at that early point in the school year,
the Grade 8s do not know the school song whatsoever. Their failure to sing a satisfactory rendition of
the school song then shifts the matrics’ plan to the next phase: the true test in the tunnel. They take the
students to a manhole that covers the entrance to a network of old sewage pipes underneath the
various boarding houses.

'n Lawson College-“tradisie” behels die verduistering van die nuut aangekome graad 8-studente. Die
"Trappers" word in die middel van die nag wakker gemaak en in die binnehof wat in die middel van die
Lawson College losieshuise gevorm is, bymekaargemaak. Die matriekleerlinge eis dat hulle hul lojaliteit
aan die skool toon deur die skoollied te sing; dit is egter deel van die slenter, want op daardie vroeë
stadium van die skooljaar ken die graad 8's glad nie die skoolliedjie nie. Hulle versuim om ’n
bevredigende weergawe van die skoollied te sing, verskuif dan die matrieks se plan na die volgende fase:
die ware toets in die tonnel. Hulle neem die studente na 'n mangat wat die ingang van 'n netwerk van ou
rioolpype onder die verskillende losieshuise bedek.
Once there, the grade 8s are blindfolded and sent down into the darkness, from which they are
expected to escape using the only exit made available for them: a manhole elsewhere in the network.
While the matric students send the youngsters down into the dark, TJ counts 48 of them while Greg
thinks back on his feelings when he underwent the same hazing. The fear and tension are immense,
especially with the blindfold on; however, down in the pipes, the darkness is simply overwhelming. After
the last grade 8 is sent on their journey, the matric students laugh and chat over their roughhousing.
However, Greg cuts the happy chatter when he points at Eckhardt and shouts, “Here’s another
Trapper!”

Daar gekom, word die graad 8's geblinddoek en afgestuur in die donkerte, waaruit hulle verwag word
om te ontsnap met die enigste uitgang wat vir hulle beskikbaar gestel is: 'n mangat elders in die
netwerk. Terwyl die matriekleerlinge die jongmense in die donker afstuur, tel TJ 48 van hulle terwyl Greg
terugdink aan sy gevoelens toe hy dieselfde verduistering ondergaan het. Die vrees en spanning is
geweldig, veral met die blinddoek op; onder in die pype is die donkerte egter eenvoudig oorweldigend.
Nadat die laaste graad 8 op hul reis gestuur is, lag en gesels die matriekleerlinge oor hul rofhou. Greg
breek egter die vrolike gesels wanneer hy na Eckhardt wys en skree: "Hier is nog 'n Trapper!"

Greg mockingly tells Eckhardt to sing the school song. Eckhardt says that he does not sing. Greg requests
a blindfold to use on Eckhardt, but Eckhardt resists the binding. Greg enlists the help of the other
matrics present and they hold down Eckhardt while Greg blindfolds him before spinning him around a
few times and sending him into the same dark tunnel as the grade 8s. Eckhardt falls a few times and the
blindfold comes off, exposing Eckhardt’s over-the-shoulder look of contempt directed at Greg. At that
moment where another student’s flashlight illuminated Eckhardt’s eyes, Greg saw his older brother John
and immediately called off the hazing.

Greg sê spottend vir Eckhardt om die skoollied te sing. Eckhardt sê dat hy nie sing nie. Greg versoek 'n
blinddoek om op Eckhardt te gebruik, maar Eckhardt weerstaan die binding. Greg roep die ander
aanwesige matrieks se hulp in en hulle hou Eckhardt vas terwyl Greg hom blinddoek voordat hy hom 'n
paar keer in die rondte tol en hom in dieselfde donker tonnel as die graad 8's stuur. Eckhardt val 'n paar
keer en die blinddoek kom af en ontbloot Eckhardt se oor-die-skouer-voorkoms van minagting wat op
Greg gerig is. Op daardie oomblik toe 'n ander student se flitslig Eckhardt se oë verlig het, het Greg sy
ouer broer John gesien en dadelik die waas afgeskakel.
Chapter 5

The television blares breaking news about the bird flu epidemic that has affected Asia, Europe, North
Africa, and parts of the Middle East. Teachers’ voices can be heard in the corridor and when Greg asks
the nearest guy about the commotion, he responds that Eckhardt is still not back. Boggom enters the
sitting room to explain that the school has issued a search of the entire campus for anything that could
give clues about the whereabouts of Eckhardt Wilken. Mr. Andersen then tells the matric students not
to let this information out to students in the lower grades because they would like to first confirm facts
and protect the school’s illustrious reputation. Boggom starts saying that the disappearance of a student
is not something that they can keep hidden, but Mr. Andersen stops him mid-sentence and nervously
darts his eyes around the faces in the room, as if he was trying to read the room. The students are sent
out in groups to begin their search.

Die televisie blêr brekende nuus oor die voëlgriep-epidemie wat Asië, Europa, Noord-Afrika en dele van
die Midde-Ooste geraak het. Onderwysers se stemme kan in die gang gehoor word en wanneer Greg die
naaste ou oor die rumoer vra, antwoord hy dat Eckhardt steeds nie terug is nie. Boggom gaan die
sitkamer binne om te verduidelik dat die skool 'n deursoeking van die hele kampus uitgereik het vir
enigiets wat leidrade kan gee oor waar Eckhardt Wilken is. Mnr. Andersen sê dan vir die matriekleerlinge
om nie hierdie inligting aan leerlinge in die laer grade uit te gee nie omdat hulle eers feite wil bevestig
en die skool se roemryke reputasie wil beskerm. Boggom begin sê dat die verdwyning van 'n student nie
iets is wat hulle verborge kan hou nie, maar meneer Andersen keer hom middel-sin en spits sy oë
senuweeagtig om die gesigte in die kamer, asof hy die kamer probeer lees. Die studente word in groepe
uitgestuur om hul soektog te begin.

Greg is unsure of how much time had passed before rumours of the discovery of a suicide note made
the rounds. People attempt to start conversations with Greg but his mind is preoccupied with repressed
feelings coming to the surface – ghosts from the past. The talk of suicide reminded Greg of the
unpleasant memory of his brother’s death. Greg was very close to his older brother, John, and
considered him his best friend. John often encouraged Greg to rely on him and Greg owes much of his
quirks to his exposure to his older brother.

Greg is onseker oor hoeveel tyd verloop het voordat gerugte van die ontdekking van 'n selfmoordbrief
die ronde gemaak het. Mense probeer om gesprekke met Greg te begin, maar sy gedagtes is besig met
onderdrukte gevoelens wat na die oppervlak kom - spoke uit die verlede. Die praatjies van selfmoord
het Greg herinner aan die onaangename herinnering aan sy broer se dood. Greg was baie na aan sy ouer
broer, John, en het hom as sy beste vriend beskou. John het Greg dikwels aangemoedig om op hom
staat te maak en Greg het baie van sy eienaardighede te danke aan sy blootstelling aan sy ouer broer.
One example of this is John’s love for extreme sports, which Greg has now taken on for himself ever
since they went bungee jumping together. The rumours of Eckhardt’s suicide have these unpleasant
memories of his brother’s death swirling around in his mind. He thinks back to his mother screaming out
for John after finding him unconscious in his room, pills on the bedside table, and remembers the
ambulance arriving, emergency personnel pouring into and out of the house before the ambulance
disappeared.

Een voorbeeld hiervan is John se liefde vir ekstreme sportsoorte, wat Greg nou vir homself aangeneem
het vandat hulle saam gaan rekspring het. Die gerugte van Eckhardt se selfmoord het hierdie
onaangename herinneringe van sy broer se dood in sy gedagtes ronddwarrel. Hy dink terug aan sy ma
wat vir John uitgil nadat hy hom bewusteloos in sy kamer gekry het, pille op die bedkassie, en onthou
die ambulans wat aangekom het, noodpersoneel wat in en uit die huis stroom voordat die ambulans
verdwyn het.

People often say that history repeats itself and that people are born on this planet to learn lessons
which repeat themselves if they are not learned the first time around. Greg thinks about how he did not
cry after John’s death and distances himself from the rest of the search party. By the evening, there is
still no sign of Eckhardt. The teachers expand the search to the surrounding towns: Harrismith, Bergville,
and Winterton. Exhausted from the long day, Greg gets back to his room, strips, and ties a clean towel
around his body. His mother calls and they have a conversation about nonsense until she asks him out of
the blue if he is alright. Greg does not want to mention Eckhardt, but he tells his mother that he thought
about John that day.

