Character Analysis
Pik Botha, the conductor on the train from boarding school, is a taste of what's going to come when Peekay gets back to his mother. He is a born-again Christian and a real grouch of a guy. He tries to help Big Hettie up but ends up getting hit in the family jewels by Peekay, providing some comic relief for Peekay and the other train employees.
Hennie Venter, a much better natured trainman, takes good care of Peekay, as do the waiters and cooks too. Everyone seems pretty good-natured, which might have something to do with the fact that they won betting on Hoppie's fight.