“We both did, we both messed up, and we both took out time to whatever you just meant.”
“I just want to get back to camp and pack. I wish to put this whole ordeal behind me.”
“All of it?” Mark’s heart sank. He had enjoyed their little flashlight moment in the bush.
“I don’t care for any of it. Is the car far? It is chilly, and I’m already hungry. You said your phone is in there?” she turned to look at him.
“I left it there, yeah.”
“Why? You should have carried it.”
“And risk it ringing or even vibrating while I waited for the pangolins?”
“You could have switched it off.”
“Then what would have been the point of taking it with me? Look, we’re nearly there, just around this bend… not far now… there… I can see the headlights glinting.” He was right. Around the first bend they came to, the car was visible. Mark had parked his Ford Mustang in a well-shaded spot, where the sun would not have been able to fully penetrate the high tree canopy even at its zenith. He fished the keys out of one of his numerous pants pockets and unlocked the vehicle. He opened the passenger side door and held it as the woman slid in. He walked around and got in on his side. He inserted the key, turned it, revved the vehicle once, engaged its transmission, and cursed loudly.
“What is it?” she asked him, her face full of concern. Mark did not answer. He flung open the door and got out. She followed suit and went around to his side to see what had ticked him so. She did and cursed in turn. The tires were flat. All of them.
“Must have been the heat,” he kicked at the one nearest him, “But this is not the first time to leave the car in such a place, in such weather.”
“Hard to tell,” she said beside him, “The heat can be merciless, even in a well-shaded place like this.”
Mark took out the small flashlight and shone it on the front left tire. He cursed loudly.
“Someone let the air out,” He shouted, visibly angry, “Someone messed up with my car.”
“We can call for help… you do have your phone…”
“Yeah, but leaving it here… Look, I’ll call someone at the camp to drive here so you may go back. But since the car can’t be towed, I’ll spend the night in it and…”
“Surely… uh… this is embarrassing. I don’t know your name.”
“Mark Thinn.”
“You can’t spend the night in the wild. Is it even safe?”
“I can’t leave it here. Whoever did this may do worse during the night.”
“And you think it would be better with you around? What if that whoever returns and finds you? Then what?” The concern in her eyes was evident, and Mark hesitated. For a moment, he considered her logic. But the thought of his car out in the bush, cold, alone and without air in the tires. He may have considered himself unsentimental when it came to attachments, but the thought was enough to make him more stubborn than trying the same thing every time and expecting different results.
He opened his door and took out his phone from the glove compartment. He tapped at it a few times, and the screen illuminated his face as it lit up. The consternation was apparent on his furrowed forehead, and even more so in his voice as after his call was picked up on the first ring. He could barely give the directions of where they were. He lowered the phone and turned to the woman, “Is your name Lisa Fellows?” She nodded, and he answered in the affirmative on the phone. He listened for a few moments, repeated their location, and disconnected the call with an angry jab at the phone screen, which obediently went dark. He flung it onto the dashboard and with hands deep in his pockets, sat in his seat with his feet on the ground. Lisa approached and stood near.
“Are you in any mood to talk?” She asked, and he turned his face up at hers.
“About what?”
“Your illogical reaction to two unrelated but unjustified events?”
“My ruined chance with the pangolins and now my deflated tires?”
“Yeah. Your car will be up and running- but the pictures- and I’m sorry for my role…”
“Lisa,” He addressed her by name, and he thought it felt nice, “You ambushed me after thinking and believing I was hunting the animals for profit. You were justified, although you were wrong about me. All the same, you realized it, and we resolved it. This, on the other hand,” he touched the car, “I’m yet to find closure. Someone let out the air in the tires, and maliciously so. I’m angry because there are many possibilities to it. A vandal, someone with a vendetta, I don’t know.” He sighed and pocketed his hands once again. Beside him, Lisa shivered slightly while around them the night wind roamed around and about. High above in the skies, the black clouds that had rendered the world dark must have lost the hide and seek game that they and the moon had started. Finally getting a chance to rule, she illuminated the world, shyly at first- and the two people- a man and a woman, waited, each with their own private thoughts, wishes, wants, and yearnings.