Mense sê dikwels dat die geskiedenis homself herhaal en dat mense op hierdie planeet gebore word om
lesse te leer wat hulself herhaal as dit nie die eerste keer geleer word nie. Greg dink aan hoe hy nie
gehuil het na John se dood nie en distansieer hom van die res van die soekgeselskap. Teen die aand is
daar nog geen teken van Eckhardt nie. Die onderwysers brei die soektog uit na die omliggende dorpe:
Harrismith, Bergville en Winterton. Uitgeput van die lang dag, kom Greg terug na sy kamer, stroop en
bind 'n skoon handdoek om sy lyf. Sy ma bel en hulle het 'n gesprek oor nonsens totdat sy hom uit die
bloute vra of hy reg is. Greg wil nie vir Eckhardt noem nie, maar hy sê vir sy ma dat hy daardie dag aan
John gedink het.
Chapter 6

In the square in the centre of the five boarding houses, Kwanele removes a single manhole cover from
its position, exposing the dark hole. When the first grade 8 student emerges from the pit, the matric
students help him out before exposing the secret of the exercise. Each student is given a lighter which is
placed in their bag; however, the fear and darkness make one forget that they have the tools to get out
of the bind in which they find themselves. After exposing the secret, the blindfold used on the grade 8 is
now draped over their neck as Greg explains that the school motto, “lux hominem vita” means “the light
that gives life to humankind”, hence the lighter meant to help each grade 8 out of the darkness. This is
explained to each emerging grade 8; however, by sunrise, six students have not yet made it back. Greg
explains that these are the kids who will have a hard time at Lawson because the rest of the student
body will make sure of it. Greg sets out to find the missing six and Eckhardt follows him into the dark pit
to help.

In die vierkant in die middel van die vyf losieshuise verwyder Kwanele 'n enkele mangatdeksel uit sy
posisie, wat die donker gat blootlê. Wanneer die eerste graad 8-leerling uit die put kom, help die
matriekleerlinge hom uit voordat hulle die geheim van die oefening blootlê. Elke student kry 'n
aansteker wat in hul sak geplaas word; die vrees en duisternis laat 'n mens egter vergeet dat hulle die
gereedskap het om uit die band waarin hulle verkeer te kom. Nadat die geheim ontbloot is, word die
blinddoek wat op die graad 8 gebruik is nou oor hul nek gedrapeer terwyl Greg verduidelik dat die
skoolleuse, "lux hominem vita" beteken "die lig wat die mensdom lewe gee", vandaar die aansteker wat
bedoel is om elke graad te help. 8 uit die duisternis. Dit word aan elke opkomende graad 8 verduidelik;
teen sonsopkoms het ses studente egter nog nie teruggekom nie. Greg verduidelik dat dit die kinders is
wat 'n moeilike tyd by Lawson gaan hê, want die res van die studentekorps sal seker maak daarvan. Greg
gaan op soek na die vermiste ses en Eckhardt volg hom in die donker put om te help.

Days later, Greg’s room is littered with dirty clothing that he has not yet sorted for collection. Eckhardt
appears in his doorway and asks if he may enter Greg’s room before asking him what he is doing. Greg
responds that he is surfing the web. The two bond a little bit over having fathers who treat them like
accessories or show horses. Eckhardt says that the mission of Lawson College is to turn students into
clones of their fathers.

Dae later is Greg se kamer besaai met vuil klere wat hy nog nie vir afhaal gesorteer het nie. Eckhardt
verskyn in sy deur en vra of hy Greg se kamer mag binnegaan voordat hy hom vra wat hy doen. Greg
antwoord dat hy op die web blaai. Die twee bind 'n bietjie oor pa's wat hulle soos bykomstighede of
skouperde behandel. Eckhardt sê dat die missie van Lawson College is om studente in klone van hul
vaders te verander.
While Greg fills out his personal information into the spaces provided on a particular site he is browsing,
Eckhardt explains that the site is not secure and that other people can see what Greg is doing with the
site, but he says that this is all boring information. Eckhardt offers to show Greg other things on a
computer, so the two head back to Eckhardt’s room, where he asks Greg the mysterious question, “Have
you ever tried hacking a computer?”

Terwyl Greg sy persoonlike inligting invul in die spasies wat verskaf word op 'n spesifieke webwerf wat
hy blaai, verduidelik Eckhardt dat die webwerf nie veilig is nie en dat ander mense kan sien wat Greg
met die webwerf doen, maar hy sê dat dit alles vervelige inligting is . Eckhardt bied aan om vir Greg
ander dinge op 'n rekenaar te wys, so die twee gaan terug na Eckhardt se kamer, waar hy Greg die
geheimsinnige vraag vra: "Het jy al ooit probeer om 'n rekenaar te hack?"

Chapter 7

Saturday morning and things are business as usual at Lawson College as the school is prepared to
receive Durban Boys High for a day of sporting competition. By now, news of Eckhardt’s disappearance
has made its way to the ears of students in the lower grades, who are now contributing to the rumour
mill surrounding the incident. Greg is deeply furious at the school’s handling of the situation. While on
duty at the Da Vinci dining hall, Greg loses his cool with a grade 8 student who speaks about the
discovery of Eckhardt’s body hung up in a tree. He takes a deep breath outside the boarding house,
where he is met by TJ, who informs him of a meeting that Dr. Alec Pienaar has organized with the
matrics before the first rugby matches of the day.

Saterdagoggend is sake soos gewoonlik by Lawson College, aangesien die skool bereid is om Durban
Boys High te ontvang vir 'n dag van sportkompetisie. Teen hierdie tyd het nuus van Eckhardt se
verdwyning sy pad tot die ore van studente in die laer grade gemaak, wat nou bydra tot die gerugmeul
rondom die voorval. Greg is diep woedend oor die skool se hantering van die situasie. Terwyl hy by die
Da Vinci-eetsaal aan diens is, verloor Greg sy kop met 'n graad 8-leerling wat praat oor die ontdekking
van Eckhardt se liggaam wat in 'n boom opgehang is. Hy haal diep asem buite die koshuis, waar hy deur
TJ ontmoet word, wat hom inlig oor 'n ontmoeting wat dr. Alec Pienaar met die matrieks gereël het voor
die eerste rugbywedstryde van die dag.

<Dr. Pienaar talks about the day’s events, particularly his expectations of each Lawson sports team due
to the school’s illustrious reputation. He makes a brief mention of Eckhardt’s disappearance, calling him
a “deserter” who has simply run away from school, which greatly angers Greg. Greg retorts, saying that
he thinks it is pathetic that the school would rather protect its reputation rather than come clean about
the disappearance of a student. Greg further pushes the issue by threatening to not appear in the
matches on the day, but he is rebuffed by Dr. Pienaar who tells him that he can be replaced by various
other students. Greg storms off by himself, unsupported by any of the people he is supposed to lead. >
<Dr Pienaar gesels oor die dag se gebeure, veral sy verwagtinge van elke Lawson-sportspan as gevolg
van die skool se roemryke reputasie. Hy maak kortliks melding van Eckhardt se verdwyning en noem
hom 'n "woesterganger" wat eenvoudig weggehardloop het van die skool af, wat Greg baie kwaad
maak. Greg antwoord en sê hy dink dit is pateties dat die skool eerder sy reputasie sal beskerm as om
skoon te kom oor die verdwyning van 'n student. Greg dryf die kwessie verder deur te dreig om nie op
die dag in die wedstryde te verskyn nie, maar hy word verwerp deur dr. Pienaar wat vir hom sê dat hy
deur verskeie ander studente vervang kan word. Greg storm alleen weg, sonder ondersteuning deur
enige van die mense wat hy veronderstel is om te lei.>

Greg thinks back to a quote his father often says, “If you are a leader and no one is following you, you
are simply going for a walk.” Greg realizes that he is simply “going for a walk” and that he needs to
change his approach if he wants the school to do something about Eckhardt’s disappearance. He
remembers creating fake email addresses with Eckhardt, which gives him an idea: he could offer an
anonymous tip-off to a certain media house with which he has a connection...

