The Power of One

Peekay arrives at the Johannesburg train station where he meets Morrie Levy, a wealthy, comical Jewish student with a mind for business who describes himself as the “token Jew.” Morrie is initially surprised by Peekay’s lack of surname. The boys quickly bond.

Sergeant Bolter is sent by the school to meet the boys. He uses a strict military roll call to call them to attention. He is also shocked by Peekay’s name, but quickly accepts it and moves on.

Peekay soon realizes that money will be important while he attends the Prince of Wales School. Morrie offers to help Peekay. Unwilling to accept charity and still wary of trusting others, Peekay agrees to become Morrie’s partner while at school, adding a business element to their friendship.

Peekay learns that the school boxing team is the worst in the league, possessing the “Wooden Spoon,” a symbol of their status as losers. Peekay joins the team. Morrie, aware of Peekay’s undefeated status, becomes Peekay’s manager, devising a gambling scheme based on careful observation and risk assessment to earn money and build the reputation of the boxing team.

Peekay fights against the Afrikaans school, Helpmekaar, for his first fight. Helpmekaar is renowned for its boxing team. The gym at Prince of Wales School is almost empty when Peekay fights. He easily defeats a larger opponent named Jannie Geldehuis. Geldehuis and the opposing coach congratulate and praise Peekay. Peekay notices a group of well-dressed Black men who stand in one corner to watch the fight shouting “Onoshobishobi Ingelosi.” When the fight is over, they quietly leave.

Morrie makes a significant sum of money betting on Peekay while he carefully observes different boxers. Peekay gains popularity amongst the boys who bet on his fights as he continues to win. The Black servants at school begin doing Peekay small favors to make his life easier and more comfortable.

Morrie and Peekay’s gambling business grows extremely successful, and Morrie suggests that they stop before something goes wrong. Peekay suggests that they start a bank with their winnings and loan the boys money when needed for a small fee. The “Boarder’s Bank” is an immediate success. It provides Peekay with a ready supply of money at school.

Peekay remains undefeated in the boxing ring, and “the People” continue to come to his matches, chanting for Peekay. Peekay notices that many of the more racist Afrikaans schools segregate the spectators. He hears the term “Apartheid” for the first time.

Peekay receives letters from home that update him on the success of Mrs. Boxall’s Sandwich Fund. The narrator notes that the Sandwich Fund would go on to become the Black Sash, a South African women’s group that protested Apartheid.

Morrie and Peekay challenge the history professor’s lecture one day using Miss Bornstein’s lessons, letters, and sources of information. They become well known for their liberal and critical thinking, and both are selected by the headmaster, called Singe ‘n’ Burn by the students, to be in an elite group of scholars whose studies fit the model of the modern Renaissance man. Peekay and Morrie privately debate the value of history. Morrie angrily notes that history covers over the ugly parts.

Peekay goes home to visit his friends and family for the holidays, noting that it feels like “sloughing a skin” to return to Barberton (380). He notes the changes in the prison and decides that he must find a new coach to continue improving as a boxer.

Peekay hikes the hills with Doc and studies with Miss. Bornstein, who increases his educational load and variety. Peekay now hopes to attend the University of Oxford, and Miss. Bornstein notes that Peekay will need to win a Rhodes Scholarship to attend.

Doc and Peekay take an extensive hike across the cliffs. Peekay notices that Doc looks older and is now fragile, realizing that he is now 87 years old. Doc discusses music and explains the beat of drums and says that the voice of “the People” is really the music of Africa. He adds that the sound is impossible to replicate.

Peekay and Doc continue hiking despite Doc’s frequent stops and Peekay’s increasing fears for his friend. They discover a chamber within a cave on the cliffside with giant crystal stalactites and stalagmites. Doc is enchanted grows emphatic that these “crystal caves” must be their secret. He tells Peekay that they must be thousands of years old and ponders how nice it would be to be buried in the crystal cave, becoming one with Africa.

Peekay grows frightened and begs Doc not to die. They leave, slowly making their way home. Peekay cannot imagine Doc’s death and reflects on his past experiences with death. He imagines death as a quick and often brutal event.

Peekay returns to school, and Morrie tells him that he has arranged for Peekay to meet with a renowned boxing coach, Solly Goldman. Peekay meets Goldman and spars, impressing Goldman with his speed and technique. Goldman agrees to coach Peekay.

Peekay goes home for Christmas. Doc has been ill but is improving.

The narrator adds more historical context. In 1948 the Nationalists win most of the South African elections including the office of the Prime Minister. Apartheid is instituted.

Solly tells Peekay that a boxing promoter has approached him with an offer for a professional fighter to fight against Peekay. The fighter is Black and 16 years old, like Peekay. Peekay arrives and recognizes the promoter as one of the Black men that has been attending his fights. He confesses that “the People” wanted the fight arranged, and Peekay realizes that this is about the “Onoshobishobi Ingelosi."

Peekay enters the ring and discovers that the boxer is a Zulu by the name of Gideon Mandoma. He is the son of Peekay’s beloved Nanny, who left Mandoma to care for Peekay. For the first time, Peekay is scared of a fight, realizing that Mandoma has more reasons to win than Peekay.

The fight has 10,000 mostly Black spectators and begins as “the People” sing the African National Anthem. Peekay begins to feel “the power of one” coming upon him. Peekay observes that the fight is not about race but the spirit of Africa.

Peekay fights the most difficult fight of his life. He is knocked down in the second and fourth rounds but manages to continue. He wins the fight with a 13-punch combination that Solly Goldman taught him. Peekay falls to his knees to the sound of the crowd chanting “Onoshobishobi Ingelosi.” He has a vision of South Africa’s dark future, witnessing everything, and cries out. He hears the voice of Geel Piet followed by Doc and understands immediately that Doc is dead. Morrie, shaken, embraces Peekay and quietly says, “there’s more to this Onoshobishobi Ingelosi business than I know about, isn’t there, Peekay” (434).

Mrs. Boxall calls Peekay to him that Doc is missing. Peekay returns to Barberton knowing that Doc went to the “crystal caves” to die.

Doc has left everything to Peekay, including his Steinway and his beloved Joseph Rogers pocket-knife. Peekay feels tired and disillusioned.

Peekay returns to school. At Gideon Mandoma’s request, Peekay and Morrie devise a plan to provide an education for the surrounding Black servants and boxers. The plan is approved by Singe ‘n’ Burn.

The plan goes into effect but draws the attention of the local police who shut down the lessons. Morrie is devastated, but Peekay tells him that they must work around the system. Instead, they create a correspondence school with the help of Miss Bornstein.