*****
Twenty minutes later, Mark heard the roar of a car’s engine approaching. Lisa had already entered the vehicle and was curled in the back seat. She must have been alert too for she looked up as a car’s headlights illuminated them from behind their own. Mark stood up and waited as the other car stopped a short distance away, and the headlights dimmed a fraction. The passenger door opened, and someone got out.
“Mark? Mark and Lisa?” it was a woman’s voice.
“Yeah, here,” Mark answered. The woman approached and turned to face the other car’s dimmed lights, letting them illuminate her features for the others’ benefit. Mark hadn’t seen her at camp. She held out her hand as she faced them, “Sherry Partridge,” she introduced herself, “So sorry about your car. Some of those Pangotectors are taking things too far.” By then, Lisa had gotten out of Mark’s vehicle and was standing beside him. At the mention of Pangotectors, Mark glanced sharply at her, as her beautiful features, illuminated by the other car’s dimmed headlights, morphed into realization- and dismay. Mark moved a few steps away from her.
“Mark, I had nothing to do with this…”
“But some of those in your Pang-what-oter group did.”
“Oh, they were quite blatant about it,” Sherry chimed in, “With glee.”
“Well,” Mark turned to Sherry, “I’m not leaving my car here overnight. I may find it torn to pieces. Take Miss Fellows…” he seethed the name and Lisa gasped from where she stood, “…with you, I’ll be alright.”
“Mark- if I may call you that- we cannot let you do that. If anything happens to you, we’ll be answerable.”
“I’ve already made up my mind…”
“We have a better solution,” Sherry interrupted him, “Jake there…” she pointed at the other car, “will remain here with your car. So don’t you worry. You and Lisa will come back with me in that jeep.” Mark opened his mouth to protest, then shut it. He glanced at Lisa with an accusatory look. Though she did not fail to read the disdain in his eyes, he detected her silent plea- she and her group may have ruined his whole day- and perhaps career, but it was evident that she cared enough to silently beg him to agree to Sherry’s version of how best to deal with his car situation. He drew in a deep breath, nodded, and cursed loudly. Lisa, who had turned to walk towards Sherry’s jeep once Mark had given in, turned back sharply.
“What?” she stopped when she noticed he wasn’t following them, the anguish on his face very palpable. He didn’t answer her. He turned to his car, took out his phone, locked the car, and walked over to the jeep. Lisa observed him, her face full of confusion, as she and Sherry walked side by side.
At the Jeep, Jake slid off the driver’s seat and shook Mark’s hand as he took his keys.
“Don’t worry,” he assured the photographer, “Nothing will happen to your car.”
“More than enough has happened already,” Lisa overheard Mark say, more to himself than to anyone else, “And now the car is the least of my worries…”
*****
Mark did not notice the jeep slowing down- he only noticed that they had stopped when he looked around him. He saw Lisa getting out of her seat at the front and opening the rear door. She slid in next to him as the Jeep started moving and quickly picked up speed. Mark, his gaze fixed straight ahead, ignored her completely, even though he was aware that she was looking at him. Indeed she was, with confused wonder all over her face. When he glanced at her, she was staring at his neck and chest, as realization slowly changed her beautiful facial features. Mark gazed in front of him once again. He knew she was wondering how to apologize again, for the third time. First, for his missed chance with the pangolin, second, after realizing that her group had vandalized his car, and third, for leaving his camera in the bushes. She must have known that another verbal apology would have had no effect, but a non-verbal one could have; it was a gamble she had to take. He did not resist when she sought for his hand in the dark and took it in her soft one. Mark, though fuming and angry inside, yearned and tried to understand in his mind when she communicated so much through their held hands, for his body had already understood as it throbbed with desire, in a jeep that roared through the night towards the camp.
Chapter 2
Sherry was already at the camp’s cafeteria, a tray of breakfast in front of her. She noticed Mark and waved. He walked over.
“Bad night?” She scrutinized his face as he sank into a nearby seat. She must have observed his tired gait too.
“Barely slept,” he yawned politely and rubbed his itchy eyes. Sherry, who did not seem to mind his sitting at her table as she ate, dug into her breakfast as she spoke, “No need to worry any longer,” She paused for dramatic effect on what she was about to say, “Your car will be here soon, good as…” she paused to swallow, then laughed, “Wasn’t gonna say ‘as new’ since it won’t be, true?” Mark nodded. “Well, good as it was before the Pangotectors sunk it…” Mark, fascinated, watched as her tray emptied with her every word, “They were very apologetic, those…” she waved her hand to emphasize her point as she swallowed, “Since you too are into conservation.” She gulped her coffee and hissed through clenched teeth, “Sensitive,” she pointed at her mouth, “But can’t stay away from coffee, the legal drug,”
“Sure,” he murmured, “It is.”