Greg dink terug aan 'n aanhaling wat sy pa dikwels sê: "As jy 'n leier is en niemand volg jou nie, gaan jy
eenvoudig 'n wandeling." Greg besef dat hy bloot “gaan stap” en dat hy sy benadering moet verander as
hy wil hê die skool moet iets aan Eckhardt se verdwyning doen. Hy onthou dat hy vals e-posadresse met
Eckhardt geskep het, wat hom 'n idee gee: hy kan 'n anonieme wenk gee aan 'n sekere mediahuis
waarmee hy 'n verbintenis het...

Chapter 8

Greg is surprised at Eckhardt’s question and shouts that he has never tried to hack a computer. Greg
believes that all hackers are criminals who seek to cause chaos for people by doing things like deleting or
stealing files, stealing money, and otherwise compromising the sanctity of any virtual infrastructure.
Eckhardt explains that hackers are more diverse than that and that the popular conception of hackers is
based on a type of hacker called a “cracker”.

Greg is verbaas oor Eckhardt se vraag en skree dat hy nog nooit probeer het om 'n rekenaar te hack nie.
Greg glo dat alle kuberkrakers misdadigers is wat poog om chaos vir mense te veroorsaak deur dinge te
doen soos om lêers uit te vee of te steel, geld te steel en andersins die heiligheid van enige virtuele
infrastruktuur in gevaar te stel. Eckhardt verduidelik dat kuberkrakers meer divers as dit is en dat die
gewilde opvatting van kuberkrakers gebaseer is op 'n tipe kuberkraker wat 'n "kraker" genoem word.
These are the malicious brand of hacker that is commonly referenced in media as well as colloquially.
Hackers consist of “white hats” and “black hats”, hackers with contrasting ethics where white hats are
simply curious to explore the possibilities, test the integrity of security and even have a discourse about
the vulnerabilities present in certain sites or virtual infrastructures. Eckhardt tells Greg the story of
Zyklon, a 19-year-old American hacker who managed to infiltrate the White House network, gaining
access to virtually everything through a small yet crucial exposure in the code running the White House
website. Intrigued and excited by everything Eckhardt has to say, Greg asks him to teach him how to
hack.

Dit is die kwaadwillige handelsmerk van hacker wat algemeen in die media sowel as in die omgangstaal
verwys word. Kuberkrakers bestaan uit “wit hoede” en “swart hoede”, kuberkrakers met kontrasterende
etiek waar wit hoede bloot nuuskierig is om die moontlikhede te verken, die integriteit van sekuriteit te
toets en selfs ’n diskoers te voer oor die kwesbaarhede wat in sekere werwe of virtuele infrastruktuur
voorkom. Eckhardt vertel vir Greg die verhaal van Zyklon, 'n 19-jarige Amerikaanse kuberkraker wat
daarin geslaag het om die Withuis-netwerk te infiltreer en toegang tot feitlik alles verkry het deur 'n
klein dog belangrike blootstelling in die kode wat die Withuis-webwerf bestuur. Geïnteresseerd en
opgewonde oor alles wat Eckhardt te sê het, vra Greg hom om hom te leer hoe om te hack.

Chapter 9

While alone in the Da Vinci boarding house, Greg feels a chill run down his spine when he spots a van
from one of his father’s newspapers. The other boys return to the boarding houses ecstatic with their
resounding victory against Durban Boys’ High. Plank and TJ come barreling into Greg’s room telling him
about their stellar performances before asking him what underhanded things he got up to alone in the
boarding house. The two teasingly check his fridge and dustbin for any signs that he had been drinking
alcohol while everyone else was screaming their lungs out for the school’s rugby team.

Terwyl hy alleen in die Da Vinci-koshuis is, voel Greg 'n koue rilling oor sy ruggraat afloop toe hy 'n
bussie uit een van sy pa se koerante sien. Die ander seuns keer in ekstase terug na die koshuise met hul
klinkende oorwinning teen Durban Boys’ High. Plank en TJ kom by Greg se kamer in en vertel hom van
hul uitmuntende vertonings voordat hulle hom vra met watter onhandige dinge hy alleen in die koshuis
aangevang het. Die twee kyk tergend sy yskas en asblik vir enige tekens dat hy alkohol gedrink het
terwyl al die ander hul longe vir die skool se rugbyspan geskree het.

When they go through his rubbish, Greg remembers the time when Eckhardt told him about “dumpster
diving”, a term used by hackers to describe their process of collecting information about the entity they
wish to hack. Greg’s thoughts move away from the conversation with Plank and TJ, who join the other
boys in their triumphant singing of the school song, banging their fists on doors and stomping their feet.
He wonders if Dr. Pienaar’s shiny head will sweat from being questioned by reporters.
Wanneer hulle deur sy rommel gaan, onthou Greg die tyd toe Eckhardt hom vertel het van "dumpster
diving", 'n term wat deur kuberkrakers gebruik word om hul proses te beskryf om inligting in te samel
oor die entiteit wat hulle wil kap. Greg se gedagtes beweeg weg van die gesprek met Plank en TJ, wat
saam met die ander seuns in hul triomfantlike sing van die skoollied, hul vuiste teen deure slaan en hul
voete stamp. Hy wonder of dr Pienaar se blink kop sal sweet as hy deur verslaggewers ondervra word.

Later that night, while on a call with Nicole, Greg notices the instantly recognizable glare of police lights.
Their presence at the school confirms his earlier suspicions that the van belonged to one of his father’s
newspapers. Greg considers how long it will be before the police arrive at the boarding house and make
their way to Eckhardt’s room. He briefly tells Nicole about Eckhardt’s disappearance before hanging up.
When the police eventually arrive at Da Vinci house, Dr. Pienaar is with them, irritated as he shoos the
boys back to their rooms. When the loud music and noise that carried over from the afternoon suddenly
died, Greg knew that the police were inbound. From his room, Greg watches events unfold, eventually
eavesdropping on a private conversation between Mr. Andersen and Dr. Pienaar. It appears that there is
a problem with Eckhardt Wilken’s records on the school database.

Later daardie aand, terwyl hy 'n oproep met Nicole is, merk Greg die onmiddellik herkenbare glans van
polisieligte op. Hul teenwoordigheid by die skool bevestig sy vroeëre vermoedens dat die bussie aan een
van sy pa se koerante behoort het. Greg oorweeg hoe lank dit sal duur voordat die polisie by die
losieshuis opdaag en na Eckhardt se kamer gaan. Hy vertel kortliks vir Nicole van Eckhardt se verdwyning
voordat hy ophang. Toe die polisie uiteindelik by Da Vinci-huis aankom, is dr. Pienaar by hulle,
geïrriteerd terwyl hy die seuns terugskiet na hul kamers. Toe die harde musiek en geraas wat van die
middag af oorgedra is skielik doodgaan, het Greg geweet dat die polisie op pad was. Vanuit sy kamer kyk
Greg hoe gebeure afspeel, en luister uiteindelik 'n privaat gesprek tussen mnr. Andersen en dr. Pienaar
af. Dit blyk dat daar 'n probleem is met Eckhardt Wilken se rekords op die skooldatabasis.
Chapter 10

Before Eckhardt can begin teaching Greg how to hack, he asks Greg to mull over a pseudonym that he
will be using. A hacker name, like his “Ekk-0”. After thinking about it for some time, Greg comes up with
the nickname “G Force”, which Eckhardt stylizes as “G-4 ce”. Eckhardt begins teaching Greg the basics of
hacking. They sit in Eckhardt’s room as he commands Greg to visit hackthissite.org, a place where
individuals can learn the basics of hacking safely. Greg creates an account with the display name “G-4
ce” and sets out to do the very first challenge presented by the site: “The Idiot Test”. The goal is to
figure out the password and input it in the bar provided to gain entry to the other parts of the site. Greg
struggles with this challenge, so he visits the various forums for beginners that are available on the
website before researching HTML and related topics.

