Donker Web
Plot Summary
This document contains a detailed summary of everything that happens in Chapters 1 - 68
of the book Donker Web by Fanie Viljoen. Each chapter is covered in depth, giving you a
clear view of the key events and developments :)
Chapter 1 Skree
• Greg Owen has passed away. A team of divers retrieved his body from the Canale
Grande in Venice.
• Greg is in disbelief, wondering if there is more to the story.
• Greg was also in Venice, where someone was pulled from the dark waters, but he
wasn't alone, there were five people with him, and one of them died.
• The story begins with Greg describing their home in Sandhurst as a gloomy place filled
with silence, except for occasional sounds like a phone ringing or a chef cooking in the
kitchen.
• The atmosphere in the house changed after Greg left Lawson College halfway through
his final school year, about a year and a half ago.
• Business partners and friends of the narrator's father have distanced themselves,
leaving the family in a state of isolation.
• One unlikely visitor, Thomas Lawson, came by the house with flowers, offering help.
• Despite the conclusion of school, court cases, and media frenzy, a heavy, depressing
feeling remains in the house.
• Greg reflects on the past, including memories of his brother John, who died from an
overdose of pills.
• Greg's mother maintains John's room exactly as it was, preserving memories of him.
• Greg struggles with guilt and insomnia, contemplating how his life has changed and his
sense of self has evolved.
• Greg recalls adventurous times with John, who sought thrills and pushed the
boundaries of life, ultimately leading to his tragic death.
• Greg's mother confesses to feeling a deep sense of loss, revealing she would scream
out her pain when alone in the house.
• The story ends with Greg comforting his mother, feeling the weight of her grief and
their shared sorrow.
Donker Web Plot Summary 1
, Chapter 2 Vertrek
• Greg wakes up on John's bed, reflecting on the transition he's about to make.
• He quickly prepares for his journey to Cape Town, including packing his car with
essentials like a new BMW 118i sports model, personal items, and a painting he plans to
take.
• As he leaves, he takes a photo of John's picture as a keepsake and receives a last-
minute farewell from his mother.
• Greg's mother reflects on the opportunities ahead for Greg and the missed
opportunities for John, emphasizing the emotional weight of this new phase.
• Greg drives away from his home, feeling a mix of sadness and excitement, and
reminisces about past events, including a betrayal by Eckardt Wilken and its impact on
his family.
• The chapter revisits the emotional fallout from the betrayal and how it affected
Greg's family, including interactions with Lawson College's headmaster, Thomas Jean
Lawson, and the ridicule he faced from peers.
• Greg encounters an old friend, Plank, who is also heading to Stellenbosch University,
and they discuss their futures.
• As Greg continues his journey, he reflects on his father's legal troubles and a
mysterious journalist he once noticed in court.
• The chapter ends with Greg arriving in Beaufort-Wes, where he observes the harsh
realities faced by people in poverty while checking into a guesthouse and looking for
food.
Chapter 3 Welkom in Matieland
• The next morning at breakfast, a woman from the BnB recognizes Greg from the
news, referring to his father as a murderer.
• Greg is uncomfortable and tries to ignore the woman's intrusive comments while
hastily eating his yogurt and muesli.
• The woman continues to probe, criticizing Greg's father and implying that wealth
allows people to escape justice.
• Greg responds defensively and abruptly leaves the breakfast table.
• As Greg prepares to leave, he remembers to grab his phone charger.
• He checks out, returns the key, and drives away, heading towards Stellenbosch.
• Greg describes his journey past various locations including Leeu-Gamka, Laingsburg,
and Matjiesfontein, enjoying the scenic beauty of the Hex River Mountains.
• Upon reaching Stellenbosch, Greg navigates through the town, noting the historic
houses and oak trees lining the streets.
• He arrives at his new apartment, a recently restored property with parking at the
back, and feels the heat of the day.
• Greg meets some local girls, Chloe, Kiana, and Lizmari, who greet him. Chloe makes an
awkward advance, but Greg declines her invitation.
• Greg enters his new apartment, it has modern furnishings.
• He prepares to settle in but is interrupted by a knock on the door from Plank, an old
acquaintance who has come to visit.
• Plank, casual and relaxed, teases Greg about his former crush, Nicole, and shares a
story about a recent night out.
Donker Web Plot Summary 2
, Chapter 4 Die loser wat sy pa weggegee het
• Greg starts his student life with a trip to Van Schaik Bookstore in Neelsie to get his
prescribed books, a busy student center on campus.