“You’re not a morning person Mark, are you?” she observed him closely, “More of those night owls which can go on and on throughout the night- only to deflate suddenly- sorry for my choice of word. I know it does not hold fond memories for you.”
“Yeah, it doesn’t. But thank you so much for everything, Sherry. I’ll have to go back and finish what I had started yesterday…”
“Why don’t you rest, Mark? Your car will be brought to you, as I informed you earlier, and you look like you haven’t rested for a few days. Take the day off, for the sake of…” She reached for the toothpicks which were nearer to him. He grabbed and handed them to her.
“I need to go back there. Not only the car, I left…” He stopped when he noticed the knowing smile on her face, as she viciously but expertly dug at her teeth and gums,
“It’s safe, Mark. You can come to get it at the office any time. As I told you, you should relax, rest the whole day, and set back out again once you’re completely rested.” He had opened his mouth to ask the many questions that were running through his mind, the answers to some of which he suspected he knew, but he remained quiet. Sherry was done with her breakfast and also updating him. She stood up sighed contentedly. Sucking air through her teeth, she looked down at him, “Mark, listen. Rare rarities are rare, as are rarities rarely rare if you dare. It’s a quote from the poet W.Z.” With that, she was gone.
*****
He would do what she had suggested; Mark decided once he was back in his room. Having learned his hand-held camera was safe and sound in the office, he was in no hurry to go get it for he knew how it would progress from there. He would scan it for any image it may have captured while knowing that he had been too late- by the time he had recovered from his shock at Lisa’s intrusion and attempted to snap a shot, the Pangolin, rather than roll into a ball, had escaped into a nearby burrow. Then finding nothing, he would spend the whole day angry and unproductive, blaming all and everything. So, he decided to relax, listen to some soothing music, think positive thoughts, and since the Djoser-Wild Contest is still on, make another attempt at the perfect shot. He was already beginning to feel the positive vibes flowing through him as he switched on his laptop. Heck, he would even call Paul and see how he was doing. Seven months is a long time since I last spoke to my brother, he thought. Vivian on the other hand… thinking about his relationship with Vivian required that he find a quiet, serene, and peaceful place.
The loud and quick raps on the door rudely brought him out of his thoughts. Room service perhaps, he thought as he walked to the door, trying to recall whether he had ordered anything or not.
“Yes?” he started saying as he flung open the door. It was definitely not room service, and he realized too late that he was shirtless.
There were times when Mark doubted reality, like when one dreams that they have woken up, prepared themselves, taken breakfast, and headed for school or job, only to wake up later still in bed, time very much gone. As he stood there at the door shirtless, he wondered whether he was still in bed, dreaming, even the whole meeting Sherry in the cafeteria, and being told that his camera was safe, and now the woman standing at his door, seemingly nervous, but with such a beautiful smile. Mark could only stare.
“Hello Mark, did I interrupt anything?”
“Ah, well… no…” Surely this wasn’t the same woman who had ambushed him in the bushes?
“Oh, um… I’m sorry, though I’m not sure if you want to hear or see me again…” It was her definitely; it was indeed last night’s Lisa. Sleep or whatever she had done during the night must have been very effective in a good way. She looked younger than her voice had indicated in the dark the previous night. A girl. Or a very young woman, Mark thought as he continued standing at the door gawking at her.
“You could at least say you accept my apologies or not,” she held his gaze, and Mark noticed that she had black eyes as he appraised her anew with his gray ones. The flashlight had done her an injustice. The girl was extremely beautiful than all his cameras left in the bushes and all the Mustangs he would ever own. Suddenly and overpoweringly so, Mark experienced a very strong urge to possess, hug, hold, kiss, and make love to her all at the same time, no one act preceding the other. To think that she had held his hand in the jeep… but now as he stared at her as if hypnotized, he felt she was unreachable, beyond him, from a different reality, and that it would be up to him to make her his, to make their two realities one, and then, only then, would he and she hug, hold each other, kiss, and make love in a real reality that he would never rudely wake up from.