Voordat Eckhardt vir Greg kan begin leer hoe om te hack, vra hy vir Greg om na 'n skuilnaam te dink wat
hy gaan gebruik. 'n Hacker-naam, soos sy "Ekk-0". Nadat hy ’n geruime tyd daaroor nagedink het, kom
Greg met die bynaam “G Force”, wat Eckhardt stileer as “G-4 ce”. Eckhardt begin Greg die basiese
beginsels van inbraak leer. Hulle sit in Eckhardt se kamer terwyl hy Greg beveel om hackthissite.org te
besoek, 'n plek waar individue die basiese beginsels van inbraak veilig kan leer. Greg skep 'n rekening
met die vertoonnaam "G-4 ce" en stel voor om die heel eerste uitdaging te doen wat deur die webwerf
aangebied word: "The Idiot Test". Die doel is om die wagwoord uit te vind en in te voer in die balk wat
verskaf word om toegang tot die ander dele van die webwerf te verkry. Greg sukkel met hierdie
uitdaging, daarom besoek hy die verskillende forums vir beginners wat op die webwerf beskikbaar is
voordat hy HTML en verwante onderwerpe navors.

After reading up for several hours and still having no luck with the website, Eckhardt arrives in Greg’s
room with a few tips. A few windows appear on Greg’s screen, showing him the HTML code of the
website, which Greg recognized from his deep dive into the theory. The HTML code revealed the
password he needed to gain further entry into the site. As Eckhardt explains, if the visual site is the skin,
the HTML is the bones and organs. After cracking the Idiot Test, Eckhardt suggests that Greg leave it at
that for the night. When one of the photos hanging up in Eckhardt’s room falls to the ground, the
conversation turns to his family. His father is a steel distributor in Japan and Switzerland who sells to
South African industries, while his mother is a Pilates instructor. Eckhardt considers his home life typical
of a student at this school, typical of a “clone”.

Nadat hy etlike ure lank gelees het en steeds geen geluk met die webwerf gehad het nie, kom Eckhardt
in Greg se kamer met 'n paar wenke. 'n Paar vensters verskyn op Greg se skerm, wat hom die HTML-
kode van die webwerf wys, wat Greg herken het uit sy diep duik in die teorie. Die HTML-kode het die
wagwoord onthul wat hy nodig het om verdere toegang tot die webwerf te verkry. Soos Eckhardt
verduidelik, as die visuele terrein die vel is, is die HTML die bene en organe. Nadat hy die Idiot-toets
gekraak het, stel Eckhardt voor dat Greg dit vir die nag daar laat. Wanneer een van die foto's wat
ophang in Eckhardt se kamer op die grond val, draai die gesprek na sy familie. Sy pa is 'n staalverspreider
in Japan en Switserland wat aan Suid-Afrikaanse nywerhede verkoop, terwyl sy ma 'n Pilates-instrukteur
is. Eckhardt beskou sy huislewe as tipies van 'n student by hierdie skool, tipies van 'n "kloon".
Chapter 11

Dr. Pienaar and Mr. Andersen’s hushed conversation about the compromised school database
continues. Dr. Pienaar asks Mr. Andersen to contact a computer technician from Harrismith named
Thompson. Greg eavesdrops on the conversation attentively as Mr. Andersen explains that there is no
information in Eckhardt’s records except for his name.

Dr. Pienaar en mnr. Andersen se gedempte gesprek oor die gekompromitteerde skooldatabasis duur
voort. Dr. Pienaar vra vir mnr. Andersen om 'n rekenaartegnikus van Harrismith genaamd Thompson te
kontak. Greg luister aandagtig die gesprek af terwyl mnr. Andersen verduidelik dat daar geen inligting in
Eckhardt se rekords is nie, behalwe vir sy naam.

Greg tosses and turns in bed later that night, mulling over Eckhardt’s disappearance and the fragment of
information he got from Dr. Pienaar and Mr. Andersen’s conversation. He hopes that Eckhardt is okay
but what if that is not the case? With his school records being blank, his phone and laptop being in his
room and the rumours of his suicide lacking confirmation because there has been no discovery of a
body, Greg’s mind continues to swirl with thoughts.

Greg gooi en draai later daardie aand in die bed en peins oor Eckhardt se verdwyning en die brokkie
inligting wat hy uit Dr. Pienaar en mnr. Andersen se gesprek gekry het. Hy hoop dat Eckhardt oukei is,
maar wat as dit nie die geval is nie? Met sy skoolrekords wat leeg is, sy foon en skootrekenaar in sy
kamer en die gerugte van sy selfmoord wat nie bevestiging is nie omdat daar geen ontdekking van 'n
liggaam was nie, gaan Greg se gedagtes voort met gedagtes.

Greg remembers his brother’s death and how angry the grief made him. He gets out of bed and walks
into the cold hallway, where he bumps into Kwanele, who asks Greg why he is awake at an odd hour.
Greg’s clear contempt for Kwanele is evident in his narration, but he handles the interaction calmly,
telling him that that he is going to the bathroom before returning Kwanele’s question to him. Kwanele
was studying but is now on the way to bed.

Greg onthou sy broer se dood en hoe kwaad die hartseer hom gemaak het. Hy staan uit die bed en stap
die koue gang binne, waar hy vir Kwanele stamp, wat vir Greg vra hoekom hy op 'n vreemde uur wakker
is. Greg se duidelike minagting vir Kwanele is duidelik in sy vertelling, maar hy hanteer die interaksie
rustig en vertel hom dat hy badkamer toe gaan voordat hy Kwanele se vraag aan hom terugbesorg.
Kwanele het gestudeer maar is nou op pad bed toe.

Greg walks to the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. He waits a few moments until Kwanele’s
footsteps can no longer be heard. He then turns back around, walking towards the step, where there is a
small table holding up models of two Da Vinci inventions: the helicopter and the tank. Mr. Ian, the
housemaster of Da Vinci keeps the master key to the matric floor.
Greg stap badkamer toe en maak die deur agter hom toe. Hy wag 'n paar oomblikke totdat Kwanele se
voetstappe nie meer gehoor kan word nie. Hy draai dan terug om, stap na die trap, waar daar 'n tafeltjie
is wat modelle van twee Da Vinci-uitvindsels omhoog hou: die helikopter en die tenk. Mnr. Ian, die
huismeester van Da Vinci hou die hoofsleutel tot die matriekvloer.

Eckhardt showed him the location once. “It’s like hiding your spare key under a rock in the garden,” he
said. Greg finds the key hidden in the tank’s hull. With the key in hand, he walks over to Eckhardt’s
room, carefully looking over his shoulder to ensure that no one is following. The room is just as he had
left it, meaning that the police have not yet investigated. Greg remembers overhearing a uniformed
officer telling Dr. Pienaar and Mr. Andersen that they would be handing the case over to the detectives,
who also still have not investigated.

Eckhardt het hom een keer die ligging gewys. "Dit is soos om jou spaarsleutel onder 'n klip in die tuin
weg te steek," het hy gesê. Greg vind die sleutel versteek in die tenk se romp. Met die sleutel in die hand
stap hy na Eckhardt se kamer en kyk versigtig oor sy skouer om te verseker dat niemand agtervolg nie.
Die kamer is net soos hy dit verlaat het, wat beteken dat die polisie nog nie ondersoek ingestel het nie.
Greg onthou hoe hy gehoor het hoe 'n beampte in uniform vir dr. Pienaar en mnr. Andersen sê dat hulle
die saak aan die speurders gaan oorhandig, wat ook nog nie ondersoek ingestel het nie.