• He is automatically part of a larger cluster and a smaller PSO (Private Student
Organization) for non-resident students.
• At the end of January and beginning of February, he participates in Orientation Week
for first-years.
• The orientation program is boring, and each new student has a mentor. Greg's mentor
is unhelpful.
• Greg receives his student card with a terrible photo and attends various academic
tours.
• On the Thursday before orientation ends, Chloe knocks on Greg's door early in the
morning.
• Chloe, accompanied by Kiana and Lizmari, insists Greg join them for a practice session
for "Vensters," which he initially refuses.
• Chloe threatens to involve her other boyfriends, making Greg feel compelled to go.
• Greg and his friends arrive late for the practice session, where they meet older
students from the HK (House Committee) who organize it.
• Chloe is well-known and seems to have many connections.
• Greg learns that "Vensters" is street theater where dorms and PSOs perform short
shows on social issues.
• Despite initial reluctance, Greg starts to enjoy the rehearsals and helps paint a large
backdrop with Chloe and other HK members.
• Greg finds out Chloe is an art student studying Fine Arts and is skilled in painting.
• On Friday afternoon, Plank and his dorm buddies visit the venue, and Plank points out a
strict-looking woman who asks questions about Greg.
• Greg worries the woman might be a journalist or someone writing a book about him.
• The Friday night event, Vensters, transforms Stellenbosch with lights, flags, and a
street festival atmosphere.
• Greg meets Plank and some of his friends, including Chloe, who is dressed in a red afro
wig and interacts energetically with others.
• As the evening progresses, Greg loses track of Plank and starts reflecting on his past
and his brother John.
• Greg feels disconnected from the festivities and struggles with his identity and past.
• A drunken first-year student recognizes Greg and accuses him of being the son of
someone who betrayed his father.
• Greg becomes angry and pushes the student away, who then mocks him.
• Greg feels isolated and realizes he has become the outsider he once was, marked by
his past and his father's actions.
Donker Web Plot Summary 3
, Chapter 5 Die man met Google in sy kop
• The class starts the Monday after o-week.
• Most classes are in the Sport Science building at the base of Stellenbosch Mountain.
• The building includes lecture halls, a sports physiology lab, a biokinetics center, a
movement lab, an anatomy lab, two swimming pools, and more.
• Greg notices a Nelson Mandela quote in the student lounge: "Sport can create hope
where once there was only despair."
• Greg reflects on his father's and Dr. Pienaar's expectations, which were not aligned
with his choice to study Sport Science.
• Greg is taking the psychology direction in Sport Science, which includes compulsory
modules such as physiology, information skills, and sociology.
• He is concerned about handling all the required readings but is optimistic because
other students have managed.
• Greg's test and exam timetable is already available on the student portal.
• In the first weeks, Greg feels overwhelmed by the workload and cultural shock of
student life.
• He also manages daily tasks like buying groceries, doing laundry, and maintaining
utilities.
• Greg is grateful that someone cleans his apartment twice a week.
• Chloe frequently invites Greg out, but he declines, focusing on his studies.
• Greg sometimes encounters Chloe struggling with art projects.
• Greg is also involved in practical sport experiences, including swimming, athletics, and
soccer, with options to choose additional sports like tennis or cricket.
• He enjoys rugby despite past issues with the school principal.
• Practical classes are mandatory but include outdoor sessions, which Greg prefers over
confined spaces.
• Greg finds the anatomy lab with its detailed human body models overwhelming and
reflective of existential questions.
• One afternoon, after exercising, Greg interacts with Plank, who is watching YouTube
videos and discussing creativity and artificial intelligence.
• Plank mentions he has met someone special named Lisa and shows Greg her photo.
• Greg is initially skeptical but supports Plank.
• Plank is enthusiastic about Lisa and shows Greg a photo of her.
• Greg's phone receives a message from Plank about meeting for a smoothie, with Lisa
also expected.
• Greg spends time in De Wet Square, noting an art piece by Willem Boshoff titled
"Broken Trust," which prompts memories of past trust issues.
• Plank arrives with Lisa in a white Toyota Hilux, and Greg meets them.
• Lisa is more beautiful in person than in the photo, and her father seems suspicious.
• Lisa's father recognizes Greg and warns him to stay away from his daughter, creating
an uneasy situation.
• Plank is confused by the interaction, but Greg understands the gravity of the
situation, reflecting on the theme of broken trust in his life.
