h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Rod and Rachel Saunders together ran 'Silverhill Seeds', a little company that sold seeds of African, mainly South African, wild plants worldwide by mail. (Rod and Rachel were British citizens but living here, in To.) I've been ordering seeds from them for more than a decade. Indeed, most of the plants growing in my garden originally came from them, from seeds that had passed through their hands. Every winter I start making a list of the seeds they have on offer, that I would like; I put in my order in July or so, so that come the spring (September over here) I can start my planting. Their prices are extremely reasonable and they have a vast selection of species available. And I always look forward to receiving my packages and trying out each year's batch of seeds. And always when I order my seeds, Rachel would answer me personally. She basically handled all the business of dispatching the seeds. And I know many folks besides myself who have also made use of their seed services, especially growers of unique and unusual plants.

I've never met them myself, though. I was looking forward to, since on the plant seeking outings I've joined, I've met people who know them personally. They seemed to have a dream job: they travelled the country, and sometimes outside it, to collect seeds from the wild so that they could make it available to dedicated plant growers. And collecting small amounts of seeds from the wild is not at all injurious to wild populations; and by being able to grow species from seeds, collectors and cultivators could help boost the numbers of species with small populations. Every time I go onto their website, I first of all check on the 'new species' list to see which unusual and exciting species they've added to their inventory.

Early this year they were out on another collecting trip, to Kwazulu-Natal. They never returned. The story surfaced in bits and pieces … apparently they were caught by a bunch of folks with links to ISIS or some other Islamic extremist group. They were seen as enemies and 'easy targets'. Three suspects were arrested and questioned. For a while we could hope the Saunders' were merely kidnapped and held hostage. But a short while ago, a body of a man was found in the Tugela River. DNA tests have only just confirmed that it was the body of Rod Saunders. Rachel hasn't been found, alive or dead, but the chance that's she's alive is vanishingly small.

Why? This is completely and absolutely senseless. I still have difficulty believing that it really happened. These were utterly inoffensive elderly people, Rod was 74, Rachel 64. They were doing so much to help South African plants, to spread knowledge and awareness of our plants worldwide. Between them, they themselves had so much knowledge. I'm sure they wished no-one any ill, but they were considered 'enemies'. South Africa has a reputation for being a violent and dangerous place. But if we start living in fear, refuse to go out and move about in our own country, we let the evil folks win. I'm sure Rod and Rachel saw it that way. And … indeed South Africa is not really that dangerous, myself and many other people here go around the countryside and never suffer threats or violence against ourselves. Rod and Rachel were just unlucky to stumble upon these astronomical scumbags. I just still ask myself … why did it have to be them? But why does it have to be anybody? I still believe we humans can actually become peaceful, kind and compassionate as a species … but what will it take to get us there?

I'm sorry for your loss, Willem. What a shame.

Hi Dmitri! Thanks. It's the whole world's loss, actually ...

The world is a beautiful place and I am sure it was enriched with the lives of Rod and Rachel. But I mourn their passing also, thank you for telling me their story, Willem. I will light a candle for them tonight, and plant my next tree in their memory. I agree with you, astronomical scumbags indeed.

GB

Hi GB! Thanks very much for your comment. The world is beautiful indeed but there's so much nastiness in it! I just wish things can get better.