<Greg looks at the noticeboard in Eckhardt’s room, which was mostly unchanged, except for one photo,
which now stood where Eckhardt’s family photo was, held in place by a golden thumbnail. The photo
features a white hat on a black background, much like one in a picture he once received from Eckhardt
via MMS. The cogs in Greg’s brain start turning. He takes the photo back to his room, thinking about
how the picture was not on Eckhardt’s noticeboard before his disappearance. Under the light of his
lamp, the picture reveals a marked difference to the MMS photo: a written link to a website –
www.securekit.com, next to the word “Ekk-0”. >

<Greg kyk na die kennisgewingbord in Eckhardt se kamer, wat meestal onveranderd was, behalwe vir
een foto, wat nou staan waar Eckhardt se familiefoto was, vasgehou deur 'n goue duimnael. Die foto het
'n wit hoed op 'n swart agtergrond, baie soos een in 'n foto wat hy eens van Eckhardt via MMS ontvang
het. Die ratte in Greg se brein begin draai. Hy neem die foto terug na sy kamer en dink daaraan hoe die
foto nie voor sy verdwyning op Eckhardt se kennisgewingbord was nie. Onder die lig van sy lamp
openbaar die prentjie 'n merkbare verskil met die MMS-foto: 'n geskrewe skakel na 'n webwerf –
www.securekit.com, langs die woord “Ekk-0”.>

Greg swiftly whips out his laptop, boots it up, and opens Firefox, a browser that Eckhardt told him is far
more secure than Internet Explorer because there are fewer users, hence fewer shady types trying to
expose vulnerabilities in the browser. The website takes him to a downloader for a steganography
program. Steganography refers to a manner of incorporating hidden messages into photos. This is
apparently how terrorists spread and receive information and instructions. Greg initially thought that
the white-hat MMS was a reminder for him to remain a white-hat; however, there is a message hidden
in the photo. He installs the program and uploads the picture to his laptop.
Greg sweep vinnig sy skootrekenaar uit, laai dit op en maak Firefox oop, 'n blaaier wat Eckhardt vir hom
gesê het is baie veiliger as Internet Explorer omdat daar minder gebruikers is, dus minder skaduryke
tipes wat kwesbaarhede in die blaaier probeer blootlê. Die webwerf neem hom na 'n aflaaier vir 'n
steganografie-program. Steganografie verwys na 'n manier om verborge boodskappe in foto's in te sluit.
Dit is glo hoe terroriste versprei en inligting en instruksies ontvang. Greg het aanvanklik gedink dat die
wit-hoed MMS 'n herinnering vir hom was om 'n wit-hoed te bly; daar is egter 'n boodskap versteek in
die foto. Hy installeer die program en laai die foto op sy skootrekenaar.

When he opens the picture with the program, a field appears requesting him to enter a password. He
tries “Ekk-0”, mistyping it the first time. Once unlocked, the word “message” appears onscreen with a
window containing a URL: www.Ekk-0s_underworld.co.za. Without skipping a beat, Greg copies the
address to his browser, which brings up a simple website with no graphics, just a black background, an
input field, and two words in white: “Enter Password”.

Wanneer hy die prentjie met die program oopmaak, verskyn 'n veld wat hom versoek om 'n wagwoord
in te voer. Hy probeer "Ekk-0", en tik dit die eerste keer verkeerd. Sodra dit oopgesluit is, verskyn die
woord “boodskap” op die skerm met 'n venster wat 'n URL bevat: www.Ekk-0s_underworld.co.za.
Sonder om 'n maat oor te slaan, kopieer Greg die adres na sy blaaier, wat 'n eenvoudige webwerf met
geen grafika, net 'n swart agtergrond, 'n invoerveld en twee woorde in wit opbring: "Voer wagwoord in".

Chapter 12

The days following Greg’s triumph over the first challenge were filled with rushed study sessions,
exchanged shifts, and heavy supervision while he was busy with hackthissite. The information is
overwhelming; however, Greg cannot sate his curiosity as the more he learns, the more he realises that
he has more to learn. Eckhardt helps him along with cryptic hints, telling him that he never said it would
be easy.

Die dae ná Greg se triomf oor die eerste uitdaging was gevul met gejaagde studiesessies, skofte
omgeruil en swaar toesig terwyl hy besig was met hackthissite. Die inligting is oorweldigend; Greg kan
egter nie sy nuuskierigheid bevredig nie, want hoe meer hy leer, hoe meer besef hy dat hy meer het om
te leer. Eckhardt help hom met kriptiese wenke en vertel hom dat hy nooit gesê het dit sou maklik wees
nie.

With trial and error, Greg makes his way through the second and third challenges before struggling with
the fourth one for a few days. It is now February and the summer season persists in the Drakensberg.
Greg receives a call from his mother while he is texting Nicole. He can hear the loneliness in her voice as
she talks and after light prying, she tells him that his father’s work is interrupting his sleep and making
him distant and moody. Greg always feels helpless about his mother’s situation when he is at school
because he is so far away.
Met beproewing en fout maak Greg sy pad deur die tweede en derde uitdagings voordat hy vir 'n paar
dae met die vierde een sukkel. Dit is nou Februarie en die somerseisoen duur voort in die Drakensberge.
Greg ontvang 'n oproep van sy ma terwyl hy vir Nicole SMS. Hy kan die eensaamheid in haar stem hoor
terwyl sy praat en na 'n ligte gierigheid, vertel sy hom dat sy pa se werk sy slaap onderbreek en hom
veraf en buierig maak. Greg voel altyd hulpeloos oor sy ma se situasie wanneer hy by die skool is omdat
hy so ver is.

Eckhardt calls Greg into his room later and Greg briefly opens up about the conversation he just had
with his mother before they get down to business: the fourth challenge that has Greg scratching his
head. They talk about their plans for after school, with both considering going the university route.
Eckhardt says that he is interested in studying something computer-related, like programming or
Information Technology so that he can continue to tinker with the various systems that he has gained
experience with over the years.

Eckhardt roep Greg later in sy kamer in en Greg maak kortliks oop oor die gesprek wat hy sopas met sy
ma gehad het voordat hulle met sake begin: die vierde uitdaging wat Greg laat kopkrap. Hulle praat oor
hul planne vir naskool, met albei wat dit oorweeg om die universiteitsroete te gaan. Eckhardt sê dat hy
daarin belangstel om iets rekenaarverwant, soos programmering of Inligtingstegnologie, te studeer
sodat hy kan aanhou peuter met die verskillende stelsels waarmee hy oor die jare ondervinding
opgedoen het.

Greg has no idea what he wants to do with the rest of his life and resents being made to choose at 18
years old. He tells Eckhardt about the pressure he feels from his father, who probably would not let Greg
embark on a path he chose for himself. Eckhardt tells Greg that his father cannot be who decides what
happens with Greg’s life. The conversation ends and Greg notices a strange glint in Eckhardt’s eyes. Two
nights later, Greg cracks the fourth challenge, and three days after that, he failed a mathematics test for
the first time in his life.

Greg het geen idee wat hy met die res van sy lewe wil doen nie en is mal daaroor dat hy op 18-jarige
ouderdom moet kies. Hy vertel vir Eckhardt van die druk wat hy van sy pa voel, wat Greg waarskynlik nie
sou toelaat dat hy 'n pad wat hy vir homself gekies het, aanpak nie. Eckhardt sê vir Greg dat sy pa nie
kan wees wat besluit wat met Greg se lewe gebeur nie. Die gesprek eindig en Greg merk 'n vreemde
glinster in Eckhardt se oë. Twee aande later pak Greg die vierde uitdaging aan, en drie dae daarna het hy
vir die eerste keer in sy lewe 'n wiskundetoets gedruip.
Chapter 13

Greg stares at the dark webpage, wracking his brain for a possible password to no avail. The fatigue has
caught up with him, so he decides to rest for the night and continue the next day. On Sunday morning,
Plank and TJ burst into Greg’s room, eagerly wanting to show him the newspaper. Greg grabs the
newspaper, looking for anything about Eckhardt, but he is disappointed. Plank and TJ had wanted to talk
about the emergence of a case of the avian flu epidemic that had spread throughout Europe, the Middle
East, and North Africa.

Greg staar na die donker webblad en slaan sy brein tevergeefs vir 'n moontlike wagwoord. Die moegheid
het hom ingehaal, daarom besluit hy om vir die nag te rus en die volgende dag voort te gaan.
Sondagoggend het Plank en TJ by Greg se kamer ingebars en gretig die koerant vir hom wou wys. Greg
gryp die koerant, soek enigiets oor Eckhardt, maar hy is teleurgesteld. Plank en TJ wou praat oor die
opkoms van 'n geval van die voëlgriep-epidemie wat deur Europa, die Midde-Ooste en Noord-Afrika
versprei het.