Donker Web Plot Summary 4
, Chapter 6 Die goed wat jy met jou saamdra
• On a Saturday afternoon, Greg and Plank are at the Neelsie, a student center in
Stellenbosch.
• They watch a rebroadcast of a rugby match on the large screen TV.
• Greg notices that students are working on their laptops around them.
• Plank is eating a hamburger and expresses frustration because Lisa hasn't called or
responded to his messages.
• Plank feels like a failure and is upset about his situation.
• Greg reflects on his own struggles, feeling trapped by his father's sins and his own
reality.
• Greg is haunted by the idea that he cannot escape his father's mistakes, despite
moving far away.
• Greg shares with Plank a saying from his mother about how one can't escape their
burdens, no matter the distance.
• Greg feels that he is unfairly judged for his father's actions and is troubled by how
people view his family.
• Plank relates his own experiences, mentioning that he is at Wilgenhof because of his
father's past.
• They discuss the idea that people often become clones of their parents, echoing
Greg's thoughts.
• Plank advises Greg to accept the reality that he can't change his father's situation or
escape his past.
• Greg acknowledges Plank's point but feels guilty for his own failures and worries
about making amends.
• Plank suggests that Greg owes him a favor but reassures him that he doesn't need to
worry about it.
• Later, Greg walks through Stellenbosch, contemplating whether he can do something
about his father's situation.
• He considers investigating the Baker, a criminal who is still at large and whose identity
is hidden.
• Greg decides to find out who the Baker is, believing that exposing him might help
balance the scales of justice for his father.
• Back in his room, Greg adjusts the air conditioning, grabs a beer, and sits in front of
his laptop.
• He experiences a sense of deja vu as he starts researching, thinking about the
nursery rhyme that connects to the Baker, the Butcher, and the Candlestick maker.
• Greg is determined to uncover the Baker's identity and actions to hold him
accountable.
Donker Web Plot Summary 5
, Chapter 7 Tydmasjien
• Greg starts by reflecting on the enigmatic figure, he is a part of Project Nursery
Rhyme's unholy trinity, who created the virus spread through flu vaccinations.
• He recalls his background in pharmacology, diseases, and virology, but realizes he
knows little personal detail about him, only that his email address was a temporary
fictitious one.
• Greg decides to search for information about him using Google and news websites,
focusing on reports before the news about his involvement in Project Nursery Rhyme
broke.
• He finds a photo of his father with Dr. Rian Trollip, who was involved in a community
clinic project. Greg remembers Dr. Trollip's appearance and an event where Dr. Trollip
and his wife stood out during a party.
• Greg recalls Dr. Trollip's visit to their home and his discomfort about the doctor, who
had a peculiar ring and an unsettling demeanor.
• He revisits his memories of the doctor's peculiarities, including John's reaction to Dr.
Trollip's odd features and unsettling presence.
• Greg notes Dr. Trollip's Freemason ring and reflects on John's comments about
Freemasonry and rituals.
• He searches for more information and finds that PlusUltraMed, Project Nursery
Rhyme's front company, has removed its website.
• Using the Wayback Machine, Greg accesses archived pages of PlusUltraMed and
retrieves an organogram showing Dr. Rian Trollip as part of the company.
• He prepares for his day, dealing with personal tasks and studying, but remains
preoccupied with the new information he uncovered.
• During his studies, Greg checks for updates on Dr. Trollip and finds reports about the
doctor's arrest for child pornography, his plea of innocence, and subsequent death in
prison.
• Greg connects these events to his own experiences and the disturbing recollections
about Dr. Trollip, realizing the connections might relate to his search for answers
about Project Nursery Rhyme and his father's involvement.
• He is left wondering if Dr. Rian Trollip was the Baker mentioned in Project Nursery
Rhyme and questions if he is searching for a dead man.
Donker Web Plot Summary 6
, Chapter 8 Donker patrone
• Greg hears Chloe and her friends coming up the stairs noisily.
• They discuss how in the future, babies could be genetically designed, and how natural
conception might be frowned upon.
• Annoyed by their conversation, Greg goes to his balcony for fresh air.
• Greg recalls reading about Dr. Trollip's death in the morning newspapers and decides
to investigate further.
• He reads about Dr. Trollip's wife, their divorce, a dispute with her brother in law over
the estate, and a fundraiser for breast cancer.
• Greg finds a phone number in the cancer fundraiser article and calls it, but hangs up
when a voicemail answers.
• Later, Greg receives a call back from Mrs. Trollip, who seems drunk.
