Jarvis and his son had been distant, and now the father begins to know his son through his writings | Jarvis learns of his son's death and comes with his family to Johannesburg |
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Absalom is sentenced to death for the murder of Arthur Jarvis | Assured, Kumalo embarks on the search for his son, first seeing his brother John, a carpenter who has become involved in the politics of South Africa |
Back in Ixopo, Kumalo makes a futile visit to the tribe's chief in order to discuss changes that must be made to help the barren village.
26Msimangu urges Kumalo to come to the city to help his sister Gertrude, because she is ill | The novel ends on the morning the sun rise after Absalom's execution |
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Kumalo returns to his village with his daughter-in-law and nephew, having found that Gertrude ran away on the night before their departure |
He arranges to have a dam built and hires an native agricultural demonstrator to implement new farming methods.
When he gets to the city, Kumalo learns that Gertrude has taken up a life of prostitution and beer brewing, and is now drinking heavily | Shortly thereafter, Kumalo learns that his son has been arrested for the murder during a burglary of Arthur Jarvis who was an engineer , a white activist for racial justice and son of Kumalo's neighbour James Jarvis |
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