South Africa had its first confirmed case and Plank was excited about the prospect of it leading to school
closures; however, TJ had to remind him that such things only occur in the event of a pandemic.
Disappointed that there was not a single hint of Eckhardt in the entire issue of the Turret Times, Greg
voices his concern to TJ. “What did you expect? If Dr. Pienaar caught wind of any story leaking to the
media, he would put a stop to it, he has friends in high places,” says TJ. Greg immediately realizes the
futility of his plan to leak the news because one of those contacts that Dr. Pienaar has “in high places” is
none other than Greg’s father, CEO of Turret Media.

Suid-Afrika het sy eerste bevestigde saak gehad en Plank was opgewonde oor die vooruitsig dat dit tot
skoolsluitings sou lei; TJ moes hom egter daaraan herinner dat sulke dinge net in die geval van 'n
pandemie voorkom. Teleurgesteld dat daar nie 'n enkele wenk van Eckhardt in die hele uitgawe van die
Turret Times was nie, spreek Greg sy kommer aan TJ uit. "Wat het jy verwag? As Dr. Pienaar op die
hoogte sou wees van enige storie wat na die media uitlek, sal hy dit stop, hy het vriende in hoë plekke,”
sê TJ. Greg besef dadelik die nutteloosheid van sy plan om die nuus te laat uitlek, want een van daardie
kontakte wat Dr Pienaar “op hoë plekke” het, is niemand anders nie as Greg se pa, CEO van Turret
Media.

Greg soon realizes that everyone around him is getting ready to go to church. He runs into Kwanele,
whom he requests a favour. “Please take my church service shift. I have something to do,” says Greg.
Kwanele obliges, allowing Greg to stay behind while the other students fill the bus to church. Soon after
the students have left, a police car arrives at Da Vinci house. Two people step out, a black policewoman
and a white policeman.

Greg besef gou dat almal om hom gereed maak om kerk toe te gaan. Hy loop vir Kwanele raak, vir wie hy
'n guns vra. “Vat asseblief my kerkdiensskof. Ek het iets om te doen,” sê Greg. Kwanele verplig, laat Greg
toe om agter te bly terwyl die ander studente die bus kerk toe vul. Kort nadat die studente weg is, kom
'n polisiemotor by Da Vinci-huis aan. Twee mense stap uit, 'n swart polisievrou en 'n wit polisieman.
They are met by Dr. Pienaar, who promptly shows them into the boarding house. Moments later, the
elevator doors swing open on the matric floor, and Dr. Pienaar leads the police officers to Eckhardt’s
room. Greg immediately understands that these are the detectives who were assigned to the case of
Eckhardt’s disappearance. Dr. Pienaar leaves the detectives and goes back to his office. Greg watches
and listens to the detectives as they begin clearing out the various effects of Eckhardt’s room. He
overhears the detectives’ names: Inspector Cele and Sergeant Botha.

Hulle word ontmoet deur dr. Pienaar, wat hulle dadelik in die koshuis wys. Oomblikke later swaai die
hysbakdeure op die matriekvloer oop, en dr Pienaar lei die polisiebeamptes na Eckhardt se kamer. Greg
verstaan dadelik dat dit die speurders is wat in die saak van Eckhardt se verdwyning toegewys is. Dr
Pienaar verlaat die speurders en gaan terug na sy kantoor. Greg kyk en luister na die speurders terwyl
hulle die verskillende effekte van Eckhardt se kamer begin uitvee. Hy hoor die speurders se name:
inspekteur Cele en sersant Botha.

The first to come out of Eckhardt’s room is Sergeant Botha, who seems to be struggling to carry the stuff
out of Eckhardt’s room. Greg makes his presence known and offers to help. The Sergeant wonders why
Greg is not at church with the other students but still takes him up on his offer to help him carry
Eckhardt’s things. In the elevator, Botha asks Greg if he is a matric student. Greg says yes, further
making it known that he is Lawson College’s head student. While in the elevator, Greg looks at some of
Eckhardt’s possessions, before training his eye on Eckhardt’s closed laptop. In his memory, Eckhardt’s
laptop had a The Matrix sticker in one of the top corners. The laptop being carried out by Botha is blank.

Die eerste wat uit Eckhardt se kamer kom is sersant Botha, wat blykbaar sukkel om die goed uit Eckhardt
se kamer te dra. Greg maak sy teenwoordigheid bekend en bied aan om te help. Die Sersant wonder
hoekom Greg nie saam met die ander studente by die kerk is nie, maar aanvaar hom steeds op sy
aanbod om hom te help om Eckhardt se goed te dra. In die hysbak vra Botha vir Greg of hy 'n
matriekstudent is. Greg sê ja, maak dit verder bekend dat hy Lawson College se hoofstudent is. Terwyl
hy in die hysbak is, kyk Greg na sommige van Eckhardt se besittings, voordat hy sy oog op Eckhardt se
toe skootrekenaar oefen. In sy geheue het Eckhardt se skootrekenaar 'n The Matrix-plakker in een van
die boonste hoeke gehad. Die skootrekenaar wat deur Botha gedra word, is leeg.

Later in the morning, after the detectives have left, Greg boots up his laptop with a cup of strong coffee
next to him. The other students have returned, and Plank and TJ made a round to tell Greg about things
that happened on the bus. He was not listening to their stories attentively and quickly lied about having
a headache to excuse himself. Now back in his room, Greg attempts to gain entry to Eckhardt’s website
once again. Greg remembers his words, “sometimes, there isn’t a password.

Later die oggend, nadat die speurders weg is, laai Greg sy skootrekenaar op met 'n koppie sterk koffie
langs hom. Die ander studente het teruggekeer, en Plank en TJ het 'n rondte gemaak om vir Greg te
vertel van dinge wat op die bus gebeur het. Hy het nie aandagtig na hul stories geluister nie en het
vinnig gelieg oor hoofpyn om homself te verskoon. Nou terug in sy kamer, probeer Greg om weer
toegang tot Eckhardt se webwerf te kry. Greg onthou sy woorde, "soms is daar nie 'n wagwoord nie.
Sometimes the door is unlocked and all you have to do is lean against it to gain entry to the castle.” He
pulls up the site source code and finds text that is written in black to camouflage the clue. After
highlighting the entire site, Greg finds the email address to which the password is sent when Eckhardt
forgets. He uses the source code to change the target email address to his own; however, this process is
difficult and requires knowledge in JavaScript, something which Greg finds rather difficult. After failing a
few times, Greg fixes his script and on his last attempt, he receives no error message.

Soms is die deur oopgesluit en al wat jy hoef te doen is om daarteen te leun om toegang tot die kasteel
te kry.” Hy trek die werfbronkode op en vind teks wat in swart geskryf is om die leidraad te kamoefleer.
Nadat hy die hele webwerf uitgelig het, vind Greg die e-posadres waarheen die wagwoord gestuur word
wanneer Eckhardt vergeet. Hy gebruik die bronkode om die teiken-e-posadres na sy eie te verander;
hierdie proses is egter moeilik en vereis kennis in JavaScript, iets wat Greg nogal moeilik vind. Nadat hy
'n paar keer misluk het, maak Greg sy draaiboek reg en met sy laaste poging kry hy geen foutboodskap
nie.

Greg’s phone rings and it sends a chill down his spine. It is his father. He usually expects small talk;
however, this time, his father has no patience for it. He comes barrelling down on Greg for refusing to
play rugby the previous day. He tells Greg that he undermined Dr. Pienaar’s authority as principal and
that if someone were to do that to him in the workplace, he would fire them. Greg’s father continues a
verbal onslaught, calling Greg an ungrateful snothead and saying that he is disappointed. Greg retorts,
saying that it would not be the first time that his father is disappointed in him, an obvious nod to John
and his suicide.

Greg se foon lui en dit stuur 'n koue rilling langs sy ruggraat. Dit is sy pa. Hy verwag gewoonlik
kleinpraatjies; hierdie keer het sy pa egter geen geduld daarvoor nie. Hy kom val op Greg omdat hy die
vorige dag geweier het om rugby te speel. Hy sê vir Greg dat hy Dr Pienaar se gesag as skoolhoof
ondermyn het en dat as iemand dit aan hom in die werkplek sou doen, hy hulle sou afdank. Greg se pa
gaan voort met 'n verbale aanslag, noem Greg 'n ondankbare snotkop en sê dat hy teleurgesteld is. Greg
antwoord en sê dat dit nie die eerste keer sal wees dat sy pa in hom teleurgesteld is nie, 'n ooglopende
knik vir John en sy selfmoord.