• Greg introduces himself as Chris Owen's son and asks her for information related to
pharmacology, possibly connected to her late husband.
• Mrs. Trollip refers to her late husband as a "devil who messed with children" and hints
at his involvement in other activities.
• Greg mentions "Project Nursery Rhyme" and asks about "the Baker," causing Mrs.
Trollip to abruptly end the call.
• Greg repeatedly tries to call her back but is eventually blocked.
• Over the next week, Greg contacts people connected to the Trollips but finds no
useful information, leading him to feel trapped in a maze of unanswered questions.
Chapter 9 Een van ons
• Greg is preparing for a class test in the morning
• A classmate, Dain February, approaches Greg, teasing him about his cheerful demeanor
• Dain introduces himself and acknowledges Greg as "one of them"
• Greg remains cautious but introduces himself back
• Later that afternoon, Greg gets a Powerade at the Workout Cafe after a workout
• While waiting, Greg is startled by Lisa's father, Dirk Schutte, who suddenly joins him
• Dirk asks Greg about what he's drinking, dismissing it, and insists Greg calls him "Dirk"
• Dirk mentions that his wife sent him to find Greg, showing that Greg is well-known
• Dirk starts questioning Greg about his involvement with hacking, making Greg nervous
• Greg tries to explain that he collaborated with the police in the past
• Dirk intensifies the questioning, making Greg uncomfortable
• Greg admits that the hacking escalated beyond his control, expressing regret
• Dirk softens his tone, acknowledging he overreacted in the past, especially when
trying to protect his daughter
• Dirk apologizes for misjudging Greg based on his father's actions, stating Greg
deserves a fair chance
• Dirk also brings up Greg's friend, Plank, and jokes about his unusual name
• Dirk allows Greg and Plank to visit Lisa again, but warns them against misbehaving
• Dirk advises Greg to stop hacking, hinting at dangerous activities in their town
• Dirk reflects on his past in the police force, admitting it changed him and nearly
destroyed him
• Greg expresses sympathy, but Dirk clarifies that he's not okay, showing vulnerability
Donker Web Plot Summary 7
, Chapter 10 Koerier
• The next day, Greg receives a long voicemail after his last class.
• The voicemail thanks him and mentions that Lisa called, and there's a reference to
Greg talking with "oom Dirk."
• Greg responds, hinting that "oom Dirk" would be angry if certain things were used.
• After ending the conversation, Greg notices Dain greeting him as he leaves the faculty
building.
• Greg walks back to his apartment, passing the Maties Gym and Coetzenburg pool, with
Imagine Dragons music playing in his ears.
• There's a smell of smoke in the air, indicating a possible fire in the mountains.
• At the entrance of his apartment, the security guard stops Greg and hands him a
package.
• Greg signs the delivery register, thanks the guard, and heads up to his apartment.
• Inside, Greg finds the apartment clean, with a flower placed on the kitchen counter by
Doortjie.
• Greg sends a quick message to thank Doortjie and adjusts the air conditioning.
• There's a knock on the door, and Plank enters, complaining about his rough day and
asking for drinks.
• Plank grabs a beer from the fridge, drinks it, and talks about his frustrations with
girls, specifically mentioning issues with Lisa.
• Greg and Plank discuss Plank's Tinder profile, leading to tension between them.
• Plank goes out to the balcony, shouting his frustrations about his life.
• Greg starts working on his laptop but is interrupted by Plank, who points out a man
watching them from the street.
• Greg and Plank observe the man, who is dressed in black and rides a black motorcycle,
but Greg dismisses the situation as nothing unusual.
• Back inside, Plank notices the courier box and asks Greg about it.
• Greg opens the box with a knife, finding an envelope with a typed message inside,
referencing "the Baker."
• Plank becomes concerned as Greg explains the connection to his father's imprisonment
and his own quest to find the Baker.
• Greg retrieves a second envelope from the box, which contains an old, burnt notebook
with cryptic notes and a single word: "Valkyrie."
Donker Web Plot Summary 8
, Chapter 11 Valkyrie
• Greg cannot sleep, disturbed by a strange book he found and its meaning, so he steps
out onto the balcony.
• He notices the eerie glow of a distant burning mountain in the night.
• Greg thinks he sees something moving in the street but dismisses it as his imagination.
• Back in the apartment, Greg searches for "Valkyrie" online and learns about their
ominous role in Norse mythology.
• The disturbing nature of what he reads makes him nauseous, and he reflects on the
strange book.
• The next day, Thursday, Greg struggles through classes due to lack of sleep.