“Well,” she took a step backward and smiled briefly, “I tried to make up for what I- we did, and thank you for understanding,” with a small wave, she turned to leave. Mark snapped out of his hypnosis so fast, she heard his sharp intake of breath, paused, and turned.
“Lisa..! I… I… am sorry too if I came across as…”
“I understand, Mark,” she smiled briefly, “In your shoes, I would have probably reacted the same- or worse…”
“Listen Lisa,” he scratched his cheek and decided to dare the sudden inspiration that had overcome him, “Um… are you busy- oh, sorry,” he smiled uncertainly, wondering what he was doing, “I’ve remembered you telling me your group is leaving today…”
“They are,” she confirmed, but her smile could do nothing for the sinking feeling Mark felt in his stomach, “Today.”
“Oh, too ba
d,” he turned his gaze upwards at the ceiling, “I thought perhaps we could have spent the day… wait,” he looked back at her, “You just said ‘they are’”. Faint hope lingered in his eyes as he gazed at her.
“I just did. They are. I’m not. I decided to stay…” the relief on his face and in his gray eyes stopped her short. Those simple words ‘I decided to stay’ were scripture to his mind which had already decided on all the great places he would take her to, how he would make her laugh uncontrollably, how she would look up at his face and into his eyes with wonder and awe… as he regaled her with his life’s exploits.
“We can spend some time together if that’s what you’re trying to ask,” she linked her hands behind her back and gently rocked side to side as she tilted her head to smile at him. In his mind, she was begging him to never stop, to go on, for she could never have enough of him… he considered her company, even if for a day, compensation for the previous night’s unfortunate events. She smiled, which he took for acquiescence as he smiled back. For a moment, he considered approaching her and taking her hand in his, just as they had done in the jeep the previous day, but with sheer effort, he restrained himself. He knew; he wasn’t one to deny the obvious, even to himself. With such lips, he would be tempted to find how soft they were with his own if he stood an inch closer to her. At the moment, he wasn’t ready to inflame passions he wouldn’t be able to contain. She laughed as he walked back into his room, though he did not break eye contact. He stuck his head out and peeked at her; she was still looking at his comical retreat. With a quick wave and a smile, she turned and exited, hurrying down the narrow hallway and turning to the right at the end. She didn’t look back. Mark didn’t know why he did it, but he counted the doors preceding his own- and realized he was in room number four, on the left of the hallway if one faced the exit, while standing at his door.
*****
The place Sherry Partridge had directed him to wasn't hard to find. A short walk from the Sinai Walk Camp to the main road which cut through the small town in a north-south direction, and to his right. The place wasn't hard to pick out. A stone building which seemed to have elbowed itself forcefully between two tall ones, a significant feature being more windows than walls, decorated with the various beverages it had to offer to its visitors. Mark walked in, and all his senses welcomed the first impressions they gave him, from what he saw, heard, and smelled. The walls, though decorated, were not overly done with bright, screaming colors as many such establishments and especially modern ones were wont to be. No doctored bright images depicting brightness and a sunny atmosphere, he noted as he observed the place with mounting interest; rather, the walls and the low ceiling were a rustic brown speckled with milky white splashes which were not overly done. For the few images that there were, their subjects posed in deep contemplation, cups of beverages the sole focus of the whole mosaic. No loud music blared from some corner of the room; rather, the soft music his ears detected was coming from speakers well-arranged throughout, from the way the music wafted around in surround sound effects. He had simply loved the place. The air was not thick with the stifling smells of various foods; though there was air conditioning, he could still catch a whiff of coffee in the air, the various aromas blended into one memorable experience and for a fleeting moment, he had the strong desire to visit a coffee farm… or perhaps start his own. Having noticed a table that was to his liking, he walked to it and sat. The tables matched the walls in terms of color, but the seats had more white than brown, and as he settled in, he felt that the backs were very comfortable if he sat up straight. Is everything this perfect here, he wondered as he ran a hand over the next seat, or am I euphoric at the prospects of spending a few hours with Lisa? Just thinking about her gives me such a positive outlook on everything, I hope the day ends as great as it is progressing. A waiter was already standing at his side.
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