Greg’s father tells him that he should march to Dr. Pienaar’s office and apologise for his behaviour. The
argument ends with no parting words after Greg’s father mentions that he has great expectations for his
matric year. Someone knocks on Greg’s door and he angry slams it shut, shouting “leave me alone!”
Feeling helpless, Greg ignores subsequent knocks on his door and skips all meals, wondering if this is
how his brother felt. Late in the evening, Greg feels the motivation to continue with Eckhardt’s website,
finding the password thereof sitting in his inbox. He inputs the password and finally gains entry.

Greg se pa sê vir hom dat hy na Dr. Pienaar se kantoor moet marsjeer en om verskoning vra vir sy
gedrag. Die argument eindig sonder afskeidwoorde nadat Greg se pa noem dat hy groot verwagtinge vir
sy matriekjaar het. Iemand klop aan Greg se deur en hy klap dit kwaad en skree "los my uit!" Greg voel
hulpeloos en ignoreer die daaropvolgende klop aan sy deur en slaan alle maaltye oor en wonder of dit is
hoe sy broer gevoel het. Laat in die aand voel Greg die motivering om voort te gaan met Eckhardt se
webwerf, en vind die wagwoord daarvan in sy inkassie. Hy voer die wagwoord in en kry uiteindelik
toegang.

Chapter 14

One night, two months into the winter, Greg is nearly finished with all the novice challenges on
hackthissite, but he craves something new. Eckhardt tells him to bring his network cable and laptop
because they will be going to the school grounds, but Greg tells him that they are usually locked this
time of night. Eckhardt tells Greg that they will be relying on the caretaker to let them in. On their way
there, they run into <Plank, whose eyes are red after smoking marijuana.> Eckhardt tells Greg that he
should never do any sort of drugs because the euphoria can cause one to make stupid mistakes in their
hacking, in addition to being caught and arrested for drugs. Outside, at the steps near Da Vinci House,
Greg sees a group of grade 9s, one of whom has a cigarette. He barks at him to put out the cigarette and
commands the rest to get off the steps because they are not allowed to sit there.

Een aand, twee maande in die winter, is Greg amper klaar met al die nuweling-uitdagings op hierdie
webwerf, maar hy smag na iets nuuts. Eckhardt sê vir hom om sy netwerkkabel en skootrekenaar saam
te bring, want hulle sal na die skoolterrein gaan, maar Greg sê vir hom dat hulle gewoonlik hierdie tyd
van die nag gesluit is. Eckhardt sê vir Greg dat hulle op die opsigter sal staatmaak om hulle in te laat. Op
pad soontoe loop hulle <Plank raak, wie se oë rooi is nadat hy dagga gerook het.> Eckhardt sê vir Greg
dat hy nooit enige soort dwelms moet gebruik nie, want die euforie kan veroorsaak dat 'n mens dom
foute maak in hul hacking, benewens dat hy vir dwelms gevang en gearresteer word. Buite, by die
trappe naby Da Vinci-huis, sien Greg 'n groep graad 9's, van wie een 'n sigaret het. Hy blaf vir hom om
die sigaret te blus en beveel die res om van die trappe af te klim omdat hulle nie daar mag sit nie.

The caretaker of the school grounds lives in a small cottage not too far away from Le Corbusier House.
Eckhardt knocks on the door and when it swings open, he asks the man on the other side for a favour.
He lies about the servers being down while they have a science project due the next day, so he asks the
caretaker, Mr. Tom if he could unlock the library for them. Eckhardt tells Mr. Tom that he could call Mr.
Andersen for them to see if it is okay to open up for them and at this point, Greg starts playing along,
adding that his father would “go ballistic” if he found out that Greg missed a submission because he did
not have internet access or entrance to the school library. “Wait here,” says Mr. Tom, as he returns to
his cottage to retrieve a jacket and a set of keys.

Die opsigter van die skoolterrein woon in 'n klein kothuis nie te ver van Le Corbusier-huis af nie.
Eckhardt klop aan die deur en wanneer dit oopswaai, vra hy die man aan die ander kant vir 'n guns. Hy
lieg oor die bedieners wat af is terwyl hulle 'n wetenskapprojek het wat die volgende dag moet wees, so
hy vra die opsigter, mnr. Tom of hy die biblioteek vir hulle kan oopsluit. Eckhardt sê vir mnr. Tom dat hy
vir mnr. Andersen kan bel om te sien of dit reg is om vir hulle oop te maak en op hierdie stadium begin
Greg saamspeel, en voeg by dat sy pa sal "ballisties gaan" as hy uitvind dat Greg 'n voorlegging gemis
omdat hy nie internettoegang of toegang tot die skoolbiblioteek gehad het nie. "Wag hier," sê meneer
Tom, terwyl hy terugkeer na sy huisie om 'n baadjie en 'n stel sleutels te gaan haal.
Mr. Tom leads them to the main building, where the silence and darkness feel like the setting of a
murder. After walking through the dimly lit corridor to the library, Mr. Tom tells them that he does not
want to hear that they caused a commotion in the library and that they should get him when they are
done so he can lock up. Moments after Tom leaves, Eckhardt reveals that their objective is not the
library, but a room further down the corridor.

Meneer Tom lei hulle na die hoofgebou, waar die stilte en duisternis voel soos die agtergrond van 'n
moord. Nadat hy deur die swak verligte gang na die biblioteek gestap het, sê mnr. Tom vir hulle dat hy
nie wil hoor dat hulle 'n herrie in die biblioteek veroorsaak het nie en dat hulle hom moet kry wanneer
hulle klaar is sodat hy kan toesluit. Oomblikke nadat Tom vertrek het, onthul Eckhardt dat hul doel nie
die biblioteek is nie, maar 'n kamer verder af in die gang.

They arrive at a door with a handle, but no lock. In its place is a keypad. The server room, a place off-
limits, but Greg feels the excitement coursing through his body. Greg tells Eckhardt that they need the
passcode to gain entry, but Eckhardt responds by letting his index finger dance on the keys before the
door clicks open. Eckhardt explains that he got the password by simply looking over the shoulder of a
staff member who had entered the server room previously, a technique called “shoulder surfing”.

Hulle kom by 'n deur met 'n handvatsel, maar geen slot nie. In sy plek is 'n sleutelbord. Die
bedienerkamer, 'n plek buite die perke, maar Greg voel hoe die opgewondenheid deur sy lyf vloei. Greg
sê vir Eckhardt dat hulle die wagwoord nodig het om toegang te verkry, maar Eckhardt reageer deur sy
wysvinger op die sleutels te laat dans voordat die deur oopklik. Eckhardt verduidelik dat hy die
wagwoord gekry het deur bloot oor die skouer van 'n personeellid te kyk wat voorheen die
bedienerkamer binnegekom het, 'n tegniek wat "skouerbranderry" genoem word.

Greg is worried about being caught in the server room, but Eckhardt reassures him that nothing bad will
happen. He explains to Greg how the school network operates, before telling him that infiltrating the
school network grants one access to the database, where all the personal information of both students
and teachers is held. Eckhardt explains the school network was designed in such a way that prevents the
students from accessing certain information, so being in the server room means that they can finally see
on the other side of that barrier.

Greg is bekommerd om in die bedienerkamer betrap te word, maar Eckhardt verseker hom dat niks sleg
sal gebeur nie. Hy verduidelik aan Greg hoe die skoolnetwerk funksioneer, voordat hy hom vertel dat
infiltrasie van die skoolnetwerk toegang verleen tot die databasis, waar al die persoonlike inligting van
beide studente en onderwysers gehou word. Eckhardt verduidelik die skoolnetwerk is so ontwerp dat
die studente verhoed om toegang tot sekere inligting te kry, dus om in die bedienerkamer te wees,
beteken dat hulle uiteindelik aan die ander kant van daardie versperring kan sien.
He uses Greg’s network cable to connect to the switchboard and swiftly pulls up Greg’s records, where
everything, even sensitive information like his parents’ bank details, can be seen. Even the result of the
mathematics test he failed is visible. Greg feels tempted to tell Eckhardt to change his score; however,
Eckhardt asks the pertinent question, “White hat or black hat?” This brings Greg back to his senses.
Eckhardt dives into the server log files where he clears their tracks, something he does out of a sense of
precaution rather than necessity.