• Dain, a classmate, notices Greg's tiredness and offers him a Ritalin pill, which Greg
reluctantly takes but decides not to use.
• After class, Greg goes to the gym for a workout and feels energized afterward.
• On his way out, Greg sees a mysterious motorcyclist watching him, but when he looks
again, the person is gone.
• Greg packs for a long weekend trip to Johannesburg, choosing to drive himself to
Cape Town Airport.
• Despite traffic, Greg arrives at the airport, parks far from the terminal, and checks in
for his flight.
• The flight is delayed by half an hour, so Greg grabs a meal while waiting and chats
briefly with a young boy.
• During the flight, Greg falls asleep and is awakened upon landing at OR Tambo Airport.
• Greg takes an Uber to his family home in Sandhurst, engaging in light conversation
with the driver.
• Upon arriving home late at night, Greg finds an unfamiliar man named André in the
house.
• André appears uncomfortable and introduces himself, but Greg rudely ignores him.
• Greg learns that André and his mother are in a relationship, which shocks and angers
him.
• Greg's mother tries to calm him down and suggests they talk, but Greg is overwhelmed
by betrayal and frustration.
Chapter 12 Die plek van hoop en wanhoop
• Greg reminisces about happier times with his family, sharing meals and stories around
the table.
• His mother prepares a special meal for him, and the tension between them is palpable.
• Greg confronts his mother, asking about a man named André Symington, a chemical
engineer, with whom she has been involved for a long time.
• Greg feels disturbed by the secrets in the family and struggles to eat.
• Early Friday morning, Greg leaves the house, still haunted by his mother's words about
the family's secrets.
• He drives through Pretoria's traffic, heading to the Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional
Centre, formerly known as Pretoria Central.
• Greg arrives at the prison, locks away his phone and wallet, and enters with a bag of
hamburgers.
• The tense atmosphere grows as he prepares for his visit to his father, who is in
maximum security, part of the feared C-Max section.
Donker Web Plot Summary 9
, • After going through security, Greg reaches the visitor's area and waits in a small
cubicle.
• His father, in an orange prison uniform, finally arrives, looking older, grayer, and more
worn down.
• Their conversation is strained and uncomfortable, with Greg noticing the significant
change in his father's demeanor.
• Greg tries to maintain a conversation, asking about his father's health and prison life,
but his father is bitter and angry.
• Greg's father expresses resentment, blaming Greg for ruining the family name and
putting him in prison.
• As the visit progresses, Greg contemplates leaving, but guilt keeps him there.
• Greg offers to help his father by tracking down someone named "the Baker," but his
father warns him to leave it alone.
• The visit ends abruptly with Greg's father showing fear when Greg mentions
"Valkyrie."
• As Greg leaves the prison, he spots Dok Pienaar, the former headmaster involved in
the same charges as his father, who glares at Greg with intense hatred.
• Greg escapes the prison, overwhelmed by emotions, but remains determined to find
the Baker.
Chapter 13 Gebroke
• Greg notices a red car parked outside his place and is cautious, thinking it might be
hijackers.
• As Greg passes the car, he recognizes Nicole inside, but he is still uneasy.
• Greg parks his car and gets out, seeing Nicole exit the red car looking tired and
unkempt.
• Nicole seems relieved to see Greg, and she pulls out a baby wrapped in blankets,
confirming the rumors that she had a child.
• Nicole introduces her baby as Colette, and Greg hesitantly holds her, commenting on
how beautiful the baby is.
• Nicole expresses her struggles with being a new mother, admitting she often feels
clueless and overwhelmed.
• Nicole reveals that Colette doesn't have a father, and she got pregnant after a one-
night stand with a guy whose name she doesn't remember.
• Greg tries to comfort Nicole, but he feels the emotional distance between them is too
great.
• Nicole mentions that her parents bought her an apartment and give her money, but
they are ashamed of her situation.
• Nicole's visit seems to be motivated by a desire to reconnect with Greg, but he
realizes that any feelings he once had for her are gone.
• Greg flies back to Cape Town after a weekend filled with emotional upheaval, including
discovering his mother's affair and his father's imprisonment.
• Back at his apartment in Stellenbosch, Greg feels something is off and notices his
laptop and desk drawer have been tampered with.
• Greg discovers a message written in blood on his balcony door, warning him to stay
away from someone, suggesting a connection to a hacker named Eckardt Wilken, also
known as Xander Gericke.
Donker Web Plot Summary 10