Hy gebruik Greg se netwerkkabel om aan die skakelbord te koppel en trek vinnig Greg se rekords op,
waar alles, selfs sensitiewe inligting soos sy ouers se bankbesonderhede, gesien kan word. Selfs die
uitslag van die wiskundetoets wat hy gedruip het, is sigbaar. Greg voel in die versoeking om vir Eckhardt
te sê om sy telling te verander; Eckhardt vra egter die vraag: "Wit hoed of swart hoed?" Dit bring Greg
terug tot sy sinne. Eckhardt duik in die bedienerloglêers in waar hy hul spore skoonmaak, iets wat hy uit
'n gevoel van voorsorg eerder as uit nood doen.

Chapter 15

Greg is initially irritated by the website that Eckhardt created because it looks incomplete, but he
remembers to look at the source code before jumping to conclusions. It is late at night and everyone
should be asleep, but Greg hears a sound at his door. He opens his door and notices a shadow moving in
the hallway, cast by dim light shining in front of the informal sitting room. The figure runs full speed
towards the elevator, but Greg cannot see who it is because the elevator light is out. Greg’s instincts tell
him to pursue, so he runs down the stairs as quickly as he can; however, he arrives on the lowest floor
only to find the elevator and boarding house’s front doors open and the school grounds beyond it
deserted. Greg takes the elevator back upstairs, suspecting that the lightbulb in the elevator was left
unscrewed on purpose.

Greg is aanvanklik geïrriteerd deur die webwerf wat Eckhardt geskep het omdat dit onvolledig lyk, maar
hy onthou om na die bronkode te kyk voordat hy tot gevolgtrekkings spring. Dit is laat in die nag en
almal behoort te slaap, maar Greg hoor 'n geluid by sy deur. Hy maak sy deur oop en merk 'n skaduwee
wat in die gang beweeg, gegooi deur dowwe lig wat voor die informele sitkamer skyn. Die figuur
hardloop volspoed na die hysbak, maar Greg kan nie sien wie dit is nie, want die hysbaklig is uit. Greg se
instinkte sê vir hom om te jaag, so hy hardloop so vinnig as wat hy kan by die trappe af; hy kom egter op
die onderste verdieping aan net om die hysbak en koshuis se voordeure oop te vind en die skoolterrein
anderkant dit verlate. Greg neem die hysbak terug boontoe en vermoed dat die gloeilamp in die hysbak
met opset losgeskroef gelaat is.

On his way back, Greg thinks about the brashness of his behaviour, thinking that if the individual he was
chasing was armed, he could have died. He turns up the aircon in his room and sits in front of his laptop,
continuing with his analysis of the source code of the mysterious black website. At first glance, the
website is empty; however, upon closer inspection, Greg notices a lone full stop on the site. It is black
against the black backdrop; however, the full stop turns out to be a hyperlink, leading Greg to yet
another website.
Op pad terug dink Greg aan die brutaliteit van sy gedrag, en dink dat as die individu wat hy gejaag het
gewapen was, kon hy gesterf het. Hy draai die lugversorging in sy kamer op en gaan sit voor sy
skootrekenaar en gaan voort met sy ontleding van die bronkode van die geheimsinnige swart webwerf.
Met die eerste oogopslag is die webwerf leeg; by nadere ondersoek merk Greg egter 'n eensame punt
op die terrein op. Dit is swart teen die swart agtergrond; die punt blyk egter 'n hiperskakel te wees, wat
Greg na nog 'n webwerf lei.

The adrenalin coursing through Greg’s veins causes him to get a fright when his phone rings. The
number is private, which sends his thoughts into overdrive. Could it be the person he was chasing
through Da Vinci House? Greg eventually answers, but the call is immediately terminated by the person
on the other side. Greg realises that he is unsettled, perhaps even frightened by the night’s events. Greg
tries to get his breathing under control. He gets back to Ekk-0’s Underworld, the new site that appeared
on his screen after he clicked on the full stop hyperlink.

Die adrenalien wat deur Greg se are vloei, laat hom skrik wanneer sy foon lui. Die nommer is privaat,
wat sy gedagtes in oordrewe stuur. Kan dit die persoon wees wat hy deur Da Vinci-huis gejaag het? Greg
antwoord uiteindelik, maar die oproep word onmiddellik deur die persoon aan die ander kant beëindig.
Greg besef dat hy onrustig is, miskien selfs bang is vir die nag se gebeure. Greg probeer sy asemhaling
onder beheer kry. Hy kom terug na Ekk-0 se Underworld, die nuwe webwerf wat op sy skerm verskyn
het nadat hy op die punt-hiperskakel geklik het.

On the left-hand side of the page is a group of hyperlinks, some of the names of which Greg recognizes.
They are hacking programs used to scan servers to find and exploit vulnerabilities in their security,
otherwise known as a hacker’s toolbox. Eckhardt explained to Greg that hackers tend to leave their tools
on anonymous FTP servers that can only be found when searched for on Google, hiding their files in
public directories. The website reads like a diary of sorts, which makes Greg feel a little bit guilty. The
diary contains information about Eckhardt’s hacks. The entry dated the day before Eckhardt’s
disappearance reads: “They know I was in their systems. They know what I did. They know who I am.”
The words feel like fingers clutching Greg’s heart.

Aan die linkerkant van die bladsy is 'n groep hiperskakels, waarvan Greg sommige van die name herken.
Dit is inbraakprogramme wat gebruik word om bedieners te skandeer om kwesbaarhede in hul
sekuriteit te vind en te ontgin, andersins bekend as 'n hacker se gereedskapkas. Eckhardt het aan Greg
verduidelik dat kuberkrakers geneig is om hul gereedskap op anonieme FTP-bedieners te los wat slegs
gevind kan word wanneer hulle op Google gesoek word, en hul lêers in openbare gidse versteek. Die
webwerf lees soos 'n soort dagboek, wat Greg 'n bietjie skuldig laat voel. Die dagboek bevat inligting oor
Eckhardt se hacks. Die inskrywing wat gedateer is die dag voor Eckhardt se verdwyning lui: “Hulle weet
ek was in hul stelsels. Hulle weet wat ek gedoen het. Hulle weet wie ek is.” Die woorde voel soos vingers
wat Greg se hart vashou.
Greg’s mind goes back to the rumours of Eckhardt’s suicide. He also considers that Eckhardt ran away
because of this “they” he mentioned in his diary, or the third possibility, that the people in whose
systems he was poking around took him. Greg wonders who “they” are while skimming through the rest
of Eckhardt’s diary entries. He sees stuff about “backdoors” and the like. His eyes dart around the
webpage until they focus on a web address. It looks like some kind of medical company’s page. He
opens a new tab and visits www.plusultramed.co.za and the home page of a pharmaceutical company
appears. He clicks through the links on the page, eventually finding an organogram of the company’s
leaders. In the centre of it all is none other than Doc Pienaar.

Greg se gedagtes gaan terug na die gerugte van Eckhardt se selfmoord. Hy meen ook dat Eckhardt
weggehardloop het weens hierdie “hulle” wat hy in sy dagboek genoem het, of die derde moontlikheid,
dat die mense in wie se stelsels hy rondgekyk het, hom gevat het. Greg wonder wie "hulle" is terwyl hy
deur die res van Eckhardt se dagboekinskrywings blaai. Hy sien goed oor "agterdeure" en dies meer. Sy
oë flits om die webblad totdat hulle op 'n webadres fokus. Dit lyk soos 'n soort mediese maatskappy se
bladsy. Hy maak 'n nuwe oortjie oop en besoek www.plusultramed.co.za en die tuisblad van 'n
farmaseutiese maatskappy verskyn. Hy klik deur die skakels op die bladsy en vind uiteindelik 'n
organogram van die maatskappy se leiers. In die middel van dit alles is niemand anders nie as Dok
Pienaar.